THE SILENCE HAS BEEN BROKEN

This was definitely not the Cidhna Mines. And thank the gods for that. Mothal had a little barely-there jail in the guardhouse. The guards didn't even have the decency to blindfold me when they dragged me here, so I saw exactly where I am.

Not that it matters, I was too tired to attempt a breakout at the moment. It would have been easy, the lock just had to be picked with a little electricity coaxing it. The singular guard "watching" me fell asleep in half an hour. I could have gotten out without a hitch.

But no, I wanted some time…to think. I haven't had much of that recently. I curled up on the little orange sleeping bag and held my legs. Rocking wouldn't do much, nor would sleeping. I just stared at the wall, and thought about life…

Voice, or the Night Mother, is the puppeteer of the Dark Brotherhood. She was brought from another Sanctuary all the way in Cyrodill and is now trying to force herself into Astrid's Family. So far…none of that is working. Cicero is looked at as a fool and I'm just the outlier trying to prove myself. Again.

However, the question still remains: Why is the Night Mother here in Skyrim? What does she hope to accomplish? What I gathered is she was fleeing Cyrodill, the country just south of Skyrim. Why does she need me or that stupid crown?

More importantly, how far will she go to get what she wants? From my experience, anything short of mass murder is acceptable to her. But maybe, maybe I called her bluff. I have no idea how she could "mark" someone for death if I am the only Listener.

I stare at the wall while I piece it all together. The brick is starting to crack and grow some mildew, even though it's cold out. They might want to clean that up…

I jolt up right as it hits me. She doesn't completely need me. I am the Listener, but Cicero is her other "Listener". Like a Listener-lite. He did tell me he can hear her in the complete silence, I thought that was due to his madness…

She laughs at me. My children are always useful.

I want to smack my head against the wall until she's free. Pull my brain out and get it acid cleaned to leave her voice boiling in the remains.

"Eve? Are you here?"

I leap up and spin in an instant. Behind the bars on the other side is the Argonian from the Dark Brotherhood. And he's wearing their armor. The guard just shrugs and leaves. Argonian closes his eyes in relief.

"I just spent the better part of the morning looking for your body in the marsh. I am pleased you are still breathing." He unlocks the door and lets it swing open.

"Why are you here?" I should have known she'd send someone, but I thought she'd wait awhile longer.

"Astrid was worried. Cicero was…distressed to say the least. Yelling and grabbing his head. Talking to the coffin. It took a long time to calm him down. Was the kill difficult?" His yellow eyes take in my ripped armor and bruised and bloody face.

"Yes, very difficult. I'm embarrassed to say but he got away." At least I hope he did.

Argonian laughs, "Now, that, is quite amusing. Nazir was certain this kill would take a few minutes to complete. Was he carrying a weapon?"

I scratch the back of my head. This actually is embarrassing. "Sort of. But he wasn't a big target, was he?"

"No, no, of course not. If anything, he was practice. We don't lose much by failing that kill. Come with me, you're free. I coerced the guards for your freedom. Astrid needs you back at the Sanctuary. Immediately."

This feels a little awkward, but I have no choice, so I follow the green Argonian to the carriage waiting just off the docks. "What is your name?" I should probably know.

"Veezara, it is nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you."

I wince, "I'm sure."

He just laughs, "Don't worry all things said are good things. However, there is some confusion about the Listener title. I don't think anyone has quite figured that out yet."

He holds his hand…talons, out for me when he's on the carriage. I take them and get the seat opposite of him. Voice is quiet, she's just watching. Possibly sulking again. But there is anticipation in her emotions. She wants to know what Astrid wants. I take a deep breath of the cooling air before I give the Argonian my reply, "I'm just as confused. But I think I'm starting to figure it out."

The scent of moss fills the cold hallway all the way down. Veezara gives a brisk nod and heads to the larger cavern when she approaches. Her hips sway gracefully, as they always do, but her steps are quick. "We need to talk."

"Sure, what about?"

Our leader's brow furrows, "Something is happening on here. I'm not entirely sure what that something is…but we need to find out. If the Night Mother really did give you an order to talk to a contact, then we would be mad to ignore it."

The hair begins to raise on the back of my neck. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone convinced her…

"And I think we'd both agree that Cicero has brought quite enough madness to this Sanctuary. Last night was only the worst of it…" She trails off.

I want to interject, say that maybe we could think on this a little more. While I figure out the mystery of the Night Mother's motivation. But she doesn't give me a chance.

"So go. Go to Volunruud. It's a crypt, pretty far to the northeast. Talk to this Amaund Motierre. And let's see where this all leads. Hmm?"

"I don't know if this is a good idea…" I begin.

You are the Listener. You have a contact to talk to. No one can take that away from you and no one will. Not even her demands. Voice says. Someone's bitter.

"And why not?" Astrid crosses her arms. Her eyes show hesitation.

"Nevermind. I'll be back." Wonder why I'm changing my mind? Well, I just had an idea. If I can find out who this contact is, then maybe I can weasel more information out of him. Maybe there's a special Black Sacrament only sent to the Night Mother and her minions. Would like to know how they got the directions so I could tear it all up.

Astrid laughs, "You are very peculiar. Now go. And don't come back until you have talked with the contact."

Carriage driver didn't want to take me all the way to Volunruud. That, plus his boring remarks of Whiterun made me miss Gabriel. At least we could share a good bottle of ale to pass the time. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard though, Voice did keep me occupied.

It was odd, like a fever dream. I was taken into a hallucination of sorts. Instead of seeing the Night Mother or one of the Princes, I see Volunruud. I hover from above to get a bird's eye view of two men performing the Black Sacrament. A dead body, or skeleton, and a human heart are both stabbed. Some candles lit. Strange tongues being spoken. Seemed like the most fun anyone this side of Skyrim was having right now.

I'm then shown the entrances and exits, the possible enemies, and the chest with any treasure I could want. It's almost like she's kissing up to me.

I'm preparing you so this will go quickly. Do not kill Amaund or his guard.

"Miss, this is where you get out."

I blink. The haze dissipates to show the annoyed carriage driver, tapping his foot impatiently. Looks like I was out for awhile.

"Sorry." I say then hand him the twenty coin I promised. He shines it, doesn't even crack a smile, and takes the reigns once again.

Up the mountain…

I follow the orders. Volunruud is roughly halfway up the path, it's one of the tombs encircled with a mound. Reminds me of Snowveil Sanctum, where Mercer betrayed me for the second time. I shake my head, taking the bad memories away with it. The here and now is what's important.

Right inside I hear the two heartbeats. As I was promised. A creaky skeleton pops out, but I smack him in the skull before he can go any further. I step over the pile of bones and follow the light.

Candles still line the perimeter of the room, bathing it in a soft glow. But it's not inviting. Far from it considering all the blood and skeletal remains laying around. Even though I know there aren't enemies there, I still take a quick glance at the shadows.

"By the almighty Divines, you've come! You've actually come. This dreadful Black Sacrament thing…it worked." A man steps forward, he's wearing mighty fine clothing and has a face that might be swoon worthy in good lighting.

I kick the skull at my feet. "It is now. Used to be you get a few chances and a prayer then it's all left up to fate. This is pretty ballsy of you. Only desperate people perform the Black Sacrament."

Voice purrs in agreement. He is desperate but searching. He looks to you for guidance…do not fail him.

I want to tug on my braid to get her to stop but I remember I have my mask on.

"Oh, I know. I know. But I'm so glad you're here. Please, allow me to state my business. Surely your time is as valuable as my own."

I just shrug. "I doubt it but okay."

"I would like to arrange a contract. Several, actually. I daresay, the most important work your organization has had in well…centuries." He seems to be salivating.

Multiple contracts, huh? Wonder if they'll be bards and beggars too. Or jesters, for once.

Your brother will never have the Sacrament performed for him.

"That freak is not my brother, so shut your – "

"Ma'am?" I blink, Almond is giving me an odd look.

"Go on. Sorry, part of the job. Ignore me. We tend to hear things."

"I'm sure." He drawls, "As I said, I want you to kill several people. You'll find the targets, as well as their manners of elimination, quite varied." This guy is my height, but he tilts his head back ever so slightly to be looking down his nose at me. "I'm sure someone of your disposition will probably even find it enjoyable. But you should know that these killing are but a means to an end. For they pave the way to the most important target."

He glances around and sneers, "The real reason I'm speaking with a cutthroat in the bowels of this detestable crypt. For I seek the assassination of…" He pauses, enjoying the suspense, "The Emperor."

I blink. That's it?

A politician was too easy to guess, why not someone like Molag Bal? He'd be hard to kill, if it was even possible. Or hell, even the guy out yelling in Whiterun. He seems pretty durable.

The fact that the Emperor is highly guarded comes to mind. That would be tricky but not impossible to complete. Come to think of it, I've barely heard of the Emperor.

"Are you surprised?" He grins.

"Frankly, I didn't know we had an Emperor. I'm not up to date on the rise and fall of politics. But what gives? Why him?"

"What I ask is no small thing, of course. But you represent the Dark Brotherhood. This is…what you do? No?"

I begin to interject but he goes on, "You must understand. So much has led to this day. So much planning, and maneuvering. Now, its as if the very stars have finally aligned. But I digress. Here, take these. They need to be delivered to your, um…superior."

He snaps, jolting me out of my daydream. Voice was just showing me what the Emperor looked like. An old man of good stature and a good taste in clothing.

"Rexus. The items."

The burly soldier/slave guy emerges from the shadows, holding a stack of papers the size of my palm. That, and a very pretty amulet. He passes them to me with an ease of someone used to being bitched around. I take them and tuck them away in my bag.

"The sealed letter will explain everything that needs to be done. The amulet is quite valuable- you can use it to pay for any and all expenses." He waves me and everything else away.

The Emperor's fate is sealed. She whispers. This is the endgame for her.

"Why does he need to die?"

He is in the way. That is why. But I'm sure Motierre has his own ideas.

"Anything else you need?" Molitard crosses his arms over his chest.

"Yes…how did you perform the Black Sacrament? Was there anything different than the norm?" I get the question out fast before she can stop me. But she just sits in wait.

"Erm, no, I do not think so. We followed it exactly as the instructions mentioned."

Damn. I grit my teeth, then turn my gaze to the skeleton and heart surrounded by candles. It's just like the Sacrament at the kid's place in Windhelm.

Nothing was done differently, child. The Black Sacrament is only working now because of us. You and me. By working together contacts can call us in their time of need.

She talks like she finally got the upper hand. Maybe she has. I'm now locked in a contract that is going to shake Tamriel to its core. The consequences of this are nothing I can comprehend. I say my goodbyes to the pretty boy and his slave. It's going to be a long ride home.

"You're joking." Her honey-colored hair lightens in the candlelight. The blue of her eyes is sharper than before.

"Wish I was." I choke out. I discussed the matter with Voice the whole way home. I was always with the losing argument. There was no compromise. No way out. The Emperor is as good as a dead man walking.

Astrid opens her pretty mouth to argue, but I hold up the evidence. The beautiful, glittery amulet, and letters. "From what I know, the amulet is for expenses and the letters…explain it all." At least they explain what Almond wanted accomplished.

She takes the items in shaking hands. "By Sithis, you're not joking. To kill the Emperor of Tamriel… The Dark Brotherhood hasn't done such a thing since the assassination of Pelagius." She holds up the amulet in just a way that the blue gem catches the light. "As a matter of fact, no one has dared assassinate an Emperor of Tamriel since the murder of Uriel Septim, and that was two hundred years ago…"

"It's what she wants." I say, to try and break the dark cloud forming in my mind.

"No, she certainly wouldn't lead us astray. And for whatever reason, the Night Mother chose to relay Motierre's information to you." Her eyes rake my body. I see her sizing me up, wondering if I'm the real deal.

"If I could, I would give this…gift to Cicero."

She smiles, barely, "And then we would be in a deeper hole than we already are. No, I don't know exactly what's going on here, if you're the Listener or this is some fluke, or what. But what we now have before us…"

The whore feels threatened. Best watch so she doesn't land a blade in your back…

I rub my temples. "Do we accept the contract?"

She laughs, "You're damn right we will. If we pull this off, the Dark Brotherhood will know a fear and respect we haven't seen in centuries. You think I'd abandon my Family when I could lead them to glory?" She sighs, "But, this is all so much to take in. I need time to read the letter and figure out where we go from here. And this amulet. Hm…"

"Is it faulty?"

She smiles, "I'm thinking we need it appraised. I want to know where it came from, how much its worth, and if we can actually get away with selling it. There is only one man who can give us what we need. A fence, a private operator. Delvin Mallory works out of the Ratway in Riften. He is the one you need to see."

My mouth goes dry. "Him? Why? How do you know him?"

She shrugs, "He's worked with the Dark Brotherhood off and on. He's good at what he does and can be trusted. Give me the letter. Bring Mallory the amulet. Find out everything you can and sell it if he's willing. He'll offer a letter of credit, and that's fine. Now go, get this appraised and come back to me with results."

I take the amulet and put it around my neck. It's the only way it would be truly safe. Astrid's words ring through my mind as I leave. Delvin never said he helped the Dark Brotherhood. But then again…the Thieves Guild had a shaky relationship with the Brotherhood. It was paramount that no one kill anyone on a mission when with the Thieves Guild, so, was helping them with appraisals and such hypocritical?

I shake my head. No, it's business as usual. But then why didn't Delvin talk about getting into contact with the Brotherhood when we needed to before Windhelm?

This revelation should scare me, I should be too worried to cross back into Riften with Bryn searching for me. But these questions won't answer themselves. And if anything, every moment spent in this cave is another moment more that Voice becomes frustrated. I have a shaky hold on controlling her, or rather, keeping her at bay. I won't give her any more leverage.

Cicero's Journal Entry

27th of Evening Star, 4E 201

The contract, you wanted! The Emperor of Tamriel dead at our feet! That's all anyone will talk about now, not Listener's strangeness or Cicero's outburst! Just killing and flaying! Scheming and plotting. We have so much to prepare for…I hope Astrid is ready. This kill will put the family back on the map!