Suns Dusk 29

Ivanus, cold and wet, came stumbling up to The Drunken Dragon Inn. A blacksmith yielded to him as he caught Ivan's condition. "Better get inside sir." The blacksmith pleaded.
Ivanus stood at the door, waiting for it to load. Growing only colder and impatient. Once inside the crowded night inn, he made his way through to a stool in the corner. A waitress came by and pointed out that he was bleeding, while setting ale on the table.
"Don't worry about the blood madam, it will disappear after about ten seconds." Ivanus assured.
The waitress looked confused. Ivan continued. "Before you go, what is the name of that dark elf over there? He keeps staring at me."
The waitress spoke in a whisper, "That is Brightheart, I think he is royalty."
Ivanus interrupted. "Brightheart? Where do you people come up with names down here? Go on and tell Brightheart that if he doesn't quit staring, I'll remove his heart right here and put his name to the test. After I heal of course, I'm having trouble finding something in my inventory at the moment. I just have too much stuff here."

Later on, in the wee hours of mornings light, Ivanus left The Drunken Dragon, and forgot about Brightheart. Now after a good night of drink and food, Ivanus realized what he must now do. He must finish what he had started the night earlier, that had gotten him into so much trouble. Ivan must return to Crayfish cave and make it to the second zone. He had been hired earlier to retrieve a particular ring from a "chest standing upright" the quest giver had explained. This will be some test, as Ivan avoids caves and is just frightened by them. The monster that almost got him last time had fierce eyes and the most unbelievable foul breath. Ivanus was starting to regret taking the job.

Ivan took out his sword from its sheath, inspected the blade, then returned the sword. He would have to make a stop into town before proceeding to the cave. As Ivan was walking along a stone path, he heard music...From somewhere.
"By the nine, who in the devil is playing music out here?" Ivan shouted.
A maiden began screaming in the distance. Ivan bolted up the hill and saw an unfortunate scene at the top. A maiden, clothes torn by the claws of two black bears, was screaming as the bears charged closer. Just when Ivan reached for his sword, an arrow pierced his thigh. Ivanus turned to see a dark elf getting ready to fire another shot. Ivan ran straight down the hill with his sword held high, then slipped on the loose gravel and fell flat on his back. The dark elf's arrow missed high right over his head. Ivan returned to his feet and sprang at the elf slicing his blade into the elf's chest. The elf screamed in agony as he slid off the blade onto the ground. The music he heard earlier, suddenly stopped. Ivanus returned his sword to its sheath.
"The woman," he shrieked. Ivan charged up the hill again only to find her laying down next to a rock, bleeding, but conscious.
"I don't see the bears anymore, are you alright?" He asked.
"I, I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU LEFT ME!!!" She yelled.
"You saw me?" Ivanus asked. "Well there was this elf down the hill and he..."
The woman interrupted. "I don't care the excuse, you left me for the bears!" Ivan held her and pulled out a few potions he was saving, but gave to the woman instead. "Drink this, it's not very strong though."
The woman drank all four potions smiling, then leaped to her feet and ran away. She moved at an incredible speed, and before Ivanus realized what just happened, she was gone.
Ivan thought it strange, how the woman did not even say thank you. She must be half way through Cyrodil by now, moving at that speed, he realized. Ivanus saw the arrow sticking out of his leg and dreaded pulling it out. He reached into his satchel to pull out a bottle of skooma for the pain. Surely it is in here somehwere, he thought. He searched and felt around inside the bag until he came upon a disturbing sight. Four bottles of health potions!
"By the nine, now she ran off with my blasted skooma!" He shouted into the meadow.
I cannot believe I gave her four bottles of skooma, he frustratedly thought. No wonder she was off in a tic, he laughed.

After pulling out the arrow, Ivanus stumbled into the Imperial City. The guards all laughed at him because he was walking with a limp. He payed them no mind, and made his way over toward the sword vendor. He thought he saw the figure of a dark elf, lurking behind some crates, but wasn't sure. Ivan stood at the door to the sword shop and waited for it to load. He often wondered, standing there, waiting on doors to load, why no one else in all of Cyrodil had to wait like he did. They just seemed to vanish just outside the door. He always saw them once he made it inside, but never thought to ask them how they did it. Ivanus had just dismissed it as sorcery and went about his business.
"I'm in need of a sword. Mine has a few dings in it," Ivan mumbled as he slammed it down on the counter. "This one is from when I took the head off a Breton, south of Bravil. And this one..."
The sword vendor interrupted. "That's quite alright sir, we have just what you need here."
After looking through a few, he grabbed the finest steel sword in the lot, and dropped 200 gold septims on the counter.
"This ought to do it. Thanks," he said.
"You stay out of trouble Nord," the vendor said.
Ivan walked out of the shop into the busy streets. As he left the city, he could have sworn he was being followed... To Be Continued...