Chapter 22:
Dila had been thinking about recent events. As they calmly walked across the forests, she recalled the events that had took place in Whiterun. They hadn`t heard of Krona in a while now. She wondered what she was doing.
"Well, what do the dead do when they aren`t dead?"
Somehow, she manged to get herself lost in her own logic. She shook her head, confused.
- You okay? – Siris asked, turning to face her. She looked at him again. – You look… strange? Have you eaten something that didn`t make you feel good again?
She strode past him, huffing. He chuckled, but was soon running to reach her.
- Hey, hey, hey!– he said, when he finally reached her. – I`m sorry! I didn`t mean to offend you.
She let out a "humph" at his apologies, and turned her head when he circled her to try and say something to her face.
- Look, I`m sorry. What can I do to apologize?
She smiled and walked past him, letting her tail brush on the inner side of his thigh. He shuddered and smiled.
- Minx. – he said.
- You are going to have to apologize for that one too, you know?
He chuckled. Then they resumed side by side. Dila entangled her hand on Siris`s.
- Boy, you are moody today, aren`t you? Is that going to last all day, just the morning, or should I get worried?
- Probably not, Siris. That is… - she said. – Unless you want to do something behind my back that would leave me really, really, mad at you.
They stayed in silence for a little while. Then, Dila noticed they had been walking in the wrong direction.
- Siris, any unexpected plans you forgot to mention?
- Yes. I am finally out of money. So we have two options: we either go back to Riften, or you sell that pretty little circlet in your bag.
She hugged her knappsack. No. That was the only thing she wouldn`t be parting from. She inwardly laughed at her childishness.
- Why Riften again?
- You are going to meet Black-Briar.
- Black-Briar? Isn`t that the woman who gave you the letter for the Legion?
- Exactly. Though I don`t believe you will be thanking her much longer when you meet her.
Dila was going to try and pry him into giving out more information on that last phrase, but decided against it. For all she knew, Black-Brair was terrible woman. Irileth had told her about her past deals with Siris and the Thieves Guild.
With the thought of Irielth, Dila`s mind began wondering about Whiterun. They had left it quite suddenly. With Krona around, they would have to keep on their toes. Siris had told them about Krona`s expertises when she was still an assassin, but he didn`t know anything about her new abilities. Dila remembered the sick image of her twisting her arm completely. She shuddered slightly, not enough for Siris to notice. They would probably be in Riften in about a day, less if they didn`t run into any trouble. She highly doubted that would happen…
00000
"It`s good to be wrong sometimes."was the conclusion Dila drew in her mind when she and Siris arrived in Riften. The sun had barely set, and she was actually very surprised that the roads had been so tranquil. With the war going on, she expected trouble with the Stormcloaks. But they had actually enjoyed a walk through Skyrim`s beautifull southern forests without as much as a spider nicking her leg. Siris had finally struck a killing blow on his bad luck, it seemed.
Riften`s marketplace was quiet. Dila thought that that was strange. When she had come here last time she had seen a really busy town, not quite as busy as Whiterun, but still with at least some movement. Then Siris slapped his forehead.
- Oh, strike me blind, I forgot! – he said. He took Dila`s hand and guided her to the front of a temple.
- Siris, is there something you missed?
- As a matter of fact… - he said, and the doors of the temple bursted open. – Yes.
Dila looked at the door, and saw two Argonians on the stairs. One of male and one female. Both of them looked overjoyed with something. A small crowd followed them, cheering and clapping. Siris smiled. Dila recognized the Argonians. They were the barkeepers, Keerava and Talen-Jei. They were holding hands, and were almost running downstairs. They stopped by Siris just briefly enough for Talen to hug him and for Keerava to kiss him on the cheek.
- Thank you for the amethysts. – they said, almost at the same time, before heading back to the inn. The crowd dispersed, laughing heeding from the men and giggling from the women.
Dila understood. That had been a wedding. But why had they thanked Siris?
- Remember when I said I had a couple of errands to run here? Well, Talen wanted a traditional Black Marsh wedding ring. Three amethysts in a silver band. He didn`t have the money to buy them, so I took to finding a few for him myself. It seems like it paid off.
- When did you sent them to him?
- When you were unconscious, after your fight with Krona. You were sleeping, so I thought that was the perfect time to send three amethysts. I had a raven get them here.
Dila nodded. With no more people to deal with, Siris guided her to the inn.
- Didn`t you have to speak with Black-Briar?
- Yes, but that can wait. I still need to… - he got closer to her ear. -…apologize for earlier.
She smiled, and he copied her. Then, he put both his hands on her shoulders and guided her to the inn. He released her before they entered.
They butted in on a very happy reunion.
Keerava had her legs wrapped around Talen. She was sitting in one of the tables, her back against a pillar. Her tail stuck out from between his legs. They were fiercely locked in a kiss. When they heard the door opening, they stopped and looked at Siris and Dila. The four of them were there, stuck in that awkward situation.
- Sorry to interrupt. – Siris said, rapidly guiding Dila upstairs. – I`ll pay you both on the morning. Finish up what you have to do.
Dila took the lead and pulled him upstairs. They got into a room and locked the door.
- Well, that was unexpected. – she said, unstrapping her bow from her back together with her quiver. Siris had thrown his sword to the other side of the room.
- What did you though would happen? They are just married. You`d expect them to have a nuptial night.
- Well, we`re not married. – she said,already walking to him and tugging at his coat. – But I`m sure we could do the same as them.
He didn`t respond, instead crushing his mouth to hers. She closed her eyes and let him push her into the bed. When she was about to get up, he pinned her down, holding her wrists.
- I`ll apologize… but don`t forget you owe me payback for the stunt with the charcoal.
She laughed, and he kissed her again. After that, they were flung unto a night of passion.
That night, the Bee and the Barb was not home to one loving couple, but to two.
00000
Siris opened one eye. It was still pitch black outside. He looked around, seeing nothing. He looked down at Dila. The night was cold, like it almost always was in Skyrim. She was wrapped around Siris tightly. Siris could feel heat flowing from her into him. He was almost dozing of again…
Until he heard it.
The smallest of creaks on the floor.
But it was enough to leave him fully alert.
He unwrapped Dila`s arms from around him, slowly. He could hear nothing more, but he still prepared his hands to a fight. He wouldn`t be taking any chances.
Dila hadn`t woken up, and he was gratefull for it. He could hear his heartbeat rising, his breath silencing. He closed his eyes. He waited.
And waited.
And waited.
He felt a sudden woosh of air upwards. He extended a hand upwards, holding the arm of his unknown assailant. He turned around and caught it`s leg, flipping it around. The assailant was a woman, for what he could see. She moved too fast for him to pinpoint a face, though, as she rapidly landed on her feet and dashed against him as he stood up. He saw she had a dagger on her hand. She bucked him against the wardrobe and brought her hand back, to try to stab his eye. He moved his head, and the knife plunged into the wooden surface. She yanked it out, but he had put his two fists on her stomach and he pushed her strongly toward the wall. He followed her and wrapped his hands around her neck. She didn`t try to fight his grasp.
She threw her legs around his neck, trying to suffocate him like he was doing. She managed to use her strong legs to push him on the ground. He was immobilized, being suffocated.
- It isn`the first time I`m on top of you while you are naked, Siris…
Siris was slowly loosing the battle. He did manage to notice, however, that her body was bending in an impossible way. He realized who it was.
- Krona. - he squeezed through his constricted throat. He regretted it, deciding to keep all his efforts int holding his breath
- Yes, Siris. Did you think I would be leaving you alone? – she said, bending even closer to him. He could feel her breath. Her orange scales were getting dimmer and his vision was tunneling.
He twitched, trying to free himself of her. She was looking intently at him.
- It felt better when I wasn`t suffocating you, didn`t it, love? – the last word slurred from her mouth dripping poison.
His eyes caught on a object that was now on the floor. It was his sword. It must`ve fallen when he was tossed against the wardrobe. He reached for it, but Krona grabbed his hand.
- Not so fast.
To his shock, the hand detached from her forearm. Fleshy sounds emanated from the stub on her hand. Suddenly, a bulge began growing in it. He saw bone starting to grow and tendons and nerves encircling it. Flesh covered the skeletical hand, followed by skin and scales. He was wide-eyed.
- Like this? – she said, twisting her wrist. – Why don`t you look at your hand?
He turned his head. The detached hand had become black, almost as it had decomposed. But it`s grip was stronger than steel. He wiggled his hand desperately, feeling bile rise up from his throat.
He saw her take out her dagger again.
- Why don`t I end this now, Siris. This would save Razara a load of trouble.
He had no breath to say anything anymore. He watched as she raised the dagger. Then, she threw her head back.
When she looked down again, an arrow was stuck on her forehead. She closed her eyes and chuckled.
- You have a knack for shooting me in the head, you know?
Siris looked to the bed. Dila had woken up, and in her hands was her bow. She had the sheets wrapped around her. Siris took the moment of hesitation from Krona to prop his legs on her chest and launch her off of him, kicking with both feet. She grunted and slammed against the window. Dila shot off another arrow, catching her in the chest. She backflipped and went through the window, disappearing into the night. Dila got closer to the window, looking for her, but she had vanished. She unnotched the arrow and sat besides Siris, who was huffing in the ground.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain on his pinned wrist. The hand that had detached from Krona was digging deeply into his flesh, almost cutting his hand off. He thrashed with his feet and tried to take it off, but any effeort only made it hurt more. Dila shot to her feet when he screamed.
- Dila! Shoot it! Quick!
- But I`am going to hit you! – she said, rennotching the arrow
- I can still… AH!.. I can still heal! As long as I have a haaaa!... hand!
She hesitated, but drew the arrow back and closed her eyes, murmuring something before letting the arrow fly. Siris shook in pain when he felt the arrow trespass the bone of his arm, pinning his arm to the floor. The hand released his wrist and died. It turned to ash and withered away. Siris yanked the arrow out of his arm. It started to bleed.
- Let me help you!
- No! Don`t touch it! – he said, concentrating on the Hist prayer.
She withdrew her hand. He had been ruder than what he had intended. When the muscle and bone were finished healing, he walked to her.
- Look, I`m sorry. – he said, hugging her.
- I worry about you, Siris.
He stoped. He hugged her tightly.
- Thanks. Nobody else does.
She looked at him. He was beginning to cry. She hugged him warmly.
- Thank you. – he kept saying, sobbing. – Thank you. Thank you…
She was making hushing noises, her head on his chest and a hand on the back of his head. He threw his head on her shoulder. Tears were cascading down and wetting her fur. She took his hand and took him back to the bed. He laid down before her. She caressed his face gently, until he stoped crying. Then she lied down. Before he slept, she kissed his forehead. He closed his eyes.
- I love you. – he managed to say, before he finnaly went of to sleep.
00000
"Dammit!" She thought, crying. "What happened to me?"
Krona was sitting amongst the woods of Riften. After her last attempt at an assassination had failed, she found it best to send a message to Razara. She couldn`t do it, though.
She wanted to ask Razara something.
"Why did you do this to me?" she thought.
Even though she had been able to cope with her loose joints and enhanced vision, shedding off a hand had quite an effect on her. It had never struck her so strongly.
She wasn`t alive anymore. Now she was just a weapon.
When she had come back from the void, She was happy. Euphoric, even. Then, slowly, she lost her perception of dead and alive. She had to hide from the other Shadowscales, especially her brother. But to all accounts, she was still a living, breathing being. Now she wasn't so sure.
"I better send off that damned message before Razara gets impatient. She swallowed her tears with that, and took out a charcoal and parchment roll.
She was going to make Siris pay for what he had done to her. Dearly.
00000
- We`re sorry that we caught you red-handed yesterday. – Siris said, to Kerrava and Talen-Jei. – We just needed a room for the night.
Talen chuckled.
- It`s fine, Siris. You helped us get our wedding ring. – he said, and Keerava lifted her hand to show it. It was a fine examplar of jewelry indeed. The three amethysts were beautifully and skillfully put in the silver band. – You can ask me anything you want. That is…
He put one arm around Keerava`s waist and pulled her to him.
- As long as you don`t get my wife in some death-defying stunt.
- No problem with that. Let me just…
Siris jammed his hand in his pocket. He wiggled his hand for a bit, before finnaly fishing out ten septims. His last amount of money. He handed them to Keerava. She took it in her hands.
- I told you you were going to get the couple-bed, Siris. – she said, smiling.
- Thank you for everything, Siris. – Talen said. – May the Hist guide you. And… - he continued, looking to Dila. – May you walk on warm sands.
- How do you know that? – Dila asked.
- A bartender must tend to everyone that walks through the door of his or her estabilishment. That means every gender and species.
Siris and Dila said their goodbyes and left the inn. Siris approached a guard. He needed some information.
- Guard. – he hailed. – Where can I talk to Maven Blakck-Briar?
- The Jarl is attending to other issues. She can see you when she`s finished.
He was confused. He told him he wanted to see Maven, not the Jarl.
- No, I don`t want to see the Jarl. Where is Maven Black-Briar.
- I told you, she is tending to more sensitive situations than your petty problem.
Siris backed up a little. Maven might have the Jarl, Laila Law-Giver, on her pocket. But she wasn`t the Jarl. Not near in the line of succession.
Unless…
"Why didn`t I open that letter?" he asked himself, grabbing Dila`s hand and heading toward Mistveil Keep.
- Hey, stop it! – the guard said behind him. He paid him no heed. – BY the order of the Jarl, stop right there!
- You know who I am? – Siris turned. – I didn't think so. I am Black-Briar`s best messanger, hunter and all around trouble-finder. She would have your head if she knew you were harassing me.
He knew it was a gamble. If it didn`t work out, he could as well be signing his death warrant in blood. The guard, however, didn`t know that, and quickly turned around and left.
"And that`s why I love Riften." He said, barging through the door. His apprehensions were confirmed.
Maven was sitting in the chair, overlooking the eating hall. Maul stood by her side, like a lumbering mountain of steel and muscles and, not surprisingly, no brains. He huffed as he and Dila stepped through the hall, ignoring stares from the people eating. Maven lifted her gaze to him.
- Oh, so my little lizard comes back to me. – she said. – Since I am sitting here now, I assume you delivered the letter I asked you.
- Maven, cut to the chase. How did you get up there so fast?
- The empire has it`s agents. Some of them were in Riften. Besides, the Theives Guild was more than useful for me. Laila is now on the Blue Castle, in Windhelm. I was appointed Jarl, but we both know this was just an honorary title.
Siris fist curled. Maven already ruled Riften with Laila on the throne. Now that she was Jarl, however, she had enough influence to hunt even the High King, if she wanted to. She then seemed to notice Dila.
- You are that Khajiit that Siris brought in afew weeks ago, aren`t you?
Yes, ma`am. I am Dila of Elsweyr, also called "Lynx-Eye" by the Stormcloaks.
- I heard a whole lot about you, Dila. – Maven said, leaning back into the chair. Dila seemed to diminish under Maven`s raven eyes. – You would do for a great enforcer.
- Forget it. – Siris barged in. – Is it not enough to have me, Black-Briar? A Shadowscale?
- You rank as an elite assassin matters me not, Siris. Besides… - she turned to the shadow behind her. – I already have a Shaodwscale
Siris looked up. Then, he growled and bore his fangs, recognizing the Argonian clad in the armor of the Dark Brotherhood that steped from a shadow behind her.
- You! – Siris said, motioning to lunge at him.
- Yes, Siris, me. – responded the green scaled assassin. – I see that you have a new sword. Did the one you received from our master broke?
- Yes…. – he continued. – Veezara.
Veezara chuckled. His steel sword dangling from his hip scraped the floor a little when he went down the stairs.
- I have been told that Razara has been giving you trouble, Siris.
- He`s your brother. You should be dealing with him, not me.
Dila resolved to interrupt.
- Brother?
- Yes. Veezara is Razara`s half brother. They share the same mother, but different fathers. – then, turning back to Veezara, he continued. They were merely inches apart. – And ever since he became our contact with the Dark Brotherhood, he caused the Shaodwscales nothing but trouble.
- Necessary trouble, Siris. I am sure you understand it now, given your position.
Siris understood. The contracts had been split between the Dark Brotherhood and the Shadowscales, but usually the former barged in on the latter and ruined the kills. It had been frustrating at first, but when Siris left, he noticed that the objective had been to undermine the Shadowscale operations.
- You knew Razara was going to rebel against the king. Why didn`t you talk some sense into him?
- I tried. But no words from my mouth were going to go through his thick skull. He kept saying rubbish about the "Former Glory of Argonia" and about the "damned cats". No offense, Dila. – he said, turning to Dila.
Siris relaxed. Why was he so angry at Veezara? It didn`t matter if he was sabotaging the Shadowscales or not. Veezara retreated. Maven took over again.
- Very well. Siris, if you have something to tell me, say it now.
- I… - he begun, a little embarrassed. – I need more money.
- That`s it? – she said. – You come all the way to Riften to ask me for money?
- Yes.
A dark chuckle came from Black-Briar`s throat. She knew that she had Siris in her hand, and she enjoyed it.
- Of course. Maul. Give him some gold.
Siris turned, to see Maul approaching him from the side. When they were arms length apart, Maul slugged Siris in the jaw.
- What did I do this time?
- Not this time. Last time. – Maul said, giving a still doubled-over Siris a small bag of coins. – You owe me an axe, lizard.
Siris massaged his jaw and hooked the bag to his belt.
- Come on, Dila. - he said, taking her hand. – Let`s go. I don`t think I need anymore of this.
- Before you go, Siris. – Maven said. When Siris turned around, she threw a small letter toward him. He catched it. – Message for you.
Siris ripped open the envelope with his talon. Reading the message, he jumped. He reread it, not sure if he had read it right. He felt despair start to creep up his soul.
Without hesitation, he took Dila by her shoulder and ran out of Mistveil Keep.
- Siris! What bug bit you? – she asked. He didn`t heed her any attention. He needed to leave Riften now.
He gave a glance back at the other building, next to the Jarl`s residence.
"Perhaps when this is done."
He pushed the gates open with his hand, sprinting past the guards and going to the chariot.
- How much to Whiterun? – he asked the man with the wagon.
- 50 septims.
Siris threw him the money and hopped on the back of the wooden cart. Dila followed suit. When they began moving, Dila put a hand on his knee.
- Siris, is there something wrong?
- Of course there`s something wrong, Dila! I wouldn`t be like this if all was allright!
She looked into his eye. He grabbed her hand.
- I`m sorry. I didn`t want to scream at you.
- It`s okay. Now, tell me what happened.
He took her hand back to his mouth. He kissed it.
- Balgruuf`s son has been kidnapped, and Proventus was found dead.
Dila was visibly shocked at the information. She then asked the dreadfull question.
- By whom?
- Razara. – came the answer, quick and dark as the name itself
Dum, dum, DUUUUM!
I love cliffhangers. The bane of every reader, the golden jewel of any writer.
I`m sorry it took me so long to update the story. I hope you`ll still stick with me untill the end of this tale.
We`re approaching a... darker part of the story. So now, that M rating up there will justify itself.
You have been warned.
Cheers and peace!
Eddy