"Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptised in blood and fear." A child's quivering voice sounded from farther in the small house.
I glanced around the room, wrinkling my nose in disgust at the wine bottles scattered around. Why would a child of such an age even be drinking? He was an orphan!
"Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptised in blood and fear."
I shifted under my robes, my hand grazing past the hilt of my trusty sword, Dragonbane. With a deep breath I continued onward, careful not to trip over the bottles.
"Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your-"
Clink!
My boot collided with an empty bottle, sending it sliding across the floor. So much for stealth!
"Who's there?" Arventus' voice called from the next room over. I could barely hear him whisper, "Please be the Dark Brotherhood."
With a sigh I pulled my hood from my face. "Alisy of the Dark Brotherhood."
I heard clinking and clattering, then a shuffling noise. Arventus rounded the corner, his chocolate brown eyes twinkling. "It worked! The Black Sacrament worked! The Dark Brotherhood has came!"
"Yes, yes. I have come." I smiled slightly.
"Now you can kill Grelod the Kind." He suddenly became serious, a darkness settling in his eyes. "You will do it, right?"
I lifted my palm, an auburn flame licking at the dry air. "You summoned me to do this, didn't you?"
"Yes." He slid over to the ragged bed in the corner, digging under the thin pelts resting on top. When he retracted his hand, he held a tanned horse-skin bag. "I trust that you will do this for me, so I will pay you before."
I took the bag from him. "Your trust strengthens me." I pulled the hood back over my dark brown hair. "Maybe Astrid would enjoy a visit from you."
He tilted his head the slightest bit. "Visit where?"
"The Dark Brotherhood's Sanctuary, of course." I dropped the bag in my satchel. "Now I must be going. I have a few other Contracts to resolve."
"Wait!" He called out as I turned to leave. "I have one more thing, if you're interested."
"Oh?" I turned back towards him, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm listening but please make it quick; Nazir will have my head if I don't get these things done. I came to you on my own accord."
He nodded. "I need someone else taken care of. In Whiterun."
"Whiterun? That's a long way off of my path, kid."
"Please," He pleaded. "I can pay more gold. Double the value if I have to!"
I considered his offer. "Maybe... what is this about?"
He stared into my amber eyes, his gaze unwavering. "Revenge."
I groaned in annoyance. "That's what all the Contracts are about. Who am I after?"
"Jon Battle-Born."
I nodded slowly, thinking. "I have to travel north to Dawnstar... I might be able to stop by." I winked at the young boy, tousling his dark brown hair.
He grinned. "I knew I could count on the Dark Brotherhood. Thank you."
