Hadvar III

"Captain…" I looked at the man as he gave his report.

"I ask that you give me permission to retire. I know that Skyrim needs men like me now more than ever, but I am getting to old for this. I'm in my late forties and could stay in Solitude and train, but I can't manage to do field assignments like I used to."

The small council's eyes turned from the mask of Volsung to all stare at him.

"Who will do these mission in your stead?" The steward asked.

"Hadvar. He has shown himself to be a damned good man since he joined up. He fought at Helgen, fought at Whiterun, fought in almost every major battle we have had, and he has lead units. I recommend him to take my place effective immediately. He has the respect of the Legion, he has experience, he has skill, and he has youth." The Imperial turned to look at me.

That's when I noticed it. The captain was not as young as we all had treated him. He had gray hair speckled throughout his beard and his temples. The lines on his forehead were more from worry than laughter. The war had taken its toll.

"So you say you would train Imperial soldiers, and retire from active duty?" Falk spoke yet again.

"I will." Aldis nodded his head.

"I have something better for the two of you." Elisif the Fair spoke up. Her voice was unusually chipper when she spoke. "The reinforcements from High Rock have been spotted nearing Skyrim's border. This war will soon turn in our favor, hopefully. I will need you to do something else instead."

"Anything. My Jarl." I bowed my head.

"Say the word, my queen." Aldis did the same.

"Hadvar, Matthias, if we win this war I will need someone who can protect me from any threat. My Housecarl does an excellent job of tasting food and keeping riff-raff out of the Blue Palace, but I mean intelligence, espionage, I need people who can tell me what Elenwen is planning, what Tullius wants. You understand?"

"I think so." I looked to my queen.

"You are saying you want us to start up a spy organization like the Blades or the Penitus Oculatus?" Aldis clarified.

"Yes, Matthias you will serve as its head, you will recruit people to our cause and assign them tasks, Hadvar you will be our first and main operative. You both will have regular covers. Aldis, I name you thane of the court. You will be given Proudspire Manor in the city. If anyone asks you have been saving up for yourself and Sybille a home. Yes everyone knows about that. She will transition between here and your home as I never know when I will need her services, but I think she would be as helpful for you. Her scrying can come in handy."

"So how long was this being planned?" The captain asked.

"Well the small council has been discussing it for some time. Excluding yourself and Sybille of course." Falk answered for the queen.

"What will my cover be? I asked.

"You are replacing Captain Aldis. You are now a Captain of the Imperial Legion. Unless given orders to go into the field you will be training men here in Solitude. You will report to Castle Dour at six every morning." Rikke answered.

"Anyway, as I was saying. Proudspire will serve as Matthias home, but it will really serve as the headquarters of whatever you decide to name yourselves."

"What brought this on, my lady?" I asked.

"Falk." She gave him a look.

He cleared his throat. "It has come to our attention that Thane Erikur has been selling our secrets to the Stormcloak rebels. That is how they have been winning so many battles. Like Brunwulf Free-Winter has been doing in Windhelm, but Erikur has been discovered. On top of him selling us out to the rebels, he has been secretly meeting with Elenwen for years. If it comes to war with the Dominion he would gladly sell out the queen for the gold promised by the High Elves."

"How have you discovered this?" I asked.

"He has been sleeping with Erikur's sister for years." Sybille laughed.

The looks on the faces of the small council were disapproving of her words.

"You all knew they were. It's not like they have been discreet." She threw her hands up still smiling. Her smile unnerved me. It has something unnatural about it. I don't care that Aldis likes it.

"Well how do we know of his dealings with the Thalmor?"

"This was found under the door to Elisif's room." Falk passed a note.

Erikur is a spy for the Thalmor. Check the connection between his High Elf "aide" and Elenwen. Meet me at the Winking Skeever. I'll find you.

-M

Next to the M was a random symbol that I did not understand.

Aldis went in and sat down in the corner of the tavern while I went to the bar to wait. I studied the room and saw the normal crowds gathered around with a couple of outsiders. A Bosmer was sitting in a corner talking with a blond Breton woman. An Argonian was eating with an Imperial in wizard's robes. Aldis was talking with the tavern keeper's daughter in the back, but he keep looking over at me.

A cough in my ear. "Care to order anything?"

"Oh…Mead. Salmon steaks with some bread. Thanks." He turned to go fix the food. I reached to count out the coins to pay the man when he returned when I realized my coin purse was gone.

"Looking for this, friend?" A voice behind me called out. My coin purse landed on the bar in front of me. Turning, I saw the Imperial mage taking a seat next to me.

"First rule of sneaking. Never turn your back to a crowded room. You had no idea who you were supposed to meet. It could have been the Bosmer who works for the Thalmor, the Breton who is a trained killer, the Argonian thief, the Nord mercenary, or the Imperial mage." He sneered.

"Safe to assume it was the Imperial Mage." I never turned to face the man as my food was sat in front of me. I paid and started to eat.

"You know what happens when you assume?" He laughed.

"Get down to it, mage." I distrusted mages. All magicka.

"Ah. An ass, I see" He ordered some food. "The name is M. Best you don't know my real name. I am Guild Master of the Thieves Guild in Riften. I am the man who let your queen know about Erikur's dealings. I helped because even if I am a thief I am a patriotic thief. I don't see the Elves doing anything to help the Empire."

I gave no response.

"The strong, silent type." He continued. "He paid the Guild to plant Balmora Blue, a dangerous drug, on a rival merchant. When my thief returned to receive pay, he overheard Erikur talking with the aide. He managed to slip a message into a dead drop before the justicars got him."

"And?"

"And what, you Nordic twat?" The Imperial sneered. "Never tell everything you know. I just gave you the information to find your next lead."

"Asshole." I grabbed my tankard of mead.

"You have no idea." He grabbed his drink and left the bar.