"You're joking." Astrid looked dumbfounded. "Motierre wants us to kill the Emperor of Tamriel?"
"Yes. He said there are multiple targets to take care of beforehand." Mordelia handed Astrid the sealed letter and amulet. "He gave me these to give to you. The letter explains the contracts, and the amulet is for any expenses."
"By Sithis," Astrid's eyes widened as she read the letter. "You weren't joking. A contract like this hasn't happened for 200 years, not since the murder of Uriel Septim. The Dark Brotherhood was more prominent then of course."
"Will we accept the contract?" Mordelia asked. She was unsure if they would be able to handle the task of assassinating the Emperor with so few resources.
"Damn well we will!" Astrid said. Her eyes gleamed greedily. "If we can pull this off the Dark Brotherhood will finally be respected around here. I need time to study this letter first before I decide what steps to take. And this amulet…" Astrid trailed off.
"We should get it appraised. I have contacts in the Thieves' Guild that could help us." Mordelia offered.
Astrid looked up. "You do, huh. Know anyone by the name of Delvin Mallory?"
"Yes, he's a fence for the Thieves' Guild. And quite the character."
"Good. Then you know how he works. You should take the amulet to him and get it appraised. I trust him to be honest." Astrid dropped the amulet into Mordelia's palm. "I'm going to go study this letter and plan our next moves. Don't speak of this to anyone yet."
"You look troubled Listener."
"Hmmm?" Mordelia looked up from the potion she was attempting to craft. She figured if there were going to be multiple assassinations in her future, she better have a good supply of poisons for her arrows. "Oh, hello Cicero." The red clad man looked down at her with worry in his eyes.
"Are you alright? Cicero must make sure the Listener is well."
Mordelia smiled at him. "I am fine, Cicero. Thank you." She stood, causing him to tilt his head back to look up at her. "It's just these darn poisons. I'm out of Deathbell. I would ask Babette for some, but I promised her I'd bring her some next time I came around and well..." Mordelia shrugged her shoulders. She had forgotten the ingredients she'd promised Babette and didn't feel like being scolded by a woman in a child's body.
Cicero laughed. "Oh, Cicero sees the problem!" He turned to the shelves of potion ingredients next to the alchemy table, hands on his hips. "Perhaps the Listener could use some Red Mountain Flowers?" He handed her a few red blossoms. "Or maybe an Orange Dartwing?" He gave her a large orange dragonfly, which Mordelia hastily set on the alchemy table with a shiver. She hated bugs.
"I think I'll try the flowers." Mordelia began crushing them in the mortar and pestle. The flowers let out a sharp scent as they were mushed into a red paste. Mordelia stirred the paste into her potion, causing it to turn from a light brown to a deadly shade of green. "Perfect!" Mordelia turned to Cicero's expectant face to thank him. "Maybe I should just come to you for advice from now on." She laughed.
Cicero bowed. "Cicero is pleased to have been of service to the Listener."
"How did you know what use?" Mordelia asked. "I've never seen you make or use potions before."
Cicero thought for a moment, his head tilted to the side. "Cicero just knows. Cicero knows many things without know why he knows them."
"Interesting." There is much more to Cicero than meets the eye. Mordelia stuff the potion in one of the pouches on her belt. "Hey Cicero," Mordelia suddenly said, "How would you like to go to Riften with me tomorrow?"
Cicero's eyes brightened. "Really? The Listener is asking Cicero to travel with her?"
"Yeah, sure. It gets a bit lonely traveling by myself, you know." Maybe I can get to know Cicero a bit better too.
"Oh how fun this will be!" Cicero clapped his hands excitedly. "Cicero must go prepare at once! The Night Mother will need a good oiling before Cicero leaves." Cicero was almost out the door before he turned to add, "Thank you, Listener."
Mordelia gave him a warm smile. "Thank you for helping me with my poison."
"Good morning, Listener!" A singsong voice right next to her ear made Mordelia's eyes pop open.
"Ah!" Mordelia almost fell backwards off the bed. "Cicero! Don't do that!" She pushed Cicero's face away from hers. It wasn't a pleasant experience to wake up with a half-mad jester's face inches away from your own, not to mention one holding a gleaming knife.
"Whoops!" Cicero bounced backwards. "Please excuse, poor Cicero."
"It's alright." Mordelia sighed. "What was with the dagger though? You could've cut me!"
"The dagger?" Cicero looked confused. "Oh yes," His voiced deepened menacingly. "This dagger." He held up an ebony dagger. "Cicero was so excited, he even polished his dagger and wanted to show the Listener!" His voice returned to its carefree tone.
"Oh." Mordelia looked down at the dagger. It was quite nice looking, but she still didn't appreciate waking up with it in her face. "It looks very nice, Cicero."
Cicero beamed at her. "The Listener had better get moving, we're burning daylight! Whatever that means. Why would someone burn light?" Cicero walked away pondering this, his dagger under his chin thoughtfully.
"Talos save me." This was going to be a long trip to Riften.