Heartless

Chapter 66 - Part 85

Listener, speak with Helmar Deusauffron in Riften. The Black Sacrament has been performed.

I set off at once, still sore from the Arena, to go collect a contract.

Upon my arrival, Helmar Deusauffron gave me probably the most daring assassination the Brotherhood has had since I joined:

I had to have Brynjolf assassinated.

Considering the tight bond the Dark Brotherhood had with the Guild, I was hesitant to accept the contract. But then I realised that I didn't care because with Brynjolf's death I surely wouldn't be hunted down anymore. The only problem being that he didn't dare leave the Cistern anymore.

Which meant I had to give myself away.

—
Brynjolf

A crowd had gathered around a spot just above the guild's secret entrance, all staring at something and talking in hushed and frightened tones. I pushed my way to the front of the crowd, curious as to what it was that occupied their minds so wholly.

A message was written for the guild in what looked to be dark red paint, still glistening freshly.

I LIVE. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

Quite suddenly, an arrow protruded from a citizen's chest, striking them in the heart and killing them instantly. I whipped around to see a silhouette I knew too well. Shadow herself had come out to play, despite being supposedly dead. She grinned at me, Amber eyes flashing as she slung her bow back over her back and blew me a kiss.

'Catch me if you can, Tolal.' She Purred.

I took off after her, managing to climb the stone wall to where she was standing, not having moved yet. As I reached for her arm, she began to run lightly across the top of the wall, keeping perfect balance. I hared after her, the lithe Khajiit keeping just out of reach as though she were taunting me.

When we reached the stables Shadow jumped from the city wall and ran over to where her dapple grey horse stood, mounting her steed and looking back at me over her shoulder as I desperately clambered onto the back of my own horse, Maple. As soon as Shadow saw I was seated comfortably she urged her horse into a gallop, Maple soon following. We pelted down the road, away from Riften and out into the beautiful wilds. Still following the road, Shadow led me on a chase towards Fort Greenwall, a fort occupied by Bandits.

Without a second thought, Shadow urged her horse to jump right over the spiked barriers the Bandits had put up and kept going, forcing me to follow. Upon reaching the other side, I found that we were in fact heading straight for Winterhold which wasn't surprising considering that Shadow had said she had ties there. Something about the College? I didn't know.

The sky was growing darker, a storm brewing for sure as Shadow kept up a steady pace towards the fallen city, her white hair flowing behind her as she bent low over her steed's neck, focused on the fallen log that barred the road. Her horse cleared it easily, as did mine less than ten seconds later.

I didn't know what she was playing at, leading me to Winterhold, but I was damn sure I'd find out.

—

Two days of riding and I'd finally managed to tail Shadow to Winterhold, even sneak inside the College to follow her. It was almost as if she'd forgotten about me, as she seemed oblivious to my presence when I found her at the top of the astronomy tower in robes of billowing black, a silver clasp in the likeness of a twisted serpent.

Even as I stood behind her, my daggers raised, Shadow maintained her calm and unconcerned mask as she turned towards me.

Aaaaaand here we are! Around this time last year, Silent Claws was started. This year it was Night Terrors and now I announce that the next book in the series will be named... just kidding, I'll leave this here. Special thanks to all of my readers!

Daar los ni oblaan, Krah Dovahkiin.

~theambernightingale