{"id":3025,"date":"2018-11-15T01:58:03","date_gmt":"2018-11-15T01:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/?page_id=3025"},"modified":"2026-05-12T12:11:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:11:40","slug":"chapter-22","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/volume-iii\/part-ii-counterpoint\/chapter-22\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 22"},"content":{"rendered":"

While Brynjolf rested for a few hours that night before they left Riften, Andante didn\u2019t.\u00a0 He paced the house, restless, looking in every corner, feeling as though there was something important there, something he was missing, something he needed to do before they left. It wouldn\u2019t come to him, and he couldn\u2019t seem to calm down enough to go to bed or even settle in a chair. He didn\u2019t want a drink. He didn\u2019t want skooma. He wanted something, something he couldn\u2019t quite put a finger on. Finally, he decided to smith something. \u00a0Perhaps the focus required to make a piece would soothe him, as hammering out a dagger had helped Brynjolf work out his anger.<\/p>\n

He wandered into the enchanting room, and sifted through some of the jewels he had stored there until by chance he found among them a flawless ruby. It was a thing of exceptional beauty, deep red, cut in such a way that the light captured in its facets flickered like flames, and it reminded him of Brynjolf.\u00a0 He turned it over and over in his hand as he went around the corner into the smithing room.\u00a0 It would make a magnificent ring.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf was right about this, of course, as he so often was; Andante was an excellent smith, and his dexterous fingers were as talented at crafting jewelry as they were at improving weapons. \u00a0In another situation, in another man\u2019s life, he might have made an excellent living as a craftsman, rivaling Madesi as a jeweler; but even though his hands were more often used to dole out death than to create art he was skilled at this work and enjoyed doing it on occasion. \u00a0He had an idea, and as he melted a gold ingot down and went to work on making that idea take form his mind calmed a bit.\u00a0 Making a gold ring wasn\u2019t difficult, in and of itself; but making a ring with the particular setting he had in mind took concentration, and focus, and there was no room for thoughts of rejection, or hardship, or addiction, or of the thousands of deaths that could be laid at his feet.<\/p>\n

After some time he was able to hold the ring up to the light, examine it from every angle, and see that it was just as gorgeous a thing as he had envisioned.\u00a0 He laid down his smithing tools and went back into the enchanting room, polishing the ring as he went.\u00a0 It needed one more addition before it would be perfect.<\/p>\n

Andante reached into the cabinet beside the enchanting table and looked inside. He had a much larger collection of filled soul gems in Solitude, but they would not be returning to Solitude any time soon.\u00a0 Fortunately, though, there was one black gem, tucked far back into the cabinet so that it wouldn\u2019t be used by mistake, and this he took to use. He stepped to the table and placed the ring and the soul gem in their required positions, then laid his hands on either side and concentrated.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d been practicing, ever since he\u2019d gotten access to a home in Skyrim; first at the mountainside cabin where he\u2019d spent the long days waiting to become a vampire, then at the fishing shack just outside Honeyside, and later at both the mansion in Solitude and here, at Honeyside.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t the best enchantments mage in the world but he had been able to improve his armor, and Brynjolf\u2019s, and he intended this ring to be functional as well as beautiful. The black soul gem would make the most powerful enchantment he had the ability to create.<\/p>\n

He closed his eyes and focused, and the energy of the soul gem flowed into the ring, imbuing it with the ability to grant its wearer a resistance to fire.\u00a0 And on the inside curve of the ring appeared its name, inscribed in delicate letters: \u201cLoverboy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He opened his eyes and picked the ring up from the table, peered at it from all angles once more and grinned at the letters.\u00a0 Then he made his way to the bedroom and slipped out of his gear, grateful to free his toes from their boots for a time. He climbed onto the bed, still smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cBryn,\u201d he said, shaking his shoulder gently.\u00a0 \u201cWake up for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf rolled over, blinking, and yawned.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is it, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t relax. So I made something.\u00a0 Here, this is for you.\u201d He reached for Brynjolf\u2019s hand and placed the ring in his palm, closing his fingers around it, smiling the entire time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? What is\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Brynjolf sat up and opened his hand.\u00a0 He held the ring up and, just as Andante had done, turned it side to side, examining every facet of its blazing jewel.\u00a0 As the light caught the engraving inside it he held it closer.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s this? Let me see.\u201d\u00a0 He slipped out of the bed and took the ring closer to a candle.<\/p>\n

Andante watched with delight as a smile broke across Brynjolf\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt says \u2018Loverboy.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it does.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou made this for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I did. The ruby made me think of you. I hope you like it. It\u2019s got an enchantment on it. Protection from flames. I told Dynny I\u2019d watch out for you, so\u2026 I guess, even if I\u2019m not nearby, I\u2019ll be protecting you a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAndante, it\u2019s beautiful. I\u2019ve never had a piece made especially for me. I don\u2019t even know what to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante grinned. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to say anything, loverboy. Just put it on and see how you like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf slipped the ring onto his finger and admired it. It suited him, just as Andante had hoped it would, the fiery red gem to go along with the fiery red hair.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf came back to bed, then, and Andante found himself well occupied until it was time for them to leave.<\/p>\n

__<\/p>\n

They left Riften early the next morning, before the sun had fully risen. With every step he took, the old familiar litany in his mind became louder and louder.<\/p>\n

I will have my revenge. I will have my revenge. <\/em><\/p>\n

But \u2026 revenge for what?<\/em><\/p>\n

I have Brynjolf, at least for the moment. I have Volkihar. I can dim the godsforsaken sun so that we can move freely in the world. And I have my memories. I know who I am. I\u2019m being hunted, but that is to be expected given who I am and what I\u2019ve done \u2013 and I know who I am and what I\u2019ve done. <\/em><\/p>\n

That\u2019s what I thought I wanted.<\/em><\/p>\n

He glanced at Brynjolf, running along beside him, and grimaced.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not enough.<\/em><\/p>\n

I want revenge for losing all those years from my past, for having been beaten and cut and burned, for\u2026 for coming back to life as someone else and thinking I might have a future with this person who I love.\u00a0 I want \u2026 not to remember. Because now I know what I am. <\/em><\/p>\n

And there\u2019s no reason for anyone to want me here. Not even Brynjolf.<\/em><\/p>\n

I want revenge for that.<\/em><\/p>\n

They slowed to a walk.\u00a0 \u201cHow do you think we should approach this, Bryn? I can\u2019t just take you into the Sanctuary with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell her there\u2019s somebody outside who needs to talk to her. It shouldn\u2019t be that hard. She trusts you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante burst out laughing. \u201cTrusts? Me? Are you insane? Alright, it\u2019s true to some extent. She knows that I would protect the Sanctuary if someone attacked it. She knows I will do whatever job she gives me to do. She knows I\u2019ll grit my teeth and not kill Cicero for being Cicero.\u201d When Brynjolf\u2019s eyebrow rose, he laughed. \u201cBelieve me, you\u2019d want to kill Cicero, too. I can\u2019t imagine why she didn\u2019t when she had the opportunity. Trust, though? That may be a bit of a stretch, loverboy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf glowered at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, Bryn, we\u2019ll try it. I\u2019ll see if I can just get her to come outside. By the way, have you eaten lately?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm. No I haven\u2019t. I\u2019ll keep an eye peeled.\u201d<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t eaten in awhile either. But I don\u2019t feel hungry, and I\u2019ll take care of the sun as soon as it\u2019s high enough, just as I did yesterday.<\/em><\/p>\n

What I need to keep an eye peeled for is Haran and company.<\/em><\/p>\n

He ran his tongue over his fangs. He wasn\u2019t hungry, but there was a goodly portion of him that would derive the uttermost satisfaction from ripping that man\u2019s throat out.<\/p>\n

He waited as long as he could before pulling out Auriel\u2019s Bow again. He waited until Brynjolf was engaged in stalking a bandit; the bandit didn\u2019t realize Brynjolf was near, and then it was too late.\u00a0 But while Brynjolf was otherwise occupied, Andante took careful aim at the sky and released one of the arrows coated with Serana\u2019s blood.<\/p>\n

BOOM. <\/em><\/p>\n

He saw Brynjolf\u2019s shoulders flinch, even as he drank the blood of his victim.<\/p>\n

BOOM.<\/em><\/p>\n

He dropped the man\u2019s corpse and turned to Andante.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I want to be able to move.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you were worried about being found! There\u2019s nothing in the world that is going to alert those bounty hunters that we\u2019re moving quite as clearly as the sun going dark. What are you thinking, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante smiled, running his tongue over his fangs again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thinking that I don\u2019t care. I have a response for Haran if he gets close enough to matter.\u201d\u00a0 He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling his strength return, and then opened them and began hurtling north yet again.<\/p>\n

I will have my revenge. I will have my revenge.<\/em><\/p>\n

He was aware of Brynjolf\u2019s eyes on him as they ran, but he didn\u2019t respond.\u00a0 The feeling he\u2019d had in Riften was building again, that restless searching for something. He had to do something, had to find something, had to take care of something, but he didn\u2019t know what.\u00a0 He needed to \u2026 finish something.\u00a0 But what?<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t know, and it made him angry, an empty, cold, dead fire of anger. And the angrier he got, the more he wanted to kill something.<\/p>\n

They approached Fort Dunstad, and as had so often been the case in recent years there was a pitched battle taking place in and around it.\u00a0 Andante and Brynjolf slowed to a walk just short of the walls.<\/p>\n

\u201cIdiots,\u201d he grumbled. \u201cThey\u2019re idiots, all of them, killing each other over a symbol and a patch of ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s a little more complicated than just that,\u201d Brynjolf observed quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps that\u2019s so, but if they\u2019re dead not a single one of them will be here to enjoy the fruits of their labor!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you know they\u2019re all willing to die for what they believe in, lad.\u201d<\/p>\n

From somewhere deep inside him the fury rose, and it became too much for him to bear.\u00a0 He drew the massive two-handed sword he\u2019d used to destroy the Dawnguard\u2019s leadership and moved forward; slowly at first, and then breaking into a run.\u00a0 He was dimly aware of Brynjolf shouting to him, but the roaring in his ears was too loud to make out the words.\u00a0 The Imperial soldiers ignored him, likely because he looked like them; but the nearest Stormcloak turned to him and shouted \u201cI\u2019ll water the ground with your blood!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Vitus lifted the massive sword over his head and gripped it with both hands, blade down.\u00a0 His teeth ground against each other as the hatred welled up inside him and was released as, with a guttural howl, he brought the sword straight down into the man\u2019s body with everything he had.\u00a0 He\u2019d placed a flame enchantment on the sword, and it burst around him as the man screamed his last.<\/p>\n

\u201cDie, idiot! Die!\u201d Vitus screamed.<\/p>\n

But that wasn\u2019t enough. He wanted something more.<\/p>\n

He stood back and looked around him at the mass of men and women completely obsessed with reducing their populations to zero and thought yes. Yes, I shall help you with this.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He transformed into his Vampire Lord form and began firing, indiscriminately; the life-draining spell nestled between his right claws and the Flames of Coldharbour in the left. Stormcloak, Imperial, it mattered not so long as it was a moving, human target.\u00a0 His only concern was to avoid Brynjolf; otherwise he killed, and killed, and killed.\u00a0 When his magicka ran low he dropped to the ground and, with one massive blow of his claws, shredded the Imperial soldier who came running at him sensing weakness. He laughed, long and loud, as he killed them all, as the blue of the cold fire mixed with the red of the life energy he drew from them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Eventually, he tired of the game and flew west, his heavy wings beating time as the fury left him.\u00a0 He waited until he was out of range of the fort, then dropped to the ground and resumed his natural form.\u00a0 It was a few moments until he felt completely back to normal, back in his body; and in those moments he heard footsteps that he recognized as Brynjolf\u2019s running toward him from behind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cAndante,\u201d Brynjolf said, panting a bit as he slowed to a stop. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante grinned. \u201cI am now.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned to smile at Brynjolf but was met by a look that bordered on horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that all about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure. I needed to kill something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you killed them all, lad. All of them. You may as well have stood on top of the tower and shouted \u2018Here I am! Come and get me!\u2019 I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante smiled wanly. \u201cDid I? Kill them all? Well, then. We probably should get going. It\u2019s not that far, now.\u201d\u00a0 He reached out to pat Brynjolf on the arm. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. We\u2019ll be at the Sanctuary soon.\u201d\u00a0 Then he turned and started running down the road again.<\/p>\n

Just before they made the turn into Dawnstar, Andante had the feeling that he was being watched.\u00a0 He turned, and scanned the paths behind them, looking for any sort of motion, a white cloak on the horizon, anything.\u00a0 He saw nothing.<\/p>\n

Here I am. Come and get me.<\/em><\/p>\n

__<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, I wonder what\u2019s going to happen now, Andante thought as he stepped through the Black Door just ahead of Sayma. I wonder if he\u2019ll recognize her even though she looks so different now.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf was standing just at the edge of the rocky outcropping that hid the Door from Dawnstar\u2019s sightlines. \u00a0He was looking out to sea, and Andante sighed at the sight of him, not wanting this moment to begin.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBryn,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cI\u2019ve brought the Listener.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf turned with a smile.<\/p>\n

Sayma looked at him. Her eyes went wide, her hand flew to her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat have you done?\u201d she gasped, and then stopped in confusion, perhaps realizing that she\u2019d said it aloud and hadn\u2019t wanted to.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf looked confused. \u201cHmm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante groaned. Brynjolf had allowed his illusion spell to lapse, and his eyes glowed golden in the dim light.<\/p>\n

\u201cBest fire up that illusion spell, loverboy,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Then he frowned. Gods. Now I\u2019m hungry. Wouldn\u2019t you know it. I hope this won\u2019t take too long. I should have fed on some of those soldiers, earlier. What an idiot. It\u2019s been since sometime yesterday. <\/em><\/p>\n

Sayma\u2019s gaze snapped to him, to Brynjolf, and back to Andante.<\/p>\n

Oh. That\u2019s right. She had no way to know we were together. Well that must be quite the surprise.<\/em><\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t help himself; he grinned at her.<\/p>\n

You left him. You left him, and you almost crushed him, and it took both me and Roggi to help make him whole again. You left him to me and you don\u2019t deserve to have him back.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, lass,\u201d Brynjolf said. \u201cThat was a bit of a rude introduction.\u201d\u00a0 He held out his hand. \u201cI\u2019m Brynjolf, of Riften. We know of each other but we\u2019ve never met.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma didn\u2019t take his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know who you are. What is it that you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf\u2019s eyebrows rose, just a bit.\u00a0 \u201cWell. If we\u2019re to be blunt about it, so be it.\u00a0 You sent me word that my Guildmaster is still alive. She also happens to be my wife. I\u2019m glad to know that bit of information, but I want to know how you happen to know it. I need to find her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma shook her head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I can\u2019t tell you that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh gods, Sayma, just tell him. He\u2019s right in front of you. Tell him and get it over with.<\/em><\/p>\n

Brynjolf smiled. But it was a smile that put Andante on alert, because it only barely masked menace.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you can tell me, lass, and you will. I think we both know that we are in a mutually delicate situation given our occupations. Now, I can make things very uncomfortable for you, but I would prefer not to. Oh, and as you no doubt have gathered,\u201d he said, waving at his eyes, \u201cI\u2019m strong enough to deflect an assassination attempt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sayma\u2019s eyes flashed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf nodded. \u201cAye. That I am. Now then. We seem to have gotten off on a poor foot.\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t stand this. This just has to end.<\/em><\/p>\n

He held his hand out again. \u201cMy name\u2019s Brynjolf, lass.\u00a0 I\u2019m the Guild\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026master of the Thieves Guild in Riften,\u201d Andante said under his breath.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf frowned at him. \u201cCut it out, Andante. I appreciate the support, but I\u2019m Second. I\u2019m not the Guildmaster.\u201d\u00a0 He turned back to Sayma. \u201cAnd that\u2019s part of the reason we need to find her. So tell me. How. Do you know. Dagnell is alive?\u201d\u00a0 With each phrase he stepped a bit closer.<\/p>\n

Sayma opened her mouth to speak, but they were all interrupted by the sound of running feet.<\/p>\n

Andante stepped back from the hillside, reaching for his sword.\u00a0 They\u2019ve found me.\u00a0 I have to stop this. <\/em><\/p>\n

It was Roggi and Dardeh.\u00a0 Not Haran. Not the bounty hunters.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPut the sword down, Andante,\u201d Roggi called out. \u201cIt\u2019s just us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. That\u2019s a relief,\u201d he began, sheathing his sword. \u201cWait, why are you two\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, things went sideways. Things stopped making sense. Things seemed to move in slow motion.<\/p>\n

Sayma squeaked. She was standing stiffly, her mouth partially open, but looking trapped.\u00a0 Brynjolf was advancing on her, step by step.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop it, Brynjolf,\u201d she said. \u201cI know what you\u2019re doing. Just stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me, then,\u201d he said, taking one more step.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s forcing her! He\u2019s using his Nightingale power. Oh this is not good.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I can\u2019t,\u201d she said, gritting her teeth. Then it was as though someone had thrown a lever in her mind, and the words came pouring out. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you where Dag is because she\u2019s gone. She\u2019s gone and she\u2019s never coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf stopped cold, his face registering shock. And then rage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to kill you,\u201d he growled. \u201cI\u2019m going to drain every drop of blood from your body for lying to me. Years.<\/em> I could have dealt with all of this so long ago if I\u2019d known she was gone and you\u2026 lied to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante watched in horror as Roggi stepped between Brynjolf and Sayma.<\/p>\n

\u201cBryn, don\u2019t. Wait a second. You have it all wrong,\u201d he began, only to be interrupted by Brynjolf\u2019s backhanded blow.\u00a0 But Brynjolf had no idea how strong he was, how powerful the strike was that might have simply brushed Roggi back if it had been a blow from any other man. Instead, Roggi was thrown backward, hard, and landed on the ground writhing.<\/p>\n

\u201cFUS- RO-DAH!\u201d<\/p>\n

Dardeh hadn\u2019t stopped to think, to reason, to use anything other than his instincts and his Voice.\u00a0 Brynjolf flew back, end over end, landing with a terrific crash against the rock outcropping, and didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n

\u201cNO!\u201d Andante shrieked, running to him.<\/p>\n

He knelt down to find Brynjolf bleeding from a bad cut on his head but breathing, alive. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cDamn, damn, damn!\u201d he muttered, casting every shred of healing magic he could muster and rifling around in his pouches for healing potions. \u201cPlease don\u2019t leave me, Bryn,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI need you. Stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf started to stir.\u00a0 Andante glanced back to see that Roggi was up, if a bit shaken, with Dardeh\u2019s arm supporting him.\u00a0 And beside Andante, looking down at Brynjolf with tears welling up in her eyes, was Sayma.<\/p>\n

The fury began to rise in him.\u00a0 I need to kill her. She needs to die. She stands between me and Brynjolf and she\u2019s the reason he\u2019s lying here unconscious.<\/em><\/p>\n

But she\u2019s the Listener.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

And one didn\u2019t harm the Listener, or argue with the Listener, or do anything other than revere the Listener. It was simply the way things were.<\/p>\n

So instead, he simply roared, even as he continued casting healing spells on the now-moaning Brynjolf.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you just TELL him? What possible<\/em> reason do you have for making him suffer longer? Don\u2019t you understand what this has done to him, all this time?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma didn\u2019t respond to Andante. She knelt down beside Brynjolf and brushed his hair aside.\u00a0 She chuckled, even with her eyes threatening to overflow.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never could keep that hair out of your face, Red.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf\u2019s eyes fluttered open, his gaze alighting first on Andante and then moving to Sayma.\u00a0 Andante watched his face, anxiously, and he saw the realization dawn on Brynjolf.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you just call me?\u201d Brynjolf asked, unsteadily.<\/p>\n

\u201cI called you Red,\u201d Sayma said, her voice breaking, the tears finally escaping and making their way down her cheeks. \u201cIt seemed a natural thing to call you.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t exactly introduce yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf\u2019s voice was barely a whisper.\u00a0 His golden eyes glistened.<\/p>\n

\u201cDag?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u00a0 It\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh gods, that\u2019s what you meant.\u201d Brynjolf said, struggling to sit upright. \u201cOh gods.\u201d\u00a0 He reached for Sayma and pulled her to him, holding her tightly. \u201cI was going to hurt you. Dag.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante looked at the two of them and saw his world ending.<\/p>\n

Oh, came his thought, somehow detached from the shrieking pain clamoring through the rest of his mind.\u00a0 Look at him. He\u2019s never stopped loving her, not for a moment.\u00a0 He thought back to Brynjolf\u2019s sad face, turning to him, saying \u201cI want that every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t compete with that.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to compete with that.\u00a0 I want him to be happy.<\/em>\u00a0 A huge knot rose to his throat.<\/p>\n

He rose and walked slowly toward Dardeh and Roggi, and heard Sayma sobbing behind him.<\/p>\n

I have no place in this. Dardeh and Roggi have each other, and Sayma has Bryn now.<\/em>\u00a0 Except that he\u2019s\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n

All five of them spun their heads in the direction of the Sanctuary at the sound.\u00a0 A tiny form emerged from the Black Door and waddled in their direction. \u201cI\u2019m hungry, Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh good, Andante\u2019s thoughts percolated up through his pain. All of this, and now there\u2019s a kid. I\u2019m hungry, too, kid. Really very, very hungry. This isn\u2019t a good thing.<\/p>\n

They all turned to stare at Sayma.\u00a0 She was shivering, even locked in Brynjolf\u2019s embrace, and she simply nodded.<\/p>\n

Roggi was the first to move.\u00a0 He approached the tiny form and squatted down in front of him. He examined the little person before him and his eyes widened. \u00a0A small \u201coh,\u201d escaped from him; then he cleared his throat and held out his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, friend,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cMy name is Roggi.\u00a0 What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWed,\u201d the little boy said, and shook Roggi\u2019s hand, formally, as though he was used to the company of adults.<\/p>\n

Roggi looked back at Dardeh.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ve just met our nephew,\u201d he said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cCome and introduce yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dardeh knelt down in front of the toddler.\u00a0 \u201cHi there,\u201d he said, his big deep voice as friendly as he could make it.\u00a0 \u201cMy name\u2019s Dardeh. Did I wake you up when I Shouted?\u201d<\/p>\n

The child nodded.<\/p>\n

Dardeh smiled at him. \u201cI\u2019m sorry about that. I can make some big noises but I\u2019ll try not to be too scary, ok?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOk,\u201d the little one said, giggling.<\/p>\n

Roggi looked up at Andante.\u00a0 \u201cTake him over to Bryn, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante couldn\u2019t speak.\u00a0 You\u2019re a cruel man, Roggi Knot-Beard<\/em>.\u00a0 He nodded and took a deep breath, then knelt down and looked the little one in his face.<\/p>\n

He looks just like him. \u00a0This is what he must have looked like as a babe.\u00a0 <\/em>Red, red hair and the greenest eyes.\u00a0 The only difference was that he wasn\u2019t as pale as his father.\u00a0 He\u2019s like his uncle, Andante thought.\u00a0 A Redguard-Nord mix.\u00a0 What a beautiful child.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, for a moment, he got very dizzy, and it was hard to catch his breath.\u00a0 He stared at the child who looked like Brynjolf and wanted to stand and run away. A memory came back to him, one that hadn\u2019t surfaced before. He didn\u2019t quite know why, except that like all the memories, they had come back as they wished and usually at the most inconvenient moments possible.<\/p>\n

He saw another little red-haired boy, this one older, staring at him with his mouth agape as Vitus Perdeti turned from having killed a man in the streets of Bruma.<\/p>\n

My gods. I killed him. I killed that little boy. I slit his throat and then I ran away.<\/em><\/p>\n

I did that. I really did that. That was me. <\/em><\/p>\n

He struggled to get himself under control.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t the same boy. Just talk to him.<\/em>\u00a0 He got a breath and forced himself to smile, cleared his throat, tried to make his voice normal.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi there my fine fellow.\u00a0 My name is Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDante?\u201d<\/p>\n

He smiled even though his head was spinning, and forced himself to behave normally.\u00a0 \u201cClose enough.\u00a0 Do you want to go see your da?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d the little fellow said, nodding.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, let\u2019s go.\u201d\u00a0 He stood and took the child\u2019s hand, and they made their way slowly to Brynjolf and Sayma.\u00a0 She had unwrapped herself from Brynjolf\u2019s arms and met Andante.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama,\u201d the wee one told her solemnly, \u201cdis Dante.\u201d<\/p>\n

His head pounded as the memory broke through. I killed the boy and then afterward, when it was safe to leave I\u2026<\/em>\u00a0 He saw the second child, slumped over the barrel, his life leaching out onto it and the ground around it.\u00a0 I killed another child. Just because I wanted to do it. \u00a0By the Eight.\u00a0 I remember.<\/em><\/p>\n

No, child. It\u2019s not Andante.\u00a0 It\u2019s<\/em> Vitus. Vitus Perdeti. And you should be afraid of me, little one. They should all be afraid of me. Because I\u2019m just\u2026 the most horrible\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

He tried to keep a smile on his face but the memory of laying open the throat of that redheaded child brought him face to face with the full magnitude of what that name meant. \u00a0He was a vile creature. He had never done a decent thing for a single person, and he deserved whatever happened to him.<\/p>\n

He looked back at the boy, and at Sayma, and the panic rose in his throat.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t they see me?\u00a0 <\/em>More memories started rushing out of their long confinement, the ones that had remained stubbornly behind a wall up till now. He saw himself once more in the black armor, the mask that made his face completely disappear, the mask Roggi had returned to him not knowing it was his to begin with.\u00a0 Can they see me? Am I still\u2026 <\/em>\u00a0In spite of himself he reached up to check his head, to reassure himself that he was not wearing any hood, much less the black mask.<\/p>\n

Will they kill me if they do? Could they even do such a thing?\u00a0 Am I not strong enough to kill all of them?<\/em><\/p>\n

He glanced at Dardeh.\u00a0 No. I probably could not kill the Dragonborn.\u00a0 But the rest I could. Easily.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

But would I?\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t. I like these people. I care about these people.\u00a0 But Vitus would.\u00a0 Without even thinking about it.<\/em><\/p>\n

He could see it, in his mind, how he would calmly pull out his Daedric bow and take them down, one by one, with an arrow between the eyes.\u00a0 And then he would slit the boy\u2019s throat and watch him bleed into the sands just for existing, for being a part of Brynjolf that he could never have himself. He could feel how his body would move to accomplish this. He knew exactly what to do. Because he\u2019d done it a thousand times before.<\/p>\n

A shudder ran up his spine.<\/p>\n

My gods.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Sayma chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI know Andante, little one,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cHe comes to visit sometimes. You\u2019ve just never met him before.\u201d<\/p>\n

He cleared his throat and tried to speak normally. \u201cSo this is the \u2018he\u2019 who shares your home? I\u2019m amazed that I\u2019ve not met him before. You\u2019ve kept him well hidden.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled at the boy and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes. This is my son.\u201d She turned and looked sadly at Brynjolf. \u201cOur son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Brynjolf was just staring at the boy in amazement. There was no possibility that he was anyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like looking at myself,\u201d he breathed.\u00a0 Then he turned and looked at Sayma, his every emotion \u2013 confusion, betrayal, longing \u2013 showing on his face. \u201cLass?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt had to have happened about three months before I\u2026\u201d she murmured. \u201cI didn\u2019t even notice because there was so much going on.\u201d Then she cleared her throat and spoke to her son.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you say hello to your da, sweetheart?\u201d<\/p>\n

The little one smiled a big smile at Brynjolf and said \u201c\u2019Ello!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Brynjolf said, his voice breaking. He struggled with himself for a moment. \u201cHello, lad.\u201d\u00a0 His voice was barely a whisper.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you tell him your name, little one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d the boy said, solemnly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m Wed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma laughed. \u201cNo, no, tell him your real name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBwin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf grinned.\u00a0 \u201cIs it Bryn, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye,\u201d the little one said, proudly puffing out his chest, his hands on his hips. \u201cBwinjoff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Brynjolf,\u201d he said, \u201cthat\u2019s my name too, as it happens.\u00a0 But your Mama used to call me Red. Are you sure that you\u2019re not my<\/em> da?\u201d<\/p>\n

The child giggled, and then crawled up into Brynjolf\u2019s lap and gave him a hug, his small arms barely reaching halfway around Brynjolf\u2019s broad chest, accepting him without question in the way that small children were wont to do.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf wrapped his arms around the boy and his shoulders began to shake.<\/p>\n

Damn it, Andante thought, turning away. I can\u2019t stand seeing him cry. I can\u2019t stand having him see me cry. I\u2019ve lost him. I\u2019ve lost him for good and I can\u2019t let this go on.\u00a0 He looked out toward the water colored with the slightest of pink from a changing sky.<\/p>\n

All those days, Andante. Hiding away from the world, wanting to kill it all, make it suffer for taking my life from me. All those nights running, running, away from what I couldn\u2019t change, draining every person I met of their blood, just trying to have revenge and not even understanding on whose behalf I wanted it. And then there was Brynjolf, and a reason to keep on.\u00a0 One reason.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

And it turns out that it was good that I couldn\u2019t remember.\u00a0 As bad as I am, as many bad things as I have done, it was nothing. Nothing. Not even close to what I was before. <\/em><\/p>\n

Andante struggled to stay standing, struggled to keep his composure under the assault of the memories rushing back to him, the final pieces in the puzzle that he hadn\u2019t had, before. \u00a0And though he had known, for some time, that he was Vitus Perdeti, and had remembered a good many things about himself before this, he finally could feel the completeness of the empty, angry, bitter person whose body he inhabited; he knew all the things Vitus knew.<\/p>\n

A part of him wanted to laugh, laugh riotously, at the idea that he, Vitus Perdeti, was a Vampire Lord, Lord of Volkihar Castle, the creature who could use his exemplary archery skills to fire a cursed arrow at the sun and blot it out.\u00a0 Of all possible people in the world.\u00a0 Not Andante, who was an unsavory, irreverent man but who had welcomed the company of others, had tried to understand them enough to form friendships and develop some sort of principles. Not him. No, the creature who had that power was Vitus, the one who had wanted more than just Harkon\u2019s blood, who had lusted after the castle for himself, not to share it with Brynjolf or anyone else.\u00a0 It was Vitus Perdeti who wanted to make the entirety of existence suffer for his amusement.\u00a0 Vitus had been talking to him the whole time, quietly, like a worm in his ear.<\/p>\n

He remembered the fullness of Vitus, and he embraced Vitus, and he mourned for the years Vitus had lost even while he shuddered to think that he could possibly have ever been that dissolute, that loathsome.<\/p>\n

And he wished, more than anything he had ever wished, that he had not remembered.<\/p>\n

I should not be alive. The world would be safer if I were not alive. There is no reason for me to be alive.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Except for Bryn. He\u2019s still the one reason.<\/em><\/p>\n

Even as he remembered Vitus, and the years in Bravil that he had not recalled before this, and every horrid, demeaning, defiled thing he had ever done, Andante fought to remember that he \u2013 Andante \u2013 had had a different life for these several years. He had been a different person; still bad, still violent, still prone to be the worst of influences; but more open, more willing to help others, and able to love.\u00a0 He had accomplished things by his own strength and skills, in his own name.<\/p>\n

I am Andante.<\/em><\/p>\n

He fought to keep control of the body that had been his, fought to keep Vitus back, and laughed at himself that he was crazy enough to feel as though he had to fight off what he knew \u2013 and welcomed \u2013 of the very core of his own being.<\/p>\n

Finally I\u2019m whole again. But I\u2019m not whole at all. Because I barely recognize myself.<\/em><\/p>\n

He turned back to look at the two Brynjolfs hugging each other.\u00a0 The child was examining the scar on his father\u2019s face, and his beard, when he made a surprised noise.<\/p>\n

\u201cLello,\u201d he said, as though bright, glowing golden eyes were the most common thing in the world.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf\u2019s head snapped up.\u00a0 \u201cOh damn,\u201d he said, shooting a panicked look at Andante.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh damn,\u201d young Bryn said, nodding sagely.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cNo, lad, that\u2019s not a good word for you to say. Wait just a moment and I\u2019ll show you a trick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Young Bryn nodded.\u00a0 Brynjolf gathered his magic and cast his illusion spell.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter?\u201d he asked. \u201cNow I have green eyes, just like you.\u00a0And if I do it again, I’ll be yellow again. Like this,” Brynjolf said, releasing the spell. “Magic.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Young Bryn giggled, and nodded.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf looked at Sayma, searching, clearly trying to reconcile the face he saw with the woman he knew.\u00a0 He frowned.\u00a0 \u201cWe have a lot of talking to do.\u00a0 A lot. There are so many things. And I don\u2019t understand most of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she said. \u201cI need to talk to you, and to Roggi, and to Andante, and to my brother. But right now I think I need to get this young one settled again. I\u2019ll have the girl take him home. Do you want to go find your own bed, sweetheart?\u201d she asked the child.<\/p>\n

\u201cCicewo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andante snorted, amused in spite of himself.\u00a0 \u201cHe wants to see Cicero.\u00a0 Cicero?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cYes for some reason Cicero is a source of endless fascination. You\u2019ve never seen one of their performances. They\u2019re quite a pair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can only imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n

How is it that Cicero never gave me away? Did I change that much from the time I was a young man in Bravil? Or is it simply that he\u2019s crazy?\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

She scooped the boy up onto one hip and headed back for the Black Door. \u201cDardeh? Roggi?\u201d she called over her shoulder. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you come with me. There\u2019s no point in pretending anything about this place; you all know what it is.\u201d\u00a0 She looked back at Andante, her eyes sad.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight behind you,\u201d Dardeh rumbled, grabbing Roggi\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Roggi sent Brynjolf a concerned look; an \u201care you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf nodded and smiled at him.<\/p>\n

They left the beach, and slipped in through the door.<\/p>\n

And Andante was left alone with Brynjolf.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Part II: Counterpoint<\/a><\/div>\n
Previous<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While Brynjolf rested for a few hours that night before they left Riften, Andante didn\u2019t.\u00a0 He paced the house, restless, looking in every corner, feeling as though there was something important there, something he was missing, something he needed to do before they left. It wouldn\u2019t come to him, and he couldn\u2019t seem to calm … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Chapter 22”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2244,"menu_order":22,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3025","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3025"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3025\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5395,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3025\/revisions\/5395"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}