My Own Path Chapter 25

Even though KaNack was sad to leave Winterhold, coming upon the familiar hidden door that led to the underground stables did make him feel a slight hint of happiness. It was a homecoming after all, and as much as he adored his companions at the school, he could not forget that these were the people that molded him into the strong being he was today.

As soon as he and his cousin got their horses settled back in their stalls, they pushed open the irons doors and entered the main chamber of the Falkreath sanctuary. The mage suck in a deep breath as the faint smell of earth began to fill his head with fond memories of the Dark Brotherhood. It was not until he had come back that he realized that deep inside, how much he truly missed his bloodthirsty family.

"We're back!" Veezara shouted out as he made his way past the Listener and towards the center where he usually trained. The green assassin promptly fell to the floor and crossed his legs, seeming to go into a trance.

Slowly, all the assassins began to appear from the different tunnels. All of them looked rather surprised and somewhat relieved to see that their wayward sibling had found his way back home.

"What in Oblivion were you doing up there, NaNick?" Festus shouted angrily as he stormed over to his apprentice. KaNack braced himself for the sharp smack that he received on the back of his head. "You should have come back weeks ago!"

"I missed you too, Festus," the Argonian answered with a smile as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I don't want to hear it!" he spat at him. The elder wizard pointed furiously at the target area. "Get over there and give me fifteen charges of Chain Lightning! NOW!"

"Oh, calm down!" a feminine voice suddenly spoke up. "Can't you see the dear had a rough trip? At least give him a few minutes to unwind."

The mage slowly turned his head, and his eyes narrowed as Astrid made her way over to the Argonian. Her arms crossed and a pleased smile on her face.

"Little Brother, welcome back home. We were all so worried. I'm glad Veezara managed to find you alive and well."

"Yes, it's funny how he seemed to know where I was. Considering I hadn't contacted any of you," KaNack growled as he took a few steps away from her.

"LISTENER!" a shrill voice suddenly cried out.

The Argonian barely had time to turn around as he was engulfed in a powerful hug, and almost knocked off his feet.  He grunted as the jester squeezed him tightly almost keeping the reptile from breathing properly. The Fool of Hearts may have appeared scrawny, but he was obviously much stronger than he looked.

"Cicero knew you would come back! He knew you wouldn't abandon the Night Mother!" The jester grinned madly as he pulled back but gripped the mage's arms tightly. "Where has Cicero's friend been? It has been just dreadful here!"He shook his head in despair. "These brothers and sisters were not kind, not kind at all to poor Cicero!" the Keeper moped.

"More whining!" Krex grumbled as his threw his arms into the air. "When will the whining stop?"

"Cicero is not whining!" the fool insisted as he turned to face the older mage. "Cicero is pouting! There is a difference!"  Cicero turned back and stared at KaNack in concern. "Why did you not try and contact poor Cicero, Listener? Astrid and the others knew where to find you!"

"I guess that means you didn't get to read my letter at all then," the mage grumbled as his eyes slowly returned to look at Astrid. He could see the Nord starting to tense up, even though the expression on her face never changed.

"Letter?" the fool piped in confusion.

"KaNack," Astrid started coolly. "Let's talk in private please."

The Argonian wanted to call the Dark Brotherhood leader out in front of everyone, but he was too tired to want to make a great scene. Especially since more than likely a few of the assassins would have sided with the Nord.

He followed the woman up the small stairwell that led to her private quarters. The mage could only glare at her back and his anger seemed to intensify with every step he took. Astrid had betrayed him, and he was going to let her know that. She shut the door behind them and turned to face the livid reptile.

"How could you deceive me like that?" he viciously spat at her. "Ulfric Stormcloak, Astrid? Really? You were going to turn me over to the Stormcloaks?"

"I just thought you needed a little push to get out of Winterhold. I didn't wish you harm, believe me."

"He insulted my friends and attacked me! The entire school knows what I am now, Astrid! Thank Sithis that they are willing to keep that information within the college! Tell me why my teachers and classmates can keep a secret, but apparently my family cannot?"

He hissed at her, disgusted by her treachery. "You promised me you wouldn't tell anyone! You lied right to my face! Do you honestly think I am going to trust you after something like this? I won't even get into the fact that you stole and read the letter that you KNEW was for the Keeper."

"All letters for the Brotherhood arrive in the same place. I assumed it was meant for me," she responded in aggravation.

"Cicero's name was on the envelope, Astrid," KaNack stated darkly as he glowered at her. "Stop lying to me. I am getting sick of your lies."

Astrid rolled her eyes as she shook her head in frustration.

"You can moan and whine all you want later. Right now I need to know about Volunruud," she fiercely insisted, not wanting to divulge into her betrayal to the Argonian assassin. "The Night Mother is important to you, isn't she? We need to discuss what happened in that tomb!"

KaNack bared his sharp teeth at her, but then started to calm down as he realized that there was in fact a much more important matter to discuss. Petty issues could be dealt with in due time.

"Yes, she is," he growled. "I must obey the will of the Night Mother and that means sharing this information with you." He shook his head in disappointment before continuing.

"There was in fact a Black Sacrament performed in Volunruud," he answered as his rage began to simmer. As he once again thought of the contract, he began to feel queasy and somewhat lightheaded. "Amaund Motierre was there as the Night Mother claimed."

"And? What did Motierre want?"

"He wishes us to murder Titus Mede the Second," the Argonian muttered quietly and shamefully.

Hearing this made the Nord stand up straighter and her eyes widened in astonishment. "You're joking," she muttered. "The Dark Brotherhood hasn't committed such a feat since the assassination of Pelaguis!"

"It's a lot to take in," the mage answered with a shaky voice, "I know."

"No one has even dared to attempt to kill an emperor in at least two hundred years!" She settled down on the foot of her bed as she stared into nothing in particular. "I am not sure what is going on here, Little Brother. I don't know if you truly are the Listener or if this is just some kind of a coincidence."

"I heard her voice, Astrid," the reptile growled through gritted teeth. "This is no fluke." He grabbed his tail and began to wring it, hoping that the pinching pain might keep him distracted from his ever building nerves. "We aren't going to accept this contract, are we?"

The Nord's laughter filled the room as she beamed at the Listener. "You damn right we are going to accept!" She stood up and hurried to the apprentice and placed her hands on his shoulders as she gazed into his white eyes. "We pull this off and the Dark Brotherhood will know a fear and respect that it has not known in centuries! We'll finally stop becoming the stuff of legends and once again strike terror into the hearts of men! Business is going to be good, KaNack! Very good!"

The Nord pulled the young assassin to his feet and gazed at him proudly. "I have been given an opportunity to lead my family to glory! I will not let this chance slip by!"

"I thought you might feel that way," the mage muttered quietly as he pulled both the amulet and the sealed letter from his satchel and handed it to the woman.

"What are these?"

"Motierre gave these to me to deliver to you. The letter contains all the details regarding the Emperor's involved contract and he says that necklace should cover our expenses."

Astrid allowed the amulet to dangle from her wrist as she opened the letter and began to scan through its contents. The Argonian could not tell what these killings were going to involve, but he could tell that the envelope contained quite a few pages of instructions.

"I am going to need some time to go over this and plan our first move," she said as she once again took a seat on her bed and began to shuffle through the pages.  She paused for a moment to stare at the jeweled amulet. "This however," she mused. "We're going to need to get this appraised. I have to find out everything about this necklace. I'm not even sure we can sell the damn thing."

"What do you suggest?" KaNack asked as he continued to wring his tail.  Astrid looked up at the mage and handed the amulet over to him.

"I am going to need you to do me another favor, Little Brother. I know you have only just gotten back, and you traveled a very long distance to return home; but you will have to journey once again to Riften."

"Riften?" the mage exclaimed in confusion. "That's clear across the country! Isn't there someplace closer I could go?"

"If this was for any mere contract, yes," the Nord answered. "But this is far too big, and there's only one person that I feel we can trust regarding something as important as the Emperor's assassination."

KaNack's eyebrow rose when he noticed a slight look of longing in Astrid's eyes as she thought about her contact in Riften. "His name is Delvin Mallory," she practically sighed the name. "He's a fence that operates out of the Ratway in Riften. The man associates himself with the Thieves Guild.  If anyone will know what this little trinket is worth, it will be him."

"The Thieves Guild?" the Argonian grumbled as he thought about what Veezara had told him about that particular faction. "Word is that they have hit rock bottom. You sure we can rely on these desperate bandits?"

"Don't you talk about them like that!" she snapped at him furiously. "These are not men whom you can compare to those reckless thugs you come across on the road! I consider them men of honor! They still have pride and a reputation of the highest regard."

Astrid brushed a few stray blond hairs away from her face as her gaze fell to the floor. "KaNack, Delvin and I have a history together. He can be trusted." She sighed longingly and then finally picked up her head to meet the Argonian's eyes.  "Bring that amulet to him, and see if he will buy it. He should offer you a letter of credit. That is the way we have always worked."

The mage head tilted as he peered at Astrid. He had never seen her look so weak before. She looked borderline heartbroken and a shadow of her normal vindictive and confident self.

"This Delvin," he started quietly, "just how close were the two of you?"

"Very close, almost as close as Arnbjorn and I are now," she answered quietly as she continued avert her eyes from the young assassin. "Delvin was before that scruffy lovable wolf, but to be honest I truly did wish things could have worked out between us."

KaNack took a step closer, surprised at this complete change in Astrid.

"What happened between you two?"

The Nord scoffed bitterly. "Let's just say that thieves and assassins don't make good bed fellows," she answered in a stiff tone. "Thieves think that killing is below them, and Delvin just couldn't accept my choice of lifestyle." She then glared at the mage. "So there you have it. The vindictive bitch does in fact know how it feels to be kept away from someone you truly care about." Her eyes narrowed. "There! I shared a secret with you, KaNack. I hope this makes up for the Jarl of Windhelm."

The Argonian let out an unimpressed snort. "What you did almost got me and my friends killed, Astrid," the Listener explained to her in a calm but frustrated voice. "However, I guess that is the closest I am going to get to an apology from you."

He pocketed the amulet and gave her a dark look. "I hope you don't mind that I wait until tomorrow to leave for Riften."

She waved KaNack off, and resumed going through the pages of documents that Motierre had provided for the Dark Brotherhood.  The Argonian pushed the door forward. He could have sworn he heard the shuffling of feet before it opened all the way. He peered left and right but saw no signs of any of the assassins.

He grumbled to himself as he sulked his way into the main chamber and over to the living quarters. KaNack then quickly began to pack for his journey so that he could leave first thing in the morning. If he hustled Atronach, and didn't stop too often to rest, he would be able to reach Riften in four days. The weather had gotten warmer and the mare always traveled quicker on snow free lands.

"Leaving so soon?" a voice piped up suddenly. "You only just came home."

KaNack turned around and saw the Keeper peering in at him sadly from the entrance way.

"Riften," the mage answered in a tired voice. "I have to get something appraised to finance the Night Mother's contract."

"Yes, Cicero understands," he answered softly as he entered the room and took a seat on the bed opposite of KaNack's. "Mother's will must be done. Even if it means you must leave the sanctuary once more."

The Argonian could see the disappointment in the jester's eyes. It was no secret that he had been the only one that treated the Keeper with any shred of kindness, respect or dignity.  No doubt that the Listener's time away made the Fool of Heart's aware of just how much everyone disliked him in the Dark Brotherhood.

"No one tells Cicero anything," the jester muttered solemnly. "Everyone else seemed to know where you were. I had feared that some horrible fate might have befallen the Listener."

KaNack's eyes squeezed tightly shut as a wave of frustration and guilt washed over him. This had been the very reason he had tried to contact Cicero during his stay in Winterhold. "I did send you a letter, Cicero," KaNack insisted as he closed his knapsack. "You must believe me."

"Cicero believes you," the fool answered with a nod. "The Listener would never lie to Cicero."

"No, I wouldn't."

He turned on the bed so that he and the Keeper were facing one another. "Look, Cicero. I know that you have a responsibility to the Night Mother, but I really don't want to make this journey alone." He gave the fool a small smile. "It should only be a week at most to go to Riften and return to the sanctuary. Would you like to accompany me?"

The jester perked up and his eyes widened with disbelief. "What? You want Cicero to assist you in the Night Mother's contract?" he shook his head furiously. "Cicero cannot! The Keeper is not allowed to take part in any more assigned killings!"

"We're not going there to kill," the mage explained. "I just need to have something appraised by a fence in the Ratway. But you seem more than experienced with that blade of yours. I'd feel a lot safer knowing you had my back."

Cicero head tilted to the side as he opened his mouth to say something, but words failed him. His yellow eyes danced from side to side as he thought over the offer carefully.

"I trust you more than anyone else here, friend," the reptile confided to the Imperial.

"Have to oil Mother," the fool whispered under his breath. "But Cicero did so tonight. She has been properly cared for. Doesn't need treatment for days. Only a week it will be? Cicero has a responsibility to the Night Mother. But the Listener needs his Keeper's protection. Cicero has sworn to serve the Listener."

The jester's frantic ramblings would be unnerving to most people, but the Argonian had become more than accustomed to them with all the time he spent with his dearest companion.  KaNack let out a quiet groan as he placed his bag on the floor next to his bed.

"You don't have to come, Cicero," he stated gently. "The Night Mother is our leader, and she must come before anyone." He smiled at the jester sadly. "I'll be fine on my own."

The mage settled down on his bed, keeping his back towards the Fool of Hearts. , He pulled the bearskin blanket over himself, and stared ahead at the wall in front of him. The truth was that he did not want to travel alone. He had spent more than enough time by himself. Being in the company of friends and allies made him realize that he was always much more confident and fearless, because with them nearby he knew he had something worth fighting for.

KaNack stirred when he felt a comforting hand rest on his shoulder, and he couldn't help but smile as he realized what the gesture meant.

"Humble Cicero lives to serve."