Across The Pond

Vallius was just outside of the city of Bravil now. He was stalling, trying to find some way to get around his mission. He knew he wasn't capable of such an unthinkable act , but he couldn't think of any way around it.

Vallius walked though the large wooden gates of the city of Bravil and made his way to the largest house he could find. Once he did he knocked on the door, deciding honesty was the best policy. 'Wow, I haven't been stopped by any Thalmor agents yet. I just hope that this isn't a mistake.' Vallius thought to himself.

The door slowly opened and a portly Imperial looked out. "Hello?" he said.

Vallius inhaled and exhaled deeply before looking the man in the eye and saying "Hello, I'm with the dark brotherhood and-"

SLAM

The large man slammed the door in Vallius' face.

"Well that wen't better than expected" Vallius muttered to himself.

Vallius knocked on the door once more, only to be met with muffled screams of fear. Vallius sighed and continued to knock.

"If I was here to hurt you I wouldn't have knocked, I just want to talk with you" Vallius called out.

The door cracked slightly and Vallius tried to push it open, only to be met with heavy resistance. 'Did they move a block of steel behind this thing' Vallius wondered.

"Can we talk somewhere, private? Or at the very least not out on the street?" asked Vallius.

"No, go away."

"I just need a minute of your time. I promise this wont take long."

"I bet. Leave me alone, my son is in the guard and he'll be here soon."

"I need to talk to him as well, please I just want to talk."

"Is there a problem here?" asked a voice from behind Vallius.

Vallius turned around to see a young man dressed in the guard armor of the city.

"You must be this man's son, is that right?"

"Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"

"I really need to sit down and talk with you and your family. It's very important and your father isn't being very cooperative" Vallius told the man.

Before the member of the city could respond his father spoke from behind the blocked door. "Don't listen to him boy, he's an assassin for the Dark Brotherhood!" said the voice frantically.

The young guard turned his head from the door and back to Vallius and raised an eyebrow.

"It's true, I am with the Dark Brotherhood, but it isn't what you think. I'm here to save you and your family, not to harm them." Vallius told him with a pleading stare.

"And why should I believe anything you say. You admitted to being an assassin, something that is punishable by death. Why should I trust you?"

"I can't prove I'm trying to help but all I'm asking is for five minutes of your time to explain to your family what's going on" Vallius pleaded.

"Fine, five minutes. After that I'm taking you to stand before the count. I'll also need you weapons."

"Five minutes is enough, here" Vallius said as he took his sword and sheath off his belt and handed it hilt first towards the young guard.

The guard nodded and drew his own sword and pointed it towards Vallius "this is only a precaution, you understand of course.Now, father open the door."

There was movement and the sound of something heavy moving across the floor from behind the door and then the door opened to revel a middle aged man holding a dagger up in defense.

Vallius shook his head and the young guard started to move towards the door, motioning for Vallius to follow. Once inside he was lead to a small room with a fireplace, three couches and a small table in the center. Due to the lack of a window the only light in the room came from the fireplace.

Vallius was pushed inside first and he gave no resistance.

"Sit in the corner away from the door" the middle aged man said.

Vallius obeyed and the two men followed him in and sat awkwardly on the couches on either side of Vallius so he couldn't escape, not that he had planned on it. Vallius was prepared to accept whatever the outcome of this meeting was.

"So since you probably know all about us why don't you tell us a little about yourself and what has brought you here today" said the guard.

"Actually I don't even know your names, all I know is some rich family wants you and your family to suffer, especially you" Vallius said as he pointed to the middle aged man with the dagger.

"Me? Why?" asked the old man.

"Maybe you insulted the wrong person somewhere along the line but all I know is that someone wants you to suffer. Someone with a lot of money and determination enough to contact the Dark Brotherhood. My orders was to kill your wife and two sons while you watched before I killed you. I couldn't do that so I agreed then came here to take you somewhere safe. Somewhere you can disappear for a little bit while I spread the false rumor of your deaths until I can sort it out" Vallius told them.

"And why should we go along with this plan. How is it our problem if some assassin isn't man enough to follow through on his orders, you'd think a member of the Dark Brotherhood would at the very least be able to kill a family" the guard said, almost taunting Vallius.

"The problem, being that even if I go back and they kill me they will just send someone who does have the disposition to kill a boy in front of his father. Is that what you want?" Vallius asked.

"Good point, though I am curious of your motives. Who are you, and why did join the Dark Brotherhood if you didn't want to kill people?" asked the guard.

"My name is Vallius, and I joined the Dark Brotherhood because I didn't have a choice, but I have a choice now. I did what I had to but I can't say more on the subject. What I can say is that I can get you somewhere safe if you will just trust me, and if you won't trust me then you are already dead" Vallius said, the last word lingering in the air as he looked at the expressionless faces of the father and son, silently decided whether or not they should take the risk.

It was a few minutes before anyone spoke again. The middle aged man broke the silence first "if it's the only way, then I suppose we don't have much choice. Belisarius, go fetch your mother and younger brother, don't tell them any of this just that it's important. Tell them I'll explain more when they get here."

"Actually tell them to meet us by the north gates, we have to leave as soon as possible. And don't take anything, people will suspect you left if you do" Vallius told them.

The young guard known as Belisarius nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Vallius and the middle aged man alone.

"So, do you have a plan young man?" asked the middle aged Imperial.

"Honestly? No, I'm kind of making this up as I go, though I think we will go to Imperial City. I'm fairly certain I can guarantee your safety there" Vallius said.

"You're joking right?" asked the middle aged man.

"Why do you think I'd be joking about this?" Vallius demanded.

"Well for one the Thalmor have finally gotten to the Imperial city. Almost all of the Thalmor in the city moved from here to the Imperial city. It's kind of important, I'm surprised you didn't know."

"Well that changes a lot. I have to think about this, but for now lets get to the north gate and get out of here" Vallius told the middle aged man who had seemed to finally relax a bit.

The two walked outside and started making their way to the gate when a familiar Khajiit quickly exited an alley way. Vallius stopped the middle aged man and stared at the one eared Khajiit.

"You know I never trusted you Vallius, you were always too close to the Emperor" Shotherra said calmly.

"What are you doing here Shotherra?" asked Vallius.

"Stopping a rat, I see you don't even have a weapon, this will be easy" Shotherra drew her sword and smiled slyly as she started moving towards Vallius.