Nisei's eyes slowly opened. There was still daylight out, but the sun was higher. How long had he been asleep? He shifted slightly then let out a choked gasp as pain wracked his body. He obviously had not been out long enough for his wound to heal. Nisei closed his eyes again and laid perfectly still, waiting for the pain to subside. All his muscles ached from running and he had a mild headache. Eventually the sharp pain from his wound dulled and he was able to open his eyes again.
As he stared up at the sky, the young Bosmer tried to recount exactly how he had gotten hear. Well, he had been delivering a sword for one of brother girls named Camael when he was ambushed by a bunch of gender-ambiguous hooded figures who wanted to kill him, and now he was lying on the forest floor. Wait a minute. The forest? He had most definitely ended the chase leaning against the white pillars of some Ayelid ruins. Nisei's eyes widened. Had someone moved him?
The boy scrambled up to a sitting position, frantically looking around for whoever might have moved him here. Another burst of pain, however, forced him to bend down and grab his side in agony. He heard a deep voice laughing at him. The elf looked around frantically, one hand still resting on his side as the pain subsided. For the first time he noticed that he was lying on a sleeping roll, and that placed next to him were a few small items of food and his sword. Other than those inanimate objects, there seemed to be nothing but trees and shadows.
"Looking for something?" it was that same voice again. Nisei narrowed his eyes. He did not like talking to someone he couldn't see.
"Show yourself!" the boy cried, grabbing the sword. He was hoping it would start glowing again, but it seemed to have returned back to its normal state. "I'm warning you!" His voice quavered slightly this time with nervousness.
"Quick to violence. I like that," the voice replied. Nisei jumped back as a man seemed to materialize out of nowhere in the space in front of him. He was wearing black robes and carried a shortsword at his side. His dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail and his face indicated that he was of Imperial descent. It took a few seconds for Nisei to realize that the man had been using some sort of invisibility or chameleon spell.
"Who are you? Don't come any closer!" the boy was waving the sword at the man in front him and slowly inching away. Although he put on a tough face, it was obvious by the clumsy way Nisei handled the blade that he had no training in swordsmanship. The man seemed to realize this as indicated by the amused smirk on his face.
"My name is Lucien Lachance, and I have a proposition for you," the Imperial replied. Nisei narrowed his eyes. He had had enough of "propositions" for one day. The last time he had accepted a proposition, he had ended up running away from a bunch of hooded assassins.
"I'm not listening to your proposition until you tell me exactly who you are—not just a name. And where are we anyway?" Nisei replied, his voice indicating that he was still on edge. He wanted to flee right this second, but judging by Lachance's sly smirk, he probably would not get very far before he was struck down.
"I am a…representative of the Black Hand," Lucien started. He paused for a second, trying to see if the Bosmer before recognized the name. The boy's shocked face gave a clear indication that he did, in fact, recognize the name "Black Hand" and was fully aware of what it entailed. The man continued, "As to where you are, a clearing in a forest. I had to drag you away from those ruins to a more secure area before we could talk. You see, my job is to find certain people…certain murderers, and offer them a place in our little family."
"I-I am no murderer!" Nisei instantaneously replied, his voice stuttering from nervousness. What the hell was this man, this member of the Dark Brotherhood, doing here? He had never so much as hurt a fly! How could this man think that he'd killed—Nisei's train of thought stopped. No, he had killed someone: that one hooded figure, back when he had been cornered in an alley. But, that did not make him a murderer, did it? It was sword! Nisei could distinctly remember the power within the sword taking over and making him stab that woman. There was no way he had done that out of his own free will.
"The Night Mother would like to think otherwise," Lucien replied to the boy's earlier assertion. The Imperial reached into robe and took out a rolled up piece of paper which he threw in Nisei's direction. "A map. Your initiation requires you to kill another, to prove that you are worthy. A male Imperial Legion guard this time. I've marked on the map where you are and how to get to your target. He patrols the more remote parts of the roads, and should be alone most of the time. " Lucien's face turned into a slight scowl, as he continued, "Know this: I am only helping because Ungolim seems particularly eager to have you. Any other recruit I would have left to die in that ruin."
"I'm not a murderer," Nisei repeated, this time with less gusto.
Lucien shrugged unconcernedly. "Believe what you will. I have given you a way to join a faction that might suit your interests. If you follow through with the contract, I will visit you the next time you sleep in a safe area. If you do not follow through, I will not bother you again. " The man turned and began walking away. In an instant, he vanished with an invisibility spell, leaving Nisei alone in the clearing.
I am not a murderer, Nisei repeated to himself. A warm breeze blew through the trees and rustled the leaves. It seemed to the Bosmer like the woods were laughing at how false his conviction was. He turned to the food that had been placed next to him. He grabbed the apple and scarfed it down then started nibbling on the piece of cheese; he had not eaten since last night. The pain in his side was still there, but he chose to ignore it. He placed the sword back into its sheath and then grabbed the piece of paper and unrolled it. The map indicated he was not far from the Imperial highway where the "target" did his patrols. Am I a murderer? Nisei thought.
The Bosmer's eyes were moving continuously, from the map to the forest and back again. Despite being part of a race known as "Wood Elves", the boy had no idea how to navigate the woods. Indecision still rested on his brow as he advanced towards the roads. Was he seriously thinking of being part of a guild of ruthless murderers and assassins? He was a healing specialist for Arkay's sake! He couldn't even make basic poisons. But then again, where else did he have to go? There was no way he could go back to the Imperial City; those hooded figures—whoever they were—would be looking for him. Nisei's expression saddened. He couldn't go back; he couldn't see his big sis. What could she be doing right now? Normally at this time Nisei would be taking a break from his usually duties to play some games with her. Sweet Aylian, she must be worried sick. Nisei hoped she wasn't crying. He thought about the Doctor and Madame too. Would they wonder where he had gone? Would they look for him? Doctor was scatterbrained and Madame never seemed to care much for him, but they and all the other residents of the brothel were his family. He knew they would be worried about him.
Nisei snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed the road up ahead. He slowed his pace and lowered into a sneaking position. He might be terrible at fighting, but at least he was excellent at sneaking and evasion. He hid behind a nearby tree and watched the road for his target. After looking around for a bit, he noticed a pair of people in Imperial guard uniform standing near a rock on the other side of the road. One was a Redguard female and the other an Imperial male. The female was lecturing the male and her expression indicated she was exasperated. The male did not care for what she had to say.
Nisei bit his lower lips. Hadn't Lucien said the male guard would be alone? The Bosmer did not have any idea how to take out one guard, much less too. Not to mention that both of them had top quality armor and weapons and horses stationed nearby. He could use a ranged spell, but he doubted any of the mild offensive spells he knew would be able to kill two guards at once. And there was no way he could take on both with just his blade and lack of sword fighting skills.
After a few minutes of yelling, the Redguard seemed to realize that her argument was futile. She mounted her horse and trotted away. Nisei sank down lower behind the tree and waited until she had passed and was a sufficient distance away. His attention then turned back to the Imperial man, who also seemed to have been waiting for the Redguard to leave. The man took the reins on his horse and then began to lead it down a smaller path into the forest. Nisei stepped out from his hiding position behind the tree and silently followed the man.
They walked a short distance and eventually came to clear pool. The guard tied his horse to a nearby tree. Nisei watched as the Imperial stripped his armor and then sank down into the pool. The man let out a relaxed sigh as he leaned against the bank with only his head above the water. Nisei could now see why that woman had been so frustrated with this man—he obviously did not take his duty as a highway patrol too seriously. But the Bosmer could not dally. This was the perfect opportunity—the man was wearing no armor and his weapons were some distance away. Nisei pondered how to kill him. Should he aim a lightning spell at the water and electrocute the man? Or maybe just walk up behind and slit his throat.
A maniacal grin spread across the boy's face. Just this morning, he would have grimaced at the thought of murdering anyone. Now, the possible consequences of this had barely even crossed his mind. But did it matter? He was already essentially a fugitive now, he would not be able to see his family or home again; nothing he did mattered anymore.
Nisei quelled his thoughts and returned his focus to the target. His lightning spells might be too weak; throat slitting would be the best option. The Bosmer crept forward inch by inch, his footsteps painstakingly soft. He slid the blade out of the sheath which he had tucked into the belt that was tied around his waist. He was out of the cover of the shadows now and—Snap! Nisei's entire body froze. He had stepped on and broken a twig. What seemed like an eternity passed, but the target didn't even look around. He had not noticed.
Nisei continued his creeping forward. He was gripping the blade so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. He stopped. He was behind the target. He hesitated for a second. Then, in one swift motion, he brought the blade across the Imperial's throat. The sound of flesh being torn and blood spurting out echoed through the trees. The man's head rolled back and for a second, he seemed to be staring at Nisei with mild surprise. Then his mouth relaxed and his eyes deadened. He was gone.
Nisei dropped the blade and stumbled back. He felt nauseous. He thought this would be like the time he stabbed that hooded figure, but it was different. Back then, the sword had been control. Now, he had killed this man of his own volition. Nisei's knees buckled and he fell to ground, panting. After several minutes he regained his composure. With hands still shaking, his grabbed his sword and placed it back into its sheath. He then scrambled onto his feet and walked towards the horse. It had seemed tense, but had no intention of fleeing.
Nisei placed one had on the horse's neck and gently stroked it to calm it down. It had a bedroll strapped to one side and a pack of supplies on the other. One ground next to it was a silver bow and a holster with several arrows. He tied the holster and bow to his back using the strap that came with the holster. The horse had relaxed a little now. Nisei untied it from the tree and mounted it. The sun was beginning to go down now. The map that Lucien had provided showed the way to the next city; Lucien had said he would visit next time Nisei slept somewhere safe. His heart still beating and adrenaline still rushing through his veins, Nisei took hold of the reins and lead the horse out of the forest and down the road.
