A Fool's Blade

Chapter 8 - The Family

        Jade stared at the Black Door. There was a skeleton carved into the bottom left corner and a pile of skulls with a dagger stuck through the top one. Above that was a large skull with a red hand print on the forehead. Tentatively, she reach out to the Door, brushing her fingertips against it.

        "What... is the music... of life?" the voice was snakelike.

        Jade flinched back and was silent a moment, gulping she gathered her nerve and answered. "Silence, my Brother."

        "Welcome...Home." The Door flew open.

        She was greeted with a familiar voice, "Ah, at last! I hope you find the place all right." Her kidnapper no longer wore a mask, honey blonde hair, fishtailed back on the sides, the rest falling lightly on her shoulders. She looked to be ten to fifteen years older than Jade, Nord.

        "So what happens now?"

        "Well, what happens now is you start your new life in the Dark Brotherhood. You're part of the family after all. This, as you can see, is our Sanctuary. You won't find a safer place in all of Skyrim, so get comfortable."

        "I'm honored to be part of your family." 

        "Our Family, my dearest. Our Family. Together, united as one, the Dark Brotherhood can accomplish anything. I'm arranging a job, but need a bit more time. For now, go see Nazir. He's got several smaller contracts. Soon the Night Mother will arrive, and things around here are sure to get even more interesting. One last thing. A welcome home present." The women handed Jade black and red armor that matched her own. "The armor of our Family. May it serve you well in all your...endeavors." 

        "May I know more about the woman who invited me into her family?" She asked accepting the armor.

        "My name is Astrid, and this Sanctuary has been my entire life since I was a young woman. That's when I first discovered my, shall we call it aptitude, for elimination. I had an uncle, you see. He made certain...unwanted advances, so I killed him. And liked it. Then I killed again and liked it even more, and so on. I was recruited by the Dark Brotherhood, and have been here ever since. I met my husband Arnbjorn, rose to leadership, and now here we are."

        "So... who is the Night Mother?"

        "The Unholy Matron, the Shrouded Lady, the Mistress of the Void. She goes by many names. Ages past, Sithis gave a woman five children. She killed them to win his favor, thus becoming the Night Mother. If you believe that sort of thing. Today, she's...well, she's a skeleton. An ancient corpse, but more importantly, a corpse that's being brought to this Sanctuary by her Keeper."

        "The Night Mother is being brought here?"

        "Yes. A few months ago, I received word from the Night Mother's Keeper that he had arrived in Skyrim form Cyrodiil. The Night Mother's Crypt, in Bravil, was destroyed. A result of the chaos caused by the war with Thalmor, forcing relocation. I don't know where the Keeper has been these past few months, but I recently received another letter. He's bringing the Night Mother here. Soon."

        "Are there any rules I should be aware of?"

        "We used to be bound by the Five Tenets, but we stopped following those years ago. All those rules, all that discipline, and look where the Dark Brotherhood ended up. We're the last of our kind, and we live the way we see fit. Be sure and introduce yourself to your new Family members. They're all very eager to meet you."