My Own Path Chapter 42

The water was cold and murky but it did not seem to affect the Argonian in the slightest. Truthfully, he was more at home when in the water than on dry land.  His long slender black tail swished from side to side, propelling him silently deep under the Karth River, keeping the large silhouette before him in sight.

He was hardly even aware of the ghostly hand attached to his ankle. He pulled his spirit along with him, out of sight and out of minds of the soldiers lining the deck of the Katariah. No one had seen them slip into the water, so no one would be expecting it when they laid siege to the Emperor's vessel. The Penitus Oculatus scanned the shores and the river, seeking out any who might wish their Emperor harm, none of them, however, predicted an intruder to come from below.

A dark shadow cast over the mage as he swam under the ship, looking for the anchor keeping it moored to the inlet. He was not disappointed. The large, barnacle crusted chains remained stiff and taut under the strain of the Katariah's pull.

They had to be silent, not so much as a splash could be made if they wished to keep the element of surprise in their favor.  Sharp claws grasped each link of the chain as the Argonian patiently began to scale up the makeshift ladder, each slight movement carefully thought out so that nothing aside from the screeching hawks or the flowing river could be heard by those onboard.

KaNack squeezed himself through the anchor's opening and could see the surrounding crates and barrels carrying the ship's cargo. The easy part of the mission was over, getting onboard unseen. The worst was yet to come.

The reptile turned his head to the side as the Spectral Assassin joined his side, not showing even the slightest hint of being submerged under water; perhaps being a ghost did provide one with certain advantages.  Flattening himself against a wall of boxed supplies, KaNack peered around the corner and saw the flight of stairs that would lead him onto the more populated decks of his Eminence's vessel.

A single sailor in commoner clothing was dusting off his hands as he began to ascend the stairs, muttering something about how the last of the provisions had been secured. The ship was ready to set sail as soon as the captain was informed of this, which would not do at all.  

Turning to Lachance, KaNack used a single claw to gesture at the man. A magical attack would be too loud; they needed to keep silent for as long as possible.  Nodding in confirmation, the Spectral Assassin produced his bow and shot an arrow directly into sailor's back.

There was but the slightest grunt, and the man collapsed down the stairs in a heap.

"Good work, Buddy," the mage whispered as he prowled forward across the wooden floors, keeping his body low and his senses high.  Slithering up the stairs like a serpent, the young assassin's head turned to the left, spotting an open chamber.  Another sailor was complaining about getting something to eat.

"One more silent strike," the Listener ordered with a hiss.

"Am I to do all the work, child?" Lucien asked in amusement as he prepared a second spectral arrow.

"Quiet attacks aren't really my forte," the Argonian grumbled. "Besides, I dragged your blue ass here, didn't I?" KaNack was itching to kill some Imperials, but these were mere sailors, and he did not want to give away their position when they could still be easily trapped in the cargo deck.

Another lethal projectile shot forward and another man collapsed dead. The Argonian lurked forward and peeked around the wall. Ahead was the common dining quarters of the Katariah, and three Imperial agents were sitting at a table eating and making small talk.

"Ah, now this is going to be my specialty." He turned to grin at his spirit. "You think your transparency is something special, specter? Watch this."

Pulling a white potion bottle from his satchel, the mage downed the contents and promptly vanished from sight.

"Potions, eh? In my day we used those more sparingly," Lachance said quietly as he lowered his bow, and awaiting further instructions from his caster.

With the threat of being seen no longer an issue, the apprentice stood up and began to casually approach the three dining men.

"What's taking those bilge rats so long?" grumbled one of the Penitus Oculatus agents. "We should have left this wretched inlet hours ago."

"The Emperor should never have come in the first place," growled another. "I don't care if his cousin was killed, it's not safe for him to be in Skyrim with those bloody assassins prowling about."

"They're all dead," the third remarked with a wicked grin. "Maro sent a scout back to inspect that rat hole. The Dark Brotherhood is now nothing but a distant memory."

KaNack's lip curled up in a snarl and his hands lit up in flames just as the potion wore off, revealing himself to be standing directly behind the soldiers.

"It's funny how memories can come back to haunt you, isn't it?" the Argonian remarked bitterly. The Imperial spun around, only to be lit up by the flames of an Incinerate cast. They were sitting so close to one another, that it only took one to snuff out all three of the Emperor's guards. The explosion of the attack however, clearly made the reptile aware that the element of surprise was no longer an option.

"Could you have chosen a louder spell, Listener?!" Lachance snarled furiously as he hurried to join his caster's side, preparing an arrow for the no doubt oncoming onslaught. "What have I told you about the thrill of the hunt? About taking the time to think things through?!"

"We're onboard the ship. The hunt is on as we speak. I'm sorry if my casting is too loud for your liking. Not all of us have the luxury of being able to kill in absolute silence," the Argonian grumbled. Lachance's eyes narrowed as he could sense a definite change in his caster's personality.

"What is wrong with you?" he asked half in a frustration and half in concern. "You have to keep a steady head, child. This is the most important contract of your life. The Brotherhood depends on it."

"Isn't this exactly what Ulfric wants?"  KaNack growled as he kept his eyes on the stairs to make sure that no more agents were going to come flying down at them. "Killing the Emperor will only weaken the Imperial Army."

"This again?" Lachance exclaimed angrily. "What happened to you not having any doubts? What happened to you dragging your body and not giving up until one of you was dead?"

The reptile groaned in frustration and brushed his feathers back with his claws as the feeling of nausea began to return. He had been so confident in his ability to slay the Emperor, but now that he was so close to completing his goal and Astrid was no longer there to put the pressure on him, he started to wonder if he could actually go through with it. "I don't know. I…just don't feel right about this. How can I kill the Emperor and return to Tullius? I am going to betray the very people I am wishing to fight for."

"You are an assassin!" Lachance snarled, furious that the Listener had chosen now to allow his conscience to get the better of him. "Does it matter so long as you get to kill Stormcloaks? Do you NEED to fight alongside the Imperial Army?"

"Yes, I do!" KaNack responded bitterly.  "I took a vow in Winterhold with…"

"Vow?" Lucien hissed as he took a step back from the mage. "The only vow that matters is the one you made with Sithis. You owe Him the Emperor's soul, and He will have it." The spirit released a growl of frustration and did his best to calm himself. "I am here for you, Listener.  However, if you don't put this Imperial loyalty aside and fulfill your destiny to…"

"Destiny?" KaNack snapped viciously as he narrowed his eyes at the Spectral Assassin. "I don't believe in that nonsense. What is stopping me from turning around and jumping from the ship? I might still have enough time to go off and kill Maro…"

"Listen to yourself! What happened to you that has changed you so drastically?"

"I don't know," uttered the mage bitterly. "I did hit my head pretty hard when you threw me from Shadowmere."

"Shall I strike you again?" the ghost spat out darkly. "Will that make you come to your senses?"

Shouting from the upper deck pulled the Argonian away from his argument with Lachance and he glared at the stairwell furiously. He may have not been sure if he would be able to kill Emperor, but the Penitus Oculatus would die at his hands. His claws were burning wildly with flame as he rushed up a flight of stairs to reach the second deck of the Katariah.

The top of the stairs brought him to the living quarters of the vessel, and five more Imperial soldiers were there waiting with their swords drawn. The noise and furious shouting between the two assassins had alerted them that somehow enemy forces had managed to get themselves onboard the Emperor's ship.

"To arms! To arms!" a gruff man announced loudly as he rushed forward, preparing to strike down the scaled assassin before him.  The reptile ducked the swing of the man's blade and was surprised when the Imperial suddenly collapsed before him. A spectral arrow in his forehead alerted him to the cause of death.

"Buddy, that was my kill!" he shouted furiously back at the ghost of Lachance. He turned back and sucked in a breath as the other four agents came at him, fierce expressions plastered on their faces and weapons gripped in tight hands, ready to slay their leader's would-be killer.

"FUS RO DAH!"

The men were flung backwards and hurled over the protective barricade that wrapped around an opening that led to the deck below.

"What in Akatosh was that?! Some kind of spell?!" a voice screamed from below.

KaNack rushed forward and peered down at the pile of men below who were struggling to get back from their feet. The fall was painful, but the Penitus Oculatus looked back up at the Argonian furiously.

"Is that the best you can do assassin?! We will turn your hide into boots when we get back up there!"

Lucien joined the mage's side and looked down to the second deck as well and could not help but smirk in amusement. "Are they all your kills as well, my Listener?" he asked as he sneered to the frustrated reptile. " Should I stand off to the side?"

A growl rumbled in the Argonian's throat and he turned to scowl at the specter. Tension was building up within the mage from the struggle within regarding his ability to actually go through with slaying the Emperor.  Unfortunately, his spiritual guide was receiving most of this frustration in the force of verbal abuse. "Shut up, Buddy!"

Lachance's eyes narrowed and he sucked in a deep breath as he tried to remain calm. He had dealt with his fair share of stubborn people and getting angry at the Listener would only make the situation worse.  He had to be patient, for his, KaNack's and the Dark Brotherhood's sake. He had to hold onto the hope that in the end, the new Dark Brotherhood leader would fulfill his blood contract with Sithis.

KaNack leaned over the barricade and a fireball shot from his palms, striking down one of the staggering agents. The Spectral Assassin held out his bow, and once again his arrow claimed a soul for Sithis.  The remaining two Imperials, not fazed by their fallen comrades, charged back up the stairs, releasing loud battle cries.  Lucien replaced his bow with his blade, and the Argonian pulled the Blade of Woe from its sheath.

It was almost perfect symmetry as the two assassins spun around on their heels, and the momentum of the turn helped then to plunge their supernatural daggers into the chest plates of the agents. The two Penitus Oculatus tumbled ungracefully back down to the lower deck.  

Seeing the Blade of Woe clutched in KaNack's clawed hand pleased Lachance to no end. Mages rarely ever relied on melee weapons, so seeing the Argonian put the blade to use was a welcomed surprise to the Speaker. It almost made him forget about how frustrated he had become with the Listener. The reptile looked at the dagger in shock as it began to glow a slight red in color.

"The Blade of Woe, it does more than pierce the strongest of armor, my Listener," Lucien explained in a menacing voice. "It absorbs the very life from a person, feeding itself and making it all the more deadly."

"Oh, fun," the mage uttered as he sheathed the glowing weapon. "I'm really not a hands on kind of assassin however."

"Magic can only last so long, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with any tool you can."

KaNack let out a sigh as he gave the Spectral Assassin a tired look. "Is this another lesson from the days of old?"

"Mmm hmm," the ghost replied with a nod and a smirk.

Continuing forward, the Dark Brotherhood leader began to prowl through the deck and gingerly pushed open a door to see if there were any survivors still remaining. There was a man who appeared to be in his late forties waiting for him on the other side of the door.

"Hhyyyyah!"

KaNack leaned back as the man's sword came flying forward and just missed connecting with his head.  The attacker spun around, murder in his eyes.

"Criminal scum! I am Captain Avidius! I am ordering you to get off my ship!"

"We'd rather stay, thanks," the reptile sneered as he leaned back and sucked in a breath. "YOL!"

Flames erupted from the Argonian's mouth and shot forward engulfing the captain who was protected by nothing more than a pair of fancy clothes. The burning man screamed and ran about in circles before finally hurling himself over the barricade and to the deck below.

"That was rather sloppy," Lachance muttered with a shake of his head in disappointment. "You need much more practice. After this is over, let's find a few more strangers to murder."

"Seriously? You're making lesson plans while we're in the middle of an assassination?" the mage asked as he glared at the spirit looking very much unimpressed.

"So you ARE going through with it then?" the spirit asked coldly. "I would feel much better if you would just be direct. "

"I don't know!" the mage exclaimed as he held a hand to his stomach once more as it ached with guilt. "I am sure I will when I actually find Titus Mede the Second. For now, please just allow me to kill these men the only way I know how!"

"Call me a perfectionist if you will," Lachance replied as he crossed his arms. "I only hope that if you do end up doing the right thing that the Emperor's end will be completed slightly more….tasteful."

KaNack rolled his eyes as he continued to explore the deck until he opened a door, revealing a flight of stairs leading to the top and final deck of the Katariah.  No doubt this was going to be where he would find Titus Mede the Second.  Rushing to the top of the stairs, the Argonian ducked a swinging sword of a Penitus Oculatus and shot him back with a fireball.

"You will die this day, lizard!"

Lachance stood by the Listener's side and pulled out his blade as he counted the enemies before them and began to calculate their odds. There were four more Imperials still standing before them with shields and blades. KaNack's eyes narrowed and he leaned over to whisper to the spirit.

"These ones have shields. I don't think we can take them all before they over take us. It's too soon for me to try and Shout again. If you'd like to share some more of your ancient wisdom, now would be a good time."

"Didn't you just chastise me for trying to teach you in the midst of an assassination?" Lucien remarked in aggravation as he continued to look about and tried to form some kind of a strategy before both he and the Listener were cut down.  

"You can be bitter or you can die a second time!" the mage snarled as he got into a casting position.

From the corner of Lachance's eye, he spotted a filled bucket with a mop in it. All at once, he thought about the possibilities and he grimaced at the absurdity of the plan.

"No, it couldn't work," the specter grumbled to himself. This caused the reptile to snarl in frustration as the agents were preparing to charge them.

"If you have a plan, by all means share!" the Argonian snapped.

"Damn it all! When I strike, use your lightning!" the ghost ordered as he pulled the soaking mop from the bucket and lunged forward at the soldiers. He jabbed the dripping wet cloth portion of the mop directly into one of the agent's chest plates. "NOW!"

Lightning flew from the reptile's fingers and struck into the Imperial. With the water conducting the electricity, along with the steel guarding the armor, the voltage easily killed the soldier.  This confused and shocked the other Penitus Oculatus, who were not prepared as the Spirit of the Dark Brotherhood continued to assault them one by one with the mop, soaking them with the dirty water. "AGAIN!"

Together both Speaker and Listener worked together to eliminate the Imperial agents in what must have easily been a first in the world of the Dark Brotherhood.  Once their foes had fallen, Lucien hurled the mop to the floor and looked more than a little angry.

"It was too absurd! That should NOT have worked!" he barked furiously.

While the tactic has irritated the spirit, KaNack found it comical and amusing to no end. For a brief moment his stomach stopped hurting and he actually began to laugh.

"This is no laughing matter!" the ghost snarled.

"Why are you so mad? That was a stroke of genius!" the reptile chuckled as he walked over and wrapped an arm around the irritated phantom's shoulder.  "Just inspiring, Buddy! Who would have thought that the Penitus Oculatus' downfall would come about from cleaning supplies?"

"Don't touch me. This was embarrassing," he growled as he rolled his shoulder to remove his caster's arm. "I have wielded swords, daggers, torches, spears and I have even used poisoned fruit! NEVER have I ever had to use a broom to kill!"

"Actually, it was a mop."

"I don't care," the bitter spirit of Lucien remarked.  The spirit turned back to his caster and was somewhat relieved that the mood had definitely lifted slightly and the Argonian did not seem as nervous or frustrated.  "If you are at ease enough to laugh, I can only assume that means you have come to a decision regarding his Eminence's fate?"

With this heavy reminder, the reptile's head dropped and he shook his head. For a brief moment, he had forgotten about the contract with the amusement of seeing his spiritual guild fight with a mop. "Not yet, but I'm still trying to find him, aren't I? Come on, Buddy. The Emperor can't be too far from here."

Prowling through the deck of the ship, the Argonian peered into different rooms, finding neither surviving agents nor his Eminence.  He had come to a dead end where all that was left were two doors across from one another. He tried to open the door but found it was locked. He concentrated and tried to use his special spell to open the bolt, but he quickly realized that it was far too advanced for the spell.

"Great, guess we have to do this the old fashioned way," hissed the Argonian.

"You're going to blow it up? That strategy seems to be a favorite of yours," Lucien snorted as he folded his arms, still mad at himself for using a mop as a tool for death.

The mage let out a dark grumble as he pulled lockpicking tools from his satchel and began to work on the secured lock of the door. The pick always immediately snapped as he tried to open it.  "Dammit." He replaced it with another pick, but this one also did not last very long under the strain of a master lock. "Dammit!"

"Who's there?" a gruff voice shouted from behind.  The Argonian and Spectral Assassin spun around and saw a tall and proud looking Imperial standing in the doorway of the room across the hall. His armor was obviously that of the Penitus Oculatus, but it appeared fancier, very much like Maro's did.  "Assassin! I will see you dead!" the man snarled as he pulled out a large broadsword.

"You wish your death now?!"  Lachance snarled as he pulled his spectral blade from its sheath. "I will gladly oblige!"

The spirit charged the special agent and ducked the swing of the sword as he tackled him back into the room. The sounds that followed were that of snarls of rage and a furious struggle.

"That's right, Buddy," KaNack grumbled under his breath as he turned back to work on the lock. "You got this one."

Cursing in frustration, the Argonian continued to break pick after pick on the maddening lock as he tried to gain entrance to the room which could only be hiding his contract.  The reptile let out a cry of aggravation and slammed his head against the door when the very last of his lockpicks snapped.

"Don't think I didn't hear your snide comment, Listener," a deep voice grumbled at him from behind.  KaNack swallowed as he realized that the Spectral Assassin's hearing was apparently a lot better than he had thought. "Despite your unpleasantness, I am still willing to help you complete this task. Perhaps, this will help?"

The reptile looked to the side and saw a transparent hand holding a key out to him. The mage took the key in his clawed hands and stared up at the Spectral Assassin.

"Where did you get this, Buddy?"

"It turns out that the infuriating man was a lieutenant," Lucien answered simply. "His name was littered on papers in that room. Among the letters I found this key. I can only assume it will grant you access through that door."

"Good work," the Brotherhood leader said softly as he slid the key into the lock and heard a satisfying click. "He didn't give you too much trouble, I hope."

"No, of course not," the spirit insisted. "He swung as me as though I were some kind of stray. No strategy whatsoever. Quite a temperamental man, indeed."

KaNack rose to his feet and kept a clawed hand on the door as he turned to look at the Spectral Assassin.

"This is it. Once I go inside I will know whether or not the Emperor will die by my hand."

"I still have faith in you, child of darkness," Lachance said in a gentle voice.  The Argonian shook his head sadly. His stomach was gurgling and his mind was swarming with reasons why he should and shouldn't kill the leader of all Tamriel. He had come so far however, he had to enter that chamber. Only then would he know for sure what would be the right thing to do.

"Guard this door, I don't want anyone interfering before the deed is done."

"It will be done, my Listener."

Sucking in a deep breath, the Argonian pulled open the door and stepped inside the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, the mage saw his target. The Emperor was sitting at his desk, scribbling something onto parchment. If he noticed that the assassin had come, he was doing a very good job ignoring his presence.

The Dark Brotherhood leader took only one step forward before the man started speaking.

"And once more I prove Commander Maro the fool. I told him he couldn't stop the Dark Brotherhood. No one ever could," Mede replied still not looking up from his letter.  The mage froze in place, not knowing how to react to Emperor's reaction to his coming. He was expecting fear or anger; the man seemed not at all interested or surprised to see him there.

He cleared his throat and got into a casting position as a ball of flames formed in his hands. "Your rule is at an end Titus Mede the Second! Our Dread Father, Sithis, demands it!" he announced furiously as he prepared to deliver the deadly cast.

This only caused the old man to slam his quill on the table and give him an annoyed look. "Stop with your sinister bravado, Argonian," he muttered in a tired voice. "I will not die whimpering or pleading like some pathetic louse."

This reaction caused KaNack to get out of his casting placement and stood up straight. The fire vanished from his hands as he was truly confused by the brave man before him and could only tilt his head in puzzlement.  How could the Emperor be so calm with his death so imminent?

"Ah, I see that that was just an act. You do have a deal of respect for your fellow man, don't you?" Mede remarked as a smile formed on his face. The ruler of Tamriel walked from around the desk and motioned for the young assassin to approach. "Don't be shy. You have not fought so hard to get here just to gawk at me."

"You…you knew I was coming?" the mage asked as he slowly began to approach his target.

"Of course. So it is with assassins and emperors, we have a date with destiny," the man remarked, still looking amused and rather at peace.

"I don't understand, your Eminence," said the Listener as he shook his head.

"Eminence? Do you always greet your kills with such esteem?"

"Only those I admire," he answered softly. " You're so calm, yet you know why I am here."

"Yes," Mede replied with a nod. "I must die and you must deliver the blow. I have accepted this, haven't you? After all, you must have killed countless numbers of my guards on your way here."

"They killed my friends," the Argonian answered bitterly. "But you…you are the Emperor. The ruler of the Empire. The one whom the Imperial Army serves with honor."

"You are by far one of the oddest assassins I have ever come across. Then again, you managed to get much farther than all the others," the Emperor observed in amusement. He rested a hand on the reptile's shoulder as he let out a sigh. "I wonder though, boy. Would you suffer me a few more words before we get this ugly business over with?"

KaNack took a step back and extended his arm politely back to the chair where Mede had been sitting earlier. "I thank you for your courtesy." Sitting down once more, the Emperor folded his hands together and smiled at his assassin who was much more accommodating than he had expected.

"I do not know how one such as yourself had ended up on this path in life, but I can sense ambition in you.  With that being the case, I have but a small favor to ask of you." The old man eyes suddenly narrowed as he thought about how it had come done to this point. "While many wished me dead, there was one who set this machine in motion."

"It was Amaund Motierre," KaNack answered simply. The Emperor was going to be killed anyway, there was no harm in letting the man know who was responsible. "One of the members of your Elder Council."

"I always had a sneaking suspicion about that Breton," Mede uttered with a shake of his head.  "Well, it's too late for me to do anything about it. You though," a smile once again formed on his Eminence's face, "you can make things right. As a personal favor to me, an old man's dying wish; I want you to kill Motierre once he has rewarded you for my death."

"You wish me to kill him, sir?"

"He holds a very important position by being a member of the Council," Mede explained. "If he was desperate enough to go this far, to have me assassinated, then there is no telling what harm and damage he could unleash on all of Tamriel." The Emperor shook his head sadly. "I cannot go to my grave happily, knowing that my people aren't safe from his treacherous nature." He stared at the assassin hopefully. "Will you do me this kindness?"

KaNack took a knee as he bowed to the leader of Tamriel. "It will be an honor, my Eminence."

"Thank you," he sighed. "Now, onto the business at hand, hmm?"

The Argonian walked over to where Mede was sitting. The man was just sitting there, waiting patiently. He wasn't going to fight, plead or beg. He had simply accepted this fate and was going to leave this world calmly and at peace. The mage placed his hands on the desk to keep himself standing as his entire body began to shudder.

"Why are you taking so long?" the Emperor asked in concern. "I am not going to fight you."

"You must understand, my Eminence," the reptile started in a shaky voice. "I have nothing but love and admiration for you. I want to serve the Imperial Army and be a proud son to the Empire."

"You have an interesting way of showing it," the old man chuckled.

"Know that I do not do this out of hatred for you or the Empire," KaNack continued to explain. "You are a victim in all this. You must die in order for my family to be avenged and continue to live. You must die by my hand, we both know that. I cannot send you to your death until you have heard all that I must say." He stood up proudly as he looked down at the older man.

"I plan on joining the Imperial Army, Titus Mede the Second. I will serve faithfully and will die trying to protect the Empire from Ulfric and his rebel forces. You may die today, but I will fight in your name and honor. I shall not let your death be seen by your enemies as an opportunity to destroy the Empire and everything it stands for.  Your legacy will live on. My magic will be used to strike down your enemies in the glorious name of the Imperial Legion and the Empire. I am sorry to end your life, but know that I will proudly stand by General Tullius' side and battle anyone who would wish harm upon your people!"

The Emperor could only chuckle and shake his head as he placed a loving hand on the Argonian's shoulder. "I can see the truth in your eyes, assassin of the Dark Brotherhood. You do love this country and are ready to die for it. We cannot delay the inevitable however. Before I die, I give you my blessings. Serve the Imperial Army well and stand strong against those who would see my death as the Empire's weakness."

KaNack sucked in a trembling breath and gently placed his hand on Mede's chest where his heart was. He was going to end him with his most humane spell.

"It will be quick and painless, your Eminence," he said gently to the older man. "You will not suffer, and Motierre will be punished for his treachery to the country."

"I thank you."

The Argonian leaned down to whisper in Mede's ear, a few encouraging words before casting chain lightning. "Long live the Empire."

"Long live the Empire," were Titus Mede the Second's final words.