{"id":2420,"date":"2023-03-30T18:04:57","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T00:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=2420"},"modified":"2023-04-27T09:43:35","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T15:43:35","slug":"chapter-4-as-it-was-in-the-beginning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-ii\/part-iii-sicut-erat-in-principio\/chapter-4-as-it-was-in-the-beginning\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 4 – As It Was in the Beginning"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 <\/p>\n

It had been a pleasant day, following a lovely evening in which they\u2019d once again reconciled their differences in spectacular fashion. Brynjolf had kissed Sayma goodbye and left to take care of business in town, while she had contentedly busied herself in the alchemy gardens and the kitchen. Brynjolf hadn\u2019t been back in the house too terribly long when there was a knock on the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is it, I wonder?\u201d Sayma asked, looking at Brynjolf with one eyebrow raised. \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting anyone, were you?\u201d<\/p>\n

He peered out the window, shaking his head. \u201cFor once, no. I especially wasn\u2019t expecting this someone.\u201d He took the few paces to open the door. \u201cCome in, lass. This is quite the surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma gasped as the slight figure stepped across the threshold.<\/p>\n

\u201cBabette? What are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The three hundred year old child in black and red swept into the center of the room toward the fireplace, rubbing her hands together before the warmth before turning to stare at the much taller but vastly younger adults. \u201cI\u2019ve come to bring you a warning. There isn\u2019t much time, and I can\u2019t be seen here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma nodded, and moved to take a seat. Given the difference in their height, sitting put her more or less at Babette\u2019s eye level.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf snorted. \u201cNot being seen really shouldn\u2019t be a problem for you, little sister. But what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not your sister, Brynjolf. Maybe once, before you got yourself cured. But it\u2019s no time to make jokes,\u201d the little girl said dryly, looking past him to stare at Sayma. \u201cI don\u2019t know how to put it gently. Someone has prayed to the Night Mother, Sayma. They want you dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma wasn\u2019t one to blanch easily but the color drained from her face. She stared at Babette and blinked several times before summoning her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s\u2026 a contract out\u2026 on me<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

Babette nodded. \u201cI\u2019m afraid so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? What are you saying?\u201d Brynjolf snapped, coming around the furniture to stand next to the diminutive vampire.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cYou heard me, Brynjolf,\u201d Babette said, again not meeting his gaze. \u201cSayma\u2019s in danger from the Dark Brotherhood. A contract directly from the Night Mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma shook her head, clearly confused. \u201cBut how do you know this? The Night Mother only speaks to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Listener, yes,\u201d Babette agreed. \u201cBut if someone happened to overhear<\/em> the Black Sacrament being done, it\u2019s not exactly a secret – especially if it was being done in the Sanctuary itself. And you know she won\u2019t reject a request done via the Sacrament. I\u2019m not sure when the new Listener will get the job from the Night Mother but I\u2019m sure he will, soon.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI know it\u2019s irregular. But we agreed that I should come here as quickly as I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a long pause as Sayma stared ahead blankly, then at Babette, then seemingly at the fireplace. \u201cSomeone\u2026 in the Sanctuary?\u201d She paused, clearly weighing the possibilities as quickly as she could. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t have been Cicero, even though he might seem like the obvious suspect. There\u2019s only one other person who I can even imagine <\/em>would have reason to want me snuffed out. All the others are dead.\u201d She looked back up at Babette. \u201cWait. \u2018We\u2019 agreed? You and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCicero, yes,\u201d Babette said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t him doing the Sacrament. He practically worships the ground you walk on because you let him live. I assumed nobody would be any the wiser if he started babbling about hearing a Sacrament because he always sounds crazy. In fact, I think what he told me was: \u2018you have to warn the Listener before the Listener listens.\u2019 Followed by a giggle. You know how he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf sank onto the largest bench. \u201cThis whole thing sounds crazy, lass! Why would anyone want to have Sayma killed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Babette said, looking helplessly at Sayma.<\/p>\n

Sayma looked from Babette to Brynjolf and sighed unhappily. \u201cBecause, Red\u2026 I violated the Tenets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the Tenets are what, exactly?\u201d he said, frowning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised that a guy who can read Daedric doesn\u2019t know,\u201d she said sarcastically, earning an equally-sarcastic snort from her husband. \u201cThey\u2019re the rules that govern the Brotherhood. At least they did back before I became Listener, though they\u2019d fallen out of use about the time I showed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell that\u2019s why I didn\u2019t know about them. Not that it matters. If they weren\u2019t in use, why should they apply to you?\u201d Brynjolf responded, testily. \u201cAnd what could you have done to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sayma lifted a finger to cut him off. \u201cFirst, I let Cicero live after I was ordered to kill him. That\u2019s what Babette was talking about.\u201d She shook her head sadly. \u201cI couldn\u2019t do it. He didn\u2019t deserve it. Or maybe he did, because he attacked other Brothers, but\u2026 It didn\u2019t matter. I couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d She glanced at Babette. \u201cYou\u2019ve been wonderful about that, but that leaves Nazir. He can\u2019t stand Cicero.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf snorted. \u201cSo he had to deal with a bit of a disappointment and for that you should die?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not<\/em> just that,\u201d Sayma spat. \u201cThe more important crime I committed was taking you, and Dar, and Roggi into the Sanctuary. For that matter even admitting to you that I was in the Brotherhood at all was a violation!\u201d Her voice dropped. \u201cI hate to put it that way, Bryn, but I was just so happy to see all of you, finally, that I just decided it was pointless to pretend anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there have been other people who we know about who are in the Brotherhood. It\u2019s not like Delvin\u2019s connections are a great secret, at least among us. Why now, lass? Why would this be an issue now if it wasn\u2019t back then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause she\u2019s not Listener anymore, Brynjolf,\u201d Babette murmured. \u201cAnd so Nazir wouldn\u2019t be committing violence against a Sister by killing her. Or having her killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he would never do what I did, breaking an order,\u201d Sayma muttered. \u201cHe would also never harm the leader of the Sanctuary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Babette snorted. \u201cI\u2019ve known all of the Listeners for the last three hundred years, Sayma. Astrid was no more than a gang leader. She was good at it, and we all followed her leadership happily, but she wasn\u2019t<\/em> the Listener. Don\u2019t give Nazir too much credit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not wrong, though, Babette,\u201d Sayma said quietly. \u201cI\u2019m just surprised that he didn\u2019t just let it go. I\u2019m\u2026 a little hurt that he takes it so seriously that he would want to have me killed. After all these years. I thought we were friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr at least have the guts to come for you himself instead of making the Brotherhood do it,\u201d Brynjolf snarled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t like that you were married,\u201d Babette said matter-of-factly. \u201cHe saw that as a liability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh,\u201d Brynjolf muttered. \u201cLike Vingalmo.\u201d When the others stared at him he shrugged. \u201cBack when I was – well – Vingalmo was one of the more ancient Volkihar. The last Archmage was also one of them. He married and Vingalmo didn\u2019t like that. Edwyn Wickham – the Archmage – ripped his throat out and burned him to a crisp. I wasn\u2019t there when it happened but it upset the clan enough to decide to take Edwyn out.\u201d He sighed. \u201cI stopped them. I shouldn\u2019t have done that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma stared at him and shuddered. \u201cI\u2019ll never get used to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He gave her a half-hearted, one-sided grin. \u201cI know. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of that\u2019s fine, but you really<\/em> don\u2019t have time to reminisce,\u201d Babette said in a sour tone. \u201cSomeone from the Brotherhood will be after Sayma shortly. I don\u2019t know who, and I don\u2019t know how much lead time I had on whoever is taking the contract. I just ran. Cicero was supposed to try to stall things, but you can\u2019t count on him, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll hide Sayma in the Cistern,\u201d Brynjolf snorted. \u201cNobody gets in or out without us knowing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you think that will help? She can\u2019t hide in there forever, and the Brotherhood isn\u2019t going to give up.\u201d Babette was sounding more and more sarcastic as time passed. \u201cAny more than the Morag Tong would. We all started from the same seed, if you go far enough back.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a long silence. The look on Brynjolf\u2019s face went from irritation to dismay as the truth of what she was saying fully registered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the Eight,\u201d he murmured. \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s bad, Bryn,\u201d Sayma answered quietly. \u201cThere aren\u2019t a lot of options. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Babette\u2019s head snapped toward the door. \u201cAnd there\u2019s someone coming. I have to get out of here, right now.\u201d She turned back to Sayma and gave her a tiny smile. \u201cLike I said, I\u2019ve known all the Listeners for three centuries. I will miss you. Please be careful.\u201d With that, she shimmered out of sight and left by the back door.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf bolted upright out of his seat with his hand at the hilt of his dagger to glance out the window, and then relaxed. \u201cIt\u2019s Coyle,\u201d he said, in a flat tone as though he was in shock. And indeed, from outside the raspy sound of a sea shanty got progressively louder and nearer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have an idea,\u201d Sayma muttered. \u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t have a chance to finish her statement, though, because Coyle came bursting in through the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaw the lights on and decided I\u2019d just invite myself in. What a time I\u2019ve had out in Haafingar! You were right, boss, there\u2019s something brewing and a lot of weapons and armor are being shipped out from Solitude and Dawnstar. Ran across some old acquaintances and put a couple of them out of business more or less permanently. Oh, and while I was out there I, uh, managed to get myself a ship. She\u2019s an old girl but she still sails just fine. I docked her up in Windhelm, and I really can\u2019t wait to show her\u2026 to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle slowed to a stop, perhaps realizing that Brynjolf was staring, blankly, paying little to no attention to anything else. Sayma, on the other hand, had been facing into the kitchen with one hand on her chin; she turned to look at Coyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a problem, Coyle,\u201d she said, her voice quavering just a bit. \u201cOr I guess I <\/em>have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe<\/em>.\u201d Brynjolf\u2019s tone was flat, and almost hopeless.<\/p>\n

Coyle looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment. \u201cIs someone going to fill me in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Sayma said. \u201cSit and I\u2019ll tell you all about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the next quarter hour or so, she related the parts of her history that she hadn\u2019t shared with him before. Occasionally Coyle\u2019s eyebrows would rise, or he would nod as something that had confused him before suddenly made sense. Once or twice he made a small sound that might have been agreement or might have been astonishment. But he said nothing. Not until she was finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s really something. But we all have pasts,\u201d he said matter-of-factly. \u201cGods know I\u2019m not proud of mine, and I\u2019ve never headed up anything like a real organization. But the more important question is what to do about it. You\u2019re not going to be safe sitting here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma looked at Brynjolf with a sad expression. \u201cI\u2019m not going to be safe here at all, sitting or not. I have an idea, though. It will at least help. Buy me some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the idea, lass?\u201d Brynjolf had been silent, looking increasingly morose as she\u2019d told her tale. Now he had a momentary flash of hope cross his face.<\/p>\n

She looked at him and sighed. \u201cI hid once in plain sight before, for a couple of years. It took some of the best minds in Skyrim working together to find me and you might not have, even then, if I hadn\u2019t been foolish enough to send Andante to you with a note, Bryn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She rose from her chair and Brynjolf followed suit, looking as though his life was over. \u201cYou would really do that? But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma reached out to caress his face. \u201cIt\u2019s the only possibility I have to survive,\u201d she told him. \u201cLet me at least do that much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle cleared his throat. \u201cI think I know what you\u2019re intending, and I have to say this. I don\u2019t mean to throw sand on your fire, but just changing something on the surface isn\u2019t going to do it. They know you\u2019re married to Brynjolf, Sayma. It won\u2019t take a mastermind to look for him. Where he is, that\u2019s where you\u2019ll be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf gave him a crestfallen stare. \u201cWhat would you suggest then, lad? We need to consider all our options.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you don\u2019t have many,\u201d Coyle said. \u201cI do have an idea. I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll like it, but – when I came in I was telling you about my ship. The Ocean Saber.<\/em> I crewed on her for a bunch of years and know her like the back of my hand. She\u2019s big, and it\u2019ll be tricky to sail her at first but I know where we can pick up some crew along the way. Nobody from the Brotherhood knows me and as far as I know only that moron Rolvar – he\u2019s the captain of the Buoyant Barnacle – knows me in Dawnstar. All the others who know this face are\u2026\u201d he grinned. \u201cLet\u2019s just say they\u2019ve been taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you suggesting?\u201d Sayma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m suggesting that I could get you out of here by ship, if you both agreed to it,\u201d he said, glancing at Brynjolf. \u201cI know it\u2019s an uncomfortable idea under the circumstances but nobody\u2019s going to be looking for you on the water, at least not for a long time.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ll help however you want, but something needs to happen right away, regardless. It doesn\u2019t take that long to get from Dawnstar to here. I don\u2019t know about you two but I sure can\u2019t take on the Dark Brotherhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf gave his wife a sorrowful look. \u201cI can\u2019t either. And I don\u2019t know what else we can do. The Guild is strong, but we\u2019re not everywhere-at-once strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to go take care of what I can,\u201d Sayma said. \u201cLet me get a few things. I\u2019ll be back shortly. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

She started toward their bedroom but then turned back to exchange another long look with Brynjolf. He stared at her, opening his mouth and then closing it several times before finally heaving an enormous sigh. \u201cAlright. It\u2019s the only thing that makes any sense. Be safe.\u201d Sayma nodded and left the two men alone in the room.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Brynjolf sank down into the chair nearest where he\u2019d been standing, a blank, unfocused expression on his face. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it,\u201d he muttered. \u201cHow has this happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what to tell you, boss,\u201d Coyle said.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf turned toward Coyle and the two men exchanged a long look. \u201cI know,\u201d Brynjolf responded finally, his voice soft. \u201cIt\u2019s just so sudden. She just came back, and I thought that\u2026\u201d He stopped, visibly swallowing hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have to do this, Bryn.\u201d Coyle leaned forward and his voice took on an unusual intensity. \u201cI told you before, I don\u2019t want to do anything to come in between you and Sayma. I wasn\u2019t just saying that to sound like a good guy, because I\u2019m not a good guy. I just got back from putting an end to a bunch of crew – pirates – from way back. I needed to do it, and I took a great deal of pleasure in doing it.\u201d This time it was Coyle\u2019s turn – his voice thickened and he wrung his hands together for a moment. \u201cBut you gave me a chance. A new start. A place to live. I can\u2019t turn around and take your wife away from you.\u201d Then he chuckled. \u201cWell, I guess technically I can<\/em>, if we\u2019re going to get on a boat together and sail off. But you know what I\u2019m trying to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf nodded. \u201cI do know.\u201d He reached up and rubbed his eyes and tsk\u2019d. \u201cDamn eyes. I was working for the past couple of hours before I came home and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle frowned. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve told you to be careful with that. It\u2019s not going to get any easier if Sayma and I go sailing off into the sunset, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf nodded. \u201cI know. Shor\u2019s bones. I\u2019m just so confused.\u201d He stared down at the floor and tsk\u2019d. \u201cI should never have agreed in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgreed to what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo marry her. She asked me. I was too stupid to ask her myself. I was never the right man for her and I knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Coyle\u2019s turn to make a disgusted noise. \u201cNow that\u2019s just bull, and you know it. How long have you two been together? Twenty years or so? And two kids?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf groaned. \u201cAnd that\u2019s the other thing. What will I tell them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, boss. Maybe you should ask Sayma when she gets back.\u201d When Brynjolf snorted, Coyle shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m serious. She loves you and those kids, Bryn. Ask her what she wants them to know. Maybe nothing is the best choice. Who knows? Not me, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

They sat there for a long while, saying nothing. It was dead silent in the room, except for the occasional pop of an ember in the fireplace. Neither of them seemed uncomfortable, but Coyle glanced at Brynjolf every few moments, as if to make sure that all was well. It might have been only minutes since Sayma had left. It might have been hours. Neither of them spoke, but the unstated issues hung in the air like the fog over Solitude\u2019s harbor.<\/p>\n

Finally, Brynjolf raised his head and stared at Coyle long and hard again.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, lad. I want to tell you something and I want you to really listen to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright. Shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how much you regret what happened when you were younger. I can hear it in your voice whenever you mention it. I could practically taste<\/em> it whenever she talked about it, from the first time we ever talked about it. She never really got over you. She\u2019ll tell you she did. She\u2019ll tell you I\u2019m her great love or some such thing and it\u2019s true that\u2026\u201d He stopped for a moment to clear his throat. \u201cWe\u2019ve had something special, for a long time. Arguments and interruptions and all. But she never really left you behind. That\u2019s why I got so jealous when I found out who you really were.\u201d<\/p>\n

He rose from his chair and stepped closer to the fireplace, staring into its depths. \u201cSo I want you to take her out of here, and keep her safe. And if\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoss, don\u2019t. Really, you don\u2019t have to say\u2026\u201d Coyle started to protest, but Brynjolf cut him off.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you said you would listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did. Sorry. Go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it happens that the two of you need something more from each other, I will understand. Because I know you love her still. You\u2019re not very good at hiding things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle chuckled. \u201cI have always worn my heart on my sleeve, Bryn. But I told you before\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me that there was a line you wouldn\u2019t cross. And I\u2019m telling you to cross that line if you need to. I want her safe and happy, Coyle. Both things. That\u2019s all I can give her, now.\u201d He swung around to face Coyle again. \u201cI\u2019ll be here to draw attention away from the two of you.\u201d One corner of his mouth rose in a rueful half-smile. \u201cIt will be like it was when I was occupying my spare time driving Edwyn Wickham to distraction. I actually enjoyed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He stopped as the door opened. There was a woman there, wearing ordinary-looking clothes, tall boots, and a fur cape. Her graying hair looked as though it had been sawed off with a dull knife. She reached up to unfasten the cape and, almost as though it was a habit, briefly ran her hand along the left side of her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cLass!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m back,\u201d she said quietly, pulling off the cape and stuffing it into a pack that she dropped beside the door. \u201cI think this will at least help. She couldn\u2019t do anything about my voice, but at least nobody from the Brotherhood will recognize me right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she came around the chairs to stand nearer the fire, Coyle rose to face her. His usual smile dropped away, replaced by an expression of solemn awe.<\/p>\n

\u201cDag. It\u2019s you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She looked back at him with an equally solemn gaze and nodded. \u201cGalathil\u2019s close to a miracle worker but there\u2019s only so much even she can do. I just told her to put my face back to the way it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle cleared his throat. \u201cI always wondered what you\u2019d have looked like after all this time. And you\u2019re\u2026\u201d He swallowed hard and then chuckled. \u201cListen to me, talking like you\u2019re someone different.\u201d He glanced at Brynjolf, who still hadn\u2019t made another sound. \u201cI\u2019ll just, uh, step into the next room. Give you two a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned to Brynjolf, the two of them regarding each other quietly while Coyle left the area. Then Brynjolf spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cut your hair off.\u201d<\/p>\n

She chuckled softly and raised one hand to touch it. \u201cYeah. It\u2019s pretty shaggy but Sayma Sendu had long hair. Nobody\u2019s going to look twice at an old woman with a bad haircut.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo hear you talk you\u2019d think Sayma was dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at him, her eyes welling up. \u201cShe is, Red. She has to be. It\u2019s the only way. Dagnell is here now.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cI can\u2019t believe how easy it was. Maybe it\u2019s because the Night Mother severed ties. So did Shadowmere. It\u2019s almost as though she never existed and there\u2019s nothing left but Dagnell. I don\u2019t even know how to describe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to. I know how it goes. Picture having more power than most people, more magic than you could ever normally have, and then it\u2019s just gone. You can remember what it felt like, you can almost taste it, but you just can\u2019t do it anymore, no matter how hard you try. That\u2019s been my life since just after Qara was born.\u201d His expression was both wistful and rueful at the same time.<\/p>\n

He stopped himself short. \u201cThat\u2019s another thing, lass,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cWhat are we going to tell the children? Qara\u2019s off doing something and Chip – I think he\u2019s in Falskaar. Neither one of them knows anything about, well, you. It\u2019s going to be a shock when they find out you\u2019re not here anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you\u2019ll need to tell them, love. Sayma just isn\u2019t here anymore. The same thing I told you when Galathil and I created her. Just tell them I\u2019m gone, because that\u2019s the truth of it. What is it you always say? Don\u2019t lie but don\u2019t necessarily reveal all the details?\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded mutely.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know they\u2019ll push back. Especially Qara. She\u2019s got so much of me in her, to say nothing of the dragon blood. But don\u2019t give in. They don\u2019t know Sayma was in the Brotherhood and it\u2019s just as well that they never do. Chip might have a vague memory of the Sanctuary but I doubt it; even if he does, it\u2019s easy to tell him he might have been dreaming. It\u2019s true enough. He\u2019ll just accept that and move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf nodded again. \u201cLass, I just can\u2019t\u2026 This is so sudden. All of this. And after the night we just had. I thought it was all going back to normal again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Bryn,\u201d she said, stepping closer. \u201cIt\u2019s a shock to me as well. I never thought in my wildest imaginings that I\u2019d be doing this. I just never thought. Every bit of this is my fault. If I hadn\u2019t run away from you in the first place, if I hadn\u2019t done the things that made me feel like I had<\/em> to run away, we wouldn\u2019t be here. But we are, and the best I can do is run away again and hope the Brotherhood realizes that Sayma Sendu really is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSayma,\u201d Brynjolf began.<\/p>\n

\u201cDagnell. It has to be Dag from now on, Red. Otherwise all of us are back in danger again.\u201d She gazed at him, looking from eye to eye, and reached up to caress the cheek that held an even more ragged scar than the one she wore herself. \u201cI love you so much. I hope you know that. After all we\u2019ve been through I never would have thought we\u2019d be apart again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf didn\u2019t say anything for a long moment, but his eyes turned misty. Finally he pulled her near. \u201cShor\u2019s beard, lass. You\u2019re still just as beautiful as you were the first time we met.\u201d Then he leaned forward and drew her into a kiss.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A rough cough sounded from the doorway to the next room. \u201cI hate to interrupt,\u201d Coyle said, \u201cbut if we\u2019re going to outrun whoever\u2019s coming our way the harder it\u2019ll be the longer we wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dagnell broke away from Brynjolf and stepped around the fireplace to meet Coyle. \u201cLet\u2019s do it, then, before I change my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle stared at her. \u201cYou\u2019re sure about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. It\u2019s the only thing I can do for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

They made their way to the door. Coyle picked up Dagnell\u2019s pack and slung it over one shoulder. She turned to look back at Brynjolf once more and smiled. \u201cTake care, Red.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, lass. Be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The door swung closed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Coyle stood on the upper deck, busily checking lines, sail, and the wheel.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo do you think you remember how to steer a boat?\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed, climbing to stand beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m woefully out of practice, but I do remember. I think.\u201d She spread her arms, turning around in a circle. \u201cBut look at this! It\u2019s huge, Coyle! How can we maneuver it with just the two of us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle grinned. \u201cWe\u2019ll be ok once we get her out of this river. That\u2019s going to be the tricky bit. There\u2019s not a lot of room for mistakes in here.\u201d He glanced over the starboard side and tsk\u2019d. \u201cNot a lot of wiggle room at all. But I got her in here and it was just me. We\u2019ll be ok.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He looked back at Dagnell and once again gave her a soft smile. \u201cYou know, I always dreamed that I\u2019d end up on a ship with you. I never thought it would really happen. And in spite of the fact that we\u2019re both old now, and it\u2019s not very good circumstances, well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Dag shook her head. \u201cDon\u2019t say it, Coyle. Not right now. Let\u2019s just get out of here and we\u2019ll see what we see after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded. \u201cYeah. Right. OK, then. I promised Bryn I\u2019d keep you safe, and I can\u2019t do that if we\u2019re sitting here with big red targets on our backs. I need you to go forward and be my spotter, ok?\u201d<\/p>\n

She grinned. \u201cAye, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle laughed. \u201cI like the sound of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are we bound?\u201d<\/p>\n

Coyle grinned. \u201cWhere else? Home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dagnell smiled, and trotted down the steps, making her way forward. This ship was outfitted with an ornately-carved capstan, which they\u2019d already used to haul the anchor. It also happened to be an excellent height for viewing the surroundings. Dagnell hopped up onto it and stood – a bit unsteadily at first, but with increasing steadiness as the moments passed. All of Windhelm\u2019s docks were visible from here, as well as the long and ever-widening ribbon of water that was the White River joining the Sea of Ghosts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was there they were bound. Out into the mists. Beyond that? Who could say?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Brynjolf wandered in circles around his house for awhile. He stepped outside and continued his circling in the grounds behind the home. He stood beside the pond, bending once in awhile to pick up a stone and skip it across the water\u2019s surface. He kicked at an unruly-looking mound of dirt and wandered across the grass to the crafting tower.<\/p>\n

At the top of the tower, looking around at the growing plants and neatly-arranged flasks, he shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t think I can promise to keep these alive, lass. I\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n

He plodded back down the stairs and stopped at the armorer\u2019s bench. He lifted the hammer for a moment, tossing it into the air and catching it as it flipped over. Then he shook his head, sighed, and laid the hammer back on the bench.<\/p>\n

He returned to the house and plodded into the kitchen, pouring himself some water and downing it. He gazed around, sighed, and put the used flagon back on the counter. Then he made his way to the bedroom, checking the wardrobes and nodding.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t do this anymore. I can\u2019t stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He walked to the place where Vitus Perdeti\u2019s ashes once rested in an ornate urn atop a short wardrobe, and ran his hand across the spot that had never been filled with anything else since the day those ashes had become a part of him. \u201cI can\u2019t stay here,\u201d he murmured to himself. \u201cI can\u2019t go back to Honeyside. I can\u2019t really move back into the Cistern, not at this point. I guess I could move myself into Mercer\u2019s house but there are ghosts wandering there, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stopped to look behind him, his gaze first focusing out the window and then drifting down to the bed where he\u2019d slept for so many years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure where I belong. I\u2019ll figure it out though.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned back toward the wardrobe, standing motionless for several long, silent moments. Then he sighed, looked down at his hand, and slowly twisted the ring he\u2019d worn for twenty years until it came off his finger. He placed it gently on the wardrobe and then stepped back, silently, turning to leave this house behind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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Home Previous \/ Next   It had been a pleasant day, following a lovely evening in which they\u2019d once again reconciled their differences in spectacular fashion. Brynjolf had kissed Sayma goodbye and left to take care of business in town, while she had contentedly busied herself in the alchemy gardens and the kitchen. Brynjolf hadn\u2019t … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Chapter 4 – As It Was in the Beginning”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2344,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2420","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2420"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2475,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2420\/revisions\/2475"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}