I laid low in Riften for a week, barely venturing out of my house except to see Haelga. I wasn't worried about being tracked down. It was simply a cause of caution and vigilance. My presence in Markarth would have been noticed, no matter how careful I was, and as I'd left the same day as Maro, and that man was now dead, those investigating his death would make assumptions.
No doubt Astrid would have heard the news, but after no sign of her coming to see me, I finally left Riften for the Sanctuary. After leaving my horse hidden as usual, I approached the black door to find Gabriella waiting for me. Although she didn't look concerned, the fact it was her waiting instead of Astrid worried me.
"There's been an incident," she said, barring my way inside.
I felt my stomach drop, my immediate thought being 'Not again!' "Astrid is fine," Gabriella added quickly, "Or, at least, she's alive. But... Follow me."
We walked into the bedroom to find Astrid fast asleep. Her top was off, her stomach covered in bandages. Her eyes opened upon sensing my presence, and I sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing her hand. "So I leave for a week and this is what happens."
She laughed for a moment before her face creased in pain. "Is it bad?" I asked Gabriella.
"It was a nasty wound, but she'll live."
Looking at Astrid, I stated, "I would know who did it." Not a question, as it was easy to figure out who. "Where is he?"
Gabriella disappeared, returning a few minutes later, holding a few diaries. "This will tell you everything, Ragnar. His thoughts prior to what happened. And, most importantly, it will tell you where he has gone. And we're all available to assist you if necessary. Many of us were happy to see the return of the Night Mother, perhaps a sign that our fortunes would improve. But none of us wanted this. No matter what happens, no matter if the Night Mother has returned, Astrid is and always will be our leader... At least until the time she decides to leave..."
Astrid had remained silent until then. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"Can you give me a few moments, Gabriella?" She dipped her head, and after closing the door, I looked back at Astrid. "He will die. But what set him off?"
She couldn't help smile. "I'll admit I probably provoked him a little. But the little bastard was faster than I imagined. He has talent with a dagger."
"I'll study these and leave first thing tomorrow."
"No, stay with me for a day. There's no rush."
"Are you sure?"
"Please, Ragnar."
I relented easily. I guess there was no rush, though my blood was up. Cicero would die. Despite the brave face, she was still in a lot of pain, so although she was healing, I brought her meals in bed, and otherwise stayed with her, mostly just to keep her company and her spirits up. She managed to turn onto her side so she could at least cuddle with me, and although she wanted to be intimate, even she admitted that she had to ignore her desires, at least for a little while.
It was nice spending an entire day in bed next to her. She wanted to know everything about taking down Maro, as although news had filtered back that he was dead, she wanted to know the details. I had no need to exaggerate. Astrid had never seen me work, but she didn't need to see it to know I was good. She was surprised Maro travelled alone, figuring I would have had to go through bodyguards to get to him.
"He died well," I said, "He faced me down like a warrior. And he died like one."
"Didn't think you cared about things like that."
"I don't usually. Things like honour mean little to me nowadays. But I can still look a man in the eyes and give him a good death."
"When you leave tomorrow, Ragnar, I want you to promise me something." She squeezed me, looking up into my eyes. "Come back to me. I'm not saying Gabriella's words are empty, but you are the only one I truly trust here now."
"I think we've talked about enough things that I'd fight Mehrunes Dagon himself to ensure I returned, Astrid."
"So you love me that much?"
"Well, helps that you're a beautiful and rather flexible Nordic goddess. Add the dangerous aspect of your personality and, well, I think it's easy to see why."
"I'll be honest. I just love your big cock." I could only burst into laughter as she went into great vivid detail about it and what it did to her. "Do you know what it is most, though? Despite what you do. Despite what you've done. You still have this... honesty, though perhaps that's just due to me."
"I lie all the time, except to you and Haelga. Well, I'll clarify Haelga knows about the Thieves Guild, but doesn't know about this. She probably has an idea that I'm up to no good, so simply doesn't want to know. Don't ask, don't tell. All she wants is a promise each time I leave that I will return. I haven't broken that promise yet."
I left early the next morning, Astrid managing to walk with me outside as I packed supplies onto the rear of my horse. I intended to make it north as quickly as possible. Astrid warned me that the Empire would have increased their patrols due to what happened, so suggested I avoid the main roads if I could. That would delay me, but there would be no doubt the army would be merciless. If they even minutely suspected someone, they'd find themselves in chains and escorted to the nearest cell.
The delays meant an extra night on the road, but I figured if Cicero was where I assumed, he would by lying in wait for someone to come find him. I wondered if he figured it would be me though. No doubt he would assume I would be an ally due to me being the Listener. What he wouldn't particularly know is that I didn't care about being that. My allegiance would always be to Astrid. It probably didn't help that I was intimately involved with her, but I'd rather take orders from her than a rotting corpse.
The door into the Northern Sanctuary was surprisingly out in the open. Not hidden at all. I hadn't asked around Dawnstar about it. I simply followed the coast until I found it. Dismounting my horse and leaving it, I approached the door. Just like Falkreath, the door asked a question before allowing me entrance.
"What is life's greatest illusion?"
"Innocence, my brother."
The place had been abandoned for centuries, at least according to Cicero's journals. Though abandoned, it was not empty, as I found myself encountering... Well, ghosts, to be honest. Ghosts who were not happy to see me. I thought they'd recognise me as Listener and part of the Brotherhood, but they chose to attack me instead. As I was busy fighting them off, I could hear Cicero from further inside, taunting me. All that did was incense me, clearing my mind, knowing I'd kill him for what he'd done.
