Author's Note: Hello again, and my sincere thanks for reviews! :D I have a question for my trusted readers - how would you all feel about sexual scenes? Nothing X-rated, of course, and I'd move the rating up to M. I did have similar in my previous version, so I'm wondering if similar should be done here. And of course I'd love to hear any other thoughts you've got. Thanks very much, and I hope you enjoy!

PS: No sex in the next chapter, if you're wondering, whether I get the okay for it or not. Not quite yet. ;)

"The shelves need dusting, Dusty!" A croak of pleased laughter, a tickle along my neck. "Get to work, apprentice, or I'll keep you after class." I giggle and shrug my shoulders to try and escape the tickle.

"I'm not saying after class again, they'll get suspi - "

… Suspicious. How very suspicious this was. This peace, this frivolity. A hand on my shoulder, shaking, a quiet voice.

"Get up. Get up, now."

I jerked into motion immediately, sweeping my legs off the bed and grasping for a weapon, for something, anything. A pair of hands grabbed my wrists and stilled them, a hiss in my ear. "Calm yourself. I am with the Brotherhood, and you are needed, now."

"Why? What's happened?" I stood, wincing at the feel of the cold floor on my toes before meeting the face of the one who woke me. An Argonian, scales almost black in the darkness beneath a leather cowl. I couldn't see his expression, and his voice gave no hint of emotion.

"No time. Simply read this, and obey."

"What I…?" I rubbed the grit from my eyes, trying to peer at the parchment in the darkness, fumbling to bring a light spell in hand.

Dust,

Your skills are needed. Bring hartshorn salts to the sanctuary and tend to Gogron with utmost haste. Vicente will await you there.

Lucien

Hartshorn - smelling salts. "…Alright. I think I have some." I strode through the dark with only the eerie green glow of my spell to cast light, followed by the Argonian. I still felt like I was dreaming, walking through the recesses of my mind instead of in the waking world. I moved downstairs, squatting by an old chest I'd stocked with my healing supplies. Smelling salts…

I lifted out a little bottle and sniffed, nose wrinkling at the sudden sharpness of powerful perfume despite it being locked away. I was awake, entirely awake now, and with a cough I turned back to the Argonian. "The sanctuary?" He gave a brisk nod and turned wordlessly. I followed, stopping by the door to slip my bare feet into boots and to grab my cloak.

Not free of them. I shifted, cradling the bottle of salts between my hands as I walked on. The last few days had been peaceful, enough to lure me into complacency, the belief I might have a normal life. But I can't. I'm not free of them, they can come in my house and drag me out of bed whenever they want…

Into the sanctuary, to the living quarters where beds sat circled. I frowned as we entered, dark shapes before us around a bed. The Argonian strode before me.

"We arrive, Executioner, and I have brought the alchemist."

"Good. Thank you, Teinaava, you are dismissed." Vicente sat on a stool beside the bed, face gaunt. His red eyes focused on me and he gave a quiet nod of approval, beckoning me to approach as the Argonian left behind me.

An Orc. I frowned deeper, brow furrowed, before grimacing. Gogron - the loud, boisterous one who'd warned me about Lucien. He lay on the bed, eyes closed, breathing shallowly, covered in a light sheen of sweat. He had already been bandaged, but they had bled through, the tracings of blood from a deep gash surfacing through linen.

"I did what I could, but I was only able to stem the bleeding. The wound was too deep for me to close. If you are able, please, heal - "

Brisk footsteps. Vicente paused and glanced past me, eyes narrowed slightly. "Ah. Good evening, Lucien."

"Don't bother with healing, just awaken him," Lucien snapped as he strode forward, giving me only a glance before glaring at Vicente. "We need information. I want to know who is behind this."

"At the risk of shock killing him? Further healing would lessen the damage, and - "

"And we would be forced to wait for him to awaken naturally." Lucien hissed, tilting his head. "I do not have the time for that, Executioner."

I shifted uncomfortably, caught between them, and glanced at Gogron. He remained deathly still, skin turned a sickly, sallow shade. Poison on the weapon, perhaps. The tension hovering in the room was suffocating, and only grew heavier as Vicente calmly spoke.

"No, I believe it is not time you lack, Speaker. It is patience." He inclined his head, and turned his gaze to me. "Very well. Awaken him. You brought the salts?"

I nodded, apprehensive, before glaring at Lucien. "I thought you were family. You don't give a damn if he lives or dies."

He stiffened, voice dangerously quiet. "The needs of the many come before the needs of one. Wake him."

"There is water and cloth." Vicente nodded beside him and handed me a small bowl filled with cold water, a cloth hanging inside it. Wordlessly I took it from him, placing it carefully on the bedside and staring at the bottle. A lump welled in my throat, the strong scent making my eyes sting. If I wake him, I might kill him.

I took a deep inhale between my teeth, and uncorked the bottle. Just a handful of salt on the wet cloth and the fumes were released, staggeringly sharp and cold. I coughed and gazed at the Orc, silent and still.

I'm sorry.

I placed the cloth over his mouth and nostrils, the fumes stinging my eyes and throat. I held it there carefully, ready to pull it away at the first sign of life. And I waited.

Still as the grave. I heard a quiet curse behind me.

"Ghrraak." I jerked and pulled the salts away, catching my breath as the Orc suddenly hacked. His eyes opened abruptly, mouth gaping as he took a shuddering breath and coughed. I winced and put the salts aside, placing both hands on his chest and readying a slow healing spell.

"Easy. Shhh." I bit my lip, echoing words I'd heard another healer say long ago. "You're safe."

Lucien strode forward, moving past me to look sharply down at the Orc. "Who did this to you? What happened?"

The Orc squinted up at the Speaker, breathing harsh. I kept my hands on his chest, pressing down slightly to keep him from rising and aggravating his wounds. He coughed again and gave a grunt of pain before speaking, voice strained. "Was up the hill. Near Fort Farrugut." He hacked again, the sound painful, and a bit of dark liquid spat onto the sheets. "Dark. Didn't see… black robes. Shortsword." He grunted again, eyes half-lidded. "Didn't see 'em… coming… Speaker…" He breathed heavily, eyes focusing once again on Lucien. "Why…?"

My skin crawled, the room falling silent once more. Vicente turned his eyes on Lucien, expressionless, and I did the same. He only stiffened further, eyes narrowed, and mum's words echoed in my head. My Lucien, turning traitor? The blood drained from my face. "You did this?"

"No." His voice was harsh, eyes sharply focused on Gogron, who had collapsed into unconsciousness once again. He didn't defend himself further, didn't speak - simply fixed his gaze.

Vicente spoke, ever calm and poised. "Then we know it was another Speaker. But the evidence is against you, Lucien."

"Why would I come here, then, if I did this myself? Why would I want to awaken him?" He scowled. "I will inform our Listener of what has taken place here. Good night." He turned briskly and left in a flurry of dark robes and anger. The silence was deafening, suffocating - I tried to bring myself to speak, to say something, but my tongue went thick and stupid against my teeth, and no words came.

"Kk-ghrk-ghrk."

"What was that?" I glanced back at Gogron after croaking, alarmed. A bit of spittle dripped down his cheek, and he had suddenly gone very, very still. I gave a shuddering breath at Vicente's quiet reply.

"A death rattle."

"…Oh." I felt a sudden sting in my eyes and blinked tears away, hugging myself tight. "…I'm sorry."

Vicente frowned. "For what? You did as you were commanded." He raised a brow and stood, gesturing for me to do the same. "Talaendril will want to see him. Come with me."

I followed, lost in thought. Just like that. A life, gone, snuffed out like a candle. I wrapped my arms tight around myself again and squeezed as we walked down the halls. Talaendril passed without a word, eyes blank, steps brisk. Like she were simply embarking on another mission instead of going to see her dead brother. A strange thought surfaced as Vicente lead out through the ladder in the well, into the night once again. Is that what mum looked like, when she poisoned the wine? Calm and quiet, emotionless? The thought shattered as a cold drop of rain hit me and dripped down my face.

"Hm." Vicente gazed up at the sky, pale skin grey in the shadows. "…Fitting."

"Yeah," I croaked before sticking my hands in the pockets of my robe, shivering. "… Vicente, do you believe. Do you really think Lucien would…?"

He turned his gaze back on me. "I do not know. It is possible." He shook his head. "…I would be a fool not to believe it possible. Yet I feel his dedication to Sithis is as deep as my own."

I frowned and nodded, looking up at the sky once more and blinking away the rain. "…We were talking about that. Sithis. Why people - trust it." And we never finished the discussion. I wanted to then, desperately, even if I couldn't place why. Lucien's face flickered in my mind, and I gnawed my lip.

"And did you find your answer?" I shook my head, as he did in turn. "I am not surprised. It is a road you must venture for yourself, if you will."

I nodded, brow furrowing. "Gogron said - Fort Farrugut. The fort up on the hill. What's there?"

A dry laugh. "Lucien's lair. When he first became Speaker, I aided him in clearing it out. Something of a gift of congratulations." Vicente's eyes tilted, looking thoughtful. "Are you certain you wish to see him, now? I doubt he will welcome visitors, his motives are still at question, and his lair is riddled with traps…"

I stiffened, feeling my face flush. "How did you know I wanted to…? Can vampires read minds? Could you please warn me first?"

Vicente chuckled, rubbing his chin with something only barely too polite to be a smirk. "No, we cannot read minds. I've simply picked up a few tricks over the years and you, Dust, are an open book." His smile faded, and he inclined his head. "Why do you trust him?"

"Trust him?" I echoed, then snorted. "I'd sooner trust a rabid hound."

"And yet you would approach him after this, to speak with him…?"

I gaped for a moment, then frowned and crossed my arms, ever stubborn. "Well, I trust my mother. And she trusts you, and you trust him, don't you?"

"Trust." Vicente's eyes glowed softly, a pale red in the dark, and I shivered. "I trust no one but the Sithis and his bride, Dust. I have faith in Lucien, but it is not unfaltering. Your idea of trust is quite refreshing." He shook his head once more with a soft sigh. "I must return to the Sanctuary. We will need to tend to the corpse. I leave you to make what decision you will." He gave a small bow and moved past me, descending the well again.

I bit my lip, tasting the rainwater and gazing skyward again. Dull and grey. Dammit all. I scowled and trudged through the mud, digging my hands deep into my robes. I couldn't read books, couldn't go out and research like I once had. I could only ask, and trust the answers I received.

Under the cloak of the rain, I made my way to Fort Farrugut.