I promised a long chapter, but yet I post a short one. I apologize. For what I have planned next I figured that I wouldn't drag this one out and instead let it continue on to the next. Hopefully this one is still ok. Not quite as boring as the previous, but not that great either. However, an introduction to a new and important character of my creation, within this chapter. Keep an eye on this fellow hehe.

Thanks for reading!

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The sun had already set, shrouding the land of Cyrodiil in shadows as darkness began to take over. Vision would be difficult for those accustomed more to light over darkness. Predators of the night took advantage of this switch over, one of the best times to begin a hunt.

This was also a time Kai loved most. She frequently ventured out to collect ingredients for alchemy study during this time. It wasn't so much as looking for plants only found during evening hours but because it was more peaceful, no one around to interrupt her. The plants were a tad bit more difficult to find, however, but that has never stopped her in the passed, nor now for that matter.

Aidan snorted lightly, his ears perked forward as he stepped lightly through the brush. Kai moved around the forest surrounding Cheydinhal, her eyes scanning the ground but her ears listened to all the sounds around her. She did not fear the creatures that stalked the woods at night. She was an accomplished swordsman, and her training within the Brotherhood allowed her to blend with scenery, be stealthy and know the difference between enemies she could beat and enemies she could not. The creatures that inhabited the forest was of no concern to her. However, if it were a little more menacing, such as a Minotaur or Orge, then perhaps things would be a little more challenging.

A glint of red caught her eye and Kai halted the stallion. Aidan pinned his ears then perked them again as the assassin dismounted and stepped forward into the brush. She pushed aside the shrubs as she approached what she believed she saw. With a triumphant grin Kai knelt and cupped a hand delicately around the flower of a Domica Redwort. This flower was not normally common around the Heartlands, but more around the West Weald. Her heart jumped at the thought of collecting the flower. Oh the poisons she could make.

Kai reached around and removed from her side a small dagger. She cut just below the flower, the razor sharp edge of the dagger hardly damaging the stem whatsoever. Kai removed two others that grew around one another, but that was all. To find even one was good enough. Kai moved to Aidan and opened a pouch attached to the saddle and placed the flowers delicately inside, a much safer place than upon herself. If she tripped or was attacked, then falling could crush the samples. There was a much slimmer chance of the stallion falling than herself.

Kai turned and glanced around again, moving further into the brush. She knelt down as she found a more common flower of Lavender. As she lowered the dagger to take a sample of sprig from the flower a very faint sound of movement caught her attention. The movement of her horse she knew, but this was different. Her senses went on alert and her hand instinctively moved to the hilt of her sword. She rose to her feet swiftly and her eyes darted around her, her lips pursed and her muscles tense.

Her emerald green eyes instantly found the source and her lip curled. Instant hatred filled her stomach and her hand tightened over the hilt of her sword. The figure, cloaked in black approached the woman, a dark grin over his lips.

"Dear Sister, there is no need for such actions." His voice was soothing, at least he was pretending to be. Kai did not waver.

"Seris. What the hell around you doing here?" She hissed, her hand never leaving the hilt.

The man cloaked in black moved out of the shadows, revealing himself to the Assassin. He was a tall man, a Dunmer. His skin and features blended well with his attire, being the Shrouded Armor but will a black cloak clipped to his shoulders. His hood was up, covering his face, but Kai knew what he looked like. His red eyes were so very obvious under his hood.

Seris Zether was a man Kai absolutely loathed the most. She hated his every being. Well more so than she used to feel about Lucien. His ways disgusted her. He was unlike many others. He preferred to have fun with his kill, and not the pleasurable kind. He liked to make them suffer, do grotesque things before he finally drained their life away. The thought made her shudder as she remembered all that was once told to her about his ways. Seris was the Silencer of the Speaker, Arquen. Arquen was another member she disliked, but not nearly as much as Seris. Arquen she just felt was irritating, the way the woman always looked down upon others. The Speaker also never hid the hatred she felt towards Lucien.

Seris stood before the Assassin with a sly, evil grin on his face, "I may have rules inside the Sanctuary dear Sister, but I have none outside. Am I not allowed free movement within the woods such as yourself?"

"Don't feed me that bull Seris. You are not here wandering about just for kicks. I ask again, what the hell are you doing here?" Kai growled, her anger rising.

His red eyes bore into her own, causing a shiver to run up her spine. Despite the smirk on his lips, she could see the deadly look in his eyes, "Watch yourself Aldiri. I outrank you, so therefore you need to watch your tongue. I am here because I feel like it. Besides, don't you like the company?"

"Not yours." Answered Kai, her tongue getting the better of her again.

Seris clicked his tongue and shook his head, "That tongue of yours will only get you in trouble Aldiri. Perhaps you need a lesson in ways you should not treat higher ranking members."

Kai followed his hand and felt her heart beating heavily against her chest. She was a well accomplished swordsman herself, but she wasn't so sure she would defend herself against an opponent such as Seris. He was malicious in the way he fought, quick and powerful. Sweat formed on her brow as he made to draw the longsword at his hip. His bloodlust eyes searched her, feeding off of her fear. She was well over her head.

There was the unmistakable ring of steel as a sword was being drawn. It was all so quick and Kai was sure Seris was going to impale her, giving her no chance of defending herself. But the flash of steel she thought was coming towards her was not at all. She felt a rush of wind and her vision was partly blocked by another black shrouded figure. She blinked in surprise, unsure of who this person was, taking her several moments to process what was going on. But it was the voice that brought her around.

Seris stood completely still, his sword only half drawn and his head lifted as the point of a blade sat just at his throat. His red eyes locked with the cold dark ones beneath the black hood of the newcomer.

"You never did choose your opponents well Zether." Lucien's low voice growled.

"I have made no bad choices. The Assassin does not know her place." Seris snarled.

"And you do not know yours." Lucien retorted, "To kill another member is against the rules of the Brotherhood. Unless you really wish to evoke the Wrath of Sithis of course."

Kai did not move, still surprised with Lucien's sudden appearance as he stood protectively infront of her, his sword point still at Seris' throat. She glanced from him to the Dunmer.

"Not kill. Oh no, I would never go so far for something as little as a punishment."

"If there was to be punishment then you would speak to the Speaker of the Sanctuary in which the member belonged to. Kai is under me, therefore you speak to me. You, nor Arquen, have no authority over the members under the Sanctuary I oversee." Lucien snapped back with a quick tongue.

"Then you should keep your members under control Lachance!" Seris spat.

Lucien pressed his blade closer to the Dunmer's throat, his eyes flashed dangerously, "My members are not wandering freely harassing others well away from their own region Silencer!" Lucien hissed Seris' rank with much emphasis.

The Dark Elf had no retort to Lucien. Lucien was a Speaker afterall, so Seris' tongue could get him into far more trouble. Kai was lucky enough to get away with nothing more than a quick snap the week ago on her previous contract.

Lucien removed his sword from Seris' throat, but kept it at his side, "Now begone Dunmer. If you have no business in Cheydinhal then leave this area."

The Dunmer had far more to say, if not then wish for actions rather than words. But, part of him was smart enough to know better. He shot a dangerous look towards the woman, his lips curling into a sneer, giving the same look to the Speaker before he turned and disappeared into the shadows. The air was silent, only insects and birds could be heard throughout the darkening forest.

"Did he touch you?" Lucien asked, his eyes still watching the shadows to be sure the Dark Elf was indeed gone.

"No." Answered Kai, her eyes downcast.

"You understand he has a point." He waited for a retort from her, as she always did when he lectured her.

"I know." She replied quietly.

Lucien felt a tinge of surprise. Perhaps she finally understood. He turned to face her now, his eyes searching her. He could sense she felt slightly embarrassed, probably mostly from him saving her. His lip twitched into a slight smirk.

Kai lifted her gaze to him, curiosity upon her feature,s "What were you doing around here?"

"The same as you. I stopped by because I needed to speak to you. As you were not home I went to the stables, noticed Aidan was not there, so I figured you were collecting samples." Her expression to this amused him, "I decided to do the same while I waited. I witnessed that damned Dark Elf slinking around in the woods and guessed he was searching for something."

Kai blinked, taken aback, "You stopped by to speak with me?"

She had a feeling Lucien was going to take to toying with her over his once constant lectures. He sheathed his sword finally and rose a brow, "Yes. If you are finished I would like to return."

Kai eyed the man suspiciously, but smirked, "All right. I have found a couple of samples in which I am pleased enough with." She knew he was a very accomplished alchemist himself, his poisons being the best seen thus far. His skill far exceeded her own.

Kai moved to Aidan, whom was standing where she left him not long beforehand. She reached into the pouch and removed the Redwort samples she had collected to show him. She saw his eyes brighten as he looked to the samples, knowing full well the type of poisons that could be made. She grinned.

Kai held out one of the flowers, "One only."

Lucien looked to her with a raised brow. He could demand all if he wanted. Instead he reached out with a gloved hand and took the single sample she held to him, "Only one." He responded.

Kai replaced the Redwort samples back into the pouch, as well as the Lavender sprigs that were still in her hand. They were a little squished as her hand had tightened around them with her encounter with Seris. However, that mattered little as they would be crushed anyways. Kai mounted the stallion and turned him, Shadowmere and Lucien joined them as they made their way back to the city.

It almost felt like deja-vu, except that this time they weren't being hunted. Once both arrived at the city, they placed their horses in the usual pen. Kai gave Aidan a quick rubdown before followed Lucien into Cheydinhal. They approached Kai's house with little glanced from the guards. Kai unlocked the door and stepped inside. The fire was still slightly crackling, making it so rebuilding the fire would be much easier. Kai placed the pouch of ingredients on the table and threw in a couple of logs into the fire.

Kai turned when she finished to see Lucien, for once, had his hood lowered, actually revealing his full features. He very seldom did this. It came as somewhat of a surprise to her and she had to shake her head. Thankfully the Speaker seemed too interested in something else to notice her surprised expression. Lucien glanced to the right where a desk with a mortar and pestle, retort, calcinator, and alembic all sat neatly atop. A few empty vials sat by the equipment, but no ingredients lay about. He guessed they were all within the numerous drawers. He was impressed.

Kai grabbed a pot and placed it over the fire. The water didn't take long to boil as she had it on there barely over an hour ago previously. She grabbed a bag and threw some herbs into a small mesh bag and threw it into the boiling water. As she let it steep she glanced to Lucien, whom was seated at a table infront of the fire, and held up a mug. He shook his head at her gesture. Kai knew exactly what he wanted, she could tell by the stressed look on his features.

Kai stepped over to a cupboard and opened it. She glanced around for a moment before removing a large bottle of Cyrodilic Brandy. She popped the cork and poured a generous amount into a goblet, replaced the cork on the bottle and placed the goblet on the table infront of the Speaker. Lucien did not object and instead took a long drought of the brandy. He said nothing until she was finished pouring herself her tea, his fingers squeezing the bridge of his nose. Kai knew right away it was something serious.

She sat down opposite from him, taking a light sip of the hot tea. She tilted her head, "So, what did you need to speak to me about."

Lucien was silent for several moments before he finally spoke, his eyes downcast to the liquid in the goblet, "My Silencer was killed last night on a contract." He said matter of factly, raising his gaze to meet hers. Her brows rose but she remained silent, "Obviously, I am in search of a new one to replace him."

Kai remembered his Silencer. A much too high strung Bosmer. He often got himself into trouble and just barely squeezed out of getting himself killed. He was quick though, which saved his life many times. Kai was unsure as to how he became a Silencer in the first place. Perhaps he was all that was there to take the position. She didn't know.

A small smirk appeared on the corners of his lips, "I am offering the position to you Aldiri."

Kai's eyes widened and she almost choked on her tea. Me? A Silencer? "Excuse me?"

Lucien leaned back in his chair, her expression amusing him, "Yes. However, I am not going to just give it to you. You need to do something for me first."

"Like what?" She asked somewhat suspiciously.

"In order for you to obtain this position successfully, I want you to finish the contract the previous Silencer began and failed to complete. Normally, before one becomes a Silencer their last contract is rather difficult. Seeing as your previous contract was normally for a mere Murderer to complete, I hardly consider that a final test."

Kai studied the Speaker, his words going over in her mind. She rose a brow, "All right. What is the failed contract."

Lucien took another swig of the brandy, "As you may know, Adamus Phillida was finally put to his death after his retirement. He was succeeded by another Imperial soldier, apparently his apprentice."

"Giovanni Civello." Kai said.

Lucien nodded, leaning forward again, his elbows on the table and his chin cupped in his hands that were clasped together, "Yes. After Phillida's death, so to speak, Giovanni vowed to uphold Adamus' endless and completely useless search to uncover the Dark Brotherhood. The contract is not to kill Giovanni, however. Instead he is to be given a warning." He smirked at this, "Civello has a son. His son is also within the Imperial Legion. His son is to be killed and his sword is to be brought to his father. In order to fully complete this mission, the sword must be placed on Civello's bed in his sleeping quarters. Consider it like a bonus."

Kai was silent for several minutes. She contemplated his offer. She did not know if anyone other than herself was qualified for the position, other than Vicente and Ocheeva. But neither wished to leave their posts. Perhaps M'raaj-Dar, but she didn't want to give the mangy cat the opportunity to jump ahead of her. Telaendril, the Bosmer archer, was too occupied with being Ocheeva's spy, and Teinaava probably didn't want to leave his sister either.

"I accept." She answered.

"Good. We leave tomorrow morning. Yes, I will be accompanying you. I will not interfere, but I will not tell if you I will be around while you complete the contract."

"Ha! You may not say you will, but I know you will. What is Giovanni's son's skill?" She asked, humor in her eyes.

"He is highly skilled with the sword. As with many Imperial Legion soldiers. He has been taught by a Master Swordsman. By whom I do not know. I believe he has some skill with the bow as well. The rest you will have to figure out yourself."

Kai paused to think some more. She continued, "Is he within the Imperial City as well?"

She didn't expect Lucien to answer this one, but he did, "Yes. But that is all."

Kai seemed satisfied, "That's fine. The rest I can handle myself."

Lucien downed the rest of the brandy, hardly minding the bitter taste that Kai herself rather disliked. She found it helped for pain however. He rose from his seat, "I will meet you at dawn at the stables."

Kai remained seated and watched him rise, "Then at dawn at the stables is where I will see you."

Lucien flipped his hood back over his head, and with a nod he stepped out the door, closing it lightly behind him. Kai watched the door, not really even paying an attention. She laughed lightly and rose to her feet. She moved to the desk containing all of her alchemy equipment and began working on creating some potions and poisons she planned to use on her contract.