Bound By Madness

25. Summer Heat

It had been nearly a month of staying with the Companions, wondering when my Jester Assassin would finally push out welcome here to its limits, before we finally left early in the morning. Why would they let us stay for so long without more than the occasional glare? And even those had vanished over the weeks, turning into the kind of looks you would see from older siblings to the younger family members.

I honestly still had no idea what he had done to get them to let us stay so long, nobody there willing to do anything other than giving a shake of their head and a quick glance at the brothers when I handed them the note with my question upon it. As for asking them, all the shorter one did was grumble and walk off, the taller patting me on the head before following his brother.

Even their 'not' leader would do no more than smile at me as he passed the note back and tell me not to worry as long as I got better. And by the time we were leaving, he'd moved on to simply say I should just enjoy being young and healthy, free to go wherever the roads would take me. I had a feeling that I would miss this Harbinger more than the rest. More than I wanted to miss someone I hadn't claimed as my own...

As Cicero began to steer the wagon through the gates, I felt a tension leave my body that I hadn't even known was there. Weeks of pretending to be something other than the thief I was or the assassin I was training to become had been far more straining than I had realized.

But still, I couldn't say it had been a bad time. I had gotten to learn about the Family I would be joining, finally realizing that it was much more than just a group of assassins. Much more than just a family. And the Jester Assassin's mother, his Mother! Oh, she was so much more than I had realized, a being that spoke to a chosen individual! The treasure that Cicero sought for her even now, who he hoped to find here in Skyrim, even if he couldn't tell me how he would know the person when he found them. It could be anyone and only he knew how to tell when the time came!

Even though I had yet to truly join his Family, I had grown excited as I learned more and more about them! Of course, the cautious way he spoke of those who awaited us at the Sanctuary he was taking us to had me feeling a bit nervous, but the thought that I could have a place to call home... I could only hope that these people would accept me among them. Even if just to stay beside this man I had come to call my dearest friend.

--------

Cicero? Cicero, I can't feel my backside anymore... How can you sit so still on this wagon and not get sore? It was bad enough the first time, but now? After finally gaining my freedom of movement again? I can't do it, I just can't sit here any longer! I need to move. I need to run. I need to feel my ass!

"Oh, is Faith too full of energy to remain still any longer? Cicero knows how to deal with that, yes he does! Energy to walk means energy to stalk! Perhaps sneaky Faith can find us something besides traveling rations to eat, yes? Cicero is certain she can slip up on something that would make a decent meal for two. He will even be kind enough to clean the kill if Faith is successful in her hunt," the Jester Assassin spoke, a grin on his face that grew playfully flirtatious moments later. "Or maybe pretty Faith is hoping that Cicero will help return feeling to her backside in another manner?"

The way he moved his hands in front of him had my face turning red as my jaw dropped at the lewd gesture he made.

No! No, no, no! I do not want you to- to... No!! I'll go hunt, but you better hold to your promise to clean the kill!

Jumping from the moving wagon, I stormed off into the trees in search of something that would not just feed us but leave the Jester Assassin regretting his promise to take care of cleaning it up in preparation for cooking. The bigger, the better. Because bigger meant more mess.

Even as I began stalking through the forest, I was silently laughing.

--------

I'd forgotten one important detail while I was hunting... I would have to get it back to the road and meet up with the wagon somehow. By the time I'd killed the thing, managed to drag it to the road, and found the point where Cicero had decided to make camp, the sun had begun to sink in the sky and the shadows were growing long across the ground.

Luckily, he'd been amused enough by how messy I had gotten during my hunt and later search for him that he agreed to help drag the deer from where I had left it to the campsite. We barely made it in time to fight off the wolf that thought it was in for a free meal. Not that I had anything against getting a nice warm pelt to add to the bedrolls, remembering how cold some parts of Skyrim could get. Who knew where we might end up traveling in the future since assassins had to go where the contracts took them.

Cicero, do you go on contracts often? If Mother has yet to choose a Listener, how do you find out about contracts? How far away do contracts usually take you?

"Cicero is not allowed to take contracts as Keeper. He has not had a contract of his own in several years... He misses the thrill of the hunt, but Mother needs him and she is far more important than Cicero's own desires. As for the other questions, Cicero is not sure how the Family has been getting contracts. He would rather not think about what they must be doing without Mother to guide them, blasphemous as they have surely become. He is not even really sure if they can truly be called Family, but Cicero does not have much choice, as a Listener must be found! How can the Family become what it should be without a Listener to bring us Mother's words, her guidance?" Seeing how frantic he was becoming with each word as we dragged the deer behind us, I dropped the body and pulled him to a stop, wrapping my arms around him and just holding him before pulling back just enough to look up at him.

Shhh, it's okay my Jester Assassin. We will find this Listener of Mother's. I won't let you do this alone, I promise. Even if we do not find her Listener at this Sanctuary, even if we must travel elsewhere to find the person, I will stay beside you for as long as you will let me.

Leaning forward, I pulled him down just enough to press my forehead against his, one hand running up and down his back until I felt his own arms wrap around me. Slowly closing my eyes, I mouthed one last sentence while he was unable to see my lips.

I would follow you to Oblivion and back if that would allow me to stay beside you, my dearest friend... my treasure.