Chapter 7

During the day, most members of the Dark Brotherhood would usually sleep in since they were more effective at night. Most notably, Babette and Arnbjorn with their 'unnatural' state. Although he was concern by the fact that they were sworn enemies of vampire and werewolf, the Argonian never questioned it.

For him, it was better to carry out the tasks and ask later.

Not because he was all in for the action, oh no! He prefers to watch in the shadows, calculate the movement of his prey before striking at the perfect time. That never failed him throughout his career. However, the morning was young for Veezara to venture out and hunt something for himself. He knew that Astrid would be planning things with her husband while the rest of the members would be catching up with their sleep.

He decided to hunt a mammoth despite its sheer size and tusks that could gore his guts out.

To hunt a mammoth, he must follow the footprints of the giants. Where they may be giants, there will be mammoths. During his youth, Veezara had taken down his first giant at the age of ten to pass a trial given to him by the Shadowscales. Not only does he have to kill but distribute the amount of meat from the giant to feed to the Black Marsh king and his court.

He had not been to the Black Marsh in years and he was certain that his king had died.

Veezara followed the tracks until it led him to a pasture of mammoths guarded by two giants. During his training, he knew how to handle all kinds of weapons including his favourite twin swords. For this one, he will be using poisonous arrows that were crafted with the help of Babette's pet frostbite spider, Lis.

Hiding among the leaves of a nearby tree, he aimed his bow and nock the arrows into the skull of the first giant. The giant bellowed in pain before Veezara aimed for his knees to make sure that he doesn't get up. When the companion came, the Shadowscale does the same until they were both as still as the night.

Now the hunt began!

It took him until the sun was at the centre to kill his prey with bits of his outfit torn. He was thinking of distributing a few of the meats for the Dark Brotherhood before pursuing his target that was going to settle the 'debt' today.

When he arrived back to the sanctuary, Nazir was already up and sorting through a few papers. The Redguard looked up from his work and smiled. "As expected, always so generous with your kills, Veezara."

Veezara chuckled, setting down his prey onto the chopping table where most of the members used for cooking. He took a knife to skin the mammoth's fur as he spoke, "Someone has to do it, Nazir. Too quiet to be laying in bed all morning."

The silence hung between then until his hearing detected Nazir getting up from his seat and approaching him. "So...I've been having a few contracts if you want to look into. But, I'm curious, Veezara."

Veezara stopped skinning the mammoth, frozen in place. For the first time, he was getting anxious. Astrid had already suspected him but Nazir? The man was the expert in snuffing out locations of the targets and always distributed the task based on everyone's strength.

"Yes?"

"Have you taken care the target at Katla's farm?" he asked nonchalantly. "I am not undermining your capabilities, mind you, but lately I've been receiving at least two more Black Sacraments regarding that. Is there anything you would like to clear up with me before I report to Astrid about your negligence?"

As much as Nazir stayed in the sanctuary, he was just as capable as any member when it came to swift killing. One of Veezara's claws scrapped the table absentmindedly.

"I'm still working on it," he replied with caution. "I observed the target and figured what wrong had she done to have someone perform the Black Sacrament. Do you ever think about that, Nazir?"

This caused the Redguard to raise a brow. "Veezara, I'm surprised you're even discussing about this! From years of knowing you, you don't think about the targets until they are at the tips of your blades. Why the sudden change?"

Veezara stayed quiet, staring at his bloodied knife and the claw that was clean. Taking a deep breath, he answered, "I don't know. I was certain about killing her but I didn't..."

He was bracing for Nazir to call Astrid or even the entire Dark Brotherhood upon his misdeeds but he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. "Oh gods...you love her, don't you?" he asked gently.

Seeing as there was no point in lying, he nodded. "I wished it wasn't the case. When I was training under the Shadowscales back at the Black Marsh, we were told not to settle or even take upon a mate because of our duties. At most, casual flings and romps were our ways to satisfy ourselves."

"And is this target your little toy?"

He opened his mouth but then immediately closed it shut. What was Kiri to him? Just a target with a few sinful tortures he would inflict upon her just to hear those wanton moans out of her mouth? How willing she was to accept her death instead of pleading for her life just like the rest of the targets.

Before he knew it, Nazir patted his shoulder. "Go and sort it out before Astrid finds out."

...

With a satchel, Veezara had made his way back to Solitude when the sun was setting, giving a beautiful orange-red sky that blankets the blue sea. Assuring himself that he was carrying out his task, he hoped to steal her away for the night.

There were several things he would like to say and do with her.

Arriving at her home, he noticed that no one was at home. Investigating the area, he figured she would be out with the little boy to do some work before coming back home. There were two new horses the last time he had seen the stables.

A dapple-grey mare and a dark brown stallion beside the lone palomino. Before seeking her, he opened his satchel to place the sewn tapestry at the doorstep. He was about to follow the hoof prints until he heard the clip-clops of hooves approaching.

His jaw almost dropped when he saw her, the beautiful Redguard riding on a palomino mare with her hair flowing in the breeze and eyes full of life. It was the first time he had seen her happy and it was causing him to feel something throbbing within his chest.

Standing up straight, he waited until she arrived at the stables. Her expression shifted from serene to shock when she saw him.

"Good evening, my dear."

Still doesn't answer the fact on who wanted her dead and what is Kiri hiding? Next chapter, get your lemonades ready!