Chapter 4

Aria slept undisturbed until shortly after noon the next day. Squinting in the bright sunlight filtering through the trees, she yawned and stretched. Something didn't feel right. She stopped midway through her stretch when she realized what it was: there had been no visitor while she slept.

Puzzled, she thought about it as she made a fire and cooked her breakfast, or rather, lunch. Finally, she was convinced she had figured it out. Lachance probably hadn't come because it had been too close to dawn when she'd stopped. After all, a man dressed in black robes out for a stroll in the woods in broad daylight wouldn't look odd at all.

Aria quickly finished her meal and started to pack her things, then stopped. This little spot in the woods was quiet, comfortable, and out of the way. Since she had no idea where to go next, it would probably be smartest to stay where she was until Lachance came and gave her directions. She could use the time to rest from her journey to the inn.

She spent the rest of the day resting and reading her book again. Toward evening, she decided to explore the area around her camp. She followed the sound of water and discovered a small pool not too far away. Water from the surrounding area collected in the pool, which led to a series of small waterfalls. When Aria reached the spot, the rays of the sunset were turning the water into a fiery reflection of the sky. Seeing the breathtaking sight, she sat down to enjoy the view.

Once the sun has set, she made her way back to her campsite and began making her dinner. Darkness had completely fallen by the time she'd finished eating. She emptied her sack on the ground and measured out her food. If she was careful, she had enough food to last her until tomorrow night. Hopefully, Lachance wouldn't be sending her too far away.

Seeing the stars shining through the trees above her, Aria went back to the pool and sat down to stargaze. The stars of the Thief twinkled down at her, teasing her with promises of good luck. She scoffed. Some luck. She'd become a murderer, well on her way to being initiated into a guild of assassins. The only luck she'd had so far was not getting caught.

Aria shook her head and stood up. She didn't bother praying to the Nine tonight. She was pretty sure they wouldn't bother to listen to a penniless orphan who had turned away from them. They obviously hadn't cared before. Why should they now?

Once back at her campsite, she checked the fire and curled up in her blankets. For a little while, she stared into the fire, watching the flames dance, then she closed her eyes.

Some time later, Aria awoke and sensed that she wasn't alone anymore. She sat up and looked around. On the other side of the fire, a shadowy figure sat watching her. As soon as she saw him, Lucien Lachance spoke.

"So, the deed is done," he said. Before Aria could ask how he knew that, he said, "How do I know this? You will find that the Dark Brotherhood knows a great many things that would be kept secret. For you are now part of the family."

Aria pulled her blanket tightly around her shoulders. "Now what?"

Lachance smiled as he pushed back his hood. He had short black hair that was just starting to grey at the temples and appeared to be in his early forties. "Now, you embrace your fate. For the slaying of Rufio was the signing of a covenant. The manner of execution, your signature. Rufio's blood, the ink.

"As a Speaker of the Black Hand, I directly oversee a particular group of family members. You will join that group and fulfill any contracts given." He turned and pointed to the east. "You must go now to Cheydinhal, to the abandoned house near the eastern wall. Enter the basement and attempt to open the black door. You will be asked a question. Answer thusly: 'Sanguine, my Brother.' You will gain entrance to the Sanctuary. Once inside, speak with Ocheeva."

"We must now take our leave of each other, you and I," he said, "for there is much work to be done. I'll be following your progress. Welcome to the family."

He started to rise, but Aria held up a hand. "Wait!"

Lachance sat back down. "You have questions, child?"

Aria nodded. She had a lot of questions swirling through her mind. She grabbed hold of one and asked it. "You said killing Rufio formed a covenant. What does that mean?"

"It means you are now part of the Brotherhood. Every Dark Brother or Sister is a child of Sithis. We serve the Night Mother, who is the Bride of Sithis."

"What's the Black Hand?"

"The Black Hand is the ruling body of the Dark Brotherhood. It is made up of one Listener and four Speakers. Four fingers and a thumb, if you will. We enforce the Five Tenets given to us by the Night Mother."

"The Five Tenets?"

Lachance nodded. "The Five Tenets are the laws that guide and protect us. As a member of the Dark Brotherhood, you must abide by them, as must we all."

"What are they?"

Lachance held up the appropriate number of fingers as he recited, "Tenet number one: Never dishonor the Night Mother. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.

"Tenet number two: Never betray the Dark Brotherhood or its secrets. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.

"Tenet number three: Never disobey or refuse to carry out an order from a Dark Brotherhood superior. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.

"Tenet number four: Never steal the possessions of a Dark Brother or Dark Sister. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.

"Tenet number five: Never kill a Dark Brother or Dark Sister. To do so-"

"Is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis? I get it," Aria said impatiently.

Lachance narrowed his eyes. "Have care with your words, child. Sithis is always watching."

Aria sighed and looked down. "Sorry. I meant no disrespect." She looked back up at him. "Who is Sithis, anyway?"

Lachance relaxed again. "He whom we call Sithis has many other names. Chaos. Doom. Discord. Sithis is the Void. But how does one best describe our Dread Father? Imagine a perfect, cloudless midnight, cold as winter ice and shrouded in shadow. That is Sithis."

"And the Night Mother?"

Lachance lifted his head in pride. "We praise our Unholy Matron. From her shadowed womb we were born, from her breast we suckle malice and pain. She loves her children, you see."

Aria shivered. That seemed like an odd way of showing love, but she wasn't about to say anything after Lachance's careful reprimand earlier. "You said you're a Speaker for the Night Mother. What does that mean?"

Lachance shook his head. "That is a question for a later time, when you have become more familiar with the ways of the Brotherhood."

Aria absorbed that information, then asked, "What's a Sanctuary? You said I'm supposed to go to the Sanctuary in Cheydinhal. What is that?"

"The Sanctuary is our refuge, our home. It is a place of peace where we can worship our Unholy Matron freely. A place where we can share our lives with those we call kindred."

When it was clear that Aria had no more questions, for the moment at least, Lachance stood up. "I must go. You are now one with the Dark Brotherhood. Visit Ocheeva at the Cheydinhal Sanctuary and your new life will begin."

With that, Lachance vanished into the night again. Aria sat and thought for a while, pondering everything he'd told her. Then she gathered her things and set off in the direction he had pointed, hoping to reach her journey's end as soon as possible.