A/N: Well, here's another one! Yay!XD Haha, alright, ok, I'll spare you all my excited energy. Probably because of the short moment of cutenessXD I just can't help but smile whenever I think of it – maybe it's just me, let me know. Anyway, on other news: Alysa will soon be on my deviantArt profile, so I'll keep you posted on when she's available for viewing. I'd put an estimate on halfway through lineart at the current state of things, so I should be done in two weeks, maybe more, maybe less (hopefully the latter). So, that's about it, enjoy, and review! Sithis guide your blade.
Chapter 13: To the Rift and the Ratway
"So you're leaving again, dear Listener?" Cicero asked – well, maybe he whined. He couldn't believe it – barely two days and she was leaving again! Cicero pouted when she nodded. "Sweet sister, dear Listener, can't someone else go?"
"No, Cicero: everyone else is busy, and the thieves will eat Aventus alive before he could ask which way was up," she folded the last of her things into a pack.
"Cicero admits, that would be funny," he smiles, "but really, what if they eat you, and Cicero never sees the Listener again?"
The Listener sighed. "Cicero, they'll really need a lot of help if they want to try and eat me – I promise you, I will come back. It's little more than a month-long journey there and back; I'll be back soon, and then for at least another month, considering what Astrid has heard about the wedding, and they're still planning it, so probably longer." She turned to face Cicero at the foot of her bed, smirking coyly. "But I'll miss you too, Fool of Hearts."
Cicero's heart stopped. She would miss him?! The great and mighty Listener, his sister Alysa, would miss him? Cicero grinned, bouncing on his feet and gave Alysa a bear hug! Well, Cicero supposes it was a Cicero hug, since a Cicero was giving it. "Uhm…" she breathed, tense and stiff like a plank of wood! Terrible terrible, really….
"It's rude not to hug back, mighty Listener," Cicero whispered into her ear. The Listener sighed, and slowly put her arms around Cicero. She was warm and soft, if not all that womanly like so many others Cicero had seen – they were just too big. But this Listener, this Alysa, was perfect for sweet, humble Cicero.
"Uhm, let go now, Cicero," Alysa said. Cicero heaved a sigh. "If anything goes wrong, I'll still have Aventus too look out for me," she said, turning back to her pack very quickly when I let go. Cicero didn't know what words to say, so his mouth made them all, fisting his hands. Aventus? That little boy? Cicero doubts he could save himself from a twig…. "Cicero doesn't trust the new boy… but very well. OH! I have something for the Listener! Wait for me! He'll bring it quickly!" How could Cicero forget, sweet Mother? He had asked the un-child to make those special ice poisons for Alysa, like that one she had used on the bard! Cicero giggles as he skips into his chambers.
He wishes he could have seen that! Ha ha ha! He he he! Oh, so funny! So funny! "There!" he quickly grabbed the small wooden six-pack box and cradled it in his arms, all the way back to his glorious, powerful Listener! Oh, the Listener… such an honor! Such an honor! Not that Cicero isn't honored to be Keeper, oh Night Mother! Heh…. "Here!" Cicero exclaims when he returns to Alysa sitting on her bed. He holds the box out to his Listener. "Cicero asked the un-child to make these especially for you – the same ones you used on the bard! Cicero hopes you like them…" Cicero watched her face light up, standing and taking the box. She looked at them, and then at Cicero, once more, twice more. She seemed a little awestruck to Cicero, really.
"Cicero, I…" she trailed, her eyes shining happily.
"Hey, Alysa! We're gonna be late!" Aventus called from somewhere else in the Sanctuary. Cicero frowned, and Alysa quickly made space for the poison in her pack, tying it off and hefting it onto her fine shoulders. Cicero marvelled at her belying appearance. She looked indecisive to Cicero, fiddling with the straps over her shoulders. Cicero cocked his head to one side.
Then she surprised Cicero: she stepped forwards, cupped Cicero's right cheek and lightly kissed his left. Cicero could have sworn she was blushing when she quickly strode away. Cicero felt that silly, big grin grow! Oh, sweet Night Mother! Hail Sithis! Cicero giggled, and danced! "Yes! Oh, yes! Bless the Listener, Night Mother! Bless her, Sithis!" Cicero called, skipping after Alysa. Cicero was sure she felt the same about him as he felt about her. Pity he couldn't go with to Riften…. But he waved goodbye, and he could see the same silly, big grin trying to come out on his dear Listener's face when she turned to leave with the boy.
I'd never felt so nervous in my life. What had I been thinking?! Kissing Cicero on the cheek… I felt a grin spread on my face despite myself, enjoying the cool, crisp air of Skyrim as I tried vainly to calm my racing heart. I walked a little straighter; my pack weighed down a little more by the bottles of poison Cicero had asked Babette to make me. I felt light, happy – and I giggled as I looked up at the sky.
Aventus gave me a strange look. "And now?" he asked.
I glanced at him. "None of your business. But if you haven't guessed, I'm feeling particularly happy. So shut up, and let me enjoy myself."
I walked a little faster to Falkreath, eager to move past the town. I had told Aventus to bring his Stormcloak armor with him after briefly re-explaining our long-standing feud with the Penitus Oculatus agents. He had pursed his lips about it, but agreed nonetheless. I had packed my plain leather armor, too. And we were walking. It put a slight dampener on my mood, really… it would be anywhere between little over three weeks and a month on the road, and that was assuming things went well. I supposed I should buy passage to at least one of the smaller villages to speed things up.
Falkreath came into view, and Aventus whistled softly next to me. I raised a brow at him. "Never seen the place before?"
He shook his head. "Never seen the graveyard…" he nodded in its direction. I pursed my lips and quickly dipped my head – a small edge of the graveyard was visible from our route, and it was still massive. "Is it really as big as they say it is?"
"It's bigger when you start walking through it," I replied, shifting my pack. My bow and quiver hung on my hip, and my hair was braided a-la-Babette. Gabriella hadn't been particularly chatty after her dreamy state from the night before. I thought of the amulet I was wearing under my armor, and how much it would be worth… I hoped more than five-thousand, at the very least. But, only Delvin would know.
A few people in town spared Aventus and me a few wary glances as we headed through the other side. My companion grumbled next to me, but I wasn't about to waste time for comfort. I didn't know all that much about the Ratway, but I knew enough to know we could probably find lodging there – thieves lived down there, after all.
I had initially planned on taking the scenic route along the roads, but decided cutting across the country would be much faster after it became apparent we wouldn't get a cart to take us. At least this way, it would help me judge Aventus's abilities and skills better. I had some interesting games planned out for him… I smirked. This would be fun. I knew a few mountain passes that would give us enough freedom to deviate, but were restricting enough that Aventus couldn't get lost. Unless he was some sort of idiot, really. Though I doubted that, and he should have some basic wilderness skills from his time with the Stormcloaks, so I'd start him off based on that.
Over the next two weeks in the mountains, Aventus had quickly learned about staying warm. Being a Nord, it didn't bother me as much, but it was still chilly at times, especially when I got wet for whatever reason. I sent him off on hunting trips most of the time, then followed a short while after he was gone to see how aware he was of his surroundings.
The first three times, I could have snapped a branch and he wouldn't have noticed. He didn't even realize I had left the camp. So I started making him aware of the little things, and had him meditate at times just to listen. An assassin who couldn't sense change was a dead assassin. After that, his hunting trips were a little more cautious, a little more aware of his surroundings. He caught his prey faster, but struggled to notice me at times.
Eventually, we spent most of our traveling days playing this game, and I finally decided to test out what Aventus thought he knew. So I switched our positions – I would lead, he would follow. At least twice a day I'd shake him, circle back and he would end up with my daggers at his neck. It was pitiful, really. But he quickly learnt to ask questions and discuss strategies, and he slowly got better. By the time we passed the Ruins of Bthalft, he could just parry my attack. So we switched again, and our travels were considerably shortened as we tried to shake the other.
I often succeeded in losing him through the night, and Aventus had an easier time tracking when the trail was almost cold. We followed the road when we came across it, and little over a week later we arrived at the western gate of Riften. A small coinpurse bought us anonymity and passage into the city, and the smell of the river was stronger, worse than outside. A small market was set up in the center of the town, and we headed over for information. I had no doubt the guards could provide me with the whereabouts of the Ratway, but I wasn't particularly interested in raising suspicions. Aventus had a scowl on his face.
"Fond memories of Honorhall, hey?" I asked offhandedly, and Aventus snorted in reply.
"Only the time you showed up to kill Grelod and when you came to tell me she was dead."
I grinned, but he looked a little wistful, as if he had made friends in the orphanage that he had lost touch with. "Do you know where the Ratway is?"
"The Ratway?" my companion asked, shocked.
I nodded curtly. "We need to get inside. Do you know where it is?"
He shook his head. "Sorry, no: I just know the Thieves Guild is there. I didn't hear all that much about it as a kid."
"Hmm."
I had counted on it being common knowledge, and I didn't want to ask a random stranger or a guard in case we raised suspicions. I walked over to the stalls, my cowl and hood around my neck like a black and red scarf, a cloak covering my armor. Aventus was dressed similarly, except his cloak was warmer than mine. "Buy us a room at the Bee and Barb for three days, I'll start looking so long," I said softly, handing him my pack and sauntered towards beggars. I knelt beside a woman. "The Ratway," I said, putting a handful of coins into her hands.
The filthy old woman widened her eyes, quickly snatching the coins away. "Come," she said, standing surprisingly quickly and leading me down a flight of stairs to the river, across a makeshift walkway to a door. "I' the'e," she said pointing, then scurried away. I looked around, making sure I had the route memorized as I went back up to the main city. It was almost twilight, and too late for a run-in with thieves – they weren't a particularly diplomatic bunch, like us assassins. We'd head down in the morning.
I found Aventus in the common room, and told him what I knew. He nodded, and we had a hearty meal that the Argonian proprietors cooked up. I narrowed my eyes when a well-dressed, wealthy-looking girl around Aventus's age walked in, and a look of wondrous recognition crossed his face. As he made to stand, I put a hand over his arm. He frowned at me. "Be careful of what you say to whom; one slip up to the wrong person is a betrayal, and betrayal only happens once per member…" I purred lowly, enjoying the expression he wore when he realized what I insinuated. He followed her with his eyes as she just glided by with the grace of an aristocrat, to embrace a man who looked to be her lover. Aventus fell into his chair again, his shoulders sagging a little. "I used to know her," he murmured wistfully, turning back to me, and stared at the half-eaten plate of food. I just nodded. Emotions and dealing with them were new to me; I wasn't the right person to hand out advice. And besides, once you became an assassin there is suddenly a long list of people you used to know.
Cicero sighed, chin in hand as he sat at his table. It was lonely without the Mighty Listener! A grin creeps over his face. Ooh-hoo-hoo! The Listener had kissed Cicero! On the cheek! And Cicero was sure she had blushed… Cicero giggled, jumping up and skipping to Mother. "Oh, Mother! 'Tis a wonderful day! Lonely, yes, but Cicero has memories to make the day wonderful! Oh, sweet Night Mother, Unholy Matron, how IS your Listener? Is she well? In Riften? Perhaps on her way back already? But no, it's too soon for that… so Cicero wonders. But I know you know! And I know you will look after your Listener, won't you, Mother? Cicero hopes so! Cicero knows so, he he," Cicero stopped, almost waiting for the Night Mother to speak. But she didn't. Not to me, anyway!
Cicero wonders what she sounds like… he'll have to ask Alysa! Alysa will tell him! Oh, he misses that pretty little Nord… Cicero wonders what she's doing, if that horrid Imperial Aventus was trying to court her…. Maybe I should have another talk with the boy when they returned. Make sure he understands his place in the Family. Cicero sighed heavily. Maybe he should train, keep fit and get his mind of the new blood. Cicero took his ebony dagger, locked the Night Mother and his chambers, and made his way to the training area. Humble Cicero wishes Alysa was already home…. I watched Festus cast spells at the dummies, setting them on fire, electrocuting them, freezing them… Cicero had always found magic interesting, but he could really only cast a basic healing spell and some Destruction magic: a very simple fireball, and one called Sparks, but Cicero had forgotten how to do the last one…. He should ask Festus about that one again. But after he trained.
Cicero settled into his fight easily, remembering how quickly he had to learn to protect his many Families from the Penitus Oculatus… Cicero snarled at the thought of those dogs! He fought harder, faster with the air. Finally he stopped. Someone clapped. "Impressive, Keeper. Perhaps you would like something to fight against?"
I turned to see Festus still in the training area. Cicero nodded quickly, breathing deeply. It's been a while since he's trained like this. Cicero is enjoying it. "Wait a moment, though, for dear Cicero," Cicero said, quickly pulling off his cap and shirt: he doesn't want to be too hot, and he doesn't want a burned jester's cap. Not at all – after all, what's a jester without a cap? I nod at Festus, almost expecting the wondrous wizard to take up a blade. But Cicero knew he wouldn't. A Flame Atronach appeared, crackling and hovering next to Festus, glowing warmly. "Go," Festus commanded, and Cicero braced himself for a proper fight. Flame Atronachs are difficult to kill, after all.
Aventus had spent most of the night asking all sorts of questions about the Dark Brotherhood, kills and strategies, signatures and trying to find tips on how to get better. At least he was trying to learn. By midnight I could tell he was worn out, though - and I ordered him to sleep, and lay down in my own bed, on my back for a change.
He was sleeping on the floor, since he hadn't bothered to ask for a room with two beds. After a few moments of blank peacefulness, I thought about the Sanctuary and Cicero. I found myself rubbing my chest. My heart ached for something, and every time I thought of Cicero, it would pang a little less for a few seconds before it remembered he wasn't here. I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer to the Night Mother to keep Cicero safe, and to bless that Fool of Hearts.
I stretched out at a little before dawn, uncomfortable on my back. I felt exposed.
I padded past a still-sleeping Aventus to wash up and prepare for the day ahead. Thieves and assassins never got along very well. I smirked at the thought, strapping my Dark Brotherhood armor into place, and threw my cloak over it. I headed back to my shared room, and toed Aventus. "Wake up. Things to do, places to go," I said, watching as he sighed and slowly rolled upright, rubbing his eyes and yawning. He frowned at me when he met my disapproving gaze and I finally stopped nudging him in the side. "You should be dead five times over," I explained.
"But we're in an inn, for the love of Sithis!" he complained.
"Doesn't mean you're safe. If you're not at home, you're a target for the Oculatus agents. And even so, they've managed to find many of our Sanctuaries. The others have been closed to keep the Families together, remember?" I shot back, tossing his armor at him. "Go… do what you do in the morning, and meet me in the common room for breakfast. And be quick, Aventus. I'm not sure how long we'll be down there." I turned on heel after strapping on my daggers to my thighs, my quiver and bow along with three frost poisons to my belt and covered it all with my cloak. I ordered food for both of us, and eventually settled for a tankard of ale when Aventus flew down the stairs, stopping for just long enough to let his own cloak cover him as he sat down opposite me.
"What's the plan?"
"I have no idea what's waiting for us down there, so we go in assuming it's crawling with things that want to kill us. Then we make our way to wherever the thieves are and find Delvin Mallory," I said, stirring my stiff, white porridge to soften it.
"Then we talk to him about whatever Astrid gave you?" my brother asked softly.
"Yes. Hopefully he can help."
Aventus just nodded. I didn't want to explain about the amulet Amaund had given me, in case someone overheard and understood what was going on was actually about an assassination. There was simply too much at stake, for both me and Aventus, as well as the Brotherhood. We finished quickly, leaving a few coins on the table as we headed out, all of Riften covered in a deep crimson and orange glow. It was beautiful, really.
I led Aventus down the way the beggar had shown me, and at the door we stopped. He tried it both ways. "It's locked," he stated, as if he was entirely confounded by the idea.
"So pick the lock," I said.
Aventus looked at me blankly. "I don't know how."
I rolled my eyes, pulling out my picks and nimbly unlocking the door. "You'd better learn…" I said, stowing my picks and opening the door.
I took my bow in hand, notching an arrow as I dropped a little, silently moving along the passage. Aventus followed behind me. "Close the door," I breathed, my voice echoing softly off the walls. A soft click confirmed my command, and Aventus slid his axe out of his belt. An axe is a stupid weapon for an assassin, I thought, sneaking down the stairs. Voices met my ears. I touched my frost poisons. Babette had redesigned the bottles so that we assassins could easily dip arrowheads and dagger tips without wasting, and so that we didn't need to untie it from our belts. I loosed the lid, cringing at the soft 'pop'. I dipped two arrowheads in the poison, holding one in my bow hand as I stalked my prey. I drew my bow as a Bosmer woman came into view. Her eyes widened in surprise, and before she could utter a syllable my arrow caught her in the throat. She gurgled, and I could see the poison freeze her. I fired the second into her heart, and she fell. Her companion appeared a moment after her body fell. Aventus took the lead, running last me, a feral snarl on his face.
He smashed the other elf's bow and half-notched arrow, and with a short cry slammed his axe into the elf's shoulder, then skull. I wrinkled my nose at the sound. I didn't like it: so unclean and barbaric. But, they were dead, and we weren't. In the meantime, I had replaced the poison's lid. The seal was broken, so it wasn't as properly closed as it should have been, but it would do. I pulled another two arrows, carrying them in hand. I nodded at Aventus when he crouched and looked at me. "Good work."
He grinned at my compliment, and I took the lead again, following the passages and cutting our way through until finally we came to a section with a lever for the drawbridge.
I pulled it, and it lowered with a satisfying thud. I grinned under my cowl, and silently ran across. We came to a room with a table, and a few odds and ends on it. A door with a haphazard carving of 'Ragged Flagon' was at the opposite end. I presumed this was the go-to for thieves. Aventus and I headed in after stowing our weapons. Let the negotiations begin.