Chapter CXL – Silence Dies

At last.

He killed that old woman like he was instructed to. He didn't even get to see the fallout. He had to disappear instantly. He was sure that his father's men would be there soon to see the deed for themselves. He knew that reinforcements were stationed in the cities by now. He was beyond their reproach, but he shouldn't be seen where he wasn't supposed to be.

His cover on the outside wasn't perfect – he was missing an important assignment right now, but he had plans for that. It all depended on how things would go now though. After all, nobody was going to help him with his cover stories. It was all on him. He was expected to perform. To impress. And he was going to fucking wow them.

Everything would be handled eventually. His absence could become his advantage after all, provided he wasn't seen by the agents elsewhere.

At least for now, he still had the resources of the common soldiers. Those were never told about anything that concerned the Penitus Oculatus. Those issues were highly classified. But the agents stationed in the cities, sent there specifically to watch for assassins, those could become a problem.

Gaius needed to be wary. And he needed to escape right after the deed.

He went all across Skyrim again – back to Pinefrost Tower. This time he traveled more covertly, but it was necessary. The assassins would come back soon with more instructions for him.

It wasn't the end of his trials. Not by a long shot.

Nobody was impressed with his work. It was expected. Actually, a betrayal was expected. This was just… prolonging the inevitable to them. They didn't trust him even a little bit and he couldn't really blame them. The Commander's son – he couldn't be more suspicious. But he would earn their trust eventually.

And so he worked on that.

The second kill did feel a little different. It made him a little sick. He had done plenty of things that others would be squeamish about in the name of the Empire, but cutting down a lonesome madman hermit felt… strange. Maybe because he never before killed anyone this harmless. Gaius couldn't fathom who would pay the Brotherhood to get rid of such a person.

He made it quick at least. He was probably more merciful than anyone else would be.

The third kill was more like the second one – some miner woman in Dawnstar. He always heard stories of the Brotherhood dealing with important people, influential ones with plenty of protection around them. He never thought that people would hire them to kill every small fish that managed to piss someone off.

Yet here he was.

He did what was asked of him without question though. He followed all the orders, made all the kills, left all the handprints that Babette wanted. Word of their activities would spread soon with those prints there. It was inevitable. Soon people would know that the Brotherhood was going to be on the rise.

It mattered not. What he was there for was still a far-off goal. He wasn't even allowed to speak to the Night Mother until he proved himself more.

It took five kills. Five like the tenets? Maybe. He wasn't sure. But after those five kills, they finally agreed to take him out of the tower and into their Sanctuary.

He was elated. He couldn't wait. He kept imagining what this place could be like. And he would get to meet them all – each and every one of them. So far, he had only met Astrid, that glowering man he didn't know, Babette and Nazir – the man bringing him information about his 'contracts'. It took too long for anything to be done. So damn long. The assassins were clearly stationed nowhere near the Pinefrost Tower because it took ages for them to return. They said they would check on him twice a week, but sometimes that wasn't the case.

But finally, after almost two months, he was going to see the Sanctuary.

They travelled all across the northern coast until they reached Dawnstar. There, right outside the city limits, they stopped.

There was a door there, hidden in the cliff behind some trees and bushes. Unless someone knew to look for it, they wouldn't be able to find it. But once he saw it, he could guess its purpose instantly. It had a large skull protruding from it with the symbol of a glowing hand-print on its forehead. It was dark, almost black and it looked properly sinister. It was the entrance to their Sanctuary.

Only Babette and Astrid were there with him and Astrid approached the door. Her hand was placed right on that hand-print and a raspy voice spoke quietly.

"What is life's greatest illusion?" the mysterious voice whispered.

"Innocence, my Brother," Astrid answered instantly. There was a grating creaking sound then and the door finally opened in front of them.

"This is how you get in and out," Babette nodded at Gaius. "Come. Let's see your new home, Listener."

Gaius followed them inside through the narrow corridors filled with cobwebs. Everything looked so… decrepit. He had expected something more. Something well equipped. This place seemed empty. Barren. As it had been long abandoned. Maybe the Brotherhood really was on its last legs.

That was alright though. He would finally meet the rest of them soon.

As they continued down, he noted a large two-story central chamber. Right there in the corner, there was something that could only be described as a secular corner. The Night Mother's coffin was there, opened and welcoming, with candles all around illuminating her withered face.

"Welcome home, Listener."

The familiar voice echoed in his head again. He didn't even realize how comforting it had been to him before until he lost it and now found it once more. It was like a calling to his greater plans, to his greater purpose. He felt more secure when he could hear her. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but when he didn't, he still sometimes worried that the voice wouldn't return. That he would suddenly be identified as a fraud by these people. That would be very lethal for him.

But he was still filled with disappointment. This place was falling apart and empty of anything he could have imagined.

"This is your home now," Astrid stopped right there in the middle of that large chamber. There was probably not going to be a tour.

"I… this is the Sanctuary? Where is everyone?" Gaius scowled.

"It's a Sanctuary," Astrid scoffed. "You are still the son of our enemy who had asked to join us under suspect circumstances. We will not be taking you to where we reside. Not until we're certain."

That old tune again? He killed for them! He thought he had earned their trust by now.

"We'll be coming to check on you here. And you can find plenty of things here to hide your face with and get supplies in Dawnstar. We might even give you some funds for those eventually," Astrid smirked at him, her pine-green eyes gleaming with satisfaction. She was just loving this. She always hated him for some reason. Based on what Cicero had said before, she just hated the idea of the Listener. Of the Black Hand. Of someone undermining her authority.

Of someone who was chosen by a higher power to lead them, rather than someone who clawed their way up.

"We'll bring you contracts and come to hear what the Mother says," Babette smiled at him, a little more warmly than Astrid would even be capable of.

Fine. Whatever. They needed more – that was fine.

He was just glad to have Mother back. He was eager to talk to her again, to hear all her plans for this 'glorious future'.

He was eager to learn all her secrets.

…

"Hey."

A voice hissed next to his ear, grating on his nerves. It had been all too easy to rattle him in this place. So empty and ominous with only the Mother for company.

"Hey, wake up." A small hand gripped his shoulder and shook him a bit more aggressively than was necessary. It was the middle of the night!

Gaius's eyes slowly opened, but it didn't do much for him. This place was so dark. So enormous for just one person. He could get out, but he felt more like a prisoner than ever. Even more than when he was held by those fanatics back in Bruma, somewhere in their basement for ransom. This was more constricting somehow.

But it was for an important thing. For a good purpose. He had to remind himself of it.

He tried to adjust to the darkness, but it was only harder because all he could see was the pair of shining yellow eyes. It blinded him to anything else.

"Babette?" he mumbled groggily. Of course she would come in the middle of the night. Vampires. But he expected her to have the courtesy to do that a little earlier.

In fact, he didn't expect her so soon at all. He had only been here for a few days.

"Who else?" The vampire child scoffed at him mockingly.

"Just do him a little courtesy, Babette," another voice rang through the room disparagingly, one he didn't recognize. He didn't even see the other person. But soon enough, there was a flash of white light and a shining globe began to float around the room. It illuminated both the vampire that had just settled herself down onto the foot of his bed, one of many in the room, and the new person. A Dunmer woman with black hair, predictably dressed in the familiar black armor with red accents.

"Gabriella," she nodded, introducing herself. A new member to meet at last. But he had heard of her before.

"I'm… Gaius," he nodded back, still very groggy from the interrupted sleep. "What's wrong? Why are you here now?"

"I was on a hunt and Gabriella came with me. To clear her head," Babette shrugged noncommittally. What? That wasn't an answer.

The Dunmer only rolled her eyes at the child with an exasperated sigh. "We needed to ask you something."

Well, that was a better answer. Were they here to see what news he heard from the Night Mother?

"She's not saying anything that you need to know," he sighed. He had been talking to the Mother for a while now. She sometimes told him that a 'child has claimed another life'. She answered his questions about the Brotherhood and the Black Hand. She even told him about the purges back in the past. She even told him about his father's slaughter down in Cyrodiil.

But she was always very vague. Sometimes it was hard to make sense of what she was saying, no matter how hard he tried. He took note of what he could. He even started to write down what she was saying. It was all he could do.

"We're not here for that," Babette shook her head. "We have… things to discuss. And something more specific to ask the Mother."

Gaius rubbed the sleep from his eyes. They were almost as vague as the Night Mother. "Just spill it, already," he grumbled in exasperation.

"We've been… discussing something at the Sanctuary," Gabriella finally started as she sat down on another bed. Her red eyes scanned the room constantly, as if she was taking its state in, but she still continued to speak. "We've been discussing… Cicero."

"If we should try to free him," Babette added.

"You want to keep him there?" Gaius scoffed. "My father is no amateur, you know? Cicero will spill his secrets eventually."

"He doesn't have secrets," Gabriella shook her head. "Whatever he had, we consider forfeit already. He didn't hear the Mother though and none of the contracts he knew about were long-term. The only information he has now he would never reveal."

"Which is?" Gaius scowled. He wasn't sure if his father could even get Cicero to really talk about anything that was this integral, the way Gabriella spoke of it.

"The location of our main Sanctuary," Babette answered the question instead. "But he thinks that the Mother is there, that it's her home. He would betray all of us if pressed, but not her."

That was true. From what Gaius had seen, Cicero would do anything for Mother. He was willing to leave himself in Acilus's hands, as long as she was safe. He didn't even consider asking Gaius to rescue him too – that was likely too risky and it could ruin the rescue of the coffin.

"So, if you're so sure, what exactly are you discussing?" Gaius gave them a confused look. They seemed to have written the man off already.

"We're discussing whether we want to rescue him," Gabriella sighed. "The rescue would be very risky. Any one of us could get captured instead. Or alongside him. And… some of us don't think it's worth it."

"Astrid?" Gaius scoffed. Who else?

"Why do you think we mean her?" Gabriella scowled at him promptly, full of sudden suspicion.

"Because she hates him. Like she hates me. Please. The last thing she would want is having either of us around. The dreaded Black Hand. The threat to her leadership," he waved his hand dismissively. As if they needed to play these stupid games. They knew it. He knew it.

"Why do you say that? Who told you that?" Gabriella continued scowling fiercely at him.

"Cicero," he shrugged. And he'd seen enough evidence of that on his own.

"That tracks," Babette chuckled a bit. "Gabriella, come on, why pretend? We're all thinking it. I love Astrid – she's our Sister. But she doesn't understand. She doesn't get this – the importance of this. She feels threatened and she tries to stop this. But this is our way to glory. We know we need to restore the Black Hand."

"I hate going against her," Gabriella sighed. "We're a family. We can't be divided by that insane jester."

"The Keeper," Babette's tone turned a bit more chastising. "And he's one of us too. Besides, we're rescuing one of ours. What's wrong with that?"

"Astrid doesn't want him around," Gabriella shook her head. "It will only make things worse. We can't be divided now with those Imperials hounding our steps."

"He can stay here," Gaius quickly interrupted their discussion.

"What?" the women turned to him almost simultaneously, speaking practically in unison.

"If Astrid won't have him around, he can stay here with me. He should be here anyway. He's the Keeper. He needs to… 'keep' her. He's supposed to be preserving her. I don't know what goes into that." This was a good idea. Gaius would welcome the chance to have another Brother here. It was only better that Astrid thought that Cicero was undeserving of her precious Sanctuary as well. They could have their own. And Cicero was valuable. He needed to take care of the Mother. And he could tell Gaius so much more.

"Astrid doesn't even have to know," Gaius smirked at them. They were clearly worried about her reaction. And he was sure that Cicero would have no qualms about hiding here, even if Astrid ever came to check on them, he could just stash himself somewhere around. This place was big.

"I… don't know. I don't know if we should tell her or not…" Gabriella sighed.

"He should stay here though. The Listener is right. He needs to tend to Mother," Babette nodded with palpable eagerness. "We need him. And we can decide then what to tell Astrid. Gabriella, we came here for this. Why are you still acting so hesitant?"

"We came to ask Mother about what we need to know. In case…" Gabriella scowled, but she stopped herself when Babette gave her an exasperated shake of her head.

"What did you need to ask?" Gaius brought the vague discussion back on point again.

"Let's go. We'll ask her together." Babette hopped off the bed, ushering them to follow.

…

"Do we need to do something for her to answer?" Gabriella asked curiously as the three of them stood in front of the opened sarcophagus, illuminated by the candles around. That was one place Gaius kept in its proper state. He always lit the candles, keeping them burning at all times.

He wasn't even sure why anymore. Being here alone with Mother was giving him too much time to think and obsess about what she thought of him – how he treated her, 'kept' her. He didn't want her to get angry. There was still that fear in him that one day she would stop talking to him.

It was uncomfortable. His life relied on this. There was already so much hostility towards him from Astrid and that glowering man at least. It looked like it. The only reason Babette, and Gabriella apparently, accepted him was that he was the Listener. If he lost that, he had no allies among them.

"No," Gaius shook his head. "Just ask."

Gods, please answer.

"Alright," Gabriella took a breath. Almost a reverent one. "Night Mother, can you tell us whether Cicero is still alive?"

What? She could ask that? How would the Mother know if…

"Yes, my children. My Keeper still breathes. Still resists. He belongs in his Mother's dark embrace."

She knew! She knew that Cicero was alive. He knew that too – why would his father ever kill his only hostage? But she knew? How?

Babette and Gabriella were staring at him expectantly. It took a while for him to realize that he was the only one that heard it. He almost forgot. It had been a while since he had to interpret her words to anyone.

"Yes. He's alive. She says he's resisting. And that he belongs here with her," Gaius nodded at them.

"We will bring him back, Mother," Babette lowered her head, as if in a solemn promise, before she turned back to Gaius. "You will help us. You know the place. You know your father. You will help bring Cicero home."

"Of course I will," Gaius nodded at her. He wanted him here. She said it like it was a threat, but it was his damn idea! When would this suspicion end?

"Can we ask her more?" Gabriella gave him a hopeful look.

"She's not Clavicus Vile. She doesn't grant wishes. She's our Mother. She cares for her children. We can ask whatever we want," Gaius smirked. He talked to her all day long, all week long. She always answered so far. Even if sometimes a bit more vaguely.

"Our Brother, Festus, he left on a contract a while ago to Riften. He hasn't come back. Do you know if he's alive?" Babette promptly gave the coffin a pleading look.

There was silence for a while. The Mother did not speak and Gaius was starting to worry that he had offended her with his remark. Maybe she didn't want to be pestered by questions. Maybe she didn't really want him to tell them that she would answer, that she cared for her children. Even if she had said as much herself before.

But then the silence was broken again.

"It pains me. I cannot sense my child anymore. He will roam into our beloved Father's Void."

"Well?" Babette nudged Gaius when she assumed that he was listening to something she couldn't hear.

"He's… dead. She can't feel him," he lowered his head somberly. One down. Were there many left? Could they even afford to lose more?

"What happened?" Gabriella gasped while Babette lowered her head as well, muttering some curses under her breath.

"An animal tore him to shreds."

"She… she says it was an animal. Wild animal killed him." He assumed as much at least. There was always a little bit he needed to fill in from Mother's words.

"Sithis! An 'animal'? How could he have fallen to a fucking animal?!" Gabriella scoffed incredulously, but her voice bore more sorrow than actual anger. Babette still didn't speak. At least not very loudly, apart from her muttering.

There was a long moment of silence. Gabriella kept glancing at Gaius, as if he had more answers for her, but the Mother did not speak anymore. The quiet was only broken when Babette finally talked. Almost in a whisper.

"Thank you, Mother." Her head was still down in somber mournfulness, but she did glance up at Gaius after a while. "Will you… give us a minute? We'll be back soon."

Gaius merely nodded. He was quite eager for a moment alone himself suddenly. There was a thought that burrowed into his head and now it was unable to leave him.

"Come, Sister," Babette stepped towards Gabriella and grabbed her hand. "Let us go honor him as befits."

The women walked away slowly, somberly, heading towards the exit. Perhaps they would make him a gravestone. Perhaps they had their own rituals for these things. It wasn't important. Gaius didn't know the man and they didn't want to include him because of that. But that was fine.

Once they were gone and he was sure that they were out of earshot, he turned back to the Mother, worry and intrigue etched on his face.

"You can feel. Us? Anyone?" he stared at her intently – at those empty eye sockets that would ordinarily give him the creeps, had he not been staring at them for so long. Had he not known who she was.

"Mother has a connection to her children. And to those children who call for her dark embrace, for her help, for the relief of death she provides."

So she could feel all the assassins. And she could feel those calling for them. Perhaps the victims too? Interesting. Very interesting. And concerning.

"What can you feel? Our life, obviously. You knew how he died. You can see us too?"

"A Mother's bond cannot be broken. She is one with her children. She feels what they feel. Remember what they do."

She did?

She did.

She… did.

Did that mean what he thought it meant?

"You can… feel what we think too? You know what we're thinking?" he felt like his jaw dropped at the realization. Not just at the realization but at the implications of it.

"I know, child. I know what is in your mind."

She knew. She knew what was in his head. Every single thing. Every thought. Every plan, every idea. Every intention.

She knew.

She knew what he really wanted.

It made him strangely happy. Ecstatic even. There was no chastisement in her tone, only the warm understanding and support.

Was she going to give him what he wanted? Was she going to just… let him take what he wanted?

Maybe he wasn't the only one who wanted it.

Maybe she thought it was time for a change too.

"Grand things are looming in the darkness, child. Only the Dread Father knows whether they will swallow you whole or give you a chance to rise. Silence is broken. It has died. It is time for you to speak and decide. Who will you speak for? Who will you speak to?"

He had already decided. She must have known.

And she didn't say a word to change his mind.

Author's Note:

I hope you liked the sojourn into another character's story. Next chapter we're back to Bishop and Aeyrin and their adventures. I do realize now that since I set up these Brotherhood chapters right before the final plotline that will take place in Falkreath, as you well know, it might seem like there would be a connection. But no such luck :D I don't want to have you excited for assassin trouble and then be disappointed. This was just one of those long setups that will come into its climax overtime ;) But the next plotline should hold plenty of excitement regardless. I really hope you'll enjoy it and that you're ready for it.

Thank you for reading :3