Across The Pond

"Wake up" came a mysterious voice.

Vallius stirred for a moment before opening his eyes and looking around. Everything was silent outside so Vallius assumed it was still night. He turned to who had made that sound. It was a large Nord.

The Nord's hair was a dirty blonde that came down to his shoulders. It was parted in the middle, showing the gruff face of the Nord. Vallius recognized that face as the Nord from the hospital that took the Khajiit woman back in Elsweyr.

Before Vallius could ask anything the Nord began to speak "My name is Torrvar. Do you know what I am Vallius? Who I work with?"

"No" Vallius said coolly. "But I remember you, you busted your Khajiit friend out of that hospital."

"Have you not heard of the Dark Brotherhood? Of the remorseless guild of paid assassins and homicidal cutthroats? Join us and you'll find the Dark Brotherhood all that and so much more. We are more than anything a union of like minded individuals" the Nord told Vallius. "And she is a bit sore about loosing an ear but is willing to let bygones be bygones. So long as you do something for us" he added with a laugh.

"And what I am getting for doing this favor for you?" Vallius asked.

"We happen to have a position in our organization open that we are looking to fill. You are welcome to join us so long as you prove your loyalty Vallius" Torrvar said.

"What would you have me do?" Vallius asked.

"it's so nice to see you cooperate Vallius. What we need you to do is simple. A man named Lord Aramoth has been giving us a lot of contracts lately. He is very rich and has very refined tastes. What Lord Aramoth wants is the armor and unique style sword of a Blade. He also wants it to have been worn by an actual Blade" Torrvar said.

"He wants me to kill a blade?" Vallius asked.

"No, he wants you to kill a Blade and take his stuff. Sword and Armor, don't forget. Oh, and lucky you there are five in the city. What a relief you wont have to fight that Strillian fellow. I hear he is quite the swordsman" Torrvar told Vallius.

"Anything else?" Vallius asked grimly.

"Actually, yes. Kill him with this" as Torrvar said this he pulled out a black dagger. Its shape was similar to that of an iron dagger but was pitch black. It had a complicated design on the hilt and the higher parts of the blade, embedded in the ebony and made of what appeared to be gold.

Vallius took the blade and Torrvar said "good. Now the rest is up to you. Once you have done as I have asked bring the armor set and sword to the waterfront district. There is an old looked house with boarded up windows. Go around back, the second window from the left is unlocked. Enter through there and put the items in the basement then come back here. I will contact you again once everything has been cleared. Do you understand Vallius?" Torrvar asked once he had finished giving instructions to the Imperial.

Vallius nodded his head silently.

Torrvar chuckled and stood up. "I'll be watching Vallius. Do not fail us."

After he said that he walked out the door and was gone, leaving Vallius alone with the dagger. Vallius decided to wait until morning and went back to sleep. He was going to have to be well rested to do what he had to later that day.

After Vallius had woken up he paid the inn keeper for another night and began to walk around the city. He made his way to the Arboretum. 'The Arboretum will be good. If I'm there a long time people will just assume i'm praying. There are also lots of bushes, and people are hardly there. And when they are they are too distracted in prayer so if i'm quite enough' Vallius stopped his thought's in it's tracks. He didn't like thinking in that manner about one of his allies but it had to be done. Vallius walked the rest of the way in silence.

The Arboretum is, as the name implies, the park of the Imperial City. There are statues of the Nine Divines, including a statue of Tiber Septim in the center. To the southwest is a statue of Akatosh, which depicts a man holding an hourglass who has a dragon's head poking out of his back.

Once Vallius had entered the Arboretum he quickly spotted the Blade he was planning to kill. The Blade was giving some sort of public speech Vallius had no interest in hearing. so he made his way over to the statue of Tiber Septim and he knelt before it.

Vallius stayed in front of the statue for hours. Both meditating and praying for what he was about to do. By the time he heard the Blade stop talking the sun had already set. Vallius stood up and looked around. The crowd the Blade had gathered early were all but gone now and the few that remained made their way to their homes.

After a few minutes the Blade and Vallius were the only ones in the Arboretum. The night watch will surely come by during their rounds soon Vallius thought. It's now or never.

Vallius approached the Blade. The Blade eyed Vallius suspiciously but allowed his guard to drop slightly when he noticed the man approaching wore the uniform of a high ranking legionnaire. "Is there something you wanted to tell me?" asked the Blade.

Vallius was now within three feet of his target. Vallius focused before saying "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Once he said the words a confused look crossed the face of the Blade. A look that was turned immediately to one of shock and pain as Vallius dug the dagger between a gap in the armor at the stomach. Vallius put his hand over the Blades mouth as he did so to prevent any screams. After a minute or two the Blade bled out.

Vallius shook his head to clear it.

Vallius quickly took the armor and sword from the corpse and put the body in a nearby bush before taking off into the night. Vallius reached the waterfront district and found the house Torrvar had mentioned.

Vallius went around back and climbed in through the open window. He moved to the basement, when he went in the only thing in the room was a wooden table so Vallius put the armor and sword on the table and left  the building. Vallius slowly made his way back to The Merchants Inn.

'Well there is no going back now Vallius thought.

When Vallius had gotten back to the inn it was late so he went strait to the bedroom and went to sleep. Only to be woken up by Torrvar later that same night.

"Not bad, and you didn't have to flee the city, that's a plus" Torrvar told Vallius.

"Yeah, well you know" Vallius said, not knowing what he meant by that.

"Err, right" Torrvar said hesitantly. "At any rate you have proven yourself so I will tell you the location of our sanctuary. It is in Cheydinhal. Once inside the city you will find it just east of the Great Chapel of Arkay and under the Abandoned House in Cheydinhal. Here use this key to open the front door and go into the basement" Torrvar said as he handed Vallius a key.

Vallius took the key and examined it. It was just an ordinary key. 'Well this isn't something I expected' Vallius thought.

Despite Vallius examining the key Torrvar continued. "Once you get to the basement you well see a narrow passageway dug into the east end of the wall. at the end will be a large black door. When you approach it, it will ask you, what is the color of night? To which you will answer, sanguine, my brother. Do you understand?"

Vallius nodded, handing the dagger back to Torrvar.

"Keep it" Torrvar said as he stood up and started making his way towards the door and stopping in the door frame. "Oh, and Vallius."

Vallius looked up, confused 'what else does he want from me' he thought.

Torrvar smiled wryly and said "welcome to the family."