Chapter 4

Nirano clambered through all the vines and roots which jutted out in all locations and sizes. Although he appreciated the gift the Argonian had given him, it did not help with cutting himself a clear walkway through the harsh landscape. It was lucky for him that the Imperial City had such a large tower in the middle, or else he would have lost himself hours ago.

He still felt lost regardless. Everywhere around him were simply more vines and more trees and more…green! Since he had nothing else to do, he simply continued on, always heading towards the Tower. He was still in a fairly good mood however. Things had been overall good for him today.

He had escaped a lifetime sentence in Prison. He had gained a very valuable weapon considering it was enchanted, and he had learned how to protect himself against a variety of creatures in a very short time. He still had his bow and a quiver of fifteen arrows and he had a small, yet decent meal in his bag, which he kept hanging from his belt.

While Nirano was pondering these things, he remembered the Amulet that the Emperor had given him. He had no intention of delivering this Amulet immediately. He did not even know where Weynon Priory was… He would simply keep the Amulet until he felt it was time to locate Jauffre.

After more thinking, he suddenly found himself out of the vast forest, looking upon a small village. He walked down into the center of the village and was met with inquiring eyes by the small population who lived here.

"Excuse me. Can you tell me where I am?" asked Nirano to one of the closest villagers.

"Aye sir! You have found yourself in Pell's Gate my friend!"

"Pell's Gate? Thanks. Do you know where I can find an inn to stay at? I have had a rather long, tiring day."

"Aye. Right over there, by the hill is our fine inn. Cheap too by the way."

"Thank you."

So, Nirano walked his way up the small hill which overlooked the village and entered the Inn. As soon as he stepped foot inside he was greeted by a soft warm glow of seven or eight candles. There was also a roaring fire in the fireplace which immediately warmed him up. He walked towards the lady behind the counter who was washing cups and cleaning plates of food.

"Hello Madam. How much is the fare to stay in your lovely inn?"

"It is only five coins lad. Where be you from?"

"I have come a long way. That is all I am willing to tell you." Nirano answered politely as he gave her five coins from his very small amount of gold. He then proceeded to sit down in one of the chairs next to the fire. There he sat and thought about everything that had happened. He did not know what would happen to Cyrodil now that the Emperor was assassinated. He was probably the only one who knew about it, with the exception of the last Blade who was there to guard him.

Before long, it was midnight, and Nirano climbed up the stairs of the Inn to go to sleep. As soon as his head hit the pillow he drifted off into a deep, untamable sleep.

He was suddenly jerked awake by the loud ringing noise of the Town Bell. He stood up, feeling drowsy and proceeded to put on his clothes. He absently padded his pockets to realize with a sudden shock that his money pouch was gone. Some filthy thief had taken it from him while he slept. He had not locked the door.

Filled with hatred he stomped downstairs and forcefully inquired the Innkeeper about his money pouch.

"Listen to me, where is my pouch of gold? Tell me right now. TELL ME OR YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER MOON RISE!"

The Innkeeper cowered in a corner stuttering that no one else had come in the Inn all night. Nirano, fueled by anger did not listen. He approached the woman and picked her up, not caring if he hurt her or not. He spat in her face and asked her one more time in a slow, low menacing voice.

"Where is my money? You know by the state of my clothes I am not blessed with wealth. That was all I had, and now it is gone. Who came in this Inn last night?"

"No one sir…No one!"

"If no one else came in, then it must have been you." Nirano said.

And with that he whipped out the dagger that had been given to him by the Argonian and stabbed it into her gut. With a muffled scream she fell to the ground, twitching furiously as the Electrical Shocks sent into her body burned all her organs and fried all her nerves. After a few more seconds she lay still, smoke rising from her stomach. Nirano wiped the blade on her shirt and sheathed it.

He then went on to inspect her clothing, finding his money pouch on her person. He dragged her behind the counter and went outside to find it pouring rain. He went back inside and looked for some source of waterproof clothing or for an Anti-Wet Magical Scroll when he saw a bunch of food on the tables.

He strode to the table and put all the food he could manage into his food pouch. Finding nothing to protect him from getting soaked in the rain; he simply put on his hood and went outside once more to be greeted again by a thunderstorm very fierce.

The rest of the day he proceeded towards the Imperial City, occasionally coming across Imperial Guards patrolling the streets. He was always on guard, expecting some kind of attack from a Villager who would have discovered her body by now. They would know he did it and would report him to the Guard. Luckily he never gave any of them a full view of his face as he was always wearing his hood when he spoke to any villager, with the exception of the Innkeeper who now lay dead. She would not tell anyone.

By the end of the day he had reached the gates of the Imperial City and marched through, immediately proceeding to the Market District where he could sleep once more in a cheap Inn. It would be his last Inn for a while since he had no more money.

He silently ate a small meal that he had taken from the previous Inn. Then he slumped back into another deep slumber where he saw many dark, evil faces grinning and laughing at him. He was woken once again suddenly, only to face one of the most terrifying things he had ever seen. A black hooded man stood in front of him wearing a grin that would haunt him for many days to come.

He spoke. "You sleep rather soundly for a Murderer."