I returned my sword to its sheathe on my hip, wiping the metallic-scented blood from my face. A crumpled bandit lay at my feet, a blood flower on his chest.
"Dragonborn!"
I heard a distant call, causing me to pause in my looting. With a sniff I pulled Dragonbane back from its sheathe, standing.
"Who's there?"
"A message for Alisy. I've no clue who it's from. They said they were a friend.." The Courier placed letter in my hand. "I've got to go now, g'day!" The messenger turned on his heels and ran the opposite of me.
I opened the folded piece of paper, instantly recognising the black hand print and the curved, neat handwriting of Astrid.
Return to the Sanctuary at once, forget all Contracts. The Dark Brotherhood summons you.
~Astrid
I glanced up the stone path, at the peaks of Riften in the distance. "Wait just one moment, Astrid.." I murmured as I quickly jogged up the path. With a twinkle of my fingers at the guards at the gate, I thrust myself inside.
With a grunt of disgust, I pushed through the town of fish-scented citizens. Before long, I was able to silently slip into Honorhall Orphanage.
"Constance! Where is my tankard?" The gutless snarl of Grelod invaded my ears.
"I'm not sure but here is another one-"
Clang!
"No, Constance! You brainless woman, that one won't work!" Grelod's cruel voice interrupted Constance's soft voice.
"Well, Grelod-"
Smack!
"Get up from my floor, you worthless thing, and find my tankard!" Stompish footsteps retreated from the room ahead, where a smooth sob broke out.
I snuck through the door, my heart increasing speed at the sight in front of my eyes. Constance sat on her knees, her head bowed low, a curtain of satiny-brown hair covering most of her face.
"Constance?" I stood, pulling a Healing spell to my hands.
She looked up slowly, her eyes set for the ground. A big, red handprint covered her right cheek. "You really shouldn't be here; Grelod doesn't take kindly to... visitors." Her eyes finally lifted, but only to look at my attire.
"I'm here to make things right. Arventus has sent me." A lifted my hand, level with her face. A pale goldish-orange light flowed onto her face, causing the fiery-red hand to fade away.
Her eyes widened, a flash of hope in their depths. "Really?" She breathed. "I thought it was-"
"A myth? The Dark Brotherhood is real. See my robes?" I pulled out my sword. "Now, if you'll excuse me.." I slipped past her, silently stepping into the bed chamber for the children. Soft snores soothed me like a lullaby.
I tiptoed towards the large wooden door at the end of the bed chamber. With a breezy hand, I silently pushed the door open. Grelod lay in her bed, covered snugly by multiple bear furs. I smiled, closing the door behind me with a soft thud.
Grelod stirred but stayed fast asleep.
"Grelod the Kind," I whispered, crossing the room with two long strides. I stood in front of the wardrobe, my hand slyly placed on the brass knob. "Wake UP!"
With a swift movement, I opened the door slightly before slamming it closed. The beast of a woman shot up from her bed, a look of alarm shrouding her wrinkled features.
I quickly extinguished the lantern on her small desk, grinning as the darkness settled over me. "Grelod the Kind," I whispered.
"Who's there?" She grumbled. I heard her shift under the bear pelts.
"The Dark Brotherhood. Death awaits, Grelod." I sung as I crossed to her bed. Within a heartbeat, I had pressed Dragonbane to her skin and her throat sliced.
"This will be a nice suprise for the children in the morning,"
