A Fool's Blade

Chapter 7 - With Friends Like These...

        "Sleep well?"

        Rising groggily, Jade waited for her vision to focus. Once it did she locked eyes with a woman in shrouded armor, a red cloth over her mouth.

        "Where am I?" She observes the broken hut.

     "Does it matter? You're warm, dry... and still very much alive. That's more than can be said for old Grelod. Hmm?" 

        "You..You know about that?"

        "Half of Skyrim knows. Old hag gets butchered in her own orphanage? Things like that tend to get around. Oh, but don't misunderstand. I'm not criticizing. It was a good kill. Old crone had it coming.

        And you saved a group of urchins, to boot. But there is a slight... problem. You see, that little Aretino boy was looking for me, and my associates. Grelod the Kind was, by all rights, contract for my family. A kill... that you stole. A kill you must repay."

        "What do you mean?"

      "Well now. Funny you should ask. If you turn around, you'll notice my guests. I've collected them from... well, that's not really important. The here and now. That's what matters.

        You see, there's a contract out on one of them, and that person can't leave this room alive. But... which one? Go on, see if you can figure it out. Make your choice. Make your kill. I just want to observe... and admire."

        "I'll have no part in this insanity!"

        "Suit yourself, but the door is locked and I have the key, so don't think being rebellious is going to help you."

        Jade turned to the captives. Nord-male, nord-female, khajiit-male. She questioned the male nord first. 

        "What did I do? Please, whatever it is, I'm sorry. I... I can hear you talking out there. Please, let me go. I've done nothing to you. Is this about that raid last week? I told Holgrim there was no honor in killing sleeping men, but he wouldn't listen!

        It wasn't my fault, I swear! I'm just a soldier. Killing is my job! Surely you can't fault a man for doing his job? Please, oh please, I don't want to die..." the man whined.

        "Who are you?"

        "My name is Fultheim. I'm a soldier. Well, mercenary, really. You know, a... a sellsword. I've lived in Skyrim all my life. That's all! I'm a nobody, really. So can't you just let me go?"

        "Would someone pay to have you killed?"

        "What? Oh gods, I don't want to die!"

        "Shhh... Don't be afraid. You can tell me." Jade said in an attempt to calm him.

        "Okay, well... I guess it's possible. I've been selling my sword arm for years now. Killed a lot of people. Could be someone wanted revenge. But... But you're not going to kill me. Right?"

        "It's not him," a voice from inside her head told her, although it was hushed and raspy. She moved onto the woman.

        "I don't have time for this nonsense. I've got a home to keep and children to feed. Now let me out of here! Do some people look down on me? Have I made some enemies? You're dang right!

        Cowards! Stealing a woman from her home! For shame! Get these things off of me! By the gods, when I get out of here you're dead! You hear me? Dead! Aggghh! Re...lease me!" 

        Someone doesn't have an off button..."Who are you?"

        "None of your business who I am! If you're going to kill me, just do it already! As Mara is my witness, if I didn't have this hood on right now I would spit right in your face..."

        "Would anyone pay to have you killed?

        "Excuse me? What kind of question is that?"

      This woman was grating on her nerves. "One last time, because you're obviously hard of hearing. Would. Someone. Pay. To. Have. You. Killed?"

        "I'm kneeling here with my hands bound and a sack over my head, and you have the gall to ask me that? What do you think, genius?" She hissed.

        Jade move onto the Khajiit.

        "Tell you what. You release me, and I promise my associates won't hunt you down like an animal and butcher you in the street. It's a win-win. Whoever this is, clearly we got off on the wrong foot. Ah, but no worries. This is not the first time I have been bagged and dragged. Come now. Whatever the problem, we can talk about it like civilized folk. Hmm?

        Hello? Hello? Ah, I know you're listening. A man in my position makes lots of enemies. But what is a life-threatening situation if not an opportunity for mutual benefit? Hmmm? You'll let me go. I know you will. This is all just part of the game we play...Come now, whatever the problem, we can talk about it like civilized folk. Hmm?"

        This one was getting on her nerves too. "Who are you?"

        "Ahhh... Vasha, at your service. Obtainer of goods and taker of lives. Have you not heard of me? Perhaps I will have my people carve my name in your corpse, as a reminder."

        "Would someone pay to have you killed?"

        "Me? Ha! Are you serious?"

        "Come on, you can tell me. We're all friends here."

        Vasha laughed. "The real question is, would someone pay to have me killed... again. A day goes by without someone trying to gut me in the street, I get disappointed."

        Jade had made her decision. Drawing her twin daggers she held it up to the Khajiit's throat. "You won't have to worry about getting disappointed anymore, cat." A smirk twinged at her lips as she slit his throat.

        She moved to the mother. "Ever heard of Grelod the Kind? You remind me a lot of her. She died by my hand too." She spoke mischievously.

        "If you think you can scare me with your pathetic attempts at intimation-" she was cut short by the arrow that pierced her heart. 

        This is actually sort of...fun. The smirk grew as she faced her kidnapper.

        "Hmm. The fearless wife and mother, and the underhanded Khajiit. Had to be one of them, right? Interesting choice."

        "So who was it? Who was the contract?"

        "Oh. No, no, no. Don't you understand? Guilt, innocence, right, wrong...Irrelevant. What matters is that I ordered you to kill someone, and you obeyed."

        "So...I'm free to go?"

        "Of course. You've repaid your debt, in full. Here's the key to the shack." She tossed the small key to Jade, "But why stop here? I say we take our relationship to the next level. I would like to officially extend to you an invention to join my Family. The Dark Brotherhood.

        In the southwest reaches of Skyrim, in the Pine Forest, you will find an entrance to our Sanctuary. It's just beneath the road, hidden from view. When questioned by the Black Door, answer with the correct passphrase; Silence, my brother. Then you're in, and your new life begins. I'll see you at home."