Chapter 5

"Holy shit! What—How did you—Who are you?" demanded Nirano.

"I am Lucien Lachance, a Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood. And you, you are a murdered, a cold blooded killer."

Nirano simply stared at this dark hooded man before him. He had never heard of a person called Lucien Lachance, but he had certainly heard of the Dark Brotherhood. Who hadn't? It was the secret Assassin's Guild. He called Nirano a cold blooded killer, but Nirano knew he was nothing…Nothing compared to anyone involved in the Dark Brotherhood.

"What do you want from me?" asked Nirano.

"I am here to offer you a job opportunity. We all know you can kill. You may be about to ask how the Dark Brotherhood knows of your…misdeed, and let me answer you. We know many things. Do you want to hear what the Night Mother wants you to do?"

"Yes. Please, go on Mr. Lachance."

"Ah…I find your etiquette refreshing. There is a man named Rufio. He is currently lodging at the Three Omens Inn. Find him. Kill him. Once you have done this, sleep at any location you deem…appropriate and we shall meet once more, except this time, the Dark Brotherhood will have open arms to your arrival."

Nirano thought about this proposal. He knew that being a member of the Dark Brotherhood was dangerous and it would mean lots more bloodshed on his part. Yet, there are very few circumstances in which a member of the Dark Brotherhood is caught during a murder. Perhaps joining their ranks could protect him. Nirano made a decision.

"I will find this man, Rufio and I will kill him."

"Excellent. Take this. It is a virgin blade and thirsts for blood."

And with those words Lucien suddenly disappeared. Nirano saw his door open and close shut and that was the last he would see of him unless he performed the deed. Nirano had made up his mind however. He would find this man, he did not care if he was innocent or not, but he would kill him, and then he would become a member of the legendary Dark Brotherhood. It was a path he had never thought of taking, but he knew his skills would be of use there. He was after all, called an Assassin by the Blades. Maybe this was his calling.

So with his mind made up, Nirano lay once more in bed and slept soundly, waking up as soon as the light flooded through the curtains. He dressed and had a small breakfast, feeling slightly sickened at his decision, yet determined nonetheless. He opened his door and went downstairs. He said goodbye to the Innkeeper and stepped out into another cloudy day, except this time it was not pouring rain. A good sign as he would have a distance to walk before he found the Three Omens Inn.

He stopped for a while before he exited the large gates of the Imperial City to ask a few people where the Three Omens Inn was. After the third person told him where it was, he was reassured he was going to head the correct way. So he walked out of the city and started to walk on the path towards his destiny.

After four hours of constant, non-stop walking he met a nice woman who was sitting next to a lake. He decided to rest, so he sat down next to her. She told him many things of how she was a potion maker. He asked her questions about healing potions and she told him everything she knew. He found a sudden interest in creating these potions. He could not cast his own magic very well, so what if he learned how to make potions which would replace magic?

When she finished talking about healing potions she got into poisons. She seemed to know much, much more about these than about healing. He always wondered why to the end of his days, but she told him valuable information. Where to collect certain ingredients, how to mix them, what sort of equipment he would need. He was intrigued and he knew it would come in handy to know these kinds of things if was to become a deadly Assassin.

However, he had to continue on his journey so he bade the women fare well and began to walk once more toward the Three Omens Inn. He wondered if Lucien Lachance was trailing him all the way there. Maybe he had followed Nirano since he was born waiting for him to commit a murder. How would he otherwise have known he committed that murder? He said the Dark Brotherhood knew many things. Nirano did not doubt that, but to know whenever a person kills another was a bit farfetched.

So, lost in his own thoughts, he soon found himself standing on the threshold of the Three Omens Inn. Taking a deep breath he opened the door to find himself staring at the Innkeeper tending no one. The place was dead.

"Hello. I am looking for a Rufio. Is here lodging here?" enquired Nirano.

The Innkeeper eyed Nirano suspiciously, but told him that Rufio was downstairs. He could not deny that information to this man, considering if he did, he might leave and that meant he would not be getting any new customers. He needed customers badly, or else he would go bankrupt. While the Innkeeper was thinking about his financial agenda, Nirano slipped through the stairway leading downstairs.

The place was murky, and it was filled with cobwebs and dust. Nirano wondered how long it had been since someone cleaned up down here. He opened every door he came across, wary for someone sleeping. He finally opened the last door to the left and found a peaceful, snoring old man in the room. He was all alone.

Nirano approached the man, not sure if it was Rufio or not, he shook him awake. The old man gasped and looked directly into the eyes of Nirano.

"I know why you are here…they sent you didn't they?" asked the old man nervously.

"Are you Rufio?" demanded Nirano.

"Yes I am. Please do not kill me. I can double whatever they are paying you." Pleaded Rufio.

"I am not getting paid."

Suddenly Nirano plunged the blade Lucien had given him into the Rufio. Rufio backed away and hit a wall. He slumped to the ground, breathing heavily and died. Nirano walked slowly up to him, and wrenched the blood-soaked dagger out of his stomach causing pools of blood to gush out onto the floor. As if it weren't dirty already.

The next instructions were to find a place to sleep. Nirano deemed this place appropriate and shut the door. He then proceeded to lie down on the bed Rufio had just been awoken from and dosed off slowly. He was awake not one hour later.

"Excellent. You have proven yourself to the Dark Brotherhood. The Night Mother is pleased. You must now proceed to go to Cheydinhal. Go to the boarded up house and find a red, glowing door downstairs. Answer "Sanguine my Brother".