A Thieve's Life (Jin's Saga)

Unexpecting Choices And Surprises

Author's Note: OK, so Jin is in a bit of a pickle... He lost his guild, his friends, and his first wedding might be HIS LAST! But that's if Jin really decides to show his face. Anyway I'm running out of time here. So here is the next chapter! :D

Chapter 10

"Do you think we'll find the bandits?" Elesis asked me as we rode side by side, our horses taking the flat path in their stride.

Dom was rolling in the grass beside that path, enjoying herself - as usual. The old watchtower was visible not too far away, and we were approaching the end of our journey.

"Yes. We have too. For Skyrim," I said seriously.

"For Skyrim," She agreed.

As we approached, the sound of battle could be heard. Instantly, I was on high alert. Dom's ears quivered and he yelped loudly.

"Shush!" I warned, leaping down from my house and leading it off the path. Elesis did likewise, and we tied them to the nearest tree. Dom stayed close by, his whole body positioned in attack mode.

"A fight already?" He asked incredulously.

"I don't like this ...” I murmured, and we made our way closer to the tower.

We stopped about thirty meters away, ducking behind a handy, big rock.

"Imperials," She muttered, peering at the fight, and I shook my head vigorously.

"Bandits," I said with certainty.

Imperials wouldn't wear fur armor like that with a shield branded with skull- brigand armor. Imperials wouldn't use those dirty fighting techniques that the attackers were using. And Imperials certainly wouldn't strip the armor off the Stormcloak bodies as soon as they were dead.

"We've got to help," I said, and Elesis nodded, gripping her bow, and nicked an arrow.

"Good luck. Try not to get killed," She murmured, looking deeply into my eyes. I felt my heart flutter slightly, but I ignored it.

"You too," I whispered, and gave her a parting smile before leaping over the rock and bounding into action with Dom hot on my heels.

There were about five Stormcloaks left standing, with Alen included, and twenty bandits. The Stormcloaks carried on fighting viciously, and I quickly, and leap into the middle. A bandit swung his iron sword at me, and it glanced off my left sword while I slashed with my right.

An arrow flew past my ear, and I spun around to see a bandit crumpled to the ground, only a hair's breadth away from me. As I watched the remaining Stormcloaks fall, and heard a canine yelp of pain, an idea formed in my head.

"Stop!" I cried, so loudly and suddenly that the bandits actually stopped attacking, more in bewilderment than anything else. Dom limped over to me and Elesis raced to my side. With a scan, I quickly found the leader, who was the only one wearing a helmet with horns sticking out of it, and appealed to him.

"Stop fighting for a moment, please," I requested, and he grinned toothily, revealing a few missing teeth.

"Anything for the cowardly Stormcloaks," He said, and I felt a huge rush of anger going through me.

"Are you part of the Skyrim Pirates?" I asked, with a trace of doubt in my voice.

"You've got that right. Who else but the Skyrim Pirates could take on a party of Stormcloaks unflinchingly?" He roared, and the bandits cheered.

Alen stood behind me, but he pushed forward and he glared at the leader.

"You snuck up on us - it wasn't fair!" He said stoutly, and the Pirates laughed.