Count Only The Happy Hours

Part 1: VI

Sil sucked in his lips before giving a shrug. "I can't think of anything better."

"Then we have our notice." With a flourish of his pen, Vivec started to write. "Now, we will have to be very, very quick, and very, very good at sneaking." His eyes flicked up to Sil. "Voryn keeps his cloak in the wagon, in the storage area under the driver's seat. It'll be too big for you, but in this case, that might work in our favor. Go get it."

Sil blinked. "Are we going tonight?"

"If we want to do so without getting caught by our enemies or our allies? Yes, we're doing this as soon as the ink dries." Vivec let out a quick little breath, willing his hand to stay steady. "And if Azura won't help us, then let's at least pray that Mephala will."

There was a crumbling bit of wall Vivec had found in his last scouting that led straight into the slums, a place favored by thieves and those doing illicit business. By a stroke of luck, it was empty when they arrived despite the late hour, and Vivec ushered Sil through before he followed. He'd considered coming alone, truthfully, but again he recalled how well that went. Besides, the fire was still burning bright and clear in Seht; he'd have followed no matter what to see it through.

Once they were on the other side of the wall, tucked out of sight behind a ramshackle building, Vehk got their bearings. The danger of this task seemed amplified in the quiet city streets, and every way it could go wrong hung heavily over him. After a moment, he pulled a dagger from his belt. "Take this," he whispered, meeting Sil's pale eyes very seriously. "You can't use your magic, it'll be too obvious. With this, it's two motions." He demonstrated: one sharp pull out of the sheath, and a sharp, sideways push into an imaginary threat's belly. He sheathed it before holding it out to him.

Sil looked down at the knife, then back up to Vivec. "Do you think I'll need it?"

"I pray you don't. But if you do, do what I said and then run. "

Sil's brow furrowed, but he took the knife. "And you? What will you do?"

Vivec swallowed, then set his hands on either side of Sil's head, face as serious it'd ever been. "I know you don't trust Azura," he said, voice a whisper. "But I will keep you safe. No matter what." A little smile eked its way out of him. "Okay, hla'daesohn?"

Sil's mouth twitched, but it didn't come close to a smile. After a moment, he slid the knife onto his own belt and nodded. Vivec let out a long breath, then led the way out. Cloaked as they were, hoods drawn far over their faces, they went unnoticed by the few people out at this hour. Vivec could hear the whispers of clandestine meetings–tones differing as they bounced off the stone walls of the alleyways–punctuated with the odd call offering a night of pleasure for a low price and pleas to be allowed in, they hadn't had that much skooma. But none were threats, and the one hollow-faced boy who came sidling up just a touch too close to Seht was easily scared away with a sharp look from Vehk.

"Here," Vivec whispered as they crossed a wooden wall of a fence. "We'll put it up here, that ought to be in everyone's eyeline. Sil, keep watch while I get it up."

Sil nodded, and he turned to keep an eye on the street, dagger shifting back and forth between his hands. Carefully, Vivec pulled out the parchment. It didn't look very official, but he couldn't imagine anyone looking too hard at it. The Nords would be overjoyed, and everyone else would be expecting it. And, realistically, this was the only option they had.

"Guards," Sil said softly as two voices wafted down the alley.

"Nearly done." Vivec pressed the notice to the wall. Now just to secure it with...