A Thieve's Life (Jin's Saga)

An Old Friend

Chapter 7

I reached the settlement of Riverwood a few days later, with the letter in my pack and a feeling of anticipation spurring me on. I hopped off my horse when I reached the center of town, deciding that this was a good place to start my search.

"Dovahkiin, what do you need?" One female Stormcloak soldier asked, stepping forward away from the crowd that had formed quickly around me as people recognized my face.

"I'm looking for Alen," I said, praying that he still lived here.

Alen was one of the bandits who were named "Scarlet Moon"; of course they were trying to kill me. They captured me and Alen was the one who was going to execute me. Luckily he felt that what he was doing was wrong and let me free. He and I started to talk and we had more in common than we thought for an Imperial, I mean.

Back to the present...

Suddenly, everyone went silent, and the guard looked uneasy. Immediately, I got a bad feeling, and I frowned.

"Where is he?" I asked sternly.

"He's not here," The guard replied quietly.

"What are you talking about?"

She didn't answer. Frustrated, I tried to control my anger as I spoke again.

"Look, you'd better tell me what you're talking about-" I said angrily, but she cut me off.

"Alen's gone. He's probably dead by now. He went off to save his wife and son.

I grabbed her by the front of her armor and slammed her into the nearest wall, shocking both her and our audience.

"Tell me everything NOW," I snarled.

"Alen's wife, Linda and Max is son, were kidnapped by bandits a week ago, and they kept asking for money - a ransom. This town, we don't have that kind of money and Jarl Vignar wouldn't help. The Jarl doesn't get involved in small problems. So Alen took off a few days ago, trying to save them," The soldier explained quickly, watching me with wide eyes, He hasn't returned yet."

Where did he go? Did he say where? Answer me!" I said, shaking her.

"Helgen. He said something about Helgen before he left."

I released her, breathing heavily. Alen, that idiot! Of course it was Helgen it was the base of Scarlet Moon.

I spun around, knowing what I had to do.

"I'll find them. I'll bring them back," I vowed, more to myself to anyone else.

As I got to my horse I was having thoughts about Alen if he's fine. Just thinking about him facing a horde of bandits sickened me to the core, although I knew he was a talented soldier, after everything I'd been through, it was a twisted fate to end up back, where I became the wielder of the CoDex.

"Good luck, Dragonborn," Someone murmured.

"Bring them back, Dragonborn," A small girl said with wet eyes, and felt that she was a friend of Max, but I couldn't remember her name. I gave her a reassuring smile and set off.

I followed that path heading to Helgen, checking my supplies as I hurried to Helgen.

I couldn't believe this. All I had come here to do is give Alen the papers, and then I could ride to Riften to inform Uncle Ron about the troublesome group of bandits or 'Pirates'. Why did the simplest of tasks always turn complicated?

It didn't take long to reach the town's gates. Two pikes stood on either side of the main gate, each decorated with a burnt dead body. Grimacing slightly, I went into stealth mode, sneaking up to the door and getting my lock pick out. Concentrating, the lock clicked open it shocked me as how I thought it would, dull, destruction, and the smell of death. I can't believe that one dragon attack had led to this - a whole town destroyed. And to turn to a haven for bandits, despicable.