And after a long delay, chapter 29 is finally up! A quick note: since this story takes place four years after the Dragon Crisis, I've added a few new members to change things up, so I hope you like them. And with nothing much else to say, please review and PM me for any questions/comments. Enjoy!
The rain pounded down hard onto the road as thunder roared overhead, lightning the only occasional source of light in the black night. After Astrid's visit during my sleep, I had decided to get on the road to Falkreath as quickly as possible before I was met with any more surprises. My only problem was how to find the Sanctuary, as I hadn't been given very good directions. I was just wondering if I should stay the night at Falkreath when Shade ran off the road, barking.
"Shade?" I called and quickly ran over to peer through the group of trees where she had disappeared. "Shade!" I called again but my only response was another bark. I sighed to myself. Well, Shade's never been one for useless detours, so… After checking to make sure that there was no one watching, I pushed aside the branches, only to find a faded dirt road leading down a hill. My eyes widened in surprise. I looked back at the road; it was only a few steps behind me. Despite how close it is to the main road, it's concealed really well. The only way you'd had been able to find this is if you knew what you were looking for… Shade barked from further down the hill, snapping me out of my thoughts. After another quick glance, I darted down the path after her.
The newly-discovered road led to a hole in the cliff, and set a little way into the gray rock was the infamous Black Door. A short way from it, dirt turned to ruined stone, hinting at the design inside. The Door itself was ominous, macabre, even, but I suppose that's the way the inhabitants liked it. The carving brought back the memory of the Door I found in Cheydinhal a year and a half ago, and my stomach twisted in a painful knot. It was slightly different from Cheydinhal's, even though I didn't get a good look. The background of the Door was black stone with a large carving of a skull in gray stone at the top, a red handprint in its center, and although I knew that it was impossible, it looked like fresh blood, and glowed. The bottom of the Door held a carving of a scene with a skeleton sitting beside a pile of five smaller skulls with a knife sticking out of one. Though the history of the Brotherhood was limited for me, I knew that the scene had to represent something, and that'd I probably learn it within the first week.
I shuddered. The area around the Door seemed to drop in temperature and the once still night was now tense, as if ready to strike, and the sound of steady breathing echoed off the stone walls, maybe even coming from it. Well, it's definitely scary enough… I swallowed and walked up to the Door and placed my hand on it. The stone was ice-cold, and the moment my warm hand touched it, it reacted, seeming to pulse underneath.
"What is the music of life?" came a cold, raspy voice. I gave a shaky gasp; it sounded like death itself was speaking. Shade tensed and gave a howling bark. I looked back at her and saw that she was just as tense as I was. I nodded and turned back to the Black Door.
"Silence, my brother." I answered, my voice oddly calm.
"Welcome home." responded the Door again and I heard a slight rumbling sound, like stone coming apart. I quickly pulled on the ring that served as the doorknob and opened the Door to a set of stairs leading down into the earth. And with a final glance back at the night shrouded Pine Forest, Shade and I stepped into the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, the Door closing behind us by itself. The knot tightened.
A few seconds after entering the Sanctuary, I became aware of two voices, a man's and a woman's, arguing. I hesitated, but Shade immediately started down the steps as if it was nothing. I moved to stop her but she was already on the landing. Shaking my head, I quietly descended after her and after hitting the landing as well, peered into the room.
Both the people wore the red and black leather armor of the Brotherhood. The first one was a Nord woman, with blond hair that was tied back and startling blue eyes. A sinister dagger with a red hilt and a black blade was strapped to her belt and her voice was seductively warm and it was from that that I recognized her as Astrid. More than likely the Dark Brotherhood's leader… I tried not to think too much on that thought.
Across the table with a map of Skyrim (which had several iron daggers buried into it) stood a well-built Imperial man with tanned skin and dark brown hair that ended at the base of his neck. His eyes were a stormy gray and seemed, in a way, dead. He looked to be in his late twenty's and had a close-shaved moustache.
Though by himself he was intimidating, his weapon alone was terrifying. It was a mace made of an unknown material, though its color was a deathly pale slivery-gray. It was covered with spikes that cruelly curved in on it and on each of its faces was a demonic face, its mouth spread in a fanged, manic smile. I gasped as I studied its enchantment; it was a powerful, ancient magic that definitely couldn't be made by any mage, past or present. No, that kind of magic comes from only one place: Daedra. And if a Daedra made that, then that makes it…
"I am just wondering why it took you so long to return from your contract. After you killed your target, you disappeared without a trace. For a moment, I thought you'd been…" Astrid trailed off. She seemed stressed and I had a feeling that this had been going on for a while.
"Does it matter? I'm alive and the target is dead. Like I said before, I felt that I should lay low before returning to the Sanctuary." Said the man. I noticed that his voice was deep and contained a heavy Imperial accent.
"Two months? It was a minor contract. All you had to do was kill a miser who was trying to write a few too many people out of his will. He was someone nobody would miss. It may be understandable if you'd had to delay your return for a few days, but two months? You'll have to explain yourself better than that." Astrid replied. The Imperial just seemed bored.
"Yes, but I believe that we'll have to cut this short." He said and motioned his head in my direction. Both immediately looked at me and I felt their eyes scrutinize me. After a moment, Astrid smiled slightly, lighting up her features.
"Ah, at last! I hope you found the place all right." She said warmly. Shade quickly padded into the room but I treaded in carefully. Though Astrid seemed welcoming, the Imperial stared at me disdainfully. Upon seeing how the Imperial was looking at me, Shade glared at him, obviously not pleased with his attitude. He paid her no notice.
I shifted uncomfortably. "So, what happens now?" I asked. The Imperial scoffed and Shade growled in response.
Astrid gave him a stern look before turning to me. "Well, what happens now is you start your new life in the Dark Brotherhood. You're part of the Family, after all. This, as you can see, is our Sanctuary. You won't find a safer place in all of Skyrim. So get comfortable." By now Shade had turned her attention to Astrid and the Imperial had walked out of the conversation, his interest lying deeper in the Sanctuary.
I stared back at Astrid, unsure of how to respond. I studied her as she studied me until she eventually leaned off of the table and met my eyes. "Hmm… Yes, the silence suits you. Gives you an air of mystery." She said, pleased. Shade quickly let out a bark and the Nord assassin looked over the desk to see her. "And don't think I've forgotten about you." She strode over to the other side and knelt down, meeting Shade eye to eye. "Hmm… You're more intelligent than at first glance. I've heard stories of a breed of wolf hailing from Valenwood, said to be as smart as any man or mer alive, but I've never put much stock into it."
"Shadow wolves." I offered. "Shade is a shadow wolf. And most of the stories you've heard are probably true." Astrid grinned as the wolf in front of her stared unmoving at her. She then stood and looked at each of us. "I'm sure you'll both fit in quite well. Now, down to business. I'm arranging a job for you. But in the meantime, go talk to Nazir. He may have some smaller contracts to tide you over." I nodded and turned to leave.
"Ah, but one last thing." Astrid said, stopping me and I turned back to face her. "A welcome home present. Normally, it'd be our traditional Shrouded Armor, but I don't think you'd have much use for it, would you? Instead, I'd like to give you our Shrouded Robes. The clothing for our mages of the Sanctuary." She said, handing me a bundle of clothing. I silently took it, the silky fabric cold to the touch. "May it serve you well in all your… endeavors."
I nodded and, shifting the robes under my arm, headed toward the hallway that would lead me deeper into the Sanctuary. I got to the threshold when Astrid stopped me again. "Before you meet your family, do you remember what I told you about the Morag Tong?"
I looked back at her. "Yes?" I noticed her eyes had hardened.
"Don't tell anyone what I've told you. Keeping the knowledge from them is the only way to prevent the leak from learning that we're on to them." She said. Though she was trying to keep it to herself, I could tell that she didn't like this. But then you wouldn't either if there was a leak in your Guild. A leak that you let slip by…
"I won't tell anyone. Promise." I said.
Astrid nodded. "Good. Now, be sure and introduce yourselves to your new family members. They're all very eager to meet you." And with that she looked back down at the map.
Sparing only another second to steady myself, I turned and finally descended the stairs into the main part of the Sanctuary. Upon hitting the last of the stairs, I stopped and looked around. The main room was large and on one side was a pool of water that was fed by a waterfall coming out of the rocks and on another was another one of those strange stone walls that featured the head of a dragon at the top. Several objects were tucked away to the sides in different areas, making this room a place for training, smithing, and just a good place to talk. Right now several, if not all, of the members were standing in a circle in front of some stairs. Interested, I crept up slowly and stopped in the shadow of a stone pillar. Now that I was closer, sounds of laughter were evident.
From off to the side, an Argonian (Veezara, last time I checked) spoke, "Again! Again! Do the part where he tries to buy you some candy." In my astonishment, I could see that he was speaking to a little girl! My confusion, though, quickly ended when the girl smiled, revealing sharp fangs and it was also that realized I that she had blood-red eyes. Vampire… Shade tensed but we both tried to be calm. After all, the Dark Brotherhood wouldn't have let her in if she was a danger to the other members, right? For some reason I wasn't so sure.
"Okay, okay. Wait. Here we go. 'Oh, you are such a pretty little girl. Would the sweetie like a sweetie? Oh yes, how about some chocolate?' 'Oh yes, please, kind sir. My mama and papa left me all alone, and I'm so very hungry. I know a shortcut to the candy shop. Through this alley.' 'Oh ya, very good. Very good. My, it is dark down here. Oh, but you are so beautiful. Such a lovely smile. Your teeth... your teeth! No! Aggghh!'" the vampire said, easily switching between a helpless girl and a man.
A Dunmer woman spoke up. She, I noticed, was dressed in her own set of Shrouded Robes. "Oh Babette, but you are so wicked." At her comment, Babette smiled, for a moment looking like an actually child.
A Redguard spoke next. He was dressed unusually, in traditional clothing from Hammerfell, but colored red instead. "What about you, Festus? How did that last contract turn out?" A towering Nord with white-blond hair and beard made a noise of annoyance. "Oh, yes, please, old man. Regale us with your tales of wizardry..." He added mockingly.
Festus was an old man, so old that I couldn't tell exactly what his line was, though Breton was good guess, since he obviously carried himself as a mage. "Ah, the young and stupid. Always mocking the experienced and brilliant. My contract went very well, I'll have you know. Tried a new spell. Little something I've been working on in my spare time. Came "this" close to turning that priest inside out. Damned messy." He said, his voice worn heavily with age.
"And what of your latest, Arnbjorn. Something about a Khajiit? Merchant was it?" said the Dunmer again, turning to the Nord.
Babette giggled. "Oh, a big doggy chasing a little kitty! How adorable!" she said, smiling. This prompted everyone in the room to laugh and Arnbjorn to scowl at each of them. Beside me, Shade stiffened and it was then that I caught the full meaning of Babette's words. Big doggy? My stomach twisted at the possibility.
"I am not adorable, it was not funny, and he wasn't a merchant. He was a Khajiit monk, a master of the Whispering Fang style. But now he's dead... and I have a new loincloth." Said Arnbjorn and the look he gave the room could only be described as… lupine.
"Well, now that's story time is over, how about the little sneak come out from hiding in the shadows." Said a mocking voice I instantly recognized as the Imperial's. Out of instinct, my brain went on high-alert and Shade bared her teeth slightly, giving an aggressive bark towards the Imperial, who'd been leaning against a pillar by the Redguard. He's been watching me the whole time. My heartbeat only increased at the realization.
"Oh, Velan, can't you be nice to our new sister?" said a voice. It carried a strong Dunmeri accent along with a musical quality to it, making it sound more like a song than actual speech. A figure moved away from the pillar the Imperial Velan was leaning against. With a gasp I saw that it was the Dunmer assassin from Markarth.
Now that she'd stepped into the light and her cowl was gone, I saw her features plainly, and I couldn't help but feel envious. Instead of the ash-gray skin that I'd seen on Dunmer like my father, hers was a light blue that many women would die for, and in place of a dark brown or black, her hair was a very light blond, just shy of possibly being white and was tied back with braids and as I'd noticed before, her eyes were silver instead of red. She wore a bit of makeup: a bit of perfectly applied purple eye shadow and lipstick of the same color. But what really stuck out to me were her markings. Thick, elegant curves came up from underneath each eyes, both extending upward and outward. The markings seemed to cover the entire eyelid, a theory proven right when the Dunmer blinked, and were a deep shadowy purple that were reminiscent of the color of Oblivion. The thing that puzzled me the most was the fact that it wasn't war paint. In fact, it looked more like birthmarks than anything else, though I knew that couldn't be possible. Birthmarks aren't that precise, and even on Dunmer they're not the color of Oblivion! So then what are they? And what do they mean?
Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to think on it as something even more disturbing about the Dunmer caught my eye. Four long, jagged scars stretched across her left cheek as far up as her cheekbone to down to her chin that were now healed to a light pink that contrasted greatly with her skin. Just the severity alone left me opened-mouthed. How did she even survive that? And what kind of creature could even make that kind of wound? I've never seen even sabre cats do that kind of damage!
"Couldn't help but notice?" she said and it was then that I realized that I been staring. I was certain my cheeks were flushed as I turned away and muttered some sort of apology. "Don't worry about it; by now I'm used to the stares of others." The Dunmer said, giving me a smile that was quickly contagious. "My name is Rowena Indaren, though I rarely use my family name anymore."
"Mivryna Faryon." I said simply as I motioned my hand towards the wolf who had apparently gotten herself into a staring contest with the mage Festus. "And this is Shade." At the sound of her name, Shade looked up and studied Rowena for a moment before grinning at the assassin and wagging her tail. Her sudden change seemed amuse Babette, who giggled and ran up beaming to the both of us.
"Oh, she looks like a puppy!" she said. At first I thought Shade would glare at her for the idea of being mistaken as innocent, but instead the young wolf simply turned her smile on the Breton vampire with the addition of a glint that I knew always preceded trouble. Babette laughed. "A mischievous puppy at that!" She then turned to me, her smile showing all her teeth.
"Oh, but where are my manners! I'm Babette, if you didn't already know." She said and then turned and pointed to the other members in turn. "And that's Nazir," she pointed to the Redguard, who seemed indifferent, "Gabriella," the Dunmer in mage clothes gave a polite wave, which I nervously returned, "Festus Krex," the old man merely gave a grumpy response, though I noticed that he did seem interested in Shade at least. I wonder if he knows… "Veezara, though I believe you've already met him," the Argonian gave toothy grin, and I could tell in his eyes that he still remembered that night, "Arnbjorn," the huge, muscular Nord didn't even bother to look at me, "and don't worry about him; the only person he ever likes is Astrid, his wife," Arnbjorn glared at the vampire, but she ignored it and continued on, "and Velan Valerius is the Imperial who is a lot nicer once you get to know him." Babette finished with a glare as the Imperial in question had left the room some time ago.
Why do I get the feeling that I don't really want to take Babette's advice? I thought but quickly abandoned my thoughts as Babette continued, "And so besides him and Astrid, the only other person who isn't here would be K'bari, a Khajiit, but he's out doing a contract though he should be here by morning at most." She turned back to me, a wicked gleam in her eye. "K'bari is also the Listener." She said as if it was a secret.
"Listener?" I repeated. I wasn't sure if that sounded familiar or not, but before I could get any answers, Rowena grabbed my arm and pulled me past the crowd and onto a small slope leading past the stone wall.
"Oh, Babette, stop teasing our new sister! You know she probably doesn't know the inner workings of the Brotherhood!" The Dunmer scolded. The abashed look Babette gave was ruined by the impish look in her eyes.
"You never let me have any fun, Rowena!" she cried. She pouted and if I didn't know any better, I would've actually tried to comfort her.
"Oh, please, you have enough fun with your targets as it is. Now hurry up if you want to help me show Mivryna around!" Rowena quickened her pace, causing the vampire's eyes to go wide and run up the incline after us. I tried to hide my alarm at her speed; one minute she was standing by the pillar and the next she was right beside me.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Babette exclaimed before taking my other hand and pulling me along. Shade was bouncing on her heels behind us like she was having the time of her life. "You're going to love it here, both of you!" Babette said as the others returned to their routines. Shade barked happily before bounding on ahead of us and making a show of turning around and looking impatient.
"Oh, forget you, Shade!" I called, eliciting laughs from the two assassins on either side of me. I couldn't help but smile back.
