General Tullius was standing before the jarl of Solitude not at all happy with the report he was about to give her.

"Well? I am waiting for an update regarding those horrible assassins, General," the Nord asked in a stiff voice. The normally pleasant woman's personality had never been quite the same since the death of her steward. There had been rumors spread about the capital proclaiming that the two had been more than just associates, but no one had the nerve to ask the jarl if there was any truth to it.

"I have soldiers scouting across the lands seeking Black Doors, my jarl," the Imperial answered patiently. "Also, one of my finest officers is handling this matter as well; finding this guild is no easy feat though."

"The Companions seemed to find and eliminate a whole sanctuary without any difficulty," Elisif stated with a slight scowl on her face. "Perhaps I should reach into my personal treasury and see if they can get the job done, since apparently you can't."

Tullius' jaw clenched and he felt his temper rising at the mention of the sellswords of Whiterun. Vilkas and his drinking buddies' methods were crude, but somehow they managed to locate one of the assassins' strongholds. If there was one thing the General did not like, it was being made to look like a fool.

"I'm afraid the jarl of Riften has temporarily caused them to cease any duties relating to the Dark Brotherhood, my jarl," the man explained quietly. "No prize you could offer them would grant you their services."

"That Maven," Elisif hissed as she rested her hand on her chin in frustration. "Always looking out for her shady connections." The jarl's eyes narrowed when she saw the confused look on the General's face. "Don't play dumb, Tullius. We all knew the kind of people the Black-Briars associated with before she was granted her title."

"Since the mage in Winterhold, there have been no new deaths relating to the Dark Brotherhood. We have not even heard word of any attempts since that shameful business with the thane's wife in Proudspire. We must be getting close if we have brought their actions to a halt," he explained, trying to give his jarl some form of positive news.

"I don't just want the killings to stop! I want justice!" the Nord snarled furiously as she slammed her fist on the arm of her throne causing the Imperial to stand up straighter, shocked at the violent action of the normally peaceful woman. "They killed good people, Tullius! Loyal allies! Beloved friends! I want their deaths to not have been in vain! I want their murderers punished!"

"The thane of Solitude approaches!" a guard called from the lower level of the Blue Palace.

This bit of news made Elisif lose the angry look in her eyes and she leaned back in her throne and rested her hands modestly in her lap. General Tullius hurried over to the overhang and looked over the side and was pleased to see the familiar robes that his legate had worn so proudly over the years since the defeat of Ulfric Stormcloak.

Ascending the staircase was his friend and loyal ally, KaNack. To his right, his wife and his left the familiar blue spirit that always accompanied him wherever he went. The last time the Argonian had spoken to him, he said that he would not allow Brelyna to return to Solitude until he knew it was safe. That could only mean good news for everyone.

"Legate KaNack!" the General greeted his friend as he reached the top of the stairwell with a salute. The caster and his wife returned the gesture in kind. The Imperial could see that the reptile looked exhausted, even with his face slightly hidden by the hood pulled over his head.

"General Tullius, I am glad you are here for this. I have news for both you and Jarl Elisif regarding the killings that have been haunting the lands of Skyrim," KaNack stated stiffly before moving towards the throne and taking a knee in respect. "Jarl Elisif, it is an honor to once again be in your graceful presence."

"Humble, as always," Elisif sighed with a smile. "Rise and remove your cowl, thane. You are most welcomed here."

The caster's lips thinned and he cleared his throat at the request. He picked his head up slightly and shook it in refusal. "If you please, my lady, I would rather not. You are a lady and I would be too ashamed for you to look upon me." The mage turned to look back at Brelyna sadly. "I have not returned here completely unscathed."

"I have seen my share of soldiers and wounded heroes, KaNack," the Nord insisted as she leaned forward in her throne. "You have no reason to be ashamed my friend. Please, I ask you to not hide your face when addressing me."

The Listener rose to his feet and gave the woman a sad look as he grasped at the hood of his shroud.

"If my jarl commands it, I will not refuse."

Every person, aside from those he entered the Blue Palace with, gasped and began muttering in shock when the Argonian revealed to them the horrors he had endured. His crown of beautiful crimson feathers were completely gone and one of his horns had been crudely cracked off.

"By the Eight, KaNack!" Tullius exclaimed in disbelief as he took in the sight of his loyal officer. "You look like you've been through a war!"

"You have no idea, General," the mage stated grimly as he crossed his arms. "What I had to endure is not a tale for the weak of heart, but I did not come here to share stories of battle." KaNack's eyes narrowed as he stood proudly before the jarl of Solitude. "Jarl Elisif, I've come here to inform you that the threat that has been looming over Skyrim is no more!"

The crowd gathered in the royal chambers once again began to murmur in confusion. The Nord stood up in her throne, surprised by her thane's declaration.

"No more?" she asked. "What do you mean? Surely you did not kill the entire Dark Brotherhood by yourself?!"

The mage shook his head solemnly as he gave the Nord a dark look. "I did not undertake this task alone, my jarl. I have made quite a few dangerous associates over the years and they helped me seek out this faction of villains and murderers." His lips curled back in a snarl. "Hear me! The assassins of the Dark Brotherhood are NOT the ones responsible for the Black Hand murders!"

"What?!" General Tullius exclaimed in both anger and surprise.

The Argonian was unnerved by the fierce look that Elisif was sending in his direction, but he remained firm.

"The Dark Brotherhood is not responsible, you say?" the jarl grumbled as she slowly approached the reptile. "I am hoping that you have brought proof of this, thane?"

"I would not be as foolish as to proclaim this if I did not, Lady Elisif." The mage turned around and began to descend the steps. "My proof is outside. I would not have something as wicked as it coming in here and tainting this palace of honor and integrity with its presence!"

Tullius was the first to follow his legate down the stairs, curious as to what proof the Argonian had brought. The Imperial had felt that the black handprints on the bodies were all the proof needed to condemn the assassins' guild of the crimes. Jarl Elisif, thoroughly certain that the Brotherhood had been guilty as well, also started to make her way down the stairwell with her royal guards keeping close.

The Dark Brotherhood leader pushed open the doors of the Blue Palace and a satisfied smirk crossed his face as he approached his unwilling evidence. The enraged female Dunmer was violently trying to pull loose from her binds as well as the two Imperial soldiers holding onto her.

The commotion being caused by Dinya had attracted quite a bit of attention from the residents of Solitude.

Viarmo, Jorn and the others bards had been pulled away from their studies in their courtyard, unable to focus with the screeching and cursing coming from the Imperial prisoner.

"Are you killing a cat over there?!" the Altmer shouted from the steps of the college.

The inhabitants of the surrounding homes were also standing in their doorways, not at all pleased with the sounds coming from the Dark Elf.

Captain Aldis was standing to the side, waiting patiently for further orders from the thane of Solitude. The poor man had only been guarding Dinya for fifteen minutes and he already looked ready to be rid of her.

"She's a handful, isn't she?" the reptile laughed as he approached Aldis and gave him a salute.

"She tried to bite one of my men while you were in there," the Imperial grumbled as he glared over at the she-elf. "Her language is also one that would make Shor Himself blush!"

The mage waited as the Tullius, Elisif and the others began to pour out of the palace and gathered before him.

"Jarl Elisif! Citizens of Solitude!" KaNack began loudly as he approached the bound Dark Elf. "I have proof that the Dark Brotherhood is not responsible for the horrible murders that have taken place in the last few months! As General Tullius explained to me in Castle Dour; the Brotherhood has always worked in a very particular manner! They are discreet and would never be as bold as to leave a calling card! They have not gone rogue! You have all been deceived by the true perpetrators of the slayings!"

The Listener pointed an accusing claw at the executioner. "Here is my proof! This is the only surviving member of the guild who haunted Skyrim and left black handprints on their victims' bodies! The Morag Tong!"

The mage bared his sharp teeth at Dinya as he grabbed her by her hair and held her head to the side, pulling the neckline of her shroud down.

"Get your filthy claws off me, you fetcher!" the Dunmer snarled viciously as she tried to pull her head free from KaNack's grip.

"General Tullius! Come here and see this!" the caster demanded, tightening his grasp on the Mer to make it more painful to try and lessen her struggling.

The commander marched over to the Dark Elf and looked closely at Dinya's shoulder blade to see what exactly his soldier was speaking of. There indeed was a damning mark, but it was unfamiliar to him.

"What is this, Legate?"

"That is the mark of the ancient guild of executioners from Morrowind, General," the mage growled as he kept a firm grip on the struggling Mer. "She and six others went out and killed beloved residents of Skyrim!" His eyes narrowed as he gave an adamant nod of his head to the surprised Imperial. "They wished to plague our land with a new and deadlier force of assassins!"

"Argonian bastard!" the elf hissed.

"Brelyna! Show the jarl the book!" the Listener shouted as he released the executioner and walk over to place an arm on the commander's shoulder. "You should see this too, General."

KaNack led the Imperial back to where Elisif was standing as his wife pulled an old tome from her satchel. She opened it to a bookmarked page that had a sketched drawing of the Morag Tong seal. Tullius' eyes narrowed as he recognized the symbol.

"That's what was on the Dunmer's shoulder," the man said as he slowly turned to give Dinya a dark look; he was beginning to see her as the vicious criminal she truly was.

"I have not heard of the Morag Tong before, thane," the Nord muttered as she crossed her arms, not yet convinced that the Argonian had provided proper evidence to clear the followers of Sithis' names. "How do you know that this is indeed not the Dark Brotherhood?"

"I have brought the bodies of the others to Solitude," the mage explained. "Each one possesses the same markings. If you still have the body of the vampire that attacked my home, I am willing to bet that he bears a mark as well." KaNack scowled over at the executioner. "Why would the Brotherhood bear these marks? It is a guild long dead and forgotten."

Tullius grunted as his friend grasped him firmly by the shoulders and stared him directly in the eyes. "I have not just brought you the last member of the guild, General. She's much more than that." The Listener released the Imperial and pointed in Dinya's direction. "I give you, General Tullius, Legate Rikke's murderer!"

Dinya bore her teeth at the Argonian fiercely as her red eyes burned brightly with hatred.

"She's the one who killed Rikke that night?" the commander asked in a dangerous tone as he felt his blood start to boil at the sight of the Dark Elf.

"Yes, my friend. I have brought her here so that you can finally see justice at work! The other executioners fell at the hands of me and my associates, but I will not deny you your right to do what you do best! Ensure that this matter is handled the way it should have been! Under the direct order and supervision of the Imperial Legion!"

The Dark Brotherhood leader patted the older man gently on the back. "I know you need closure for what happened to Rikke, Tullius. I pass her into your hands; do whatever you see fit in order to be at peace for what happened to our loyal sister in arms."

"You are such a fraud, reptile!" Dinya screamed in the Argonian's direction. "You think you've won this so easily?! You think I'm just going to accept death?!" A sinister smile crept up the Mer's face. "If I have to die, I am taking you with me!"

"Dinya," KaNack growled at her in threatening tone.

"Do you know why this lizard's been so desperate to clear the Dark Brotherhood's name?!" the she-elf barked as her red eyes darted to the many citizens and soldiers surrounding them. "Do you know why he is purposely leaving out the names of his associates?! It's because HE'S the leader of the Dark Brotherhood! He's the Listener! The master of the Black Hand!"

There was a collective gasp from the residents of Solitude followed by frantic murmurings. KaNack's body tensed up as he continued to stand alongside the General.

"That's right, Solitude! Your faithful thane! Your beloved Dragonborn! He is the ruler of all the assassins! His associates are none other than his brothers and sisters in the Brotherhood!" She laughed loudly as she gleamed evilly at the Imperial. "General Tullius! You have no idea what that reptile did! The Emperor of Tamriel! The one you so faithfully served? Your Legate KaNack is the one who killed him on that ship! Your friend KILLED Titus Mede the Second!"

Lachance tensed up as he put a hand on his blade, ready to defend his caster. He was hoping that it would not come to this. It would only be a matter of moments before everyone in Solitude turned on the mage. Dinya had just revealed the Listener's true identity. The Dark Brotherhood leader had been exposed before Imperial soldiers, Tullius and the jarl. There was nowhere KaNack could run, he was surrounded.

"Brelyna, we have to do something," he hissed quietly to the female mage. "They're going to kill him."

"Wait," the Dunmer insisted quietly as she took a hold of his hand and pulled it from his dagger. "Watch."

The Spectral Assassin wanted terribly to ignore the command, but he had to sit back and watch the event unfold before him. He only prayed that Argonian did not survive his torture only to end up being executed by those he had come to trust.

The Morag Tong chuckled wickedly as she shot the Argonian as frightening look. "So, there you have it, KaNack. Now we're both doomed for the chopping block."

The mage's teeth gritted together as he gave her a frustrated look. He had taken a gamble bringing Dinya here alive; he was positive that her poor grasp of sanity would have kept her from focusing on revealing him before the high powers of the Imperial Legion. Nazir had thought it was a poor idea, but the Argonian felt he needed to do it. He needed to give Tullius closure or the man would never be able to get past the death of Legate Rikke.

"You wretched FILTH!" a voice boomed causing all the surrounding citizens murmurings to come to a halt. The Listener turned in shock as the shout had come from none other than General Tullius. The veins in the Imperial's neck were bulging and his grey eyes were wide filled with pure resentment and hatred. The commander stormed over to Dinya and got right in her face. "How DARE you try and slander the name of this man!"

"What?" the Mer squeaked out surprised at the man's reaction.

The General gestured furiously back in KaNack's direction. "I've known this Argonian for seven years and there are few who could rival his devotion and love for the Empire! He and the mages forced the Stormcloaks out of the territories in Skyrim! He fought alongside Rikke and myself to bring Ulfric's tyranny to an end!" the man screamed in the startled Dark Elf's face. "KaNack is the finest and most loyal man I know! Do you think for one moment that I'm going to believe that HE of all people murdered the Emperor?!"

Dinya's jaw dropped; she had not assumed for one moment that the commander would simply refuse to believe the truth regarding the Dark Brotherhood's leader.

"It's…it's true," she choked out.

"You murdered Legate Rikke in cold blood. KaNack serves the Empire and brought your guild's crimes to an end. Your words mean nothing to me, Mer," the man uttered darkly before stepping away from the final surviving member of the Morag Tong.

"Get this lying murderer out of my sight," Tullius growled as he pointed towards Castle Dour. "The next time I want to lay eyes on her is when she's on the chopping block."

"No! NO! He's the Dark Brotherhood leader! He's with them!" Dinya screeched as the Imperial guards began to drag her off to the barracks. "Damn it! Listen to me! He's with the Brotherhood! Him and that stupid blue dog!"

Lucien could not help but smirk as he watched the Dark Elf get dragged off, her words having absolutely no effect on any of the surrounding people. He looked back at Brelyna with a sigh of relief.

"How did you know they wouldn't believe her?" the ghost asked quietly.

"Lucien, one does not spend years building up a reputation with both a city and the Imperial Legion only to have it dismissed because of the rants of a psychotic killer." She gave the Speaker's hand a squeeze. "These people and the General love KaNack. Dinya could have screamed to her heart's content and they would never have believed her. It's actually quite amazing, how something like a lie can bring out the very best in people and the truth the worst." The Dark Elf shook her head. "Perhaps lying is not as evil as I made it out to be."

KaNack sucked in a deep breath, he had been prepared for the very worst when Dinya called him out in front of the entire capital. It was fortunate that he and Tullius had become so close and the Imperial loudly came to his aid. No one in Solitude would dare accuse him of being associated with the Dark Brotherhood after the General's dismissal of the executioner. The mage took his time as he walked over to join the commander's side.

"Thank you, Tullius. For a minute I thought the entire town was going to lynch me."

"Bah!" the Imperial snorted. "That was nothing more than a murderer's pathetic attempt to drag your name in the mud. As though a true loyalist to the Empire would kill our Emperor? She makes me sick!" Turning to face the reptile, the Imperial crossed his arms. "So, all of the true murderers have been taken care of?"

"Each and every one eliminated, General. It was not easy as you can see by my handsome new looks," the Argonian snickered. KaNack lost his smirk when he saw that Tullius was not at all amused. "There is still the matter of the Dark Brotherhood though. Now that we know that they are not the ones responsible for all these deaths, are we still going to hunt for them?"

The older man grumbled to himself as he ran a hand through his silver hair. "By the Eight, KaNack. These are criminals, but if they aren't out there slaying indiscriminately, then they aren't my top priority anymore." Tullius turned his head up to the sky.

"We still have dragons, vampires and daedric princes that are threatening the land. My soldiers could be put to much better use than hunting for a guild that had remained intact and strong for over two hundred years." Tullius looked back at the Argonian. "If we happen upon one of the Black Doors, fine. We'll make sure that the murderers face justice, but for now, I'm just grateful knowing that such a dangerous guild hasn't truly gone mad with bloodlust."

"I think that's a very wise decision, General." The mage looked over his shoulder and waved towards Brelyna and his spiritual guide who were still standing by themselves in front of the Blue Palace. With the criminal brought to Castle Dour, the jarl and the other subjects returned to their normal duties and had cleared the area quickly.

"What about you, Legate?" the Imperial asked, grabbing the Argonian's attention once more. "Now that the threat is gone, will you and Brelyna be returning to Proudspire?"

"Actually, Tullius," the mage started, "Brelyna and I have been talking and there are just too many disturbing memories here in Solitude. The two of us have decided to move to a quieter and secluded area in Skyrim." He saluted the General. "I am still an active member of the Legion and will return to Solitude when I am needed, but this is not a place either of us wishes to call home anymore." He shrugged his shoulders. "Brelyna just needs to pick up a few things she cannot live without and we'll be on our way."

"Sorry to see you two leave, I've grown attached to you reckless mages over the years," Tullius said as he grinned at the black and red reptile. "Please tell me you will at least stay long enough to see the Morag Tong finally come to a bitter end."

"We would not miss that for the world," the Listener insisted as he patted the Imperial on the arm. "It's been a very long and exhausting day, Tullius. I think Brelyna and I will just rest up at Proudspire; you'll understand if I have Jordis turn away anyone who comes to the door. Even you."

"Legate, you've more than earned your right to do whatever in Oblivion you want!" The General finally saluted back to the mage. "Good job, Legate! I knew I could count on you to bring these murderers to justice! Even if you did end up clearing the names of the lesser of two evils. The Eight watch over you, friend."

"And you, General Tullius."

KaNack smiled sadly as he watched the older man march off proudly towards Castle Dour. His friend could finally rest peacefully that night knowing that Rikke's killer had been brought to justice. The Argonian gradually made his way over to Brelyna and the Spectral Assassin and pulled the Dunmer into a tight embrace.

"Thanks for not panicking back there, love," he whispered quietly. "It would have looked bad if you of all people started to become upset."

"I knew you would be fine. Poor Lucien though. He has no faith in people," the elf chuckled as she smiled at the spirit.

"I have plenty of faith in people," he answered simply as he looked off to the side. "I simply wished they had more faith in me."

KaNack grasped the specter by the shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. "Come on, old man. I'm not going to let you sulk. We won! Smile for pity's sake!"

Lachance tried to hide the smirk, but did a miserable job of doing so. Brelyna let out a content sigh as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder.

"Come, my love. Let's go home to Proudspire. One last time."