The waterfront shack was, of course, empty.
Just by Lucien's luck it was. How ironic, he thought. One would think with the surname 'Lachance' you'd get at least some luck.
The house was barren and dusty, as if neglected for far too long. Lucien'shands clenched into a fist. He'd never find the alchemist at this rate! Lucien slammed the door shut with a power that should have brought the house in shambles. He shuffled down the waterfront docks, until suddenly a certain group of hushed whispers barely caught his ear.
"Did you hear about Arch Mage Aviig and the Oblivion crisis! She's held up in the Arch Mage's tower in mourning!" The group made inaudible murmurings, and a smaller voice squeaked "The Oblivion Crisis? Why would she be in mourning she wasn't there, was she?"
Lucien tracked the whispers to a small group of tavern Bosmers on break. He leaned lightly against the side of the tavern, listening in on their conversation."You dolt! She's the Hero of Kvatch. Of course she was in the crisis when Mehrunes came!" Lucien perked his head up at 'Hero of Kvatch'. Not long ago, he had heard rumors of a Nord closing the gates of Kvatch. He had later found out it was the friendly neighborhood assassin herself.
The smaller Bosmer frowned and cocked her head to the side. "But the Arch Mage is so small and weak." One of the taller Bosmer slapped the smaller one upside her head. "You better take that back! The Hero we have has sacrificed too much for us to be disrespected like that!" Fa rubbed the back of her head and mutter something about 'old crone'. Before the other Bosmer could mention anything, a sudden holler sounded from the inside of the tavern and they all scurried inside.
The Speaker leaned against the tavern with one shoulder and smirked. One of his Assassins, the Hero of Kvatch and the Arch-Mage? Quite a busy one, he thought. Lucien slipped on his Ring of Invisibility and headed toward the gates. If the Hero of Kvatch is in the tower, he'd go and pay her a little visit.
The Arcane University wasn't too far anyway.
---------------------------------------------------
The Imperial City was in shambles. Literally. Heavy fallen rocks were scattered and in disarray, blocking the streets. The citizens continued life as it had always been, ignoring the mass destruction. The Speaker was baffled.
What was going on? The Imperial city was certainly not like this last time he had visited. Granted it had been well over a month...
Lucien turned his direction over to the looming Arcane University. It stood proudly still, watching over the Arboretum. The sight would have been more impressive, if the sithis-damned tower wasn't swarmed by an army of citizens.
Floods of citizens and Black Horse Courier journalists alike were banging at the wooden door, yelling and hollering questions. The pathetic lot looked like a mere sea of colors. The heavy door whirred open to reveal a disheveled Raminus Polus, looking agitated and about ready to murder. Lucien could see the slightest movement of an eye twitch.
"Get out, vermin; scram! Arch Mage has strictly requested zero visitors!" He growled loudly. He stepped away from the door's entrance, looking quite intimidating. The act could have indeed worked on the Speaker of it weren't for his certain line of work. The crowd silenced for a moment before erupting into an even louder ranting. Raminus threw his hands over his head in frustration and attempted to keep the growing crowd down.
YOU ARE READING
An Array of Ingredients
FanfictionThe Sanctuary's lively self has diminished ever since the alchemist went missing over six weeks ago. People don't disappear so easily; and The Speaker is determined to find her. A mini-fic I write in time of artists' block.
