A week passed since I joined the Dark Brotherhood. Almost two weeks since I found out I am Dragonborn, which turned out not to be truth so now I don't know how to call myself. It seems almost as a month has passed. I start to think I've made this all up. What if my 'power' was nothing special but something that mages like Sitha can do? Maybe they were all mistaken.
The only thing I'm sure is true is that I belong here, in Dark Brotherhood. Or I at least think I belong. Seems, I'm not even sure about that.
I got used to the routine. Sometimes I would get to fullfil even five contracts in one day, yet sometimes I had nothing to do so I practiced my fighting with daggers and swords. I already learned what kind of weapons every family member uses. Dar'Zirno's first choice are always maces, but he uses a lot axes and greatswords. Mostly two-handed weapons which is not surprising since he is the strongest here. Nazir favours his Alik'r curved sword. He never uses something else. As he says: Some habits never change. I agree with him. My first choice is always bow. I find it somehow strange and even difficult to fight with sword. I even used bow to fight up-close.
Sitha relies on her magic skills. She went on a college of Winterhold where she was the best and even was a candidate to become Archmage. But she didn't. She said it is because some mages spread lies about how aggresive and reckless she was. I wouldn't say that wasn't quite correct. Babette uses her vampire skills mostly. And her innocent child look. Iron dagger is the only weapon she has and uses only if necessary. Cicero and Morpheus are a masters in usage of one-handed weapons. Mostly daggers. Cicero uses just one dagger, his favourite one. Ebony dagger. Morpheus uses two, each in one hand. One is the Blade of Woe and it is always used by the leader of Dark Brotherhood. That must mean Astrid used it. Did she passed it to him? How did he gain it? I am curious, but I should listen to Dar'Zirno's advice. The second one that he uses is the same as Cicero's. Ebony dagger. Sometimes he replaces it with Mehrunes razor, given by daedric prince Mehrunes Dagon. He must have made a lot of deals with daedric princes. I myself worship Azura and Peryite. All the others I consider evil and dark. To evil and to dark to made a justified deal with them.
Right now, I was practicing my skill with one-handed weapons. I held a wooden sword and attacked the doll. I was already breathing heavly and I felt sweat dripping of me. But I wasn't satisfied how my attacks looked. They were to slow, clumsy and it took a lot of energy and strength to wave with the sword. That was the obvious sign I have wrong tehnique.
"Stop before you hurt yourself, please."
I winced at a smooth voice that came behind me. I looked behind and almost fell backwards as I faced Morpheus only a few inches away from him. I felt his hand caught mine and prevented me from falling. He pulled me back, closer to him and turned me so he was now holding my both hands and controled them.
I shivered at his voice when he talked. It seemed loud now, when his mouth were an inch away from my ear.
"You are holding the sword completely wrong. I don't understand how can you even hold it that way."
He positioned the sword in my hand. This time how I should hold it. Than he pulled my arm bacwards and swang it correctly, but in slow motion. The edge of the blade gently hit a doll making it shake a bit.
"See? This postion grants you ability to hit fast and strong. In other words, you gain an effective result."
He done it again, but this time faster. Now he position my other hand, left hand, just in front of my head.
"Use your left hand as cover. It will also make you faster."
He showed me the full movement in a full speed. Then he released me and took a few steps back. I felt like I immidiatley lost my confidence when he left me.
"Now show me how you do it on your own."
I didn't have to look at him to know that he crossed arms over his chest and placed weight on his right leg. He stood in that pose very often.
I grip the wooden sword tightly in my hands. So hard I can se my fingers turning white. I am afraid that I might shiver and make a fool of myself. I am waiting a few seconds to concetrate. Why is my heart beating so hard? I am not a person who is easly overhelmed by stress, but since I remember pretty clear my so called 'first kill', maybe something changed in my attitude.
"What are you waiting for?"
Morpheus hissed, bringing me out of my world of thougts and constant overthinking. I focused and swang a sword hitting the target correctly. With effective result.
He started slowly, but loudly, clapping. I looked at him. His face was decorated with a smirk, but it still felt...emotionless. I wonder what made him be like that. Or who.
"Well done."
He simply says and grabs me once again. He showed me a few more moves. I learnt quickly, which surprised him. Well, I didn't have much choice in life but to learn quickly, did I?
"Now, let's duel."
He blurts out. I wide my eyes a bit. He surprised me. In past one hour I learnt basic moves. How can I be ready for duel? Duel with him, the master of one-handed weapons.
"Now? With you?"
I ask a bit insecure. I try to cover shivering of my voice. Morpheus frowns, looking annoyed and confused at the same time.
"No. Tomorrow, with a mudcrab in Hjaalmarch."
He snaps and pulls one of the wooden swords. He points it at me and swings. I immidiatley block. Our blades are crossed and we are still, he looks me with eyes full of challenge, amusment and...admiration?
I quickly pull away and attack him. He blocks. I noticed that he didn't even took a fighting stance. He is just standing tall, moving a few steps if he needs and turns his sword like it's a shield. After a few hits I gave him, and of course he blocked them, I stagger a bit and he uses the chance to disarm me. In a blink of an eye, my sword lied on cold tiles. Out of my hand. Out of my reach.
He just smirked and walked over to the weapon rack and took two ebony swords. They looked so beautiful. Black metal shone under the light of candles which illuminated whole Sanctuary. Prettier than silver and gold.
"Now, we can play like children and cuddle eachother with this toys. But, where's fun in that?"
He says with a smirk and tosses one of the swords towards me. I catch it without getting myself cut. I gulp a bit. I am dead.
He strikes towards me. I am thinking fast and take a fighting stance. We cross our weapons. Loud sound echoed through the hall, maybe through whole Sanctuary. He untangled our swords and striked again. But I prevented him for getting closer and almost disarmed him. He took a step or two back. I did not waste any time. I attacked him while he was still unprepared and made him stagger. But...he cheated. He used moves yet unkown to me and he managed to put me in a state he was a second ago. I tried to copy his previous moves, the new moves, but I failed. He disarmed me and I fell on the ground.
My hair was wet from sweat. He gave me a hand and helped me to stand.
"Someone is eager."
He smirked. I gave him a look oh-hell yeah-you-god-damn-cheater. He laughed, but agreed to show me more of this tehnique. I was happy to learn. I was happy to improve my self. And I was glad he was a really good teacher.
By the end of the day, I was totally exhausted. He was tired to. I could say that by his eyes that were now read. He always had a tired look, but I knew he was now tired for real. He wasn't standing tall anymore. His back were lightly bent into a barely recgonizable letter 'C'.
"That's enough for today."
He said. I pouted. Not on purpose. He laughed at me and I felt embaressed. My cheeks heated up.
"You are childish."
He said. I wasn't sure if he meant it in a good way or bad way. Maybe both. Or maybe he just said that because he wanted to. Not that he necessarely cared.
"At least I don't cheat."
I complained. He chuckled. Only now I noticed how certain wrinkles form uniquely around his eyes.
"That wasn't cheating. That was-"
He suddenly stopped and froze in place. He looked like he saw a ghost. Like he went into a completely different world.
"Morpheus? Are you all right?"
I asked him. He did not reacted. I repeated his name louder this time.
"Morpheus!"
He looked at me. His gaze was now cold and sharp. He clenched his jaw lightly and looked away from me.
"Excuse me. The Night Mother calls for my aid."
I just nod. He disappears from the room and goes to the coffin which was always opened. It was disgusting in a way.
I sigh and put every weapon in it's place. I feel my muscles are tired so I just proceed towards the section where are placed all of out sleeping rooms including mine.
It was nightime currently. The only one still awake were me and Morpheus. And Babette, but she is probably outside hunting or whatever. All the 'normal' people were sleeping at this time. And all the normal people were sleeping at the time Morpheus waked me up in the morning. If four am can be called morning.
I nervously rub my eyes, knowing that I slept only five or four hours. I see two orange orbs looking at me.
"What the hell..?"
I ask, still half sleepy. But Morpheus' harsh voice wakes me up immidiatley.
"Get up, skeever. We have an important contract."
And he leaves my room. How did he even got in? I am pretty sure I locked the doors. Did he say we? What on earth is that Orc/Nord planning?