A/N: Note this chapter has undergone minor revisions since the release of the final chapter of this story. Revised chapters may be inconsistent with reviews and with author's notes from unrevised chapters.

Second seed 28, 4E1

I wanted to get to sleep, not because I was tired, but because I didn't want to face remainder of the night as boredom, and then have the rest of my day sulleyed by exhaustion, especially given that I needed to get up early to begin my journey to Cheydinhal. Still, my thoughts were racing, and my eyes felt like they were spring-loaded. I could feel the wonder inside me both about "Scar-tail's" status and beginning my career in the Dark Brotherhood, I wonder so deep it seemed to have become not only mental, but physical as well. I tried to close my eyes again, hoping for what had to be at least the 20th time I'd open them to day light.

This time, however, my wish was granted. I didn't realize it immediately, however, as reality was still distorted from a dream (something to do with a ship), but it quickly seeped out of my memory.

As my eyes came into focus noticed someone was standing over me. I closed my eyes again, getting reoriented with reality, then opening them once more. The black blur became Lucien Lachance as I blinked a few more times.

"Greetings, Fights-up-close. I'm sorry to give you such an untimely awakening, but you know a day like this carries many exceptions. It is today you meet your new family." My eyes, which had previously been so stubborn to close, now seemed to be just the opposite. I felt at peace in the darkness and under the covers, and didn't at all feel ready to wake up. I had no idea how much sleep I'd gotten, but it was certainly less than I should have. "Make haste with all your necessary preparations. Do this, and find me at the entrance."

As I lifted myself from my bed, I noticed I had a headache, and the exhaustion from the poor sleep I'd gotten was weighing on my mind. I envied the others, who were still in the embrace of darkness, as inelegant as they looked.

I knew why I had to get up early; My journey to Cheydinhal would take at least two days, one of which what just be spent travelling the winding path to Stormhold, which took about twelve hours on a good horse. It wasn't smart to travel deep into the roads during the night time in Argonia, so I had to get an early start.

Getting up this early after having such a crummy job sleeping was bad enough, but for a Shadowscale, whose shining moment was the night, being up this early was outright painful.

But there was something worse that had slipped my memory. I could feel its essence, but it took me a few seconds to recall exactly what it was when my mind was producing so little thought.

Then I remembered: it was Goes-in-heavy. Mr. Lachance had given me no update on his whereabouts, meaning there most likely was none. It seemed so unlikely we'd ever have an operative MIA, let alone that the mystery of where he was would be unsolved for so many days. It was frustrating. None the less, I had to go on.

I picked out clothing similar to that which I'd worn on my journey to Cyrodiil. In my tired state, though, it didn't even feel like I was looking at what was infront of me, it felt like I was staring right through it. How much sleep had I missed? At least three hours had been shaven off from my normal time, I'd guessed. At least.

I went to a place of privacy and changed my clothing.

I knew there were probably quite a few more steps in preparation for such a significant trip. Despite my sleepy state I did realize I would need to pack extra carefully, given that I might never come back here. Everything I had here seemed to take on a new significance when I realized I didn't know how long it be would until I could see it again. This made deciding what to pack significantly harder, as some of the less practical items might have sentimental value I'd not yet realized. It was hard to imagine giving up the custom-made Shadowscale uniform I had for six years with only a few minutes to consider the sentimental implications that might carry. I decided to pack it even though the chances of ever using it again were so slim. I packed additional clothing, and, unlike last time, I reminded myself to pack two canteens and additional food, having learned from experience.

I paused briefly before the next step, having lost memory of exactly what it was. I blankly stared at the back-pack for a few seconds as my jaw slowly fell and my mind lost focus once again. I can only hope I'll have an opportunity to nap today. Really the only thing I was looking forward to was going back to sleep.

Then I remembered; I'm suppose to go to the dining room, get some breakfast, and pick up an extra canteen to fill.

As I headed to the dining area, which was right across the hall, I realized I wasn't very hungry. Instead, it seemed it might be a good idea to take something with me on the journey I could eat a bit at a time.

The dining area was both the primary source of sit-down and on-the-go meals. Both bags for food and canteens for water were left on a table near the barrels of fruits and vegetables.

I took an extra canteen and food bag, then went to the barrels to grab some berries.

I took several hand-fulls of black berries and poured them into the bag. Simply looking at them had made me slightly hungry, so I decided to pop a few in my mouth before I continued to the entrance, providing a pleasing burst sweetness. I'd already said goodbye to everyone last night, and didn't want to wake anyone up to do it again, so I simply went straight down the hall.

The morning air was filled with the chirping of bugs and humidity, just like yesterday and the day before. The sensation of sun on my skin did feel odd when I was still so groggy. Mr. Lachance was staring into the thick forest and holding a scroll as I exited the headquarters, officially beginning my journey. His black robes were an odd sight in the bright daylight. He turned to me as I stepped closer.

"Come with me, child of Sithis." He said, beckoning me, already prepared to start. I wasn't sure exactly what the plan was to get to the Dark Brotherhood's sanctuary in Cyrodiil, but obviously Mr. Lachance knew and I would find a peaceful walk more pleasing than most things I'd likely do in a day; I'll welcome anything which won't put a strain on my brain.

As I walked, I kept pouring over bits of conversation I'd heard about Goes-in-heavy over the last couple of days and deciding how I felt about them, trying to find a plausible explaination of why he'd gone missing. Of course, it was a place-holder until I found out the truth, but a place-holder I felt insecure without.

You already know he's not in a Leyawiin prison, you checked there. That means where ever he's gone he can eventually make his way back.

For all I know, he could be dead.

He must be alive. We've both lived through six years of tasks most people wouldn't dare touch. What could possibly kill him on an assignment to spy the Countess of Leyawiin?

If he's gone this long, there's no way he's still alive.

What if he got lost in the swamps?

Lost with a compass in hand? C'mon.

Maybe he lost that.

Still, wandering around in the Marsh for all these days? You can only get so lost in

"I must stop here." Mr. Lachance said, cutting off my thoughts. We had stopped at a very clear and straight path, "I have provided you with a horse which you will ride North, to Cheydinhal, and no further. You will need this..." he said, handing me a scroll he was holding "...to guide you there. A map of Cyrodiil. Look for a steed, black as my robes; this is the horse you shall be using." I stared down at the scroll briefly, but in my tired state I still couldn't feel the significance of this I knew I should have.

Whatever was the case, I hoped today wouldn't require much of me. The simple concepts involved in getting ready for my journey to Cheydinhal were doable because they were mostly hard-coded into my mind, but I didn't feel prepared to figure anything out today. What little of my mind was functioning was having trouble taking its focus off Goes-in-heavy and my headache.

"Now heed my words, for I will not repeat them." Lachance said, causing me to snap to attention. His face had taken an unusually concerned expression; I couldn't help but panic a bit at his seriousness "As a Speaker for the Black Hand, I directly oversee a particular group of family members. You will join that group, and fulfill any contracts given. Once you are in the city of Cheydinhal, you must go 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."

I tried to run the words he spoke through my head once again. Go to Cheydinhal, to the Eastern wall, and look for an abandon house. Enter its basement and attempt to open a black door. I will then be asked a question, and answer "Sanguine, my brother." I didn't entirely know what to make of the instructions, as they sounded very odd, but none the less, I was sure that is what he said.

"Got it." I replied, though sounded a bit half-hearted. Mr. Lachance immediately began walking back the way we came, regardless. I knew his reasons for not coming all the way to the city with me: two Imperial Legion sentries were stationed at the city entrance and, knowing the Dark Brotherhood was illegal throughout the Empire, those were the people Mr. Lachance probably wanted to avoid. Most of the Empire didn't even believe Shadowscales existed, on the other hand, so I was safe.

I continued down the path. Gideon was about a fourty-five minute walk from our sanctuary to make sure no city-dwellers would come upon it. I still had quite a bit more walking to do.