"Listener."
Nora's eyes opened immediately as she realized she'd fallen asleep while riding. She was leaning against Cicero's chest, his breath tickling her ear. She contemplated moving away, but there wasn't that much room on Shadowmere's back. If this was working, let it, she decided.
"Hmm?"
"We are being followed." His voice was subdued, like someone had covered him with a blanket and she was listening to him speak through it.
"By who?"
"Bandits, Cicero thinks."
"Where are we?" She asked, sighing with irritation.
"You slept through the mountain pass. We're entering the plains of Whiterun now." As Cicero spoke, Nora opened her eyes. Twilight was just descending upon Skyrim.
"Then let's make camp. Give our friends a nice surprise, don't you think?"
Cicero laughed at this, sounding more animated them before.
"Yes, Cicero and the Listener on the hunt!" He laughed. She let a smile touch her lips as Cicero reined Shadowmere in, and stumbled gracelessly off of the horse. For a second the Keeper and the demonic steed both stared at her. Then Cicero burst into a fit of snickering, Shadowmere appearing to follow his example. She scowled at the both of them and propped her hands on her hips.
"Is that any way to behave?"
Cicero's laughter just grew louder.
Nora struggled to keep her scowl in place, but the site of the normally taciturn horse shaking his head side to side amused her to no end. She ducked her head and unsaddled Shadowmere, pulling out her bow and stringing it discreetly, sheltered behind her companions and their belongings.
"Oi!" The jingling of metal and laughter of a number of men met her ears. She glanced up and saw the crowd was approaching on Cicero's side. She notched an arrow in the bow and stepped out from around Shadowmere.
A group of seven or so bandits were approaching-obviously bandits, as they were cloaked in mismatched ratty armor and bearing a variety of weapons.
"What do the kind sirs want with Cicero, hmm?" The Keeper asked, clasping his hands behind his back as he leaned forward on his toes. Nora leaned against Shadowmere, bow resting across her thighs. The bandit in the lead, a Breton wearing an elven helmet, tilted his head in her direction as he stopped a few feet away. His companions staggered to a halt behind him, snickering to one another and passing around a jug of what Nora figured was alcohol.
"Well, well. We've got a Jester and…is that the Dragonborn herself I see?" The Breton laughed, leaning forward slightly to look at her. Nora let out an inaudible sigh.
Curse her birthright. Being the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood full-time was all she really wanted, but the people of Skyrim knew her face too well.
And, no matter what the woman in the Ragged Flagon promised her, she refused to allow an Altmer with a knife anywhere near her unconscious body.
"What is a Jester doing in Skyrim these days?" One of the bandits slurred. Cicero let a wicked smile appear on his face.
"Come, Jester! Sing a song for us! Entertain us!" The Breton roared, almost immediately joined by a chorus of agreement from his companions.
Even Nora was uncomfortable with the Keeper's smile.
"Yes, yes. Cicero enjoys performing!"
"Then go ahead!"
Nora let out a groan and dropped her head back onto Shadowmere. She didn't mind Cicero's antics, but why must he always draw these encounters out? She would have rather spent the time with a blade against their flesh, not sitting here with a bow doing nothing.
"Ho ho ho, he he he, break that lute across my knee, and if the bard should choose to fight, why then I'll set his clothes alight!" Cicero crowed. Nora closed her eyes and listened to the bandits laugh nervously, bewildered by the song Cicero was singing. Cicero launched into a few more before he finally finished with what he knew was her favorite.
"Madness is merry and merriment's might, when the jester comes calling with his knife in the night…" Cicero lunged, turning the last phrase into a snarl. The Breton let out a cry of surprise-and promptly fell silent. As soon as Cicero had finished singing, she'd snapped the bow up and shot her arrow clean through his throat. Abandoning the weapon, she pulled out her sword and jumped into the fray.
Cicero looked positively ecstatic, something that amused her. He'd told her once that he hadn't gone no a contract since before he had become Keeper for the Night Mother, and she didn't think he'd really had a chance to do any killing since.
She picked her target and engaged them in battle even as Cicero decimated the other bandits' numbers. She grew tired of the battle after a moment, so swept his legs out from beneath him and pressed her blade to his throat.
"What are you?!" Her adversary gasped, eyes wide. She tilted her head to the side and smiled.
"I am the Listener for the Night Mother. I only hope Sithis is pleased with your pitiful soul." She added disdainfully, flicking her blade to the side.
Blood gushed out, splattering her armor. Something slammed into her back and she staggered over the body, twisting her head around to see what had hit her.
Another body dropped atop the one she had slain. Cicero stood there. Seeing her glare, he lifted his shoulders in a shrug.
"Cicero didn't see you, Listener."
"Liar."
xXxXxXxXxXx
Roe lunged at him immediately, tearing free his weapon and tackling the wizard. Emer scrambled away from them into the door, and I shouted Roe's name, reaching out for him.
Everything went white for a moment.
I felt myself blink, and almost immediately sight returned. I saw Roe, sprawled out across the stone floor, blood pooling beneath him. The wizard was pushing himself to his feet, looking irritated.
I cried out and fell beside Roe, shaking his arm as fear threatened to overwhelm me. I remember tears streaming from my eyes so strongly I had trouble making out which smudge was Roe's face, even though I was right beside him.
"What did you do?!" Emer shouted. I heard the Imperial let out a noise of wounded surprise.
"You're really blaming me? He did attack me, you know."
"Fix him! You're a wizard! Do something!" I don't know who shouted that, but I believe it was me. The wizard laughed.
"Dear child, I am a wizard, not a miracle worker."
"You did this! Fix it!" I shot back.
"I do nothing for free, girl, and I sincerely doubt you have the necessary funds to procure my aide."
Hate boiled up in my gut, even as I frantically wiped at my eyes, whispering Roe's name over and over.
"There's got to be something." Emer whispered hoarsely.
"Well, funny you should say so. There is, in fact. As I said before your little…friend attacked, I am in need of skilled thieves. I believe you fit the bill."
"So?!"
"Help me. When I need you, you will go where I tell you and get what it is I need. Don't scowl so, boy. It's unbecoming. When I feel you have paid me back enough I will even give you a cut of the spoils."
"Yeah, sure, just hurry up!" Emer cried.
I was pulled out of the way-against my will. Someone bundled me up against their chest, holding me in place with one arm. I writhed against their grip.
Through my watering eyes I saw a flare of gold and white light blaze so blindingly I had to squeeze my eyes shut.
Someone grabbed my wrist at the exact moment the sound of someone drawing in a huge, desperate gasp met my ears. Drying my eyes again, I saw Roe. He was sitting up, looking confused as he tried to look behind him. As I watched, magic swirled around him. Sticking out of his back was his dagger, which slid out of his flesh unaided and clattered to the ground as the magic faded.
The Imperial moved before either I or Emer could react, never mind Roe, who was still out of it by the looks of him.
He reached past me and snapped something around Roe's neck-a slender circlet of iron shining brilliantly with magic.
"Hey-!"
The Imperial stood, glancing disdainfully at Emer, ignoring me.
"You don't truly believe that I would trust your word alone, did you? When your debt is repaid, I will take it off."
"What will it do to him, if we refuse?" I asked, hugging Roe's arm tightly. The wizard turned his cool gaze to me.
"It will kill him."
xXxXxXxXxXx
"Cicero." Nora called warningly, tugging irritably at her clothing. The Keeper glanced at her and smirked slightly, but withdrew his hand from the pocket of the man in front of them.
Truth be told, Nora was uncomfortable here. She had passed through this border once before-or, at least she assumed she had. Her first memories, of waking bound in the back of a carriage heading towards her death, had only revealed that she had been caught up in an Imperial ambush, taken with the Stormcloaks after either crossing the border, trying to, or just ending up near it.
Cicero had put away his hat, to her relief, and now wore the worn clothing of a poor farmer. She had donned a dress that had seen similar wear-and-tear.
The woman she had taken it from had been much curvier than she was. While the woman had no more need of it, Nora felt it hung exceedingly low at her chest.
Posing as a married couple probably hadn't been her smartest idea, but it was all they had to work with on such short notice.
Cicero dropped back dramatically, sliding an arm around her waist comfortingly.
"Cicero never understood thieves, really. Take someone's things before you kill them? And they call Cicero crazy…" He confided, bowing his head over her ear. She let out an amused laugh, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder as they waited for the man ahead of them to be given admittance to Cyrodiil.
"And yet you try?"
She felt Cicero's smile a moment before the man, having just taken a step through the gate, cried out and clutched desperately at his chest. He fell to the ground, choking and gasping, limbs flailing around. The Imperial's fought with his flailing limbs, seeking a way to help him.
With a ragged scream, the man died.
Nora jammed the blade strapped to her wrist against her fingertip, the sudden pain drawing a cry of shock from her lips and tears to her eyes. Cicero drew her into a hug, concern evident in his voice as he tried to console her.
A handful of minutes slipped by as the Imperial soldiers deduced that the man was dead then dragged his body out of the way of the road, declaring they were going to give him a proper burial later.
"What is your business, travelers?"
"My wife and I seek passage. The Stormcloaks razed our farm in an attack. We are headed to my sister's home until I can find work." Cicero spoke quietly and slowly, but his struggle with the words he chose was known only to Nora.
"The Imperial Legion is always recruiting, farmer. And I hear there's some big building going on at the Imperial City." One of the soldiers said kindly, ushering them through.
They were alone with their bags, having dismissed Shadowmere earlier. The demonic horse would find his own way across the border. They walked quietly until the gate, and the Imperial soldiers, were out of sight.
"I miss my armor." Nora grouched, shoving Cicero into a bush as she dropped her bags and dragged out the fur armor again. She changed while Cicero complained, still lying on his stomach in the bush.
For all of his quirks, she enjoyed traveling with him the best. If she asked him not to look, he wouldn't. The same could not be said of some of her former companions. Erik lay rotting in the wilds of Skyrim, soul serving Sithis in the Void for it, and more than one bandit had endured her wrath before she had finally chosen to send them to the Void.
"Are you going to change?" She asked, dropping down beside him.
"…Maybe Cicero will put on his hat." The Jester said quietly.
"Are you alright?"
He pushed himself up and studied her intently for a moment.
"You never experienced the full glory of the Brotherhood, Listener. Cicero supposes he didn't, either, but it was more than what you have known. You know Skyrim like Cicero knows Cyrodiil. Coming back revives things I thought were…buried." He said softly.
"What was it like?" She asked.
The gloom in his eyes vanished. She'd never asked him about the Brotherhood as it was supposed to be before-it had always seemed to personal, not after he had watched all of his Dark Siblings fall in vain. He sat up and reached out, taking her hand, uncurling her fingers and turning it so her palm faced the sky.
"The Black Hand is the symbol of the Brotherhood, Listener. You are the thumb, the most vital. The other four fingers are your Speakers. Cicero supposes you served as one of Astrid's Speakers, when the Pretender ruled the Brotherhood….And, on the tip of each finger, each Speaker has a nail, called a Silencer. That is the ruling body." Cicero said, releasing her hand and rocking back on his heels. She frowned.
"And where do you fit in?"
"The Keeper is the Listener's nail. Keepers do not go on Contracts, and serve only as a care-taker and protector of the Night Mother. Cicero could step down now that the Brotherhood is safe and the Night Mother has her Listener, but I won't." He said, shaking his head. Nora stood, helping him up as well.
Nora was silent as they resumed walking, falling behind Cicero, as he knew where they were heading.
"Cicero…The other Sanctuaries. How are they created? And, would it be possible to restore some of the abandoned ones? Or create new ones?"
Cicero turned until he was walking backwards, his eyes glittering.
"Is the Listener thinking of restoring the Brotherhood?" He asked slyly.
"Of course."
He grinned and turned back around.
"The passwords to the old Sanctuaries have been lost. Before Cicero left Cyrodiil, he burned all of the Brotherhood's documents. Perhaps sweet Mother will have written them down, though, Cicero does not know how they came to be, those with Black Doors."
"Maybe the Night Mother will tell us. So where are you leading me?" Nora asked, changing the subject. Cicero pointed ahead of them.
"Bruma is the closest city. Cicero thinks the Listener will want to ask around, won't she? We will reach it soon."
No sooner had he spoken than the city rose up ahead of them. Nora shifted uncomfortably to see it, suddenly reminded of just how far from home she was.
xXxXxXxXxXx
Have you ever failed someone before, dear Listener? Blamed yourself for the terrible fate that someone you cared about had to endure?
Perhaps your own experiences were worse than mine. Maybe you alone wielded the blade or the spell, manipulated or aware of what it was you were doing. I pray you have never had to feel such a thing. The guilt was almost unbearable, like another living entity demanding release.
I believe that Emer blamed himself for what happened, and, in the harsh light of truth, he was correct. He had led us to the Castle, he had led us into the wizard's room, and he had told us to hide.
But he had no made our decisions for us. He had not taken control of our limbs in order to make us follow, to make Roe grab his blade in self-defense.
I think Roe understood that. I certainly didn't, but when the three of us, Emer and I supporting almost all of Roe's weight, burst into the small hideaway we spent most of our time in, a single glance from him silenced Ulva's rage.
Liali said nothing when we returned, both Emer and I still supporting Roe and Roe tugging anxiously at the noose around his throat.
Ulva was furious, although, personally, I believe she was more angry she had not been with us than she was that Roe was in such a state.
Liali took Roe from me and made him lay down while Emer recounted our adventure, checking to see if his wound really was healed.
Laili was not a half-blood or a Dunmer like the rest of us. Her mother had been a Breton and her father an Altmer. She alone out of all of us wielded spells, and, despite the fact she was a child, people would pay her to heal their sick and wounded when an official healer's price was too exorbitant. 'Child' was a relative term, of course. She was only a month younger than Roe.
The soft glow of magic lit her face as she looked up at me.
"Did the wizard do anything to you?" She asked seriously.
"Not…Not that I saw." I whispered, suddenly feeling very small. She reached out a free hand and pressed it over my heart. A pulse of blue magic surrounded me for a moment.
"I can't detect anything, but I'm not that strong." Laili finally breathed, releasing me and pulling away from Roe as well.
"Is he okay?" I asked uncertainly. Laili's face pinched in a strange emotion.
"He died, Saeunn. This…this is very subtle necromancy. He pulled Roe's soul back into his body before he could go too far. The collar will kill him if you don't obey the wizard, but it does more than that. It keeps him from dropping into death again."
Roe was shaking when he pushed himself up, and when he saw me he stared intensely.
"Are you alright?"
"The wizard…What did you do?"
"He said if we agreed to work for him he'd save you." I said, my voice small. Anger flashed across Roe's face and he turned to glare at Emer.
"You agreed?" He hissed, staggering to his feet. Laili let out a cry and reached up to pull him back down, but he shook her off and unsteadily stalked towards Emer.
"What else were we supposed to do? Let you die?" Emer snapped back.
I noticed that Emer was shaking too, just like Roe had been earlier.
"Because indenturing yourself to a wizard is any better?! Did you even think of what he could do to us? And you told him about all of us! Where to find us, for Mara's sake!" Roe shouted, voice hoarse and cracking.
So Roe hadn't been as out of it as I'd thought. He had heard Emer answer the Imperial's questions.
"You did what?!" Ulva gasped, going stiff.
"What other choice did we have?" Emer shouted back.
Thick silence fell over all of us.
"The wizard wants us to meet him at Silverhome tomorrow morning. All of us." Emer said shortly, finally breaking the silence. Anger flashed across Roe's face, but Emer vanished outside before Roe could begin speaking.
I shifted uncomfortably, uncertain of what I was supposed to do. I had never seen Roe this angry-but, then again, Emer had never led anyone to their death before.
Part of me wondered if it would happen again.