The Silencer

Chapter 27

"You and I will pose as esteemed guests of the Thalmor at the door. You, as my consort, will not raise suspicion." Ondolemar's voice was a soft murmur, a shadow of sound that lingered in the cool night air as we sat close together on the balcony. The pale moonlight bathed us in silver, casting his sharp features in an ethereal glow.

His consort.

The word echoed in my mind, heavy with implications that sent a shiver down my spine.

"We will slip inside unnoticed," he continued, his eyes locking onto mine with a quiet intensity. "You will eliminate Elenwen, while I, with the assistance of my contact, will search for the files."

The plan seemed as fragile as the moonlit mist that curled around us, but my unease wasn't rooted in its details. "Your inside man?" I asked, my voice barely more than a breath, yet thick with suspicion.

"One of our own," he replied, his gaze drifting to the star-studded sky above. He sighed, a soft exhalation that carried a weight I hadn't noticed before. "Someone with as much reason to despise the Thalmor as we do."

There are others like us?

The thought struck me like a bolt, making me lurch forward slightly as I struggled to control the sudden, wild pounding of my heart. My breath caught in my throat, the realization unsettling yet thrilling.

"They'll recognize me." I murmured, half to myself.

Ondolemar tilted his head slightly, a faint, knowing smile playing at the edges of his lips. "With the armor you wear, it is inevitable." he replied, his voice calm and composed, each word carefully measured.

"Silver hair? Fair eyes? Many among us Altmer could be mistaken for the Ashenblade," he remarked with a soft scoff, his tone cool, though a flicker of disdain colored his words. "The Nords are not known for their perceptiveness."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips, amused by the subtle flare of irritation in his voice. The sharp edge of his contempt was intoxicating, and I found myself leaning in, eager for more. Yet he quickly composed himself, his expression smoothing over like a polished stone.

"Nevertheless," he continued, his voice taking on a more deliberate tone, "they will know you as my consort. I shall see to it."

His words were like a silk thread, binding and reassuring in their quiet authority. To be perceived as unimportant in the eyes of the Thalmor, while secretly playing a crucial role, carried its own twisted allure. I had been to the Embassy before, though my time had been spent in its dungeons. The thought of freely roaming its halls now, after all that had transpired, sent a shiver of excitement through me.

Being someone insignificant in such dangerous territory would be useful. I had been to the Embassy before, though most of my time had been spent in its dungeons. I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to roam its halls freely, after everything.

"How?" I asked, my voice carrying a sudden note of doubt. The question felt as though it exposed a rift between us-one of trust that was beginning to fray at the edges.

Ondolemar's gaze darkened as it fell upon me, his amber eyes gleaming with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. Slowly, he crossed his arms over his chest, the motion deliberate, calculated. His presence seemed to fill the space between us, pressing down with unspoken authority.

"How," he repeated, his tone soft yet cold, "will you murder Elenwen?"

The weight of his words lingered in the air, heavy and dangerous. I felt the chill of them settle over my skin, like frost creeping in where warmth should be.