"I think you are in the wrong part of town my son." The Librarian greeted.

He was a short old Redguard with a wrinkled face and a neatly trimmed white beard. He wore white robes so long that they fell down past his feet. With one hand he gathered up the slack and in the other was a cane at least twice his size. His arms and neck were tattooed, but the skin was so saggy Roe wasn't sure what the markings were. His voice rang with excitement as if he had not had a patron in years.

"I came here to read. This is a library?"

"My apologies friend! Yes, yes, yes, yes this is a library. You just look like you would be more comfortable in the…Outer plaza."

"Do I look like the type?"

"And what type would that be my friend?" The Librarian pressed his face inches away from Roe's.

"The type that thinks worthwhile knowledge can be bought with coin."

Roe did not move away from the Librarian, thinking that the old man must've had poor eyesight.

"Interesting…then what would you say is the price of knowledge?"

"Life. Knowledge is life and life is the never ending pursuit of knowledge."

The Librarian smiled upon hearing Roe's answer.

"Why did you come to this city?"

"Business."

"What kind of business"

"Personal."

"Ah well, I am sorry to intrude. I'm glad you decided to look through our wonderful library. Please read all the books you want. I will be upstairs if you have any questions." The Redguard bowed and hobbled out of sight.

Roe laughed and shook his head in amusement. He continued to browse through the hundreds of shelves of books, scanning the bindings for interesting titles or noteworthy authors. From the outside, the library appeared no bigger than a tavern. The books were all stored in lower levels. Roe counted three floors connected by spiraling staircases. Each floor was relatively small but the walls were high and every inch of space was used. There was barely enough walking room and sometimes Roe was forced to side step his way through. He took his time, pacing down the rows of bookcases, choosing one at random to look through. Redguards, Their History and Their Heroes by Destri Melarg. Roe opened the book to the first page:

The people of the blade kept their poetry and artisanship in building beautiful swords woven with magic and powers from the unknown gods. The greatest among them became known as Ansei or "Saints of the Sword". Each of these began their own training schools teaching their individual way of the sword. Those Ansei of the highest virtue wandered the country side engaging in battle, righting wrongs, and seeking to end the strife.

"Find anything my good friend? Looking for something specific?"

Roe tried not to laugh. The man barely came up to his hips.

"I was just reading…what is this word, Ansei?"

"Ah, yes! Very good men these Ansei were. They brought our people to Tamriel you know, all the way back in the First Era! Great warriors!"

"Warriors eh?"

"Indeed! I believe we have some literature on the subject if you would like to know more?"

Roe nodded.

The Librarian hobbled away leading Roe to a table down on the bottom level of the library. He motioned for his guest to sit at a table. The old man did not join him. Instead he disappeared for a few minutes and returned holding a large book. Roe read the title: The Book of Circles. The Librarian placed the book down and sat across from him.

"What is this?" Roe inquired.

"A book." The old man laughed rocking back in his chair.

"Cute. What will it tell me about the Ansei?"

"The author was a powerful man. He was the first Ansei."

Roe examined the binding of the book, then opened it up and looked inside the cover. Frandar Hunding. The name was not familiar to him.

"So who is he?"

"I'll tell you what. Since you are my good friend and all I think a little arrangement is in order. I have a task that needs doing. If you complete it for me I will tell you more about the book in your hands."

"I think I'll pass." Roe stood and pushed in his chair. "I really should be going anyway."

"Truly? After all that you had to say about knowledge? For a second I thought maybe I had found someone to have a worthwhile conversation with. And so young too." The Librarian trailed off in disappointment.

"Look, I'm sorry but I have to…"

"I assure you my friend," The Librarian interrupted. His tone was serious. The old Redguard stared deeply into Roe's eyes as if trying to see into his soul. "there is nothing more important than what you will find in that book."

Roe was almost too petrified to decline the offer.

"What do I have to do?"

"Excellent! The books on the third level need to be alphabetized and the shelves dusted. It shouldn't take you more than a few days."


For three and a half days Roe sat in the near dark of a library in Rihad organizing the books from the letters R through Z. Of course I get the floor with the letter R. Every book in here is about Redguards! The Librarian would come and speak with him in the evenings, talking about the city, the Temple, what they each had done with their lives and so on. During the day however the Librarian would leave Roe to his work. Even with such a daunting task before him Roe found time to browse through the books as he stacked them away.

A condition of the deal, the Librarian informed Roe after he accepted, was that he was not to leave the third floor. There were proper facilities for him to survive by - a bedroll and a bucket, and every day at sundown the Librarian brought him a meal with tea. For a little old man he was an amazing cook. The suppertime meals consisted of plates full of roasted vegetables, seared fruits and freshly caught game. He did not serve alcohol, just hot or cold tea. After two days of this royal treatment Roe didn't even mind the monotony of his task anymore. It was some of the best food he ever tasted.

Roe stood as he filed the last book in its proper place, A Tale of the Desert, by Zylmoc the Zulu. He hadn't shaved or bathed in nearly three days and his muscles ached from disuse, especially his knee. After cracking a few bones in his hands, ankles and neck, he called for the Librarian. Soon the old Redguard came hobbling down the stairs. He looked over the rows of books and nodded his head in approval.

"Thank you. I appreciate the hard work you have done."

"You're welcome Librarian." The Redguard still hadn't revealed his own name.

"Yes, yes that will work for now. Now, for the next part of your task."

The Librarian raised his hand before Roe could say anything in protest.

"I noticed in your pack you have a unique schematic. May I ask, are you a smith?"

Roe could've strangled the Redguard's throat until his eyes popped out of his head. He tried to keep his cool even though his face was as red as an apple.

"Actually yes I am."

"Are these schematics yours or are they" The Librarian glanced at the label. "Mister Harith's?"

Roe didn't answer.

"You stole these didn't you? I told you that you couldn't leave the third floor. I'm afraid our deal is off."

"Whoa! I stole that before I even came here!" Roe felt like an idiot for blurting out his confession to a crime in a public place.

"How can I believe you Roe? I mean you are a thief. You just said so."

"Give it back." Roe ordered. "Now."

"No, I don't think I will do that. I'm disappointed in you my friend but I am willing to show mercy. If you return this to exactly where you got it from, then our previous arrangement is back on. We'll forget this whole thing ever happened."

"If I don't?"

"Then the city guard will surely here about this."

"You leave me with little choice."