Thoronir’s prices were low but his inventory was unimpressive. Yet he was getting more and more pleased with himself, and it was getting on Lena’s nerves. Ok, ok, we’ll investigate!

The matter turned out to be quite simple: Thoronir’s supplier was a grave robber and a generally unpleasant character called Agarmir. When confronted with Agarmir’s supply acquisition ledger, Thoronir claimed complete innocence and offered a lead – that Agarmir had to be somewhere important that very day. The last entry in the ledger pointed to a mausoleum in the Imperial City cemetery, and Lena and Hauk decided to follow up on it, in spite of a bad feeling they both had about it.

Well, of course it was a trap. A fight followed, and both Agarmir and his hired help were dead. Justice had been served, as punishment for grave robbing in Cyrodiil is death – the likes of Lara Croft would not have gotten far here.

With Agarmir’s post-mortem conviction, his house in the Talos Plaza got repossessed by the City and listed for sale. But despite its brilliant location and good furnishings, the abundance of bonemeal in the basement together with the reputation of it being a dead grave robber’s house, was putting off any and all potential buyers. The rumours were spreading that Talos Plaza, despite its good looks, housed exclusively crooks and criminals, with ill-gotten means, all of them. Why, even Mr. Umbacano started thinking of moving!

“I’ve always wanted a house within the Imperial City walls” – Hauk mused. “I wonder what old Agarmir’s house is going for?”

The asking price was 35,000 septims. No, they didn’t actually have any offers. And it’s true that they stood to lose residents like Mr. Umbacano with all the tax they were bringing. Yes, it would be in fact in City’s interests to have a new and respectable owner for that house as quickly as possible. A Mages Guild Evoker, you say? A reputable battlemage? The one that actually was responsible for the eradication of the grave robber in the first place? Well, Mr. Serck-Hanssen, you qualify for the City’s Special Merit grant, so for you the asking price could be dropped to a mere 10,000 gold, including solicitor fees.

It is remarkable how quickly Imperial bureaucracy can function in times of need. As soon as the necessary forms were submitted to the relevant offices in duplicate and triplicate where required, all traces of Agarmir were erased from the City Maps, and Hauk got the keys to his new house.

“You can come and stay in my house and sleep in my bed any time you like” – he was saying to Lena. “Since you’re my friend.”

Ahem…

“Thanks, Hauk!” – what else was there to say?!