Prisoner

I look at the scene before me, deeply confused. Kodlak disturbed me writing a letter. Shortly afterwards I left him be. This scene is not at all what I was expecting to find.

"Your son is strong, Listener. Stronger than your husband was." Nazir sighs, looking up from the chair he has been tied to by Kodlak.

"Kodlak. Did this man try to kill you?"

"Try being the main word, yes he did."

"That axe is larger than you were last time I saw you, boy." Kodlak tosses Wuuthrad between his hands proudly.

"Nazir, why did you do this? I was literally just writing a letter to explain my absence and I have been planning to see you all again soon. Why did you attempt to kill the one thing the Brotherhood has not destroyed?"

"You took one of ours Listener. You hurt him. Tortured him. You betrayed the Dark Brotherhood and I am not intent on allowing you to get away with it."

"It is over Nazir. Tell the Night Mother that her Listener is dead."

"But you live."

"I no longer listen to her. Therefore the Listener no longer exists. Kodlak, you can go if you want." Kodlak nods and leaves, taking Wuuthrad with him. As soon as I hear the door close behind Kod I untie my old friend from the chair. He will not harm me, he owes me too much. Even assassin's have honour. "Nazir. I have missed you brother." I say before quickly embracing him in a hug.

"I allowed myself to be captured, as instructed. However, that boy of yours is rather strong. Listene-"

"Call me Nik."

"Fine. I missed you Nik." He says, standing up. He is just taller than me so I bury my head in his shoulder and he rests his chin on my head.

"Better. I can't believe I'm trusting you again already, brother."

"Neither can I. I was expecting to be grovelling for at least another hour yet."

"Nazir, I am not coming back to the Brotherhood. You and Babette can visit but I do not want the Night Mother suspecting anything."

"I understand. I am sorry for what happened to your husband."

"It does not matter. I suppose you should be leaving, preferably before my son comes back to find me embracing a murderer." I finish with a wink and he chuckles deeply. "I am glad that we could negotiate peacefully without either of us dying. It would be a terrible shame if you were to die." He laughs and sneaks his way out of the city. I go back to writing my letter to Carlotta.

Meanwhile with Kodlak...

"What is troubling you Kodlak?" Kayd asks, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Somebody tried to kill me last night and I left them with my mother."

"Somebody?" Minette asks, finally joining in with the conversation. After his conversation on the tower with Minette she had been a lot more confident in talking to him.

"A Dark Brotherhood assassin."

"I thought your mother was one of them?"

"Not anymore." The trio falls into silence. Svari is with her father at the market today, something that reminds Kodlak of a certain other girl who helps her parent at the market back in Whiterun.

"So, what do you want to do today?"

"We could take Minette hunting." Kayd jokes, making Kodlak laugh and Minette uneasy.

"Aye, that would go down well." Kodlak quips sarcastically.

"We could go down to the docks?" Minette suggests.

"That sounds interesting. More interesting than here anyway. Lets go."

"Actually, father needs help around the forge today. Sorry but I have to go." Kayd says before backing away from the two teenagers left behind. Kodlak smiles and motions for Minette to follow him.

Together, they go down to the docks and sit on the end of the pier. The pair sit in an uncomfortable silence, there is no noise to be heard other than the distant ringing of a bell on a ship.

"So Minette, did you get to sleep last night?"

"Yes actually, shortly after you left. My brother was apparently worried for me so he came to pick me up."

"Ah yes, I saw him on my way back home. He gave me the strangest look."

"Did you know that my brother used to be in love with your mother? That's an odd thought."

"Did you know that she still denies his advances to this day?" Kodlak asks before bursting out laughing. Minette joins in with the laughter but after that there is an uncomfortable silence. Kodlak looks over at his friend and she looks upset. "Don't frown. Frowning ruins the way you look. Smiling suits you so well." He says reassuringly. She looks up at him and the corner of her mouth twitches slightly.

"You know, my brother kissed your mother when he liked her. If he hadn't been so brash then he might have won her affections."

"No. Her heart was elsewhere at the time. She was far too busy with other people."

"Have you written to that girl in Whiterun yet?"

"No. I'm not supposed to since nobody is supposed to know that we're here. I suppose I will just have to wait until she comes here herself."

"It must be hard to love someone that does not care for you in return."

"I wouldn't be too sure. The Jarl's daughter seemed fine with it." He states with a shudder.

"Surely marrying her would have been good for you and your family. Her family could have provided wealth and you could have lived in a palace. I've seen Dagny before and she is hardly unattractive. What stopped you?"

"I did not like her like that. She tried to force herself onto me and she manipulated me into kissing her. Then Mila refused to accept my affections so here we are. A fresh start." Minette nods understandingly. "I am sorry Minette, you are beautiful and a wonderful person but while Mila remains on my mind, you must understand that I cannot feel the way you do."

"I understand Kodlak. Do you want to go back to the city and show me how you can possibly wield that behemoth of an axe?" A large smirk lights his expression.

"It would be my pleasure." He says, grinning. He helps her up with one hand and carried Wuuthrad with the other. Maybe he could wait until he ran away to Mila. It isn't so bad here after all.