It was too dangerous to stay at the Imperial Bridge Inn for much longer, not for me, but for Davela and Lithnilian. I was confident that I could handle any more assassins sent for me, but my friends caught be caught in the clash. Thus, I gathered my belongings and bid Davela and Lithnilian good-bye.

"Don't worry about your rent Larrius," I heard as I stepped over the threshold of the inn, Davela and Lithnilian had waited for me.

"It is no problem Davela," I responded, "I will pay the rent, and for the bar."

"No," Davela told me, holding up her hand, "Friends don't pay here. And forget about the bar, I will build another." With a chuckle, I walked over to my new friend, and embraced her.

"I promise to visit when I no longer have guests coming for my head," I told her when I ended the hug.

"I will be holding you to that Larrius, don't forget," and with that, she walked into the freshly wrecked inn.

"Thank you, Larrius… I owe you greatly," Lithnilian told me bashfully.

"Fret not Lithnilian, I did not help you for personal gain. It was my pleasure, truly." I told him with a smile. With a pat on the shoulder, and a quick exchange of good-byes, I was off. Where to, however, I did not yet know.

I knew that I should track down and have a few words with this "Madman," but I had no idea where to find him. How can you speak with someone you cannot find? I might be able to ask around the towns (surely someone had heard of him, a person called "The Madman" is hard to forget), but with all the cities in Cyrodiil, where would I start? From my mental map of the province, I knew Leyawiin was to my south, and Bravil was somewhere to my west. They might be infested with thieves and pickpockets, but not as many murderers as one might imagine, and from his letter, I knew that the Madman went for the big criminals, not the petty thieves. With Bravil and Leyawiin out, I considered the other cities of Cyrodiil.

Cheydinhal was north, and had a large Dunmer population, who were bound by their honor, and not likely to murder. The Imperial City to the northwest was a likely candidate, with large amounts of cheats, thieves, murderers, and other criminals living there, I would make a stop there later. Chorrol, also to the northwest, was a possibility, but not as likely to be home to a psychopath. The residents of Chorrol were mainly calm and relaxed, writing fiction and discussing politics in their spare time, and I had always wanted to visit. Bruma to the far north was mainly a Nordic community, and though they might get rowdy at times, most Nords are not cold-blooded killers. Skingrad past the Imperial City was another possibility, it was rather large, and had its crime; I might be stopping there at some point.

Anvil was on the coast, the west coast, not the south, and had its fair share of burglars and thieves. However, it was not known for murders, though a few grisly ones had taken place there, so I might have to look into it. Kvatch was a different story altogether. Having grown up there, I knew it to be filled to the brim with theft, drugs, and, above all, murder. I knew this for a fact; I was a thief myself in my youth.

The Imperial City, Skingrad, and Kvatch all had large amounts of crime in their streets, so with that in my mind, I begun my journey to the northwest.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

As you can see, I decided to simply start a new topic. I plan on making this fairly long, so I will be easier to someone to find the part they want this way. Let me know what you think, or if you caught the Chorrol.com reference.

Haha, I think I completely caught the Chorrol.com reference, particularly the "writing fictions" part of it. Wondeful reference. I also like that you decided to make Kvatch a seedy sesspool of crime. I had much the same idea myself with my story, which is almost entirely based in that town (it's filled with corrupt nobility, and serial killers, fun stuff). It's perfect because you can basically do whatever you want with it since it never truly "existed" as a functioning city in the game.

Keep it up!

Ah, at least he's made some friends. Too bad he has to leave. Bloody assassins.

Anyway, I got the Chorrol reference. Heh, nice addition. Maybe now it's time for a mod that places NPCs in Chorrol?

Frankly, I liked his thoughts about the cities in general. Thinking logically is a lot better than just rushing off because someone told you. (And yup, rushing off is my style.)

I had reached the road shortly before it happened, what happened I am still not quite sure of, but I would be feeling the lump on the back of my head for a few days to come.

"Is he dead?"

"How should I know? Just check his pockets."

"Well maybe we should check, just to be sure."

"Be sure of what? He never saw us; he can't tell anyone what happened."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. That was a good hit you got in with your club."

"Thanks, I…"

"Would you two stop bickering like women and just see what he has on him? Someone could walk past any minute now, so hurry up!"

"Yes sir…"

"Well, that's your cue. See what he has on him then come get us."

"Why am I always checking the bodies?"

What happened? Did someone attack me? I slowly let out a groan; the pain shooting through my head was devastating.

"Whoa! Hey, I think he is waking up!"

"You just can't do anything right, can you Gaeleg? We could have been long gone by now if you just check him as I said!"

There was the sound of heavy boots thundering across the earth, and the ground where I took my unneeded nap was ripped forcibly away from me. I only had time to catch a glimpse of my new company before the one gripping my shirt roughly demanded my attention. One was outside my view, but the other looked to be a Wood Elf. Armed with a bow as expected, we seemed to be as twitchy as any other Bosmer, jumping whenever so much as a bird chirped.

"Either you give us everything you possess, or we kill you." I had to hand it to him; he got right to the fact of the matter.

"Which way would you prefer to do it?" he said gruffly as he forcibly turned me around.

A look of recognition flashed across his face, but just for a brief moment. He was an Imperial; at least, he appeared to be. His skin was a bit darker then normal, and not as if he had tanned through-out the years. A look at that tan skin was all I needed to know just whom this man was. Unfortunately for him, he needed more then a look at my face to know who I was.

"What's your name?" He said with a huff.

"Larrius Varro. And it is quite nice to meet you again, Silian."

"So… You decided to come back after all. Last I saw of you, you were being dragged by a guard through the streets of Kvatch. Why did you return?"

"I have my reasons to return. Why are you preying on innocent travelers?

"Easy money," he said simply, "You are lucky I am in a good mood, normally I would leave you're here in nothing but the smallest shred of cloth to cover yourself and call your own." With that, he released his titan grip from my collar.

"Now go, you won't be so lucky next time."

::::::::::::::::::::::

Do not worry child, for I am watching…

I awoke in a cold sweat; beads of the foul smelling liquid coated my body and soaked me to the bone. Hunger was the first thing to cross my mind; I had not eaten in hours. I grabbed my pack, and opened it when the note fell out. It said:

A Word of Advice:

Do you know of that feeling you get when you know someone is behind you? That shiver running down your spine? That tingling sensation on your lower back? That is I standing behind you. That is I blowing chills down your spine. That is I sending those sparks across your back.

I will be there with-out your knowledge or consent, if you look back you will see nothing out of the ordinary. Just an empty street or overgrown path in the woods, or perhaps a raging river. Maybe I am there, standing behind you when you turn around. Waiting for you, watching you, but you would never know. I would look just like everybody else, begging for food, chatting with the locals, haggling with a merchant.


That is why I am your most dangerous foe, for you do not even know I am a threat until it is too late, your neck is broken, my arrow is lodged in your heart, you are already dead.

Someone had been able to sneak up to my impromptu camp, and slip this note into my travel bag, and I had a good idea just who this person was…

::::::::::::::::::::::

Sorry I have not been around recently, life of the non-virtual type intervened. And sorry if this addition is not up to par with the rest of them, I am tired, hungry, and have to be awake early (By my standards) this morning. Let me know what you think, and if I screwed up at all.

EDIT: Fixed an error. Please tell me of anymore.

Hmm, is Silian an old aquaintance? It looks like it. And I do believe I know who slipped in that note.