HONOR THY FAMILY

The door was painted red. The crimson river ran from the handprint on the skull down it's face. All I had to do was push the door open. No password or resistance. The smell was…intoxicating.

I drank from a bandit's neck on the way home, but man, was that not enough. The sweet scent of blood runs through the hall, more potent because of the poor ventilation. I break into a run. My leg is now fully healed.

"Mother wanted that Listener! It was very important!" Cicero squeals.

I come to a dead halt in the room when I see Cicero standing on top of a pile of bodies. I give them a once over to find any Brotherhood members. None of them are among the dead. All of them are bandits or mages. I sink to my knees on the cold ground in relief.

"Mother doesn't appreciate Listener's disobedience." He's right in front of me now.

I look up into his mad eyes. "I'm a part of the puzzle too, Cicero. She wants me to gather weapons for her, but I won't if it means killing innocents."

The red jester gasps, "You still think of yourself as judge and jury? That is Mother's role."

I ignore that statement and stand. "Where are the others? What happened to Astrid?"

His eyes fill with mischief. "Astrid left…she couldn't take the stench." He giggles.

The door opens up above and soon all the members of the Brotherhood come pouring in. I glance at each face that's marked with weariness. I figure this assault wasn't as bad as what I was set to believe.

"You're back." Astrid moves to the front of the line.

"Seems like I was just in time." I take in the pile of bodies. "Or not."

"Cicero couldn't help himself! Mother's anguish required payment! These filthy fools were asking for it!"

I'm tempted to knock him off his high horse, or pile, when Astrid speaks again. "Clean this up Cicero. We went out to find you Eve because, well, come with me. Let's discuss this somewhere quieter."

Cicero laughs and begins to dance. I sneer at him but follow the mistress to the front room with the map of Skyrim. I'm kind of surprised he didn't bring the Night Mother down here by himself so she could watch the slaughter.

I have been watching. Cicero is right. That axe meant a lot to the cause…

Her voice is belittling. "I don't care."

"What?" Astrid looks up from the map, "You don't want to hear what happened?"

I wave her off, "Go on."

"Cicero went mad, had some sort of mental breakdown and started dragging these bodies in here. We tried to stop him, but he held a knife to each of us. Arnbjorn tried to subdue him but he ran off screaming about the 'Listener'. We feared he was after you next. I am happy to see that you're okay."

How noble. "I'm fine. I was far away when this happened. I think. Is he calmer?"

"For the most part. Where were you anyways?" She questions.

"In a mountain." I'm not sure if I should let the beans spill about hearing Daedric Princes. "I was following a dog…She compelled me to kill him with an axe, but I refused."

Astrid crosses her arms and leans against the wall. I can feel the frustration and impatience rolling off her. "How interesting, go on."

"She's not…happy with me. At all."

Voice snarls and circles. Her presence in my mind is menacing.

"Hm. That is a conundrum. Our purpose, as the old ones said, is to follow the orders of the Night Mother to no avail. No request was too hard to take on. Defying her has consequences. Or so they say." She taps her foot. Dare I say I'm seeing a nervous habit of hers. "Did anything happen?"

I think back to the pain. The electric lashing. "Yeah. I don't want to talk about it, but I survived it. That's the most important part."

"How long have you been defying her?" The question should be invasive and have an ulterior motive. But she sounds merely curious.

"A long time." I whisper. I put my own hands on the table for support. "But not like this, not until she's pushing me harder to get to something. One of my good friends died because of that." My voice catches on that last part. Tears form and against my better judgement I let it all fly out.

"She killed him through me. She controls me sometimes. I don't want it anymore. I never did. I'm trying to find a way out, but I can't." A hand lays on my bowed head. Astrid.

"She has you prisoner then. I was wondering what the Listener would be like. Would they be unwilling? Or would they be grateful?" Her hand smooths my hair back. I take solace in the temporary comfort.

"Grateful? Listener has never been grateful!" Spits the insane voice. I hear a scraping sound and look back to find Cicero dragging two bandit bodies up the path. "Listener does what she wants. Plays with thieves. Runs around Skyrim in fancy carriages! Never puts Mother first like Cicero does."

"Keep getting the bodies out Cicero. You are not a part of this discussion." Astrid composes herself and watches him with a sharp eye. A leader keeping her ducks in line.

"I am because of her!" He drops the feet he was holding. His bloody face is a familiar terror in the shadows of this room. "Cicero should have been Listener! Cicero was born for the task!" He's shaking now.

Astrid grabs my wrist and pulls me into the bedroom beyond. The door closes softly. That doesn't stop Cicero from yelling nonsense.

"Ignore him." Her voice is firm. "Let him get it out of his system but stay away from him for the time being."

"Easier said than done." I mumble. Truth be told, I wouldn't mind another throwdown with the jester.

"He is not your focus right now. Vittoria Vici is."

"But you kicked me out." I go to sit on one of the beds. If it's not urgent, I'd rather rest.

"Yes, but you have payment, right?" Her brow arches.

Get ready for this. I pull out the Masque of Clavicus Vile. It's got these long horns on it, making it really hard to carry. "Is this enough?"

Her eyes widen. "A Daedric Artifact? You know you only had to pay five-hundred coins…"

I shrug. "I don't know what this thing does anyways."

Astrid shakes her head. "Go to Nazir and give him five-hundred coins. That mask might actually come in handy for you…you might want to use it." Her grin is as wide as a Cheshire cat. "And when you're done with that…I take it you'll journey to Solitude?"

As long as Hay doesn't hound me there. I'd rather be in the capitol city than here with the crazies. "Yes."

"Good. Make sure the bride has a day to remember and try to get out alive. We have at least one more contract before we can get to the Emperor." She then turns to listen at the door. "He is gone."

I let out a breath. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad Cicero isn't right outside the door waiting to pick a fight. Each time I avoid him, I know it's just fuel to the fire. Eventually, we will have a falling out that even the Brotherhood can't save me from. I bid my thanks to my mistress and leave to find Nazir. Hopefully, he won't think me odd for carrying the Daedric mask around.

"Lovely looking piece of art you have there." Nazir murmurs. The soft glow from the fireplace paints his dark skin in a yellow glow and lightens his oak-colored eyes to a dark shade of amber. Which are now locked on the mask.

"You can have it if you want. Astrid thought I might need it, but I don't know." I plop down in the chair next to him and lay Clavicus's mask on the table. The silver swirls carved into the metal shine brightly.

Nazir laughs deeply, "If my mistress wishes for you to keep it then I am not one to stand in her way. If I may ask, how did you come across this Daedric Artifact? Did you slit a few throats for it? Or pay a pretty penny?" He steeples his hands to his chin.

How to put it? "Ran into someone I wish I didn't. A dog led the way. I was directed to kill him but didn't and this is my reward."

"Directed to kill by who? Astrid?"

"Nope." I point to my forehead.

Understanding dawns on his beautiful face. "The Night Mother? She wanted you to kill a dog?"

"It's complicated. I think that's why Cicero threw a tantrum and murdered all those bandits."

Nazir grimaces, "That. Please don't remind me. I'd rather forget. It's going to take a long while to air the stench out of this cavern." He sighs, "Now, for the payment…and I will reinstate you into the Brotherhood."

I put a five-hundred gold pouch into his large hands. He counts it all. It takes only minutes when he grins. "Thank you very much, it was nice doing business with you. And do try not to get into this situation again. I will say, we were worried for you when Cicero ran after you."

I swallow. "Yeah, but I think if he fought me again, I'd win."

Nazir breaks into laughter, I have to lean back at the outburst. "Ah! You are oh so confident! I really do hope you can pull this Emperor assassination off. That would be the best thing for the Brotherhood… ah, there I go again. I hear Astrid needs you to attend a wedding and turn it into a funeral. Might want to get to it."

I stand and give a little salute. "On my way now. If you could, would you watch out for Astrid? I don't trust Cicero."

He nods, "Of course, I was talking with Festus Krex and Veezara. We decided we will take shifts to watch the coffin closely. The little jester won't be getting out of our sight anytime soon."

Even with Nazir's promise, I can't shake the feeling that it's going to get worse. Before I get out of there to find a carriage to Solitude, I go to see her. The coffin is stationed where it always is, and I'm pleased to see her henchman is still disposing of bodies.

I don't have to open the doors. They already are. A vile scent wafts from her body. Maybe she hasn't been cleaned in awhile.

"I'm going to Solitude. I'll finish the job…" What to say to her? "Please keep Cicero from causing problems here. I can't think straight when I know these people might be in danger."

Danger and risk are the price of greatness. Voice says from the coffin.

"Keep him from hurting them and I will end this. I'll get the Emperor." I move so I can stare right at her face.

Cicero acts under the beat of his own drum. I have no part in his madness.

That's a dirty and blatant lie if I ever heard one. Not that I expected anything else. "Just keep him from exploding when things go wrong."

Don't disobey in the first place and there won't be any problems. She snarls.

"Tough shit, I'm getting used to this. I have a limit for what I will and won't do."

Yet, you bat no eye at the prospect of killing a bride and her guests if needed?

"I…" I never thought of it. "They have to be bad. Done something wrong…"

You never asked her, did you? You will question me but not the so called "mistress". What ever did I do to you to deserve this?

"Everything." It's a whisper. I hate being called out on my own hypocrisy. But Astrid never tormented me for years on end.

I don't want to waste time. Go. Finish the contract.

I pull my hood back over my face. This carriage ride will be rough going. I know her words will haunt me. But all I have to do now is get to Solitude. The moral dilemma will be dealt with when I'm there.

A carriage driver sits right outside the Sanctuary. Cicero stands at the back. He grins and holds out a free hand to help me up. "After you, our brilliant Listener."

I leap and get into the carriage without him laying a hand on me. The carriage rocks and nearly spooks the horse. "Don't tell me you're coming with me." I eye his hands. They still hold feet connected to a dead body.

He giggles, "Cicero wishes he could! It would be so much fun to fight alongside Listener once again! But not so! Cicero must remain with Mother! The carriage was nearby so I took the trouble to bring Driver closer to the Sanctuary…for your convenience."

Chills run up my shoulders. "Thanks. I have to go."

"No quarrelling with sweet Cicero?" He tilts his head, "Are you sure? You seemed awfully mad when you were with Astrid."

I lean over the side of the carriage. "Listen. I have to go. No, I'm not happy with how things have turned out. At. All. But," How to keep him at bay? "Mother talked to me and wants you and me to work together. Like a team."

His eyes light up. The dead body flops to the ground when he claps. "Yes! Yes! That is what she wants!"

I force my lips into a smile, "She does. But to be a team we need to work together and be quiet about all this. Mother specifically told me to tell you not to hurt anyone in the Sanctuary. If you do, we might get kicked out and the Emperor will stay breathing."

He stops clapping. I pray to the divines that he doesn't hear the lie in my voice. "Mother said that? She says other things in the silence."

"As loudly as she could. Finish your work and don't hurt them or bad things will happen to us." I signal to the driver to get a move on. The carriage jolts with a start.

Cicero smiles, "Who was once a Traveler is now a Listener who plays tricks. Don't worry, Cicero will not harm a hair on their head." He laughs, "But if Listener fails…a little coup might be in order."

I can't say anything back since we're too far away now. All I see is the red form of Cicero receding into the distance. My hands won't stop shaking. The people of the Brotherhood don't mean as much to me as my old friends, I don't really know them. But I'd feel just as horrible if something happened to them.

Learning from the best at lies. As Cicero said, don't make any mistakes and you should come back to a Sanctuary that is fully intact.

Cicero's Journal Entry

6th of Morning Star, 4E 202

Confusing. Is that really want you want, Mother? All I hear are the pleas to carve out the Brotherhood's beating hearts and feed them to any animal nearby. Am I really not to harm anyone? Or is this another trick from her?

A team then, hm? I guess she is my sister by spirit…so Cicero will oblige and not harm a hair on their head. As long as she gets to Solitude and kills that bride like a good assassin she is!