Hey guys.
Sorry for the long, long wait. Life literally just slammed me with a ton of stuff and I haven't had time to write. I've also officially run out of backlogged chapters, so we're moving forward at my writing speed. This took so long because I couldn't figure out how to work a scene in an interesting way. In the end, that scene was scrapped to be used in a future chapter, lol, so that's that.
(Sorry for the repost, I was having some issues with the publisher thing )
Happy New Years, btw~
There was an odd change in Karma after the loss of the majority of the Dark Brotherhood. Cicero was well aware of it, aware of the fine cracks in her carefully built mask. It was intriguing to watch—the slow deterioration of that outside shell that he'd always been able to see through. He had always known that she was hiding something. He didn't know what that something was, but he knew it was there. As complex as his psyche was, as confused as the jester often left him, Cicero was perfectly capable of seeing and understanding others. And he understood that something was wrong with Karma…perhaps in the same way that something was wrong with him.
Perhaps that's why he'd always been drawn to her.
It was odd to have her around all the time, as she began to stay with him at the Dawnstar Sanctuary. Since the one near Falkreath had been destroyed and it was nothing more than a reminder of Astrid's betrayal, it was unlikely that they would ever return there. Cicero didn't particularly mind. He didn't like being trapped in one spot for long periods of time and now that his existence no longer had to be a secret, he was happy to go out into the world and run errands with his Listener simply to get some fresh air.
But mostly, he wanted to learn more about this change in the Redguard. Her calm and careful façade was still mostly in place, but whatever madness was beneath it was beginning to peek out. He could see it. Every now and again the curve of her smile was…off…or her eyes held the darker thoughts she did not speak aloud. And it brought out the curious side of the jester. So when Karma told him that she was going to Solitude for a business visit, he asked her to let him accompany her.
He didn't expect the answer he got.
"…actually, Cicero…I think it would be better if I went alone this time,"
The jester had immediately protested, of course. He didn't like the idea of his Listener being anywhere alone. It was sort of foolish, considering he knew very well that she could take care of herself, but there was no harm in an extra blade to keep her safe. Karma had taken his hand in hers and held it gently, smiling up at him sadly,
"Please, just this once. I'm going to go visit someone, and I'm not going to be a welcome guest. Things could get messy. I don't want you to get hurt,"
Cicero's expression had made her laugh, and he'd found her amusement annoying. Normally he would be delighted at seeing her laugh thanks to his antics, but when he was being serious, he found the urge to stab her rather powerful. At the back of his mind, the jester cackled and made a little joke—something about stabbing with something hard but not near as cold—but he ignored it and protested again,
"Where are you going, dear Listener, that Cicero cannot accompany you? Cicero wouldn't get in your way. He enjoys the sneaking and stabbing. Why not simply let him protect your back?"
Karma shook her head and released his hand, looking away from him. He watched her carefully, able to detect that madness inside her—just beneath the surface now. He was so fascinated by it that he almost missed her words,
"…I'm going to exact some vengeance on the man who took my family away."
Cicero couldn't help but to sigh, still watching her critically. She reached up and brushed her fingers across the curve of his jaw, a touch that caught him off guard. Everything she did seemed to confuse him…it was frustrating at the least. The soft touch made the jester shriek with delight in the back of his skull, and a hysterical little giggle escaped him before he could catch it. Karma's smile was still in place,
"…I'll be back before you know it. And Mother should arrive soon. It'll be good to see her again, won't it? I bet she'll be happy to see you. I'm not as good at caring for her as you are, unfortunately,"
Cicero snorted with laughter. He would be grateful to return to his duties, caring for the Night Mother. It would be nice to have some daily routines back. Things had been so terribly dull since the destruction of the Brotherhood…other than, of course, that change in his Listener.
"…are you certain that you don't want Cicero to accompany you?"
"Thanks for your concern, but I'm sure~" Karma brushed her ungloved fingers across his lips, "Don't worry. Things will turn out alright."
Karma slid easily off of Shadowmere's saddle, wincing a bit when her feet hit the ground. The burn on her ankle—received from stepping in boiling oil—was still sort of tender even though it was healing nicely. She patted the demonic horses' flank, whispering words of comfort and promise to return. The horse snorted and watched her with interest, but stayed put when she moved away. The Redguard paced through the marshy land, staring across the mouth of the Karth River to the docks of Solitude.
The sun was just starting to set and the light reflecting off the water burned her eyes. She shielded them unhappily, scowling. She'd have to wait until the cover of darkness and hope that her target remained within her reach. If not, she would have come all this way for nothing—or, perhaps, she'd have to hunt him down. She could do that.
"Revenge clouds your vision,"
The voice was familiar this time and Karma was not startled. She didn't even bother to turn and face the ethereal figure that had appeared behind her. She could tell he was there—a creeping chill was seeping into her. Lucien's words, however, brought no comfort,
"He must pay for what he's done," she replied lowly.
"You are allowing your desires to get in the way of your task. You must fulfill the contract. You must go and murder the Emperor before it is too late!"
Karma turned to face him, pure fury in her features. There was a wild hatred in her eyes, a piece of the insanity that her Keeper kept glimpsing, a piece of her she'd strove to bury years ago without success,
"And what does it matter?!" she demanded, glaring up at the ghostly figure, "The Brotherhood is gone! He killed them all, he destroyed the Sanctuary! He deserves to die! He took my family away and he must pay for it-!"
"You are behaving like a foolish child-!" Lucien's voice drowned hers out easily. He seemed to become more solid, glowing more brightly, and the cold his presence brought strengthened, "Don't you see? The Brotherhood is not dead! Not so long as you, the Listener, live on!"
Karma's anger was smothered by honest surprise. She swallowed hard, shaking her head a little as if to deny the spectral assassin's words, "…what do you mean?"
Lucien sighed heavily, letting his anger fade. He seemed irritated with her, like a caretaker might be towards an ignorant child who keeps making the same mistake over and over. His flat, luminous eyes bored into her confused brown ones,
"You are the Listener. By right, you are the leader of the Dark Brotherhood, second to the Unholy Matron. It is your duty, your responsibility, to rebuild the Brotherhood now that the Purification is done!"
Karma was rooted to the spot. How had it not occurred to her, that just because her family was gone that she could not make a new family? Of course, she would always mourn the loss of those who came before, but…to rebuild, to recruit new members; to make a brand new Brotherhood under the correct rules…The Redguard dropped her gaze uncertainly, turning the idea over in her head. She could do this. She could restore the Brotherhood; perhaps even make it better than before.
"…I could really do that? I could really save the Brotherhood from extinction?"
"Yes," Lucien's frustration was still obvious but at least he wasn't yelling at her now, "As the Listener, you must do as the Dread Father wishes, and he demands that you restore and rebuild. But before you can do that, you must complete this contract," He lifted his arm, pointing to the ship docked not far away, "You must murder the Emperor of Tamriel. You must prove the people of Skyrim wrong if they believe that the Dark Brotherhood is gone! You must bring back the fear and respect the Brotherhood demands!"
Karma turned to face the water, her expression set. As much as she wanted to cross to the docks and murder Commander Maro, Lucien was right. Doing so might jeopardize the contract and they would never get a chance like this again. If she failed here, the consequences would be immense. She let out a long sigh and nodded her head, pausing only to make sure the buckskin tube around her bow was watertight. It wouldn't do to ruin her best weapon.
"…thank you, Lucien. If you'll excuse me," She made a gesture of parting, and set off at a run. There was no way she was getting onto that ship easily, but it was docked…which meant the anchor was probably buried into the bottom of the bay. Good thing she was a fair climber.
The security upon the Katariah was laughable. Karma had felt more pressure stalking around Solitude while trying to murder Vittoria Vici. The hardest part was picking the lock on the door to the Emperor's quarters. Sliding through the door and pushing it shut behind her, the Redguard didn't at all expect to hear a voice behind her,
"And once again, I prove Commander Maro the fool,"
Karma jumped a little and spun around, dagger freed from her belt in one quick motion. Fortunately for her, the only person in the room was the elderly Emperor, who was sitting at a large desk across the way. He seemed startlingly calm.
"I told him that you can't stop the Dark Brotherhood. Never could. And here you are~"
Karma relaxed a little and straightened, sliding her dagger back into its hiding place. She locked the door and, as quietly as possible, dragged a nearby chair over to jam under the handle.
"…you knew I was coming," it wasn't a question. Karma slid her bow from her back, peeling away the soaked buckskin. Her ungloved right hand slid along the wood, checking for any lethal moisture and finding none. She withdrew an arrow from her tightly bundled quiver. It would only take one.
The Emperor watched her prepare without a hint of panic, resting his elbows on his desk and setting his fingers into a steeple,
"Of course. You and I have a date with destiny, do we not? As do all rulers and assassins. Though I must say, I am mildly surprised…I did not expect to see a beautiful young woman come to murder me this night,"
Karma let out a little snort of amusement, easily stringing her bow and testing it. Perfect.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, old man~" she chirped, her voice far too pleasant for this deadly situation, "Though how are you so sure I'm part of the Dark Brotherhood? Maro is so certain he wiped the…guild…from every corner of Skyrim,"
The Emperor chuckled again and shook his head, "Dear child, the Dark Brotherhood consists of people who are the roaches of society. No insult to you, of course. Their numbers will survive no matter the circumstance. I have always viewed the Dark Brotherhood like a Hydra. Cut off one head, and more will replace it. Maro believed he slaughtered all of you…and yet here you are,"
Karma couldn't help but to quirk a little smile, nodding a bit,
"A roach of society…I actually kind of like that,"
She was about to notch the arrow before the Emperor spoke again,
"Though I wonder…will you hear the last words of an old man?"
The Redguard paused for a moment, almost uncertain. After all, she was only doing this because she'd been asked to, more or less. She was getting paid. She bore no ill will against this man. There was no reason to be cold or cruel,
"…I'd be honored to," she said lowly, dropping her hands. The Emperor gave her a grateful little smile and stood from his desk.
"There are many people that wish me dead," he started lightly, as if this was little more than casual conversation about the weather, "In my position, it's impossible to satisfy everyone. My choices and actions are more likely to infuriate a public than to placate it. Usually, the law will keep those people from doing something rash…but there was one person who asked you to come here tonight, one person who put a plan into motion. This person must be punished for treason,"
Karma blinked in surprise. Being an assassin, it hadn't even occurred to her that Motierre had been committing a major crime by asking her to murder the Emperor. (It'd be hypocritical of her to berate someone for acting outside of the law.) She hadn't considered the Emperor any different than any other person she'd killed for money, except for the fact that he was much harder to get to.
"This person must die. My request to you…when you finish here, you must kill the person who will pay you for my death,"
The request was somehow absolutely delightful. Honestly, she'd never really liked Motierre very much and it would sort of be a pleasure to slit his throat. She clicked her tongue thoughtfully before tilting her body into a shallow bow,
"I think I may be able to fulfill that request," she straightened again, notching her arrow firmly, "I'll make it as quick and painless as possible,"
"You are too kind," The Emperor then turned and went to the window, looking out over the dark water, exposing his back to her. Karma found herself confused. Out of all the people she had murdered, none had accepted their death so easily or graciously as this man. If someone had threatened her in this way, she wouldn't just accept it…no, she'd go out with a fight if she wasn't capable of escaping.
"…aren't you afraid?" she asked, and her voice came out tiny, almost like a child, "Afraid of what happens, after I do this?"
The Emperor chuckled lowly,
"Dear child, death is not the end. It is simply the beginning of a new chapter in life. Who knows what I will encounter after this moment; but I would prefer to look back on this moment and feel proud, rather than ashamed. I do not fear death. There is no need to,"
Karma was silent for several moments, watching his back. Perhaps he'd go to the same place as her mother and father…?
"…I'm almost sorry," she said quietly, "I hope that whatever you find out there is good to you,"
The Redguard took a deep breath, taking careful aim and pulling the string back. She whispered a little prayer before releasing it.