A Fool's Blade

Chapter 33 - Breaching Security

Jade tightly clutched her cloak as she attempted to run quietly along the bushes, cursing her dress for making sneaking so hard, even if it was the Deceiver's Finery. She had been tracking Maro for days, following his schedule. Today was Sundas and he was heading towards Solitude, preparing for his shift on Morndas. She decided now was the perfect moment. Keeping several yards away from Gaius, crouching behind a bush, she cast her newly learned spell, summoning the spectral assassin.

"I live...again."

"There's no need to be so dramatic, Lucien."

The spirit chuckled, "Forgive me." He looked to Maro, "Stalking your prey, planting false evidence, destroying an innocent man's reputation - truly a contract worthy of the Listener. Has the time come to enact your plan?"

"I believe so."

"May blade is yours."

"I hope this works..." She mumbled under her breath, standing up in her spot. Pulling the hood of the cloak over her head, she burst forth from the shrubs, Lucien following behind. Crying out she yelled, "Help! Help! Someone please, help me!" causing Gaius to turn his attention to the 'damsel in distress'.

Maro drew a sword and ran forth placing himself in between Jade and Lucien, his shield taking the blow of Lucien's dagger. He made the mistake of turning his back to Lucien to yell at Jade to stay back, causing him a deep cut on the back of his knee and calf. Gaius yelled in fury as he sliced the ghost in half with his sword, leaving only ashes behind.

"By the Divines, thank you for saving me. I'm quite afraid of what might of happened had you not been near."

"Just...doing my duty ma'am." Gaius seethed, clenching his teeth in pain as he fell to the ground.

"You're leg...Here, let me help you." She knelt next to him focusing on some of the healing spells Jackie had taught her. Soon the yellow ball of light shone in her hands and wrapped around Maro's leg partially stitching the wound back together. Jade released the spell when she ran out of the energy to keep it going. "I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do right now."

"Don't worry about it ma'am, but if you really want to help Solitude is nearby and I would be most grateful if you could get me there."

"Anything for the man who saved my life." Pulling Maro to his feet, she draped his arm around her and helped him into the city, sitting him down in the Winking Skeever, pulling back her hood re-braiding her hair. "Is there anything else I can do for you Mister..."

"Mar...co. Ga...len. Galen Marco." He said hesitantly.

He must of just joined. He's not confident in his pathetic fake name. That would also explain why he turned his back during a fight. "Well if there is anything I can do for you, please, just ask."

"Actually there is something you can do for me. Would you mind keeping me company over a tankard of mead?" Gaius smiled.

Jade felt color rise to her cheeks. This is not exactly what I expected...Nevertheless, it can work in my favor. "Oh! Um...sure! That sounds lovely, Mister Marco."

"Please, just call me Ga..len."

"Sooo...Galen, what kind of mead do you prefer?"

"I think Nord Mead would do just fine."

"R-right. I'll get some Nord Mead then." She bought to tankards of mead, gracefully bringing it back to the table. "Here you go. One mug of Nord Mead."

"Thank you, Miss..." He looked to her waiting for her to complete the phrase.

"Ethereal. Jade Ethereal."

Maro shoulders tensed, and he almost choked on his drink, "Jade Ethereal, as the Jade Ethereal that was held captive at Vittoria's wedding? Gods, that must of been terrifying, for you... and your kids."

"Well, I must admit that its not everyday an assassin kills one of your friends at her own wedding, then uses you as a hostage. So yes, I was pretty scared."

"What about your husband? Must of been horrible for him to just stand an watch as his wife had a dagger to her throat."

"I-I don't have a husband. All of my children are adopted."

He seemed to relax a bit, "Oh, I thought you looked a bit too young to be a mother of three. You're eyes still seem soft, so I figured you must have recently gotten kids." Gaius began to blush as his eyes widened, "Not...not that I was just staring! You're eyes just have a pretty color and um..." Maro attempted to take a quick swig of his mead, then realizing he was out he started laughing nervously.

I'm glad I decided to follow through with this. It's rather amusing. "I'll go and get you some more mead." Walking back to the counter Jade asked for bottle of mead, and grabbed a cloth, putting some of Babette's slow acting poison onto it, she wiped down Maro's tankard. Upon reciving the bottle she pulled the cork mixing the rest of the poison in with the drink. "Here you are."

"Thank you, again."

The inn was mostly empty by now, save for the bard who was playing instrumental music on her lute. Occasionally playing Ragnar the Red, the Age of Aggression, or The Dragonborn Comes.

"Galen, are you alright? You seem a little sick."

"Yeah, I think. I might of just had a bit to much mead. Maybe I should go lay down for a bit." Maro stood up, stiffly and slowly.

Jade grabbed his arm and put around her, urging him up the stairs to his room."Let me assists you. I think I should take another look at your leg before I head back to Riften."

"You're a very kind person, Jade." His throat sounded constricted, as Jade placed him on his bed and he began to cough violently. "Wh-what's happening to me?" He couldn't move.

Jade flashed him a crimson smile, "I really must get Babette to give me alchemy lessons. She's so good at making poisons. I guess you've must of figured it out by now. This poison has two affects. The first one, causes paralysis, so the victim is unable to act against their predator. The second, has been at work since you drank the mead I gave you. Slowly draining your life away with every sip."

Gaius was trying to fight the paralysis, but the poison was to powerful.

"It is a shame. The poor Commander losing his son, only to discover that he was a part of a plot to kill the Emperor." She slipped the incriminating letter into one of his gauntlets. "Such sad times. Goodnight, Gaius Maro. Make sure to tell Vittoria hello." And with a kiss on his forehead, Jade sent his soul to Sithis.