Dark'eth Hare was dead. His corpse had been found, head lolling over a full plate of food. His apprentice, Nivryna was grief struck. Whole days had passed and yet she couldn't see beyond her own tears. A guard told her her beloved master was poisoned, but that no struggle seemed to have taken place. Nivryna didn't believe that- she had evidence against Traven. She just knew that he was behind this...somehow.
The elections for the Arch-Mage position were fearsome; the two candidates: Traven and Hare were at each others' throats every day. And now Hare had undoubtedly lost because of the threat he posed to the University as a whole. Nivryna didn't see it as a threat; she saw it as a new age of magic. For new genius to flourish... and where old techniques and lessons were obsolete.
And she would make it happen, even it killed her.
"I have to say, Sonnerset- I heard about your last contract with the necromancer..." started Vincente, with an eloquent tone of voice as he beckoned her inside. She pushed past him rudely, and took a seat- the expression painted on her face was boredom, mixed with a little apprehension. "I'm impressed. I never thought stealth was in your repertoire" he continued, his voice snide. She just stared at him. "Well- I am here to teach you on the finer points of the Dark Brotherhood. Our rules, traditions and lessons must be carried on, don't you think?" Vincente continued, pacing around in front of the double doors.
"I t'ink it migh' be in'eresting. Con'inue, Vampire" she said, after a long pause. Her voice had taken on a nasty sneer. Vincente sighed, and clenched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger.
"My name is Vincente, Mhezsura, and you would do well to use it." Vincente reminded her gently. A small knock erupted behind him, pattering on the oak- he opened it, with a small flourish of his left hand.
An Altmer walked in- her long hair with blonde highlights swished slightly, and she bowed to Vincente in a lady-like manner. Mhezsura's eyebrows lifted up at the old vampire.
"Uh-uh- You ain' gettin' me to do tha'." Mhezsura said quickly; crossing her arms over in anger. The Altmer took a long stare at Vincente, and then at her. She reached a gloved hand out to the Dunmer, whose face grew more and more disdainful with each passing second. "I don' shake hands wit snobs," Mhezsura simply said, never looking directly at the Altmer's face.
"My name is Arquen and I will be helping Vincente, make you more... civilized," Arquen goaded. Mhezsura glared at her.
"Let's begin with basic manners and the five tenets, shall we?" Vincente broke the silence.
O' Joy.
End of the day. Mhezsura was spread out on her bed, trying to get to sleep. It was useless. Frustration coursed through her veins like poison, and her hands were gently fiddling with her dagger. A gloved finger tested the sharp point on the blade playfully. She sighed for the hundredth time. Who put her up for lessons? The fact that her 'teacher' was a vampire was bad enough- she also had to listen to the lectures of some randon Altmer snob. Called herself Arquen. Pretty name, she admitted. Shame it had to belong to an ugly face. She laughed a little at that.
Those five tenets rang through her brain, each following in a pattern that wrapped around her mind:
Tenet Number One: Never kill a brother or sister. Damn! Can' kill the vampire, the Altmer snob or the alleyca'; shit!
Tenet Number Two: Never betray the Dark Brotherhood's secrets to outsiders. Makes sense.
Tenet Number Three: Always obey your superiors. This rule is shi' as well...
Tenet Number Four: Never dishonor the Night Mother... whoever the hell she is...
Tenet Number Five: Never steal from another brother or sister. Can' replace alleyca's po'ions with poison. Fuck!
And there were more lessons tommorow.
O'Joy!