Diamond keeps quiet as she enters the Sanctuary. Morning was breaking as she bypasses the skull door. She stretches and yawns before walking in. The door shuts behind her and she carefully treads down the steps.
But when she arrives, Astrid is already waiting for her. Diamond halts her steps as Astrid approaches. Her face is blank.
"We need to talk." She says.
"Of course, Astrid. What is it?" Diamond asks, careful to keep a proper posture.
"Look, I've been thinking about what you've said, about The Faceless." She says. "If the Night Mother really did give you an order to talk to a contract, we'd be mad to ignore it. And I think we'd both agree, Cicero's brought quite enough madness to this Sanctuary."
Diamond nods.
"So go. Go to Volunruud. It's a crypt pretty far to the northeast. Talk to this Amaund Motierre. And let's see where all this leads. Hmm?" Astrid says.
Diamond sighs. "Can I at least rest for a few minutes?" she asks.
Astrid looks back. "Of course. Sorry to make it seem like you never rest. You may visit him tomorrow when you're well rested."
Diamond nods and heads down through the main chamber of the Sanctuary up to the bedrooms. She throws herself onto her bed and as soon as her head hits the pillow, her eyes shut instantly.
Libby finishes purchasing Potions of Healing at the Apothecary shop Elgrim's Elixirs, located on the western end of the channel in Riften on the lower level. She had delivered an ore sample to a blacksmith in Shor's Stone a while back, and she's been a welcome customer ever since.
"Thank you." Libby smiles sweetly.
"Don't forget us if you need potions and ingredients." Hafjorg, Elgrim's wife says.
Libby nods and exits the shop. She adjusts her new cuirass as she rounds the lower level. It was around noon when she decided to finally leave Honeyside. Her wounds healing faster with every flick of her wrist, activating the Healing ward.
She spots the Thief's Cache barrel and looks through it. A Thief Cache is a barrel that can be looted for various items. The Thief's Cache shadowmark is present on the side of the Barrel. It's sort of an award for the Guild members. It's stashed with all the gear and equipment a member would need such as: lockpicks, potions, and some weapons. Another barrel is located up top next to Honeyside. This one has thirty-two lockpicks, a Potion of Prolonged Invisibility, and a Potion of Stamina.
She walks until she reaches the staircase opposite the Square. Climbing up she's just outside Honorhall Orphanage.
As she walks to the gate, she keeps a hand on her stomach. A feeling similar to when one drinks too much mead, is knotting in the pit of her stomach. She almost knelt over the docks afraid she might start retching.
This is her first mission with Mercer. The first ever in her nineteen years with the Guild. The pressure is enough to make Libby's insides twist. Add that she's about to lure him intoa trap, and the fear of him catching on before that makes Libby's intestines writhe like someone's stirring them with a fork.
She takes a deep breath as she pushes through the gates. Saddling up her horse, Libby mounts and clicks her tongue. They head down the main road and Libby keeps a grip on her map. Her main stop would be Windhelm, every other stop she'll camp overnight.
Taking a deep breath, Libby snaps her reins and trots up the hill.
The ruin is south-east of Winterhold, directly north of Windhelm, and slightly north-east of Stillborn Cave. Throughout the day, she stops through Shor's Stone, follows a carriage to Windhelm. From there it's a straight shot north to Snow Veil Sanctum. The sanctum is a multilevel dungeon full of draugr and a number of tripwires, bone chimes and pressure plate based traps.
Libby keeps to the main roads as best she can, then when the snow starts to blur the cobblestone, she pulls up her hood and keeps her grip on her map tight. On her map she follows the path to Stillborn Cave, and then turns right instead of left. Trotting her horse up to the mound she finds Mercer standing outside in the front. Libby notices a dead horse off to the side near a campfire and a tent with a bedroll inside.
She dismounts and approaches Mercer, rubbing her arm to wipe away the goosebumps.
"Good, you're finally here." Mercer says. "I've scouted the ruins and I'm certain Karliah is still inside."
"You saw her?" Libby asks wide-eyed.
"No, I found her horse. Don't worry I've taken care of it . . . she won't be using it escape." Mercer says. "Let's get moving. I want to catch her inside while she's distracted. Take the lead." He orders.
"Yes, sir. Understood." Libby says.
Mercer gives a sly smile. "Hmm, quaint. Just make certain you keep your eyes open. Karliah is as sharp as a blade. The last thing I need is you blundering into a trap and warning her that we're here."
Libby nods and is about to climb the ruin, when she stops. Karliah was probably more than ready, but still buying her a little time doesn't hurt. She turns to Mercer.
"What, what is it?" he asks.
"Tell me about Karliah." Libby continues. Mercer glares. "If we're going in there, I need to know what we're up against."
Despite Mercer's stern look, he sighs. Libby plants her bottom on the ruin when she's halfway up, and hugging her ankles.
"She was a stubborn Dunmer . . . always had to do everything her way." Mercer says. "But she was also the best . . . bringing in more coin a month more than some thieves heist in a year. Gallus trusted her too much and let her get too close."
"So, they had a relationship?" Libby perks with interest.
"If you want to call it that, yes. Me? I think she was softening him for the kill. Gallus would call her his "little nightingale." He was absolutely smitten by her."
"Why did she kill him?" Libby presses.
"Greed? Jealousy? Spite? Who can say what drove her to such an iniquitous act. One thing's certain. I intend to find out before she draws her last breath."
"But isn't murder like, Dark Brotherhood territory?" Libby says. "Why not hire someone?"
"You know as well as I do that the Guild has a long standing arrangement with the Dark Brotherhood. If I need someone in the Guild taken care of, we do it ourselves. We both agree it's best to keep these matter in house." Mercer says.
"So then, how did Gallus die?" Libby asks.
Mercer sigh in aggravation. "Twenty-five years ago I was standing outside these very same ruins. Gallus told me to meet here but he wouldn't say why." Mercer tells. "When I arrived, Gallus stepped from the shadows. Before he uttered a sound an arrow pierced his throat."
Libby's eyes widen and she hugs her ankles tighter. The urge to dig her fingernails in his eyes thrashes inside her chest like a Sabre Cat. But she bites the inside of her bottom lip.
"Before I could even draw my blade, her second found its mark in my chest."
"So, Karliah took on both of you alone?" Libby asks.
"Karliah was a master marksman and her greatest weapon was the element of surprise. I was lucky . . . she missed my heart by mere inches." Mercer says. He folds his arm and leans against the ruin. "I staggered away from the ruins and my vision began to blur. It's then that I realized the bitch had poisoned her arrows."
"And, Gallus?"
"The last thing I saw was Karliah dumping his body into an opening atop the ruins; an unceremonious end for a remarkable man. To this day I've regretted allowing her to escape, even if it meant I had died trying. I owed Gallus that much." Mercer says.
"What happened after Gallus died?" Libby asks shyly, twirling the end of her braid.
"The Guild was thrown into disarray. Several stepped up and tried to claim Gallus's former position as Guild Master. Sides quickly formed behind these men and the Ratway became a blood bath." Mercer describes.
"And you were a part of this?"
"I saw what they did to Gallus. I wanted to use the Guild's resources to hunt down Karliah. The others didn't even care he was gone. Fortunately, I persevered and the other groups were either killed or they left Skyrim. " says Mercer.
"And what of Karliah?"
"The infighting had taken months to subside which gave her time to go into hiding and carefully cover her tracks." He says. "I spend thousands of septims and used every contact at my disposal, but it was if she had simply vanished . . . like I said before, she was the best."
"Well then, let's take her down." Libby springs from her seat and dusts off her pants.
She climbs her way up the ruins and heads down the steps wither Mercer on her heels. When she reaches the door, she halts her steps when she sees blood splattered on the floor going in. Her stomach clenches, and she swallows back bile. She knows it's already locked, but it can't be picked. Libby steps back and observes the door as Mercer comes down. Karliah must've done away with the key.
Libby jumps as Mercer speaks close behind her. "They say these ancient Nord burial mounds are sometimes impenetrable. Mm, this one doesn't look to difficult." Mercer says.
He brushes past her, and Libby walks up to observe; giving a small amount of room.
"Quite simple really, I don't know what the fuss is about these locks. All it takes is a bit of know-how and a lot of skill." Mercer says.
Libby steps closer as his fingers flick left and right. Then he stands. "That should do it." Libby approaches and pushes the door open with the gentlest touch of her fingers. The doors open wide on silent hinges.
Suddenly she feels Mercer's hand press to the small of her back. His fingers are so long that, though the heel of his hand touches one side of her back, his fingertips still touch the other. Libby's heart pounds so hard her chest hurts, and she stares at him, wide-eyed.
"After you." He says in a quiet voice.
He lifts his head and stands back. Libby can still feel the pressure of his palm even after it's gone. Libby takes a deep breath and readies her bow as they enter in. After walking down a narrow passage, they come to a circular room with a pillar at the epicenter. The smell of dusted corpses and torch smoke thickens the air to make breathing a chore.
"Ugh, the stench in here . . . this place smells of death. Be on your guard." Mercer instructs.
Further in, the come to a room in a semi-circle with a dead draugr sprawled on the floor. There are three gates, two on the left wall, the other ahead leading to the next room. Libby loots it for gold, loots all the urns and the trunk at the peak of the semi-circle, then pulls the chain on the wall. It doesn't open the gate they want, but Libby still goes and finds a Potion of Healing and Stamina.
She walks around the room to find a lever that opens up the gate. She heads down a small set of stairs into another chamber, this has coffins lined along one wall, standing upright or laying on the floor. Bodies of draugr are scatted around.
"Pull the chain over there and watch out for the spikes." Mercer instructs. "Looks like Karliah reset all the traps."
Libby nods and goes over to the chain, wedging herself into the hinges and pulls. The gate rattle and swings, banging to a stop inches from the wall, the spikes centimeters from penetrating Libby's flesh. The gate retracts and settles back.
Perusing forward they head down deeper and come to a gathering burial chamber. Where they stock more than one body into the walls. Up ahead, Libby can see a draugr with his arms crossed, head down. She narrows her eyes and loads an arrow.
Pulling the string back, the arrow flies and pierces the draugr in the gut. It groans and collapses to the floor. Libby eases her way in and finds another standing opposite of it. She notions to Mercer who nods. Libby loads another arrow and aims for the head. The arrow hits, but the draugr still awakens.
Libby rolls out of the way as it steps down, letting Mercer slash at it with his Dwarven blade. "You're death will be my triumph!"
She watches as he spins in a circle with one blade in each hand, slashing at the draugr. Libby is stunned as with every slash he made, she could see the life force of the draugr leech from its body to Mercer. She readies an arrow, but the draugr is about to strike when Mercer slides in front and blocks its weapon. He pushes off and stabs it in the head. It collapses.
"That wasn't a fight, it was an execution." He boasts, sounding bored.
As they navigate through the maze of tunnels, Libby keeps her eyes ahead when she hears sloshy footsteps ahead. She slinks close to the wall and loads an arrow. A draugr wielding a greatsword comes walking up. When she aims for the head, it drops to the floor, tumbling down the stairs.
The sound of another one ahead, makes Libby load another arrow. She creeps in just as it steps out from its sarcophagus. She impales its eye and watches as its body erupts in flames from the enchantment on her bow. Mercer comes in with a slash to its jugular before its dead, again.
Another comes running up and shoots an arrow at Libby. At the last minute she rolls out of the way and shoots her own, impaling it in the draugr's stomach. Libby sheathes her bow and pulls out her sword and dagger. As the corpse swings an axe, Libby blocks, thrust, and kicks its legs out from under it. Spinning her blade she stabs it through the chest.
Two more Draugr Scourge come from the crypt and Libby swears under her breath. Before she can launch, the draugr opens its mouth, and instantly Libby's blasted back into the wall by The Voice, as the Nords call it.
The impact would've knocked the wind right out of her if she hadn't flipped in midair and have her feet land on the wall; the second they do she pushes off and keeps her arms straight in front of her, her blades out. She manages to get both its eyes, and swings with her momentum forward, flipping it over her and into a third draugr approaching.
The one that it crashed into staggers back and tries to get up before Mercer comes running in and sticking his dagger through its jaw and slicing off its head.
Libby swallows thickly.
"Two more of them ahead." Mercer says.
"Are you kidding me?" Libby breathes.
She looks and finds more draugr out of their sarcophaguses and weapons ready. Sniffing the air, Libby look to the floor to find kerosene. There's an archway that has a tripwire. Libby activates it and a lantern falls igniting the fuel instantly. The draugr have thick, guttural screams that bounce off the crypt walls.
When they're down, Libby stalks through the room and finds another gate. Pulling on the chain they head down a small hallway and on her left is a room with strings of bones strewn together, dangling on the ceiling.
Mercer comes up behind Libby. "Bones chimes . . . clever. Rigged to wake the draugr I'd bet. Don't blunder into any of them."
"Is that your favorite word or something? Blunder?" Libby teases.
Libby chuckles as she weaves through the chimes to the other end of the room where she opens the gate. She quickly glances over her shoulder to check if it woke the draugr, but they remain still. As dead corpses should be.
They head down a curving corridor, and Libby believes they're so far underground that her ears begin to pop. As they near the end, into the next wide chamber are two more armed draugr. Libby can see more coffins spread along the floor. She and Mercer hadn't even entered when the lid of another coffin pop jerks off; a cloud of dust billowing in result. A draugr throws its legs over the edge and eases its way out.
This is going to be bad.
Libby loads an arrow and shoots the one coming out of the coffin and it thankfully dies instantly. However it attracted the attention of the others. Calculating the number of footsteps, there's at least ten of them in there. And if they all possess the power of the Voice, this could get very, very bad.
Mercer charges in while Libby stays hidden in the doorway, shooting her arrows undetected. She manages to shoot out three before four more come running in, gathering around Mercer. Instantly, Libby charges into the room.
"I'll spit on your corpse!" Mercer yells.
Libby runs in loading another arrow. A draugr spots her and she watches it inhale. As it shouts, Libby launches herself into the air, flipping and grabbing an arrow and firing it. It pierces as the draugr opens its mouth for anther shout; sticking through its mouth.
Mercer grunts and falls to one knee as the draugr ready for the killing blow. Libby loads her bow and shoots three arrows, one for each. They land in the head, stomach and shoulder; only the victim of the headshot falls. With another one behind her, Libby sprints forward and pushes off her toes.
Her hands grab the one draugr by the shoulders as the other two come up behind her. She twists harshly so that the draugr's arms flail, slapping the other two, making them stagger. One pushes up and charges for Libby, and she flips over it, kicking its legs out from under it, and then driving her dagger into its chest. It deflates and relaxes to the floor.
Libby hears the slings of steel and jumps and flips out of the way as another one swings its Warhammer. Two more gather around, encircling her.
"Hmph, you've just written your own epitaph." Libby smirks.
Libby spins the blades of her sword and dagger out, snarling. One decides to strike, and Libby kicks her leg up, nailing its jaw, and when one goes to slash her with his sword, she grabs its wrist and flips it over her back.
Mercer finally rises, as two more file in. One Draugr Scourge grabs Libby from behind while they charge towards her. Libby kicks both her legs to the sides and wrenches herself from Scourge, then spinning and kicking it in the head. She stabs her sword in its side as it falls. Mercer takes on the final one and spins slashing at its torso before it dies. Without asking if he's okay, Libby retrieves her arrows from the bodies, inhaling deeply to catch her breath.
"Gods, I fucking hate these things!" She shouts, slamming her foot into a dead draugr's head.
"Calm down," Mercer speaks. "Karliah must be close. Lead on."
Libby stares at him hard before she sheathes her dagger and sword, pulling out her bow again. They head up a set of stairs off to the right and up into hallway where she kills a skeever. Heading up further they come to a walkway above the crypt they were in moments ago. The walkway has a chain guard around it, and Libby can't help but be grateful for the safe feeling it gives her. Falling to her death always was a fear of her; never really her favorite way to die.
She turns left into another hall, internally whooping with joy when she finds the door leading into the inner sanctum.
"Karliah always was a nimble minx . . . slipping past these draugr must've been child's play for her." Mercer says.
Libby huffs as she pushes through the door. They've entered the main crypt; cubby holes all along the walls are filled with draugr. Some looking like they might come alive, others not. Libby stops when she finds one that may come to life. She loads an arrow, but thinks; it would be easier to sneak past them rather than shoot them all. Libby sheathes her bow and hears Mercer do the same.
They creep down three steps before she hears the sloppy footsteps of an awoken draugr. Libby signals to Mercer to wait, and he does. She picks up a rock and tosses it to the gate at the end. It clangs loudly and attracts the draugr.
Libby snickers. "Dumbass."
Libby silently rolls up to it with its back turned, and pulls out her dagger. She reaches up and clamps her hand over its mouth, ignoring the feeling of moist skin and snaggletooth teeth. She buries her knife in its throat all the way up to the hilt. Then prying it loose, she prepares herself for the feeling of blood, but none comes.
The sense of danger tingles her spine and Libby instantly spins around and knocks aside the blade of another draugr and kicking it in the side. Dipping low she swipes its feet out and as it falls leaves her dagger pointed up so it stabs through the draugr's neck.
Mercer comes up behind her, heading for another one ahead. "You're not a threat . . . merely an annoyance."
Libby sneaks her way to the gate, which is piled with pots to alarm Karliah. Libby can't help but give credit to her. When Mercer said she was the best, it was the truth. Libby makes mental notes to try these things the next time she's on a case.
Mercer cuts down the draugr, and Libby opens the gate, the pots clattering all over the place. Libby notices a pressure plate the second before she steps in; jumping back, she bumps into Mercer as small arrows fly this way and that.
"Sorry," Libby mumbles as she steps away from Mercer.
They continue through and Mercer says. "We're on the right track. She's been through here as well."
Libby doesn't say anything as they round a corner to another draugr. Libby snarls, sheathes her bow and draws her knife, raising it above her head. The draugr turns at the last second, Libby drives the blade into its skull.
Grabbing the scruffs of hair atop its head, she holds it there as she stabs the corpse in the heart, then the stomach. It falls with a guttural growl and Libby beats its head into the stone cropping of the cubbyholes. Mercer looks to her with raised eyebrows, and Libby only continues on.
The bound up more stairs and find an already defeated draugr lying on the floor. Up ahead is a hallway with large double iron doors at the end. It must lead into a larger chamber, and that can mean more draugr. The word not fills Libby's mouth with a bitter taste and her lip contorts into a snarl.
She kicks the door open and sends three big pots skipping across the stone floor. On a platform up front, two coffin tops pop off and the growling of draugr can be heard. Libby loads an arrow, but coats with Frostbite Venom before firing. The draugr dies instantly, and Mercer sneaks in and up the steps to attack the other Libby stays on the lower level, firing arrows as he approaches. When Mercer's up, he merely stabs it in the diaphragm before if falls.
"Hmph, hardly a challenge." He says.
"Now I know why I never come down these things." Libby says.
She heads up to the platform and loots a large chest filled with potions and more of her arrows. With looting the bodies so she doesn't lost them, her quiver now has over eighty arrows total. Handing off a Potion of Healing to Mercer, Libby shuts the trunk and jump down to a gate on the left wall.
Turning a corner, Libby comes to find one of the Nordic puzzle doors at the end of a corridor. She sheathes her bow and walks up to the door. Mercer follows behind.
"Ah, it's one of the infamous Nordic puzzle doors. How quaint." He says with a coldly amused tone.
"How do we get in?" Libby asks.
"Without the matching claw, they're normally impossible to open. And since I'm certain Karliah already did away with it, we're on our own." Mercer says.
"Well, you said normally. Meaning you have a way, I presume?" Libby says.
"Fortunately these doors have a weakness if you know how to exploit it. Quite simple really." Mercer says.
Mercer kneels down and Libby folds her arms and watches as he fiddles with the lock. With a snap of fingers the three rings all spin in unison to the correct code and the door begins to slide down after two bumps down. Dust and grit shook down around her, pieces of grime landing in her hair.
"Karliah's close, I'm certain of it. Now let's get moving."
Libby nods and readies her bow. She had only gone two steps in when an arrow pierces her chest. She lets out a nonverbal scream of pain and her vision suddenly blurs and tints everything to green. Libby staggers and wobbles to her knees. She mumbles something, it barely sounds as she collapses to the ground.
Her eyes stiffly flutter open. Her body is still, and the pain in her head is throbbing slightly. Fear ices her spine as she can only twitch her fingers. It feels as if someone has replaced her blood with molasses, and her bones with lead. But she's still breathing. Not deeply; not enough to satisfy but breathing. She's completely paralyzed.
Footsteps echo into her ears and she half expects Mercer to help her up, but he steps over her, stopping as a figure emerges from behind the main burial mound, a bow in her hand. Despite her vision and the shadows casting across the figure, she could tell by the round contours of the chest and waist it's a woman.
Karliah.
Libby can't even lift her head to double check that it's who she thinks it is. Mercer stays put. Both of them doing a standoff. Libby's mind is so blurry, her brain prickling with rapid thoughts, and her fear has escalated to where she's starting to rule out reason. Libby lets out a slight whimper and watches as Karliah stops a few feet from Mercer.
Libby hears him speak. "Do you honestly think your arrow will reach me before my blade finds your heart?" he sneers.
"Give me a reason to try." Karliah replies. Her voice was so soft and feminine.
"You're a clever girl Karliah. Buying Goldenglow Estate and funding Honningbrew Meadery was inspired." Mercer says.
Libby tries to move her muscles, but she's as still as a statue. She can't even open her mouth wide enough to mutter a sound. Karliah sheathes her bow.
"To ensure an enemy's defeat, you must first undermine his allies." Karliah quotes. "It was the first lesson Gallus taught us."
Libby's heart triples in speed, at least she thinks it does. All she feels is a gentle patting in her chest.
"You always were a quick study."
"Not quick enough, otherwise Gallus would still be alive."
Libby feels her heart pound against her chest.
"Gallus had his wealth and he had you. All he had to do was look the other way." Libby twitches her fingers in the impulsive attempt to clench her fist.
"Did you forget the Oath we took as Nightingales? Did you expect him to simply ignore your methods?" Karliah provokes.
"Enough of this mindless banter!" Mercer barks, drawing his blade. "Come, Karliah. It's time for you and Gallus to become reunited!"
Libby watches as Karliah pulls out a potion and tips the bottle to her lips. As she wipes her mouth, she vanishes. Invisibility potion; Libby has seen so many of those put to use, she can still see the outline of Karliah.
"I'm no fool, Mercer. Crossing blades with you would be a death sentence. But I can promise the next time we meet, it will be your undoing." Karliah hisses before Libby watches her outline walk up the steps.
Mercer sheathes his sword and as he walks towards Libby, she considers closing her eyes and pretend to be out, but then their eyes connect and it's too late. She feels weak, but she doesn't care. She just wants to move, and get out of this cursed crypt.
"How interesting." Mercer starts. "It appears Gallus's history has repeated itself."
Libby's throat tightens.
"Karliah has provided me with the means to be rid of you, and this ancient tomb becomes your final resting place."
Fear burns through Libby's chest and warms her arms and legs. She manages to let out a small cry, mimicking that of a lost puppy. Her breath catches on a shuddering sob. Mercer grabs Libby's chin with his hand, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"But you know what intrigues me the most? The fact that this was all possible because of you." says Mercer, his voice is harsh as he bites each syllable into pieces.
"M-Mercer . . ." Libby grunts.
Mercer's lips contort into a grotesque parody of mirth. He lets go of Libby's chin and rubs his palm across her cheek, tangling his fingers in her hair. Mercer grins deviously and presses his mouth to Libby's. She whimpers as his kiss is firm and certain. His fingers are strong against her scalp. When he pulls away, Libby gasps for breath.
"At least a kiss is still a kiss." He lets go and stands up, drawing his sword. "Farewell, I'll be certain to give Brynjolf and Diamond your regards."
He approaches Libby, and Libby can feel her eyes water and herself whimpering. Mercer tightens his grip on the blade, and looks to Libby.
She doesn't see the blade go in, but she feels it. Pain spreads through her body and her voice manages to overpower whatever poison that has been infused in her veins, and screams as loud and wide as her mouth is willing to open. Tears run from the corners of Libby's eyes as she feels the blade leave, and a steady stream of blood pools from his side. She can't tell how much, but she's assuming it's enough for to bleed out in seconds.
An invisible thread pulls her towards sleep, but she wants to be awake. It is important that she wants to be awake. She imagines that wanting, that desire, burning in her chest like a flame. The thread tugs harder, and she strokes the flame with names. Diamond. Thrynn. Vex. Cynric. Brynjolf.
But she can't bear up under the weight of Mercer's sword.
Her eyes close, and she hears the whispers of the dark as it encloses around her.
The cold air nips at Diamond's raw cheeks as she approaches the burial mound. When Diamond's atop of Volunrrud, she jumps down and draws her sword. Her mask allows her to see the aura of living things. Undead or alive. The Undead have a cold blue, while living have a crimson red, mimicking blood. Diamond quickly adjusts her ponytail, securing it tightly with her rubberband.
She then goes into a crouch as she pushes through the doors. The crypt is found north of Silent Moons Camp and Halted Stream Camp, in The Pale hold. The smell of mildew, algae and rotted flesh cause her nose to wrinkle in disgust. Unfortunately her mask has no built in filters.
When entering, Diamond immediately stabs a skeleton sitting on a throne chair to the left. Down the stairs is a large chamber with four branching paths to begin. Squinting her eyes, Diamond watches the auras arise. Two red ones in the southwest. The southwest tunnel leads to a room with a glass skyline above. Diamond finds at least five dead draugr sprawled along the floor, and a closed door. Sheathing her dagger, she kicks at the door and it instantly opens.
Inside is a man wearing fine clothing that could only hint he comes from high places.
"By the almighty Divines. You've come. You've actually come." His voice is filled with envy. "This dreadful Black Sacrament thing . . . it worked."
"The Night Mother head your pleas, Motierre." Diamond says. She keeps her grip on her dagger as she finds a guard standing in the back of the room, arms crossed.
"Yes, um . . . So it would seem. Well, I won't waste your time." He assures. "I would like to arrange a contract. Several, actually."
Diamond stands tall and crosses her arms.
"I daresay, the work I'm offering has more significance than anything your organization has experienced in, well, centuries." Amaund says.
"Go on." Diamond says.
"As I said, I want you to kill several people. You'll find the targets, as well as their manners of elimination, quite varied. I'm sure someone of your disposition will probably even find it enjoyable."
Diamond nods in agreement.
"But you should know that these killings are but a means to an end. For they pave the way to the most important target." Amaund continues. "The real reason I'm speaking with a cutthroat in the bowels of this detestable crypt. For I seek the assassination of . . . the Emperor."
Diamond's body grows cold and numb. She unfolds her arms and can't stop her eyes from widening. Her heart triples in speed as she stares at Amaund.
"I'm sorry, let me just clarify." Diamond says. "You want us to kill . . . the Emperor. Of Tamriel?" she steps closer. Her voice asking for verification.
"That is correct. What I ask is no small thing, of course." says Amaund. "But you represent the Dark Brotherhood. This is . . . what you do? No?"
Diamond shifts uncomfortably.
"You must understand. So much has led to this day. So much planning, and maneuvering. Now, it's as if the very stars have finally aligned." Amaund says. "But I digress. Here, take these. They need to be delivered to your, um . . . superior."
Amaund claps his hands. "Rexus. The items."
Diamond grips her dagger tight as the guard approaches her. "Here." He says. And he hands Diamond a jeweled amulet and a sealed letter.
"The sealed letter will explain everything that needs to be done. The amulet is quite valuable – you can use it to pay for any and all expenses." Amaund explains.
Diamond runs her gloved thumb over the jewels of the amulet. Encrusted with amethyst gemstones, it winks at her in the candlelight; it sparkled in her grasp, as if each jewel held its own glowing ember within. She looks to Amaund, her eyes then flick to the guard.
"Is there . . . something else you need?" Amaund asks, impatient.
"Why do this? Why have the Emperor assassinated?" Diamond asks.
"In the year 3E 41, Emperor Pelaguis Septim was murdered in the Temple of the One in the Imperial City. Cut down by a Dark Brotherhood assassin." Amaund explains. "His killing ushered in, shall we say, a necessary change in Imperial policy."
Diamond taps her foot.
"There are those now who wish for a similar change. I am sorry, but that's all I'm at liberty to say. You must deliver those items to your superior. And I . . . I must get out of this foul place."
Diamond nods and leaves the room, walking back outside. She stands in shock outside the tomb. And emperor. The Emperor of Tamriel.
Wait until Astrid hears about.
Wait until Libby hears about this!
Diamond runs up out of the tomb and heads back to Dawnstar where she catches a carriage ride back to Falkreath. Her seemingly endless supply of adrenaline propels her all the way through the woods to the Sanctuary. She barges through the door and down the steps to Astrid, whom is hunched over her desk.
"You're back. Good. All right, so? Did you meet this Motierre? What did he want?" Astrid interrogates.
"Motierre wants us . . . to kill the Emperor." Diamond manages to say through breathes.
Astrid looks to her with surprised eyes. "You're joking." She states.
Diamond hands her the amulet and note.
"What's this?"
"The letter explains it all. Then amulet if for expenses." Diamond says.
"By Sithis, you're not joking." Astrid says in astonishment. "To kill the Emperor of Tamriel . . . the Dark Brotherhood hasn't done such a thing since the assassination of Pelagius. In fact, no one has dared assassinate an Emperor of Tamriel since the murder of Uriel Septim, and that was two hundred years ago."
"Surely the Night Mother would've misdirect us . . ." Dia says.
"No, she certainly wouldn't. And . . . for whatever reason, she chose to relay Motierre's information to you. I don't know exactly what's going on here, if you're the Listener, or this is some fluke, or what. But what we now have before us . . ."
"So, we'll accept the contract?"
Astrid laughs. "You're damn right we'll accept it.'
She suddenly pulls Diamond close, shoulder to shoulder as she gazes ahead. Picturing the plan in front of her.
"If we pull this off, the Dark Brotherhood will know a feat and respect we haven't seen in centuries. You think I'd abandon an opportunity to lead my family to glory?"
Diamond shakes her head.
"But this is all so much to take in. I need time to read the letter, and figure out where we go from here. And this amulet. Hmm."
"What are you thinking?" Diamond asks.
"I'm thinking we need that amulet appraised. I want to know where it came from, how much it's worth, and if we can actually get away with selling it." Astrid explains. "And there's only one man who can give us what we need – Delvin Mallory."
The mention of Delvin's name sends goosebumps of excitement along Diamond's skin at the opportunity to tell Libby about this opportunity.
"Delvin is a fence, a private operator. Works out of the Ratway, in Riften." Astrid says.
"I know. My best friend works there too . . ." Diamond reminds.
"Oh, of course. Sorry." Astrid giggles. "Sometimes I forget the importance of your friendship. Give me the letter. Take Mallory the amulet. Find out everything you can, and sell it if he's willing. He'll offer a letter of credit – that's fine."
"But why him?" Diamond asks
"Delvin Mallory and the Dark Brotherhood have . . . history. He can be trusted." Astrid insists. She hands Diamond the amulet back and dismisses her.
Diamond nods and scampers out of the Sanctuary. She navigates her way to Riften within a few hours, the dark curtain of night draping over the city as she pushes through the gates.
As she jogs through the streets out to the cemetery, her ears catch the conversation of a couple.
"I had another run in with the Thieves Guild." A woman says.
"Be careful, Mjoll. The Thieves Guild has Maven Black-Brier at her back." Her husband warns.
Diamond ignores them and sneaks her way to the mausoleum entrance. But as she pushes the button, she tries to screw the top, but it won't budge. Diamond tries again, but it's locked up tighter than a drum. Diamond knocks on it a few times, then banging hard to let members know she needs to get it. But nothing happens."
"What the hell?" she mumbles.
Her heart thumps in her chest, though she tries to ignore it. The Guild doesn't usually lock up the Cistern entrance. Diamond pushes away her growing thoughts and heads back out to the Square, and jumping down to the entrance to the Ratways.
She takes a torch from its bracket and follows the path she knows by memory from Libby showing her around one day. She finds the drawbridge and places the torch on an empty bracket as she enters the main room and down to the Flagon entrance.
Diamond enters the Flagon and finds that a merchant has set up shop right outside. Word must be getting around about the Guild again. Libby's hard work finally paying off.
Diamond walks up the ramp and calls, "Hey Delvin -" but she stops when she finds the entire Flagon empty.
The only person there is Vekel the Man who runs the bar. Diamond tucks the amulet away in her pocket as she comes up to the bar.
"Hey, Vekel,"
"Diamond" Vekel looks to her in surprise, as if she startled him. "What are you doing ehre?"
Diamond can't get past how nervous he looks. He keeps looking over his shoulder or around the Flagon. He keeps wiping the counter – as if cleaning is suddenly a priority, avoiding her eyes, but that doesn't concern her. What does concern her is the troubled look on his face.
"I came for Delvin on some Brotherhood business, but where is everyone?" Diamond asks.
Vekel keeps wiping the counter. "They're all in the Cistern, but you shouldn't go in there." He warns.
"Why, is it like some big meeting?" Diamond peers over to the hidden cabinet door.
"Of a sort. Why don't you wait out here?" Vekel suggests. He slaps a heavy tankard filled with ale in front of Diamond, though she hasn't ordered a drink.
"Why? What's going on in there? Is Libby back?" Diamond chirps. Without waiting for an answer, she runs past Vekel.
"Diamond, no!" he shouts.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry. Libby will tell them to let me stay." Diamond says.
"Please don't -"
Vekel's words are cut off by the door clasping shut.
From the small tunnelway, Diamond can see the other members as she approaches. They've all gathered around Mercer's desk, but everyone stands a few feet from one another. As Diamond gets closer, she hears Brynjolf bark. "How could you let this happen?!"
His voice is angry and, hurt.
"She only walked to feet in front of me, Brynjolf!" Mercer growls back.
Something terrible has happened. Dia can feel it with every thump of her heart. It's Libby. She's been hurt.
No one notices Diamond until she's right outside the crowd. Someone tries to stop her, Niruin, but she just maneuvers her way up to the front. Mercer leans again his desk clutching his side and blood blooms under his uniform. Brynjolf whirls around to meet Diamond's eyes. His own are red and swollen.
"Dia," he croaks, then clears his throat. "Vekel wasn't supposed to let you in."
Diamond is afraid to ask, because she knows the answer, but she does. "What's going on?"
Her gaze flicks from Brynjolf to Mercer, who only shakes his head.
"Where's Libby?" Dia demands.
"I'm sorry, Diamond." Brynjolf says.
"Sorry about what?" Dia says roughly. Tell me what happened!"
Her lungs burn; her next breath rattles as on the way in. She looks to Vex, Cynric, Etienne, but they all refuse to look to her.
Brynjolf takes a deep breath. "Mercer and Libby were on Karliah's trail. They had just entered the inner sanctum . . . and Libby . . ." he folds his lips in. "Libby was shot. And she didn't make it. I'm so sorry."
This must be a lie, because Libby is still alive, her bright eyes and her cheeks flushed and her body full of power and strength, standing in a shaft of light in the Cistern. Libby is still alive.
"No," Diamond says, shaking her head. "No way, there has to be a mistake."
Brynjolf's eyes well up with tears.
Something inside Diamond collapses. Her chest is so tight, suffocating can't breathe.
"Diamond," Brynjolf starts. He extends a hand to Diamond's shoulder. "Look, this isn't your fault. You're just a -"
A hot burst of fire explodes in her chest. She smacks Brynjolf's hand away; her eyhes blaring with anger.
"Don't you dare call me a kid!" she says hotly.
The acoustics of the Cistern make her voice louder than her tone; bouncing it around the circular room. Tears brim the edges of her eyes, blurring Brynjolf's features, making it hard to see.
"I've done things that a mere kid wouldn't be able to do!" she hiccup through her sobs, and tries to sound fierce, but her voice breaks. "You don't know the things that I've seen. The things that I've done! I AM NO CHILD!" she's shouting now.
Her voice pierces her own ears and rings around the Cistern; raw and agonized, flaying the air with their fury.
"I have plenty of skill! I've done so much!" she pauses trying to fight back tears of her anger and sorrow, but they spill over and run down her face.
Diamond read somewhere, once, that crying defies scientific explanation. Tears are only meant to lubricate the eyes. There is no real reason for tear glands to overproduce tears at the behest of emotion.
Libby always thought we cry to release the animal parts of us without losing our humanity. Diamond now thinks she is, was, right. Because inside her is a beast that snarls, growls, and strains for freedom, toward Libby.
"This one time. The one time she needed me . . . and I wasn't there for her!" she screams.
As hard as she tries, Diamond can't kill the animal. She can't kill it.
So she sobs into her hands instead.
Diamond hunches over, unable to support her own grief. She sinks to the ground, the stone is rough under her knees. Still can't breathe. Diamond presses both palms to her chest and rocks back and forth to free the tension in her chest.
She wheezes. Brynjolf steps towards her; easing his way carefully as if afraid to startle her.
"Diamond . . ." he whispers. But to her, his voice sounds muffled, like she has submerged her head underwater. The details of Brynjolf's face have also become difficult to see, the world smearing together into dull colors.
Diamond springs up to stand before he could come any closer. Suddenly, the Cistern becomes too cramped with the other members.
Diamond wants to escape. Diamond needs to escape.
She runs.