Maris jumped own off her horse as they drew near to Dawnstar. The ride had been uneventful and somewhat slow. She patted the horse's hind leg.
"Go on Shadowmere, you know where to go." She said. The horse complied and wandererd off. Dawnstar was only small and because of it's positioning on the coast of Skyrim, it was always covered by a blanket of snow. it being summer, the snow was only light. Vilkas jumped down from his horse and stretched. It had been nothing but constant riding but it meant they had made it to Dawnstar in good time.
"I have something to do but the inns over there, you can't miss it." Maris said, pointing down one of the roads.
"Listener!" Came a voice from behind them. Maris hardly had a chance to turn around before a short, red haired man leaped at her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.
"It's been too long since poor Cicero has seen you listener..." He cooed. Maris smiled and lovingly stroked his hair.
"Hello Cicero." She said softly.
Cicero... For some reason that voice sounded familiar to Vilkas. His mind fell back to the journals that Maris was reading. It was now that he realized that that was the name on the cover. He looked at the man. He was only slightly taller then Maris and he wore a red and black jester's outfit, though he didn't seem to be one. Maris pulled away and kissed the mans forehead lightly.
"How has everything been while I've been away?" She asked.
"Lonely without you, sweet listener, Nazir doesn't treat Cicero as well as you." He muttered. Maris smirked and tucked a stray hair behind his ear. Her eyes where soft and loving. Vilkas tried to hide the snarl that came to his face. He couldn't help but question the relationship between them. Maris had never mentioned having a lover before... Then again, she never spoke about herself at all. He was sure that this man wasn't a person Maris would choose... But she was being very affectionate towards him. Broul rested his head against Vilkas. Vilkas scowled down at the bear, already tired of it's presence. Cicero's eyes fell upon Vilkas and he looked back to Maris, his orange eyes filled with concern.
"He isn't a wolf is he Mistress? Cicero is wary of wolves. Astrid had a wolf and that wolf tried to kill poor Cicero..." He whimpered. "Cicero doesn't want another Mistress with a wolf."
Vilkas glared at Maris.
"I didn't tell him." She snapped. "He just tends to know that kind of thing."
"Cicero can see it in his eyes, they're the same as Arnbjorn's eyes. Cold and harsh and grey." Cicero scowled.
"Arnbjorn?" Vilkas asked. "How do you know that name? and what is a Listener?"
"Like i said..." Maris began.
"I get it!" Vilkas snapped. "There are allot of things i don't know!"
"Well, i have business to attend to. Just be cautious." Said Maris, patting the side of his face. "Riften isn't the only dangerous place in Skyrim and everything here may not be what they appear."
Vilkas swatted her hand away. "What do you think i am, an idiot?"
"No but you are gullible." Maris sneered. "I am only cautioning you!"
"Caution noted." Vilkas growled.
Maris sighed and headed down towards the shore, closely followed by Cicero and Broul.
Vilkas found himself in the tavern of the inn. There wasn't much else he could do while waiting for Maris to conclude what ever business she had. Oddly, he felt alone... He had always liked being alone but he had never felt lonely before. When had he gotten so used to Maris being there? He had to stop himself thinking like that. If he didn't he would find himself too deep to get out. The realization hit him that by telling himself not to think about it, it made him think about it more. When did this begin?
"Why didn't you ask Cicero!" Cicero exclaimed. "Cicero can act!"
Maris smiled and stroked his hair. "I know you can, Cicero." She purred. "But I have something important for you to do for me."
"Ooh! what is it Mistress! Cicero is happy to help! Cicero lives to serve his Listener." He chirped, adding a bow. Maris smiled softly. She couldn't help but wonder who this man really was. She had somewhat fallen in love with the idea and the mystery of the man before the jester but the only thing that remains of that man were the journals. The person she looked upon now, it was hard to believe they where the same. For some reason, even knowing everything that he had done, his enthusiasm and child like eyes made him seem innocent.
"I need you to take very good care if Broul for me, can you do that for me?" Maris asked.
"Yes mistress. Cicero can do that. He can and he will do that. It'll be like a sleep over... But with a bear..." He chirped. Broul, who was sat by Maris, tipped his head to one side.
"Thank you, Keeper." Maris smiled. Cicero imitated the bears posture and sat in front of him. Cicero pulled off his hat and placed it messily on the bears head. Maris chuckled at the bears placidity.
Suddenly a serious air fell upon her and she looked around. "Say, Cicero, have you seen Babette? I have a gem for her to send to Riften." She asked.
Cicero put his finger to his lip in thought, the bear copying. "Well she certainty isn't here." He shrugged.
"She has no contracts, where else could she have possibly gone." Maris hissed.
"She said something about being hungry and went to the inn." Cicero smirked.
"Everyone knows about her tricks, the only person stupid enough to fall for...Nocturnal damn that wolf." She hissed. "Stay here with Broul."
"Yes my listener!" Cicero called as Maris swiftly left.
As the day faded into evening, the light snow had become thicker. Maris pushed roughly on the doors of the inn and they opened with a creak. A flurry of snow flakes followed her as she entered and promptly melted in the hot and humid air. She looked over to the end table in the corner. There Vilkas sat beside a timid looking young girl, her green eyes glimmering in the light of the fire pit.
"Step away from him now before I drag you away myself, runt!" Maris hissed, her hand falling to the broad bladed rapier at her hip.
"Maris? What are you doing? She's just a child." Vilkas exclaimed.
"You really are a gullible lout!" Maris snapped. Vilkas looked upon the small brown haired girl. She was certainty a child... Suddenly, a mature air fell over her and she rested her cheek against her knuckles.
"I wasn't going to kill him... Not intentionally at least." Babette sighed. Kill him? What exactly was this girl? And how could she kill anyone?
"I placed a safe mark on him! Can you not see it! Did you even check!" Maris hissed. Babette furrowed her brow and concentrated on Vilkas. Her Green eyes seemed to darken and before he realized what was happening, a pair of bright purple eyes where looking upon him.
"Ah, I see the mark... I apologize mistress." Babette said. Mistress? Why was everyone calling her that? What was she the master of?
"Mark? What mark?" Vilkas exclaimed, touching his face with his fingertips.
"The one on your cheek" Babette said simply. "You won't be able to see it, it takes a certain magic."
Vilkas put his hand to his cheek. That must have been why Maris patted his face. He thought it was odd... Sneaky little...
"Why would I have to be marked?" Vilkas asked.
"It's probably best if you don't know that." Maris said bluntly. "Come now Babette, you can feed later on tonight, right now I require your assistance in a thrives guild matter."
"She's a vampire!" Vilkas exclaimed. "But she's so young..."
"Do you really believe that? I can guarantee that I have at least 260 more years under my belt then you." Babette said.
"But that's..." Vilkas spluttered.
"I told you that things in this town are never what they appear. You never listen to me." Maris hissed. She turned back to Babette. "I need your assistance."
Babette sighed and got to her feet. "Not the thrives guild again!" She sighed. "They are always so hard to work with."
Vilkas furrowed his brow and his scowl followed them until the door closed behind them. If she wasn't thieves guild then what was she? She plainly wasn't an ordinary little girl. If Maris was involved, it couldn't be a good thing. One name sprung to mind... The black hand... No, Maris couldn't possibly...
"Care for another drink, hansom?" The bar maid asked with a wink.
"I'll take an alto wine." He said.
"Don't worry about the tab, it's on the house." She smiled.