A/N: Not that reviews are the most important thing out there, but… *pokes* I do like them. And, ah, no, I don't like putting another person's OC's in my stories. Too messy. Sorry 'bout the lateness of the update; back to school means my retail job gets crazy and I'm busy X.x Anyways. Um. I don't own Oblivion, but any miscellaneous OC's are mine. Like Skye. And the others you're about to me. Oh, and I do like reviews! .; Read. Review. Enjoy.
Fate
Friends
The assassin came for me, the club raised high, fanatical bloodlust emanating from him. But the mask he wore came off, and he became the Emperor. Except that his face was horribly, horribly mutilated from the crushing blows of the club that was still descending towards me. It hit me in the chest, and became an insistent prodding.
I groaned as the images shifted, fading away, and I jerked upright, awake. Or, rather, as upright as one can sit up with a full-sized Khajiit sitting on one's chest. I glared into the face of the female feline poking my chest with a dagger.
"Is it alive, Issa?" she asked in a purr. A Breton female at the wooden table, mixing something into her mortar, shrugged.
"I don't know. Is it?" she asked nonchalantly.
"Get your fat arse off of me, Khajiit," I growled. The feline turned golden eyes towards me.
"Fat? I should kill you for insult, Imperial," she snarled, baring fangs.
"Your weight is crushing my ribs; you're already killing me, cat." I grabbed the hand that was poking me, twisting the dagger away. Instantly, another dagger was at my neck. I narrowed my eyes. "I'll break your wrist."
"I'll cut your throat. Wouldn't be first I've done."
"Trust me, R'azi, I know. I helped you clean up the first one," I rolled my eyes.
"Ah! I could have done well enough myself. You were too joyous over blood, I think."
"I was not!"
"Children! Enough," a male in the corner said. I glanced over, recognized the Bosmer, then turned back to the Khajiit, who now wore a very large grin.
"We are children now, Skye?" she asked.
"I suppose so, according high and mighty elf."
"I am not high and mighty," came the grumbled reply.
"To call us children, you must be," I teased. He shook his head. "R'azi, you're still crushing my ribs," I reminded the Khajiit, who still had her dagger to my throat.
"Mm, skull's been damaged, so crushed ribs matter still?" she asked. The reminder seemed to register throughout my body, and the blow to the head I'd taken roared to life, an aching not helped by the wine I'd consumed before sleeping. My arm burned too, and I vaguely remembered getting cut there as well.
"Yes. I don't need more injuries."
"Will you tell how you got them?" R'azi asked. I hesitated, then nodded slightly, minding the dagger. She seemed pleased, and removed both hands; I let go, expecting her to get off. She didn't, instead she purred and hugged me, nuzzling my chest. I laughed and hugged her back, then pushed at her. Thief and assassin though the Khajiit was, she was a very affectionate person, especially towards me. She pulled back and repositioned herself so that she was sitting next to me on the heather bed. I sat up slowly.
"The guards weren't very nice, R'azi. They just got a little rough," I told her, lying. I didn't feel like telling the truth; what had happened was dangerous and felt like it needed to be kept secret. Keirinir raised an eyebrow and looked at me from his corner.
"And they just let you walk out afterwards?" he asked doubtfully. I flashed him a smirk, running my hand through my hair.
"They are men, after all, Keirinir," I said in my best sultry tone, adding a laugh. He turned to look at me fully and smiled slightly.
"Bullshit. They're more trained than that, and they wouldn't have released you for a tumble." Well, shit. Keirinir was right, but I kept silent.
"Here, Skye. This should heal your head, and ease your hangover," Issa said, walking from the table to me, a vial in her hand. I smiled sweetly at the Breton. She was a good person, a good friend. I reached for the vial.
"Thanks, Issa."
"Don't thank me yet. You can't have it until you answer my questions," she said, unusually serious. I scowled. A bad friend, she was. A mean, horrible friend.
"Issa, darling, I swear, I'll answer afterwards. My head hurts terribly, and so does my arm. Please?" I pleaded.
"Liar. I know you better than that, Skye Delarius. With your head clear, you'll spin better stories, so I want the truth," she demanded, placing one hand on her hip. I mentally cursed and begged all the Daedra Princes to somehow make her give me the damn vial. None offered any help in the stretching silence, so I added my curses to them as well.
"Ask away, Issa. But you wouldn't believe the truth if I told it to you," I warned. She shook her head, mahogany waves flying around her face. It was odd, seeing her hair down; she usually had it up, especially when making potions; she complained that it got in her way often.
"One, you always start your fabulous tales with that phrase. So nice try. And second, after reading the Black Horse Courier, I'm willing to believe quite a bit," she told me. The blood drained from my face.
"What did the Courier have to say?" I asked, dreading the answer. She pursed her lips before replying.
"That the Emperor was assassinated, as were his three sons. That no one knows who did it, and that the publication of rumors and information is forbidden at present. That the Elder Council is ruling at the moment, and no direct heirs exist. Now my questions. First: Why were you drinking, Skye? You never drink, not really." I was still digesting all that had happened since I had passed out. I glanced at the floor, and winced; several bottles of cheap wine littered the floor, all mine. I had grabbed them upon my return to the City and downed them one after the other. Why I hadn't died of poisoning, I'd never know. I looked away.
"I'd just escaped prison, Issa. I needed the drink," I told her. She glared.
"You were covered in filth, smelling like rats and goblins and blood, injured, and Kira said you were visibly upset when you came asking for her key and some bottles. She only gave them to you because she couldn't leave the hotel to help you herself. You have her terribly worried, Skye!" I winced. Kira worked at the King and Queen Tavern as a maid, and after leaving the sewers, I'd gone to her, asking if I could sleep at her place. And if she could give me some wine; I'd pay her later. She'd been wide-eyed and asking what was wrong, and I'd ignored her.
"Where are Azira and Lara staying?" I asked; they were Kira's daughters, and I suddenly realized that they were nowhere in the hovel.
"Staying with Ravanu at the University. Well, outside it, but he agreed to watch them for me," Issa answered, then returned to her questioning. "Why were you drinking, and why do you smell like a bloody sewer?!" I winced.
"Hey, my head hurts, you needn't yell. It's… a long story, ok? I escaped, I needed to drown it all out. You… what happened in there…" I felt memories returning, haunting me, and they must have shown in my eyes because Issa crouched down in front of me, and R'azi rubbed my good arm comfortingly.
"Skye, the Emperor was murdered the day you escape prison, the guards don't know how you got out, you show up injured, drunk, and with that thing tied to your hand. Don't answer me with half-truths and vague replies. What happened to you?" she insisted softly. I realized then that I'd tied the chain of the Amulet to my hand to keep it from being lost or stolen, and that Issa had plainly seen it. Tears came to my eyes as I answered.
"They came to my cell, Issa. There was an escape route through it, apparently, and the Blades were trying to get him out. I… I followed. The Emperor, he said he'd seen me in his dreams or some other such prophecy-spouting nonsense. Assassins attacked, I helped fight them off… eventually, we reached a dead-end, and I was left alone with him. He… he said something bad was coming, and that he had another heir, a secret one, one he needs this amulet delivered to. And then…" I shuddered, "an assassin came from another passage and attacked. I tried to stop him, but…" I touched my head wound briefly. "And the Emperor, his face is… it's gone, destroyed, and the last Blade killed him, then told me to take the Amulet to someone in Chorrol," I answered, hanging my head. Silence followed, lasting for several long moments as I kept my eyes closed, trying to keep that last image of the old man out of my memory.
"If it weren't that you're usually more eloquent when telling a tale, I'd think you were lying. That, and the wine, and the horrible news…" Issa seemed at a loss for words. Keirinir stepped forward.
"You said there was an entrance to the prison?" he asked. I frowned, then nodded.
"Aye, a secret route. Why?" I asked.
"Could you show me it again, Skye?" he asked, eyes alight. I scowled.
"Why?"
"I have a contract, I, er, could use help getting in, if you know the way…" he trailed off. He hated admitting needing help.
"To kill whom?" I asked.
"Valen Dreth. Dunmer in the prison. I've been contracted to kill him, preferably without harming the guards. I was going to ask you to seduce the guards for me, but this would work much better…" he smirked. I gaped, memory returning of my short stay in prison, and then a smile formed on my lips.
"A Dunmer, you say?. I do believe that I know who you're talking about. Quite obnoxious and loud-mouthed. Can I kill him?" I asked sweetly. I heard R'azi gasp in surprise, then hiss in laughter, and Keirinir studied me, grinning.
"He annoy you?" he asked. I nodded. "We'll see, depends on how this happens. You're willing to help, though?"
"But of course. Just so long as whats-his-name, Mr. Lachance doesn't come and make the offer again; I've already stated that I've no wish to join any faction."
"He's annoyed that you help us but won't join, but since we get the jobs done, and the Night Mother and Sithis don't seem angered, he allows it," R'azi said. I shrugged.
"I've no desire to be part of any groups or factions. I like being free," I told them my customary answer. Keirinir snorted.
"You're afraid to leave the City, that's why you won't join," he retorted. I blushed deeply; he was right, of course. After my incident with the bandits, and the skooma-and-wine haze afterwards, I had a fear of leaving the safety of the walls.
"Which brings to mind a question, Skye: How do you propose to get to Chorrol to deliver the Amulet?" Issa asked, handing me the vial, finally. Wonderful woman. I drank it, feeling the soothing affects of the liquid cool the burning in my head and the groggy haze left, leaving me clear-headed. My arm still hurt, but she had moved to inspecting it, which made me wince.
"Easily enough; one of you will escort me," I stated. They all looked uneasily at each other, and I frowned. "Won't you? Or are you telling me that my wonderful, compassionate, oh-so-ready to help friends won't take half a day to escort me somewhere?" I pouted.
"Skye, I murder people from afar for a living. I am hardly compassionate or helpful. Although I am quite wonderful, and you forgot extraordinary," Keirinir said. I rolled my eyes at his arrogance. "And after my contract, I have to go to Cheydinhal. Opposite direction, love. Sorry, unless you'd come with me," he offered. Which meant he'd take me on a quite detour to that Inn where my initiation would take place, so he could push me into the Brotherhood. It was sort of sweet of him, how he'd been trying, but I wasn't interested.
"And I have contract to steal from a big mage," R'azi replied. I pouted more and turned my eyes to Issa, who had pulled out a needle and thread. She looked to me, a grin on her lips.
"Sorry, Skye. Once I'm done here, Ravanu and I have to head to Leyawin. I have a recommendation I still need from there. You're welcome to come, if you'd like, but otherwise… And don't even think to ask Kira, she can't leave if she's to feed Azira and Lara," she warned. I cursed. How was I to get to Chorrol? I couldn't leave without an escort, or I'd be paralyzed with fear. Keirinir sighed.
"I'll help you find an escort, if you help me with Dreth, Skye. How's that?" he offered. I nodded, smiling.
"Yes, thank you, Kei! I cannot wait to watch that arrogant Mer die… Oh, wait, I could apply that to you, couldn't I?" I teased. He reached for his dagger mockingly, throwing me a warning look. I stuck my tongue out at him. Issa took the opportunity to begin sewing up my arm, and I let out a yelp at the pain. R'azi nuzzled me sympathetically, and Keirinir watched me with a look of wry amusement. We sat in silence as Issa went about her work, then finished with a minor Restoration spell to speed my arm along a little.
"You couldn't have done that in the first place? Aren't Bretons supposed to be good at healing magic?" I asked her. She scowled.
"I could summon a fireball, show you how good I heal with that," she said with a sniff. I grinned. She didn't like healing magic, preferring to use potions when she needed to be healed. "You should be fine now. Just try to get her back to us in one pierce, Keirinir," she said. He grinned.
"Aye, I'll bring her back cut to ribbons," he teased. She swatted at him playfully before rising to clean her supplies. "Oh, and Skye, Kira brought your clothes by earlier. She figured you'd want them rather than the armor and sack cloth," she pointed towards a bundle at the end of the bed. It was only then that I realized my nudity. I blushed faintly, and all three of them laughed. R'azi tossed me my clothes, then leapt from the bed.
"I have things need stealing. So many shinies, so little time," she waved to us as she left the shack. Issa had gathered up her supplies and gave me a look and a grin that brought out her true nature when she wasn't playing healer: a child-like goodness, with a mischievous glint to her eyes.
"Try not to take to long with Kei, Skye. You have things to do. I'll try and catch up with you later," she cast a look at Keirinir before leaving. He waited for her to be gone before leaning down to where I lay.
"I'd take advantage, but I need this contract done," he said as he cast a lingering glance over me. "Wear something dark, love. I'll meet you outside," he said before dropping a kiss on my lips. He left, leaving it chaste as I reached for my clothes.
I pulled on a black pair of pants, lightweight but durable, and a similar blouse. I normally wore skirts and corsets and whatnot, but one the rare occasion R'azi and Keirinir needed my assistance, I had a set of clothes like this for thieving or killing. I found a ribbon among the bundle and used it to bind up my curls; sometime in my adventure last night, I'd lost the pins holding my hair up.
As I stood, I thought about what I was about to go do. 'Your own kinsmen think you're a piece of human trash,' that Dunmer had taunted. 'You're going to die in here, Imperial. You're going to die!' A smile crept over my face. How wrong he was.
It was him that was going to die.