Chapter 16
Vivec opened the door and exited the tavern. It was dark, and he felt the night air cooling his body.
'He couldn't have gone too far…' He thought.
Vivec knew that sailing out of Solstheim was not an option. The time to prepare the boat alone, would take an hour at minimum. The streets were fairly empty, and the only people that still wandered around were mostly guards and beggars. Vivec whispered in dragon tongue, and he began seeing many more signs of life around him.
He saw one particular figure moving quickly towards the guard barracks.
"Found you." Vivec smiled.
Vivec dashed towards the barracks, at an inhuman speed, surprising nearby spectators. He grabbed Maeoni by the neck, and with the other hand, he muffled his mouth, as he tried to open the door to the barracks.
"I didn't want it to have come to this." Vivec whispered to him. He didn't want to draw attention yet.
"But you didn't leave me much of a choice." Maeoni was struggling greatly. Vivec frowned and pressed a dagger close to his stomach. Then Maeoni froze.
"Now you have two choices." Vivec continued. They were now out of sight, and the guards merely dismissed the event as a friendly scuffle between friends.
"You either tell me where the corpse is," Vivec pressed against Maeoni's belly. Maeoni squealed.
"Or I kill you in the many, many ways that I know how to." He finished.
And with that, Vivec slowly released his hand from Maeoni's mouth, releasing an explosion of words.
"The guards h-have it. I put it i-in a s-secret compartment installed i-in m-m-my w-wagon." He sputtered.
Vivec groaned. He hated dealing with guards. They were predictable, greedy, and stupid… But they worked in numbers, and had the capability to instill fear when needed.
"Anything else I need to know?" Vivec asked.
"The key to the c-compartment, i-in m-my left pocket." Maeoni was now regretting with all his life, and praying to the gods that he would make it out alive.
Vivec reached in and fumbled around, and fished out a dull, brass key that reflected the moonlight.
"My thanks." Vivec said, and grabbed Maeoni's mouth again, and with precise movements, he drew a line on his neck with the dagger. Maeoni struggled and tried to shout, but was met with the spluttering of blood from his arteries. His pupils dilated, and his body went limp. Vivec sighed as he began moving the body into a bush, and covered it up crudely with ash. The nights of Solstheim held many creatures, and he knew that by dawn, the body would be reduced to nothing but bones. He just needed to cover it up with ash so that no patrols would spot it from afar.
Checking for any blood that was splattered on his cloak, Vivec made his way back to the guard barracks.
In the darkness of the night, he knew that the guards would be too bothered to ask him the details of his identity. He could claim his package with less bloodshed.
"Halt! Who are you?" The guard in Bonemold armor asked.
"I'm the friend of a merchant checking out a cart he left here a while ago. May I enter?" Vivec replied, with skillful acting.
The guard seemed to be in a trance, but Vivec realized he was just drowsy. He nodded clumsily, and held the door open for him.
Vivec entered the room, and after glancing around to check that no-one was looking, he opened the secret compartment, revealing a mummified corpse, beyond recognition. Vivec sighed as he waved his hand, charged with magic, around the remains. And to his delight, the body hummed lightly.
'The proper reaction.' Vivec grinned. He was one more step closer to obtaining godhood.
To be continued