"Father, you worry too much. I'll be fine."
"I know you will. But all the same, remember everything I said. Stay alert, and when you get to the cities, make you observations and move out."
On the rooftop of the lumber mill in Dragon's Bridge, Diamond crouches in the shadow of a chimney and frowns into the chill wind gusting off the northern hills. She checks her pocket watch for the third time.
Already having stolen Gaius's travel schedule, and already memorizing each of the towns right down to the "T" all she has to do is wait for Gaius to depart from his father and use Libby's fast traveling map to head to Whiterun, as it would seem like the most proper place to murder Gaius.
Commander Maro, a man standing with pride, has a shortened beard matching the color of his brown hair. He wears armor forged in red and grey and black, the emblem of the Oculatus at the center of hi breastplate. He is rather intimidating, she'll give him that, but it won't matter when he's broken after the loss of his son.
Diamond adjusts the position of her legs and rolls her neck. The sun has nearly set, the temperature dropping with each passing minute. Unless they can reveal the weaknesses of the Faceless, she isn't going to learn anything useful from their conversation.
It has been so long since she's done something like this – since she's crouched on the wooden rooftops and learns what she can about her prey. At least is feels like it. Here, now, in Dragon's Bridge, it feels like . . .
It feels like she's never left. As if she might look over her shoulder and find Libby crouching behind her. And she will return to the Dark Brotherhood.
Diamond sighs, tucking her hands under her arms.
Finally she sees Gaius leave his father and start to head off on his journey. Diamond straightens from her crouch and hurries off the roof. Some harrowing climbing and a few jumps soon has her back on the cobble streets.
Seeing as how there's little to no point about following him, Diamond pulls out Libby's fast-traveling map and marks Whiterun. Her skin tingles as she feels it ripple into ash, and shuts her eyes.
When she opens her eyes, she's just on the outside of gates, near the bridge. She finds Shadowmere out by the stables, so she trots her way up the small hill, pulling her cloak tight to hide traces of her uniform.
The cloud has shifted into an overcast and Diamond makes her way straight to the Bannered Mare just as the first sprinkle of drops hit her hood. Warmth immediately seizes her and she pulls down her hood.
The owner, Halda, smiles as she wipes the counter. "Come in, please. We've got warm food, warm drinks, and warm beds."
Diamond nods and smiles as she strolls over towards the fire. "Starting to rain out there. Hopefully there are no travelers caught in it."
"On the bright side, we'll have fresh crops for the upcoming winter." Holda smiles.
"I suppose."
Diamond waits until nightfall, seated atop the only room on a second floor, with a balcony overlooking the entire inn. She sits in one of the chairs poised next to a table, a book in her hand and pretending to read as the bard plays on the lute though nowhere near as talented as the one back in Libby's mansion.
It'll be several days before Gaius arrives, so Diamond settles herself in for the night.
In the morning, she changes into some clothes offered in the wardrobe and hangs her cloak on the coat hanger. Making her way downstairs, she manages to buy an apple and a slice of pie before heading out into the town with the intention of scoping out the blacksmith's shop, but stops short when she comes back up to the Gildergreen tree she first climbed on her first visit. It still blooms with beautiful flowers of pink and a few petals already sprinkling the atrium.
Looking all around, her eyes settle on Jorrvaskr, the home of the Companions; that band of warriors they encounter when they came to Whiterun after the dragon attack on Helgen. There's the sound of grunting and the metallic clang of weapons.
Without realizing it, her feet are already walking up the steps towards the sounds. She then makes a left and rounds the back towards a training yard. Her eyes instantly find Aela as she's recognizable with her coppery red hair and face paint. She watches a young woman as she slashes and hacks at a dummy posed with a wooden sword.
"Don't just lazily swing your blade. You get another chance to strike." She instructs. Diamond eases her way up to the wall and peers her head around. As if sensing her presence, a chill runs down Diamond's spine as she could've sworn Aela had sniffed the air before her head turns right to Diamond. She resist the urge to squeak in surprise as Aela's eyes peer at her like a predator. "Well, never thought I'd see you again." she smiles.
Diamond emerges from her hiding spot rather timidly as she approaches Aela. She gives a small smile as she takes up a spot next to the huntress as the young woman whacks at the dummy.
"Where's you charming friend?" Aela asks, a sarcastic tone on 'charming.'
Diamond can't help but giggle. "She's out in Riften, and I'm just visiting for couple days."
"Hm." Aela responds. "Have you considered our offer?"
"I did. But I'm afraid I have too much going on to put forth the effort."
"Shame. But don't worry, the offer doesn't expire. Unless you're stupid enough to wind up in prison."
Without realizing, Diamond suddenly says, "With my luck, that's a definite possibility."
"As I said, if you take up the offer, go see Kodlak Whitemane. That's all I can hint."
Diamond is about to reply when she hears a familiar voice emanates from the lower district of the market. Her instincts making her go rigid, she barely gives her regards before she takes her leave. She makes it to the landing of the stone steps when she sees the familiar form bearing the emblem of the Penitus Oculatus entering the Bannered Mare.
With a day to waste away until he falls asleep to spend the night, as well as ensuring the owner has turned in for the night, Diamond squares her shoulders and heads down to the blacksmith to spend her well earned money.
A storm accompanies the dark night over Whiterun, and the assassin takes it as a sign of Sithis accompanying her with the entire city bathed in shadow.
Even with new the Dwarven Hammer slung onto her back, the shutters swinging in the storm winds were the only signs of her entry.
The assassin presses herself into the alcove at the thud of approaching steps. Concealed beneath her black mask and hood, she wills herself to melt into the shadows, to become nothing more than a slip of darkness. The Redguard servant girl trudges past to the open window, grumbling as she latches it shut. Seconds later, she disappears down the stairwell at the other end of the hall. The girl didn't notice the wet footprints on the floorboards.
Lightning flashes, illuminating the hallway. The assassin takes a long breath, going over the plans she's painstakingly memorized in the hours she's been waiting for her prey as well as the inn itself. Five doors on each side. The target's bedroom is in the far back room.
Diamond listens for the approach of any other servants, but the house remains hushed as the storm rages around them.
Silent and smooth as a wraith, she moves down the hall. The target's bedroom door swings open with a slight groan. She waits until the next rumble of thunder before easing the door shut behind her.
Another flash of lightning illuminates two figures sleeping in the four-posted bed. The man seems no older than twenty-five.
She creeps closer to the edge of the bed. It isn't his place to ask questions. Her job is to obey. Her faction depends on it. With each step towards the merchant, she runs through the plan again.
Her dagger slides out of its sheath with barely a whine. She takes a shuddering breath, bracing herself for what would come next.
The man's eyes fly open just as the assassin raises her dagger over his head.
His eyes remain wide as Diamond slides the dagger home, jamming it up into his heart.
He sags into the bed. Diamond brings her mouth to his ear, holding him upright with one hand and twisting the dagger with the other as she whispers. "May your soul serve Sithis."
As his blood pools into the pelts beneath him, Diamond makes sure to plant the incriminating letter into the inner pocket of his belt to make sure it would seem he wanted it to remain hidden.
She wipes her dagger on her cloak and tucks it away, then slipping her way out of the room, careful to avoid much of the fire that could reveal what she's done as the blood easily reflects in the light.
Slinking out of the nearest door, Diamond pulls her hood up over her head and waits until she is out of sight before pulling out Libby's fast traveling map. She points to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary and closes her eyes, whispering the arcane words Libby had taught her.
Diamond can feel the transport happen because there's always a tickling sensation all along her limbs whenever she feels herself getting shifted through countless fields of magic and realms before feeling the familiar warm air of Falkreath.
Quickly she hurries to the door and eases her way inside, scuttling down the steps only to find Gabriella waiting. "Ah, at last. I've been anxiously awaiting your return."
"Gaius Maro is dead." Is all Diamond says as she pulls down her hood.
"Yes, I know. As does Astrid. You've done well, Sister, and have earned both your reward and a bonus as I have mentioned."
Diamond takes the coin purse and clips it to a strap on her belt.
"However, you should know that we have a more pressing matter to deal with."
Diamond's heart sinks. "What's happened?" she nearly demands.
"It's . . . Cicero." Diamond winces at his name, remembering too easily his wide eyes and insane voice as he discovered her as the Listener. "There's been an incident. You should proceed into the Sanctuary."
"What happened, is everyone all right?"
"I'll let Astrid explain."
Gabriella has barely finished her sentence before Diamond rushes down the steps and into the main chamber of the Sanctuary. Everything seems normal at first glance, until she rounds the giant rock column at the epicenter of the camber and realizes everyone is crowded around . . . Veezara . . . who sits in a pool of his own splattered blood. Astrid looking disturbingly pale, possibly frightened if Diamond was seeing things and Arnbjorn isn't present.
"Just try to relax, Veezara. Let the elixir do its work. You'll feel better, shortly." Babette says.
"Ah, thank you, dear. You are most kind. The jester's cut feels as bad as it looks, I'm afraid."
"Veezara!" Diamond exclaims a she hurries over to the Argonian, her knees aching as she drops to the stone floor, placing a careful hand on his shoulder. Her cloak fans out around her and covers the tip of his tail.
"Diamond." He grunts. His hand covers a wound that is still in the process of bleeding, staining his hands and seeping through his tunic, but Diamond can tell the elixir Babette gave him was made to heal the skin, bandages aren't needed.
"What happened?!"
"Dammit, this never should've happened!" Astrid angrily speaks. "We knew better. We knew better and we still let our guard down. Agh!"
"I'll admit, even I'm having a hard time disagreeing with you . . ." speaks Festus Krex.
"Astrid what -?"
"Maro is dead, I know. But we've got bigger problems right now." Her voice is as sharp as the blade of her dagger.
"What happened?" Diamond repeats as she carefully rises from her spot next to Veezara. "Gabriella mentioned something about Cicero . . ."
"The fool went absolutely berserk! He wounded Veezara, tried to kill me, and then he fled. I knew that lunatic couldn't be trusted."
"What? That babbling idiot tried to kill you?!" Diamond feels her blood run cold as she tries to imagine the incident. To take Astrid by surprise is a rarity, but to try and attack her . . . Perhaps the fool did have a death wish, what with all of his babbling and chanting and speaking that of a chosen one to hear the creepy voice of a dead corpse.
"It's true, I'm afraid." Festus chimes in. "Cicero was a little whirlwind, slashing this way and that. It would've been funny, if he weren't trying to murder us all."
Nazir then says, "Don't forget about the ranting and raving. About the Night Mother, how she was the true leader of the Dark Brotherhood, and Astrid was just a "pretender."
"Look, we've got to deal with this situation. You've got to deal with this situation." says Astrid.
"Me, what do you want me to do?" Diamond asks, though she knows the answer already.
"I want you to find that miserable fool and end his life!"
Diamond tries not to flinch at the increase of volume in Astrid's voice. She's always kept a calm and cool composure. To see her so distraught is unnerving as Diamond feels like she could snap at any moment and unleash the true darkness that lingers within her.
"But first . . . find my husband. Make sure he's all right."
"He went after Cicero."
"Yes, after the attack. He flew into rage and went after Cicero. They disappeared into the wild." Her voice quickly shifts to sudden worry and pain that resembles something almost human. Diamond has never seen Astrid express such humanistic emotions, that she nearly forgot that's what she really is.
"I'll find him. Maybe there's something in his room that can shed some light on here he might have gone."
"Let me know the minute you find something. I've got to see to Veezara and calm everyone down."
"Yes, Astrid."
"Bested by a fool. Who's the fool now, hmm?" Veezara speaks, wincing as merely speaking brings pain. Cicero must've cut an artery for such little motions to make Veezara try his best to hide his pain.
"Hush Veezara!" Diamond demands as she kneels before him, placing her hands on his strong shoulders once again. Small spikes of his reptilian skin bump under her hand as she calmly rubs his back. "You were very brave. Astrid may well be dead if not for you."
"She's right. I'll be forever in your debt, dearest brother. Not be quiet. Just . . . just rest." Astrid coos.
Feeling the rage and hatred towards the jester, as well as fueling it with the annoyance she's had since his arrival, Diamond pushes to her feet and hurries off to Cicero's room. Barely even a room as it once was a room where old pots and ancient treasures once were, now replaced with a simple cot bed draped with pelts a simple table and bookshelf and end table.
Diamond scours the entire room, not even caring as she rips down all of his borrows clothes, casting them to the floor and rummaging violently through every possible small nook and cranny in the space. She comes to his table/desk, which is littered with papers and books as if he has only stepped outside for a moment. As she reaches for the first paper, her eyes fall upon the faded red leather journal – the cover being completely covered with scribbling of Sithis and – and of the Night Mother and the Brotherhood.
Countless sketches of the Night Mother, some in long lines, some forming symbols like the ones she'd seen on the Night Mother's coffin. Diamond starts stacking them into a pile. She could learn more by invading his journals.
Upon skimming though most of his journals, up until the page leading to the three days ago she was captured by the Faceless, Diamond spots his final journal half tucked beneath some papers.
This copy, though it might look older, is the newest from the dates he scribbled at the top left corner of the pages. Still, there was so much worn out from it that Diamond shudders at the thought of what he had done to the item to make it appear older than it really is.
And written on the inside cover is the riddle.
"Sweet Mother, Sweet Mother, send your child unto me,
For the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in
Blood and Fear."
The Black Sacrament.
Diamond flips through the book, scanning for any information. Nothing. Only mindless babble of voices in his head. constantly hearing the Night Mother's 'sweet and intimate voice.'
And then she turns to the near last page. And there, Cicero had written –
"I must find her. The Listener. I must reach Astrid the errors of her ways, the beauty and necessity of the Old Ways. But Cicero will keep this Sanctuary as his sanctuary! A place to rest mad ply my trade, for I once more take up the blade, and send some lucky souls to Him, when laughter strikes, as fits my whim!"
What sanctuary? Theirs? That is an impossible task. There's a mention about sending a letter, so Diamond only assumes that he means their sanctuary. But them why would be flee if he wanted to take it over?
Unless . . .
Unless this wasn't the place he wanted to claim Sanctuary. How can that be? The rest were wiped out after the Great War. Astrid even said this is the only remaining Sanctuary of the Brotherhood.
She reads on . . .
"What is life's greatest illusion?"
"Innocence, my brother."
"By the gods." Diamond breathes, and rushes out of the room. "Astrid!"
Diamond's feet easily carry her down through the short passageways and back out to the chamber where she finds Astrid speaking with Veezara.
"Astrid!"
She rises with wide, yet once again calm eyes. "Have you found something?"
"It's Cicero's journal. It says he's headed to an abandoned sanctuary in Dawnstar. His journal states the passphrase."
"The Dawnstar Sanctuary? Whatever for?" she shakes her head a second after. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. You need to leave. Now. Every moment counts, so take Shadowmere and ride to Dawnstar."
"I will."
"And find my husband, make sure he's all right. And then, send that jester's little soul to the Void, in as many pieces as possible."
Diamond forces a grin and bows her head. "I promise, Astrid."
She immediately turns to leave, overhearing Astrid's ranting as she nears the door. "I took that little fool into my home and this is how he repays me?"
Pushing her way through the door, she finds Shadowmere already poised outside and neighs with eagerness. The pinch of hurt that appeared when Astrid so casually mentioned the existence of another sanctuary when she so clearly told Diamond there were no others, seeps into her chest. Diamond mounts and takes a few trots out before she pulls out the map and points to Dawnstar.
With the snow constantly covering the village of Dawnstar, Diamond pulls her black cape around her, savoring its warmth. She follows the path as best she can, looping around the town towards the very back near the icy shoreline.
Rounding an outcropping of rocks, Diamond is thankful for her eyes being so adjusted to the shadows. She easily spots Arnbjorn; though anyone can spot Arnbjorn if they care to look since he's openly sitting outside in the cold in a warm pool of his own blood. His warhammer dropped at his side.
Diamond dismounts and hurries to his aid. "Arnbjorn."
"Should've figured Astrid would send you." he bitterly growls.
"You're hurt."
"What gave it away?" he grunts through a bitter laugh. "Yeah, got to admit that little jester is good with that butter knife. But don't worry. I gave as good as I got."
"Where is Cicero now?" Diamond demands as she discards her cloak.
"In there through the door. Some old sanctuary, by the looks of it."
"What gave it away? The hidden location or the ominous door with the giant skull on it?" Diamond mimics his tone to her, earning her an amused glare.
"I would've followed him in, but I don't know the phrase." Arnbjorn doesn't argue as Diamond wraps her cloak around his shoulders, tugging the hood over his head.
"I know the phrase. I'll get Cicero." Diamond snarls as she rises to her feet and faces the Sanctuary. "You go home."
Arnbjorn looks like he's about to argue, but it must be something in Diamond's expression that makes him decline and sigh. "Alright, you've convinced me. Doubt I'd be much good to you anyway. The little fop cut me pretty deep."
"You can take Shadowmere home. It'll be faster."
"What about you?"
"I'll get back." Diamond helps Arnbjorn to his feet and even manages to hoist him onto the horse. "You stay safe."
"You too. And don't worry, I cut him pretty deep. Pretty sure I severed an artery. Don't know how you're going to find him in there . . . but you can probably just follow the blood."
Diamond nods as Arnbjorn takes the reins of Shadowmere. "You be careful."
"Same to you. And . . . thanks."
Diamond gives a slight smile as she approaches the door. She was too busy with Arnbjorn to gaze at it, but now . . .
It's an exact replica of the one guarding the Sanctuary back in Falkreath. She approaches it, carefully running the tips of her fingers over the skull and handprint, her breath shuddering as she feels the warmth of the handprint beneath. As if it's warm like blood.
Her fingers have just braised over the skull of the head of the skeleton when the voice whispers, causing her to jump back, nearly stumbling into the dirt.
"What is life's greatest illusion?" the door asks with the whisper that elongates each word.
Diamond reaches for Cicero's journal clipped to her belt and brings it forward, flipping to the page where it contains the passphrase. Keeping her fingers as the bookmark, the wind annoyingly stuttering the pages. Diamond reads the passage and takes a deep breath.
"Innocence, my brother." She speaks.
There's the sound of a lick clicking free. Her heartbeat kicks to jackrabbit speed as she envelopes the ring knocker in her hand.
Yanking the door outward, the wind suddenly mimics the howling of a demon as it wisps inside. Drawing her warhammer, Diamond gives a few reassuring spins, exchanging it between her hands and whirling it behind her in dizzying circles before gripping it firmly in her hands.
Keeping it close, pressed against her side, she takes a step descending into the dark passage.