Hroki was dead but the not so secret investigation into her untimely demise was only just beginning. And how does an investigation really begin? Well, firstly you need a suspect and in Markarth everyone was shady. Everyone had their secrets. But which one of them could go as far as murder? That was the real question.

"You ready?" Emilie looked over at Roggar. "Next" he bellowed.

The two guards sat at a table in the guards tower, awaiting their next potential witness, or suspect. It was time for interviews. To find out exactly where everyone was the on the night Hroki died. Hamal stepped inside.

Hamal

Roggar: Please my lady, take a seat. *points to chair*

Hamal: *sits down* is this really necessary?

Emilie: If everything is fine we'll only be a few minutes ma'am.

Hamal: "Ma'am" Oh please my dear girl I am not a ma'am yet.

Roggar: Anyway...we need to ask you a few questions about the night Hroki died.

Hamal: Well alright let's get it over with. I'm very busy.

Emilie: Where were you between the hours of eight in the evening to midnight...ma'am?

Hamal: In the temple, of course. Where I always am. If you don't believe me Orla was their too. And Senna. Are we done?

Emilie: What were you doing?

Hamal: *pauses* I'm the high priestess of Dibella, like I said; I'm a busy woman.

Roggar: One more question; how well did you know Hroki?

Hamal: I didn't. I've barely spoken to the girl. It's such a shame, she was a very lovely looking girl. Would have made a nice addition to our temple.

Roggar: Ok my lady...that's all. You can go.

Hamal: Is that it?

Roggar: That's it.

Hamal: Well farewell then *winks at Roggar* and see you soon...

"Wow..." Emilie laughed. "Somebody likes you"

"Yeah yeah keep laughing. I don't care" Roggar went red.

"Tell your face. Gods" Emilie laughed.

"Anyway..." he changed the subject "So who's next?"

"Fine. Let's see...Hogni Red-Arm. Our real suspect..." Emilie said.

"Now this should be interesting." Roggar smiled.

Hogni

Roggar: Take a seat.

Hogni: So what's this all about?

Emilie: Just a few questions to...get the full picture of what happened.

Hogni: I didn't kill her.

Roggar: Nobody said you did sir...

Hogni: What you think I can't hear? I've heard the rumors, people are saying I was fighting with her and other such nonsense.

Emilie: Were you?

Hogni: *pauses* Yes...but it's not what it looks like. You see Hroki...she was very...head strong. She had bought some meat but tried to say it had gone bad y'know...I-I told her the meat is always fresh, freshly killed. But...But she wasn't having any of it. She kept shouting...it was nothing really.

Roggar: *leans forward* really?

Emilie: So this blazing argument was over...a piece of meat?

Hogni: *pauses* Yeah...that's all it was.

Roggar: *Stands up and walks to the wall behind Hogni and leans against it* Liar

Hogni: W-What?...I am not lying

Emilie: We found evidence Hogni. Evidence that says you threatened Hroki the day before she died...

Hogni: Nonsense, complete nonsense!

Emilie: *Shows him Hroki's diary* is this nonsense Hogni? Hmm?

Hogni: Where...where did you get that...?

Emilie: This diary states, and I quote: "He deserves to pay for what he's done. He's a murderer".

Hogni: *Gulps and loosens collar*

Roggar: Can you explain that Hogni? *Walks over to behind Hogni and pats him on the back*

Hogni: I...I thought Degaine killed her? Are you not investigating that?

Emilie: Look at that Roggar, he avoided the question perfectly. S if he's used to lying. Are you used to lying Hogni?

Hogni: I never killed anyone. The girl was clearly lying. Spoilt brat didn't know what she's talking about...

Roggar: "Spoilt brat"?

Hogni: I'm not going to pretend I liked her; I didn't. She was a brat that had everything handed to her on a plate, and thought she was better than everyone else.

Emilie: Did you teach her otherwise? Did you kill Hroki and dump her body in the Warren to show her she's not?

Hogni: I didn't kill her! I threatened her...and she threatened me right back...

Roggar: Threatened you with what?

Hogni: She thought...she said I murdered my wife, gods rest her soul.

Emilie: I wasn't aware you were ever married Hogni.

Roggar: You never declared you had a wife...

Hogni: She vanished a long time ago. We weren't...living in Skyrim. Her body was never found.

Emilie: How do you know she's dead then?

Hogni: I just...I just know. Hroki threatened me with that, when she discovered I was married.

Roggar: Where were you on the night Hroki died?

Hogni: Erm...let me see. In my room, yes. In my room at the Inn.

Emilie: Can anyone confirm that?

Hogni: Maybe...I don't know.

Roggar: Did you speak anyone?

Hogni: No

Roggar: Did you see anyone?

Hogni: Well...no but-

Roggar: Then no one can confirm it...can they?

Hogni: *pauses* No...No I guess not.

Emilie: That's enough for now sir. You can leave now.

Hogni: Oh alright...I'll just...ok. *Hogni exits awkwardly*

"He's lying" Emilie said thinking out loud.

"Yes, yes he is. He's lying about a lot of things" Roggar agreed.

"You think our butcher is the killer?" she questioned

"I don't know what to think" he sighed

Ghorza

Ghorza: *storms inside shoving door open* you vile scum!

Roggar: Ma'am please sit down-

Ghorza: I thought Markarth was a place to escape from the ignorance and prejudice of the Nords.

Emilie: Ma'am-

Ghorza: A girl is murdered and obviously the first person you guards decided to interrogate was me; An Orc.

Roggar: You're not the first...and we only want to ask you a few questions to eliminate you from our investigation. That is all.

Ghorza: *grunts* Fine, let's get this over with *slams down onto chair*

Roggar: Where were you the night Hroki died?

Ghorza: Sleeping.

Emilie: Alone?

Ghorza: *stares at her* Yes. Alone.

Roggar: Did you know Hroki well?

Ghorza: No...

Roggar: You sure about that?

Ghorza: *leans forward* I'm sure

Emilie: You don't sound very sure?...

Ghorza: Look...she's a nord. I'm an Orc. We didn't speak. That's the way things are. She passed me now and again sure, down by the smelter. But she did look...troubled I guess? She looked like she had the weight of all of Tamriel on her shoulders.

Roggar: You know why?

Ghorza: I thought that was your job to find out?

Roggar *smiles* that is all. You can leave now.

Ghorza: Thank the gods...

Ghorza pushed the chair out and stormed out of the room slamming the door open. She shoved past Raerek on her way out, almost knocking the old man over.

"Orcs..." he muttered with disgust. "Think they rule the place now. Back In my day they would have been killed for that" he turned to the two guards heading towards him.

"What is going on here? I thought I warned you-"

"We found new evidence that suggests Hogni Red-Arm is our killer" Roggar interrupted.

"I have a mind to-" Raerek stopped "Wait...what? Hogni? The butcher?" Raerek paused.

"Yes, he was...seen threatening Hroki the day before she died" Emilie said cautiously.

"Seen by who?" Raerek persisted.

"Um..." Emilie couldn't tell him about the diary, not yet.

"Seen by a witness whose identity we want to keep secret. For safety" Roggar said with a smirk.

"For safety? Hmm fine. It still doesn't change the fact you went against my orders and continued to investigate this despite already having the killer locked up!" Raerek lectured and he stood so close he was practically spitting on them

Roggar wanted to punch him so much.

"The Jarl wishes to speak with you two" Raerek went to leave "Well what you waiting for; NOW!" he barked before slamming the door behind him.

"Can I punch him?" Roggar pleaded. Emilie thought about it.

"Maybe later. Depending on how well this inquisition goes" she said walking ahead. Roggar sighed.

The two witnessed Kerah and Endon having a somewhat violent argument outside their home as they made their way to Understone Keep.

At the keep Igmund was waiting impatiently, sitting in his throne.

"Stop there" he said and the two stood at the bottom of the steps. Faleen, Igmund's housecarl stood in front of them.

"It's alright Faleen, their not in trouble...yet" Igmund said.

Faleen had been overly paranoid since Hrolfdir, Igmund's father and former Jarl, was killed during the Forsworn Rebellion and she couldn't save him.

The redguard woman liked to come across as tough. Emilie could see right through it.

"You may approach" she said sternly.

"Raerek just told me you have been looking into the murder of that young girl...Horkil?"

"Hroki" Raerek corrected.

"Yes. Either way it doesn't matter. We have our killer; locked up in Cidhna mine" Igmund continued.

"Sir I believe..." Roggar looked at her "I mean... we believe Degaine is innocent. There's no way he could have killed her" Emilie tried to convince the stubborn Jarl.

"I assume you have evidence?" the Jarl asked.

"They have a witness who says Hogni argued with the girl the day before she was killed" Raerek revealed.

"Really? Well this does change things...Where is this witness?"

"We...sir we...we can't..." Emilie went silent.

"We can't reveal our witness because we don't know who they are. An anonymous note was left revealing the details" Roggar lied.

"Hmm..." Igmund paused as Raerek eyed the pair suspiciously. He, surprisingly, didn't say a word.

"Very well then. You can keep looking into Hogni. Secretly, of course. I'll give you three days to find something. No more than that" he said and Faleen shooed them away.

As they approached the exit Raerek called them and rushed over to them.

"What was that? You told me you had a witness, and you told the Jarl you received a note...which is it?"

"We should tell him..." Emilie whispered into Roggar's ear.

"What?! Are you serious?" Roggar whispered back.

"Y'know I may be old but my hearing is as sharp as ever. I didn't tell the Jarl you lied, what makes you think I will now? Tell me"

The two paused "We found Hroki's diary" Emilie revealed and Roggar stared at her.

"Her diary? What did it say?" Raerek asked.

"She said Hogni threatened her. Where still reading the other entries" Emilie divulged.

"Gods...this is more important than I thought. The victim, speaking from beyond the grave. Do you realise how crucial this diary is? This diary could point us straight to the killer"

"We know...that's why we're going to read it now"

"No...No need. I'll take it. I'll read it"

"Sir?" Emilie said nervously "We're not letting you take the diary" Roggar stepped forward.

"Roggar!" Emilie grabbed his arm.

"Excuse me but I don't think you have a choice. I'm leading this investigation now and unless you want me to go back and tell Jarl Igmund everything you will hand that diary over" Raerek uttered.

There was a long and silent pause between the three of them before Raerek spoke again.

"You two continue the interviews. I'll read the diary. We can work together. I need to do this. I owe it to Hroki" Raerek asserted.

"Give it to him..." Emilie said regretfully. Roggar focused on her.

"Roggar...give it to him" she repeated. He handed it over roughly, and stormed outside.

"That boy needs to learn some respect" Raerek scoffed.

"You better be with us" Emilie started "If you dare..."

"Trust me my girl I am with you's. I want to find the killer just as much as you do" he proclaimed.

"Good. You better" Emilie warned, before heading back after Roggar.

Raerek studied the diary, flicking through the pages. He suddenly felt a presence standing behind him.

But all he found was nothing there but shadows. This wasn't the first time this had happened.

The old man took a brief and hurried look around him. He shoved the diary inside his satchel and headed back inside.

Little did Raerek know that he was being watched and someone had been watching him for some time. As the old man made his way back inside a figure stood in the shadows, waiting patiently for the right moment. And that moment was coming soon.