Upon my return to the sanctuary, I mainly wanted to rest. I had overused my night vision, and contracting my muscles to remain discreet was extremely tiring. Vincente seemed to expect to see me, and he greeted me and spoke to me very politely, as always.
-You did a superb job, despite a brief cry that the neighbor heard. But no matter, my vampiric charm will ensure her silence. Congratulations, I appoint you as an "assassin".
Although I had been promoted, I was quite unhappy that my work hadn't been perfect.
-I don't have any available contracts for you at the moment; they are all already occupied. I apologize, my friend.
I was a bit disappointed, but it wasn't so bad; I could rest a bit and clear my mind. While heading towards the apartments, I saw Antonetta, Taleandril, and Gro, dressed in civilian clothes and heading outside.
-Oh, my beloved brother ! Congratulations on your promotion ! I'm glad I didn't have to bury you ! Uh...
-Brother, we're going to the arena in the Imperial City. Do you want to come with us ?
-The Grey Prince will be there !
I couldn't really refuse; it might be an opportunity to get to know these three members of our team better.
-Well, in that case, let's put on some normal clothes, brother. It wouldn't be very wise to walk around the city in our Dark Brotherhood armor.
Taleandril was right. I went to fetch my civilian clothes and tidied up my somewhat disheveled long white hair. I chose a simple black outfit and finally, joined my three companions. Antonetta whistled, which didn't make anyone laugh, but Gro found it amusing.
-Nevertheless, take your blade of woe and some daggers. Oh, did I forget to mention ? We'll be constantly followed by about twenty agents from the Fighters Guild, incognito, waiting for us to make a mistake so they can kill us. They don't know about the existence of the sanctuary but were paid by someone I don't know to track and arrest us as soon as we enter the Imperial City.
I replied to Taleandril that she indeed forgot to mention that.
But of course someday i must ask how they seems to always know a lot...
-I apologize for that. Well, it's simple: wait, think, act, slaughter, extract information. Group missions are rare, so it's an experience worth trying. These Fighters Guild members are highly trained, and together, they could destroy us. It's a risky mission that will require good coordination. Are you with us, assassin ?
Walking through the streets of the marketplace district in the Imperial City with my three companions felt quite strange. I could never have imagined that these individuals, who served an obscure deity and were skilled assassins, would appear so transparent in a public setting. Antonetta would stop to look at clothing shops, Gro would observe the quality of weapons from street vendors, and Taleandril would compare inexpensive spells to those she crafted herself. Their nonchalant demeanor displayed their extreme experience, and seeing them like this in the street, the idea that they could be assassins would never cross my mind.
Then, Taleandril said with a wide smile to Antonetta, as if she were telling a joke:
-Check if we're being followed; that's all we need !
A passing guard looked amused at Marie Antoinetta, who seemed to be pursued by street admirers.
- One can never be too cautious.
Once the guard was at a distance, Antonetta muttered something, and her eyes glowed with an intense blue light.
-(Eye of slayer)... Ten... There are twenty men, in buildings, among the people, wearing armor under their clothes... And... Oh, an archer is aiming at us from a window three meters above you, right at this moment.
-That's troublesome. We'll have to avoid doing anything suspicious.
Gro took aim and signaled Antonetta to step aside.
-GUARD, AN ASSASSIN IS TRYING TO SHOOT US FROM THAT BUILDING !
-By the Nine, you're right! Step away, citizens; we'll handle it !
Three guards entered the building, followed by briefly heard sounds of combat, and then pouf ! nothing.
Two down.
Perfect, let's head to the arena's restaurant now. Besides being able to watch the match, we'll have a good view of our pursuers.
That brief demonstration of teamwork had left me intrigued. We settled in the arena's restaurant, bet on the blue team, and I ordered a salad.
-I want the assorted hors d'oeuvres, the chef's steak, the king's menu, the septim pie, the...
-He's biting off more than he can chew. Salads for all of us.
-Very well, madam.
The terrace was packed, and the noise was overwhelming. Among all these people, there must have been at least five to eliminate. I asked Antonetta what the "Eye of Slayer" was.
-Oh, it's a power of my own creation. I can detect living beings with ill intentions within a considerable range. Mysticism is my specialty !
My magic mainly revolved around illusion spells. Gro spoke up, and the commotion was so intense that nobody paid attention to us.
-How are we going to kill them ? The guard trick won't work twice, and we can't just charge at them; the Imperial Guard would be all over us.
-Look ! It's the Grey Prince !
Gro and everyone else stood up, pressing against the barrier to catch a glimpse of their idol, a very pale orc who is said to be the most powerful warrior in Cyrodiil. Two Fighters Guild members got up and positioned themselves near Gro, against the barrier, keeping an eye on their target while watching the match.
At that moment, amidst the confusion and noise, I saw Gro push the barrier, causing it to collapse and taking down the two warriors, a civilian, and Gro himself. Taleandril swiftly caught Gro before he fell. This elf is incredibly fast.
-Are you both okay ?
-Oh, thank you, elven lady, thank you ! You're my savior ! Let me thank you, I...
-Well, what a silly accident, huh? Thanks, my si... thanks, Taleandril.
The faces of the three other warriors in the room were filled with anger, and they headed towards the restrooms. Antonetta gestured for me to come, and she took my hand, pretending we were a couple innocently going to the restroom to have some fun. Two warriors entered the men's restroom, while the third waited outside, giving us some distance.
-My beloved brother, any one of these men would easily kill us in a fair fight. We're not warriors, except for Gro-Gark. Don't get caught off guard... Oh, I'll take care of the one at the entrance, and you kill the two inside. There's no way I'm going into the men's restroom unprepared. I still had the cord I used for Sophia and a magic mask for "special opportunity". The problem was getting into the men's restroom, but Antonetta approached the guard with a seductive smile, slightly opening her shirt.
"Hey, handsome, I noticed you've been following me..."
"Uh, yes, uh..."
Antonetta sensually kissed the man's cheek, I suppose.
"Here I am, my dream man!"
Antonetta began kissing the man passionately, with great intensity. The warrior seemed to enjoy it, but suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, started whimpering, and tried to break free from Antonetta's embrace. The man took a step back, attempting to scream, but only a strange noise came out. Antonetta had ripped out his tongue with her teeth. Marie Antoinetta spat out the tongue, licked her lips, and swiftly slit the warrior's throat, then she quickly sheathed her dagger.
slurp... You're still here, my dear brother ?
With the disguise on, I wasted no time and headed towards the men's restroom. The busy atmosphere in the restaurant and the excitement of the match made it easier to blend in and avoid drawing attention to myself. As I entered the restroom, easy to noticed two of the Fighters Guild members inside, talking to each other staring at me suspiciously. I maintained a calm and composed demeanor, pretending to use one of the urinals.
-These guys are cold-blooded killers, pros. They know we're here; we'll never catch them red-handed !
-I don't know, they scare me...
-What? That's the best one yet! I can take on three of them at once if you ask me !
-Yeah, but turn your back on them for a minute, and you'll end up dead like... and you ! How dare you break wind in front of me ?
-Sorry, I didn't have time to ask you to turn around.
-Are you trying to pick a fight ?
-Terry! We don't have time for this bullshit!
- I'm too nervous, too nervous.
- How are your kids?
- Well, tomorrow I'm off, it's been a long time since I've seen them.
Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the torch that lit this indoor toilet had gone out, leaving the guards alone in the dark.
- Terry, get off my head, stop stressing, I'm here.
- But... I can't hold your head.
- But while...
There was the sound of breaking glass and a cry of pain, panicked, the man called Terry cast a flame spell to relight the torch. His friend had his head buried in the mirror, shards of glass had lacerated his face.
- You signed your death warrant, dog ! You can't hide in this toilet !
A rope sprang from the ceiling and grabbed the neck of the warrior, who was lifted from the ground and hung, he agonized for a second, then finally died.
I threw the three bodies down the infamous sewers, flushed the toilet, and left the toilet.
Antonetta took my hand again, and when we came to the surface, a redguard hissed as we came back from the toilet together and dishevelled.
- You should have seen that, the gray prince annihilated three bretons, two imperials and five khajit, he took his sword and...
- Report? They are starting to get impatient, if this continues, they will attack us without taking into account our innocence.
I told him that Antonetta and I had killed three of their own.
Taleandril thought for a few moments.
- Well, Marie and Gro-gark, go to the port district, find an isolated house, and Gro-Gark, kill them all.
- Yeah, I'll pop them one by one !
- When to you, my brother, come with me towards the district of the place talos, that sithis be with you.
Antonetta and Gro set off for the harbor area, closely followed by four or five men, leaving the other five on us.
the street was completely empty, but they kept some distance.
- Have you understood ?... Well, my brother, I think we have to draw their attention.
The elf quietly pulled out his bow, picked up a strange-tipped arrow, and fired. The arrow hit its target although it had been a hundred meters away, the warrior hit coughed, his body seemed to dry out very quickly, decomposing and burning before changing into a cloud of black dust which was swept away by the wind.
- The rose of Sithis, its manufacture is very difficult, and it has no effect on armor, you have to touch the vital parts, I did not want to use it for so little, but we have the attention we deserve.
They weren't playing anymore, they really wanted to kill us, they started running towards us.
This is where it got fun.
Using hooks, I opened the lock of the house next to which we were, the elf and I entered, while a man of about thirty years belonging to the imperial guard approached us, he did not have his armor.
Jesse ! There are people in the living room ! Bring me my sword and my armor.
With a precise gesture, I slit his throat, and at that moment, the men of the warriors guild burst into the living room, they looked at Taleandril and me with eyes full of fear and anger when they saw the corpse.
I waved "goodbye" to them, and made myself invisible, while the elf used the alteration to pass through the floor.
The woman named Jessie screamed and imperial guards entered the living room.
- Murder of an officer, you are going to drool over it, my lads... the guild of warriors huh ? Pray that your leader isn't too harsh.
The last survivor of the guild squad ran into the elven garden at sunset to try to escape, but three shadows and a killing machine were already around him.
- You... you can do whatever you want, I won't talk !
- We'll see.
This imperial guard had been relatively enduring, Gro's sessions of pure violence did not make him talk, but Antonetta's primitive sadism, finger cutting and others, had ended up working.
- I... I WILL TALK !
- *fiouh*, I was starting to wonder what to cut, my beloved brother.
- It´s the Philidas Remus ! Philidas Remus ! Stop I beg you !
- The famous merchant ?
Adamus Philidas was a Breton merchant, who was always convinced of the existence of the dark brotherhood, some said he was crazy, others brilliant, but by looking for us so actively, he had taken a dangerous step.
- Something else ?
- Yes ! Yes ! A book proving the existence of the Dark Brotherhood has already appeared in Anvil ! Free me !
- Hhm, that's boring.
Vincente began to pace.
- Impossible to kill all Anvil, it would be absurd, on the other hand...
Vincente looked at us and shrugged.
- Rest already tonight, you need it, great job.
Vincente withdrew, leaving us alone with the prisoner, still chained to a chair covered with metal spikes.
- I kept my word, release me, I beg you !
We all four smiled at each other.
When they're naïve, it's always so much more fun to take care of them.
The night was going to be long.