Chapter 8: Bright Lights In th City

Tsamusa walked into the Imperial City a couple hours before sunset with a lighter heart than she left the temple with. The City was her element after. She knew the entire layout inside out. Who lived where, how much the total of what they owned would go for on the Black Market, and how many tumblers their locks had. She looked around and sure enough their was an old beggar women, she ran to her and called out, "Excuse me."

"Just a coin!-"

She smiled, it seemed so innocent, "You wear the shadows well, teller of tales."

The old woman smiled, her entire being changed now that she was among an ally, "Ah, one of shadows I see. It was the plain traveling gear you wear that threw me off for a second, Lady Tsamusa." It was true. Bandits didn't attack the poor. If you wore plain enough clothes, they didn't bother you, so she'd grabbed just a white cotton shirt and brown linens slacks. Her shoes were ankle boots with plain metal buckles. Her blade wasn't anything fancy, either, having grabbed whatever was laying in the armory. She needed to get home and get something better from her armaments. Other than that she was set. Armor would slow her down and in the city you could either fight or flee. Fleeing was much more likely to keep you alive. She always was amused by the title Lady, though. "What is it you'll have of me?"

"Go to Armand in the Guild and tell him I've arrived back in the City. I must however, make a stop first. I will swing by when I can and if I can." She slipped some coins in her hand, "And thank you so much deary. You're a lovely old broad."

"You too, milady!" With that she darted away in the direction of the Waterfront. No one had even looked their way. She walked to the Boarding House as she would walk home; in no rush, not really paying attention, lost in thought, blending in. She walked in and she had to suppress a happy cry. Baurus sat at the bar drinking some ale. Slowly, with butterflies attacking her stomach, she walked over to him. He sensed she'd entered and look, smiling at her. Something in it though told her to be on alert.

Sitting down next to him, he turned to her and they sat as if to chat, his smile fixed in place, "Listen, I'm going to get up and walk out of here. That guy in the corner will follow me. You follow him." She didn't look she had seen him coming in. Suddenly without her being ready he leaned over really close to her ear while she remained staring straight ahead, her face flushing scarlet. "Wait for him to follow me though. I just want to see what he does."

"I'm ready when you are."

"I'm sure this'll throw him off, but he'll probably still want me dead." He blew in her ear and she giggled loudly in response. He stood up and winked at her, she smiled and gave him a little wave. Baurus walked to the cellar door and entered. Soon he was followed by the man in the corner. Once he was past where he could look directly at her she ducked behind the bar and snuck over to the end and around the side. As he went through she caught the door, silently following behind the man down the stairs. At the bottom of them he suddenly began to summon armor to him and she pulled her sword, slicing deep in the back of his neck before he could summon a helmet. He died instantly, and Baurus looked around, "Search his body. I'll keep an eye out fo any of his friends." She looked through his pockets and shirt. All she found was some coins (she put them in her own pocket without second thought), an apple and a strange little book.

She examined the book, "Only significant thing."

"Good work..." He said taking it and flipping through it himself. She smiled and looked somewhere else but him. After a few pages he looked up and visably relaxed. He smiled for real this time and suddenly hugged her, "I am glad to see you. You just... Caught me at a bad time."

She liked his hug a little to much, and was saddened when he released her, "I hear you've been getting intelligence on the assassins."

His brow furrowed, "They're a daedra cult known as the Mythic Dawn. They worship Daedra Lord Mehrunes Dagon. I've been tracking their agents..." He looked at the dead assassin bleeding on the floor, and shrugged, "I guess they noticed."

"They must have you mistaken for a trouble maker like myself... I met the emperor's son."

He laughed aloud, "I've won the bet! Glenroy owes me twenty gold!"

"What?"

"He thought you'd take the amulet and split."

"Well whatever he has against me he'll have to get over because I'm also a Blade now too."

An odd look crossed his face, a mixture of being pleased and relieved. There was also something else, "Going to follow the straight and narrow, little thief?"

"Ha, like that will ever happen."

"Fine, where were they hiding the heir?"

"He was a priest in Kvatch. Kvatch of all places to hid him."

"And a priest too. The poor man probably couldn't take his eyes off you." She flushed scarlet.

"What do we do about the book?" She said as he flipped through it once again.

"Hmm... Maybe Tar-Meena can help. She's a member-"

"Of the Mages Guild who works in the Archives."

"Yes... How did you know that?"

She smirked at the surprise in his voice."When you're an Associate you need to know these things."

"You had Guild aspirations?"

"Yeah but it wasn't meant to be. I was... Disowned."

"Well, I'm glad. You wouldn't be here then." He smiled warmly at her, melting her insides.

"She has her hands full with Necromancer research from what I hear." She sighed, Tar-Meena was a feisty Argonian to be sure. "The last time we met didn't end well. She's going to be pissed to see me."

"I'll go with you. Surely she can't take us both on. I'll take point. She actually LIKES me."

"Got it." She said with a glare. They left the Boarding House and headed for the University. "What made you join the blades?" She asked walking backwards in front of him, and watching him curiously.

"My father was in the blades. I began training when I was old enough to hold a sword." He smirked at her, "And why did you join up?"

"Akatosh told me it'd be worth my while. I am his Chosen, you see. God's don't usually take such interest in the roles of mortals, let alone pick a Chosen." Truth be told she wanted to see more of her parents... And Baurus. "Besides, if I survive, it could be fun."

"Fun?"

"Yea, I could become more well rounded. My knife skills and hand to hand combat are excellent, I'm not bad with a light sword and we know I'm stealthy, well loved by most, a great lock picker, but I want to build some muscle. Hone my magic abilities. Stuff like that. I never miss a chance to better myself."

"You are a very interesting girl." They reached the gate leading to the university. Walking through she saw the tower riding up from behind it's walls. She envied the head of the Mages Guild. He had the second best digs in Cyrodiil. He looked up at it too, "I've always wished I was a Mage. I would have joined the minute I was old enough. I'd give anything to live there."

"It is beautiful." Purple torches flared to life as the sun disappeared behind the walls, illuminating the pair. They looked at each other, smiling sheepishly.

"Well? Ready to meet with the dragon librarian?"

She sighed, "If I must."