Dovah stepped out into the upper courtyard, the breeze blowing around him while Lydia and Kalur watched from the door. Dovah could feel the wind sneak and slither through the openings in his helmet. It was a refreshing breeze, helping to calm his nerves from recent events. Thoughts still raced through his mind. Should he trust the Brotherhood? Were they right about the Thalmor? What kind of risks would be on the path ahead?
He knelt down on his knees in as if in prayer, looking up to the sky.
"Paarthunaax, my master… What should I do?" He softly spoke. "Can I really trust them? After all that they've done? After everything that's happened? Please, by Kynareth, give me a sign..."
Threre was silence for a few moments, as nothing but the breeze could be heard. Then, Dovah heard a roar coming from the sky.
He looked up, and saw Paarthunax fast approaching. The Dragon flew into view, gusting winds beneath his beating wings, and landed in front of Dovah, surprising him, Kalur, and his housecarl!
"Zu'u los het, Dovahkiin." Paarthunax spoke. "You are troubled by the ones that shroud themselves in shadow, but do not let their past history sway you from who your real enemy is."
"I understand, Master." Dovah said. "I just... how can I trust them after all that they have done? They have taken so much life..."
"Ni ol pogaas ol fin Thalmor." Paarthunax replied. "The high elves have wrought much worse crimes against the people than the shadowed members of the Brotherhood. Give them time, and a chance Dovah. These allies are all you have right now, and may be our last hope..."
"...Yes, master." Dovah said after a pause. He knew Paarthunax was right.
"Now I must leave, Dovahkiin." Paarthunax spoke. "Do not fear, for I am watchful. Call upon me again should you need my counsel."
With that, Paarthunax took off, beating his wings against the air as he took flight once more.
# # # # #
Delphine walked back and forth across the floor in the main hall of the temple impatiently. She was clearly becoming agitated from all the events that had occurred, along with the uneasy silence of the blades sanctuary.
The Dark brotherhood members had just introduced themselves to everyone. The Redguard in the Ali'kr outfit was named Nazir, the child was named Babette, the Jester went by the name of Cicero, Golamus they had already met, and the others with them were a couple of new initiates that had just barely joined up. But things were still very tense even after introductions.
"Keep that up and you'll wear a hole in the floor." Nazir commented on Delphine's pacing. Babette shot Nazir a look of disapproval and started to open her mouth, but Delphine beat her to it.
"Don't order me around, assassin!" Dephine snapped unexpectedly. "I don't know how long you've been alive, or how many people you've killed, but you are standing in the sanctuary of the Blades! This is my domain, not one of your little shady, shanty hideaways!"
Nazir just smiled. "Well, excuse me!" He replied heavy yet friendly on the sarcasm. "I guess that's how the mighty Grandmaster of the Blades says 'thank you.' to someone who just saved her life."
"I swear by Akatosh, if you don't shut up about that..." Delphine started to threaten.
"Just pay him no mind, Delphine." Esbern said, walking in with several Blades recruits, a book in his hand. "He's just trying to get your goat by rubbing it in."
"Yeah, what he said." Ta'liq agreed.
"Oh, come on." Nazir said. "I could do a much better job of rubbing it in than this! Besides, I'm just trying to make conversation..."
"...And you are failing miserably at it!" Babette snapped. "You can plainly see she is on edge, Nazir! We all are, so do us all a favor and quit trying to provoke her!"
"It would do you a favor to listen to the girl." Krog smiled.
"Yes, please!" Cicero agreed, holding a pair of tragedy/comedy masks. "I've had enough drama from the recent events, so knock it off, or I might start to practice expressing myself in song, which would be absolutely dreadful to you I know, especially with this place's acoo~oouustics!" That last sentence echoed through the temple, causing Babette to smile and Nazir to scowl at Cicero. Ta'liq and Golamus burst out in laughter for a few seconds, giving Cicero thumbs-up and applause!
Nazir opened his mouth to start to say something, and then stopped. Golamus noticed immediately, as well. Everything went silent. Each member of the Brotherhood all looked at each other in the eye, then to the ceiling, hands resting on their weapons. Cicero noticed this, and started looking around as well, eyes darting back and forth across the room.
"What is it?" Esbern sensed immediately something was not right.
Cicero tiptoed up to Esbern, and whispered in his ear.
"...We are not alone!" He said with a scared grin. "There is someone here who is not one of us!"
Nazir then shot up at a section of the ceiling with his crossbow. It was then that Delphine saw something move from the shadows of the rafters. Something in a cloak! Someone was up there!
Delphine ran for one of the weapon chests and threw it open, grabbing a Colovian Bow and quiver of steel arrows. Ta'liq already had his bow and an arrow ready, looking around the cavern with night-eye for the intruder!
Apparently, the trespasser knew exactly what Ta'liq was doing, because he jumped down to a bookcase he was standing near, and threw a strange powder at his eyes, blinding Ta'liq causing him to yell, dropping his weapons.
Unfortunately, the intruder did not count on Dulian. She shouted out an incantation, raising up her hands, and lit up the whole area with quite a grand mage light spell! There was no dark corner for anyone to hide!
The intruder was caught off guard, and raised a sleeved hand over their hooded face, trying to shield their eyes from the sudden burst of light. It was just enough time for Kalur to use his unrelenting force shout to knock the intruder off balance. Krog and Golamus then tackled the intruder to the ground. There was a great scuffle and a few daggers flying in random directions, but Golamus and Krog finally forced the intruder down and strung him up. They identified it as an Argonian, and not just any Argonian as Kalur clearly saw when they pulled back the hood. The green-red skin, the feathers and horns on his head, the yellow eyes, he even recognized the scar across his snout!
It was Kalur's father, Argok Rune!