Ahalivia Thief Fic
Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to Bethesda Studios. I own Ahalivia.
Chapter 21: Lettering it Out Part 2
It was night, and I skulked through the yards of Anvil to get to the abandoned house. As I snuck inside, I saw him at the top of the stairs. I walked up to him, no longer stalking and he said that the forgery was done. I paid the fee of five hundred gold pieces. I thought to myself that this better be worth putting Lex out of business.
I got the forged letter and had to head to the Imperial Legion Office, which was near the Imperial Prison in the Imperial City. Oh, joy. I made it there and it was about sunrise. I could go in and risk it, but I would be caught and the whole scheme would go awry. Instead, I decided to spend the day in the area of the Imperial City, resting, casing out places to steal, and maybe even explore Sideways Cave, which I came across earlier. Then, I would sneak in at night to the office.
I decided to explore the cave earlier when I escaped the Imperial Prison that day. Gods, it must have felt like a month or something when that happened. A month, and I am already a cat burglar for the Thieves Guild. How my life has changed.
Sideways Cave was a little more frightening than I thought. I encountered imps and trolls and, though their remains made for expensive spell components, I was not about to totally risk a full out exploration of the cave, especially when I came across some ruins down there, deeper in the cave. I decided that I should come back here, with a little bit more training and better equipment before venturing down into places I had no idea about.
I returned to the Imperial City and, after having my equipment repaired and whatever loot I was able to find sold off, I rested and mentally prepared myself at my room in the Merchants Inn. As I lay in the comfortable bed, I reflected on my life, and all that I had been doing.
I was a shadow, one that would hide from fate's cunning hounds. It has been a while since I heard that from the Emperor. I shook my head; no, I cannot save the Empire. I can only save myself.
I awoke a few hours later and noticed it was nightfall. I left the Merchants Inn and snuck into the Imperial Prison District. I stayed in the shadows, but there was a captain of the guard that I had not seen before contemplating entering one of the doors. I waited in the shadows, hiding in the doorway of the entrance I needed to go. After a few minutes, he went inside. I did the same, picking the lock as I did. I had to be quick in and out before he got out again.
I entered and quickly and quietly sealed the envelope with the seal that was sitting on the desk. As I escaped the office, I headed straight to Anvil, my heart racing with both excitement and fear. What if I was spotted? What if the alarm had been raised? I could not worry about that now. Now, I had to get to Anvil and the countess.
It was morning when I arrived and, when I saw the countess enter the throne room, I knew I was right on time. I delivered the letter and she noticed Lex's name right at the top. She then handed me the transfer orders I was to deliver to Lex himself. I nodded and was off again. Along the road, I chuckled to myself at how gullible and stupid she was. This was going off easily.
I returned to the Imperial City and tracked down Lex. He was at the Waterfront, again, marching with his band of misfit guards. I approached Lex and I told him I had a package for him. I handed the orders and he was horrified. He cursed that the Gray Fox was behind this, but, as a soldier, he had to obey the order.
I decided to return to Bravil in the evening and found S'krivva in her home. I told her everything that happened and we both laughed heartily at the scheme. She reimbursed me for the forgery, and did a few other things too. For one, I was promoted to Shadowfoot. Second, I could use Orrin the blacksmith in Castle Anvil as a fence. And third, since she did not have any jobs for me, that I may be receiving messages from the Gray Fox himself.
I went to the Lonely Suitor Lodge and slept heartily. I had never been happier in my life.
During the night, I had a strange dream. A woman in a black shawl and cloak was calling out to me. She had no eyes, and she was calling to me to find her eyes. The eyes of Nocturnal…
Next Chapter:
The Eyes have it