It had started to rain in the middle of the night. It poured down still in the morning. The Bosmer pulled his vest, he wore over his green brocade doublet tighter around his slender frame as he looked out of his window. Bravil has always been a bleak, dank and poor town. Those thick rainy curtains made nothing to improve the city.

At least the smell is gone.

He thought, finally turning from the window and sitting down in front of his fire place. For a while he resumed staring at the dancing flames. He had tried to work this morning, had tried to get some contracts out, but he just could not concentrate. Something was going on, something very wrong and he could do nothing about it. He had asked and asked the Mother, but she was silent. How was he supposed to stop a traitor, when he did not even know where to start looking. He sighed deeply and took up his book " A Dance in Fire."

He was only able to read a couple of pages, as he was startled out of it by a harsh knock on his front door. The Bosmer slowly stood up, his brows furrowed together and went to a cabinet. He did not expect visitors. He did not get visitors. Never. And he did not like them at all. He took a sharp dagger out of the cabinet and as silently as possible he crept up to the front door. Another sharp knock. Whoever was outside was persistent. The mer spied out of a window, trying to get a look at his mysterious visitor, but was only able to make out a dark shape. He let out an angry growl and waited. Maybe that pest of a person outside would loose interest and go away. But the Bosmer was rewarded with just another knock. This time it had an angry and impatient quality. The person outside knew very well that he was at home. Well, every one in Bravil knew that he almost ever was home. Unfortunately.

He cursed under his breath and changed the grip on his dagger, hiding it behind his arm, before unlocking the door. He took a deep breath and ripped the door open ready to scold the early visitor. His green eyes widened in surprise, as he was met with a very angry looking and soaking wet Dunmer.

"Uvani? What..."

He started but was cut off by the taller mer irritated growl.

"We need to talk. NOW!"

Ungolim stepped aside, letting the Speaker in. Before he closed the door again, he took a careful look around the street. Fortunately in this kind of weather nobody would wander outside. Uvani walked straight up to the fireplace. As a Dunmer he was not very fond of cold wet weather, and having to walk all the way from Skingrad to Bravil in such conditions, did nothing to improve his mood. Uvani turned, when he heard movement behind him and was met by a towel thrown into his face. He dried his face off and rubbed his fiery hair down, only to have it stick out in every direction. His scowl turned even darker, yet he enjoyed the warmth of the fire creeping through his soaked clothes. The small, slender Bosmer had his arms crossed over his chest and watched the Dark Elf with a hard gaze, tapping his foot on the floor impatiently. Alval Uvani braced himself, as he finally said.

"My Listener. We have a problem."

A sour look appeared on Ungolim's face.

"You reckon? I believe we have a problem for a couple of weeks now!"

He let his arms fall down to his sides.

"More deaths?"

He finally asked his voice serious. Uvani turned towards the fire, his hands on the mantelpiece like he needed the sturdy wood as support. After staring into the flames for a while he said in a low voice.

"Shaleez and Boudicca."

Ungolim's gaze dropped to the floor, while he closed the distances between the other mer and stood beside his Speaker.

"These are dire news. They have been Silencers both. Skilled assassins both experienced and absolutely deadly."

He looked up into the Dunmer's face. In the firelight his red eyes had a warm glow, almost like the setting sun, yet they were cold and murderous.

"These are dire news indeed, if the traitor is now targeting the Black Hand itself."

The Dark Elf lowered his head, his gaze captivated by the dance of the flames and muttered. He still could not believe, what he was about to say, but the evidence could not be overlooked.

"It's Lachance."

Ungolim arched an eyebrow.

"What?"

Alval straightened his shoulders and turned towards the Wood Elf.

"The traitor, my Listener. Lachance is the traitor."

The Listener shook his head in disbelieve. Lachance was a Speaker for 15 years now. He never heard any complains, the Imperial worked quick and efficient, no matter how difficult the contract was. He ran his Sanctuary smoothly and successfully. And most of all he was a true child of Sithis. Or at least so he had thought.

"Are you sure?"

Alval nodded.

"Very sure, my Listener. My Silencer uncovered some disturbing evidences, that Lachance planned to wipe out the Black Hand in its entirety."

The Dunmer stopped, crouching down to his travelling back, he put beside the fireplace. As he stood again, he had produced a couple of scrolls.

"Here."

He said, handing them over to Ungolim.

"Take a look at these. Contracts, for every member of the Black Hand. Even you."

Ungolim's eyebrows wandered upwards his forehead by every scroll he skimmed through.

"A purification? He wanted to wipe every soul in his Sanctuary? He was always so fond of them. That's hard to believe."

Uvani nodded.

"Very hard to believe indeed. But it is his handwriting. There is no denying it. Besides the method of killing is his trademark move."

The Bosmer clenched his hands into tight fists, crumbling the scrolls in them.

"What madness has claimed him?"

The taller mer shrugged in an helpless motion, resuming to stare into the fire.

"Don't ask me. The recent turn of events just came so suddenly. To all of us. I, myself, am shocked. I never would have thought, he would betray the Brotherhood. Surely the Dread Father is very displeased."

He paused and silence filled the room. For a long time both elves stared into the flames. Both brooding and unhappy. Finally the Dunmer took a deep breath.

"Lachance is being taken care off the very moment we talk. Speaker Arquen and my Silencer set out immediately, after we received these unsettling news."

Beside him the little man nodded, pulling on his lower lip in thought.

"You Silencer, Bellamont, right?"

Uvani nodded.

"He is a very ambitious man, don't you think?

Again the Speaker nodded.

"Yes. Maybe overly ambitious, but he always fulfilled the contracts I've given him to my utter satisfaction. And he was able to uncover the traitor on his own accord. There's a catch though."

The Listener looked up.

"And what would that be?"

"Bellamont wanted to be rewarded for his efforts. He wanted to be named Speaker and entrusted with the Cheydinhal Sanctuary."

Ungolim studied Alval's face. He was not sure, if the Dunmer was upset about this claim, or upset about loosing his Silencer. He sighed.

"That's a legit claim Uvani. He did good."

"I know."

Uvani nodded in agreement.

"Bellamont was located from Cheydinhal to Leyawiin. He is familiar with most of the members there. And he has shown that he is capable of working on his own. Taking on problems. I have no objections in making him Speaker of Cheydinhal."

Again Uvani nodded, his trademark scowl back on his face, which made it hard to tell what was going through the Dark Elf's mind.

"I trust that Vicente Valtieri is able to guide Bellamont for a while."

Ungolim continued.

"He's been in the Sanctuary for centuries, it's very well possible that man knows more than we both do."

Alval Uvani turned away from the fire.

"Yes my Listener. Thank you for your time."

Ungolim nodded, watching the Dunmer closely, as he picked up his bag and went for the door.

"Who are you going to name Silencer?"

Ungolim asked, before the elf reached it. Uvani stopped dead in his tracks.

"I have only one in my Sanctuary at the moment who holds the rank of Executioner. A Dunmer named Banus Alor."

"You don't sound too happy, Uvani."

The Speaker huffed.

"I am not. There is something wrong about this guy. He is not talking much and always smiling. I wonder if he is a bit retarded."

Ungolim stepped up to the door, putting his hand on the knob.

"But he is Executioner. Retarded or not, he can remove out targets from existence. Give him a chance."

With that he opened the door. Uvani took a deep breath before he stepped outside into the pouring rain. He heard the door being locked behind him and for a moment he thought about going to the Lonely Suitors Lodge.

No, it's to early. I best head to Leyawiin and resume my schedule as usual on Morndas.

He thought while heading out the main gate, ignoring the sympathetic look a guard gave him.

In his house, Ungolim had taken his seat in front of the fireplace again, watching the dancing flames. He was deeply troubled by what he had learned. He had always hoped, that Lachance would be his successor if he was killed.

Something does not sit well with me.

He thoughtful

Not well at all. What caused Lachance to turn on us? He always seemed deeply devoted to the Brotherhood.

He shook his head in thought. Lucien Lachance was gone. Arquen would see to it, that he was sure.

I need to talk to the Night Mother. Maybe she can grand me some inside.