A week went by quietly. Men and mer of Cyrodiil went about their business as usual. The town of Skingrad settled in for the night, people bustling through the streets trying to get out of the heavy rain. It hid the tall stone buildings behind its thick grey curtain and the water washed down the streets in little streams.

Erina Jeranus sighed, as she looked around the ground floor of the West Weald Inn. It was really a quiet Middas evening, yet she had the normal mix of people in her public parlour and was fully booked. Her gaze wandered over the faces, the regular locals clinging to their beers, adventurers bragging about their deeds while wasting themselves away with beer and a sad little excuse of a warrior. For a moment she frowned. The little Bosmer was wasting himself away in this bar for a couple of days now and she wondered why he wasn't staying in the Fighters Guild hall. But then she shrugged, it wasn't her business after all and this mer did not bother her. Not as much as this travelling merchant upstairs did. She did not know why, that Dunmer merchant was a regular as well, booking a room every Middas night and leaving the next day. He always paid for his room and food and kept to himself. Yet there was something about him, that made her uneasy and she was actually quite happy, that he always stayed upstairs, enjoying his wine and then retiring for the night. It was not that she had something against Dunmer in general, even though she found their red eyes unsettling. But this mer... he had a dangerous air about him. She could see it in his eyes that she would be ill advised to mess with him.

Erina shook herself and turned away from the counter, dedicating her full attention to her dirty dishes. She started humming a slow melodie and pulled the kettle with hot water from the fire, pouring it over the mugs before adding some soap. She did not notice the tall Altmer woman entering her Inn and looking around the public parlour. She did not notice her climbing upstairs to the first floor.

The Altmer pulled her dark hood off, as she silently made her way upstairs and looked around. The Dunmer sat with his back to her in an alcove, looking out of the window while sipping on his wine. A wicked smirk appeared on her face and her fingers twitched. Turning his back towards the entrance was so careless. She could easily sneak up on him and put a dagger between his ribs. But that was not the reason she was here and ultimately she made her presence known. The last thing she needed right now, was a fireball coming her way and knowing his reputation that was a likely thing to happen. So she walked up to the man, purring in her sweetest tone of voice:

"Hello lonely man."

He did not bother to turn towards her, but his voice was full of menace as he sneered:

"You get any closer, and I'll turn your bones to ash. Now back off!"

She let out a low husky laugh and ran her hand lightly over his shoulder as she walked around him and sat down on the chair opposite him.

"No you wont."

She was still smiling as their gazes met, but her smile never reached her eyes. He raised a surprised eyebrow.

"Arquen. What are you doing here."

Her smile disappeared and she reached for a glass in the rack and poured herself some wine.

"I needed someone to talk."

She finally said, her voice low. His trademark scowl only deepened.

"You came the whole way from Anvil in this weather, because you needed...someone... to talk?"

He shook his head.

"Hard to believe. What do you want from me?"

Arquen sighed, turning to look out of the window. The rain still hid everything behind its heavy curtain, she could barely make out the lights of the street lamps. She liked the rain though.

"Can we talk somewhere more private?"

She asked without looking at the Dunmer. Alval Uvani regarded her a little while, a sinking feeling in his stomach. She would not have come to him if it was not of utter importance. And as for lately there was so much amiss. He slowly stood up and grabbed the wine bottle.

"Follow me."

He simply said and led her to the room at the end of the hallway. Not perfect, but at least the room had a door to lock. The Altmer Speaker settled herself on his bed, while he leaned against the window. Arquen took a deep breath.

"It's Shaleez, Alval."

She finally said, locking her gaze to his.

"She was killed two days ago."

Uvani turned to gaze out of the window.

"The same as the others?"

He asked, his voice flat. Behind him Arquen nodded.

"Yes. Throat split from ear to ear. Her head was almost decapitated."

The Dunmer's brows furrowed together as he turned to face her.

"Damn, Arquen! This can't go on. The Black Hand needs to act! NOW!"

The slender woman got up and started pacing.

"I know! We need to find that damn traitor. He has started attacking the Black Hand itself. It's only a matter of time and one of us will be his next target!"

Alval Uvani rubbed his fingers over his chin in thought. The method of killing, it was so familiar, there were only few who preferred this method, since it could be quite messy. And only one who actually had the skill to pull such a feat off.

"Any words of Lachance?"

he finally asked quietly. A shadow crossed her face and her hazel eyes darkened a bit.

"No. None at all. Contracts still go ignored as well. It's like Cheydinhal has been shut down."

The dark elf nodded. That were disturbing news indeed and it did nothing to ease his growing suspicion.

"You think, the traitor already got to him?"

Arquen asked, yet her voice sounded as if she came to the same conclusion as well. The Dunmer shrugged.

"I don't know. It is not like Lachance at all to just disappear. Everything he does, has purpose. And he always cared about Cheydinhal."

He took a sip out of his goblet.

"But there is more."

Arquen raised an eyebrow.

"What did you do?"

She asked suspiciously. He sighed, running his hand through his fiery hair.

"I tried to contact his Silencer...and failed."

He let his words hang in the room. Arquen slowly walked up to her fellow Speaker and put her palms against the cool glass of the window.

"Something is seriously wrong in Cheydinhal."

She concluded. She turned to face the Dark Elf, searching his features. And though he still had that scowl on his face, he was known for throughout the Dark Brotherhood, she could see concern in his crimson eyes. He was about to take another sip from his goblet, yet she put her slender hand on his.

"Alval. You know as well as I who uses that method of execution, don't you? I fear that he has taken his Silencer and went rogue."

The Dunmer's gaze hardened. Of course he knew. But he was never the one who would jump to conclusions easily. That stylecould be copied by anyone. And it was after all a quick method of killing. He heaved a heavy sigh, turning to look down at the rainy streets below.

"I was thinking about contacting the Listener as soon as I stay in Bravil."

He said instead of giving her a direct answer. The Altmer woman huffed.

"You think that's a good idea? You know how Ungolim feels about being spoken too."

"But he needs to know! We are getting killed one by one. We have only suspicious and guesses instead of hard evidence. He is our leader he needs to do something about it!"

"And what can he do, we can't?"

She napped at her fellow speaker.

"He IS the Listener."

He hissed, the veins on his throat bloated and prominent.

"Maybe the Night Mother could..."

A hard knock came from the door and both mer immediately jumped simultaneously.

"You expect any visitors?"

Arquen hissed under her breath, her dagger at the ready. The prickle of magicka filled the room and a flame appeared over Alval's open palm, as he reached for the doorknob.

"What do you think?"

He growled back, quickly unlocking the door and ripping it open. It revealed a young Breton man, wearing a shrouded armour under a dark cloak. His light brown wavy hair was soaked from the rain and clung to his head. His cold blue eyes widened with surprise as he saw the pair of angry elves and he took a step back, holding his hands up defensively.

"Speaker Uvani, Speaker Arquen."

He greeted with his smooth voice.

"I didn't mean to interrupt."

Uvani let go of the fire spell and straightened himself.

"Bellamont! What are you doing here?"

His Silencer bowed his head.

"Speaker, I've come across a disturbing discovery."

"Can't it wait?"

The Dunmer snapped. The young man shook his head.

"I'm afraid not. It is concerning Speaker Lachance."

Alval Uvani shared a concerned look with Arquen, before he motioned his Silencer inside. Before he closed and locked the door again, he down the hallways just to be sure they were alone. Bellamont took his coat off and neatly folded it over the one chair in the room, before he turned to face the elves.

"I want to express my regards to you, Speaker Arquen. I have heard word, you've lost your Silencer."

The High Elf arched an eyebrow, yet kept her stoic exterior.

"Unfortunately."

Beside her, Alval shifted his weight.

"Bellamont! We don't have time for your feeble attempts at small talk. Get to the point!"

The Breton male inclined his head.

"Yes. Of course, my Speaker."

Mathieu paused, searching for the right words.

"I intended to stay over night in Cheydinhal after my last contract. I have uncovered some unsettling news."

He paused a moment for dramatic effect.

"I believe Lucien Lachance is the traitor!"

Uvani's scowl deepened even more, yet he was not about to let a fellow Speaker being blamed with something so outrageous so easily. He wanted more proof.

"Lachance has been a Speaker for many years. He has always been faithful to our Dread Father."

Bellamont nodded.

"Until now it would appear. Did you know that his Silencer has been murdered?"

At this both Speakers straightened in shocked surprise.

"Thought though. Lachance made a good job in covering it up."

He took a deep breath.

"When I stayed in Cheydinhal, by chance I met a dear Sister. She told me, that Lachance did not get along very well with his Silencer as of late. Our dear Sister had witnessed an argument between them. He threatened Boudicca, he bullied her. Sent her on contracts not worthy of her rank and told her he would get rid of her, if she would not be at his service as he seems fit!"

"That is a serious allegation, Bellamont."

Arquen said, her tone serious.

"How do you know, Boudicca is dead?"

The young man's gaze dropped down to his hands. As he looked up, there was unmasked pain in his eyes.

"I...I stumbled upon them. He overpowered her just outside the city."

Bellamont sat down, burying his face in his hands.

"By Sithis, it was horrible. He defiled her again and again. She begged for him to stop, but he...he... "

"That's enough, Bellamont. We get the point!"

Uvani cut his young Silencer off. The young man looked into his Speakers face, tears shining bright in his eyes, but he kept his composure. Arquen's face had turned into an emotionless mask.

"Continue, Silencer!"

She urged the Breton on, who's voice was shaking as he spoke.

"After he killed her, he took her to a Fort and buried her their. I don't think he intended to ever tell his Sanctuary about her loss. He left the following morning. You see, Speaker. I was concerned and shocked with what I have seen, I just knew this has to stop. I...broke into his living quarters."

Again he stopped, his gaze wandering back and forth from the elves.

"I know I have broken a Tenet and I expect the consequences but I uncovered these."

He reached into his shoulder bag and pulled out seven scrolls, bearing Lachance's seal. Arquen took them from his hands.

"What are those?"

The young man shrugged.

"I believe these are contracts, but I found them hidden away. I just felt these were important."

Arquen's gaze turned suspiciously as she took a random scroll and opened it. Only to turn pale and hand it over to the brooding dark elf.

"Here. Read this!"

Alval Uvani took the scroll and began to read only to look up, shock clearly written over his face.

"What? That is a joke isn't it?"

He asked looking from Arquen to Bellamont and back to the scroll.

"Your target is a travelling Dark Elf merchant by the name of Alval Uvani, who is currently renting a house in Leyawiin? Alval Uvani's wife has become disillusioned with her husband's repeated, extended absences and wishes to dissolve their marriage?"

He read out loud, his trademark scowl replaced by a mask of utter shock. His gaze met with Arquen's who had looked through the other scrolls.

"What madness has claimed him to write that contract?"

Arquen shook her head.

"Not only you, Alval. Here is one for J'Ghasta, Shaleez, Havilstein, Bellamont and Ungolim. And mine."

Here eyes darkened with hardly suppressed anger.

"How dare he call me a High Elf whore! I should castrate him for that!"

"Arquen!"

Uvani hissed, before motioning to the last scroll.

"And that one?"

"That's a purification request for his Sanctuary. Looks like he wanted to blame one of his assassins."

She shook her head.

"After 15 years as a Speaker. Why would he do that to us?"

She paused, turning towards the window. For a while silence settled in the small room and only the pitter patter of rain against the window was heard.

"You know."

She finally broke the silence.

"After I was informed about Shaleez's death, I made some inquiries. I was able to find an old woman, who told me, she saw a man in a black hooded robe follow her."

She turned towards the men, her arms crossed over her chest.

"The description she gave me sounded a lot like Lachance, but I did not want to see it."

She walked back to the bed and picked out her contract, holding it up.

"Seeing this here! This is his handwriting! He has to be stopped!"

Alval emptied his goblet and nodded.

"I agree. We have to hunt him down and stop his madness."

He turned towards Bellamont.

"You did good, Silencer."

Mathieu Bellamont inclined his head in apparent modesty. His hair covering his face, covering the triumphant smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He quickly got himself under control though. One last card to play.

"Speaker Uvani. Speaker Arquen. I do have a request."

They both looked at the Breton, gazes narrowed.

"And what would that be?"

Uvani's old scowl was back as was his frosty tone of voice.

"Name me Speaker and I'll take care of the traitor. I'll see to it that he gets what he deserves."

Uvani raised his eyebrow.

"You have always been an ambitious one."

He paused, sharing a gaze with Arquen, who gave a small nod of approval.

"Fine. When he is dead."

"And this is no matter we can send you on alone. Lachance is a dangerous man."

Arquen continued.

"I will come with you and see how you perform."

Bellamont nodded. This was not what he had hoped for, but he knew that Arquen could be very vicious as well. He had to make the best of it.

"And I have to confront the Listener with those news."

The Dark Elf said, while he began to pack the contracts in his travelling back.

"Best we set out immediately."