The Emperor's Heart

Prologue

Last Seed 24, 3E433 11:56 pm

Bravil was strangely quiet. Not even the chirping and croaking of the swamp life that traveled through the channels could be heard. The moons hovered near the horizon, making the poverty-stricken town dark and foreboding. Several Imperial soldiers crept towards the center of the township, concealed in the shadows. Weapons drawn, they awaited their leader's word.

Giovanni Civello approached silently. Standing behind two of his officers, he peered between them. All eyes were on the statue of the Lucky Old Lady, and the figure standing before it.

The woman was tall, with golden blonde hair swept back in a ponytail that reached her lower back. She was dressed plainly, wearing a dark tunic and trousers. Her black leather boots reflected the dancing flame of her torch.

Civello glared. Though her back was to him, he recognized the Nord woman instantly. He could hear her murmuring to herself. Leaning in, he strained to listen.

"… I've lost my taste for it. Surely you can see why." She was silent a moment, then her shoulders slumped slightly. "Please don't misunderstand. I am grateful for all that has been given to me. I just… can't do this anymore. I don't have it in me."

Giovanni held back his snort. She was muttering like a mad woman. It figured she was insane. She would have to be, to do the things that she had done. The legionnaires turned to their captain. He nodded, eyes never leaving the Nord.

The guards left the shadows, swarming around the woman with weapons pointed at her from all angles. She made no motion to run; didn't even turn to look at her accosters.

Civello strode up behind her. "Lysara of Riften. By authority of the Empire, I arrest you for the murder of the honorable Adamus Phillida, Captain of the Leyawiin guard, and his defender, Seviton Clanellus!"

He had expected her to deny it; to plead innocence, or beg for mercy. The woman remained unaffected. If they didn't know better, she could be mistaken for a statue, as still as she was. The men tensed, unsure.

"What have you to say in your defense, Murderer?" Civello growled.

Finally, the woman turned to her accuser. He had never seen her face this close before. She had been lurking around before and after Phillida's untimely end. She had concealed her face with a cloak, and he almost wouldn't have noticed her then if not for her long golden hair trailing out from the hood. Her appearances surrounding Adamus's death were too much to be a coincidence.

Now looking at the Nord face-to-face, it was hard to believe she was a killer. She was pleasantly pale, with high cheekbones and long eyelashes. Her dusky blue eyes locked with his. He suppressed a shudder. By the Nine, the woman's gaze made his blood freeze. It held no hatred, no surprise.

Only the promise of death.

How could someone so attractive be so evil? No doubt her beauty had lead many men to their doom, his former commander withstanding. The Nord had taken him unaware- while he was swimming, no less! The mental image of his idol floating face down in the water with an arrow protruding from the back of his head infuriated him.

His anger seemed to amuse the woman, her petal-pink lips turning up in a wry smile, though it never reached her eyes.

"Well?!" The captain seethed. Would she not speak? He grabbed her by her hair, yanking her forward so that she had to look into his face. She winced, but said nothing.

"Speak, Assassin!"

"…Now that is a title I haven't been called for some time." Her voice was soft and light, flowing across his face with an eerie caress.

His eyes widened, despite his effort to remain in control. Her charms were frightening, knowing what she was capable of. He had to rid Nirn of this terrible, deceptive woman.

"I shall thoroughly enjoy gutting you, you heartless wench!" Civello hissed through his teeth.

Instead of cowering in fear, her smile broadened.

He grabbed one of her arms and motioned for another soldier to flank the other side of the assassin, taking hold of her torch. Followed by a procession of Imperial guards, the Nord was led out of the city towards the capital, and her demise.

One of the flagging Bravil soldiers glanced up at the statue, thinking it looked less pleasant and far more sinister at night. He paled, then ran to catch up with the others, not daring to look behind him. He shook his head, trying to un-see… he didn't know what.

For a moment, he could have sworn he saw the lucky old lady's head turn as if to follow the woman with her sightless eyes.

This is a prequel to 'Forging the Heart's Desire'. As you may have guessed, the Dark Brotherhood quest line has taken place before the opening scene in the Imperial prison, instead of after. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it. It has been a long time coming, due to my desire to get it right. Once again, I would like your correspondence.