Chapter Two

"Councilor Aryon, with all due respect, I don't see who else could be behind this!" Sarethi again threw that cursed accusatory finger again. Aryon promised himself he would break that finger off one day. Or maybe dip it in acid. Perhaps cut it off, and use a heated blade to close the wound…Yes, that was it. Aryon broke off his silent contemplation, when he noticed the other House leaders gazing upon him. He stood up, and put all of his magically persuasive enchantments to work. "You automatically mark House Telvanni behind these recent murders. You know us, we don't care about your petty houses. We have our marks set higher." Crassius Curio spoke up at this moment, and spoke with unusual power. "Excuse me, Master Aryon, but House Telvanni is the only house that hasn't been attacked! I am afraid that you're house is violating the acts of Inter-House warfare. Until we discover that this is some sort of freelancer, or some fool bent on veangance going about, then we have no choice but to have your House put under investigation by the Empire!" Curio fell back into his usual manner of speech then. "That's how the cookie crumbles sweetie." Aryon pondered these words for a moment, and then made his exit. At the door, he turned around, and spoke with an air of dignity, and power. "If you believe that searching House Telvanni will bring the evidence you require, so be it. House Telvanni shall not impede your progress."

"I told you fools what would happen! I told you what would happen if we reached too far! Blast it!" Aryon was infuriated. "How can we clean up this mess?" Ienab Indobar was the first to speak. "Solding knows of everyone he has hired…certainly, with House Telvanni's power and influence…we could have all the assassins killed?" Aryon immediately began shaking his head. "No, no, we need a scapegoat. Someone that would fit as an angry misfit, someone displeased with their lot in life…" Aryon suddenly perked up, his dark red eyes suddenly brightening. "Bring me Neloth…" Ienab smiled before the next words left his mouth. "Dead, preferably." Ienab dipped his shoulder in reverence, and left the tower. Ienab wouldn't want it any other way.

Lucafein woke up early the next morning, and ate his breakfast. He was on his way out, before he struck a conversation up with the innkeeper. "I know I have no chance of finding this assassin. I am just glad you convinced me of my proper place…" The innkeeper gave him a smug smile, and a little laugh. "Decided against dyin' did we? Good choice I say. Not that it matters. I hear that the Hlaalu are gonna' hunt down them uns' responsible, and gut em' good. The guys responsible have been leaving a special empiric seal. Dem' same guys that killed dose Redoran fellers a few days back too. Not the Morag Tong, but sum uver group. The Hlaalu are trying to get the group invalidated so they can go after them." Lucafein stifled a smirk. The Empire had been sponsoring them as an assassination group since he and his friends had left the Morag Tong…they recognized the clan as a valuable tool. The Hlaalu would be beating their head in a brick wall. Lucafein flashed his cheesiest grin. "Thanks for your time."

"Ranes…it seems your favorite client is somehow behind the recent deaths of our Hlaalu brethren." Orvas Dren looked upon his enforcer, and gave him a fierce look. "Therefore, he is going to have to be eliminated." Ranes Ienith frowned. Lucafein was a great contact, often gathering him special weapons, gold and jewels. Many enchanted weapons had been secured by Lucafein for payment, and Ranes didn't wish to destroy him. Even though he didn't like the cocky assassin, he certainly respected him as a valuable tool. Not to mention as a dangerous fighter. "This will be quite the excursion Master Dren…I'll need our best men, this character is quite the fighter…" I'll give you your choice of ten men. Certainly, that's enough to handle one man." Ranes left the villa in a bad mood. All the wonderful toys he got every month, were just going to go down the drain. Lucafein always did have a huge amount of special weapons and enchantments though…that'll cover whatever usefulness he was to me. Yes, Ranes thought. His usefulness ended now.

Lucafein walked in the Flowers of Gold Cornerclub, clutching the weapon given to him by Solding. He handed it to a dunmer at the entrance, and he handed it to another one sitting at a table. "Hello Ranes." Ranes Ienith was a Cammona Tong enforcer, and a good one at that. ""Why Lucafein…what can I help you with this beautiful day?" Lucafein hated the fool, but he needed him now. "I need you to transfer this Gold back to a bank in the Mainland." Lucafein hated having anything to do with the Cammona Tong, but they had the resources to pull off any such handling of money easily. His father had absorbed a tremendous amount of debt in the mainland, and Lucafein was still paying off his debts. Ten years after he died. His mother was the only family he had left, and he sent all of the money he could there every month. Usually, the Cammona Tong handled the shipments, for various prices. Today seemed not to be too out of the ordinary. Ranes broke the silence. Lucafein threw a large bag of gold on the table, and then a smaller bag with a few precious stones contained inside. "As per the usual. Four-thousand gold, with twenty precious stones to cover your regular rate." Ranes counted the gems, and pocketed them quickly. He then grabbed the dagger, placed it on his belt, and stood. "Great doing business…I've gotta run, talk later, right?" Lucafein simply gave his best fake smile, and said with similar false sincerity, "I can hardly wait until our paths cross again." Ranes grabbed the gold, and left. As Ranes left the Cornerclub, Lucafein noticed all to late that the regulars at the Cornerclub were gone. There were no Ordinators. The bartender…Lucafein was immediately on his guard. He calmly ordered a drink, and pretended to reach for some money in his vest. He discreetly inched his other hand towards the crossbow at his waist, knowing he would have to use it to get out of the door. "Cancel that drink order bartender, I've got to run…" The dunmer on his left struck first, stabbing at Lucafein's face with a large dagger. Lucafein leaned backwards in his chair, and grabbed one of his throwing daggers. He threw it at a dunmer in front of the door, and then fired a crossbow-bolt at the dunmer on his left. Both were direct hits, with the crossbow bolt utterly destroying the first dunmer, and his armor. The dagger hit the dunmer in the stomach, and he was now writhing in pain next to the wall. Lucafein returned the Crossbow to it's holster on his side, and drew his Daedric Katana. He used it in large sweeping motions, trying to give himself some room in the crowded Cornerclub. While all of the thugs about the room gave him some leeway, he grabbed his only three throwing stars, and threw them as hard as he could at the largest dunmer, who wielded a War Axe, and a shield. Predictably, the shield went up to intercept the missles, and Lucafein sprinted by, and cut at the back of his legs with

his Katana. Only a few steps from the door now, there were still two more dark elves in his way. They just come out of the woodwork…Lucafein thought, and grabbed his dagger from his side. The Black Hands dagger was once in the possession of the Morag Tong. When he left the secretive group, he made sure that Eno Hlaalu handed the weapon to its rightful owner. Lucafein first faked a stab with his katana at the dunmer on his right, and quickly changed the swords route, slashing at the other thug on his left. The blade had no real chance of hitting his target, but it took both of their minds off of the real threat; The Black Hands Dagger. Lucafein spun in a complete circle, and stabbed at the first dunmer. He brought his shield up quickly, and caught the dagger cleanly. The dunmer then brought his dwemer short sword, and stabbed with all his might. Or would have, had his arm still been attached. Instantly, he fell down, and screamed in agony. The other dunmer was not using his time idly, and he swung his glass longsword with all of his strength, trying to catch Lucafein napping. Lucafein caught the blade easily with his katana, and stabbed his former assailant with his dagger. He didn't stab him hard, and he knew he didn't have to. The dagger would blind him long enough to get out the door. He kicked down the door, and sprinted towards the exit. Five steps away from salvation, he was struck in the side by something. Something sharp, and very painful. It seems they have an archer with them…He put the Katana back in its holster, and whispered some words into one of his many rings. He didn't have time to see if his enchantment worked, and opened the door, walking into freedom.

So he thought. As soon as got out of the door, two men dressed in black accosted him. "We're here by order of Eno Hlaalu to end the life of one pitiful Lucafein Rodarys. I assume you know of who we're talking of." The cocky High Elf that was speaking was already getting on his nerves. He had to get out of this area quick, and back to Krysa and Tzan on the lower le...

"Oh no…" The High Elf had a laugh at this. "That's right tough guy. We're here to take you down." Lucafein didn't even acknowledge his presence. He simply sprinted towards the ramp that would take him to the lower level of the Redoran Compound. He had to get to Krysa and Tzan before anyone else did. Immediately, the Bosmer next to the High Elf reacted, and threw a throwing star at the assassin. The High Elf drew a sword, and prepared to chase him down the ramp.

Lucafein stopped, pivoted, and launched a small orb of magic at the high elf, and then drew his short sword. He jumped towards the Bosmer, and gave a mighty slash. The Bosmer didn't have any shield, and his armor couldn't stop the powerful swing. He fell to the ground with a heavy thud, and moved no more. Lucafein prepared to run towards the ramp again, but the Cammonna Tong operatives were coming out of the door, and rushing towards him. The High Elf was right behind him too. He knew if he wanted to get away, he'd have to try something desperate.

He secured his sword, checked his belongings, and jumped off the side of the canton.