Abducted
Zany and I had returned safely to the Sanctuary late the next night, both of us fatigued from the journey and parted ways for our rooms just after entering the main hall. I stumbled into bed after changing into my night clothes, my head feeling heavy on the pillow before I drifted off to sleep; I slept for perhaps an hour… before a familiar voice arose me from my slumber.
"Alyce…" whispered the voice, the same one that had been haunting me- though this time there was no wind to carry it to my ears. No this time it felt as if it was all around me, beside me, and far away at the same time. I tiredly climbed out of bed and looked around the room, hoping it was some kind of prank and not my mind slipping away. Then the voice came again though this time it felt as if it was in my office, and all I could think of was to follow the sound. I left my room and entered the office antechamber, seeing no one there either- but the voice sounded again, calling my name from outside in the hallway. It appeared to be leading me somewhere, all rational thought told me to ignore it and just go back to sleep… but another part of me wanted to know what this voice was and what it wanted from me. I followed the mysterious voice outside into the chill night air, though the normally storming Sea of Ghosts was eerily calm; a light dusting of snowfall without the roaring wind to bite at my skin as I realized I was still only in my night clothes. I berated myself for this oversight as I turned around to head back inside where it was warm. "Alyce Lachance… it has been too long since we last spoke. Ten years next month, if memory serves." came the sound of an elderly woman behind me, though her voice sounded almost the same as the one that had lead me outside.
"How do you know my name?" I asked as I turned around quickly, my eyes falling on an old woman; her gray hair loose about her face- looking both tame and wild at the same time- her sky blue eyes bright with mirth as she smiled at me.
"I have known you since before you were even born. I knew your mother too, and your brother." she said with a chuckle, tapping her oaken walking stick on the snowy ground before taking a seat on a piece of ancient rubble- pulling her wolf pelt shawl neatly around her shoulders.
"Who are you?" I asked simply, this woman becoming more and more familiar even though her explanations seemed to beat about the truth.
"I am an old friend, someone you once considered a second Mother after yours was taken by Arkay. You have been avoiding me for quite some time child." she said crossly, though I could tell she wasn't really angry about anything.
"You are not making sense, just who are you?!" I asked more angrily, becoming frustrated and my hand rising to my amulet without thinking about it.
"You know exactly who I am." she said simply, a kind smile on her lips as she looked up at me… and I don't know what happened as the world suddenly became a blur as I blacked out, my eyes opening to find myself back in my bed as if I had never gone on my late night walk.
I sat up and shook my head of sleepiness, my walk feeling so real- but distant like a dream at the same time. I stood and dressed for the day, walking out of my room and making my way to the dining hall; the morning events of breakfast in full swing. I sat down at the table and I could feel a small nagging twinge in the back of my mind… had I forgotten something? No… I don't think I had- then it hit me, and it might as well have been literally considering the pain I was in as the tiny twinge erupted into raging pain. I fell back and off the bench onto the floor, my hands firmly clutched around my head in agony- my skull feeling like it was exploding from the inside, my eyes on fire from the pain. I screamed something unintelligible and could feel bodies clamoring around me in concern. I writhed about on the cold stone floor, but not even that could quell the burning in the slightest; my amulet feeling like it was tightening about my neck like a noose.
"What the hell?!" Johnny shouted, feeling a hand grasp the amulet before it was yanked off and clattered to the floor. I felt the air rush into my lungs and the pain in my head vanish as quickly as it had come along.
"Are you well Listener?" Hadranius asked worriedly as he stooped and helped me to my feet long enough to sit down on the bench again.
"I… have no idea." I said breathlessly my head spinning from the shock of whatever had just occurred.
"This damn thing must have been cursed." Zany scowled as he kicked the amulet against the wall.
"That amulet was not the source of your pain." said the voice of the Night Mother, her voice sharp on my mind- but gentle in comparison to what I had just been through.
"No, something else did it- so the Night Mother says- but I won't be putting it back on until we know what did." I sighed, holding my head in my hands as I hunched over and propped my elbows on my knees; my fingers combed through my blood red hair. Just when I finally got a glimpse of having a symbol of my old faith back- it turned out to be hazardous to my health; though if the amulet didn't cause it… then why had it tightened about my neck?
I stood and picked up the amulet, taking it to my room and placing it on my desk with a frustrated sigh. Though I soon found a letter neatly placed on my desk, and I sat down to read its contents.
Listener,
I have located a willing initiate with the skill of a blacksmith, I am certain she will be of use to you in Winterhold. She is a Redguard woman by the name of Meliadoul and should arrive in Winterhold by tomorrow with a report of how she was recruited.
This letter being signed: Donovan Gravebone- Blacksmith of Dawnstar Sanctuary. Tomorrow… that would be today. Damn… leave it to our Half-Orc smith to leave me with next to no time to prepare- then again if this had been on my desk yesterday there really was no way of my knowing. I brought the letter with me as I stood and rushed out the door, our latest recruit would no doubt be waiting at the tavern- Donovan, not yet knowing the location of this Sanctuary, couldn't possibly have told her anything else.
"Shouldn't you be lying down or something after that episode?" Johnny asked as I breezed past him.
"No time, a recruit from Dawnstar is due to arrive any minute and I doubt she will wish to be kept waiting." I said hurriedly as I made for the entrance, not surprised to hear Johnny chuckle and follow after me.
"Well then, I might as well come with you. Who would hold you close if you have another attack?" he flirted, and I simply rolled my eyes as I kept walking.
"I didn't need it then, and I won't need it ever." I scoffed, and I could swear I heard Johnny's pout as he tagged along through the entrance and out into the light snowfall of midday. I looked up into the pale blue sky and sighed when I remembered my dream, it was currently the 28th of Last Seed… which meant Heartfire was only a few days away- and with it, my least favorite day of the year.
"Something on your mind?" Johnny murmured as he attempted to once again throw an arm around my waist, receiving my elbow to his stomach yet again.
"It's nothing of your concern." I said far colder than I had intended as I began walking down the icy hill, Johnny sighing and following in silence.
We climbed the icy path up from the beach to the town, walking casually into the street as we made our way towards the tavern. I opened the door and was assaulted by the typical strong smell of booze with the faint undertone of someone who had apparently not been able to keep their liquor down. We entered the tavern and made our way to the bar, inquiring with the Innkeeper if a Redguard woman had arrived. The Innkeeper nodded and pointed to one of the rooms; I gave him my thanks and walked the short distance to the door, opening it and seeing no one inside. I asked Johnny to stay outside, having a nagging feeling this room was not nearly as empty as it seemed. I entered the room and closed the door behind me, standing perfectly still and calm as I felt a dagger's blade ghost across my neck- the slightest pressure and my throat would be slit.
"Who are you? A Sister?" asked a cold, but distinctly female, voice from behind me. I chuckled lightly,
"Listener, actually." I said frankly, and immediately the blade was withdrawn and I was able to turn around and face my would-be attacker. There was little doubt that this was Meliadoul, her skin being a russet color like most people of the Alkir' Desert- marking her as a Redguard. Her dark brown hair barely brushed over her shoulders as she regarded me with caution in her equally brown eyes.
"So you're the 'Winter Rose' the crazy bastard in Dawnstar mentioned?" she asked, and I laughed a bit at this. Cicero had given me quite the interesting nickname… and I actually rather liked it- making a mental note to thank him next time I was in Dawnstar.
"I suppose that would be me. You are Meliadoul?" I asked, double checking the assumption that I had the correct person; receiving a nod in response. I sighed and walked around Meliadoul, opening the door and stepping out with her in tow- Johnny falling into step with us as we left the tavern.
"So… are you single?" Johnny asked, and I nearly face palmed as I heard him grunt from Meliadoul turning on a dime and punching him in the stomach before walking briskly up to match my gait.
"Is he always like this?" she asked, and all I could do was sigh as I confirmed that it was indeed a common thing for him. Johnny thankfully remained silent- keeping his wandering hands to himself- as we returned to the Sanctuary to find a dagger sticking out of the mortaring between the stones of the ruins exterior, a note pinned between blade and stone. I wrenched the blade out and read the mysterious letter… my teeth clenching and my eyes going wide in anger, the words on the page boiling my blood in its veins.
"What is it?" Asked Johnny curiously, attempting to peer over my shoulder. I crumpled the paper and threw it to the side before storming into the Sanctuary.
"EVERYONE TO THE MAIN HALL. IMMEDIATELY." I seethed, my voice echoing as I entered and began to pace; the rest of the family filing in quickly.
"What is the commotion Lady Listener?" Asked Hadranius worriedly, and I had to breathe deeply so as not to snap at him.
"Someone… has taken both Phoenix and Svina. The pair apparently was captured on their way home from Windhelm, but I will not stand for this- I want them found." I instructed, Nikita practically barreling past me as he heard that his love was taken. "Nikita, stay put. The kidnappers left a note detailing their location; I will need every blade available to ensure their safe return. We have no reason to trust their assailants will release them alive, but should we encounter superior numbers- your strength could mean life or death for both of them." I explained as I placed a hand on the man's shoulder, Nikita simply growling in frustration and returning to stand where he had before.
"Where are we to find them?" Asked Hadranius as he folded his arms, no doubt about to formulate a battle strategy should he know of the place.
"An abandoned prison, south of Windhelm along the river." I stated simply, frankly never having been there myself. Hadranius said nothing, rather it was Zany who spoke up.
"I have been there, it will be challenging to enter in mass as there is only one entry point and one 'drop-exit' out the back- but that also falls in our favor to blockade the assailants." he explained, and I was surprised he was speaking so much at one time- and without a hint of spite in his tone. I nodded and turned for the door, before a thought came to mind.
"Johnny, I want you to bring reinforcements from Dawnstar. The kidnappers may be Imperium Ultis- in which case, greater numbers will ensure our survival." I stated, Johnny nodding and dashing out of the Sanctuary to begin his mission.
We left the Sanctuary en mass, dispersing along the shoreline to reunite on the other side of the town. Our journey into the Windhelm-Riften area was uneventful… but I could easily see bandits hiding in the forests and behind rocks; obviously not stupid enough to tangle with what was without a doubt a well-armed group of fairly pissed off assassins. We met no interruptions as we followed Zany to a small stone bridge that spanned the river,
"Under this bridge is the back exit, I will enter here- it is a far drop into the tunnel and few else can climb like I can. The entrance is farther up the river, beside the waterfall." he said gruffly as he approached the railing, pointing up river before vaulting over the railing and splashing slightly as he ducked under the bridge.
"You heard him… let's go get our Brother and Sister." I said blankly, my eyes no doubt reflecting the dark fury hidden beneath my momentarily calm exterior. My subordinates nodded in firm agreement- although Meliadoul looked rather confused… obviously never having realized how seriously we took our claim as family. I lead them up the river, seeing the ruined prison fort across the small chasm; the whole structure looked as if it had nearly toppled into the river entirely after what had to have been a severe storm, not far from it being a small riverside hut that looked to have fared even worse- a tall tree having fallen through its roof, and as we walked along the cliff it was obvious that the inhabitant had been inside at the time of the unfortunate accident. We used a downed tree to cross the raging waterfall to the other side of the river, clambering down a stone slope to the remnants of the prison entrance. I entered the building first, motioning it was safe for the others to follow after several moments of checking the hall for hidden adversaries; if the Imperium Ultis was behind this, they would try anything to catch us off guard. I stepped into the circular two-tiered hall that was common in Imperial prisons I had seen in Skyrim- regrettably I had seen my share of them during the earlier parts of my career as an assassin.
"Hadranius, I want you and Arren to take position here on this upper level. If we need to flee, you are to cover our escape." I ordered, the pair of them nodding before picking spots along the ledge; staying hidden behind the stone pillars as Meliadoul and Nikita followed me down into the lower level.
I was surprised to find the halls empty of Imperium Ultis soldiers, and something about this did not feel right to me. Only now that I was beginning to calm down did I realize that the Imperium Ultis did not seem the type to kidnap anyone- much less an assassin… but they were the only ones who knew of our Sanctuary's location; a random bandit clan wouldn't have the brains or would they know WHO they were dealing with, and the letter had addressed us as the Brotherhood.
"Whoever took Svina must have balls of diamond, that or they don't know who they're fucking with." Nikita scoffed angrily as we continued to delve deeper into the prison with no resistance. I couldn't help but chuckle as I turned to my attempted-murderer- turned-brother,
"Then lets show them… why no one harms my family." I said darkly, my voice dropping into a tone that was both foreboding… and motherly at the same time. Nikita smirked as he adjusted the grip on his sword and I stopped walking as we reached an apparent dead end- though there was a hole through the wall of the back left cell into the prison block behind it.
"Meliadoul, how is your lock picking?" I asked, doubting Nikita was tactful enough to be any better with the delicate skill than I was.
"Passable." She said blankly, catching the hint and dropping to one knee before the door and examining the lock before pulling out a pick and setting to work; the door swinging open after a few minutes and three broken picks.
"Better than I am, and that's good enough for me." I said with a shrug as I passed through the now open door and walked straight on into the opposite cell block. I was unsurprised to find this cell block empty as well, though I could hear a voice from down the only available hall.
"Oi! You are gonna be sooooo sorry you were ever even born when the boss gets here!" came the angered voice of Phoenix as he shouted at his captors- proceeded by what sounded like the muffled shouts of them putting a gag on him.
"Does this brat EVER shut up?!" said one of the captors as we drew closer,
"From what I can tell? No." said another voice this one sighing in disdain- and sounding far too male to be Svina. I stopped just short of the room where the voices seemed to be coming from, signaling for Meliadoul and Nikita to stay put as I peered around the corner to find not just Svina and Phoenix held captive- but a third person I had never seen before sitting tied up beside them. This man being a moderately elderly Dumner- looking older than Hadranius in the least- clad in rather unusual mages robes. I ducked back behind the wall, giving my companions a nod that we could enter the room with no problem- there was apparently only one kidnapper that I had seen; an easy fight for the three of us.
Nikita stormed out before I could blink, charging in with his sword drawn and ready to spill the blood of the kidnapper- but I wasn't expecting to nearly be knocked on my ass by Nikita being thrown back at me.
"So… Mother's favored blood has arrived, and she has brought friends. You should have asked me before bringing anyone else to your play date." sneered the kidnapper, his greasy looking black hair hanging limp and tangled about his gaunt face as he stared at me with deathly blank black eyes; his apparently heavily enchanted imperial armor suggesting he was indeed Imperium Ultis… but where was the rest of the insufferable group?
"Mother? Playdate? This guy's a lunatic." Meliadoul scowled as she watched this strange man, most likely looking for any signs of weakness or an opening in his deceptively calm defensive demeanor.
"Lunatic? How disrespectful… it seems Mother has not been disciplining the children enough. Don't worry, Father will fix that." the man said, his voice dripping with sadistic venom as he drew his sword and approached us- his eyes filled with a familiar hatred… and I froze. My mind flashing back to a distant memory I wanted nothing more than to forget.
"Mommy!" screamed a little girl of only seven years as she dashed in the front door of the house she had been born and raised in. She dashed to her mother who cradled her in her arms before hiding the fearful and crying girl behind her back, a man storming in quickly after- with rage and malice in his eyes as he approached the woman who guarded her daughter with determination in her eyes.
I was drawn from the memory by the sound of Meliadoul hitting the stone wall with a sickening crack; hopefully she was not gravely injured after such force being impacted on her spine. This man was far stronger than he appeared- though he looked plenty strong with arms as big around as one of a burly Orc. His lopsided malicious grin growing at the sight of the motionless Meliadoul; turning his eyes to me and it grew even more to see my obvious terror.
"What are you waiting for? Kick his ass!" Shouted Phoenix as he kicked at the floor, having shrugged his gag but his arms still bound as he sat beside the equally helpless Svina and the mysterious Dunmer captive. My eyes flitted to them, and in that moment their captor took advantage of the split in my attention to make a stab for my torso- this blade falling short as I dodged, though it did slice my thigh rather deeply in the process. My bound companions struggling against the ropes that held them as I fell to the floor clutching the wound in my hand as I brandished Steelheart from its sheath at my back. This was not the time to fight a long battle, a single nick was all I would need.
"A little girl with a broken soul, wielding a weapon from before her time. How quaint... Try as she may to slay the demons of her past; you can't kill a demon like me, not with that pathetic knife." the man sneered, my heart jumping into my throat… this mad man couldn't know my past- there was no way. I squeezed my eyes shut to block out his taunts and his cruel laughter as he watched me emotionally squirm, lunging blindly forward as I attempted to drive the blade into this man's chest; being knocked away like a silly girl, Steelheart clattering to the floor uselessly. "As I said, you can't kill me child." the man chuckled darkly- but then he coughed and gasped for breath; spinning about to reveal the Dunmer man smirking but still very restrained… and Steelheart buried to the hilt in the madman's back. The man snarled with his last breath as he fell to the floor face first, his blood being magically guided swiftly out of his body and onto the stone floor.
"Well, that was eventful- I did warn him he would rue the day he tangled with the likes of me; now if you would kindly untie these bonds I believe I can be on my way." the Dunmer said curtly, though his eyes seemed to hold a wary light as he looked directly at me; and I shivered slightly as I struggled to my feet, checking on Nikita and Meliadoul's injuries first- sighing in relief to find them simply unconscious.
I untied Svina and Phoenix first, both of them remaining silent about my slight breakdown. There would be time to explain… someday… but for now I turned my attention to the Dunmer, who seemed to become rather impatient and even more suspicious that we would free him at all.
"Who are you?" I asked him, frankly curious how he had moved my blade without even touching it- and something told me he was more than he seemed.
"My name matters little. Release me." he said simply, more like an order than a request. I chuckled at how easily this man could demand things in his current predicament, my nerves beginning to calm with this single moment of humor.
"Fine, tell me how you killed this man without the use of your arms." I ordered rather than asked, raising my eyebrow as I challenged this man's sense of authority over me. The Dunmer man sighed,
"A simple levitation spell, I have had many years of practice in several schools of magic. Might I leave now?" he explained, sounding like he was talking down to children before changing the subject back to his freedom. I said nothing to him as I turned to Svina,
"Why is this man with you?" I asked, curious about the Dunmer's involvement in their abduction; perhaps he had been the first man's partner in crime, who had simply angered his deranged friend enough to warrant his current status.
"This man was with us when we exited a ruin, we fought alongside him- he is a talented mage." she explained hurriedly, her nerves far more gone than my own after such an ordeal- no doubt Nikita would fawn over her when he awoke.
"Yeah, the geezer's packin' some good spells too." Phoenix piped in, a grin on his ever childish face.
"You flatter me, it was simply a taste of what my years of training have sown." the Dunmer said with an almost smug tone… and I immediately was reminded of Festus enough to smile. I knelt beside the Dunmer man and he flinched slightly as I drew one of my daggers.
"I will release you, but… I would like to know if you would join our family first." I asked kindly, my eyes hopefully shining with the sincerity I held in my words. The elf was wary of my suggestion that much I could see plainly.
"And what family might that be? The Dark Brotherhood perhaps?" he inquired intuitively and I could not help but smile.
"The one and the same." I said simply, the Dunmer man thinking for hardly a moment before he sighed.
"On one condition… if ever there is a contract for the life of a Thalmor agent- it must be mine." he said with an almost fiendish smirk. I scoffed lightly, seeing this request as more than reasonable; having granted specific contract requests in the past.
"Welcome to the family, Brother…?" I said kindly, my dagger slicing through the ropes with ease.
"Thuban." he said simply, his eyes focused on his hands as he rubbed his wrists from the chaffing of his bindings. I smiled softly as I stood and offered Thuban a hand, though he ignored it without any hint of malice or ill content; seeming even more self-reliant type than I had originally thought.
With our reason for being here finished and the kidnapper dead on the floor, Thuban cast a levitation spell to carry both Meliadoul and Nikita out of the ruin, and it was then that I wondered where Zany had ended up if he hadn't been ahead of us as he intended. I stepped out of the hallway into the main chamber where the sound of our archers drawing back their strings was the only sound over the quiet gurgling of a small waterfall surging through a crack in the nearby stone wall. At the sight of me they relaxed and stood at ease, Hadranius nodding in approval as Arren gave a small smile to see our brother and sister safe.
"Has Johnny arrived with reinforcements?" I asked, finding the flirtatious thief still absent. Hadranius sighed,
"The boy has yet to return. He will no doubt bring all of Dawnstar's forces here long after we leave." he said with a shake of his head, Arren chuckling beside him.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he arrives with his fly down… no doubt the reason for his absence." the ranger joked and I fought not to laugh as I shot him a warning glare; I wouldn't allow anyone to speak ill of him- or of Johnny in turn… even if it was an assumption I could understand of someone with Johnny's personality.
"If you are done gossiping, perhaps we could head home?" Thuban said with a slightly annoyed sigh- no doubt seeing us less as assassins and more like chatty old women; thought there were times I could understand such a notion. We exited the abandoned prison and found a very irate- more so than usual- Zany just approaching the door from the path.
"Where have you been?" I asked with a dumbfounded tone, surprised that Zany might have been goofing off rather than helping to save Svina and Phoenix.
"That passage I went in was a mess- the place caved in long ago and collapsed a bit when I entered, I had to clear the path enough to even get out the way I came." he snarled, though I could tell he was more shaken about being nearly buried alive than he let on.
"Well, our family is safe… it worked out in the end. Let's just go home." I said softly, the gruff Argonian simply scoffing before seeming to relax a bit- each of us rather tired from the stress of worrying if we would reach our formerly captive Brother and Sister in time. We could relax once we reached home, and after enough rest… I would begin to acquaint myself better with the family of Winterhold before moving on to the next Sanctuary to be restored.