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Brynjolf looked out over Lake Honrich, watching the lengthening shadows and listening to the quiet lapping of the water up against the shore.\u00a0 He could see the tiny forms of guards patrolling Goldenglow Estate. It was still producing honey for Maven Black-Briar even though its former owner, Aringoth, was long since deceased, killed by Sayma when she had first arrived in Riften as Dagnell. It was so long ago now that he could barely remember what life had been like then.<\/p>\n
But he knew what it was like now.<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t under Mercer\u2019s thumb anymore. He was doing everything in his power to remove himself \u2013 and the Guild \u2013 from under Maven\u2019s thumb. And yet it felt as though the weight of the world was still firmly lodged on his shoulders.<\/p>\n
Two children and a wife. And yet here I sit.<\/em><\/p>\n Sayma had been outraged, when he had followed her into their bedroom. She\u2019d kept her raspy voice as low as possible and yet he\u2019d been vividly reminded of the fact that his wife was an accomplished assassin and a very dangerous woman indeed \u2013 far more dangerous than Maven, in fact, because she had no need of beefy bodyguards or hired hit men to do her work for her.<\/p>\n \u201cHow could you even be thinking<\/em> of such a thing, Brynjolf?\u201d she had hissed, her eyes flashing.<\/p>\n He\u2019d focused himself on remaining calm. \u201cI just explained it, lass,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI\u2019m likely the only one who might have a real shot at taking Edwyn down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have two children! What about them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about<\/em> them, Sayma? They are fine, healthy children. They have you and they have an extended family of wonderful, caring people around them.\u201d<\/p>\n Sayma\u2019s voice shook. \u201cThey have my brother. The Dragonborn. He has children of his own to take care of. And who knows what all he\u2019s gone through may have done to him? Roggi has told me he\u2019s worried about Dar, more than once.\u201d\u00a0 She tossed her hands up in the air. \u201cThey have Roggi. He\u2019s an inquisitor<\/em>, Bryn. Hardly an excellent example, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd their mother and father are an assassin and a thief. What\u2019s your point, lass?\u201d He felt his temper beginning to rise along with his temperature and had to hold himself back from saying something more biting.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they won\u2019t have<\/em> their father if he\u2019s a\u2026 a\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He had tried to approach her, to take her into his arms, but she had pushed him away.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t \u2018lass\u2019 me, Brynjolf. I can\u2019t believe you\u2019re even considering such a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSayma,\u201d he had said quietly. \u201cIf we don\u2019t get rid of Edwyn Wickham, they may not have me anyway. He hates me. He wants me dead. Me, and Ulfric. And if Ulfric dies a violent death, what do you think that will do to Roggi? And Dardeh? And Frina, even though we don\u2019t know her that well? She has a babe of her own to think about. What kind of life will all our children have if everyone around them loses their way?\u201d<\/p>\n She had looked up at him with tears standing in her eyes and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand what you\u2019re saying, Brynjolf. But you\u2019re not responsible for everything in the world. Don\u2019t you love me?\u201d<\/p>\n He had sighed at the unfairness of the question. He understood where it was coming from; but it was unfair, and it made him angry in spite of himself.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you more than you could imagine, lass. I kept going when I felt like ending it all, because I wanted you back so much and I just knew you were out there, somewhere, if I only looked hard enough. And that\u2019s exactly why it\u2019s important to rid the world of Edwyn. I want you and Chip and Qara to have a good life and not end up in a world where Edwyn Wickham has taken over everything.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019d stood there with her head down, her hands balled up into fists, and he\u2019d watched as two or three fat tears had dropped down onto her clothing. She was practically shaking as she spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand, Brynjolf. But right now I\u2019m too angry. I \u2013 want to be alone tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright,\u201d he\u2019d said. What else could he do, after all, than comply with her wishes, after dealing her such a shock? \u201cI\u2019ll go sleep at the Cistern tonight. If you need me, that\u2019s where I\u2019ll be.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019d done that, while Dardeh and Roggi spent another night at Honeyside and Ulfric and Frina stayed in the guest house in Riftvale. Iona had taken one of the spare beds in the children\u2019s\u2019 room, both to give the royal couple privacy and to help Sayma with the children. The next morning, they\u2019d all decided it would be best if Ulfric and Frina spent one more day away from Windhelm, and that Dardeh and Roggi would escort them home when they left.<\/p>\n Brynjolf had stayed mostly out of the way during the discussions, saying as little as possible and checking Sayma\u2019s face from time to time for softening. But she was still livid. That was clear. So he\u2019d left the compound quietly and without fanfare, and had spent the day cooking up more of Vitus\u2019 special skooma blend. He\u2019d done the same the following day. After notifying Delvin that there was a batch ready, he\u2019d headed directly to Honeyside.<\/p>\n And here I sit, waiting. I don\u2019t have any better answers, and nobody else offered any, either.<\/em><\/p>\n It was deep in the middle of the night when it finally caught up to him.<\/p>\n I\u2019d love to be able to get a decent night\u2019s sleep, but\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n But he\u2019d been restless, and uncomfortable, and it had been several nights since he\u2019d been able to relax. He rose from the stool where he\u2019d spent the past several hours and stepped back, intending to go back inside and at least try to rest.<\/p>\n Suddenly the world went red.\u00a0 He grabbed the railing and held on as tightly as he could, for his head spun and his stomach threatened to empty itself.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth \u2013 and then unclenched his jaw as he felt them beginning to extend, to lower, promising to pierce his lips if he fought them.<\/p>\n I should be dying. Why am I not dying? Was I not truly cured, and I\u2019ve really been undead all this time?<\/em><\/p>\n No, that can\u2019t be. The fact that Qaralana exists says I was cured.<\/em><\/p>\n The mild fever that had been dogging him for the past three days dropped away in the cool night air. Sensations heightened.\u00a0 He felt his mind opening, expanding once again with knowledge that was familiar to him but which had been hidden behind the veil of mortality. He felt energy flowing through him that had been absent for the many months since Vitus had cast his spell on that beach in Dawnstar.<\/p>\n Fitting, wasn\u2019t it, that we were in Dawnstar when Serana agreed to turn me again. I wasn\u2019t lying to them the other night when I told Frina I was just a regular man. I just didn\u2019t tell them that the process of turning again was already happening. They would have made me visit a shrine, or swallow a potion. Between Dardeh, Roggi, and Ulfric I\u2019d have never stood a chance.<\/em><\/p>\n He opened his eyes and gazed at his left hand.\u00a0 Drawing power into it he watched the flickering, blue power accumulating; then he pushed that power forward, down toward the lake, and grinned as the Flames of Coldharbour settled and continued dancing across the grasses with its deadly cold fire.<\/p>\n Shor\u2019s beard. It\u2019s back. It\u2019s all back. <\/em><\/p>\n At least I think it\u2019s all back.<\/em><\/p>\n He rose from his stool and jumped down the stairs, running along the shoreline and up onto the hillside behind Faldar\u2019s Tooth.\u00a0 He almost hurt himself doing so; for his running was blindingly fast and what he\u2019d intended as a tiny hop up onto a rock had ended up as a leap so far into the air that he couldn\u2019t see where he was about to land.<\/p>\n Land he did, however, reaching his hands forward to balance himself as his knees bent, leaving him crouched on all fours like a beast, listening to the sounds of the night. That was when something else struck him.<\/p>\n He was ravenous.<\/p>\n He tilted his head to one side and concentrated.\u00a0 Slowly \u2013 faintly at first and then building in clarity and volume \u2013 the steady, strong beat of a human heart filled his consciousness.\u00a0 His mouth began to water. Without giving it a second thought he jumped his way to the top of the hillside and peered down at the lookout\u2019s platform. He couldn\u2019t make out exactly where his target was; but in a familiar act of reflexive focus he shifted his vision and the darkness became bright as day to him.<\/p>\n Unconsciously he reached up to his face and rubbed his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cLello,\u201d I\u2019ll bet. Bright and glowing.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n For just a moment there was a twinge of regret. Then he pulled the shadows in around himself and crept down the slope, moving up behind the bandit who stood looking out over Lake Honrich.\u00a0 He rose silently behind the man, pushed his head to the side with one hand and grabbed his shoulder with the other, and sank his fangs unerringly through the skin and into his jugular vein.<\/p>\n The hot, thick, sweet, metallic blood flooded his mouth and he drank greedily, feeling the warm life flowing into and through him, heightening all his senses. The prey squirmed a bit, for a moment, but then was still; and once it was empty Brynjolf lowered it to the ground and dashed away, leaping over the fort\u2019s upper walls and running to the top of the hill once more.<\/p>\n Well. It\u2019s done, then. There\u2019s just one more thing to know. <\/em><\/p>\n Without knowing how it happened \u2013 for he never had<\/em> actually known how he had done it \u2013 he collapsed into himself and then allowed himself to explode outward.\u00a0 His human shell disappeared, to be replaced by a great gray being a third again larger, its muscles huge, those behind its shoulder blades grasping the base of a pair of enormous wings.\u00a0 He looked down at his hands to find the fingers long and slender and tipped with claws the size of daggers.\u00a0 He grinned to himself, then turned his head to the side and set his sights on a particular aspen tree. Where he had stood, a swarm of bats appeared and leapt the distance between the hilltop and the aspen.\u00a0 Then he reconstituted himself into the great gray Vampire Lord.<\/p>\n It\u2019s all here. All of it.\u00a0 All I need now is my\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Another twinge of regret, of sorrow, stabbed him.\u00a0 He saw a vision of Volkihar Castle, and a dark-haired Nightlord draped in blue seated on the throne that he knew Edwyn Wickham now occupied.\u00a0 His memory flitted to the southern side of the Pale Pass and he could almost feel the weight of that same Nightlord in his arms, sobbing like a child as his memories returned to him.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t wear it, the red. I can\u2019t do it. I wore that for him.<\/em><\/p>\n He glanced down at the rings on his hand, one each for the two great loves of his life. Sayma would forever be his wife, his partner, and the mother of his children \u2013 and he loved her more than he could ever have imagined –\u00a0 but the ruby ring, glinting with the fire of the man who had made it, would protect him now as he tried to accomplish that thing that, possibly, he alone could do.<\/p>\n I wish you were here, lad. I don\u2019t know whether I can do this without you. Stealing something? Certainly. Setting up a con? I could do that. Killing the strongest vampire I know of? \u00a0I wish you were here. <\/em><\/p>\n We can\u2019t let him get to Dardeh. Ulfric will help, if he can; but we need to keep him safe. Roggi\u2019s a strong man, but he needs to protect both Dardeh and Ulfric, to say nothing of Frina and Sayma.<\/em><\/p>\n He sighed, and focusing his energies resumed his human form and then cast the illusion spell in the off chance he would run across someone he knew as he returned to Honeyside. He could almost hear Vitus\u2019 voice whispering to him across time, telling him that he could never let them see what he really was.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be more careful this time, lad,\u201d he murmured as he trotted up the stairs onto the deck. Slipping inside, he made his way to the bedroom and opened the wardrobe.<\/p>\n He\u2019d left a number of pieces of clothing there when he and Sayma had moved to Riftvale Lodge, pieces he\u2019d collected with Andante that he hadn\u2019t felt comfortable taking to their new home to serve as a constant reminder of that period of time. Among these, pushed far to the back of the closet, was a set of supple, lightweight grey robes topped with pauldrons. It was the same armor the nobility of Volkihar Castle wore, imbued by Vitus with the same protections against flame that he\u2019d placed on the red armor. \u201cIn case you want to mix it up sometimes,\u201d he\u2019d said, grinning his infectious grin with his eyes sparkling.<\/p>\n Brynjolf pulled the gray armor out and held it up, feeling those magical energies running through it.\u00a0 I\u2019m as much Volkihar nobility as any of them. Not that I expect them to acknowledge it.<\/em><\/p>\n This could be his uniform, now. He started to take himself out of his Guild Master armor and then paused.<\/p>\n There was one major issue with either of these sets, the red or the grey. As much as he needed their enchantments \u2013 particularly fire protection \u2013 as soon as he put one of them on the people he was close to would realize what he\u2019d done.<\/p>\n It screams \u2018vampire.\u2019 They\u2019ll all find out eventually. It\u2019s inevitable. But the longer I can delay it\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n He dug around in his wardrobes and chests some more. Tossed in one of the drawers under some common clothes he\u2019d intended to use as smithing gear was a handsome set of armor they\u2019d found in an out-of-the-way spot along the coast. It was reminiscent of both the Guild armor and the Nightingale armor while being identical to neither of them.<\/p>\n Brynjolf was hardly a mage, at least not under normal circumstances; but he did have a professional thief\u2019s skill at alchemy. He had practiced enchanting things while living with Vitus and could, at least if he made potions to help, approximate the protections he needed. They wouldn\u2019t be as strong as the ones on the vampire armor, but they would do. He started grinning.<\/p>\n A few enchantments, a little tweaking here and there and\u2026 yes. This will do nicely. It will be easy to pass off as me just wanting to look a little bit more pulled-together in my old age.<\/em><\/p>\n It took him several hours to get things the way he wanted them. Then he eagerly shucked himself out of the Guild armor, soaked for awhile in the hot water of the bath, and dressed himself in his new outfit.\u00a0 He grinned at himself, knowing what Andante would have said and done in response to his new look; but then he thought of the circumstances that had prompted this change and his smile faded.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sorry, Nocturnal. I know you can tell what I\u2019ve done and I know you\u2019re going to be angry about it. But understand that if I was certain there was anyone else who could do what I must do, I wouldn\u2019t have done it. The Guild\u2019s in good hands. The best. Sayma can do everything I can do and more, but she can\u2019t go to Volkihar. Trust her and Karliah \u2013 and Delvin. We\u2019ve got the business started and it\u2019s going to be even better, soon. And know that I\u2019ll still hold up my end of the bargain as long as I can do it. And if I can\u2019t, for some reason, well\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n He sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I die, look to Roggi. He\u2019ll keep an eye on Chip until he\u2019s old enough to join the Guild himself. A little bit of me will keep the contract, one way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n He went back out onto the deck and took a seat, resting his elbows on the railing.\u00a0 He ran his tongue over his fangs. Then he dropped his head into his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cShor\u2019s beard,\u201d he whispered. \u201cWhat have I done?\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Edwyn made his tired way into the lower level of Proudspire Manor and heaved a heavy sigh. It had been a frustrating and exhausting few days and he wanted nothing more than a nice, long soak in his tub, followed by \u2013 if he was lucky \u2013 a good long sleep. \u00a0But he would have to wait, to work around the inevitable confluence of Elisif and Geor.\u00a0 He frowned in annoyance.<\/p>\n At least I should be able to bathe. It is not yet late enough for Elisif to return.<\/em><\/p>\n He walked upstairs to check on things and found Jordis in the kitchen. His mouth watered, and he realized that he was peckish.<\/p>\n I believe I shall feed before I bathe.<\/em><\/p>\n Jordis flinched when she saw him, and pulled back into the corner.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Jarl isn\u2019t here yet, my lord,\u201d she said nervously.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good,\u201d he said. \u201cNow turn your back.\u201d<\/p>\n She cringed. \u201cMust I?\u201d she murmured.<\/p>\n \u201cYes!\u201d he growled. \u201cYou must.\u201d<\/p>\n Jordis nodded and turned, but was visibly shaking.<\/p>\n By the mace of Molag Bal what is wrong with this one? It\u2019s not as if I\u2019m going to ravish her.<\/em><\/p>\n He cast his calming spell on Jordis, then leaned forward and refreshed himself on her blood.\u00a0 In spite of the spell she shook, clearly fearful. When he was finished he tsk\u2019d and turned away.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with you, girl. I\u2019ve not harmed you in the least. Stop sniveling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cY-yes, my lord,\u201d she said softly, hugging her arms to herself, but not turning to face him.<\/p>\n He threw his hands up in disgust and stomped his way back down the stairs to the bathing room.\u00a0 He found the bath already occupied \u2013 Vyctyna had stripped down to her smallclothes and was seated on one of the stone benches. He admired her for a moment and then spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cI intend to join you,\u201d he said. \u201cI trust this will not be an issue?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as you keep something on, Boss, it\u2019s fine with me,\u201d she said, grinning at him.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. I would never subject you to anything that made you uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, and more\u2019s the pity. Agryn does have such good taste. It\u2019s been difficult to restrain myself all these years.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd where is your counterpart, my dear?\u201d he asked as he began removing his boots and gauntlets.<\/p>\n \u201cHe ran out to find a snack.\u201d She giggled in her most appealing way.<\/p>\n So we are alone? How\u2026 unfortunate.<\/em><\/p>\n Edwyn finished disrobing and waded into the deliciously warm bath, taking a seat across the space from her.\u00a0 \u201cAhh,\u201d he said, sliding down into the water. \u201cThis is just what I needed. After our encounter with the dragon I find myself unusually sore and tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou two killed a dragon?\u201d Vyctyna\u2019s voice was tinged with both interest and concern.<\/p>\n \u201cNot precisely. I killed a dragon, with the help of a conjuration. Your partner was nowhere to be found. He says<\/em> that he was fighting some Vigilants. Honestly, I was quite disappointed in him. He should have been by my side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Vyctyna said no more than that but was frowning.<\/p>\n Edwyn didn\u2019t wait to find out what she intended to say. \u201cIt was the most irritating thing. I thought that, perhaps, the Hollowfangs might have had some insight into how the Dragonborn absorbs the life-force of one of the creatures. It makes perfect sense that the power is in the blood; after all, that is how we vampires propagate ourselves.\u00a0 So I attempted to feed on the beast. It was a futile attempt. I\u2019m fortunate that I did not chip one of my fangs.\u201d<\/p>\n Vyctyna snorted. \u201cYou \u2026 tried to feed on a dragon<\/em>? What are you, nuts?\u201d She laughed at him.<\/p>\n Edwyn felt his temper flaring.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI asked if you have lost your everloving mind<\/em>, Edwyn,\u201d she said flatly. \u201cA dragon\u2019s hide is one of the toughest things in the world. I\u2019ve heard of the best smiths making armor out of it. And weapons of their bones. You don\u2019t just\u2026 stick your fangs into a dragon. How ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRidiculous, am I?\u201d Edwyn felt as though he was outside himself. A part of his mind heard the bitter chill in his voice; and yet the flames of his anger rose higher and higher, burning him from the inside out. He rose to stand before her, and she stood to meet him face-to-face.<\/p>\n How dare she. She is nothing but an\u2026 underling. I am the handpicked Lord of the Volkihar Clan and the husband of the Jarl of Solitude! How\u2026dare\u2026she\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Vyctyna\u2019s eyes flashed. If Edwyn had been paying attention, fully paying attention, he would have recognized the anger of a woman who was much stronger than she appeared on the surface.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And frankly I\u2019m a bit concerned, boss. I thought the idea was for you to be High King, and we\u2019ve been making decent progress on that. But all you do these days is obsess over this Dragonborn business and it\u2019s silly. You keep getting Aggie nearly killed and I won\u2019t have it. You\u2019re not Dragonborn. You\u2019re a vampire. And if you don\u2019t stop wasting all your time and energy on that instead of paying attention to what you\u2019ve always told us was your plan \u2013 Harkon\u2019s plan \u2013 you\u2019re going to lose it all!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSILENCE!\u201d\u00a0 He roared.\u00a0 He saw red.\u00a0 He pointed toward the outside world and howled. \u201cI am your lord and master, and if you cannot treat me as such I will throw <\/em>you out there and leave you to the Vigilants and their silver weapons!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that so?\u201d she said, crossing her arms and looking unimpressed. \u201cAnd you will lose the handy little thrall I created for you, to do the job that you can\u2019t do yourself, Master<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 Her voice positively dripped with sarcasm as she shook her head. \u201cYou don\u2019t really think he will stay and do your bidding, do you? You\u2019ve been around long enough to know how this works. If I leave, he follows me. If I die, he\u2019s not a thrall any longer. Besides, oh great and powerful lord, I think he likes <\/em>Elisif. As himself. I think she likes him, too. I\u2019m not so sure they haven\u2019t figured it all out on their own. If she\u2019s not pregnant, it surely isn\u2019t from lack of trying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou stupid bitch,\u201d he growled, stepping forward.\u00a0 A part of his mind observed, quietly, that he must look terrifyingly menacing at that moment, for Vyctyna raised her hands as if to ward off attack. But he couldn\u2019t seem to stop himself.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps it is time that you and I come to a full understanding of who is in charge here.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached for her arm and pulled her to him. Before he really was aware of forming any sort of plan he had placed his other hand firmly behind her neck and taken her into a vicious embrace, grinding his mouth against hers. Vyctyna struggled against him, and made noises of resistance; but strong as she was she was no match for him, not in any sense.<\/p>\n Ahhh. I have wanted to do this as long as I have known you, my dear. You are indeed delicious.<\/em><\/p>\n There was a huge roar behind Edwyn\u2019s back. Startled, he released Vyctyna, who skittered away. \u00a0He whirled and found himself face to face with Agryn Gernic, the Vampire Lord.<\/p>\n \u201cTake your hands off her! And step back. Or I will tear you into so many pieces they will never even know your miserable body was here in this place!\u201d Agryn raged.<\/p>\n \u201cAgryn. Calm yourself, sir,\u201d Edwyn said, holding his own hands up before himself, defensively.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t very well transform to face Agryn on equal ground; there were moments involved in which he would be utterly vulnerable and with Agryn as angry as he was, he didn\u2019t dare risk it. \u201cIt was nothing more than a harmless prank.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHarmless prank?\u201d Agryn\u2019s oddly-distorted voice howled. \u201cYou laid hands on Vyctyna! My<\/em> Vyctyna! How could you? Have you lost your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n Have I what? Have I lost my mind? How dare these two? Hundreds of years of planning and working, all according to Harkon\u2019s plan, and now they dare question me?<\/em><\/p>\n He heard another loud sound behind him and took a step backward, closer to the wall, only to find himself flanked by two Vampire Lords.\u00a0 Vyctyna didn\u2019t look nearly as delectable as a huge, grey beast; but she certainly looked more dangerous.<\/p>\n \u201cYou tried to take me. Against my will. This is the end of it, Edwyn Wickham. I\u2019ve followed you for so long now and done whatever you wanted me to do but not that<\/em>. Never<\/em> that. I belong to Agryn. Do you understand me? You may\u2026 not\u2026 touch\u2026 me!\u201d<\/p>\n Both of them moved closer to him. Both of them were snarling. He found himself with his hands up, trying to fade backward into the wall, and unable to focus any part of his mind long enough to do any of the things he might reasonably do to escape, to shield himself, or to reassert his dominance over them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just a joke!\u201d he cried.\u00a0 As soon as the words left his mouth a part of him laughed silently. A joke. Do you really think they will believe that? Ever? What have you done, Lord Wickham? <\/em>The voice in his head telling him that sounded odd, a strange mix of his own voice and Harkon\u2019s; and he found himself shaking his head in confusion.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s over, Edwyn,\u201d Agryn Gernic said, his voice only barely something other than a growl. \u201cI am done with you. You have no consideration for anyone who is not yourself. I should have left you decades ago. I am finished. Do you understand me? It.\u00a0 Is.\u00a0 OVER.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at his partner hovering above the bath and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go, Vyctyna.\u201d<\/p>\n They turned and left the bath.\u00a0 Edwyn stood stock-still with his mouth open, listening; a few moments later he heard the sound of the door closing.<\/p>\n What have I done?<\/em><\/p>\n Surely they will be back. We haven\u2019t worked this long and this hard for them to simply\u2026 leave me.<\/em><\/p>\n He blinked, slowly looking around himself, and realized that Elisif would be returning to Proudspire soon.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t deal with her right now.\u00a0 I must leave.<\/em><\/p>\n He dressed himself, hastily, and slipped out the door into the night.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n They\u2019d reverted to human form as soon as they left Proudspire. Agryn was practically incandescent with anger as he pulled Vyctyna by the hand out into the streets of Solitude and down through the back entrance beneath the tower. \u00a0Once they had cleared the doorway and were standing on the roadway, he turned to her.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on. Let\u2019s cross to the other side of the inlet.\u201d<\/p>\n They transformed back into their Lord forms and flew across the water to stand on the far shore.\u00a0 Several mudcrabs took great offense at their presence; Vyctyna conjured a familiar that took care of them, while Agryn turned to face her.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright, my love?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded. \u201cYeah. I\u2019m madder than a wet hen, Aggie, but I\u2019m fine. I can\u2019t believe the nerve <\/em>of that man!\u201d<\/p>\n He blew out a deep breath. \u201cI can. I truly can. He\u2019s not right any more, Tyna. It\u2019s like he\u2019s lost himself somehow. He put me out in front of the Dragonborn and almost got me roasted alive and then barely acknowledged it. He gave me a hard time for not covering his ass from a dragon \u2013 while I was being stuck by silver arrows!\u201d<\/p>\n She grabbed him by the arms and peered at him. \u201cAre you ok?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019m fine. But he\u2019s crossed the line. I will never serve him again. Never. It is time for us to strike out on our own, Tyna. If you\u2019ll still have me.\u201d<\/p>\n It was hard to say such a thing. He hadn\u2019t been lying to Edwyn when he\u2019d told him, not so long before, that he was a true friend. It hurt more than he could have imagined to acknowledge that the man he\u2019d trusted and admired for at least two centuries was no longer the same person he\u2019d trusted and admired.\u00a0 It was frightening, too; for who knew what support Edwyn might be able to muster, to come after them?<\/p>\n That vampire we met on the road. He was right not to trust Edwyn.<\/em><\/p>\n Vyctyna smiled, and touched Agryn\u2019s face. \u201cAggie. You know I\u2019m yours. I\u2019m not going anywhere except where you go. It\u2019s not the first time I\u2019ve ever had a man try to force himself on me. I could have handled him if I hadn\u2019t been completely caught off-guard.\u201d\u00a0 She shuddered, and wiped a hand across her mouth. \u201cUgh. I don\u2019t know what he was thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do,\u201d Agryn growled. \u201cAnd he should have known better.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go. We\u2019re going to fly down the coast to Windhelm and then take a carriage to Riften.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you think he\u2019ll follow us to the Crypt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe might. But if he thinks about it he\u2019ll think better of the idea and back off.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be safe there for a bit, at any rate, and I have a couple of ideas brewing.\u00a0 If they don\u2019t pan out, well, we can head to Cyrodiil.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m with you, Aggie. Lead the way.\u201d<\/p>\n They transformed to their winged Lord forms and traveled along the frigid Sea of Ghosts.\u00a0 Hours later, they stood together in the old crypt south of Riften, contemplating what had happened to them and what the future might hold for them.<\/p>\n Whatever that future would be, it would not include Lord Edwyn Wickham.<\/p>\n Brynjolf looked out over Lake Honrich, watching the lengthening shadows and listening to the quiet lapping of the water up against the shore.\u00a0 He could see the tiny forms of guards patrolling Goldenglow Estate. It was still producing honey for Maven Black-Briar even though its former owner, Aringoth, was long since deceased, killed by Sayma … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-2-10-2.png\")
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<\/p>\nPart II: Resolution<\/a><\/div>\nPrevious<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"