"What the hell is going on here?"
Nero asked in complete confusion, and everyone in the room looked at him, including the dark elf who stood centrally.
"My name is Karliah," said the elf.
"Oh, hi, nice to meet you Karliah, my name is Nero, what is going on here?" Nero pressed again.
"Karliah was an old member of the guild," explained Delvin.
"Until she murdered... until she was blamed for murdering Gallus, our original leader before Mercer," added Vex.
"But apparently, according to Gallus' journal, if you're to be believed lass," topped Brynjolf towards Karliah, "it seems that Mercer killed Gallus himself, and framed Karliah."
This just keeps getting better and better, thought Nero. Serana seemed to think the same thing, wearing the same expression as him.
"How did you find us?" asked Vex.
"I tracked you from the city. I figured you would escape using the ratway. A bunch of injured thieves moving together make some pretty clear tracks."
"So you're back now because...?" Nero asked.
"Because the Guild is crumbling, its lost its home, and I know who to."
"Mercer," Delvin leapt, "he sold us out."
"No... it wasn't Mercer who is fully responsible. He's to blame for other crimes, but he didn't send the assassins to kill you."
"How do you even know about them?" asked Vex.
"It's a long story, short version is, I know who ordered the hit on you. It wasn't Mercer. He knew it would happen, but he didn't order the attack on the Cistern."
"If not Mercer, then who did?" asked Delvin.
"Isn't it obvious?" asked Karliah, "the one person who's been growing more and more impatient with the Guild and its bad luck. The one person who would get rid of something the moment it becomes redundant to her."
There was a small silence in the room, as eyes moved and met.
"Maven," deduced Brynjolf solemnly.
"She has the gold and resources at her hand, and would want a bad business partner taken out of the equation. In this case, for good," concluded Karliah.
"Well, that does fit her charming personality," said Nero, "but look, nothing has changed. She stabbed you in the back, she does that. Mercer still knew it and didn't tell you. That's why it's still important that we find him."
"You're right, lad. Dealing with Maven, if we do, can wait. Right now, we need to stop Gallus' murderer from disappearing forever."
"Right, and we know where he is now, right?" Nero posed.
"He's going after the Eyes of the Falmer, some very valuable relics, in a dwemer ruin called Irkngthand," answered Vex.
That earned a glum look from Nero, one Serana noticed and chuckled at under her breath.
"Right, well then that's where I'm heading. Who wants to come and tell Mercer exactly what they feel about him?"
Delvin got up and came over, "I want in."
"Me too," added Vex.
"No," said Karliah.
"What!?" they both said in unison.
"The Guild is on the edge of complete collapse, Vex. Maven will have sent out scouts or her assassins to find you," reasoned Karliah.
"I don't care, I can take them!" Vex argued.
"They can't"
Vex turned to follow Karliah's motioning to see her fellow Guild members, fewer than had been earlier that day, and they were still recovering from their wounds sustained back in the Cistern.
"I am not happy that this happened, Karliah, but they are not my-"
"None of them have anywhere to go, Vex. They don't have families. Nothing. We are their family. We need to take care of each other. Until we find a safe place, we protect each other. They need that right now."
"We do have a possible safe place," said Brynjolf, "the abandoned Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, in Falkreathe."
"It was empty?" asked Serana.
Nero nodded, "and it was secure. But none of them are in any shape to travel that far, Brynjolf."
"Aye, you're right. All the more reason for you to stay, Vex. You too, Delvin."
"He's right, Vex," Delvin conceded, "we stay here, protect ourselves."
Vex sighed, "fine. We'll stay, but you find Mercer, and give him my sharp-felt regards."
"We will," promised Nero, before turning to Serana, Karliah and Brynjolf.
"We better get on our way to Irkngthand."
"I'm not riding a dragon again, lad," Brynjolf informed, earning a smile from Nero.
"Actually, you two should go, me and Brynjolf will meet you there," inclined Karliah.
An orchestral "what?" went around the other three, all in united confusion of what the dunmer was suggesting.
"What are you talking about, Karliah?" asked Brynjolf.
"There is something you and I must do first, Brynjolf, in order to defeat Mercer."
"Something only you two must do?" asked Nero.
"Unfortunately, this is something that only members of the Guild can partake in. Mercer Frey is one of the fastest, deadliest men in Skyrim, Nero. I know who you are, and that you are battle-hardened and just as skillful, but what you have in strength, Mercer possesses in speed. He counts swiftness as his strongsuit, as it always has been. It is how he... how he was able to murder Gallus. To beat him, one has to be just as fast, just as swift with a blade."
"I'm not always one for boasting, Karliah, but trust me when I say I can be fast when I have to be."
"I don't doubt it, but in that armour, Mercer will be faster. To beat him, you need to be just as quick with a blade. That armour will slow you down."
Nero looked at his dragonbone plates and parts, reluctant, but understanding.
"Okay, guess I'll have to make a quick stop at one of my houses."
"No need, I've a better idea. Tunilia!"
The named thief came over, and after some explanation from Brynjolf she handed Nero some clothes.
"Hey," said Vex, grabbing Serana's attention.
"What's up?"
"Don't... don't die on us."
Serana smiled, "you stay sharp too."
After Nero changed, the four left the shack, and Nero stepped into the moonlight, clad in brown leather Thieves Guild armour, with his swords strapped to is back. He left the hood down, allowing the night time air to touch his head. Serana looked at him, and smiled, "you look pretty good in leather."
Nero turned to her and she winked, to which he smirked, before turning to the others.
"So, you'll meet us there?"
"We will. Come on, Brynjolf."
"See you later, lad."
But just as they were turning, "Nero?"
He turned back to Karliah, "yes?"
"If you see Mercer... do not let him walk away."
Nero nodded, and he and Serana set off towards Irkngthand.
~ Irkngthand ~
It took a few hours for Nero and Serana to trek north along Darkwater River, through Eastmarch and into the Pale, where Ikrgthand lay just south of Lake Yorgrim. Nero wasn't fond of the idea of a dwemer ruin. As he'd told Serana on a previous adventure, he hated them.
But they travelled there nonetheless.
"Do you think Mercer will know anything about the Brotherhood?" Serana enquired.
"I hope so, and that he's still in the ruins. If he's gone, the trail's gone dry and a murderer will have escaped, albeit a criminal-murderer."
"Do you think he'll still try and harm Asmund?"
"If I'm being totally honest, no. I think his main goal right now is to get his hands on the eyes and get out of Skyrim, to escape Maven and the Guild. I'm not surprised she was behind this."
"Who is this Maven?" Serana asked.
"Oh, you haven't met her, have you? She's the Jarl of Riften, at least she was after the small peace treaty of the Civil War, she sure as hell didn't get in office from the love of her people. She's the reason her family is so powerful these days. Basically, all-around bitch."
"Ahhh, I know the type. Glad we've not met yet, then. Can't say I wouldn't have sunk my teeth into her."
"You know, that would've been quite entertaining," chuckled Nero.
They found the ruin soon enough, and found dead bandits here and there.
"Yup, he's here. Guess we should head inside."
"Shouldn't we wait for the others?" Serana posed, only to be momentarily followed by the sound of approacing footsteps, as two black figures emerged from the haze of the falling snow.
Nero put a hand on one of his swords, and Serana got ready to summon magic, as the two silhouettes approached. They wore black robes that covered them, from head to toe, save for their fingers, and the dim lights of their eyes, as they had cloaks, hoods and face-masks to conceal their identities.
"Can we help you?" asked Nero.
"It's us, lad," declared a very familiar voice.
"Brynjolf? Karliah? Those are... some getups..."
"Aye, trust me, I know."
"Where'd you get them?" asked Serana.
"Long story, no time to explain. Was it you who left these bodies?" asked the dumer.
Nero looked about, "nope, unless they saw us coming a mile off and thought better to save us the trouble, which I find unlikely."
"Good, he's still inside. Let's go then," said Brynjolf.
"Lead on."
The four entered the dwaren ruins and began making their way through the underground city, running into dwemer contraptions, traps and machinations. But they did little to prevent the four from pushing on. They passed from the ruins into falmer catacombs, upon which Nero remarked, "I really hate this bit."
Soon enough, the caves led them back to dwarven walls and doors, until eventually they came to a set of two large adjacent doors, through which lay the statue.
"He's beyond these doors, I know it," exclaimed Karliah.
"Are you ready for this, lass?" Brynjolf asked her.
"More ready than I've been my entire life," she answered.
"Nero? Serana?"
They nodded, "ready."
Brynjolf nodded, and they silently opened the doors. Inside was a large room, where the statue of a snow-elf lay, sitting, holding a book in one hand and a staff in the other. Nero set his eyes upn the figure who clung to the face of the statue, digging its right eye out with a dagger.
"It's Mercer," said Serana quietly.
"He's here," noted Karliah, "and he hasn't seen us yet. Brynjolf, watch the door."
"Aye, lass. Nothig's getting by me."
"Nero, Serana, climb down that ledge and see if you can-"
"Karliah, when will you learn you can't get the drop on me?!"
Mercer turned to face them, and ignited a spell that echoed throughout the cave, causing rocks and pipes in the ceiling to begin cracking. The ledge Nero and Serana were standing on broke off, and both of them dropped to the ground. Nero helped Serana up, as Mercer approached on the edge of the statue.
"So, the Dragonborn comes to exact vengeance on me, whilst helping criminals. That would go down in a book."
"I'm here for you, Mercer. To protect Asmund," Nero declared.
"That little runt couldn't obey the simplest order, it's what he got after trying to steal from me. I suppose he didn't mention how he tried to pickpocket me, did he? I saw his skill, and gave him a test, to steal from the legendary Dragonborn. I threatened him and his friends just for a bit of extra motivation. But he failed me."
"You're a liar, cheater, AND a murderer, Frey. I'm not in a rush to believe anything you say."
"So, she's convinced you that I killed Gallus, huh? Well, Karliah, if Gallus hadn't been such a fool and so head-over-heels for you, he might've seen the knife that I plunged in his back."
"No!" Karliah cried, and released an arrow towards Mercer, which he deflected with his dagger as he laughed.
"You threatened Asmund and the kids at Honorhall, and you knew Maven Black-Briar would set the Brotherhood on the Guild. Where is the Brotherhood, Mercer!?" Nero demanded.
"You think I know that? You're an even bigger fool than I took you for! All I knew was that they'd come for the Guild eventually, and that I'd be long gone when they did. But they got there a little earlier than I expected. It matters little, either way, you'll all be dead soon enough, and I'll be rich and far away from here."
"No you won't! I won't let you get away this time!" Karliah proclaimed, as she nocked another arrow.
"Guess you got a lot to answer for to all of us," stated Nero, who unsheathed his blades as Serana summoned magic.
"I'll give you one chance, Dragonborn. Kill those thieves, walk away, and I'll give you a share of the gold. Or fight me, and it will be your undoing!"
"Prepare to meet your maker, asshole."
"Then the dye is cast, and my blade will taste Dragonborn blood!"
Mercer threw his dagger at Nero, who deflected it with a swing of his left sword.
"Karliah, I'll deal with you after I rid myself of your irksome companions. In the meantime, perhaps you and Brynjolf should get better acquanted!"
Mercer threw some form of spell towards them, and suddenly, Brynjolf began attacking Karliah.
"What... what's happening? I can't stop it!" he said.
"Brynjolf! Try to control it!" urged Karliah, who was thrown off by her ally's strikes. Serana turned to help her, "Nero! Go!"
Nero turned back, and ran up the stairs around the statue, charging at Frey. Mercer had two swords ready, and began a flurry of attacks at Nero, their total of four swords clashing, colliding and clanging in the fight. Sparks flew here and there as each man threw attack and brought up defense. Meanwhile, rocks and rubble were falling, and water was pouring from broken pipes and beginning to fill the cave.
"It ends here!" cried Mercer.
Nero kept up with his speed; Frey truly was very fast. He just needed to be faster. The leather armour made that easier.
Below, Karliah was still dealing with an out-of-control Brynjolf, who was on the offensive towards her. Serana was trying to climg back up the ledge they were on.
"I'm sorry, lass! I... I can't control it!"
After climbing up, Serana saw that Brynjolf was heavily attacking Karliah, which gave Serana the opportunity to kick him in the back of the leg and bring him down. She put hads around his neck, trying to keep him locked, but he was struggling ferociously.
Both Nero's and Mercer's swords became locked together; Mercer trying to push his blades towards Nero's throat, and Nero doing the same to him. Nero was stronger, and his swords were moving towards Mercer, until Frey sidestepped and let Nero throw himself forward and off balance.
He fell and slid to the edge of the statue, stopping just at the ledge, and scrambled to get up quickly as Frey came at him with one sword going down from above. Nero brought his own to block, only to notice that Mercer had his other weapon ready to stab Nero in his chest.
Suddenly though, a fireball flew past Nero and hit mercer in the arm.
"Argh!" he screamed and grunted, dropping his sword. Nero took the opportunity to push the other blade up, rise up, and slice across Mercer's chest.
"Agh!" Frey cried as a line of blood flew through the air with Nero's sword. It pushed him back, off balance, whilst Nero turned to see who cast the fireball.
"Asmund!?" he saw standing in the unguarded doorway, his hand raised. Then though, Nero's eyes fell on the cracks in the ceiling above him.
"Asmund! LOOK OUT!"
The kid looked up, before instantly jumping out of the way of falling debris that blocked the door. He landed on the ground below, where water was coating the floor.
In watching Asmund, though, Nero didn't notice the footsteps coming at him soon enough to turn around fully as Mercer sent a foot into his side, kicking him off the ledge. Nero fell to the floor, where he crashed into the stone and splashed the thin, rising layer of water.
Serana kept trying to restrain Brynjolf, but it was proving to be troublesome.
"I think I've got him! Karliah, help!"
Mercer came down, his other arm still holding a sword that was raising, ready to finish Nero, who was scrambling to get up and find his swords. He found one though and picked it up just in time to block a downward srtike from Mercer. The thief pulled his sword back though, ready to impale Nero, when suddenly,
"Agh!" he grunted as Asmund sliced his back with Nero's other sword. Mercer turned on the boy and with one hit, he struck the dragonbone blade out of Asmund's hands, before grabbing him.
Nero moved as quick as he could, but stopped as he saw Mercer holding the blade of his sword around Asmund's throat.
"This... ends... now!"
"No!" Nero cried, about to run with his sword, when suddenly an arrow flew past him and into Frey's visible shoulder, sending him back and freeing Asmund.
"Asmund, get back!" Serana called, and the boy moved as Nero ran at Frey, jumped, and threw his sword down as hard as he could, clanging against Mercer's weapon which he only just brought up to block.
Nero went on the offensive, throwing more and more attacks that Frey struggled to block. He was getting slower, and eventually, Nero got in one cut, then another, then another, until he was too fast for Frey to obstruct, and his sword took Mercer's hand off. Then he cut his leg, and then his chest. Frey fell back, spilling out blood into the water, collapsing against the wall behind him.
"Finish it!" cried Karliah, and Nero threw the blade of his sword into Mercer's heart.
"Agh!" he grunted and moaned, slowly falling down the wall, and finally to the ground.
"Shadows take me..."
And with one final arrow from Karliah into his head, Mercer's body spasmed, and fell to the floor. Dead.
A magical aura exploded from his now lifeless body, causing the cave to rumble, and Brynjolf to be freed from the spell. Serana released her grip on him.
"Sorry, lass," he said.
Nero dropped his swords and fell to his knees, panting.
"It's... it's done," stated Karliah with a tone of quizical relief.
"You did it, lad," said Brynjolf.
Nero turned around, "Asmund!" he and Serana called in unison, and they both went to him and hugged him. Until Nero disengaged and faced him,
"Wha... what are you doing here?!"
"I followed you both," he said, "to that shack, and then here. I wanted to see it done. I needed to see it done."
"That was... you shouldn't have..." Nero tried putting words together but was panting.
"You could've died, Asmund" Serana told him.
"So could you. I wasn't going to let that happen, not while I could do something about it," he said.
Serana exhaled in a laugh, and took him in to her shoulder, holding him close. Nero got up to see Karliah taking the eyes from Mercer's body, and something else. Some... key.
"What is that?"
Karliah turned to him, before concealing the key, "it's a long story, one we're sworn to secresy over. We're sworn to guard it is all, and Mercer was too. Another crime he committed."
Another rumble though got all their attention, as larger pieces of rubble began falling down and a lot more water began pouring in.
"We need to get out of here, now!" Karliah exclaimed.
"No luck there, lass. Look, rubble's blocking the door, we can't get out that way!"
"We have to find another way out of here before the place fills with water!"
Nero looked around, scanning the room for a single way out. The water was rising fast.
"Come on! All of you! Head up!" he cried, and Serana led Asmund as they all climbed the stairs around the statue.
"Damn it! There's no way!" cursed Bryjolf.
"There has to be a way," stated Nero, still looking.
Serana's vampire eyes observed the whole room, searching for any cracks or crevices which might lead them to freedom. Her eyes suddenly fell on a series of rocks that looked ill-bonded to the ceiling.
"Nero! Up there!" she pointed.
Nero followed her finger to see them.
"I gotta bring them down!"
"How?!" Karliah asked.
"Everyone hold on to something!"
They all braced themselves as Nero took a deep breath.
"FUS RO DAH!"
His shout flew through the air, smashing the rocks through and revealing light from above. Another rumble though caused Asmund to slip, and he lost his grip.
"Ahh!" he screamed, but Serana had hold of his forearm.
"I've got you!" she shouted, and pulled him back up.
"We can't climb up there! Can everyone swim?"
Three of them nodded, except for Asmund, "no."
"Alright, Asmund, the water will bring us up to that light. Me and Serana will hold you up, but we'll need you to kick your legs, okay? Can you do that?"
Serana looked at him, "can you do that, sweetie?"
Asmund nodded.
"Alright," Nero came down and took hold of Asmund's arm, "ready?"
He nodded, as the water came up to their feet, up their legs, past their waists, and up their chests.
"Come on, Asmund!"
They all stayed afloat on the top of the water as it ascended the cave.
"We need to stay afloat, come on, keep kicking!" ordered Nero.
"Keep kicking, Asmund, you can do it!" Serana encouraged.
Asmund kicked with all his might, whilst holding Nero and Serana.
They rose and rose, until they found ground to walk on that seemed to lead through a cave.
"Come on, this way" said Brynjolf, who got footing and headed off down the cave, followed by Karliah, Nero, Asmund and Serana.
"You did good, Asmund, good job," she appraised.
They made their way through the cave until they finally saw daylight, and passed through onto the side of a frozen lake. There, they stopped.
Karliah removed her hood and mask, and breathed a long breath of fresh air.
"I can't believe it's over," she said, "twenty-five years in exile and just like that, it's done."
Brynjolf removed his hood and mask too, "aye, lass. Mercer was always a criminal, even among us, it's just a shame it took so long for the rest of us to see it."
"Nero."
The Dragonborn turned to Karliah, "yes?"
"Thank you for helping us to do this, for giving him what he's deserved for a long time."
"Aye, lad. Thanks to all of you. I'm sorry you couldn't find any answers concerning the Brotherhood."
"That's alright, Bryn. Guess I'll have to think of another way to find them, and finish them off for good."
"What will you do now?" asked Brynjolf.
"Well," he looked at Asmund, "we gotta take a certain someone back home."
"Well, me and Karliah will be heading back to-"
"Not quite," interjected Karliah, "there is still one last task to be done."
"One last task? What do you mean, lass?"
"We must... we have to return the..." she trailed off, expecting Brynjolf to understand. It took him a moment, until he realised.
"Ohhh right. How will we do that?"
"We won't, I'll take care of it. You're needed back with the Guild members, need to get them to that Sanctuary, before Maven finds them."
"Are you sure, lass?"
"I have to do this, Brynjolf. I have to repair the damage that Mercer has done, after all this time. Here," she handed Brynjolf the Eyes of the Falmer, "use these to repair the Guild. I will see you when it's done."
Brynjolf nodded, and Karliah turned to Nero, Serana, and Asmund.
"Thank you all for the help you've given, the service you've done for me and the Guild, even if it was for different reasons. You have helped right a great wrong. I will not forget it, and neither will the Guild."
Karliah looked straight at Asmund, "that man did us both wrong, I hear. But now, we are both free of him. What's your name?"
"Asmund," he answered.
"Asmund. I won't forget you, Asmund," she said before she bid her farewell to all of them, and took her leave.
"Whatever she's going to do, does it have something to do with that fancy getup?" Nero asked Brynjolf.
He turned to Nero, "you could... aye, you could say that, lad."
"Well, don't worry, not gonna press for answers."
"I know I can trust you, lad. The truth is, I'm a-"
"Nightingale?" Nero asked.
Brynjolf looked dumbstruck, "how did you know that?"
"I've read the book, and figured that if there was some kind of secret club inside of the Guild, it ticked all of the boxes. Guessing Karliah is too?"
"Yeah, her, Gallus and Mercer, a long time ago. That's where we went before we came here, so she could welcome me to that little club."
"Right, well the outfit is... very inconspicuous," joked Nero, and Brynjolf laughed.
"Probably won't wear it in the daytime, yeah."
Brynjolf smiled, "right, well, we might as well be on our way, to get your boy home, and give the others the good news. Come on."
The four set off back to the Rift. Along the way, Asmund explained that he'd caused a distraction in the orphanage to sneak away from Lydia and Iona.
"Me and the other kids worked together to distract them, so that I could sneak out and... well, follow you," he said to Serana.
"You know, Mercer told me apparently you pickpocketed him. Is that true?" asked Nero.
Asmund went silent, and looked up at Nero, "he... I... yes."
Nero raised an eyebrow, "you told me that Mercer just saw you stealing wine. Why did you lie?"
He was silent for another moment, "because... well, he DID see me steal wine. But also... I tried to pickpocket him, I figured some gold on the side wouldn't hurt, I don't make any money at the orphanage."
"Why did you lie to me, Asmund?"
"... because of the way you looked at me. I wanted it to seem like... like I wasn't just a thief. The wine was for me and my friends. I didn't want you to think I was nothing but a thief."
Nero put an arm on Asmund's shoulder, "Asmund, I don't think any less of you. I know there's more to you than that."
He stopped Asmund and faced him, "but that one man could've killed you, and your friends. You need to start showing some appreciation for the rules, okay?"
Asmund nodded, "okay."
Nero nodded, and they continued on their way.
"Well, that's a shame, lad."
"What?" Nero asked Brynjolf.
"I was about to offer him a job in the Guild."
Brynjolf began laughing, but upon seeing Nero's face, "when he got older! When he's old enough to make his own decisions! We don't recruit kids."
Nero relaxed, but Brynjolf continued, "I'm just saying, little lad, you have talent."
Asmund looked indifferent but then, smiled a little.
~ The Abandoned Shack ~
It had taken a while to return to the shack, but the sun had risen over Skyrim by the time they did. The morning air was soothing to the four travellers.
"Well," said Brynjolf, "I guess this is where we part ways, unless you want to come in and give the good news?"
"I guess I wouldn't mind seeing them again, before we take off," agreed Nero.
Brynjolf led them to the front foor, and opened it, and he and Nero walked through followed by Serana and Asmund. They looked around.
"Oh Gods..."
The room was dotted with bodies. Blood lined the walls and floors. Thieves and Assassins by tell of their armour, lay scattered about the floor, with puddles of blood encircling them. In the far end of the room, five thieves left were grouped around of them who had collapsed against a side-turned table.
It was Vex and Delvin, and the others, Dirge, a man and a woman. Delvin was sitting against the table, holding his shoulder. He was coughing.
"I'm awright, Vex... Really."
"Why did you take that dagger, you idiot!?"
Vex shook her head before turning to see the Brynjolf and the others enter the room. Brynjolf then ran to them, and Nero, Serana, and Asmund came over.
"Vex, Delvin, what happened!?" Bryn asked urgently.
"They... they bloomin came, Bryn... we only... only barely fought 'em off," Delvin was coughing between his words.
"Is it done, Brynjolf?" asked Vex, "tell me, it's at least done?"
Brynjolf nodded, "aye, lass. We took care of Mercer. He's not the trouble anymore."
Vex breathed a breath of relief.
"Nero!" said a familiar voice, and he turned to see Lydia come over.
"Lydia!" he exclaimed, "what are you doing here?"
She turned to see Serana and then laid her eyes of Asmund, "I was looking for Asmund, who sneaked out from the orphanage, from me and Iona. I looked at Honeyside first, but no one was there. Serana told me about this shack you were all staying at, so I came looking for him here, while Iona stayed at the orphanage guarding the children. They said you'd gone off to some dwarven ruins, and I was going to come after you, but then..." she looked about.
"The Brotherhood," said Nero, understanding, "they attacked?"
Lydia nodded, and Nero closed his eyes.
"Seven people. That's all the Guild is now. There was so many more a day ago. All this, and now look at what we are," said Vex solemnly.
"How did they find this place?" asked Brynjolf.
"They... they must've followed us," said Serana.
"No, they must've followed me," admitted Lydia, "Gods damn it."
Asmund spoke lightly, "so... so they came here... because of me?"
They all turned to him.
"It's my fault," he said.
"No, no, no," Serana took his shoulders, "Asmund, listen to me, none of this is your fault. Those assassins, they all did this. None of this was you."
He looked down, an expression of solemn sadness across his face, despite Serana's words.
Nero crossed his arms, "did any get away?" he asked Vex.
"A few, we cut down as many as we could though."
"Shit," Nero cursed under his breath.
Suddenly though, coughing echoed through the room from the other side, and they all turned to see an assassin still alive, crawling to the wall. They were all expressionless. The assassin pulled himself up to sit against the wall, and then pulled his hood off, revealing a breton with pale blonde hair and red eyes. He was holding his side, where it seemed he'd impaled. Blood was spilling out.
Nero approached, slowly, angrily, and stopped a couple of metres from him.
The dying vampire laughed, "gonna finish me off? You're all done anyway..."
He began coughing, and blood spilled out from his mouth. He looked up, "soon enough my brethren will return to finish the job."
Vex fetched a knife and began storming over.
"Vex! No!" Brynjolf caught her and held her back.
"I'll kill him! I'LL KILL HIM!"
The vampire continued to laugh and cough.
"No," said Nero, "we need him alive. To tell us where the new Sanctuary is."
The dying assassin laughed, "in your dreams, thief. You'll never get me to talk."
"Oh, I beg to differ," said Nero, before kneeling down and taking a deep breath.
"GOL HAH DOV!"
The shout flew from Nero's mouth across the vampire, who blinked a few times before lookig up at Nero. Everyone turned to watch, including Serana.
"Tell me where the new Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary is," Nero commanded.
The vampire answered instantly, "it is in Dawnstar, around the right side of the harbour. There, the door lies."
"What is the password to the door?"
"Innocence, my brother."
"How well is it guarded?"
"The spirit guardians dwell within, to kill any intruders, along with the remaining assassins."
Nero stood up, and wathed as the vampire's breaths slowed, until his head dropped, and he died.
Brynjolf let go of Vex, who was very confused, "how did you..."
"A shout that bends the will of any living creature I direct it toward. One I only use if I must," stated Nero, who then walked back over to the others.
"Looks like this is gonna end very soon."
There was a silence, until Brynjolf realised, and firmly stated, "you're going to storm the Santuary."
"Not just me. I need to contact the Penitus Oculatus, and the Dawnguard. Commander Maro will want vengeance and justice, and Isran won't say no to killing a horde of vampires. We're gonna go to Dawnstar, find the Sanctuary, and kill every last one. I'll finish the Brotherhood, for good this time."
Brynjolf looked around, before stepping forward, "I'm in."
Nero looked at him, as if unsure of his reasons, until he gave them.
"Those bastards have killed enough of us today, I'm going to help finish them in any way I can."
Vex stood up, "me too."
Delvin tried to stand, "me three."
Vex though put hands on him and lightly eased him back down, "no, no, no, you are in no shape, Delvin. You need to rest."
"But he can't stay here," said Brynjolf befoe turning to the other thieves, "Rune, Saphire, Dirge, you need to get yourselves and Delvin to the Falkreathe Sanctuary. I'll mark it on your maps, and you get there. It's the only place that's safe. It's just us left."
Rune and Saphire nodded, but Dirge stood forward, "I want in to kill the blood-suckers. It's time for a little payback."
Brynjolf nodded, "alright," before he turned back to Nero, "well, lad. Looks like you got us to help you."
Nero nodded, "alright," he turned to Vex,"Vex, I need you to head to the Dawnguard, tell the leader Isran that Nero and Serana have found a hole filled with vampires, and to send his best men to come and help."
She nodded, and Nero turned to Brynjolf and Dirge, "you two need to do the same at Dragonbridge, with the Penitus Oculatus. Tell Commander Maro that Nero Dragons-bane has found the new Brotherhood's hideout. With any luck, he'll bring every last troop he can, but it's your job to convince him."
"You've got it lad, we'll head right away."
"We'll all meet outside the Sanctuary, where we'll storm it, and kill every last vampire-assassin in there."
"Sounds good to me," admitted Vex.
"Guess I'm coming with?" Lydia asked Nero.
"No," he answered, "you need to take Asmund back to Riften, and make sure he doesn't sneak away this time."
"You bet, I won't let him out of my sight again," she looked around for him, "... where is he?"
Nero and Serana turned to see he wasn't there.
Serana looked around, "he was just-"
They then turned to the door, which was open.
"Oh no... oh no, no, NO!"
Nero and Serana ran outside, followed by Lydia.
He was nowhere to be seen. He'd disappeared.
"Gods damn it!" Nero cursed loudly.
"Where is he?!" Serana asked urgently, looking about.
Nero thought for a moment, where he possibly could've gone. Then the thought hit him. It hit him hard.
"He's gone to the Dawnstar Sanctuary."
Grave expressions crossed Serana and Lydia's faces.
"No, no, he wouldn't..." Serana tried denying, but reluctantly, it sunk in.
"We need to find him, stop him before he gets there. Or they'll kill him."
Author's Notes
OH NOOO! ASMUND'S RUN OFF TO THE SANCTUARY! Better hope Nero and Serana can catch him fast, before he runs into a room with some peeps he really won't be fond of.
I understand this arc is a long one, and I wanted to try that to get to grips with writing the characters, but I think I'll opt for a shorter one after this. The next part will be out before the end of February, I plan to submit it fairly soon. But I've planned that in the past, and it hasn't always gone too according to plan.
Characters: None New
Dragon Language:
GOL HAH DOV = Earth Mind Dragon
Anyways, thanks for stopping by and reading this. I'm still so amazed that this story has and is getting more readers, and I'm so thankful for the reveiws, but I would always love more to help me hone my craft and tell stories better!
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next one!