PROLOGUE
A small boy looked around wildly. He was in the backyard of the building he was trying to escape from. "GET BACK HERE YOU CRETIN!" A voice, female, boomed behind him. His breath quickened, and he reached for the top of the stone wall. He pulled himself up to the top as quickly as he could.. He had to get out of there. She was there. The door swung open to reveal an elderly woman. She was an Elder Breton, and the runner of the orphanage.
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A young girl, a child, with terrifying red eyes bounced over to a cloaked woman. "There's a girl asking about us." She said, her voice was full of wisdom. "A Khajiit to be exact. I saw her earlier, in the Inn. What do we do, Astrid?" Astrid considered this for a single moment.
"We watch them. But keep to the shadows, young Babette-" Astrid's sentence was cut off by the young girl.
"Young? I'm over three hundred years old." Babette replied, her voice calm.
"Right, sorry." Astrid apologized to the young vampire girl, sighing. "I forget sometimes."
CHAPTER ONE
Clink! Our ale mugs clanked together, followed by woops of delight. The musty air of the Inn housing us made me cough as I set down my mug on the counter. I grinned, looking over at my friend.
"I can't believe you actually did that job without failing, like the others have!" She grinned, slamming the mug down on the counter after taking a big gulp. I chuckled lightlly, my fingers tracing the handle obsessively. I paused for a moment before replying to her.
"Well, Kat, it's all a matter of skill and stealth." I grinned, taking a gulp of my ale. "A darn shame we're not allowed to kill the targets. What a waste of time, if we don't leave a dead body behind." Kat shook her head in disapproval, muttering something about my brutallity. I just shrugged in return.
The Innkeeper, a chubby woman named Huida, leaned over. "There's a rumour of the Aretino orphan trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood."
I looked up, suddenly interested. "Aventus Aretino? The orphan that escaped from the orphanage in Riften?"
"The very same. My guess is that he's wanting the murder of Ms. Grelod." She sighed quietly, "You'd be a fool to get in his way." Huida added quickly, spotting the gleam in my eyes. "Or worse, the Dark Brotherhood's way." My eyes narrowed in thought.
Kat shook her head at me, "Khaly, don't you get tangled up with them. They're not good, they could kill you if they wanted." I held back a laugh. They wouldn't be able to, I thought to myself, putting a few septims on the counter. Kat sighed, "Bye, Khaly, see you tomorrow?"
I looked back, "Count on it." The door closed behind me, a chill running up my spine. It was cold here in Windhelm, I was so used to the warmth of Riften. I was born and raised there, and soon became a respected thief of the Thieves Guild.
I stifled a sigh, rubbing my hands together for warmth. I slipped a hand into my pocket, pulling out a map of Windhelm. Clearly marked by my hand was the Aretino residence. I grinned. This was my chance. The chance to follow my dreams and become a master assassin. To be one of them.
CHAPTER TWO
I ran my fingers along the wall leading to the Aretino house. Snow fell from the stones onto the stone path leading to the front door. I saw the tall wooden entrance come into focus and gripped the door handle. It was locked. Of course. I snorted inwardly, taking a lockpick out.
After breaking many of them, the door finally unlocked. I tentatively turned the knob, entering the household. The dust made me cough as it got into my eyes and nose. Obviously, he didn't enter this way. Must've gotten in the window or something, I figured. The soft, high pitched chants broke through my hearing.
"Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear." The voice was clearly belonging to a young boy. I smiled. Trying to make my voice lower than normal, I spoke out,
"Young child, your prayer has been answered. The Night Mother sends me."
I spotted a boot poking out of a room and walked inside, to see Aventus Aretino set down the dagger. I knelt down beside the effigy as Aventus turned to me.
"I knew it! I knew knew knew they'd hear me! Aw, that dreaded woman treats us horribly! You see, she-" I cut off his sentence.
"It does not matter what your reasons are. What matters is the contract." I was trying my best to sound dignified, like a true member of the Brotherhood.
"Oh, yes! I have the money, three hundred septims!" He squeaked, putting the money in his hand and holding it out to me.
"Good. Grelod the Kind will be taken care of." I responded ominously, sweeping my cloak and striding out. A guard shot me a quizzical look as I passed by with bow and arrow in hand.
"Is that...fur? Coming out of your ears?!" He paused, causing me to hike my hood over my head.
"Of course not." I lied quickly, speeding up. The guard was left staring at me in wonder. Stupid! Weren't you ever taught to keep your cloak on when around people? I growled to myself quietly in frustration. I spotted red eyes gleaming from the shadows and stiffened. Chills ran up my spine as I stared for a moment. I blinked, the eyes disappearing. I shrugged it off, thinking it must be the sunset messing with my eyes.
I arrived out of the Windhelm walls. There was a horse-drawn carriage with a man sitting in there. I leaped in the back of the cart at the back, sliding ten septims to him.
"Take me to Riften." He nodded, the horses taking off in the direction of my home hold.
"Have you ever been to Riften? Nice place, it is, except for all of the thievery. And can't forget the most influencial citizen, Maven Black-Briar. She's got the guards and even the jarl in her pocket, I hear..." He went on rambling about Riften. I simply blocked him out, trying to keep from getting annoyed at his constant talking.
