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It was a long trek to Chorrol. She wouldn't arrive until the following day, but she was up for it. She knew the trail well, and had gained immunity from most thieves over the years by writing up their exploits in her stories. Wild animals were, of course, a concern but they rarely bothered people who stayed on the legionnaire-patrolled roads.

She closed and locked her door promptly at first light, then double checked her pack and the special pocket where she carried the rings. Any would-be robbers would be hard pressed to find it without a thorough search, even if it did make walking a bit uncomfortable.

As she left Anvil and walked out into the wilds of Tamriel, she took a deep breath of the cool morning air. She was feeling alive like she hadn't in weeks, maybe years. The daily drudgery that was an author's life was grinding. She liked the writing, certainly! She could lose herself in that when inspired, and wouldn't even notice the time - except for those annoying trips to the bathroom. Once she'd actually tried not drinking anything all day to reduce them, but it only served to make her lose her train of thought as her mind wandered to thirst.

But in between inspirations, there was always the lurking fear that she might never again be able to think of something to write about. Those were the best times to get out of the house, or out of town altogether. She might not be immediately inspired to write about her experiences, or the inspiration might have nothing to do with them, but it usually did work.

A few miles out of town she saw an old, crumbling wall running on one side of the road. She knew it well, but today she felt like walking on it. She hopped up on top, balanced till she had steadied herself, and hopped from capstone to capstone - and not always successfully. As she tumbled off one that had shifted unexpectedly, she laughed as she hit the ground deftly.

"First rule of acrobatics," she thought to herself as she leaped back on top of the wall and continued her hopping, "is to know how to fall."

All too soon the wall ran out and she had to go back to the road. Later she passed some people coming the other way, guarded by a legionnaire. She nodded to the guard - she'd seen him before. They'd even talked one day when they were going the same direction. But he'd never told her his name.

Around midday she crossed a bridge and took refuge from the sun in it's shade. After verifying it was troll-free, she ate her lunch peacefully underneath it and looked longingly at the cool, clear water. The heat of day had really come on and she might well have stayed there in the shade till late afternoon, but she was impatient to get on with her trip today.

She checked the road in both directions. All clear. Then she swiftly tucked all her clothes and gear into her bag, hid it well in a little hollow under the bridge where it met the rising ground, and tiptoed back to the stream. She risked one toe to test the water. It was cool, but not unpleasantly so.

She stepped deeper in, and felt the water surge around her calves. It wasn't very deep, and the water was flowing lazily. No risk of getting swept downstream. She lowered herself into the water, shivering as sensitive parts were immersed, but they were soon acclimated and she lay back, letting the heat of the day flow downriver.

Of course, no sooner had she gotten to that ultra-comfortable state where her eyelids slid closed than she heard voices and the unmistakable clop of hooves. She thought about getting out, but it was far too comfortable.

As predicted, they passed on with nary a glance and she spread her arms and legs apart and closed her eyes again.

"Hello Quill," came a voice from behind her.

Instinctively she recoiled, covering herself. But it was just a solo-bandit she'd met some months ago. He liked her, she knew, but he was harmless - at least to her. She relaxed.

"Hi Brill," she said as she lay back again.

"A little skinny dipping on a hot day?"

"Yeah. Heading to Chorrol again."

"Mind if I join you?"

She opened one eye and looked at the Orsimer. She'd never actually seen one naked.

"Long as you stay on the other side, sure!"

"Afraid I'll rape you?"

She laughed. "Me? Are you kidding? I'd be flattered if I made it hard."

She heard him disrobing behind her and he splashed his way over to the other side.

"Nice," she said after observing. "I guess it's not true - what they say about Orcs."

He sat down in the water, covering the subject.

"What? It gets plenty big... in the right circumstances!"

She closed her eyes again. "Afraid I wouldn't know. Or care."

"Nice in here though."

"How've you been, Brill? Any good robberies lately?"

"I told you, I'm more of a mountain man. I can get by without any of that."

"Legionnaires?"

"Fuck ton of em. I swear they patrol every other hour now."

"I saw one a while back. You should be good. You want to rob me? I'm defenseless."

"Hell no! You'd write shit about me in your next book! Probably use my real name too!"

"Maybe. You could kill me. Get rid of the body. Float me right down this river."

"Quill. You know I don't do that."

"I know. Brill... I'm getting married."

"Married?! The great Quill-Weave? Author of The Common Man getting married?! Who's the lucky guy? Er... I mean, I guess girl, right?"

"Yeah. I'd rather not say till it's official though. I haven't asked her yet."

"Argonian at least?"

"Imperial."

"Really? I didn't figure you for a bob-tail lover."

"Not really the form that turns me on, Brill. Hell, you're more fit than she is. Lose that god-awful stuff between your legs and..."

"Hey! I'll have you know a lot of ladies like this god-awful stuff!"

"I'm sure they do."

"So, when's the big day? Is that where you're going now?"

"Don't know yet. I haven't actually proposed."

She heard the splash as her companion sat up.

Her eyes opened. She knew Brill pretty well. She wasn't really worried about any physical harm. But she also realized she'd just said too much. A bandit was a bandit after all.

"Did you see where I put my stuff?" she asked, alert now.

"Dammit, no. I didn't. But you have her wedding ring in there, don't you?"

"And my own, Brill."

"Probably worth..."

"A hell of a lot. Brill... please don't."

He was standing now, looking around behind her.

She stood up and looked at him seriously.

"Brill," she said, getting his attention again, and she was glad to see his eyes focus on her.

"Brill, how much do you need? I have to keep the rings."

"You could buy more," he proposed.

"Wouldn't be the same."

"Hell, I could tell you where I pawned 'em and you can buy em back!"

"No Brill. You're not going to do this."

He took one last look behind her, then sighed.

"Okay, okay. I'll be good. I can't say no to a nice set of lizard tits."

She looked down and instinctively tried to cover herself again.

"Dammit Brill. Can you at least turn around? I'll go get dressed."

"Oh, lighten up Quill. You want to walk the rest of the way to Chorrol in wet clothes? Come on, let's dry out."

"The rings... your word?"

"You have my word. But you did say something about 'how much do I need', didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Can you spare 20?"

She nodded.

"Deal. I'll protect your modesty for 20."

"Who's going to protect yours?"

"Pfft. I don't have any modesty. I'm a mountain man, remember?"

The two lay side by side, but in the shade so she could retain the coolness from the river. Finally they got dressed and Quill handed the bandit 20 gold.

"Can I see 'em at least?"

Quil brought out the ring boxes and handed them to Brill.

He whistled when he opened the first one. It was Quill's own.

"Damn. Quill, how much did these cost?!"

"A lot. A whole lot."

He opened the other. The ring was smaller, but the stones were...

"Gods! Quill, this is... beautiful!"

She saw the sparkling reflection in his eyes, and felt briefly worried that he might change his mind. But he closed the second case and handed it back to her.

She put it back in her secret place, and laughed when his jaw dropped.

"Think it will be safe there?" she laughed.

"Can you walk?"

"I get used to it. This strap holds it in place. Pretty clever, huh?"

"I'll have to remember that next time I rob an Argonian!"

"Well, I should get moving. Good to see you again, Brill."

"You too, Quill. Good to see all of you! Pretty nice bod' for an Argonian you keep under there!"

"Why thanks. And I suppose, if it doesn't sound like flattery, you too!"

She gave him a hug and a final thanks, and then began walking again.

In general, she didn't trust people. Yet oddly, it was the down-and-out and even criminal class that she had learned to trust. Mostly. If he'd stolen her rings, it would have been heartbreaking. She'd already invested herself in them. But she would have gotten over it. However, she would never have trusted Brill again.

It was her own fault really though. That comment about not having proposed yet. A bandit's mind isn't the brightest thing, but what they do understand, they understand all too well and too quickly. He'd put two-and-two together before the words had even left her tongue. She should have known better.

But in the end her estimation of him had proven right. It usually did. But not always. She was good at assessing people, but not perfect.