KaNack was silent for most of the journey back to the Falkreath sanctuary. He sat behind Lucien as he continued to guide Shadowmere through the Pine Forests. They could have easily arrived there hours ago with the black mare's speed, but the Spectral Assassin knew the longer he was kept away from the wretched Nord inside, the better.
Losing both the jester and his mare in one night? The spirit was surprised that the Listener even wanted to return back to the sanctuary that night.
"Listener," Lachance started softly as he brought Shadowmere to a stop. "If you are not ready to speak to that woman, we do not have to return just yet."
"Let's just go home, Buddy," the mage managed to choke out. "I just want to get this over with. Keep going, I'll be fine."
Feeling the young assassin's head fall forward and rest against the small of his back alerted him that the Argonian was far from fine. With a heavy sigh, the specter gave a small whistle and once again the demonic mare was moving through the woods.
"Astrid has everyone fooled in there. You and Cicero were right; she has to be dealt with," the reptile grumbled as he continued to lean against the Speaker.
Hearing the name of the impudent leader made the white eyes of the ghoul narrow. "Yes, with that Nord gone and you in her place, it might be safe for the Keeper to return," Lucien stated as he tried to focus on a more optimistic future for the Dark Brotherhood.
"It will be like before," the mage stated as he finally sat up. "You, me, and Cicero. We're going to rebuild the Dark Brotherhood together, right?"
"Yes, Listener," the Spectral Assassin confirmed with a small nod of his head. "All three of us. " Lachance could not help but smirk. "I still owe that mad fool for that little stunt he pulled in the stables."
The story of how Cicero had bested the Dark Brotherhood spirit was quite an amusing tale and always seemed to bring a smile to the mage's face. The specter was not going to forget that little spar any time soon.
KaNack laughed quietly as he thought back to the incident that led to him punching Cicero hard in the shoulder. He was sure that it didn't hurt as much as the Keeper acted like it did, but it was kind of the Imperial to pretend that it ached for the rest of the afternoon.
"It's good to hear you laugh, Listener," the phantom remarked kindly, "Despite how that jester sometimes unnerved me, it was good to see that you two somehow managed to find amusement in even the darkest of times. It makes me wish I had spent more time with my friend when I was still alive." Thinking about Vincente made the Speaker's head drop slightly. "He and I really should have had more memories than we do."
"Did you die before him?"
"No," the answer was quick and bitter. "By Sithis though, I wish I had."
The Argonian's head picked up, and he groaned quietly as the Black Door of the sanctuary came into view. It was time for him to put on the performance of a lifetime and convince the horrid woman inside that Cicero was dead.
"You're the only one left that I can truly depend on in that sanctuary, Buddy," KaNack muttered as he once again allowed his feathered head to rest against the spirit's back. "Promise me you won't let me face her alone."
"I'm not going anywhere," Lachance growled as he once against thought about Astrid. The Speaker slid off of the black mare and waited patiently for the young and miserable assassin to do the same. He gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder before guiding him to the door. "Be strong. I'm right behind you," he whispered in the mage's ear.
Astrid's head lifted up from the map of Skyrim as the loud slamming of the Black Door echoed in the small passage. Turning her head, a small smile crept up her lips as she saw her precious 'Dragonborn' enter.
KaNack head was hung low, his shoulders slumped and his feet dragged along the earthy floor. The Spectral Assassin followed close behind, looking more alert, but his face was void of any emotion whatsoever.
"Welcome home, little brother," Astrid purred as she turned to the mage and leaned against the table behind her. "I trust you come bearing good news for me?"
"Good news?" the apprentice grumbled, his head slowly lifting up to glare at Astrid. "Atronach is dead because of your husband. There is nothing good to mention," he hissed bitterly.
"Yes, he brought that up to me when he returned. Pity about what happened to your horse. Tell you what, why don't you hold onto Shadowmere for now? You lost your mount, it's the least I can do." The Nord shrugged her shoulders. "He's a fine steed, and will serve you better than his predecessor."
"Shadowmere's a mare," the Argonian muttered angrily, "and I don't want your horse! Keep the thing!" KaNack growled as he started to walk past Astrid to get into the main chamber. He had just gone through a very painful and trying experience, and all he wanted was to crawl into bed. "I don't want anything from you."
The mage grunted as Astrid seized his arm in a fierce grasp, and dragged him back to look at her.
"Hold on, little brother," she sneered the name. For so long it had been an endearing term, but now just sounded cynical to the Argonian. "We still have a matter to discuss regarding that traitorous jester."
A low grumble rumbled in Lachance's throat as he observed the exchange between KaNack and Astrid. His fingers twitched restlessly at the hilt of his blade. Everything about the Nord aggravated the spirit, from the manipulation of her followers to her pathetic attempts at portraying herself as a loyal servant of Sithis. It was taking a great deal of self control to restrain himself from slicing the woman's hand off as a lesson in treating the Listener with more respect.
KaNack tried to pull his arm loose, but that just made her grasp tighten. "Is the deed done?" she asked in a dark and harsh voice. "Tell me that miserable little fool is dead."
"Yes," the mage hissed, keeping his eyes averted from the Dark Brotherhood leader. The pain of losing Atronach was still weighing down on him, and he didn't have the strength to deal with Astrid. "He's dead. You made it abundantly clear that I had no choice in the matter."
Astrid snickered quietly and released the young assassin's arm. "Well done. You are a loyal follower of the Tenets, aren't you?" She walked around KaNack, trying to get a look at his face. "Tell me, little brother, how did it feel to scratch that itch? Is the rush of the kill more satisfying when it's the life of your dearest friend?"
KaNack's head shot up and he gave the Nord a hateful look, the unshed tears though were more than enough to satisfy the female's need to make the mage's anguish even more distressing. She assumed that his crying was brought forth by the killing of Cicero, not because of his mare. "Oh, yes. I can see that it must have been. You truly are a cold-blooded killer."
"Vile witch," a deep but menacing voice suddenly uttered.
Astrid furiously spun around to see who would dare to speak to her in such a way. The spirit of the Dark Brotherhood glared at her and a venomous snarl plastered on his face.
"You conniving, manipulative wench," he continued as he started forward. "I have had enough of your pathetic and repulsive attitude. You may have the rest of these idiots fooled, but your dismal charade won't deceive Him. You will know the Dread Father's wrath."
"Watch your tongue, spirit," the Nord hissed at Lucien. "You have a lot of gall for a being that was just collecting dust on a shelf. I'm the leader of this sanctuary and will be given the proper respect."
"Leader?" the ghost uttered, his voice dripping with disgust. "You are no leader. You've abandoned the Tenets, insulted the Night Mother, and tormented your own family." He suddenly hissed viciously in revulsion. "Your very presence in this sacred haven is an insult. It's borderline sacrilege." The spirit growled darkly as he shook his head in disappointment. "A good Purification might be just what this sanctuary needs."
"Buddy, don't…" the mage could see that Astrid's fury was rising. The last thing he wanted was for someone else to suffer because of him. He had lost enough loved ones already.
The ghost's eyes narrowed as he hatefully glared at Astrid. "Wretched girl, you are single-handedly tainting the honor and reputation of the Dark Brotherhood. You may be pretending to serve our Dread Father, but don't think you won't be cast into the Void to face his wrath."
Lucien let out an eager, but dark sigh of anticipation. "Your suffering will be great, false leader."
Astrid stormed over to Lucien, and soon the two were glaring at each other menacingly.
"I've seen the face of treachery before in the Black Hand, Astrid," the spirit whispered to her. "I see that now in you as well. There is no offense higher than the betrayal of your family. " He leaned forward, bearing his teeth. "I pray Sithis will allow me to be the one to carry out your punishment once you are in the Void. My blade aches for your blood."
The woman let out a snort as she looked the Spectral Assassin up and down, not impressed by him at all. "I think you've spent enough time on Tamriel's plane, don't you?" Astrid pulled the Blade of Woe from its sheath and it ripped through the air and right across Lachance's throat. The Spectral Assassin released a roar of pain as he stumbled backwards from the strike and vanished into a pile of blue ash.
"BUDDY!" KaNack charged forward, flames starting forming in his hands. Astrid had lied to him, threatened him, tormented him, and now had slain his spiritual guardian. He had lost Cicero and his faithful companion Atronach. He had enough of Astrid and wanted nothing more now than to see her dead. His lips curled back in a vicious snarl as he got into his casting position.
The Dark Brotherhood leader spun on her heels and the two found themselves in a stalemate. Astrid with the Blade of Woe to his throat and KaNack with a fireball in his hands at point blank range of the Nord.
"Put out that fire" she growled at him fiercely. "Don't you even think about attacking me just because I relieved you of your 'pet'," she spat the last word out.
"I'm done listening to you. You've done nothing but lie and take everything from me that I ever cared about. If you hadn't insulted the Night Mother, Cicero would not have stolen Atronach and she'd still be alive! Because of you my life is now Oblivion incarnate! I hate you, Astrid! Tell me why I shouldn't end your miserable life right here?" the Argonian hissed, his teeth still were bared in a snarl.
"If I die, every single one of those assassins down there is going to turn on you," the Nord answered sternly. "I am also willing to bet that my husband would go after that little Dunmer of yours at the college." A smile crept up Astrid's face. "You saw what he did to that horse of yours; can you imagine what he could possibly do to her?" she chuckled darkly. "A love's life for another's; and they say romance is dead," she sneered.
The threat placed on Brelyna was more than enough to make KaNack's flames vanish from his palms. The Argonian glared at Astrid furiously as she kept her blade to his throat. The Nord held an open hand out to the mage. "Give me the scroll. You will not be summoning him again!"
The Argonian tensed up and placed a hand protectively over his satchel that held the Spectral Assassin's casting scroll. Astrid took a few steps closer and dug in her blade just enough to shed some blood from the mage's neck. "Give me the scroll, NOW!"
KaNack trembled in rage as he slowly reached into his satchel and pulled out his spirit's scroll. The Nord snatched it quickly from him and removed the blade from the apprentice leaving a slight cut where it had been. "Face it, KaNack. He's not coming back." She then smirked at him. "Neither of them are."
"I thought I was the heartless killer, but Buddy proved me wrong," the Argonian hissed. "You, however, are truly a monster." The Argonian started to slowly retreat as Astrid approached him once more.
"The Dark Brotherhood will not fall under my leadership, not so long as we stick to the plan and kill the Emperor." She reached forward and grabbed KaNack by one of his horns, dragging his head downward and twisted his head painfully on its side.
"We still have a lot of work to do, little brother," she whispered fiercely. "The assassination of the Emperor will bring forth a bright and glorious future for the Dark Brotherhood, and I will allow NOTHING to get in my way!"
"The others won't stand for this," he growled as he tried to pull his head loose from Astrid's viselike grip. "Blackmail, threats, and now you've attacked the Spirit of the Dark Brotherhood? You will not lead this family much longer, Astrid."The Nord pulled the Argonian's head closer to whisper in his ear.
"Who here will believe you?" she hissed sadistically. "Everyone knows how close you were with that raging lunatic. They will all think you have turned traitor as well." She grinned wickedly. "Even your beloved tutor trusts me more than you. I've been the leader in the sanctuary for years, and who are you?"
She pushed KaNack backwards and the Argonian landed harshly on his backside. The mage groaned as he looked back up at Astrid.
"You have nowhere else to go, lizard. You try and return to that school of yours, and I will see to it that everyone there knows that you are a member of the Dark Brotherhood!" She then folded her arms with a smirk. "I already know you're too scared to go back to the life of the being the 'Hero of Skyrim'."
Astrid sheathed her blade and leered down at the mage.
"All your friends are gone. I suggest you suck it up, put on a big smile, and get back to work."
"You can't keep them fooled forever," KaNack growled in a shaky voice. "I'm the Listener. From what the spirit told me, that means eventually I am to lead the Dark Brotherhood. What will you do then, Astrid? When I'm leading this sanctuary, what will you do?" He slowly rose to his feet, his eyes burning with fury, yet his heart aching in misery.
"You're a heartless and selfish bitch. I wish you nothing but pain and suffering. I despise you. I will kill this Emperor; but your time is coming to an end." He spat on the floor in her direction.
The Argonian could see that his words made Astrid tense up, but she pretended to remained focused on the map.
KaNack shuddered in anger. He couldn't believe that this was the same woman whom he felt he could trust and depend on. He had such high hopes when he came to the Dark Brotherhood. He had finally started to feel like he was part of a real family. Once again, everything had gone wrong. This time though, he had no place else to run to.
Cicero was gone, he had no friendly face to come over and lift his spirits. Astrid took the Spectral Assassin's scroll; his spiritual guide had been stolen from him. Even his beloved Atronach's death was connected to the wretched Nord. The mage staggered down the stairs and looked sadly at the others spread about the sanctuary.
They were all back to their normal routines, they had no idea of Astrid's sadistic methods or manipulative nature. There was no one here he could confide in or trust without the risk of having Astrid turn the followers against him.
All KaNack could do was skulk back to the chamber of worship. There was at least one being he could safely open his heart to. He locked the door behind him and sat crossed-legged in front of the Night Mother's tomb.
"Forgive me for breaking the Third Tenet, Night Mother," he said softly as he kept his eyes locked on her tomb. "I could not slay the Keeper. With what has taken place now though, I hope you can see that it is obvious that Cicero was not the treacherous one in this sanctuary."
The Argonian paused, hoping that as Listener, the Night Mother would give him some words of wisdom or encouragement.
"Astrid has gone mad with fear and power; I shudder to think how this will all end. What should I do? I don't have my friend or my guide by my side anymore. I don't think I'm strong enough to do this alone."
KaNack's heart sank when all he received from the Unholy Matron was silence. He couldn't hold back the tears any longer. He was no longer part of a family, but their unwilling puppet in a game of recognition. What he had once considered a home had now become his prison.
Cicero's leaving took away the laughter and love that he had found in the Dark Brotherhood. The removal of the Spectral Assassin stole from him his guidance and supporting strength. His mare, that he considered a family member, was no longer with him. He had never felt more weak or alone in all his life.
A wise Imperial once told him 'There is no challenge you cannot face, so long as you are with a friend'. There were still people surrounding him, but none could help him with the challenges ahead. He only hoped that once the deed was done and the Emperor was dead, Astrid would let him leave.
It was a futile dream, but it would at least give him something to fight for. Brelyna was still waiting for him back at the College of Winterhold. He forced himself to believe that he would survive long enough to see her again, no matter what.
Reaching into his pocket, he felt the amulet of Mara given to him by a priestess when he had gone to Solitude. KaNack had made a promise to himself that if he got through this mess alive; he was going to ask the Dunmer to marry him, and that was a promise he intended to keep.