Chapter Two

Elsynia adjusted her armor as she walked down the streets of Riften. But perhaps a more accurate description would be walking down the boardwalks. She Moved her shoulder around to check if the kink in her armor had been worked out. It moved easily and she didn't pay it a second thought.

Walking past the merchents in the market, who called for her attention looking to barter off their wares. She always ignored these people, always scanning every face of the crowds that always dwelled in the markets of every city. It was a good way for someone to remember her fae and in her line of work, that wasn't a good thing. She sighed and walked into the local inn.

The dim candle lit tavern was filled with smoke, from the fires inside or the incense that burnt from each table top. It gave the place a warm familiar smell that made her smile at its pleasantness. Scanning the faces of all the men in the tavern she took note of each at her gaze. None seemed to stand out to her. Satisfied with that, she walked into the tavern, she passed several tables reaching the bar at a fair pace.

Behind the bar, a large blond Nord smiled to her. "What will you be having?"

"Cyrodilic Brandy." She replied taking a seat on a stool.

"Sure thing. Back in moment." He smiled as he made his way down the took a moment to look at the rack of various bottles in the rack behind the counter, she saw what she desired. A bottle with a very unique look. It was black, almost too tinted to see the contents. The slightest glint of liquid could be seen against the dark glass. Returning a moment later the barkeep brought her a tankard of brandy. "A beautiful day, isn't it?" He asked motioning towards the door after he set the mug down.

"A bit cold for my tastes." Picking up the mug from the countertop she took a long sip of the brandy. It burned her throat as it went down.

"Aye, some people are just not as hardy as us Nords." He replied warmly, "But to be honest. I'd galdly trade the cold in for some warmth for a while."

She smiled taking another sip of her brandy, smiling in an almost cringe at the bitter alcohol. She had taken a slightly bigger gulp then she was used to. "I'd like some of that wine back there. The Night Mothers touch I believe its called." She said pointing at the bottle.

"I'm sorry." He said with a serious face. "But I can only sell that by the bottle."

Taking a pouch of septims from her belt she placed it on the table. He nodded and reached up for the bottle, he brought it down. "Its a relatively new addition to my selection. But definetly not an unwelcome one."

She smiled as he passed her the bottle. He retrieved the pouch quickly and walked down to the other end of the bar where a young woman had just gestured for his attention. Drinking down the last of her mug, she got up placing a few more gold coins on the counter. Taking the bottle with her as she left.


Ancus Vendicini smiled as he took in the dusk air. The sun was shining a bright orange through the Great Forest in this Mid Year summer day. He stood on the highest perch of his mill. When he had built this mill fifteen years previously, he had started out with just himself. He had started clear cutting the area to south of here years ago and now his business was begining to thrive. He had seven lumberjacks under him now, and they each had there own various job around the mill.

Taking another moment of thought, he ran a hand through his thick brown hair. It was beginning to get some length to it, that wasn't something he really wanted. Turning and working his way down the ramp to his camp he looked over at the wagon that was being loaded full of fresh timber and pine. He would then take the load out with an escort the next day. They would then take it into Cheydinhal where his wife would sell it at the market for firewood to heat the homes of the townsfolk.

For a moment, his thoughts drifted to his beautiful wife. She had been the jewel of his life. She had helped him establish this company all those years ago and they were still together. It was hard with the distance between them. But he always rode in with the load every week to see her.

"Come on lads, this wood isn't gonna move itself." He said picking up a bundle of wood and throwing it into the back of the wagon. The two Nord men working the wood onto the wagon quickened their pace. Ancus loved that, when the prospect of authority made men work harder. Perhaps it was fear aswell, at being noticed and perhaps losing there employment. Either way, it made Ancus feel more powerful. He enjoyed the feeling greatly.

Picking up another bundle of wood he threw it into the back. He continued this process until the wagon was so full they had to use a canvas cover to secure it down. The canvas was made from mamoth skin that had been shiped from Skyrim to cover the load. It had cost him quite a bit to get it shipped all that way. They tied it down with several ropes and double checked how secure it was. Wouldn't want it shaking itself look and loosing half the load to spillage.

"Good work men, thats a solid days work. Come see me tomorrow morning and we'll talk about who gets to accumpany me to Cheydinhal tomorrow morning."

They nodded and gave various degrees of agreement. They weren't too delighted at the idea of having to escort the wagon into town. It was like this every week now. It was getting harder to get volunteers to go into town.

It had been a while since they were ambushed by highwaymen. But it had happened in the past and the men could vividly remember the encounters. He had defended his wagon then too, cutting down the highwaymen himself. His five years in the Imperial Legion had tought him how to handle himself and they had let him keep his blade when he was done his service. He wouldn't let anyone take his money. It was important to everyone involded to bring back that money.

The various workers began heading back to the barracks they had constructed. It was a fairly large building that he had built a few years back, it served as basic shelter until the winter came.

Walking to his stables he looked at his five horses. All a hardy breed that was common in the mountains to move heavy loads. All, except his personal horse. It was a fine steed that his wife had bought him for there aniversary five years back. He walked over to her, petting her large side and looking into her big brown eyes. "Thats a good girl." He smiled as he ran his hands over the soft fur of the horse. " You ready for this tomorrow? We're gonna have to be quick and strong looking girl. We can't having those goofs being scared off by something trivial."

Leaving the pen he looked out the open door at the setting sun, its last warmth bathing across the forest.

Feeling a hand grab the back of his head and a hand over his mouth, his surprise never left his lips as he felt his neck break, he felt his spine pop as the person twisted quickly and hard.


Elsynia felt the neck break easily. She dangled from a rafter on the cieling from her legs, for a moment she held onto the limp body. She let it go and steadied herself so she could drop without hurting herself. Once she was down, she pulled the dagger from her right hip and bent down, she felt the mans neck. Feeling for the steady pump from his heart. It was faintly still there.

She smiled, as she used her dagger to cut his juggular open. He spent his last few seconds motionless as his life drained away from his body. Sithis was satisfied. This had been a relitively easy kill, the man had a very easy routine and it had not been difficult to memorize.

Her thoughts were interupted as the large bay horse began to cry out wildly. Its loud whine being heard throughtout the stable. The large black horse reared up and smashed the pen door with her hooves. "Easy you big damn nag." She whispered at it loudly.

"Whats wrong with the horses?" Said a man running into the stable. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of his former employer laying in a wet mush of blood and hay. His gaze going to Elsynia who was adorned in her black armor and cowl. He lunged over to a table which contained an old war axe. Despite its age, she was sure it would still kill.

Elsynia dashed forward towards the man. He quickly grabbed the axe turning and raising t it for a powerful hit. She knew this would probably cleave whichever limb from her body that it impacted. She ducked quickly and forward dodging the strike just barely. She raised her blade and its tip sunk into the mans windpipe. Using all her force she pulled the man off his feet in a clothesline.

The hay made a soft puff as he landed. He gurgled in surprise as she placed a leather gloved hand over his mouth. He quietly gurgled to death in a few seconds. She listened intently for more footsteps. Was this job to really become like this? A botch up. She hadn't had a botch up in a while. Not that it was common, but it was just a statistical improbablity that she could pull off every kill without some kind of unforseen circumstance happening.

Leaving the two corpses, she jogged for the door. Exiting outside, the dimly lit orange sky illuminated the mill slightly. She began running for the edge of the lumber mill property. She crossed the distance quickly. Hopefully she would make it out of this place without being spotted. It was not something she would like to end this evening with. A chase.

Jumping the small wooden fence she ran into the forest quickly. She followed the markings she had left on the trees, a small X was placed on trees that would lead back to her horse. A strong and swift white horse called Blizzard. It was a horse she had rode in her younger days, it had served her faithfully through her various career paths in life. Which was something in of itself.

Passing tree after tree, she finally reached the meadow that she had tied the horse up in. She quickly untied the horse from the tree branch and jumped onto it saddled back. She took a moment to steady herself before riding off. Into the beginning of the evening.