Thank you for reading my first posting on . I've been a long time reader on this sight and finaly a first-time writer. I've done some bit pieces and the lot on the side but nothing published weather on the net or in print. Anyway, please enjoy my first fanfiction!
Fanfiction Title:
Stories of Skyrim: The Dark Brotherhood
Description: Kasirra, a kajiit begger, has her life turned upside down when she accepts and carries out an assasination plot from young aventus arentino.
Chapter One: Hunger makes for a better reason.
This one's stomach growls, but the noise can't be heard over this damn wind. Windhelm is always as such: Cold, windy and worse. No feasting off of warm meat and sweet sugar for Kasirra.
I moved from the warm sands and lush jungles of elswere to this gods-forsaken land of ice and snow for profit. Gold, however scarce it normaly was, always found a way to multiply in times of war. And this place was in its time of war, what with the issue of the thalmer and the nords and imperials. Bah.
I was promised a place with the caravans, a place where the foolish would squander away their money to the clever kajhiit for trinkits worth less than iron ore. I did well enough for an aprentice untill I found Merandru-Jo's satchel of moonsugar. Once a Kajhiit sees what she wants, it belonges to her, yes? But the fat cat Merandru-Jo did not see Kasirra's point of view and he tossed me out on the cold stones of Windhelm at first chance.
Filthy matted furred beast. He now feasts on sweet meats while I stand outside of the gnisis corner club, hopeing the kindly dark elfs would take pity and spare a bit of gold.
I repeated the same sentence, "Show pity for poor Kasirra", while I kept my gaize lowered. I kept my focus on my fur, dark grey with black stripes, my eyes were kept in an expression of sorrow, and were a comforting shade of blue. Probibly perfect for hideing in the shadows and stealing. I'd be doing that for sure if the nords of this land didn't threaten to kill me daily.
"Show pity for poor Kasirra," I muttered again, holding out a paw. A kindly argonian male pressed a small leather pouch of gold in my palm. I looked up at him, wide eyed. He smiled his unusual reptilian smile and held open the door for me.
"Come inside, kitten. Buy some food and spirits," He said, his voice soft. I kept my eye on him as I slipped inside the warmth of the corner club. He looked tipical for an argonian: green scales, pointed horns and pale green eyes. He had a scar acrossed his face.
I turned away from him and took a place at the bar. I noticed when the argonian sat on the stool beside me.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked.
I hesiteted, and gave my argonian friend a sideways glance before answering, " A mug of Flinn, and a bowl of apple cabbage stew and some bread. please."
The bartender nodded and addressed the argonian, "and you, sir?"
"Mug o' sujamma, and a plate of seared slaughterfish." said the kind argonian.
The bartender left to retrieve my food, I took the oprotunity to talk. "Umm...thank you kind sir for the gold. You saved me from becoming a thief."
"There are better ways of makeing gold than becoming a thief, but you are indeed welcome. I hate to see a lively young woman suffer in this cold climate." We stopped talking for a moment when the bartended sat our meal in front of us. I dug in imediatly, savoring the flavor of the food. It had been days since I had anything warm in my belly, and raw salmon looses its appeal after a while.
The bartender and the argonian started to talk. "I know all of your kind by name, sir, but I don't know you. Are you a relitive of one of the dock workers?"
"Hardly," replied the argonian, "I'm here on some business with my orginisation. But I don't have much time to do anything until morning. My client, as I've been told, likes his sleep." The argonian drank deeply from his mug of sujamma. I sipped my flinn, letting the drink warm my bones. It wasn't as effective as moon sugar, but it works just fine.
"Client eh?" probed the bartender, "You work for the fighter's guild or somthin? I thought they may send someone to drag that poor boy from his home"
This perked my intrest, because I knew at once what the old bartender spoke of. Aventus Arentino, the orphan who ran away from honorhall in Riften and hid in his old house. Townsfolk whispered about the Arentino boy preforming dark rituals to summon the dark brotherhood. But I wrote it off as gossip. The kid probibly started the rumor himself just so people would leave him alone.
"Exelent guess," said the argonian, draining the last of his drink, "But it is not the fighter's guild who sent me here. You could say I have business with ol' Grelog herself."
"She sent an enforcer to take the lad back then. I didn't think the bitter old biddy cared."
The argonian laughed, "I personaly could care less how the woman feels. When she gets her orphan, I get my gold."
"And how much is she willing to pay?" I asked. Both of them looked at me, and I felt a little self-concious, "I'm just wondering. Riften isn't exactly close by."
"Indeed not," replied the argonian. He ordered another mug and I did the same. When the bartender left, the argonain spoke up again, "Why so curious about such things? You arn't thinking about moving in on my bounty, are you kitten?"
I laughed, the warmth of the fireplace loosened me up a little, "I have no armor or weapons, how would I escort the boy?"
"Good point." murmured the argonian. The bartender gave us our respective mugs and the conversation ended there. I drained my cup quickly and paid for my meal. To be honest, I'd rather stay in the comfort of the corner club, but I would have to return to the outside eventualy. I bid the bartender and the argonian a farewell and made my way outside.
The wind and cold hit with a greater force than what I was acustomed too, wakeing me upp from my slightly drunken state. I shivered despite the protection of my fur. I thought about what the argonian said. About me moving in on his bounty.
Why shouldn't I? The scaleface had plenty of gold to give a stranger,so I'm sure he'd understand if a little bounty was lost. Besides, I needed the gold more than he did.
I set off to the cursed home of Aventus Arentino. The night provided exelent cover from the guards. I'm sure if they saw a shady cat slipping inside a place that wasn't hers, they would throw her in the jail cell quick.
I crept along the stone walls, as quiet as I could be. I did my best to blend in with the shadow, but sneaking came to me naturaly. All kajhiit can become one with the shadow given time and practice. My mother could melt into the shadows while she liberated jewels from nobles. Of course mother spoke about being the head of the theives guild in Cyrodill. Mother, I assume, partook of the skooma too often.
The cursed home loomed overhead, the door was firmly locked. I extracted a lockpick from my pocket and worked loose the lock. The door swung easily and I slunk inside.
The Arentino house was cluttered, dark and ill kept. Piles of clay plates and cups were broken and scattered across the floor. Books were ripped and their pages and tossed around the place. Close by, a soft chant echoed:
"Sweet mother, sweet mother
Send your child unto me
For the sins of the unworthy
Must be babtised in blood and fear"
The view of a young boy standing over a colection of bones, human flesh, and nightshade, encircled by candles. The boy picked up some nightshade and rubbed his silver dagger with the petals. He then proceded to stab at the odd colection and continued the chant.
"Young Arentino?" I said, my voice slighly louder than his soft chant.
The youth slowly looked away from his task, his eyes wide with shock. Cautiously he rose from the ground, he kept his dagger in hand. Great, now I'll be stabbed to death by a child.
"I...I can't believe it," He whispered, the blade slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor. He walked closer, "I can't believe you actualy came! An assassan from the dark brotherhood!"
"No, you are mistaken..." I tried to object, but he spoke over me.
"No it has to be you! I performed the black sacrement, you know." He looked at the bones and flesh with disgust, "with the body and the things... and you shown up! you will accept my contract!"
I had to ask, "Contract?"
And Aventus began to bable, "My mother died...I'm all alone now, and after her death they sent me to that horrable orphanage in Rifter. Honerhall!" His fist clenched in rage, "We have this mistress there,and they call her Grelod the kind. But she is not kind, she's horrible. To all of us!"
He paused briefly, looking up at me with determination, "She's your target. Kill Grelod and I'll reward you. With whatever I have..."
Pity shook my resolve. What is one little murder? Acording to this poor lad, Grelod was nothing but a monster. It truely woudn't be murder if the hag abused children, would it? Might just be Aventus Arentino's way of self defence.
"Err...your contract has been accepted by the brotherhood. We will honor your...request."
His face lit up and I had to smile in return, "Oh thank you, thank you so much and...um...may the night mother bless you!"
"Oh, umm... May the night mother bless you as well." I replied, and once more I slipped in the shadows. I still had some gold left over, I could catch a ride to Riften on carrage. One thing is certain, Grelod's time was almost up.
Thank you for reading my story. I'm not much of a spelling and grammer master-Obviously- but I hoped you liked it all the same. Read and Review.
