The Dragonborn's Apprentice

Hi Loss Di

My legs couldn't carry me fast enough towards the exit that Astrid had secured. I prayed to Sithis that she saw this coming and had planned for it. Although I could throw Astrid farther than I could trust her, she was the leader of a meticulous guild of assassins. I hoped that she had thought of this and had enough sense to put her evil plan on hold until the true Emperor was deceased.

After that I would flee to Dawnstar. After that I would be able to live a life of peace with Cicero. We could devise a plan to steal the Night Mother and bring her to us. She would give me contracts and we could start our own little Family. That all seemed frivolous now as I barreled through the doors and onto the bridge. Fresh air filled my aching lungs only to be ripped away by the sight of Commander Maro, towering above me. He was clapping. Slowly. Menacingly.

"That man was, by far, the most insufferable decoy the Emperor has ever employed. I'm glad he's dead. Ah, but I'm even happier that you killed him. You, Innocence, an assassin for the Dark Brotherhood, have just made an attempt on the Emperor's life. Would have succeeded, had it been the real man." The Commander waltzed towards me, but I stood my ground. "Surprised? So was I, when a member of your "Family" came to me with the plan. We worked out a deal, you see, or we would have had we not been given a differing set of orders from a high-ranking Legate. I believe you know the one." No. "Oh yes, you can wear whatever disguise you'd like, a chef, an assassin, but I know who you really are." I was frozen. From behind the mass of a man stepped an even larger one. There he stood in all his glory. Wavy blond locks flowed freely down his neck, encompassing one gnarled scar and two piercing blue eyed.

"Hi los dii." You are mine. Sanguine smiled, showing every last one of his teeth. It was the most menacing thing I had ever seen. The Commander smirked and stepped back, clearly enjoying the sight of the person who had murdered his son reverted into a terrified child. "I don't get it Innocence. I take you from a life of suffering to one of lavish. I provide you with a roof over your head, food in your stomach, and weapons in your hand. Before you were an orphan wench, now you have a place in this world. You are the apprentice to the Dragonborn! What more could I have given you?"

"Maybe my freedom?!" I shouted, not quite sure where the courage had come from so suddenly. "Maybe a place safe from you? You are a monster. You believe that because you killed the World Eater that you are great. That may be so." I stand tall for the Brotherhood, Cicero, my parents, but most importantly myself. "But you are not good, brother."

"I was wondering when he would finally tell you," Sanguine said after only a moment of silence. If I had cracked his composure, he was sure not to show it. "I saved you from a life of murdering just for you to find your way back again. I tried to warn you of it. After you killed Vikki and I found you with him, I tried to tell you. I wasn't surprised to later hear from Astrid about his little rampage." Astrid. He put his hand on my shoulder. I tried to shrug it away, but he didn't budge.

"Astrid came to Commander Maro with a proposition. He gets you, and the Dark Brotherhood gets to continue its existence. Since informing the Legion of your whereabouts with orders to find you at any cost, the Commander came to me with this proposal. Of course, it was difficult to hand over the girl who had killed his only son," he turned back to the Commander and nodded with false gratitude. If the Commander hadn't agreed, Sanguine would have had him join his son in the Void and proceeded with his own plan. "Lucky for him, he follows orders. Unlike you." His grip on my shoulder tightened, forcing a yelp that only widened his toothy grin. "I promised Astrid safety, but you know that was never the plan, didn't you? How about this? I butcher each and every one of your miserable little friends? That Sanctuary's being put to the sword right now. You betrayed me and now they will pay the price. I hope it was worth it. As for Cicero, I heard that he passed to your blade. Honestly, I'm proud, but a little jealous. I wish that I would have just killed the fool when I had the chance. Would have saved me a lot of trouble. If only I had recognized him on the road that day. He'd have been six feet under and you'd be none the wiser."

All my senses were acute. I needed to run, I needed to get to them before it was too late. My attention was focused not on the terrible smile in front of me, but on a small whinny from behind. I prayed for what was probably the billionth time that day to Sithis that it was what I thought it was. The strength that years of Sanguine's training had granted me was what aided in finally pushing his hand from my arm. For the first time ever, the Dragonborn's eyes widened in surprise. His strength may have helped me to escape his grasp, but it was the edge that the Brotherhood had given me that launched me over the side of the bridge in a freefall.