Chapter 2: An answer

A week later and I had still not heard from the Dark Brotherhood. Professionals indeed! What was taking so damn long?! I thought as I angrily grinded the garlic and vampire dust.

"Muiri watch what you're doing! Vampire dust doesn't sprout from tree's you know!"

I turned to look at my employer, who is glaring at me from behind the counter.

"I'm sorry Bothela. I wasn't thinking straight." The old woman huffed, "Seems to me you weren't thinking at all! Child you've been a wreck this past week. Just yesterday you almost let Senna walk out of here with twice than what she paid for!"

I winced at the memory. I finished the potion and moved on to the next order.

Within minutes after I started Bothela was standing behind me lecturing me again. "No, no girl. It's the picked spider tongue and then the decayed taproot. Do it the other way, and your cure turns into a poison."

I sighed in frustration, put the mortar and pestle down and turned to face the old woman.

"There's just so much to memorize. How am I supposed to remember what goes where for every single herb?" Bothela smiled slightly.

"You will. Until then, you'll taste every potion you make before you sell it." "EVERY potion?" I asked.

"Yes, it should help you to pay more attention to what you're doing. You don't want to poison yourself do you?" she cackled, before she began to walk back to the counter. I couldn't help but smile.

Bothela only wanted to help me improve my alchemy skills.

Without her guidance, I would be begging on the streets. In addition she taught me several spells in order to defend myself and heal others. "Thanks, Bothela." I whispered.

While she never turned around, I knew that she had heard me.

Later that night, I headed towards the Silver Blood Inn for some supper.

Bothela liked to eat at the shop, but I needed to get out and mingle with the towns folk.

Not that it did me any favors. Markarth was a tough city. Between Forsworn attacks, the war, the impending dangers of a dragon attack and the unfriendly people it wasn't the greatest city to call home. 'It isn't Windhelm that's for sure.'

As I was about to enter the Inn, a courier stopped me. "Muiri? I have a letter for you." Huh that's strange. "From who?" The courier shrugged. "I'm not sure. The fellow didn't give me a name. Anyway here ya go. I've got to be off."

As the courier left I glanced at the piece of paper in my hands. Slowly unfolding it, I glanced at the message.

Meet in front of the Warrens, same time

There was only one person who that could be from. I stared at the letter a little longer, admiring his handwriting.

'Stop it Muiri, get a hold of yourself'

I was really hopeless.

After folding the letter and placing it in my pouch I quickly ran into the Inn, to grab a quick bite to eat before I headed to the Warrens.

I was greeted upon my entrance by the innkeeper's wife.

"Hello dear! I've already made your meal in advance. It's your favorite, potato soup."

"Thanks Frabbi," I muttered as I paid her.

Frabbi had been making me this soup almost daily lately and I was getting sick of it quickly.

I took a seat on one of the seats in front of the stone fireplace.

As I sipped my soup, and listened to the skald sing, I overheard some critical news.

"Apparently she was murdered in her bedroom. Those poor Shatter-Shields. Did you know their eldest daughter was only murdered a few months before?"

So he had done it, and in her bedroom as well. He was a lot better than I had originally thought. I quickly finished my soup, thanked Frelda and made my way to our meeting place.

He was there, standing in the shadows of entrance to the Warrens.

It was less dark than the night we first meet and I could see him a little clearer.

However the large hood still obstructed most of his face, and I only saw that one green eye.

'It's a beautiful color, almost like a speckled egg' I thought to myself. But that wasn't why I was here.

Shaking my head slightly I asked "Well what news? Is Alain…?"

"Alain Dufont now lies dead," he replied, his voice stiff and monotone.

"Well…thank you. The bastard got exactly what he deserved. And I heard about Nilsine. You have more than fulfilled your part of the bargain. Please take this as payment and a symbol of my affection," I said as I handed him his gold and my ring.

He pocketed the gold quickly, but rang his fingers over the ring before slipping it on his finger.

As I watched him turn to leave a strange feeling washed over me.

A strange heart wrenching feeling.

I should be relieved that its finally over. Whats wrong with me?

"I'll never forget you," I whisper to his retreating back.

I had no idea at the time how that sentence would forever change my life.