Chapter 33! Sorry for the delay, but here it is! :)
"I just don't understand how—"
"I don't either, Delvin. No one saw me. I know for a fact no one saw me," Brynjolf growls, taking a long draught of ale.
"But someone had to," Vex chimes in, leaning back in her chair.
"Something isn't right." Delvin shakes his head, pulling the ledgers toward him. "Our numbers are awful, but we've had a steady stream of business. We should be swimming in gold. And then our best thief gets caught after the job is done? It's like the curse was never lifted."
Brynjolf crosses his arms, shaking his head. "I know. But Iris returned the Key. This shouldn't still be happening."
"But it is," Vex points out. "So, it's one of two things. One, we're just shitty thieves, and our Guild is going down. Or two, Iris never returned the Key or pissed off Nocturnal somehow and now our luck is still shit." She shrugs one shoulder. "I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Iris pissed off Nocturnal. She's been acting weird lately."
At the mention of Iris, Brynjolf looks up, studying both of them. "What do you mean?"
"She was here two days ago," Delvin mentions, feeling the weight of the Elder Council amulet in his pocket.
"She was? How was she? Did she say how her journey was?"
Delvin shakes his head. "No. She just needed an appraisal done. She was in and out. Didn't say when she was coming back or where she was off to. She was here when Vex received news, though. She offered to go and break you out."
Brynjolf says nothing, chewing the inside of his cheek.
"But I told her no, because, with our luck being the way it is, I was worried something would go wrong," Delvin continues.
Groaning, Brynjolf rubs his eyes. "She's been so damn secretive lately. I mean, I haven't seen her in two weeks, but before she left, she was acting strangely."
Delvin manages to hold his tongue but wishes he never made that promise to Iris.
"She's always been kind of aloof, though," Vex says.
"You just don't like her, Vex," Brynjolf mumbles.
"You're right. I don't." She shrugs. "She never tells us where she's going, when she's coming back—hell, she hadn't been here for two weeks, and she's supposed to be our Guildmaster. And even then, she was only here for ten minutes."
"Okay, I get it, Vex." Bryn takes another long drink.
"I'm just saying. She used to be great. Her entire life seemed to revolve around the Guild; she really picked it back up. But lately, it's like something else has caught her attention." Vex sweeps her blonde hair over her shoulder.
Brynjolf remains quiet, a pensive look on his face.
Delvin exhales loudly. "Well, we can ask her all about it when we see her next."
Vex gets to her feet. "I better head into town. Have that burglary job to do."
"See you later."
Delvin leans in. "Bryn, don't let it worry you. You already spend too much time worrying about her."
Brynjolf lets out a sigh. "I know. I can't help it. She's wormed her way into my head, and I can't get her out."
Delvin chuckles. "Yeah, women will do that to you."
The red-haired thief manages a smile.
"Why don't you get some rest?" Delvin suggests.
"Aye, I feel like I could sleep for a week." Brynjolf finishes his ale and gets to his feet.
"Oh, and Bryn?" Delvin waits as he turns around. "I know Iris means well by keeping her secrets. She hates having you worry about her. She probably keeps her secrets to keep you from stressing."
"What are you saying?"
"I just mean that she has good intentions. She's a good person."
Brynjolf nods. "Aye. She is."
"Gods rest your soul," Iris whispers, tears in her eyes as she shoves the fake plans into Gaius Maro's pocket. "And may the Gods forgive me." She pulls the mask over her face, blinking tears away as she slips out of the inn. It isn't even a minute later when she hears shouts coming from inside, Penatus Oculatus soldiers running in all directions. She sneaks to her horse and rides away, getting away with yet another murder. She continues riding until she finds a clearing just off the road. She pulls her horse to a stop, sliding off the creature and falling to her knees.
"I don't think I can do this anymore," she whispers to herself.
"Listener…"
Iris's head jerks up, her violet eyes darting in all directions to find where the hissing voice came from. Seeing no one, she gets to her feet, her hand on the hilt of her blade.
"Who's there?"
She would've thought it was the Night Mother, but the Night Mother's voice doesn't sound so…masculine.
Another hushed whisper tingles her ears, something rustling in her pocket. Frowning, she looks down, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a wrinkled piece of parchment.
"Oh…" It's the summoning spell for the Dark Brotherhood assassin. Is he…calling to her?
Iris clears her throat, blinking the tears away. "Lucien Lachance, come forth from the Void," her shaky voice reads.
A gasp leaves her mouth as a swirling light appears in front of her, leaving behind a ghostly figure who walks right up to her.
"At last. I thought you'd never call," he figure's deep voice rumbles.
"Wh–who are you?" Iris asks, stepping backward in apprehension.
"You only spoke my name a moment ago." He shakes his head. "I am Lucien Lachance."
"Right…sorry. It's been a long day." Iris shakes her head. "I'm Iris Liriiette."
"Ah, yes, the timid Listener. Murder is not in your nature, is it?"
Iris flinches at his words. "I…I don't enjoy it."
"Yet you do it anyway? There must be a part of you that likes it. Of course, you do not have a choice, being the Listener." Lucien crosses his arms.
"So, how does this work, anyway?"
"I simply come when summoned and leave when you wish. It is not difficult, dear Listener." His voice laces with sarcasm.
"I was just asking," Iris mutters, climbing back onto her horse. "I have to get back to the Sanctuary and let Astrid know I finished the contract."
"Ah, yes. Stalking your prey, planting false evidence, destroying an innocent man's reputation…truly a contract worthy of the Listener."
She squeezes her eyes shut at his words. "Please, don't say that. I didn't want to do that."
Lucien chuckles. "You are a complicated one, Listener. I am sure we will enjoy working together."
"Right. Well, unless you want to run alongside me, I'll summon you again once I get to the Sanctuary."
"As you wish."
Before Iris can react, Lucien disappears with a swirl of light.
The last thing Iris expects to see when she returns to the Sanctuary is a wounded Veezara surrounded by her Family.
"Just try to relax, Veezara. Let the elixir do its work. You'll feel better shortly," Babette is saying as Iris descends the steps into the main cavern, Lucien in tow.
"Damn it, this never should have happened!" Astrid shouts. "We knew better, and still we let our guards down." She groans.
Iris's eyes only see her friend as she and the ghost approach the group. Blood coats the Argonian's side, his hand wrapped around the wound.
"Bested by a fool," Veezara says in a dry voice. "Who's the fool now, hmm?"
"Hush, Veezara. You were very brave. Astrid may well be dead if not for you," the vampire gushes.
"She's right. I'll be forever in your debt, dearest brother. Now, be quiet. Just…just rest."
Iris approaches the blonde, her brow knit with worry. "Astrid—"
"Maro is dead, I know," Astrid waves her off. "But we've got bigger problems right now!"
"What happened?" Iris frowns, looking to the Argonian.
"Cicero happened. The fool went absolutely berserk! He wounded Veezara, tried to kill me, and then he fled. I knew that lunatic couldn't be trusted."
"What? That doesn't make any sense. Cicero would never—"
"It's true, I'm afraid," Festus interrupts the Breton. "Cicero was a little whirlwind, slashing this way and that. It would have been funny, if he weren't trying to murder us all."
"Don't forget the ranting and raving," Nazir chimes in. "About the Night Mother, how she was the true leader of the Dark Brotherhood, and Astrid was just a 'pretender'."
At Nazir's words, Iris hears Lucien let out a thoughtful hum. She gives him a look, which he returns with a shrug.
"Look, we've got to deal with this situation," Astrid turns back to Iris. "You've got to deal with this situation."
"What? Me?" Iris's eyebrows raise. "Why?"
"I want you to find that miserable little fool and end his life."
"What? But—"
"But first find my husband," Astrid goes on. "After the attack, Arnbjorn flew into a rage. when Cicero left…Arnbjorn went after him. They disappeared into the wild. Search Cicero's room. Maybe there's something in there that sheds some light on where he might have gone. Let me know the minute you find something. I've got to see to Veezara and calm everyone down."
"I—Okay." Sighing in defeat, Iris turns her back and heads for Cicero's quarters. Once out of earshot, she turns to Lucien. "I can't believe he'd do that. Not without good reason."
"He is insane, though, is he not? Reason does not exist for those without sanity," Lucien purrs, following her into Cicero's room.
"I know…It just doesn't seem like him." Iris shakes her head, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. "Okay, let's see…"
While Iris searches the room, Lucien leans against the wall, observing her.
"You appear conflicted, Listener."
"I'm looking for a clue to where Cicero's gone," Iris retorts.
"That is not what I meant." He crosses his arms, leaning against the wall and reminding her of a certain red-haired someone. "If you despise killing so much, why join the Dark Brotherhood?" Lucien asks.
"I…I don't know. It just kind of…happened." Iris crouches down and tries to open Cicero's trunk.
"Nothing simply happens, Listener."
"Locked," she mutters, digging in her pocket for the Skeleton Key.
"You made a conscious choice in joining. That doesn't happen on its own," the ghost continues as she unlocks the trunk with ease.
"I don't know why I joined, okay?" Iris bursts out, turning to face him. "I want to stop, but something is keeping me here. I don't know what it is. I don't like killing. I don't like being the Listener. I want to leave and never look back but…"
"But?"
Iris shrugs, her eyes downcast. "I don't know. I can't get myself to."
Lucien chuckles, a deep rumble. "The Night Mother truly has a hold on you, Listener."
She shakes her head adamantly, refusing his words. "No." She turns back to the trunk.
"Deny it all you wish. You know the truth. You can't escape the Night Mother. She's in your head," Lucien continues as Iris digs through the trunk.
Iris shakes her head again, fighting back tears.
"You can't run from Her, especially not now. You're the Listener. You can't choose to stop. You—"
"I know, Lucien! I know!" The room rumbles with Iris's Voice. "I said I want to leave. Not that I'm going to. Just…please, stop." A tear drips down her face, and she hurriedly swipes it away. She turns to the trunk, not wanting to meet the ghost's gaze. There. At the bottom of the trunk lies a stack of journals. Cicero's journals. Iris pulls them out, sitting down on the bed, and opens volume one. As Iris reads, her heart breaks. More and more with each volume, with each tragic story. By the end, tears stream unabashedly down Iris's face. She gently closes the last volume, rubbing her eyes.
"He wasn't always insane," she whispers to the ghostly assassin.
The temperature drops as he approaches her, holding out a transparent hand. "May I?"
She hands him the journals and watches with tear-filled eyes as he flips through them.
Her eyes burning, she takes a deep breath, feeling as though she's been sitting there for a century as Lucien reads Cicero's story.
Finally, he closes the last volume, placing it on the bed next to her. He meets her eyes.
"This explains a lot."
Iris nods. "Yeah. It does." Her voice is a whisper. Sighing, she gets to her feet. "I should go tell Astrid."
"Yes, the Dawnstar Sanctuary," Lucien agrees, following her.
Iris approaches Astrid and tells her about the abandoned Sanctuary.
"Why there?" Astrid's nose crinkles. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. You need to leave. Now. Every moment counts, so I want you to take my horse. His name is Shadowmere. You'll find him outside by the pool. Let's just say he's…one of us." Astrid grips Iris's arm. "Find Arnbjorn. Make sure my husband's all right. And then, send that jester's twisted little soul to the Void, in as many pieces as possible."
Iris hesitates, clearing her throat. "Isn't there another way to do this? You know, without violence?"
Iris seems to shrivel under Astrid's hard glare. "He tried to kill all of us, Iris. He betrayed us. Betrayal equals death."
Betrayal. Betrayal equals death. The young Breton swallows thickly, trying not to think about the Skeleton Key in her pocket. She nods silently before turning on her heel and heading outside.
Lucien catches up with her, striding to her side. "The Keeper is a sacred position within the Dark Brotherhood," he says. "Ask yourself, do you trust the wisdom of our Lady?"
"I know. I don't want to kill him, Lucien." She pulls the door open, stepping out into the clearing.
"I will kill the jester if you so desire," Lucien continues. "But there is a disturbance in the Void. Our Dread Father does not wish this."
"I don't either."
"Then, we are on the same page."
Iris's violet orbs widen as the pool begins to bubble before her. Steam rises from the water, turning a murky black as something ascends from the dark waters.
"Shadowmere…" Lucien whispers as a horse steps out from the water.
Iris tiptoes up to it, stretching a hand out.
Its eyes flutter open, forcing a gasp from Iris's throat. Its eyes…she's never seen anything so red. True, unaltered red. The purest red she's ever seen.
Lucien walks up to the horse, petting its mane. "My old and dear friend," he murmurs.
Shadowmere whinnies, apparently recognizing the ghost.
"You…knew him?" Iris asks Lucien.
"I did. In life, Shadowmere was my steed."
Shadowmere nuzzles Iris's hand as she strokes his head. A rare laugh leaves her lips at the affection.
"It's nice to meet you, too," she giggles. As soon as her smile had come, it drops from her face as she mounts the horse. "Okay. Onto Dawnstar." She eyes the ghost. "I'll summon you again once I get there."
"Of course."
He disappears, and Iris sets off for Dawnstar.
Yay, Lucien has joined the story! I always felt safer in Skyrim with him following me around...though, I don't think Iris feels the same way...
Thanks for reading! :)
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