I rolled Maro's words over in my head. He was referring to the blades. I stared into his borderline expressionless face. His eyes twitched waiting for my response. I had a good guess on why he was acting like this though.
Interrupting the stare down I spoke, "So how do you think I can help the empire?"
Commander Maro nodded, "It is suspected you know the location of the Dark Brotherhood? We have confirmation of several assassination contracts being taken out on the emperor's life. Skyrim, despite the civil war is the safest location currently. Only if we... eliminate the dark brotherhood located here in skyrim."
I suppose I should follow the plan for handling Maro. Obviously since he called me here first I may need to improvise it a bit. "Are you paying for my information or are you planning something else."
Commander Maro closed his eyes, "The gold."
A soldier behind me dropped a sack of gold on the table. My eyes widened as I got the exact number of gold. "4 million gold? That's an unexpected payment size."
Maro shook his head, "I don't wish to waste time negotiating. Tell me everything you know on the dark brotherhood."
A sack of 4 million gold! I stared at the sack with some worry. This felt like a trap or at least some advanced trick. My deal with Eezra took priority though and I gave Maro a nodded. Though he didn't understand the meaning as he spoke.
"Shall we begin?"
I plastered a smiled, "Sure, to start they have a few targets. I don't understand the politics of these targets, but the first is a woman. No name was discovered, but telling that the guild was able to discern that she will be killed hopefully on her wedding day. It is safe to assume it is Vittoria Vici."
Maro nodded, "A key figure within the east empire company. They were one of the supporters behind the White-Gold Concordat. They trade freely with Aldmeri Dominion, it is safe to say she is a target to create discourse. Though ultimately despite being the cousin of the emperor her life matters little. Continue..."
Oh? He didn't care if Vittoria dies? I felt my smile grow a little. "The second target I know they are after is well..."
Maro expression flickered for a single second, "You want me to guess?"
I shook my head, "No, No, it is just awkward. The target would be your son. The reason is obvious, they can't kill you, so instead they wish to crush your spirit by killing your son."
His face flickered and took note of the suppressed eye twitch and small hints of anger in his eyebrows. "I see, I will admit that makes sense. However that would make me all the more determined to crush them. What else is there?"
I made a show of thinking about it, "this is just a theory, but they may need to assassinate someone so they can get closer to the ultimate target. I suggest higher security on anyone with quick or wide access to the Blue Palace."
I waited a second before adding, "I guess that includes individuals like me, Falk Firebeard and Jarl Elisif. Though I don't need any protection, putting a guard next to those two might not be a bad idea though."
I paused again, but this time with artificial worry. "Oh, but what if the assassin dress up as a Penitus Oculatus and use them to move around the Blue Palace or even Solitude as a whole. Though I suppose the depends on if they have access to Penitus Oculatus gear."
Maro grunted, "That's something for me to think about. Tell me about the dark brotherhood, the members."
I raised an eyebrow, "No info for the emperor himself?"
He scoffed with some serious arrogance. "Like they can get the chance. Just tell me about the dark brotherhood."
He really believed his words, his face had hardened with pride and confidence. I suppose he would be considered one the best soldiers alive, however he is no super soldier. I rubbed my chin with some thought. "Very well, The most suspect would be a little vampire girl. Her name is Babette and should be avoided. Despite looking like a child she is very old and tricky. I doubt she will be involved with the contracts though."
Maro nodded, "We have records of such an assassin. She is at least 300 years old, but she is barely a concern. Do you, perhaps, have information on the dark brotherhood leader?"
I stared at his face and saw exactly what he was looking for. Astrid had already contacted the Penitus Oculatus. Why? When? I closed my eyes and constructed a timeline and tried to pin point when they would have contact. I kept my frown from showing and nodded.
"I believe her name is Astrid, from my understanding she is a controlling woman with many rumors about her. She handles distributing higher profile contracts. Most of the information I have is through the existence of her husband who was once a member of the companions and was banished due to becoming a werewolf and brutally mauling people or something. Recently he was seen in dawnstar."
I paused and gestured with some emphasis. "It is troublesome to get information on individuals like her. However she cares deeply for her sect of the dark brotherhood. However she doesn't give much care to the members. She would be willing to sell out members. This means if you plan on killing the dark brotherhood. You need to get her to sell out whoever is the main assassin."
Maro nodded, "Do you have a plan to do that? I have been told you sell plans?"
I switched back to my normal faux smile, "I do, and you certainly offered enough for the payment. The problem is that it is complicated. Number one, just because you destroy the dark brotherhood's hide out. If anyone survives they may honor the contract due to principle. Things like this happened in the past. Number two I'll need you to sign a magic oath bound contract that if such a case happens, it isn't on me. It is bad for business to have important clients to try and nickel and dime me."
The soldier behind me whispered, "Nickel and Dime?"
Maro gave a nod, "Do you have one prepared?"
I took out one of the many I made. It was a standard contract with no terms written down, but many conditions. Maro took the contract and began looking it over. He held his expression well, but I could see a little bit of concern leak through.
He spoke, "This contract reads like I will have my soul sucked out of me."
I nodded, "That is only if you go against the terms set, those are simple the punishment. Most of my terms will be simple, to not act against me or my information guild with malicious intent. Do not harm or act against my affiliates with malicious intent. Lastly, do not expose or resell the information I have sold you. I may have other terms that I add based on what you want in the contract however those three are the most important."
Maro nodded, "Ah, I see, you have them made with only the conditions to the contracts to make them cheaper."
They cost me nothing actually, he didn't need to know that though. I took the contract back for a moment to write down all my conditions. Maro paused and pointed at my pencil. "What is that?"
I smiled, "A pencil, this is the prototype. Can't say much else. You can use a quill or if need you can borrow my pencil."
Maro looked at my added terms and held out a hand. I passed him my pencil and he began writing down his own terms. I looked them over and suppressed my excitement. He failed to understand the importance of wording.
He wanted me to provide detailed plans for current dark brotherhood sanctuary. A plan to capture the assassins that try to complete the contract on the emperor. He also wanted supply network for any tools that may be needed for the plan. The last term which was the most unfortunately worded. Was for me to help stop the Dark Brotherhood from killing his son.
I nodded, "I can accept your terms, just sign the bottom there."
I added my signature and passed it to Maro, where he sealed his fate. Telling that Eezra was a player and was already working with me, she would no doubt be considered and affiliate. So as soon as Maro attacked against her, he would suffer the consequences of the contract.
Maro looked at me and passed over the contract. "Now tell me what you would do to destroy the dark brotherhood."
I nodded and pocketed the contract. "To start the dark brotherhood sanctuary is roads away from Falkreath and can be discovered south of the roadside ruins and west of Falkreath's graveyard. There is only one entrance so fire and smoke would be very effective. The supplies of which can be bought from my affiliates, aka the caravan."
Maro nodded, he motioned and spoke to the soldier behind me. "Get me some paper." He looked back at me, "Could I borrow that pencil again?"
I passed my pencil back to him and a short second later the soldier placed some paper in front of him. Maro began writing the directions down. "Can you provide magic to prevent my soldiers from inhaling the smoke?"
I paused, I originally planned on passing something like that to Eezra. I smiled though, "I can do that, it isn't hard. One doesn't need magic to create such an item. The problem is it is common item that cultures like the Redguard and Argonians. Which the Dark brotherhood has members of both cultures. Your men should be able to handle that though since despite the dark brotherhood's skills. They do not lend well to direct combat."
I paused, "Which I suppose brings us to the more important item. You want my help to prevent the death of your son and the capture of the active assassin. I need the schedule of your son and any high profile individuals I may need to be aware of."
With a simple gesture Maro tossed a sealed envelope to me. Opening it I found the schedule of his son. Maro continued, "The only individual that may need confirmation is The Gourmet. We do not know his identity, but he is scheduled to come and cook for the emperor. This is a political publicity move unfortunately set up by the Aquilarios."
I raised an eyebrow, "He? The information I have states she is an Argonian woman. Though that may be a problem as an Argonian woman is amongst the dark brotherhood."
I knew exactly who the Gourmet was. Setting Eezra up as the Gourmet or more likely a merc actor to throw them off. Deepest-Fathoms might be able to take that spot, but I would feel slightly bad for using that ball of nerves.
Maro rubbed his chin, "Is the Gourmet really a woman? We have our own reports that it is a man."
I tilted my head, "Eh, well. The gourmet is technically 5 chefs working in tandem in a sort of cooking union? The created of this union is the original gourmet. A rather young looking Argonian woman who made the name for their unique, but delicious dishes. I was able to trace the Gourmet's origin to her. Though I later put it together that there is technically more than one."
This lie couldn't be proven, but it was very fitting. Continuing the lie I sold it further. "The union shares culture recipes and ingredients. This is why they are so proficient and became well known as one individual. Due to their specific requirements in the kitchen only one kitchen aid sees their face. I made the discover of the Gourmet union through individual reports from all of the kitchen aids."
Maro expression formed into deep concern. "That is a headache."
I nodded, "Like I said though the Gourmet in skyrim is an Argonian woman, the original gourmet. She is currently staying in Nightgate Inn, if you want I can have someone escort her here in secret quickly, this would allow you to confirm her identity sooner."
Maro tapped the table, "What of this Argonian woman among the Dark Brotherhood."
I tilted my head back and forth, "I would recognize them at a glance. They broke into my office trying to steal my notes on the blue palace. Had to deal with a thieves guild member too. Sucks to be them though I don't keep either of those in the office."
I didn't even have notes on the blue palace. Oh, wait... I still haven't given the skeleton key back. I suppressed I sigh, I would do that later. Actually... Why don't I have the little thief kidnap Maro's son and make a fuss about getting him back?
I turned back to Maro, "As for capturing the assassin I should be able to plot out a plan to corner any of the members. The Argonian would be easy to spot as I can just describe her appearance to you. Second I can use detect magic to track any individuals trying to sneak around. That works against the mage and vampire as well."
I made a show of thinking, "The archer could be countered with the help of Sybille. With her help I could create a magic film over all the windows. This would leave direct confrontation, which would leave me to secure any passage ways with guards."
Maro nodded his head, "Lesman, help Vek here with whatever plans he creates."
So the soldier was named Lesman i turned to look at him and grinned. "Pleasure to work with you."
Maro likely had this guard he to get around the magic contract. This explains his acceptance of signing it. The problem was I could tell this Lesman character wasn't a Penitus Oculatus. Magic poured off him and made me almost ignore his presence. He had thick obscuration magic to prevent me from asking him to sign the contract. At leas that was the obvious reason besides being a set up.
I made a show of a long pause, "I'll come up with the plans."
I spoke in a low voice using Dovahzul. Throw voice in gameplay terms was a terrible shout. In reality I did far more. As I left, thanks to throw voice I could hear the light words between Maro and Lesman. It seems Lesman noticed nothing wrong during our conversation.
I smiled, so he was a Elder Council member and member of the College of Whispers. How to deal with this Lesman character? I would need to fully test his affiliation. This was productive conversation.
---this one took a while, been sick for such a long time.---