Hello there!
Uhu… Contrary to what I was saying last week, I have found the time to write another chapter (Woo, go me!).
To say I wanted this fanfic to be short. "sight"
Anyway, let's the show begin!
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It was raining heavily on the forests of the Nibenay Basin. The waters of the Silverfish River, carrying along mud and fragments of woods, were about to flood.
Along the banks made slippery by the rain, two horses and their riders were progressing with great care. The sky was so dark with clouds it seemed they were riding at dead of night.
"Did you really have to follow me? I am a big girl, you know." said Sigrid to the rider who was coming after her. In spite of her rain cloak, she was soaking wet and was doing her best not to shake with cold.
Contrary to Sigrid and despite her insistence, Lucien had refused to wear a cloak. His face and hair were now streaming with water, but he did not seem to be bothered to excess.
"If you are a big girl, Celedaen is a big necromancer and I doubt he will be very happy to see you." replied Lachance. "You may need a bit of support."
Sigrid shrugged.
"You know better than me. After all, he is an old acquaintance of you, isn't he?"
"Why do you have to be so aggressive?" asked Lucien sharply. "Are you like this with everybody else or am I the only one to have the privilege to enjoy your sudden changes of mood?"
Sigrid shot him a dark look but did not answer. She had never known where to stand with Lachance, but after what happened – or rather, what had not happened – in Thoronir's shop, it was even worst… She hadn't tried to raise the subject and neither had Lucien, but several questions kept running through her head. Was he really attracted to her? Or – as Sigrid assumed – was he just trying to soften her up and exert more control over her?
When Lachance had revealed her that the Black Hand had been keeping an eye on Celedaen for a long time, Sigrid had had trouble not to flow in a terrible rage. He had tried to make her think it was a mere coincidence, but if Sigrid was sure of one thing, it was that coincidence could never occur when Lachance was around…
Her eyes suddenly spotted a vague dark form behind the curtain of rain.
"Oooh, look, Ayleid ruins!" she exclaimed. "I don't think I know those ones."
Lucien sighted inwardly as Sigrid spurred her horse toward the crumbled fort. To think they could have reached Leafrot cave in less than a day…
But it was without counting on Trencavel's propensity to play the day-tripper. She had made them stop at every stone that vaguely looked like a ruin. And to make things worst, it had started to rain right after they left the Imperial City. Nor that Lucien did mind rain, but it was making their progression really difficult. Sigrid's mount – a paint horse which should have gotten back to its ancestors' green pastures long ago – was not exactly frisky, and Trencavel was definitely not a good rider. Fortunately, they had crossed Silverfish River earlier this morning which meant they should reach Celedaen's lair around midday.
"Funny, I thought you would have been more at ease with horses…" he said while observing Sigrid struggling to make her nag jumping over a rotten trunk.
"And what make you think that?" asked the girl.
Lucien pulled a face. Should he tell her? "She will learn it, one day or another." J'Ghasta had said. "Much better that you – or me – tell her than she finds out by herself". Lucien was really not enthusiastic at the idea, as it seemed he only had to open his mouth to either irritate or infuriate Sigrid.
"Well, your grand-mother – Rivanone Trencavel – was said to be a good horse breeder." he said.
"Oh, you have heard of her, haven't you?" Sigrid had dismounted and was now trying to drive her horse around the trunk.
"Yes, I have kind of heard of her…"
Something in Lucien's voice set of a little alarm in the girl's head.
"And what is this supposed to mean…?"
"Rivanone is the one who… offered me Shadowmere." Lucien replied carefully.
Sigrid stopped and looked at him with a suspicious expression on her face.
"Granny Rivanone was very found of her horses, and they were worth no less than ten thousands septims… Why on Nirn would have she given you one of her precious breeds?"
"She gave me Shadowmere as present when I became her… Silencer."
"Right. That is said." Lucien thought, taking a deep breath and bracing himself for Sigrid's fury.
But instead of starting yelling and insulting him, she stood still, looking rather shocked. The information took a few seconds to sink in, but she finally recovered from her surprise. Shaking slightly, she nevertheless managed to get back on her horse and broke into a furious gallop.
But her painted horse was no match for Shadowmere, and Lucien drew level with her without difficulty. He caught the reins of her horse and made it to stop.
"Let me go!" she yelled. "Or I swear I…"
She raised a hand and tried to slap Lucien across the face. He easily avoided the blow and, capturing her wrists in one hand, he grabbed her chin with the other, forcing her to look up him. Sigrid's hood had fallen back on her shoulders during their struggle, and Lucien realised she was in tears.
"Look, I know it is rather unexpected…" he started softly.
"Why telling me that now?" Sigrid cut him.
Lucien rolled his eyes.
"I never really get the opportunity before, you see... What could have I said? Something like 'Hey, you know what? Your grand-mother was a Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood.'?"
"Hmm, I think he is sincere, for once…" said the Voice in Sigrid's head. The girl did not know if Lucien was really honest, but at least his face was not displaying his usual "I-know-everything-you- don't" expression.
"She was the Speaker of the Cheydinhall's sanctuary before me." Lucien continued, releasing Sigrid's wrists. "She recruited many members - your humble servant included."
Sigrid relaxed a bit. She passed a hand over her face to wipe her tears way and gave Lucien an apologising look. She clearly had a bit overreacted but for once, her anger was not entirely directed toward Lachance…
How could her grand-mother have lied to her? Sigrid and Rivanone were very close, and the girl thought she knew everything about her grand-mother. To realise that the latter hadn't told her the entire truth had really shocked Sigrid.
"Granny Rivanone, a member of the Dark Brotherhood…" she whispered.
"Granny Rivanone" Lucien repeated, emphasising the first word. "To be honest, after having witnessed her murdering cold-bloodlessly more than a hundred people in her long career, it is really hard to picture her as a softie of a grand-mother…"
"I never said she was good at it…"
Actually, Rivanone Trencavel had not exactly been the kind of grand-mother to read stories or make fruit jams… But she had been the only person who had really cared for Sigrid. The girl had been to left to her own devices in the early years of her life. Her mother died a few weeks after she was born and her father - who was not a bad man - was too deeply absorbed in his research in magic to bother with a daughter completely incompetent in this field.
When Rivanone finally had come back to the Trencavels'estate after a three-year trip around Tamriel, she had been quite displeased to realise that the only heir of the family was a eight-year old scraggy wild cat, who preferred spending her days running in the woods and fighting with the little rascals of her age rather than studying. So she had decided to take Sigrid's education into hand, using a clever mix of cuddling and kicks in the ass. But above all kicks in the ass…
"She was the one who raised me, you know. And I can tell you it had been no picnic…" said Sigrid, wincing.
"Tell me about it…" said Lucien, wincing back and pointing at his ribs. "J'Ghasta and I remember her every time it is raining."
"J'Ghasta? She recruited him as well?" asked Sigrid, surprised.
"No, she did not. Our Khajit friend belonged to another sanctuary. But Rivanone thought that J'Ghasta's Speaker was not using him to his full potential. So, she decided to form him herself."
"You two were raised by my grand-mother?"
"Oh yes…We were both recruited at a relatively early age – when we were in our teens, to be precise." Lachance was apparently taking great pleasure in remembering the good old days. "We made life rather difficult for her, and she was a very demanding teacher. But I don't think any of us would have regrets about the time we have spent together..."
Sigrid noticed the faraway look that had appeared in Lachance's eyes as he said this.
"And in five minutes, you are going to tell me that you or J'Ghasta had some kind of love affair with her…?" asked Sigrid sarcastically.
"I am not saying that, at a point, I had not been attracted to her. She was an incredible person and obviously she made quite an impression on the teenager I was... However, Rivanone seemed to be interested in a more… experienced partner." A smile appeared on his face. "And that person is still at the sanctuary, by the way."
Shooting him a questioning glance, Sigrid started reviewing in her head the Cheydinhall's sanctuary members. After having mentally eliminated all her fellow Dark sisters – they all had been recruited by Lachance and that would have been too… weird anyway – she started examining the case of the male ones.
Teineeva had been raised and enrolled by Lucien, and so had Gogron. As for M'raaj-Dar, Sigrid was not sure, but she really had trouble picturing him having a love relationship with anyone. So, basically, it was just leaving…
Her eyes widened in surprise as she realised who her last option was.
"No way…" she whispered.
Lucien had a pure evil chuckle.
"I have always said vampires were incorrigible romantics." he said sententiously.
"My grand-mother was in love with a vampire?" asked Sigrid, bewildered.
Lucien's smile grew wider.
"Vicente Valtieri and she were deeply enamoured of one another… So deeply that many of us at the sanctuary took the habit to sleep with earplugs when Rivanone spent the night over. If you see what I mean…"
Sigrid perfectly saw what Lucien meant and she blushed as very explicit mental pictures took form in her mind. She tried her best to focus on something else. Perfectly neutral things, like the rain, the horses, Lachance – no, not Lachance! – the ruins, the trees….But her attempts remained unsuccessful.
"I don't have to hear that, you know…" she muttered.
"Neither do I have to SEE it." said the Voice. "Please, stop that. I have a ringside seat right here, and gosh, it's gross!"
"Vicente had never really recovered from her death." said Lucien, sounding serious this time. "I believe he feels guilty for some reasons…"
"Guilty of what?" asked Sigrid, frowning. "She died from the falling sickness. There was not much that could be done."
"And don't you find a bit suspicious that a woman who had never suffered from epilepsy ever before suddenly start to have crises at the twilight of her life?" asked Lucien, raising an eyebrow.
Sigrid felt her blood turning to ice.
"Are you telling me…" she started.
"… she had been poisoned? Yes, I am sure she had. Her symptoms corresponded to a fatal mandrake poisoning."
"But who would have done such a thing?" Despite the very humid atmosphere, Sigrid's mouth was feeling very dry now.
Lucien shrugged.
"Rivanone was a strong and free-willed character. Her attitude earned her quite a lot of enemies within the Brotherhood and some of them may have well tried to take their revenge."
Lucien paused. There was no need to tell Sigrid that he, J'Ghasta and Vicente nourished strong suspicions against Ungolim and Uvani…
The recent The Black Hand internal divisions were actually finding their roots in something that happened years ago. It was a long story which could be quickly summed up by saying that Rivanone, Ungolim and Uvani cordially detested each other. And after Rivanone's death, Ungolim and Uvani had naturally transferred their hate onto her two disciples, Lucien and J'Ghasta.
"When we realised she had been poisoned, we tried to gather ingredients for a cure." Lucien finally continued. "But it was too late."
"But I don't understand. If she was a member of the Brotherhood, killing her would have been breaking one of the Tenets, wouldn't it?"
"No, not in Rivanone's case. She had retired from the Brotherhood a few years earlier – needless to say that kind of case doesn't happen much, as an assassin's life is often quite short…"
"Why did she retire?"
"Apparently, there were some private matters which required her full attention." Lucien replied, looking at Sigrid in a very eloquent manner.
There was another pause.
"So, Vicente feels guilty because he thinks he has been unable to save my grand-mother?" Sigrid finally asked.
"Yes. But I have found him a bit more cheerful the last few months." And Lachance gave her another meaningful look.
Sigrid tried to ignore it. It was true she always had had very good relationship with Vicente. They did get on very well almost immediately. Sigrid thought it had been because they were sharing many interests – music, alchemy and reading. But now, she wondered whether the vampire's fatherly attitude toward her was genuine, or if he was only acting like this because she was Rivanone's grand-daughter…
A sudden strong smell of burning suddenly started to titillate her nostrils. Sigrid frowned. What could be burning when it was raining so hard?
Lucien had smelt it too and he was looking around to try to identify the source of the smell. He suddenly pointed at the horizon. A cloud of smoke was rising in the sky.
"Hmm, isn't Leafrot cave located in that direction?" Sigrid asked him.
They exchanged an inquisitive look before breaking into a gallop toward the column of smoke.
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At the same moment, but somewhere else in Cyrodiil, Shaleez was hunting in the woods. Concealed behind a rock, she was carefully observing a deer which was grazing peacefully a few feet away. The Argonian calmly nocked an arrow on the string of her bow and took her time to adjust her fire.
During the last few days, she had gradually tried to get back to a "normal" life, starting training and hunting again. But she had not forgotten what she had promised herself, and avenging Uvani remained her priority. The thing was she did not know how she would do it. Shaleez really could not afford to defy Lachance and J'Ghasta openly as well as she did not want to provoke the Night Mother's wrath… J'Ghasta had already convoked her twice, and twice she had refused to appear before him. Shaleez knew this situation could not last long, but she hadn't found the strength yet to face the one to blame for Uvani's death.
The deer suddenly raised its head, alarmed. This saved its life. An arrow stuck in the ground at the very place the deer was standing a second before. Shaleez swore under her breath as she saw the animal fleeing away. She was sure she did not make any sound…
She stopped dead, her senses on alert. Something had changed. The surroundings looked now blurred and they seemed to have lost their colours. Shaleez sniffed the air. There was a smell…The smell of death, of tombs…
The Argonian heard a sound behind her – like the creaking of the axel of a cart – and turned round. Between the trees, a cart – the kind used to transport heavy loads – had appeared.
Shaleez did not loose time wondering how such a big cart had managed to cut its path through the wildest par of the forest. Instead, she focused on the figure – apparently a man – who was sitting at the front of the vehicle.
He was wearing a very large hat. His eyes, deeply stuck in his orbits, where shining and a scythe was laying down his knees. Long, white hair framed his skinny face. And it was far too skinny to belong to someone still alive… Shaleez gulped. Whatever it was, it was looking at her.
Trying to control the feeling of panic she was starting to experience, Shaleez hurriedly pulled an arrow from her quiver and nocked it. Then she aimed at the driver of the cart, who had just got down the vehicle.
Shaleez hissed menacingly at him.
"Step back!"
The stranger did not reply, but continue to walk calmly toward her.
This time, Shaleez did not bother to give him another warning and released the string of her bow. There was a funny sound – like a piece of cloth being torn apart - and a small cloud of dust rose in the air as the arrow went right trough him. The figure stopped and looked at the hole in his chest.
"Now, this is not what I call a warm welcome, Shaleez." he said reproachfully.
The Argonian felt a shiver running along her spine. The voice she had just heard was nothing natural.
"Wha… How do you know my name?" asked Shaleez, bemused.
"I know the name of every mortal on Nirn, my dear…"
"Who are you?"
The creature gave a small cackle, which actually sounded like a death rattle.
"Oooh, didn't you identify me already? The scythe, the cart…?"
He sighted at Shaleez' puzzled look.
"I am the Ankou, Sihtis' servant, the one who collect the souls of those killed in His name before they are sent to the Void…"
The Ankou took his hat off and bowed. Shaleez stiffened and her hand slowly slid to her sabre's hilt. The Ankou… Yes, now she remembered the legends that were running on the lich. Some said he was Death's servant, but others claimed he was serving the Dread Father and Him only. Apparently, the second version was the right one…
The Ankou noticed her move as he put his hat back on his head. His desiccated lips curled up in a nasty smile.
"Don't be silly, little lizard. I don't kill anyone. I leave this task to the Dark Brothers and Sisters… No, if I have come here, it is to propose you… a deal."
The Argonian frowned.
"I usually don't conclude any kind of deal with talking corpses." she said, looking distrustful. As many assassins, she was not really at ease with undead. According to her, once dead, a corpse should remain… well, dead, and certainly not start walking around. Or talking. That was far too messy. And being visited by a powerful lich such as the Ankou was not reassuring her much.
"I think we should be able to find an agreement, my dear Shaleez. It seems we have… convergent interests." said the Ankou.
Another malicious grin appeared on his cadaverous face. He held out his right hand and opened it. On his palm, something which looked like a big blue pearl was shining softly. Shaleez craned her neck to take a better look at the spherical object.
"Have you ever seen a soul, Shaleez?" the Ankou asked. "I mean, not a soul trapped in a gem, but a soul in its purest form… No I guess you haven't."
He played a bit with the pearl, making it rolled in his palm. Shaleez realised that the surface of the pearl was actually made of a blue mist which was whirling and twisting.
"I collected this soul not so long ago." the Ankou continued in a conversational tone. "I am hesitating a bit before sending it to the Void. I am kind of a collector, you see."
"And you have come here to show me that?" Despite her fear, Shaleez did not succeed in hiding the sarcastic tone of her voice.
"I thought you would have appreciated it to its true value." the Ankou replied. "After all, it is not everyday I have the honour to collect the soul of a victim killed by the Night Mother herself…"
Shaleez felt her heart broke in her chest at his words. The pain she thought she had managed to bury deep inside her was rising again, burning her more than ever. "No, it can't be…"
"Uvani…?" she said in a weak voice.
As if it had heard her, the pearl became shinier. Hypnotised, Shaleez her hand toward it…
"Ah-ah…" said the Ankou, closing his finger back on Uvani's soul and withdrawing his hand. "Before your lost love's soul gets definitely yours, there is a little something you need to do for me…"
The Argonian gulped and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her glance directly fall on the Ankou's closed hand.
"What do you want me to do?" she whispered.
"I will explain you latter the exact ins and outs of the question. But I think you will like it as it involves an old acquaintance of yours… Does the name Trencavel ring a bell?"
Shaleez' face turned very dark and a muted groan rose from her chest.
"Ah, I knew you would like it." The Ankou put Uvani's soul back into on of his pocket and hold out his skeletal hand to Shaleez. "So, is it a deal?"
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"'Leafrot Cave' should rather been reamed 'Leafrot Oven'" thought Lucien. With his hands on his hips, he was looking at the black smoke and flames that were pouring out of the cave's door. "Even if we managed extinguish this blaze, I doubt we will find anything useful left…"
"It seems we have been double-crossed…" said Lucien aloud.
A liquid gurgling answered him. He turned back and shot an annoyed look at Sigrid.
"Please, get a grip on yourself, will you? You are reacting as if you have never seen a corpse before."
"Sorry…" muttered Sigrid, wiping her mouth with her hand.
She had seen a lot of awful things in her life, from Merhunes Dagon's realm to Bellamont's cellar. But that what was frankly disgusting. She risked an eye toward the mutilated corpse crucified by the cave's door and felt a flood of bile coming up her throat. She turned back and vomited in the grass.
Lucien shook his head in exasperation and transferred his attention on the two banners that were floating above the cave. On the first one, Lucien recognised the Arcane University's coat of arms. But the second one did not remind him of anything he knew.
"The Monforts…" said Sigrid behind him. She was still looking slightly green, but seemed to feel a bit better.
"Your cousins, right?" During their journey to Celedaen's lair, Trencavel had briefly exposed him the story of the century-old rivalry between their respective families. "It seems they have decided to take an active part in Traven's crusade against necromancers…"
"Another interesting coincidence isn't it?" said Sigrid ironically. "They have never showed any interest in the matter, and as soon as I am looking for a necromancer, they suddenly turn up and butcher him."
She shuddered as she remembered in what state Celedaen's body was. It was certainly the work of his dear cousin Foulques. Apparently, his case was not getting any better…
Lucien replied nothing. He was still glaring at the banners, looking concerned. In a sense, he was quite happy Celedaen had been… disposed of, but he really did not like the idea of having been double-crossed by the Montforts. He did not have much information on their motivations, and that was really making him feel ill at ease. He should discuss the matter with J'Ghasta as soon as possible...
"How did they know we were looking for Celedaen?" continued Sigrid. "And how did they manage to arrive here before us?"
"Easy." replied Lucien. "I guess they followed us to the Copious Coinpurse and that your filthy Bosmer friend told them where we were going in exchange of another purse full of gold. And they were quicker than us probably because they did not stop at every ruin they saw on the way…"
Sigrid pursed her lips at Lucien's sarcasm.
"Celedaen won't be of any use to us now." he carried on, ignoring her. "We need to find the Montforts to see if they are in processions of elements that may be useful to us…"
"And how are we going to achieve that?" Sigrid asked coolly. "There are only two of us, whereas it seems they have come with a small army."
Lucien beamed at her and patted her on the shoulder.
"Assassins are… resourceful people, my dear. We will find a way."