A/N: More uninspiring attempts at a story from yours truly!

Alcyfis: That's happened to me a few times too! That's why I always check my spam folder before emptying it.

ReaperRain: I'm glad you think I'm getting their voices across well. It's very difficult to do Uvani and keep the story going.

Burgundy and Black

Chapter 10: A Move Closer

One of the little pleasures I appreciate in life is an opportunity to play chess. It was one of those hobbies that have stalked me from Morrowind and would not let me go no matter what I did. I would just be reading a book or taking a walk and the urge would just strike me out of the blue. It often went unfulfilled, mind you. Mostly because I had no one to play against and you can't just play it on your own.

When I got struck by the urge after a contract, it was when I was about to visit Alval for my monthly report. So, I found an old and dusty chess-set in a junk cupboard and shoved it into my bag, intent on inviting him to a game.

As it turned out, he'd never played it before, having little time for 'needless games'. But, he consented to let me teach him, nonetheless. Maybe it was because it was me teaching him, I suppose. He didn't really have much of a flair for it. Being as impatient as he was, he was prone to making mistakes and I always won.

However, I did manage to convince him to try and get better at it so, we arranged little chess lessons around once a week. Well, I say, chess lessons. It was more trying to teach my Speaker to be patient and think calmly than anything. At first, he did not take to it and looked as though he wanted to blow up the board most of the time. However, he calmed down when he realised using big explosions wasn't going to get him anywhere and got a bit better,

"A bishop can only move diagonally." I reminded him, one spring night, "Don't think about cheating. Put that pawn back."

"I've no obligation to play by the rules." He snarled, knowing he was on a losing streak, "Who had the idea that pieces only had to move in a certain way?"

"It just makes it more interesting. If every piece could move any way we want, the game would be over too quickly. There would be no fun in it."

"There's a fine line between making something interesting and making something annoying." Alval argued, as I took his rook,

"It would be very boring without a few challenges." I stated, "Just like our contracts would be rather tedious if we didn't have to be secretive...and if we weren't illegal."

"You think our being outside the law is acceptable?"
"I suppose so, yes. It wouldn't feel right to have all our contracts passed by the Elder Council."

"Perhaps not. Adamus Phillida would make sure we're kept out of work."
"I heard Phillida's retiring soon. Is that true?"

"Yes. And the Speakers are all baying for the chance to kill him. Or, to be the Speaker of the person who does. I don't really care either way. I don't want to get into their petty squabbles."

"Don't you want to get the chance to kill Phillida?"

"He hasn't hindered our Sanctuary or me very much. I don't really have much of a reason."

He did have a point. Since the Leyawiin Sanctuary was furthest from the Imperial City, we didn't really have any trouble from the Legion except dodging the odd soldier after skooma dealers,

"So, who do you think will get the job?"

"Ah, probably Lachance or someone from his Sanctuary. Not that he's popular at the moment. He's just eager to please at the minute. Ever since the idea of an assassin among assassins cropped up."

This sentence shook me anew, Eager to please, eh? My growing hatred of him made me think of the possibility that would doom me. But, I didn't voice it. I didn't want to drag our conversation into depressing topics. And, I had the impression that Alval didn't like talking about Lachance, "Ungolim is favouring him."

"Not at the moment. He's just biding his time, not wanting to make any enemies."

"The people who do that are most often the ones with the most enemies." I commented,

"You'd be right there. Oh, and Banus." He set down his queen, "Checkmate."

I did a double take on the board and, sure enough, I had lost,

"Looks like you can't concentrate on talking and playing at the same time."

"No, I can't." I nodded, awkwardly, wondering how on earth he could have done it.

From then on, the games became a bit more exciting and we couldn't afford much conversation in between moves. Which is something I rather liked about that silly little game. Since one was focused so much on the board, we didn't get involved in small talk. Something I rather liked. I had a headache afterwards, granted, but I didn't let that bother me so much now. It faded as we ate supper together. Banus knew that I didn't like idle chatter so he had the good sense to stay quiet.

When it was time for him to leave, we played our usual game of putting our hands on the same piece at the same time. Stupid people looking on would think it was just coincedence but you would have to be really stupid to think that when we were doing that with every piece. Childish, I know, but we thought it amusing at the time.

You might be wondering at this point why I'm being so polite. Well, Banus would not leave me alone until he had my solemn word that I wouldn't let my irritation of you hinder my telling of the essential events. Of course, in my mind, telling you nothing of the events is the only thing that's essential but he seems to think you want to know even the most inconsequential details. And inconsequential does not mean private and interesting! Now, be quiet or I'll give you a taste of how your Sunday roast feels every week!

One of the things Banus wanted me to tell you about were the strange dreams I had been having. Apparently, you like that sort of thing. Can't imagine for the life of me why. So, here's the story and please do not demand more than what I'm going to give you unless you want to.

Alright, so I was playing chess with Banus as we always did. As we played and chatted unconcernedly, Banus' calm smile slowly faded, looking at something just over my shoulder. Annoyed at this distraction, I looked around and there was Lachance standing behind me. He was wearing the kind of smirk that make weaker men run a mile and even someone like me freeze. Not that I was scared. Merely wondering what twisted thing he could be planning.

I was proved right when his hand lashed out and seized me about the throat, making me unable to speak. I tried to move my arms up but they were held down by the two I dreaded to see again. Banus, on the other side of the board, looked bemused and puzzled. I soon realised that he could not see my captors. After a while of struggling, I managed to get a cry out and he immediately sprang to action. Banus swiped at them with his dagger and I was released.

An odd dream, I know, but dreams are dreams. I don't find anything exciting or incredible about them. Those people who try to make something out of them or say they foretell the future or whatever are idiots trying to make themselves look clever. That extends to you as well. I only told you about it and kept my temper in check because Banus told me to.

What really matters is what happens in the real world. That's why I don't like chapelgoers, that always preach about how the Divines sending messages to us or what have you. There's no point trying to see the future. I knew how I was going to live. It was depressing but I knew. Anyone with a bit of common sense could easily tell how one was going to live. Which is probably why so many people rely on priests or psychics.

Anyway, the days went by and nothing of interest really happened. Not to me, anyway. To you simpleminded-people, maybe something of interest but not to me.

About a year after Banus had been first initiated, the murderer among the ranks had gone quite quiet. Meaning Ungolim had more purpose to say nothing was wrong. It also means that Bosmers are living proof that your height is directly proportional to the size of your brain. I, of course, had the sense to realise that something still wasn't right so I was still on the lookout for anything going on in my Sanctuary.

Banus did say once that he suspected Lachance. Mind you, the boy shared my dislike of him (one of his most excellent features) so his judgement may have been clouded somewhat. However, as soon as he mentioned it, that got implanted in my mind and I found my eyes flicking towards him in suspicion during the meetings. Yes, I know you're shocked that I would consider someone of his remarkable talents (that would be none, fools) to be of any suspicion.

I did see him twitching nervously a few times when the subject was brought up; that did not escape my notice. And, did think that his Sanctuary had been the least victimised so far. And the victims had come into contact with people in his Sanctuary recently before they died. No specific ones were named, which in itself was suspicious.

Of course, Ungolim was starting to forbid anyone from mentioning it. Really, I don't know who he was trying to impress. J'Ghasta made up a story about having a bet on with Eno Hlaalu and admitting that a traitor had slipped through the net would make him lose that bet. Arius just suggested he wanted to avoid all the hassle by pretending it wasn't there, "And, who can blame him?" He had added, "Sending out watchmen, extra vigilance for the Speakers..." And he went on like that way after I was out of earshot. Imperials tend to utilise any opportunity to do as little work as possible.

Lachance didn't say anything. Just gave a rather subdued 'dramatic' farewell and cast Chameleon over himself. A small thing but something I could be paranoid about, Damn it, I'm getting worse that Banus! I thought, on the way back. Well, it's a marvel. I told you all that without losing my temper. No, it has nothing to do with the fact that I cannot do anything since Banus had Silenced me. Fetching little...

I could tell he was stressed. I shared this emotion but for a different reason. The meeting had just taken so long and I was worried something might have happened to him. As I did in this silently-building anxiety in the Brotherhood. I had been waiting to give my monthly report but completely forgot about it when Alval entered.

He threw his cloak onto the hook and threw himself onto the sofa, rather like a teenager that had just had a bad day at school. Don't let Alval know I ever referred to him as a teenager. He'd hate me forever,

"What's up, Speaker?" I asked, keeping my voice as calm as possible even though I was worried about what had happened in the Black Hand meeting,

"The usual." He groaned, "Ungolim being an idiot and the Speakers going mad with worry over this whole thing. Night Mother, I'll be very glad when this is over."

After summoning up all my courage, I sat myself beside him, "It can't be the usual. Something's really bothering you."

He gave me a sideways glare, "And, you will not leave me unless I tell you?"

I held my tongue and he sighed, "Lachance." was within that sigh, making my spine stand erect, "He caught me on the way here. He'd been stalking me but, thanks to your ring, I soon caught him. When I did, he made the most off-colour joke about our relationship. Banus," He waved my hand off his, "we cannot keep this a secret forever. You must have realised that by now. The Night Mother sees all and has very loose lips."

"She's keeping rather quiet now." I pointed out, knowing I was getting dangerously near to insulting the Night Mother and breaking the Tenets but I didn't care, "She could have put a stop to this disquiet long ago."

"Ungolim says that she told him that there was nothing to worry about."

"But, he's lying?"

"That much is obvious. He's a very bad liar. The only thing is that no one bothers to point it out or contradict him."

"Ooh, the Night Mother won't like that." I suddenly stopped worrying about my own words, "I'm surprised she hasn't stricken him with the Wrath of Sithis already."

"Yes." Alval nodded, distractedly, "I'm guessing the Night Mother is keeping usually quiet or she has told him something he does not want to share. Either way, this is not a good situation to find ourselves in."

Feeling particularly daring, I looped an arm around his shoulders and leaned into him just a little. I needed to take this one step at a time. My heart leapt when he did not throw it away. So, I added, "So, do you think it would be safe to..." I left the offer hanging. Alval stared at me as though I'd grown an extra head and his cheeks blushed a deep lilac,

"Banus," His head dropped suddenly and I was worried suddenly that he had walked all the way from , "this is-"

"Are you alright?" I asked, immediately, putting my arms around his neck, letting his head drop onto my shoulder. It became apparent to me that there was nothing wrong with him but I stayed like this for a while. Take every opportunity when it comes, you know. And, with Alval, those opportunities were rare, I can tell you,

"Look, Banus..." I had never seen him so unnerved before. I suppose it was because he was so out of his depth in this and didn't really know how to handle a lover he had been desperately denying for the best part of a year, "...this is not the best time to-"

"If not now, then when?" I replied, evenly, stroking the little curls at the nape of his neck,

"Good point." He mumbled awkwardly, into my shoulder,

"Either one of us could be next." I don't know what possessed me to go on but I did anyway, "So, don't you think..." Again, I left the sentence hanging, being as embarrassed as he.

Then, something happened to make my heart stop. Now, I normally wear mages' robes over my armour (because, though good for sneaking around, the shrouded armour is not good for keeping you warm) so you have to remember that to understand this. His hand slipped up my sleeve and began searching for gaps in the armour. I stayed still, willing him to find the small rip in the fabric I had very conveniently forgot to sew back up when my last victim slashed me.

Just as he was about to find that little split, he immediately stiffened and withdrew, shoving me away so I overbalanced and fell on my backside right onto the floor, "Wh-what is it? Is it Lachance?"

I did a quick detect life spell but there was nothing there. Only Alval's rapidly retreating back.

A/N: Oh, Uvani, why did you have to stop at the cutest bit?