Chapter 38

Aria walked through the gates of Cheydinhal. It had been over a week since she left, but her contract was completely done. Phillida was dead and his finger had been left in the desk of his successor. Now to get home and report to the family.

Getting into the Imperial City Prison Barracks had been remarkably easy. Aria had dressed as a beggar and slipped into the courtyard. The office wasn't hard to find, and the door had been left unlocked. The cloth bundle holding the finger had been quickly stashed in the top drawer of the desk. On her way out of the courtyard, Aria had been told to move along, causing her to smile as she remembered her old days on the streets. It had been a familiar refrain.

A couple of guards were dealing with a drunk Dunmer outside of the abandoned house, so Aria went around the back and slipped down the well, locking the grate behind her. A few moments later, she was in the Sanctuary.

Richard was the only one in the main room. Aria checked Ocheeva's quarters and found her just getting ready for bed. The Argonian was overjoyed that the contract was complete and that Aria was home safely. "Adamus Phillida is dead! I could feel my heart swell with the Night Mother's love the moment that Imperial pig issued his last breath! Sit down and tell me all about it."

Aria sat with her in front of the fire and told her everything that happened. She left out the part with Sho-riah, simply saying that she dealt with Phillida's bodyguard. When she was finished, she reached into her bag and brought out Phillida's helmet. "I brought this back as proof."

Ocheeva took the helmet. "Well done, my dear. This will look wonderful on the bookcase in the main room." She set the helmet on the table. "You have done a great service to the Dark Brotherhood today. Adamus Phillida's soul will endure a kind of suffering known only to those who have angered Sithis. You also managed to leave his finger as a warning to his successor. Well done, indeed! Your reward and bonus are well-earned. I don't have them ready for you right now, but if you see me tomorrow, I can give them to you. Is that alright?"

Aria nodded and Ocheeva gave her a hug. "Go now. Get some rest. Sithis knows you've earned it."

Aria nodded again and yawned. She hadn't realized how tired she was until just now. She wanted to see if Vicente was still up, then she was going to bed.

She knocked softly on his door. She wasn't really expecting an answer, so she was surprised when he called for her to come in. He was standing next to his bed, wearing just a pair of pants. Aria had a moment to admire the muscles in his back before he turned around and saw her.

"You're back!" He came over and gave her a kiss. "The contract went well?"

"It's done. Adamus Phillida is dead."

"Excellent! Do you mind telling me about it now, or would you like to get some rest?"

Aria set her things down. "I am tired, but I want to tell you everything."

Vicente motioned for her to sit on the bed. "We can sit here. It's more comfortable than the table."

Aria sat beside him and leaned against the headboard as she told her story again. When she finished, Vicente praised her for a contract well done. She yawned and laid her head on his shoulder. "There's something else."

"What is it, dear one?" Vicente put an arm around her.

"I didn't tell Ocheeva about this, but Phillida's bodyguard was Sho-riah."

Vicente had been absently stroking her arm. His hand stilled when she said that. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Phillida called to her before I killed him. And I went to her house, I talked to her before killing her. It was definitely the right woman."

"So she's dead?"

Aria nodded as her eyes drifted closed. "Yeah. Poisoned her."

"Have you told Mraaj-Dar?"

"Hmm? Oh...no, not yet. I wanted to make sure we're alone when I tell him."

"That's probably a good idea. I'm not sure how he'll react..." Aria didn't hear the rest of his words as she succumbed to sleep.

"...he could be angry or sorrowful. I don't know." Vicente looked beside him. Aria had her eyes closed and her breathing had evened out. "Wow, she must have been really tired," he muttered.

Rather than disturb her by carrying her to bed, Vicente laid her down in his bed. He took off her boots and covered her with the blankets, then put out the lamps before crawling into bed beside her. In the darkness, he kissed her forehead and whispered, "I love you."