The cave was completely searched. Not a soul moved inside it apart from Vinziah and me. The second room had nothing but one chest inside, which we emptied. Another door was hanging weakly on the other side, which we carefully opened. Eight bedrolls lay dirty on the ground. In the corners two hammocks suspended off the walls. One slaughtered Nix Hound lay in the middle of the room, chunks missing from its body.
Four corpses were lined up against the far wall, grinning at us, as if they knew something fatal that we didn't. We raided the room, and took all the belongings. Three cloth sacks were found useful to carry the possessions, and we ventured our way back outside, proud of our accomplishments.
'I can't believe it.' Vinziah broke out, limping slightly. He had bleed for quite a while because of the wound from the Khajiit's throwing star. There was a deep gash in his shin, but he pretended to ignore it. Vinziah was one tough guy. It just goes to show, appearance doesn't matter. Vinziah was a skinny, quite skeletal Altmer. He almost looked like a beggar. But he manages to blast away opponents with spells I couldn't even try to control, and withstand serious injuries.
'It's amazing how we managed to raid that cave,' he continued. 'Without even a casualty.'
'Hey,' I joked. 'You're surprised? You were in that cave with me as company! No one can even try to defeat me.'
'Yeah, except for that lady who managed to knock you over and give you several blows to the head. Come on now, a woman! And she was armed only with a dagger.'
'Don't be sexist now!' I laughed. 'Honestly, we found potions, scrolls, weapons, armour, the lot! We'll be rich!'
'I certainly hope so.' Vinziah said solemnly. 'I'm just really glad we can pay back the owner of the Tradehouse. The sad thing is, she's so kind to us, yet we don't even know her name!'
I grinned. The day was turning out beautiful, we had succeeded in the outlaw problem, and we had money, lots of it. Nothing could stop me from being cheerful.
'Vinziah my friend,' I started. 'Let this day be remembered for us. The day, we conquered!'
'Jolin, my second to best friend, I agree.'
'Second to best?' I chuckled. 'Who's your first?'
'Gold!' he joked.
'Funny.' Said a cold voice from behind us. 'Because that's my best friend aswell. Isn't that hilarious, Vinziah?' it mocked.
We both stopped dead in our tracks, and turned. Further along the dirt path, a dark figure stood, sharpening a glass axe with a stone. It gleamed in the sunlight. I eyed it carefully. It was as if the figure cleaned it every day.
My eyes drifted up to meet the man's face. The figure was a Dark Elf, quite young. He was completely bald, and he had two large ears poking out the side of his head. A large tattoo was printed across the Dark Elf's face, though from this far back, I could not tell what it was of. On his body he wore a full set of bonemold armour, exactly like me, except he was without the helm. A saber hung in its sheath at his side. I swore loudly, this man looked like trouble.
'So, Jolin.' The man continued. 'You've been betrayed by your friend, for gold.'
'I was only joking you n'wah!' Vinziah yelled back.
'Now lets not use bad language.' The Dunmer said casually. 'Anyway, to the point. Thankyou for using each other's names, because else I wouldn't have known it was you. I've been assigned by General Vanhil to capture you both and take you back to the Ebonheart prison, and, if you decide to not come quietly, I have been given permission to, kill you.'
I glared back at the Dark Elf.
'What be your name, young one?' I toyed with him. We needed him to think he was inferior to us. 'Tell us, we might recognise you, and you might not get hurt.'
'Don't try and play mind tricks with me, Imperial.' He spat. 'My name is Seth, and I know I can crush you like a bug right here.'
'Then why not try?' retorted Vinziah. 'If you're so great, why not show us some of your moves?'
'So you are not going to come quietly?' Seth asked.
'Never.'
'Right then,' Seth answered. 'By the law of the Empire, I have been assigned to kill you, goodbye.'
He jumped forwards, throwing his rock at Vinziah, who easily dodged it, and sent a success of fireballs the assassin. Seth laughed, and spread put his arms wide, letting the fireballs head straight at his stomach. I cocked an eyebrow, why would he do this. Was he that confident about himself, that he thought he could endure any magic? The fireballs hit into his stomach, and were instantly sucked into his currais.
Seth laughed.
'Vanhil told me you were quite skilled with destruction, Vinziah. So he granted me a spell, and enchanted my currais, so that now it absorbs any magic. Good luck.'
Vinziah growled, and pulled his bow from his back. I dropped the cloth sacks, and drew my two katana.
'Aww, no more fun?' Seth grinned. 'You want to just get it over with? Alright then.'
An arrow shot at Seth, who's smile broadened, and with inhumane speed, he jumped to the side, and appeared beside me, watching the arrow spin away in the distance. I jerked away from him, and swiped my katana weakly at him. He leapt backwards, and shot a blast of lightning at me. I keeled over backwards in pain.
'This is fun!' he proclaimed. 'Tell me, why do the legion sign up such terrible soldiers. You must be joking. Treat me fairly! Try to kill me like you would do with anyone else!'
I gritted me teeth, and threw Vinziah one of my blades, his bow wasn't doing anything to help us. Vinziah caught the handle, and, leaping over me, thrust it forwards at Seth, who flipped over backwards to avoid it, screaming with delight.
His mood had changed completely. At first, he was laid back and cool, but now, he turned out to be quite mad. I rolled forwards off my back and stood up.
Vinziah threw out his arm again, trying to reach Seth, but the assassin merely placed his axe in its holder on his back, and unsheathed his saber. He parried Vinziah's blow with the saber, then twisted it sideways and forced it at me. I had been cautiously approaching, and the saber was too quick for me. It caught me off guard in the stomach.
'Wham!' Seth cried out when the blade hit me. An insane dizziness swept through me as a piercing cold feeling froze me to the spot, and I slowly fell over backwards. Vinziah lunged forwards once again, dropping my katana and landing his hand on Seth's face. I could see a familiar red glow form around his hand, Vinziah was about to blow Seth's head off! But suddenly, the red glow grew more and more, until Vinziah was finally blasted backwards, flying over me. His limp body rolled away and eventually stopped. I could now see what the tattoo on Seth's face was, as it was glowing red-hot.
The sign of the Imperial Dragon was printed across one side of his face. I had never seen a tattoo like it, especially not one that had magical properties.
I cried out in fear, got up, retrieved my two katana, and ran, only stopping to pick up Vinziah's cold body. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Seth prepare to run after me. I threw Vinziah's body over my shoulder, and ran faster until my legs felt as if they were being split in half. There was an odd clunking sound beside me, and I looked to my right, to see Seth jogging slowly beside me, grinning evilly. He must have been wearing something that increased his agility, because his speed, was unmatched.
I thought quickly, knowing that death was near. Up ahead I sighted a burial cavern, I could maybe hide there, but first, to get rid of Seth.
My plan was very simple. I leapt to my right, taking Seth by surprise and bowling him over, then bolted at the door to the burial cavern. I burst my way in, and ran down the long corridor, ignoring a skeleton that I passed by. The more creatures I left behind me and didn't kill, the more Seth would have to get rid of. I smashed open a door, kicking a bonewalker in the face and ran through the room, down the stairs and through another door, finally dropping Vinziah, and drawing my two katana. A bone lord floated at the end of the room. I was expecting it to come charging at me, but ti didn't.
'You were carrying a soul that si about to leave its body.' A disembodied voice came from the bone lord. 'I shall not harm you, for this man is about to become one of us.' It drifted over, preparing to suck the life out of Vinziah.
'Back off!' I cried out, pointing my blades threateningly at the ghost. 'if you come anywhere near here, you'll be nothing but a pile of dust.'
'Very well.' It whispered, and floated back to the other end of the wall. 'There is a man entering this cavern, he supports the Imperial Dragon. We do not. He is not to leave here alive. I'm sure you won't mind will you? Seeing as he came in here, looking to kill you. We can hide you, if afterwards, you give that soul to us.' It pointed at Vinziah.
'Yes,' I lied. 'You can.'
'Alright.' the bone lord answered, I heard a few doors closing in the distance, and some creatures scurrying off to attack Seth. The torches on the side of the walls blew out, and we were left in complete darkness. I cast a night-eye spell on myself. I could see the bone lord approaching Vinziah again. Even though it helped me, I would not let the ghost take Vinziah. I threw down my arm, smashing it down into the bone lord's skull. The bone instantly turned to dust, that fell down onto Vinziah. There was a loud squeal, and the sound of a body falling to the ground. I heard loud footsteps, echoing off the walls of the corridor. Seth had destroyed the monsters, and he probably could sense where I had gone. He would find me soon. But I had one advantage, the night-eye spell, I could see and he couldn't.
I stepped behind the door, preparing to leap on the oncoming foe.
Suddenly, everything went black.
My night-eye had worn off! I had no time to panic, as the door to the room I was in creaked open. I grabbed Vinziah's arm and pulled him slowly towards me. I could feel his pulse in his wrist. He was still alive, but only just.
'Come out, come out, wherever you are!' giggled the man stepping through the doorway. 'I know you're in here! Why not just come out, I need a hug! The other creatures didn't want to play; they preferred to sleep forever more. But what about you? You're fun! Why not come out and we can play together!'
I gritted my teeth and lunged forwards, my blade swinging at where I thought Seth was.
Twang! Blade met blade, and Seth punched out, smacking his fist into my face. I sheathed my blades again, and picked up Vinziah. Then I ran. I pushed Seth out of the way and headed back through the other room and up the stairs.
'Aww, you don't want to play either?' I heard Seth's voice behind me. 'That's too bad! I guess its time for you to go to bed then! Lights out!'
I yelled and burst through the next door, running through another door. I felt my way through the corridors as fast as I could, leaving Seth far behind.
Or so I thought.
A blue light spun at me from the corner of my eye. I screamed, and smacked into a wall headfirst. I couldn't move. Fear was drilling into me from all sides. Then the blue light hit my side, and sent me spiralling at the door outside.
The sudden light of the sun dazzled me as I landed on the ground. Vinziah lay on the ground beside me, still not moving. Ignoring the pain in my side, I jumped up, seized Vinziah and pelted down the dirt road, through the Pelagiad gates and straight to the Tradehouse, where I was met by a guard, who threw out his right arm and hooked me in the neck. I flipped over backwards and landed on my back. Knowing that Vinziah and I were safe. Probably arrested, but safe.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, I hope you enjoyed that chapter, I'm kind of proud of it.
The next one might take a while to come, because it'll be sort of boring and I'm not that enthusiastic to write it. But anyway, thankyou to all those who review, I really enjoy reading your comments. And there you are Knight of Laughs, that was your character. And that won't be the last of you seeing him. And TrailWanderer, your character is coming up next chapter!
