Legends of Skyrim: The Kingkiller (BOOK FOUR)

III - Sanctuary

The Falkreath Sanctuary was a small underground hideout that was located near the road heading west from Falkreath, and just southeast of the Roadside Ruins. Outside, Tasitis stood before a pitch-black pool of water and a mysterious door displaying a carving of a skull, with a bloody handprint signifying the Dark Brotherhood emblazoned on it. Tasitis smiled at the sight of another Black Door. As he laid a palm over the skull, he heard it ask, "What is the music of life?"
Taking a deep breath in, Tasitis recited, "Silence, my Brother."
The door slowly slid open against the stone beneath. "Welcome home." it bade him as he walked through.
There were Dark Brotherhood banners on either side of the passage, which lead down a short flight of stairs, around a corner into the first room. Tasitis found Astrid leaning against the wall at the top of another flight of stairs forward, with a doorway to the left. "Ah, at last!" she smiled upon seeing him, her hood and mask gone so he could see her face, "I hope you found the place all right."
There was a long stone table with a tactical map of Skyrim on top. There was also a copy of The Night Mother's Truth on the table. Behind it was a throne and a small cupboard holding clutter. On the right, against the wall were a couple of set shelves. "So what happens now?" Tasitis asked, pulling his own hood down.
"Well, what happens now is you, Kingkiller, resume your life in the Dark Brotherhood," she smiled with a warm demeanour, "You're still 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."
Tasitis took a moment to absorb this information, and Astrid  saw it in his eyes. She could see past their emptiness and witnessed the relief within.

"Now, down to business," she walked past him, "I've arranged a job for you. Go talk to Nazir. Soon, the Night Mother will arrive. And things around here are sure to get even more interesting."
Tasitis' eyes lit up. The Night Mother, the matriarch of the Dark Brotherhood, was here in Skyrim? Before he could inquire further, Astrid took him by the hand and walked him forward. Descending the stairs slowly, Tasitis heard remnants of conversation and laughter. As he and Astrid stepped into the torchlight, he saw a crowd of people, an Argonian, a Redguard, two Nords, one old and the other younger, a Dunmer, and a small girl. "Again! Again!" the Argonian clapped in amusement, "Do the part where he tries to buy you some candy."
The little girl giggled before clearing her throat. "Okay, okay, wait, here we go," she took a deep breath in before putting on a mocking voice of an old man, "'Ooh, you are such a pretty little girl. Would the sweetie like a sweetie? Oh yes, how about some chocolate?'"
She then spoke in her normal tone, albeit emphasising her helplessness. "Oh yes, please, kind sir," she clasped her hands together and tilted her head, "My mama and papa left me all alone, and I'm so very hungry. I know a shortcut to the candy shop. Through this alley."
She then reverted back to the old man voice, to the amusement of the crowd. "'Oh ya, very good,'" she imitated, "'Very good. My, it is dark down here. Oh, but you are so beautiful. Such a lovely smile. Your teeth... your teeth! No! Aggghh!!'"
Tasitis watched as her fangs elongated, and the crowd burst into another fit of laughter. "Oh Babette!" the Dunmer, Gabriella, tried to recatch her breath, "You are so wicked."
"What about you, Festus?" the Redguard crossed his arms smugly, "How did that last contract turn out?"

"Oh yes, please, old man," the younger Nord chuckled to himself, "Regale us with your tales of wizardry..."
The older Nord, Festus Krex merely tutted and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Ah, the young and stupid," he began in a whisper before growing louder, "Always mocking the experienced and brilliant. My contract went very well, I'll have you know. Tried a new spell. Little something I've been working on in my spare time. Came THIS close to turning that priest inside out. Damned messy."
"And what of your latest, Arnbjorn?" Gabriella tilted her head towards the young Nord, "Something about a Khajiit? Merchant was it?"
The vampire girl, Babette, suddenly broke into a fit of laughter. "Oh, a big doggy chasing a little kitty!" she proclaimed, "How adorable!"
The crowd suddenly broke into another fit as Arnbjorn growled at all of them. "I am not adorable, it was not funny, and he wasn't a merchant!" he yelled as they quietened, "He was a Khajiit monk, a master of the Whispering Fang style. But now he's dead... and I have a new rug."
Just before the crowd began to dissipate, Astrid whistled once, and they all looked up. "Brothers and Sisters," Astrid announced, "A member of our Family returns to us today. Please, if you would, welcome Tasitis Amatel back to our Brotherhood."
All stood in wonder at the old Imperial before them. They were all in the presence of greatness. Babette bounced a little with excitement, while the old Festus squinted with scepticism. Nazir, however, looked upon the Imperial with a deep respect and admiration. The Family welcomes Tasitis with open, enthusiastic arms. Babette hung around his ankle, completely star-struck at meeting one of her idols. "Did you really kill King Barynia?" she asked, looking up at him, "Was there lots of blood? Where did you hide the body?"
Tasitis didn't answer any of these questions, for he did not wish to spoil the magic.

The morning sun was slowly rising over the Pine Forest, and Tasitis slowly leaned up from his bed. It was definitely more comfortable than a sleeping bag on a dry dirt surface. Following a short corridor, he walked down the stairs to the dining room, where Nazir was eating. The dining room contained two long tables placed end-to-end in the middle of the room with chairs arranged around them. Against the left wall was a large fireplace with two pots hanging over it. There were more Dark Brotherhood banners hanging high on the walls at either end of the room. Nazir looked up as Tasitis sat, brushing sleep dust from his eyes. "Welcome to our dwindling, dysfunctional little Family," the Redguard smiled, "As you can already tell, we've heard all about you, Tasitis."
With a smirk, the Imperial looked up and smirked, "You will here even more, I assure you."
Nazir chuckled, finishing his bite. "Ooh, cocky," he teased, "I give you three days before your legacy fails you and someone runs a knife across your throat. But who knows? I've been proven wrong before."
Tasitis gently ran his finger over the blade of his dagger. It was something he usually did when his desire for blood began to surface. "Astrid said you have some work for me?" he inquired.
"I do, indeed," he leaned in closer, "You must go to the city of Markarth, and speak with the apothecary's assistant. You'll probably find her in The Hag's Cure, when the shop is open. The girl's been running her mouth, wants an ex-lover killed. She's apparently performed the Black Sacrament. Her name is Muiri. I need you to talk to her, set up the contract, and carry it out."
With a nod, Tasitis stood and began to leave. "Oh, just one more thing." Nazir called.
Tasitis turned back. "Since it's your first contract," Nazir informed, "I'll let you keep whatever Muiri pays. She'll be generous, I'm sure. They always are."

Nazir has given me my first contract. I am to contact Muiri, the apothecary's assistant in The Hag's Cure, in Markarth. Muiri has performed the Black Sacrament, and is trying to contact the Dark Brotherhood.
- Tasitis Amatel, 11th of First Seed