Aurelian surveyed the spot he had chosen, it was a nice quiet little corner of Green Emperor way, shaded by a statue of Talos that the Elves had defaced in the War. It was protected from sight by the main path through the acres of parkland by a thick hedge that was originally cut in the shape of some long dead Akaviri potentate that had after years of neglectful gardening resembled nothing so much as a thick sausage bent at a peculiar angle. Aurelian's favourite thing about the spot that he had chosen was that he knew he had plenty of options to get away if this hand-off went poorly. He remembered what Harrald would say about relying too much on a plan to go well ; Plans are like playing cards, you can't rely on things going your way. Aurelian decided to check his gear one last time before he settled into wait just in case the old was right. His rapier and dagger were old and well used but he made sure to sharpen and oil them every night, they were the only thing he had ever gotten from his father after all aside from his rugged good looks. His battered third or possibly fourth hand leathers were in as decent condition as was possible. They must have been made for a man with a much larger frame than he or perhaps they belonged to some long dead Orc mercenary for they hung loose on him particularly around the chest and shoulders. Aurelian was not overly confident of them stopping much more than errant dagger. Lastly he had the item that had caused this trouble. He had been scavenging in the ruins of some old mansion outside the city wall on Lake Rumare shore's. It had been destroyed in the war by the Elves when they had taken the city. Aurelian had been hoping to find some jewellery or something that he could sell but instead he'd found some old shield decorated with a sigil of a sword wrapped in thorns. Obvious even to his incredibly rudimentary magical education it was potently magical. So he'd done the obvious and brought it back to the city to try and sell it. Someone must have told the Indarys' Family what he was trying to do, apparently it was some sort of family heirloom from when they used to be the Counts of Cheydinhal. He'd heard they were looking for him. So he figured that he would try and cut a deal, sending them a letter offering to sell the shield for a thousand septims at this spot in Green Emperor Way.
A flawless plan truly. Strong arm one of the most vicious crime families in the Imperial Cities. Aurelian thought to himself. The truth was he was desperate for the money. A thousand septims would be enough for him to finally leave this Divines-damned rat hole of a city. Maybe head up to Sentinel or Daggerfall. Somewhere he could start again away from the filth and scars of the war that haunted everyone in this city.
I can do this. Just be calm and confident. Aurelian repeated to himself while he waited minute after torturous minute. After what felt like an eternity he heard the sound of footsteps approaching his little alcove. Taking a deep breath Aurelian assumed a posture that he hoped suggested confidence.
"My my my, quite a little hidey-hole you have here Sera" A voice with a rich Nibeanese accent intoned as around the corner of the hedge walked three mer. There was a slim dark elf dressed as though he had just come from an audience in the Emperor's court in fine silks and velvets. His bright red eyes peered at Aurelian with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. His smooth grey skin made it impossible to guess his age. Rings glittered on every finger. There's my thousand septims on the hand he wipes himself with Aurelian observed dryly. Behind this richly dressed mer stood two other dark elves. They looked like they had just got off the boat from Morrowind all hungry stares and gaunt features. They were armed and armoured in good quality chain shirts and both of them carried an assortment of wicked looking blades.
The richly dressed Dark Elf looked Aurelian up and down. Aurelian was fairly sure he saw a flicker of contempt in the Dark Elf's eyes. They were always tough to read, didn't use much facial expression, apparently it was all in the eyes.
"My name is Ralis Indarys, you claim to have found a piece of my family's property?" Ralis inquired with an intensity that disturbed Aurelian.
"That's right," Aurelian replied stiffly, desperately hoping he hadn't bitten off more than he could chew.
"May I see it?" Ralis enunciated carefully as though speaking to an idiot.
"Do you have my gold?" Aurelian was surprised by his own confidence.
"Oh by the Eight, Dalvus show him" Ralis clicked his finger to the mer on his right and Dalvus reached into his belt and opened a pouch to show Aurelian a couple dozen sovereigns, each worth twenty-five septims each.
They actually bought the money? By the Nine I might just pull this off.
Nodding in his acceptance, Aurelian reached for the sack at his feet and reached inside carefully pulling out the shield. It was a beautiful piece, it was made from some sort of silvery steel and even in the later afternoon sun it shone brightly. The sword in the sigil looked as though it had been wrought with real silver and the thorns that wrapped around it looked like copper. The magic radiating off it suggested an enchantment that fortified stamina. Frankly Aurelian thought a thousand septims was getting off cheap.
"Give me the money, then I give the shield, sound fair?" Aurelian offered.
"It's almost seems like you don't trust us. Imagine a common little gutter-rat like you impugning the honour of my family like that. It's quite aggravating"
"Think of it as paying me for a service rendered' Aurelian retorted
"Services rendered? For picking over the bones of my family's summer home?" Ralis' voice gained a dangerous aspect and Aurelian swallowed nervously.
"Look, just give me my money. I'll put the shield down and we can all walk away happy."
Ralis considered it with the same air of a fat merchant considering what to have for desert next.
"No, I think not. I came here on the off chance you were somebody worthy of my consideration but instead I find a scrawny boy in ill-fitting armour demanding a thousand septims for something that I already own. Dalvus, Nelyn kill him and bring me the shield"
Molag's Balls Aurelian cursed. He started looking frantically around for the route of escape that would ensure get him the Oblivion out of here. Something caught his eyes, a banner flapping from the White-Gold Tower. It was just the empire's flag. A black dragon on a red field, Aurelian had seen it everyday of his life. This time was different. Something about the way it moved in the wind made it seem like the dragon was in flight and it stirred something deep in him. How could he run from these thugs here? Amidst the graves of his ancestors, who had fought tooth and nail to bring peace and justice to Tamriel. How could he run from these thugs and still call himself an Imperial? Screwing up his courage Aurelian decided to attack. He remembered some half-mumbled piece of advice Harrald had given him years ago, when Aurelian was getting his milk teeth knocked out by the local kids every week; If you're outnumbered, be aggressive keep them on the back foot. More foes, more glory Aurelian remembered that excited grin Harrald had said to this day, if only he was here to see this.
He took a deep breath and threw the shield at Ralis like discus in the old Nibean games. However the thing about shields that Aurelian realised all too late was that they are not really designed for throwing. The shield went wide and instead of hitting Ralis square in the face, it clipped Nelyn on the shoulder. In the precious seconds his shield toss had brought him Aurelian drew his rapier and lunged towards the distracted Nelyn. It was a good quality blade. Forged in the Breton style, long and slender with a basket shaped hilt. Aurelian had always moved quickly, a product of his upbringing in the slums of the Waterfront. He closed the distance towards Nelyn and slashed an overhead cut towards his unarmoured face. Nelyn distracted by the shield toss had barely had a chance to turn around and face Aurelian before the blade hit him. Silvered steel bit into grey flesh sharply, dealing a devastating cut across the Mer's face blinding him in one eye. At this point Aurelian remembered there were other enemies he needed to worry about. Turning to his right Dalvus was advancing on him with a shortsword drawn. Ralis on the other hand was watching with the mild amusement of an audience member at the Sundas Matinee in the Arena. Nelyn was frantically pulling a potion off his belt. Aurelian knew he had a precious few seconds to deal with Dalvus. He thrust his rapier at the Dunmer's throat, hoping for a quick kill but it was parried with almost contemptuous ease by the Mer. Getting frustrated Aurelian brought his rapier down in what he hoped would be a devastating strike but Dalvus was too quick for him, bringing his shortsword up too block. Their blades were locked together, both of them straining against the other. Aurelian risked taking his left hand off the rapier and drawing his dagger from the sheath on his back. Then quick as a snake he stepped forward and stabbed the towards Dalvus' unarmoured groin, hoping to get the Mer's major artery. Aurelian must have surprised him because he tried to grab at the dagger as Aurelian stabbed at him but this time Aurelian was faster. The dagger pierced cloth and flesh, and suddenly Aurelian's hand was drenched in blood, wrenching the dagger out Aurelian turned to face the remaining mer as Dalvus collapsed to the ground.
Ralis surveyed the bloody scene before him; "Well Well, it appears this rat has some teeth after all" Before extending his arm and twisting his wrist in a way the Aurelian recognized as casting a spell. Aurelian charged towards him hoping to strike him down before the spell was cast. Aurelian covered the fifteen feet between them quickly but as he thrust his Rapier towards Ralis' unprotected chest he saw a blade materialise out of the air and block his thrust. The blade was jagged and made of twisted red metal. The nine-damned heathen had conjured a blade from Oblivion. It was rare to see conjuration magic practised publicly in Cyrodiil these days, it was a great way to get the Vigilants of Stendar kicking down your door.
Aurelian knew that he had to end this quickly, Nelyn was probably almost back in the fight. Pressing so that Ralis and he were as close as lovers with only the blades between them. He brought his left knee up sharply towards Ralis' groin hoping to break the Mer's concentration. Instead he found his own concentration tested as a sudden gout of flame erupted between them. Leaping back surprised and hurt. He felt the heat blistering his skin through the burnt leather that was his armour.
Ralis laughed in malicious delight as the flames licked his fingers. I have to finish this Aurelian thought grimly. The Mer was too strong with magic for a frontal assault. Deciding to take a risk Aurelian threw his dagger at Ralis face, it was not a dagger designed for throwing but it achieved its purpose in distracting Ralis long enough for Aurelian to call forth his magicka, with his newly freed hand Aurelian shaped the energy into a jagged shard of ice and shot it at Ralis' unguarded left knee. The shard of Ice hit with a brutal crack as the bones in Ralis' knee shattered from the impact. The Mer screamed loudly and fell to his one good knee letting his blade fade back into oblivion as he desperately called forth healing magic to try and repair the damage.
This was the opening Aurelian needed, he charged forward, grabbed the Mer by his hair and pulled t so that he was looking Aurelian in the eye. Aurelian saw his fear and pain but he too worked up too care.
"You should have just paid me you stupid bastard" Aurelian uttered through gritted teeth as he rammed his father's blade through the Men's chest killing him. As the blood the pooled around his feet Aurelian took a moment too survey the carnage around him. There were two dead or dying dunmer at his feet. Hang on, wasn't there a third? Aurelian suddenly realised Nelyn was nowhere to be seen. That's not good Aurelian thought. Looking around Aurelian snatched up his dagger and grabbed the pouch of Sovereigns that by all rights should be his. He neglected to take any of Ralis' jewellery or the shield as they were too recognizable. He did take some potions of Dalvus' belt, quickly drinking one and felt relief as the healing magic healed the burn he'd recieved. He was just finishing putting his new found gains away when the tell-tale cry of the Imperial Watch that had haunted lawbreakers in the Imperial City for generations.
"STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM"
Turning to face the shout Aurelian saw a member of the Imperial Watch in their distinctive horsehair crested helm. In that moment he was thankful for the degradation the empire had suffered, a couple of centuries ago he would have been swarmed by a dozen guards. Now there was just one old and tired looking watchman. Not bothering to try and defend himself, Aurelian turned from the guard and bolther through the garden. He ran hard and fast out of Green Emperor Way. With a mixture of stealth and knowledge of the paths favoured by the criminally inclined Aurelian made his way to the waterfront district and the hovel his mother had left him. He took a rather circuitous route through the Market district hoping lose and confuse anyone following him. He stuck to the back alleys and paused only when he saw his reflection in the shop window of some dingy little shop called 'The Copius Coinpurse'. He paused somewhat shocked by his own appearance. His black hair kept short to avoid lice looked normal as his light blue eyes, that his mother said where just like his father's. The biggest shock to Aurelian was streak of blood over what his mother has kindly called a 'classical nibense nose' cursing himself for not checking sooner Aurleina fursiouly wiped, satisfied he looked more poor and desperate than criminal again he moved on from the 'The Copius Coinpurse'. Walking throught the Imperial City was always a depressing experience for Aurellian everywhere he looked he could see the shadow of the Gret War hanging over the City. The Thalmor had occupied the city for nearly two years after the Emperor had fled north to Skyrim. He'd eventually returned and liberated the city but not after two years of every Thalmor soldier had treated the CIty and people in it as their personal playthings. The elves had run riot for two damned years robbing, raping and killing as they pleased. Everywhere he looked Aurelian saw defaced statues and destroyed buildings and temples. The City's population had almost halved after the occupation and those that had survived most were desperately poor. Aurelian was distracted from his thoughts as he made his way through what was the Old Talos Plaza district which was now called St Alessia Park. The sounds of ragged cheering and shouts of 'Make way, Make way' caused Aurelian to turn around and see a crowd had formed alongside the main street as a beautiful richly dressed young woman whose every gesture and expression suggested beauty and refinement. She was young maybe Aurelian's age, with long golden hair done in an elaborate style with braids and feathers. The rest of her features spoke strongly of Colovian ancestry with her strongly featured face and fair skin. She was flanked by a unit Penitus Oculatus. Aurelian back around and saw a one-legged redguard beggar watching the display with a world weary expression. Aurelian, cursing himself for his curiosity pulled out a septim and placed into the Beggar's bowl.
"Morwha's blessing upon you stanger" The redguard said looking up at Aurelian
Aurelian inclined his head respectfully "Whose that?" gesturing towards the woman who was handing out alms to a line of beggars that had formed.
"Don't make it to the Plaza much I'm guessing. That is her Imperial highness Livia Mede, our Emperor's only daughter. She does this every week or so, you know show the people she cares and all that. Of course she has to do this in the wealthiest district in the City. They only let us in here on days when she's doing this" The redguard muttered, every syllable dripping with contempt. Aurelian nodded, it all made sense, not many Noble could qualify for a Penitus Oculatus escort. Typical of the Medes he thought all about appearances no damned substance. Saying his farewells to the Redguard Aurelian turned and continued his walk home.
When the Thalmor had been driven from the Imperial City the slums of the Waterfront district had been one of the fastest rebuilt areas as the people there were used to making do with not much. When his mother had been discharged from the Legion because of her injuries she'd had enough coin put by to buy a little one room shack in the Waterfront district. She'd died when Almar was ten leaving him to fend for himself as well this hovel. It was soon after that Aurelian met Harrald. Harrald had come across some of the local urchins preying upon Aurelian and despite having no hands Harrald managed to drive them off. Afterwards Aurelian had offered him a place to stay for a little while and nine years later he was still there. Theres was a strange companionship, Aurelian and Harrald worked togeth in the limited ways a child and a double amputee could to survive. Harrald refused to let Aurelian become a thief and helped him find odd jobs here and there, helping out merchants and the like. He'd also taught Aurelian as much as he could of fighting before his mind started to go. The sad reality was that after nine years together Harrald was starting to lose his mind and his health was deteriorating rapidly and Aurelian knew he had to get out of the CIity as soon as possible. But what to do? He couldn't bring Harrald with him but he couldn't just leave him there for the Indarys to find. He had some money now, a hundred septims could buy him a bed in the Temple of Stendar's hospice, it wasn't perfect but it would have to do.
Aurelian opened the door to his hovel taking the familiar sight of the room. It was a dark and dingy space. There was a small fireplace in one corner and a few threadbare carpets over the stone floor. The few bits of furniture looked like they would collapse into kindling if you tried to use them. Harrald was sitting in front of the fire where Aurelian had left him. Harrlad was a sad ruin of a man, in the sense that you could see the foundations of the proud warrior he used to be. He was a tall nord, with long dirty blond hair and a beard to match that was starting to turn grey. He was dressed in ill fitting clothes that Aurelian had stolen for him years ago. Harrald turned towards the door and seeing it was Aurelian he turned back to the fire.
" Ah Aurelian, how did it go?" he asked in the thick northern accent that infused his speech
"Not fantastically. They tried to stiff me on the payment and kill me so I had to defend myself. I killed an Indarys."
Aurelian saw Harrald's body tense in shock. He turned around to Aurelian.
"Shor's Bones boy, I didn't think you had it in you." Harrald said in the tone that he used whenever Aurelina did something that could loosely be interpreted as Nord-like
"Yes it was a great victory but now I need to get out of the city, they're going to be looking for me."
"Ah don't be so afraid. Dark ELves are all cowards, show them some steel and they'll back down" Harrald said with that far-away look in his eye that meant he wasn't really listening.
"Look Harrald, I don't know if you can hear me, but I have to go away for a while, maybe forever. I'm going to leave you some money and feel free to take anything in the house but then you need to go the Temple of Stendar. Thank you for everything you taught me, I'm sorry I have too leave you like this. Goodbye Harrald"
"Going out are you lad? Could you get me some mead I haven't had some in an age"
Stifling his sobs Aurelian counted four sovereigns and left them on the battered dining room table. Quickly writing He quickly gathered his cloak and his pack and made it. He didn't take any of the little food they had, he wanted to leave that for Harrald.
He made his way through the Imperial City heading through the north gate on the road to Bruma. He figured that Skyrim was as good as any place to hide out in, apparently there was some sort of rebellion brewing up there. Plenty of opportunities in a province in chaos. There was also a famous school of Magic up there, Winterhelm, Windhold, something like that, that might be worth checking out. Skyrim would be great, he had a good feeling about this.