Marina placed her belt of daggers onto a hook, before sliding the Bladed Shroud out of its sheath and setting it on a stone podium. She placed the sheath next to it, before walking over to the weapon rack and taking her bow and placing it on her back. She placed the quiver of arrows on her hip. She sighed, and looked at herself in the mirror. She saw the unfamiliar blue eyes looking back, and she looked away. This was something she had to do.
Marina walked out and went over to Veezara, before bending down and giving him a hug.
"You'll tell the others?"
"Only after you're long gone."
"Veezara, thank you. So much. You're the only one who I've been able to talk to without feeling.."
"Awkward? Yeah. You're lucky I don't like that interracial stuff." He teased, laughing before returning the hug.
Marina stood up and patted his shoulder, before walking towards the door. She turned, and saw Veezara looking at her.
"Hide the books."
Marina left the cave, and climbing onto Nightwing. She dug her heels into his ribs and rode south towards the Falkreath Sanctuary. The clouds had parted, the crescent moon shining down on the black coat of Nightwing's. The air was unnaturally cold, almost as if the Jerall Mountains were calling for her. She had to make a stop along the way, of course, but no matter.
She was sad, which was unlike her. What happened to the murderous, loathing, misery-dealing woman she had become since Molag Bal tried taking her? Was this the punishment for taking so long to finish Moiterre's contract? Almost as if Nightwing could read her thoughts, he neighed loudly, before running faster. They were in the pines now.
She had thought over who was going to come with her to Deepscorn Hollow, and had decided on someone she hadn't spoken to directly. She rode onto the road past Falkreath, and gazed longingly at the old cemetery. How simple it must be, to just have a few people mourn the loss of a deceased. When she died, more would spit on her corpse then shed a tear. She moved down the worn trail to the small pond of water where Shadowmere and a few other horses were tied up at. She climbed off Nightwing and walked over to the Black Door, answering the voice with 'Silence, my Brother'. She slipped into the Sanctuary, and the door closed with a creak behind her.
She walked down to where the map was, and looked as she saw Astrid pouring over it. Marina grinned and crept behind her, placing one hand over Astrid's mouth and the other wrapping around her waist. She whispered, holding back a laugh.
"Just me."
Astrid smiled under Marina's hand, and turned to look at Marina.
"Well, well. If it isn't the Listener herself! You here to sleep again?"
"No, actually. I've got business to attend to, and had to get one of the recruits."
"Really? Who?"
"Lora."
"Ah, she carried out the contract for the death of Dufont and Shatter-Shield. You'll find her in her room."
"Wonderful. And how is our youngest member?"
"Growing, as always. I think Ragvan has noticed. He and Eola went out to take care of a wizard holding out in Mzinchaleft. What's the deal between you two anyway? When you guys left that one day, he didn't come out for hours."
"Ragvan likes me. I rejected him."
"Oh."
"Yeah, but anyway I have to get going. Time is running out."
"Oh, okay. Well, be careful. And don't be surprised when you see Lora."
Marina smiled and walked down to the main chamber, where J'Kier was attacking non-existent enemies and Cascus was sleeping on the floor with a bottle of mead dumped out next to him. Marina wondered where Niruin was, but paid it no mind. Marina waved as J'kier acknowledged her, not paying him any true attention. She was focused on what lay ahead. She walked past a large Deathbell flower before finding herself at the only closed door in the set of rooms. She lifted her hand and hit her knuckles on the door a few times before stepping back.
There was a sound of rushed movements behind the door, before it opened. It revealed a woman in her teens, with black hair pulled up in a ponytail. Her skin was almost as pale as Marina's, and they both had the same facial expression. But what really got Marina's attention was that the woman's eyes were an emerald green. They sparkled in the firelight, and Marina just stared before the woman spoke to her.
"Yes, Listener? What brings you to this lovely corner of the Sanctuary?" The woman asked, in a voice of both annoyance and respect. Marina also thought she sensed anger about her, but pushed it aside.
"You are to join me for a trip." Marina replied, with a cold, commanding authority to it.
The woman sighed before closing the door in Marina's face. There were a few more sounds before the door opened up again fully, revealing a set of armor that Marina recognized as vampire armor. Marina also took note of how much of her breasts she was revealing. On her waist was a simple iron dagger, and on her back was a knapsack with a black metal rod tucked between it and her body.
"It's a melee staff. Ragvan made it for me. Ebony." Lora replied, taking note of the observation. She sighed, again. Obviously something about Marina was irritating her.
"What's bothering you?" Marina asked, giving her own irritation.
"I don't like you. That's all. Now can we please just go for this trip, or are we going to stand her all day?" She asked, walking past Marina. Marina sighed and followed as the two made their way to the Black Door. Marina noticed how J'Kier looked on with envy as the two left the Sanctuary. He dropped his weapon and began punching a target.
Lora walked out while Marina slowed to give Astrid a questioning look, only to receive a laugh in response. Astrid mouthed 'Find out soon', and then Marina left the Sanctuary. Lora turned to look at Marina.
"Okay, now where are we going?"
"Shut the fuck up and listen for one damn second before I place an arrow between your eyes, you little bitch." Marina shot out, already nocking an arrow and aiming it at Lora.
Lora showed no fear as she gazed at Marina with the same cold look that Marina saw in the mirror back at Rebel's Cairn. She kept her mouth shut, though.
"You and I, are going to Cyrodiil. There is, apparently, a sanctuary that wasn't destroyed. We are going to check it out."
"No way. Take someone else."
"Lora, need I remind you of the Tenets you swore to uphold? Tenet Number 3: Never disobey or refuse to carry out an order from a Dark Brotherhood superior. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis. You are bound to do this." Marina scolded, placing the arrow back in her quiver and the bow onto her back.
"Very well. Where in Cyrodiil?" Lora replied, no longer trying to hide her hatred for Marina.
"By the border of Black Marsh and on the coast of Topal Bay."
"Oh, boy. We better get going then if we want to make it there before Astrid gives birth." She laughed, walking towards a horse.
"Firstly, how do you know about the pregnancy? Secondly, we're going on foot. The Thalmor have a larger hold in Cyrodiil, and will take our horses if they see them. I hope you brought some entertainment."
Lora growled and pulled her staff out, before hitting it on a rock, splitting the rock in two. She stormed off on the road, and Marina followed behind by ten feet. This was not going to be a fun journey.
-
"I've brought you something." A voice whispered, his hand reaching to a satchel on his hip. He looked up at the glowing set of eyes before him, taking note of how the moonlight reflected off her fangs. He opened his hand and a black chain was coiled in his palm. On the chain hung a miniature skull carved from what appeared to be a femur. An audible gasp came out, and the woman hugged him before putting the necklace on.
"Thank you, Niruin! It's beautiful!" Babette smiled, kissing him. Niruin smiled back, before wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned against him and they stared up at the stars.
"I'm glad you like it, darling."
"So what made you want to meet tonight? Normally you don't want to meet unless Marina is away."
"I couldn't resist watching you walk away and well, you know me: I have to get what I want." Niruin chuckled.
"You know, I was going to go out with Nirya and Gabriella tonight if you hadn't sent that letter. I'm glad you did."
"Well, you're a physical adult. I think it's time you start enjoying all the pleasures you couldn't before."
"Should I even bother getting dressed?"
"Nope." Niruin grinned, kissing her neck.
Gabriella stumbled into the room Nirya had rented for the night, angry that Marina had ditched them. Nirya was hunched over a bucket, emptying her stomach of the alcohol she had consumed. She turned and looked at Gabriella, before hurling into the bucket.
"That s-s-sexy bitch better, she better come back here! She said she would! She said she would!" Gabriella slurred. She stepped towards the bed, and fell into the wall. She slid down and sat on the floor, before she burst into tears.
"Neeer, why doesn't she love us? We're-we're sexy! We're gorgeous! She should be falling all over us! Ish, ish not fair!" She sobbed, before throwing up in a flower pot.
Nirya threw up again, before standing up and looking out the window. She yawned, before falling backwards and hitting the ground hard. Gabriella glanced and saw she was sleeping, so she walked over and flipped Nirya on her stomach, before lying down on the bed. She could still hear a man complaining about not having a threesome with them, before she passed out.
Veezara was reading about Mathieu Bellamont when Nazir burst into the room with a busty Nord woman. He sighed as Nazir began ripping off her clothes and chasing her into a room. A room that wasn't Nazir's. Veezara got up and walked over to his bedroom where he got a view of Nazir's manhood before he walked over and picked the woman up, carrying her to Nazir's room. He tossed her on the bed, and Nazir dove after her. Veezara laughed as Nazir slammed his face into the bedpost, and closed the door behind him. He walked over to his room and sat down in the chair, continuing the story of Bellamont. He read of how the Shadowscales named Ocheeva, Scar Tail and Teinaava and their slaughter all at the hands of the Silencer of Lucien Lachance.
He wished he had saved his hatchmate from the hunter, but Astrid had said otherwise. He was now the only Shadowscale that he knew of. He was alone, and there weren't many Argonians in Skyrim to choose from. He tossed the book aside and made his way to his bed, where he laid on top of the covers with his armor on. He closed his eyes and sighed as the memories came back.
-
Astrid sat down in front of the fire, her hand holding a cup of water. She hadn't even told Marina what she'd been doing. She reached over and took a few petals of dried nightshade and dropped them in the water. Babette had unknowingly told her how to do it. She didn't want Arnbjorn's child. It would be impossible to raise a child in this environment. No, she still wanted to kill. And she didn't want that for any children she may have. She drank the water and felt as her body weakened. She wouldn't die from the poisoning, but she would be susceptible to almost any attack. She closed her door and locked it, before sitting on the edge of her bed.
"I'm sorry, Arnbjorn. I can't be reminded of you." Astrid whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek.
-
"So, Lora, tell me about yourself. We've got a long time ahead of us, and it's better than silence." Marina asked, the two now walking side-by-side as they entered the mountain range.
"I'd rather not, if you don't mind. I tend to keep to myself for the most part."
"That's fine. Will you at least tell me why you hate me so much?"
"Simple. Because Ragvan doesn't love me." Lora replied. Her voice had shifted just barely, but enough that Marina noticed.
Marina looked onward and thought to herself. So it wasn't just Ragvan that was involved in this obsession. She felt bad for Lora. She didn't mean for Lora to be hurt. She wondered what Ragvan did to her. She shuddered as she remembered the dagger she left behind to him.
"Lora. Did he ever attack you with a silver dagger?"
Lora froze, turning to look at Marina with widened eyes.
"How did you know?
Okay, so this was a little weird chapter. In Marina's chapters, I will be having changes of point of view to let people know what's going on at the Sanctuaries. In Endras' chapters, I will have some more, well, you know :) Also, I think I'm going to have a Ragvan chapter soon, just for you fans. As always: review, favorite, follow, etc. I really appreciate that. It doesn't have to be critique. You can give a compliment, ask questions, tell me more of what you want to see, or give advice. It's all good for me. Please, take the time. It's only a couple of keystrokes, clicks, and minutes.
