Chapter 9 a Wolf among Sheep
It has been a few months since Faun left Markarth on a side mission; he had to keep Cicero and Ondolemar from fighting so a side mission should keep the two away from each other. The high elf often thought on what the jester does for a living, he had the urge to ask but it always seemed like something would stop him from asking.
That night when they set camp, Faun sat on a dead log when he noticed Cicero was sitting across from him on the other side of the fire. It looked like he was playing with his dagger so the high elf thought this was his chance to ask, "Um, Cicero… Can I ask you a question?" Faun sounded a bit nervous since this was the first time he actually gotten the chance to speak alone.
Cicero's humming stopped when he looked over at Faun, "Oh, sure you can ask dear Cicero." The jester chuckled as he continued to play with his dagger. "Cicero, I have been meaning to ask you…" Faun never was the one for questioning a personal job but he was becoming close friends with him, "What… What is it that you do for a living? I mean, besides being a jester…?" he watched the dagger stab the dirt a few times before he knew it, Cicero stopped suddenly and slowly he looked at the fire.
The jester wanted to give a first answer but he could not, he had to keep it a secret or Faun might tell his superior since he still held the Thalmor title. He gave a kind grin when he looked over at Faun, ready to answer his friend's question when a low deep growl came from the trees around them.
Faun quickly got up, grabbing his Ebony bow and arrows while Cicero remained sitting and looking at his Friend with a sad smile. "I guess this is it… our time is up…" Cicero muttered quietly as he looked over at the full red moon, knowing what exacting what was coming for them.
"Dear Cicero" a dark hissing voice would echo through the trees like wind, Faun prepared his bow and arrow for any attack. He was not going to allow his friend to be taken from him as he narrowed his eyes.
"I did not come for the keeper, I came for you." The voice would hiss as a large dark figure came from the shadows, a werewolf with the fur black as night and eyes red like blood. Faun stood in shock to see such a beast in front of him but he was not about to let his guard down.
"What do you mean by 'The Keeper'? What is he to you, beast!" – Faun stayed calm and ready to kill
"Since this will be your last night, I will explain. Cicero is not just your ordinary Jester; he is a part of a group called The Dark Brotherhood." The lycan transformed into a khajiit assassin, there was not much to tell since assassins keep their identity hidden. That was not Faun had his mind on at the moment when he listen to the assassin as he explained everything to him on the spot, he glanced over at Cicero in shock and fear when the jester kept his head low in silence.
"So to put it blunt with you, Cicero was to find and eliminate the target just as our contact ordered. So be honored Thalmor, You have a very good bounty on your head." The assassin slowly walked closer to the distracted high elf, grinning behind his mask when he pulled out an elven dagger from his left side.
Faun looked back at the assassin as he lowered his bow and arrow, he felt many emotions all at once but what got him the most was that he felt betrayal among himself. "Before you kill me… please tell me who set the contract, and why…" Faun's voice was not the sound of happiness and laughter but the sound of emptiness and sorrow, that was what Cicero heard now and he knew he would not hear the sound of laughter coming from Faun. The laughter will once again come from the silence and his friend was his target, a mistake he made and it may be his last.
"A High elf woman that knew you well and wanted you killed, she paid a good among of gold to send your soul to Sithis." The assassin sounded confident when he came closer in arm length when Faun gave Cicero a cold glance before closing his eyes, "Then send me to Sithis, I have no need to continue if my fellow Thalmors wish me dead." He accepted his death as he heard the sound of the breeze blowing through the trees and for some reason; he heard his father's voice calling his name from a distance.
"Curse you, mother… I knew you would catch up with me. Forgive me father, I guess I won't be seeing you again" Faun thought as he felt the blade gently touch his throat, the cold sensation of it sent chills down his spine.
"Maybe next time, you will watch whom you put your trust on." Were the last words Faun felt the blade pull away from his throat, and a slash could be heard before everything fell silent and still.
"Father, is that you…?"
"Faun, my treasured son… my sweet boy, come give your daddy a hug"
The End…
