A/N: Usual disclaimers apply. Hope you enjoy.
"You are needed in Anvil, Listener." With just six words, the Night Mother had rendered her Listener speechless. Verity blinked, her mouth opening and closing several times in an attempt at speech. She had only been to Anvil once since her first kill. She could still remember the horrid stench of death that permeated the basement of the lighthouse. The Imperial woman gave a little shudder, shaking off the memories like offending raindrops.
"Anvil, Unholy Matron?" she finally managed, gazing up at the statue in the center of Bravil. It was late at night, and even the city watch avoided the statue.
"Yes, dear girl. With the end of the Oblivion Crisis and the death of the Septims, our family is in a precarious position. While the rest of the empire scrambles to find a new ruler, the true power is in the guilds. As such, you will go to Anvil, where the Arch-Mage of the Mage's Guild is meeting with the Grey Fox and the Fighter's Guildmaster. I have heard whisperings that assassins from the Morag Tong are slipping into Anvil to assassinate them and lay the blame at our feet. If the guild leaders deaths are blamed on us, the Imperial Legion will hunt us to the last. You are to protect them from harm."
"I will leave at once, Night Mother, although I feel you underestimate the Arch-Mage. Karis is not the Imperial Champion for her looks." Verity replied. A light chuckle floated from the statue.
"I have heard the rumors that your friend is secretly pregnant by Martin Septim, and that she plans to take the throne." The Night Mother said. Verity immediately burst out laughing, the sound echoing around the empty square.
"I beg your pardons, beloved Mother, but I know Karis. She would not have taken part in the last battle with Dagon had she been with child. Although it is the funniest image I have had in a long time." Verity giggled.
"Perhaps you can ask her when you get to Anvil. I have no qualms with you revealing your identity to your childhood friend. Once you save them, I believe the guild leaders will return the favor by keeping your secret. Good luck, Listener." With this dismissal, Verity turned and found her way to the stables, where her horse, Shadowmere, waited.
"Hello, Shadowmere. We ride for Anvil again. There is no real hurry tonight, though I would like to get there before dawn." Verity said, offering a few nightshade berries to the horse, who happily munched on them. Swinging onto the saddle, Verity's thoughts instantly returned to her teacher, Lucien.
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Breathing heavily, Verity raced through the highlands, her bare feet hitting the ground with such force she knew she would be bruised and bleeding when she finally stopped. Her blue black hair was streaked with soot, and blood was caked on her face and bare arms. She finally collapsed near an empty campsite, gasping for breath. The night had started innocently enough, with a visit to her parent's home. She had found them in the sitting room with a Khajiit man. Verity had watched in horror as the Khajiit leapt at her parents, slicing them to ribbons with his claws. Turning suddenly, he spotted her standing in the doorway. Cold fury had taken over and she had thrown the first spell that had come to her. The fireball struck the Khajiit and consumed him, quickly followed by the furnishings in the house. Verity had fled the house, only to find a pair of Bosmer carrying shortswords.
"What's taking him so long? Is it really that hard to kill an old couple and get their jewels?" one whined. The cold fury was replaced by hot rage as Verity slipped through the shadows and drew her dagger. The two idiots didn't even know what hit them as she slit their throats. Hearing the cries of alarm as the city watch came to put out the fire, Verity had simply fled, pushing through the city gate before anyone could notice her. Now, she lay down on a simple pallet, her only thoughts of how exhausted she was.
She awoke a few hours later with the feeling that someone was watching her. In a second, she bolted upright, throwing out a paralyze spell. The spell fizzled against the shield spell held by the man near the newly lit fire. Breathing heavily, Verity took in the black robes that blended with the shadows.
"You sleep rather soundly for a murderer." He said. Verity took in his dark brown eyes and angular features. Holding her chin up, she met his eyes bravely.
"If those idiots were with you, you should seriously consider rethinking your recruitment policies. They deserved to be taken down by an amateur." She said. The man blinked in surprise and laughed.
"I did not realize you had such a sense of humor. No, I am here because you are a killer, and your deathcraft pleases the Night Mother. She has sent me to recruit you into our family." He said, a smile still gracing his features. Verity raised one dark eyebrow.
"The Night Mother moves fast. Your spy network must be as good as the Thieves Guild, if not better. So, do I just have to say yay or nay?" she said calmly.
"There is something of an initiation. You must go to the Inn of Ill Omen, on the road to Bravil. There you will slay a man named Rufio. Once this is done, and when you sleep in a place that I deem secure, I will return to you, bearing the love of your new family. As a token, please accept this. It is a virgin blade, and thirsts for blood." He said, holding out a sheathed blade of ebony. Verity took it in her hand and drew it from the scabbard. The blade was etched with delicate gold tracings, and the word 'Woe' was inscribed onto the hilt. She returned the blade to its sheath and looked up at the assassin. He was staring at her bare feet, streaked with blood and dirt.
"You never told me your name." she said.
"May I?" he asked, gesturing at her battered feet. When she nodded, he pushed his hood off, revealing dark brown hair that fell gently around his face. He knelt before her, taking one foot gently in his hand. The warm tingle of a healing spell flowed through her foot, and she sighed softly in relief. He did the same with the other foot, and held out a small pack.
"My name is Lucien Lachance. These are for you. I hope to see you again soon, Verity." With that, Lucien vanished into a chameleon spell, the wrinkle in the air heading off into the darkness.
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Shadowmere whinnied, shaking Verity loose from her thoughts. She looked up, noting the breaking dawn, and the city of Anvil below her. Verity stroked the mare's mane lovingly.
"Thank you Shadowmere. Hopefully, I have time for a bath and some more sleep before tonight's activities." She said, as the horse made it's way down the road to the stables. Verity was unaware of the Figure watching her as she approached the stables, sliding off the dark horse and handing her off to the stable hand. She entered the gate, and the figure smiled.
Three down, one to go.
A/N: Who could the mysterious figure be? Next chapter will have the Fighter's Guildmaster arrive. Now, please review. I know people are reading, I just don't know if anybody actually likes it.
