The night was as cold as any other, biting at unprotected skin. Insects chirped in the bushes and a wolf howled in the distance. The rhythmic clopping of hooves against cobble broke the calm of the night as the horse and it's owners traveled down the moonlit road. On the beast's back was a girl of about nine years and an assortment of traveling supplies. The girl wore a gray dress beneath a brown, fur lined cloak. The cloak's hood was pulled over her head in an effort to keep out he cold. Fire swirled in her gloved hands, which were pulled as close to her body as she dared.

Walking beside the horse was a shadow. Two silver eyes looked out from beneath a hood of midnight. A bow nearly as dark as it's armor was slung across it's back with a specially made quiver that stood out just a little more. The quiver had a lid that covered the steel arrows within. Two steel daggers where sheathed on it's right hip.

All of this was observed from a small distance by a Dunmer clad in red and black. He didn't know what the target had done but someone wanted the shadow, who went by the name Olic, dead. The thing that surprised the assassin the most was the price they were willing to pay.

That was when the assassin noticed two things. One: the shadow was gone, Two: he had a sharp pain in his gut. Looking down, he saw the glint of a blade coming out of his chest. As his life began to fade from his body, he heard the deep, accented voice of a Nord male.

"May you find yourself in the presence of your master."

Slipping out his second blade, Olic reached around and slit the assassin's throat. With the assassin now assuredly leaving the mortal realm, Olic removed his first dagger and let the elf fall to the forest floor, his blood staining the snow beneath them. Cleaning his daggers on the assassin's clothes, he sheathed them before moving back to the still moving horse that held his little sister.

Olic had been quick to return home when the Courier had arrived carrying word of his parents' deaths at the hands of Bandits. Luckily, his sister had been away with a local mage learning the arts of the arcane when it occurred. As such, it had become Olic's duty to care for the young Nord girl. Seeing how devoted she was to learning magic, he had agreed to take her to the College of Winterhold. There, she would not only have a home, but be taught the ways of the Mage.

"Brother?" asked said girl as she looked around for Olic, twisting and turning in the saddle.

"I am here sister, no need to worry," Olic stated as he drew back his hood, revealing fair skin that appeared fairer in the moonlight. His hair was cut close to his scalp, the blonde color making him appear bald. His green eyes danced as they entered the light cast by the fire wreathed around his sister's hand.

She smiled sheepishly, "I am so-"

Olic held up a hand, "Do not apologize Anetha."

The girl nodded before turning her head back to the road. She jumped when she noticed something on the horn of her saddle. Sheer effort stopped her from releasing the Flame spell in an uncontrolled burst. The thing on the saddle horn was a black, small bird. It looked at Anetha with it's head cocked to the side, as it studying her.

"Mistress?" Olic breathed as he moved closer to the now halted horse. Upon hearing his voice, the bird turned to Olic and gave a cry before taking flight and heading into the woods. Olic grabbed the reins of the horse and made to follow.

"What was that brother?" Anetha asked, worry edging into her voice. Olic forgot that she knew very little of the pact he had made.

"That was a Nightingale bird, sister, a messenger of my Mistress," he explained.

"Nocturnal?" she asked. When she saw the surprised look Olic threw back at her, she smirked, "Magic isn't the only thing Old Man Nek taught me."

Olic didn't have a response to that and so he opted to turn back to the path presented by the Nightingale. If Nocturnal was contacting him in this way, then it must be of importance. As such, the Nord made haste through the trees, pulling the mare behind him by her reins.

It wasn't long before the small party found itself in a clearing lit by the twin moons of Nirn. The bird appeared from the night and settled itself on Olic's shoulder, cawing at the night. As if summoned by the call, the ground in the middle tore into a circle of purple light that gave view to an inky void. From the void came a woman clothed in cloth as black as the void from which she came. She had no legs, giving the appearance of a Shade. Nightingales were perched on either arm, their blue eyes focused on Olic. Her wizened face, partly shrouded by her hood, looked down at the young mortal with a soft scowl.

"Mistress!" Olic exclaimed in surprise, falling to a knee and bowing his head. The bird on his shoulder ruffled its wings to keep balance but otherwise remained firmly perched there.

"Rise, my servant," she commanded. Olic obeyed, returning to both feet and looking up at Nocturnal with his unhooded eyes.

"Mortal, I have a task for you. One that will not be told until you are ready to carry it out. Just know that you are to seek the guidance of an... acquaintance of mine. She will be the giver of this task," Nocturnal explained clearly. Still, Olic was confused.

"Where is this acquaintance, my Mistress? Why can you not give me the task yourself?" he asked, a brow raised.

Nocturnal sighed but smiled, as if explaining a new concept to a child. Given the situation, it could be assumed that this was actually what she was doing, "My acquaintance is not of Nirn, my servant. I know little of the occurrences of their home but know that it is her that is the creator of this task."

"I... don't understand Mistress," Olic replied, "If she is not of Nirn, then how may I assist her?"

Nocturnal gave another sigh, "Why, I will send you there, of course. You and present company."

The Daedric Prince looked to the sky and it's twin moons, a frown etching her face for a mere second before she returned her gaze to Olic.

"Our window is nearing close, mortal. Just know this: the bearer of your equipment will be your most useful asset. Now, prepare yourself," she stated as she brought her hands close together. Within her sleeves, Olic could see many pairs of blue eyes staring out at him. Something made him draw up his hood before a flock of Ravens burst from Nocturnal's robe and began to fly around Olic and the horse. He heard his sister scream and the horse whinny but his attention turned to the Nightingale that was resolutely perched on his shoulder.

"Walk with the Shadows."

The world faded to black as the swirling birds blocked out all light.

--------------

"...wake..."

"Olic...up."

"Olic, please wake up."

Olic opened his eyes to the sight of a single, glorious moon overhead. A single moon? he thought, shooting himself up to a sitting position. The sudden movement sent his head swimming, causing him to put a gloved hand to his head. When his vision cleared, he took stock of his surroundings. Anetha sat to his immediate right, looking scared and on the verge of tears. The Nightingale sat on a nearby branch, looking at Olic with a tilted head. Near the edge of the clearing was a pile of their equipment with the horse next to it. The brown coated horse looked different though. The looseness of the saddle showed that it had shrunk maybe a foot. The snout looked smaller and closer to it's face. The biggest thing was it's eyes, which were now huge and expressive.

"I... c-can... talk?"

Olic's jaw dropped. While it had stumbled over the sounds and held a strange accent, the horse had most definitely talked. As if equally surprised, the mare slumped to it's flank with wide eyes. It was then that Olic noticed the symbol on the horse's flank. It was a black bird with it's wings outstretched and wrapping upward to a similarly black circle over it's head. It was the emblem of the Nightingales.

"Olic?" Said Nord turned his attention to the scared girl next to him, "What's happening?"

"I don't know," he replied honestly, pulling her into a hug. He turned his attention back to the horse, who was examining it's body with new eyes. The Nightingale had perched itself above the horse, "But I think Nocturnal has just called up my contract."