Outside, he could hear the regular beat of Dardeh\u2019s wood chopping, a sound that had become the music of their lives on more days than not. He heard Lydia calling for the children, a muffled sound, but unmistakable; and he smiled.<\/p>\n
They were married, he and Dardeh, but he knew without a shadow of a doubt that had there been any chance at all that Dardeh was interested, Lydia would have given herself to him without any hesitation. \u00a0Even though there was no such chance \u2013 for Dardeh belonged to Roggi, and nobody else, and had told Lydia so gently but firmly \u2013 she was their friend, and she took her job as Dardeh\u2019s housecarl very seriously. She was also mother to their two children, in an odd and untraditional way, and the girls loved her as much as she loved them.<\/p>\n
He was right, Dardeh was. It\u2019s a strange little family. But it\u2019s ours, and we\u2019re happy with it, and I suppose that\u2019s all that matters. <\/em>He listened again for a moment, and heard Dardeh chop at least three more logs.\u00a0 He reached up to smooth his beard and grinned again. That man surely can chop a lot of wood. It\u2019s too bad there\u2019s no mine close about that we could buy. I\u2019d love to do some digging, too, just for the exercise.<\/em><\/p>\n He heard the water begin to leap about in the kettle and rose from his chair, going to the cook fire in order to pour it over the tea. He replaced the lid of the teapot to let the brew steep, and smiled again. It was one of the little rituals they\u2019d already developed in their short marriage; whenever one of them was working outside, the other would make a pot of piping hot tea to call him back indoors when it was done.\u00a0 And Lydia always had some, too, if she was there.<\/p>\n Roggi looked down at the letter again. Nobody else looking at what it said would have had any idea what it meant because it was written in very carefully coded language, but Roggi could still understand every word. It had been more than a decade since he\u2019d learned how to share information this way for the Stormcloaks; but he still maintained enough friends in dark corners to be able, if he was lucky, to find out things that others did not know.\u00a0 And one of those friends in the dark places had come through for him with confirmation of the things he thought he already had known.<\/p>\n So. It was something like two and a half years ago, and it was Ondolemar who was nearly killed by an assassin wearing a mask. They caught the guy and took him away to interrogate him. It wasn\u2019t much later than that when I was in Markarth myself and stole the black mask.<\/em><\/p>\n He paced back and forth in the kitchen, thinking about it.<\/p>\n He should have died. If their interrogators got hold of him he should have died; those Thalmor bastards are the worst. I couldn\u2019t come close to their methods, not even on my best days. But if I\u2019m right, he didn\u2019t die. He got away. I have no idea how he did it.<\/em><\/p>\n That would explain it though. If they beat him hard enough, and long enough, and all the other things they do \u2013 and if they got him in the head just right\u2026\u00a0 Could that be enough to make a man lose his memories?<\/em><\/p>\n He sighed and checked the teapot.\u00a0 The water in it was turning a nice golden color.<\/p>\n Almost ready.<\/em><\/p>\n So let\u2019s see. We have Vitus Perdeti, who took contracts nobody else could manage, in part because nobody knows what he looked like. Because he wore a mask that completely obscured his face. He disappeared something like two and a half years ago, at the same time a hit on Ondolemar failed in Markarth. I found a mask that completely obscures a person\u2019s face, in Markarth, two and a half years ago. And I showed it to Andante not long ago and he nearly passed out.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n It has to be. Andante is Vitus Perdeti. I can\u2019t make it all fit any other way.<\/em><\/p>\n And that means that one of the best assassins of our times is also a vampire. A strong one. By Ysmir.<\/em><\/p>\n He walked to the door, opened it, and called out.<\/p>\n \u201cDar! Tea\u2019s ready. Get the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk, thanks Roggi!\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi went back inside, rubbing his forehead.<\/p>\n Poor Brynjolf. How am I going to tell him this? My brother, you are with one of the worst criminals in Tamriel. He may love you, but you are not safe with him.<\/em><\/p>\n The door swung open and Dardeh came through it, smiling as he sniffed the air.<\/p>\n \u201cYou made my favorite. I can smell it from here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake off the grubby boots before you track bark all over the house, Dar. And yes, of course I did.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh rolled his eyes. \u201cTalos help me, I married a nag.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you tell me you were like this, Roggi?\u201d But as on every other late afternoon, Dardeh smiled and removed his boots, then padded across the floor barefoot and kissed his husband. \u201cHey, it must be courier day. Another one just came up a minute ago.\u00a0 A letter for you and one for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi frowned, and reached for the folded paper Dardeh held out to him. \u201cReally? How strange. I wonder what\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He broke the seal on the message and flipped the page open to read a terse message: \u201cWe need to talk. \u2013 D.M.\u201d<\/p>\n He glanced up from the paper to gaze at Dardeh. \u201cDelvin. He wants to talk to me. Which is interesting because I also have something to share with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh frowned.\u00a0 \u201cRoggi\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I intend to share it with you, too, Dar, but not when there\u2019s even the slightest chance of being overheard.\u00a0 By anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n The sound of children running across the wooden deck and up the steps toward the back of the house underscored his point, and he chuckled. \u201cYou see? What was your message?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDragon.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him. \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh grinned. \u201cThe Rift.\u00a0 So I guess we\u2019re talking a trip together this time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would seem so, my love. And I will make sure you know what I know, just as soon as\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The door crashed open and both Lucia and Sofie burst through, shrieking and giggling, followed by a slightly winded Lydia.\u00a0 \u201cGirls, I told you to take off your shoes first!\u201d she yelped at them as they disappeared into their bedroom.\u00a0 She sighed, coming into the house and closing the door behind her, then shaking her head.<\/p>\n \u201cTea, Lydia?\u201d Roggi asked, not waiting for an answer but pouring her a cup.<\/p>\n She laughed. \u201cOf course. Thanks Roggi.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh took his tea and moved out of Roggi\u2019s way, toward his favorite chair, and Roggi laughed silently.\u00a0 Bracing himself for the inevitable, that\u2019s what he\u2019s doing. Smart man.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cUm, Lydia,\u201d Dardeh began.<\/p>\n She stopped in mid-sip and put the cup down, then turned to him and put her hands on her hips.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is it this time, Dardeh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh, what do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t laugh<\/em>, Roggi! That only makes it worse!\u201d Dardeh grumbled. He looked at Lydia, and sheepishly said \u201cRiften area.\u201d<\/p>\n Lydia turned to stare at Roggi. \u201cAnd I suppose you\u2019re going with him as well?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi chose that moment to take a sip of his own tea, nodding over the cup at her. It was the best way to keep from laughing out loud, he thought; but he couldn\u2019t keep the corners of his mouth from curling up into a grin even as he swallowed the hot liquid.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I am, Lydia. Not that Dar couldn\u2019t take out a dragon on his own but I feel better about it if I\u2019m there too.\u201d<\/p>\n Lydia sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI know, and so do I, damn it all.\u00a0 Well that settles it. The girls and I will go to Whiterun while you\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds good, Lydia,\u201d Dardeh said, nodding.<\/p>\n \u201cGive our best to the Jarl,\u201d Roggi said quietly, moving toward the chair next to Dardeh.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t get there immediately, though, because a sudden stinging pain caught him on the bottom.\u00a0 Lydia had twisted up a towel damp from his making tea, and had snapped him with it.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d he yelped, as Dardeh started to laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cServes you right, Roggi,\u201d he said through his chuckles.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you be making assumptions about me, Roggi Knot-Beard,\u201d Lydia said, hanging the towel up again and taking her teacup. \u201cI still think that hair of yours is far too long and I could do a fine job of shortening it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just be packing a few things,\u201d Roggi said, making for the staircase, and turning to grin at Lydia as he got there. It\u2019s a good thing the two of us get along but how Dar could ever have imagined there\u2019d be anything more than that\u2026 We\u2019d be at each other\u2019s throats in no time at all. It was bad enough with Dag.<\/em><\/p>\n His smile faded as he reached the top of the stairs. I\u2019ll bet that\u2019s what Delvin wants to talk about. Dag. <\/em>Without hesitating, he turned toward the alchemy table. Time to make a few choice poisons to take with us, I think. I\u2019m not liking the way things are going.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOh Dag, what have you done?\u201d he muttered as he pulled out several ingredients and got to work.<\/p>\n —- \u201cThe last thing we need is either of us to run afoul of wandering vampires.\u00a0 But at least if we do, we won\u2019t be sick for very long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s a good thing,\u201d Dardeh agreed as they climbed toward the western gate of what had once been Helgen. \u201cNow then, Roggi. You were going to tell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Roggi said, frowning. \u201cIt\u2019s all getting so complicated, Dar, and all of it involves Andante.\u00a0 And the more that I find out, the worse it seems.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust tell me, would you please?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi heard the edge creeping into Dardeh\u2019s voice. \u201cSorry. I don\u2019t mean to drag it out but I guess I\u2019m just hoping that I\u2019m wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t been, very often.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, not since I met you, anyway.\u201d\u00a0 Roggi smiled at his husband. \u201cBefore that I\u2019d say I didn\u2019t always show the best judgment.\u00a0 At any rate. The note that came at the same time as yours was from Delvin, like I told you. My guess is that he\u2019s gotten some word back from Andante.\u00a0 And my guess is that Andante was right, that Sayma read the fake contract involving Nilheim and gave herself away. I don\u2019t know why else he would want to see us. If we\u2019d been wrong he could have sent a note saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n He paused as they passed an Imperial soldier heading in the other direction.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Legion\u2019s always looking for tough, reliable men. If you\u2019re interested, our headquarters is in Solitude.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh opened his mouth as if to say something, but Roggi put a hand on his arm to stop him, and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d he said to the soldier, and continued walking.\u00a0 When the man was well out of earshot he turned to Dardeh. \u201cDon\u2019t even think about mentioning the fact that I was a Stormcloak, Dar. It was a very long time ago and this is Imperial territory now.\u201d\u00a0 He poked Dardeh in the ribs. \u201cBecause of you, hothead. I\u2019d have thought you would remember that.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh sighed and ran a hand over his braid. \u201cYes, I know. I just can\u2019t help thinking about that, Roggi. If I ever took a side in this mess you know it would be Ulfric\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shot him a sharp glance. \u201cWhat? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, and that\u2019s what makes it so annoying. I wouldn\u2019t be a Stormcloak for his sake. Not ever. I still would rather have taken him out back in Windhelm, I hate him that much.\u00a0 But I\u2019m a Nord and Talos is important to me. I can\u2019t side with the Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t say that I ever thought I\u2019d hear such a thing from you, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well,\u201d Dardeh grumbled as they pushed forward. \u201cThat\u2019s why I won\u2019t take a side. Ulfric gods-damned Stormcloak. And his poor attitudes about the Dunmer and everything else that has pointed ears. And Redguard. He\u2019s a narrow-minded, bigoted\u2026\u201d He trailed off and tossed his hands into the air.<\/p>\n Roggi snickered.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, he is. I still wish I\u2019d been there to see his face when you told him his Shouts were what all the beginners learned first.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh chuckled. \u201cIt was a fine moment, sure enough. Now then. What was in Nilheim, Roggi?\u201d Dardeh said quietly. \u201cYou never told me about that part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n What <\/em>was in Nilheim? <\/em>Roggi stopped, looking at the man who had made him remember what it was like to be genuinely in love, and loved in return, and smiled to consider how differently life had turned out than he\u2019d thought it would, when he was at Nilheim.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t even know what to say about it. What was in Nilheim was one of the sweetest nights I ever passed, and a bundle of hopes, and the ghost of something else that might have been. What was in Nilheim was possibilities, for both me and Dagnell, that maybe life didn\u2019t have to be so bleak and lonely after all.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n I wouldn\u2019t trade that night in Nilheim for anything. It\u2019s as precious to me as all the nights with Briinda were, and all the nights with Dardeh have been since then. But those promises and hopes were false. It hurts that I\u2019ve had to use them this way, to trap her into revealing herself.<\/em><\/p>\n I can\u2019t tell Dardeh this.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, my love,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cit was where Dag and I were first\u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cTogether,\u201d Dardeh said, frowning.\u00a0 \u201cMust have been not long after I met you.\u201d\u00a0 He was silent for a moment, but then smiled. \u201cI understand why you had to use that, then. You\u2019d have been the only two people there.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t mean anything to anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded.\u00a0 And you are the most wonderful and understanding man in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d he said, starting back up the path with Dardeh trailing behind, \u201cif that\u2019s what Delvin wants to see us about, and Dag really is Sayma Sendu, she\u2019s the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood and we have a very treacherous path to tread.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to meet her, regardless,\u201d Dardeh said flatly.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you do. And I want to see her again, to see what has happened to her. And, Dar, I want Brynjolf to have his wife back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes he want her?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi pondered this question as they passed through the burnt bones of Helgen and past, toward the pass west of Ivarstead.<\/p>\n \u201cHe does. He says that he does, at least, and the last time I saw him I could feel that was the truth. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. And let me guess, that\u2019s what the other note was about.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi glanced sideways at Dardeh. He won\u2019t like this, I\u2019m certain. <\/em>\u201cWell the last time I talked to Delvin I asked him if there was anything he could think of that might help us prove whether or not that mask belonged to Andante. What he had for me was that there was a botched hit in Markarth, a big one, about the same time as the assassin from Cyrodiil disappeared. So I, uh, got in touch with an old contact out there to see what he might tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh frowned at him. \u201cRoggi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, I know. But it was about the only thing I could do, and it got me some information.\u00a0 The hit was on the Thalmor Justiciar there, and it went sour. The prisoner was taken away for questioning.\u00a0 He was wearing black armor and a black hood with a mask that completely covered the face. They noticed it in particular because it was so terrifying.\u201d\u00a0 He paused for a drink from his waterskin, and looked at Dardeh again. \u201cThat\u2019s the mask I stole. Now, you know as well as I do what the Thalmor do to people who are being \u2018questioned.\u2019 \u00a0You\u2019ve seen some of their places. That prisoner should never have walked out of there alive but he did, and everyone but the target himself died.\u201d He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d he said, holding up one finger, \u201cnobody knew what the Man in the Mask looked like because of the mask.\u201d He held up a second finger. \u201cAnd only Ondolemar is left alive of the people who might have seen him. My personal thought is that Ondolemar didn\u2019t get to see his face, otherwise he\u2019d have had bounty hunters everywhere looking for the man.\u00a0 And,\u201d he held up a third finger, \u201cthe only way the assassin could have walked out of there alive after Thalmor \u2018questioning\u2019 is if he was just about the best there was and could kill people without even thinking about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven if they\u2019d beaten his memories out of him,\u201d Dardeh said.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u00a0 And Andante almost passed out when he saw that mask on me. So you see where I\u2019m going with this. It looks like it all adds up with the timing. I need to run it past Delvin and see what he thinks.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh shook his head. \u201cAnd if you\u2019re right, Roggi, our brother is with a very dangerous man.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWho is also a vampire.\u00a0 Who also happens to really love Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm. I wonder what lengths he\u2019d go to, in order to keep Brynjolf with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the question, right there.\u201d<\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n The dragon was a small one, a blood dragon that had taken over the perch at Lost Tongue Overlook, a spot that was nearly as far south as a person could go in Skyrim.\u00a0 Dardeh and Roggi had been here before, removing a stronger dragon.\u00a0 This fight would have been easier to begin with; but between Dardeh\u2019s Dragonrend Shout and his specialty sword, the fight took no time at all. Roggi found himself face-to-muzzle with the creature at one point, and by downing a potion of fire resistance was able to land a great many blows to its face before Dardeh finished it off.<\/p>\n Dardeh came out from behind the skeleton once he had absorbed the dragon\u2019s power, and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi, we\u2019ve talked about this before. You get in too close.\u00a0 Some day I\u2019m going to come around from behind one of these things and find you in its mouth.\u201d\u00a0 He took Roggi\u2019s hand and squeezed it.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you know that would just about kill me, too, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes I do. But I haven\u2019t got anything to work with except this blade and I\u2019ll be damned if you get to have all the fun, Dar.\u201d\u00a0 He leaned over and kissed his husband.\u00a0 \u201cDar, I\u2019m not going to leave you. I promised. And I\u2019m going to keep my promise.\u201d<\/p>\n He laughed as he started down the stairs.\u00a0 \u201cAt least not yet. At some point I\u2019m going to be old and feeble and you\u2019ll have to leave me behind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe by then Lucia can help me with the dragons.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh smiled. \u201cOr maybe we\u2019ll have gotten all of them by then.\u201d<\/p>\n They were nearly halfway back to Riften when Roggi raised the issue again.<\/p>\n \u201cDar, have you changed your mind about Paarthurnax?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not really.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Roggi. Look at all the odd things that have been happening around us. I thought the truce would hold, too, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He went silent as the disc of the sun went black, two overpowering explosions rocked the trees around them, and darkness raced out to cover the sky.<\/p>\n \u201cBy Ysmir! Again!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy does this keep happening, Roggi?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know but it\u2019s not good. Who would want to make the sky dark like that?\u201d<\/p>\n They stood silent for a moment, looking up at the sky in amazement and horror.<\/p>\n \u201cA vampire?\u201d\u00a0 Roggi said, finally.<\/p>\n \u201cTalos help us,\u201d Dardeh replied. \u00a0He started walking again. \u201cI don\u2019t know what Delvin will have for us but our next stop after that is Winterhold. They\u2019re the only people I can think of who might know what this means.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. This time I\u2019m coming with you.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Delvin insisted that they make their way to Honeyside before anything serious would be discussed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not here? Still?\u201d Roggi asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but hold yourself together till we get to the house. There\u2019s some things to say about that and I expect you\u2019ll find them very interesting indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin let them into Honeyside, and they settled themselves around the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWhose house is<\/em> this, exactly?\u201d Dardeh said, looking around. \u201cAnd do they mind that we\u2019re always coming and going in it? You would think it belonged to the Guild itself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTechnically, it\u2019s Dagnell\u2019s house,\u201d Delvin said. \u201cAnd she\u2019s technically the Guildmaster. But she left, so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s Brynjolf\u2019s house,\u201d Roggi continued. \u201cBecause he\u2019s married to her. But he decided to give it to Andante to live in, so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd none of them is actually living here right at the moment, so I have taken it upon myself to name it Guild property. Unofficially, of course,\u201d Delvin grinned.\u00a0 \u201cOh I don\u2019t know. Brynjolf and Andante stay here often enough. Bryn says he\u2019s moved back to the Cistern but whenever they\u2019re in town he\u2019s over here doing who knows what with Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we can guess,\u201d Roggi said.\u00a0 \u201cBut anyway, Delvin, what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell. First off, Andante came to see me the last time they were here.\u00a0 He\u2019s absolutely certain that Sayma Sendu, the Listener, is really Dag.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi whistled.\u00a0 \u201cReally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally. He said when she read the part of the message about Nilheim she dropped the job on him like a hot potato. I\u2019m sure he wouldn\u2019t have made that up.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded. \u201cWell then. I need to find a way to see her then. We both do.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smiled at him. Thank you, Dar. You could have made this difficult but you didn\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNow here\u2019s the other thing,\u201d Delvin continued. \u201cI poked around the edges, while I had him in front of me.\u00a0 How long has it been that you\u2019ve been in the Brotherhood, things like that. I\u2019m sure he knew I was digging. But he said it\u2019s been a bit over two years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich is just about the time\u2026\u201d Dardeh began.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026that I found that mask,\u201d Roggi finished.<\/p>\n Delvin raised one eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, Delvin. I stole the mask. Right out from under them. I\u2019m a good thief, too. Happy now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExceedingly happy, Roggi. It\u2019s good to know when you\u2019re right about things, and I often am.\u201d Delvin looked at Dardeh and grinned. \u201cJust wanted to make sure you knew what you had here,\u201d he said calmly.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s a nag, too, Delvin,\u201d Dardeh said, nodding.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore I strangle you, Delvin, let me tell you this,\u201d Roggi said with a smirk.\u00a0 He then went over all the information he\u2019d gotten from the contact in Markarth, and all the conclusions he\u2019d drawn from it; and the longer he spoke, the more vigorously Delvin nodded.<\/p>\n Roggi ran out of details to share, and it went silent for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re pretty certain that Andante is the Man in the Mask,\u201d Delvin said.<\/p>\n \u201cI am,\u201d Roggi said.\u00a0 \u201cHang on one second.\u201d\u00a0 He rose from his chair and disappeared down over the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s he doing?\u201d Delvin asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo idea.\u201d<\/p>\n A few moments later Roggi reappeared, holding a folded piece of black cloth.\u00a0 He waved it in the air. \u201cIt was still in the wardrobe. It\u2019s the mask.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know it\u2019s the same one?\u201d Dardeh asked him.<\/p>\n Roggi flipped the mask onto his head.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the Eight, Roggi, take that thing off,\u201d Delvin said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he said, Roggi. That\u2019s\u2026 awful,\u201d Dardeh added.<\/p>\n Roggi took the mask off, and slipped back into his chair. \u201cI left it here the night I found out about Andante being a vam\u2026\u201d He stopped, and his eyes widened.<\/p>\n Dardeh sighed and ran a hand down his face. \u201cRoggi\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin waved one hand in the air. \u201cYes, yes, he\u2019s a vampire, and so is Bryn. I figured that out awhile ago. Bryn forgets to do his illusion spell sometimes. I\u2019m pretty upset about it, too, but there\u2019s not a damned thing I can do about it. At least he hasn\u2019t tried to eat anyone in the Guild. Yet.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cSo. We know that Dag is now Sayma Sendu and she\u2019s the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we know \u2013 or at least we\u2019re pretty close to sure \u2013 that Andante is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVitus Perdeti,\u201d Delvin finished. \u201cThe Man in the Mask, an assassin from Bravil, the one who went missing around the same time as the botched job in Markarth, which was just about when Andante surfaced. And my contacts \u2013 the other ones, not Andante \u2013 tell me that Ondolemar, the Thalmor Justiciar, has a hired dog who\u2019s been looking for him ever since he escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh\u2019s mouth fell open. \u201cRoggi, that means he did<\/em> see Andante\u2019s face! We were talking about this on the way here, Delvin.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh stood and began pacing the floor. \u201cOh this is bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is,\u201d Roggi said.\u00a0 They\u2019re in trouble. Both of them. I don\u2019t know how I feel about Andante but Bryn\u2019s in trouble, and that\u2019s very bad.\u00a0 <\/em>He was staring at the table, trying to sort through all of the pieces of information, and found himself mumbling.\u00a0 \u201cAnd then there\u2019s the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Delvin said. \u201cThat was the other thing I needed to tell you about. As you might imagine people are a bit fussed about this development. So I got in touch with my contact at the College.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy doesn\u2019t it surprise me that you have one of those,\u201d Dardeh said dryly.<\/p>\n Delvin smirked. \u201cOne of the wizards. He\u2019s been with us for years, since Gallus\u2019 time, fencing stolen goods. He did some digging in the old books and such. Turns out there\u2019s been a lot of interest in a thing called Auriel\u2019s Bow lately, and one of the things it was supposed to be able to do is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTurn the sun black,\u201d Roggi said.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. Well, it just so happens that there\u2019s a group that\u2019s been forming out in that old fort southeast of here, on the road to Morrowind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Dawnguard,\u201d Dardeh said, nodding. \u201cAnnoying. Every time I move someone\u2019s asking me to join it.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t that be just the thing, they say, having the Dragonborn be a vampire hunter, too? No thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin laughed.\u00a0 \u201cWell\u2026 guess what group got its leaders wiped out not very long after the first time that sun thing happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Roggi said.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And guess who happened to be in town the day before it happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi looked at Dardeh, and then at Delvin.\u00a0 \u201cAndante and Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin nodded.\u00a0 \u201cIt took me a bit to put the two and the other two together, but there it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi leaned over and put his head in his hands.\u00a0 \u201cThis is so bad.\u00a0 This is so, so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n It was quiet for a moment, and then Dardeh\u2019s deep voice broke the silence.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t let him keep obscuring the sun.\u00a0 It\u2019s as bad as Miraak trying to grab Solstheim, Roggi.\u00a0 It\u2019s almost as bad as Alduin devouring all those souls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know what you\u2019re saying, Dar?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 I\u2019m saying it\u2019s bad.\u00a0 At least we don’t need to go to Winterhold anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you have in mind?\u201d Delvin asked. \u201cIt\u2019s not as if you can ask the Dark Brotherhood to get him. He is Dark Brotherhood. And I\u2019m fresh out of ideas and contacts at this point.\u201d\u00a0 His voice dropped to a grumble. \u201cEver since Astrid died I\u2019ve lost that little bit of pull.\u00a0 I suppose if we can get Dag back\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He smacked the table. \u201cCan you believe it? Guildmaster and<\/em> Listener? Why in the world would she disappear like that, the little minx? What a sweet setup, and she ditched it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo idea, Delvin,\u201d Roggi murmured. Unless it was because of me. It might have been because of me. I have to find her. It\u2019s the only way I can make it up to anybody.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Delvin said, pushing himself away from the table, \u201cI\u2019ve got to get back down to the Flagon. Like it or not I\u2019m more or less in charge right now.\u00a0 I\u2019d like it to be less, but mostly it\u2019s more. Stay here tonight, you two. Nobody else is using the place.\u201d<\/p>\n He made his way to the door and then stopped, chuckling. \u201cUnless Bryn and Andante show up tonight, in which case you\u2019ll have a nice, cozy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDelvin!\u201d Roggi yelped. \u201cReally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNight. Let me know if I need to do anything more. It would be good if we could get Dag back. No matter what she did. The place is still better than it was for years and it\u2019s all her doing.\u201d\u00a0 He waved and left.<\/p>\n Roggi threw his legs out in front of him and leaned back in the chair, running both hands over his head.\u00a0 \u201cDamn it, Dardeh. Damn it. This is so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh’s voice behind him was deep and solemn.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know this can\u2019t go on, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it can\u2019t. And we have to get to him, somehow, before the bounty hunters do, or someone else is going to get hurt along with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBryn, or Dagnell, or anyone at all in their way. You know how those people are, Dar \u2013 they won\u2019t care if there\u2019s collateral damage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we should get Ulfric out there somehow. Stand in the way of things. You never know what might happen.\u201d<\/p>\n In spite of himself, Roggi snickered. \u201cYou hate him more than I do. How is that even possible?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh came up behind Roggi and took one of his hands, gave it a squeeze.\u00a0 \u201cHe hurt you, Roggi, that\u2019s how.\u201d\u00a0 He dropped Roggi\u2019s hand and came around to slip back into his chair again.\u00a0 \u201cThat, and he\u2019s an ass.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the truth.\u201d\u00a0 Roggi straighted up again. \u201cBut Andante. What can we do? \u00a0Are you saying that we need to take him out? By Ysmir, Dar.\u00a0 He loves Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh sighed. \u201cAnd does Brynjolf love him?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stared at Dardeh.\u00a0 It never even occurred to me to wonder that.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026 don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi read the letter the courier had dropped off and sighed. Well that\u2019s too bad. It\u2019s just as I suspected, but it\u2019s too bad.\u00a0 Outside, he could hear the regular beat of Dardeh\u2019s wood chopping, a sound that had become the music of their lives on more days than not. He heard Lydia calling for … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/3-2-18-1.png\")
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\nIt was dark by the time they were ready to go, but Dardeh decided that it was worth risking the trip through Falkreath Hold at night just to make good progress on their journey.\u00a0 Roggi had rounded up every cure disease potion they had and shoved them into his pack.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/3-2-18-3.png\")
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