Chapter 57: On the Road to Ruin II
"It is no trouble, I hate people like them and love nothing more than putting them in their place. I go by Silvantus Malborne. I command the Dragon's Maw Mercenary Company. And it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." I say with a charming smile, causing the girls to glare at me.
"The pleasure is all mine, Commander. If there is anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask." Suvaris says with a smile before starting to leave.
"Actually, do you mind taking my companions to go and buy some supplies, from a less prejudice store, while I take care of some business?" I ask her.
"Not a problem, sera. It will be my pleasure. Come along." Suvaris says motioning to the girls. Who look to me before I nod prompting them to go.
And as they depart I head into Candlehearth Hall, where the bartender offers me a drink, but I ignore them and head upstairs to get another recruit. A grizzled Nord mercenary with a shaved head, in heavy steel armor with an iron great sword leaning against his chair stares at me.
"Somethin' I can help ya with?" Stenvar asks leaning back in his chair.
"Yes, I'm wanting to hire you into my mercenary group." I say.
"Sure, just gotta pay my fee. And I'm yours to crush your enemy's skulls." Stenvar says with a smile.
"Here you go. Follow me." I say handing him a pouch of 500 septims.
"Sure thing, Boss." Stenvar says chugging his drink and slamming it down on the table before hefting his sword onto his shoulder and following me out into the cold where I go down a dark street looking for Sofie, the orphan around this area of town.
She emerges from the shadows and asks with a frozen nose and ragged clothing, "W-would you l-like to b-buy some f-flowers? P-please?" Sofie stutters through chattering teeth.
"Sure little one, what do you have?" I ask with a reassuring smile before pulling out a spare cloak and wrapping it around her.
"T-thank you mister. I don't have much, but I hope you like them!" Sofie exclaims happily before showing me her poultry basket of flowers.
"I'll take them all, but what are you doing selling flowers out in this weather?" I ask, handing her a pouch of 10 septims.
"They… They're dead. My mama died when I was little… I… I don't remember her very well. My father was a Stormcloak soldier. One day, he left and… Didn't come back. I'm all alone… I… I try to sell flowers so I can buy food. It's not much but… What else can I do?" Sofie starts to sniffle and get choked up.
I pat her shoulders until she stops crying before asking, "I could adopt you, if you'd like?"
"A-are you sure, do you have a place for us to stay?" Sofie asks hopefully.
"Yes, it may be a temporary place, but it's much warmer and friendlier than here. I promise." I reply with a smile.
"Thank you! I promise I'll be the best daughter ever! When can we leave?" Sofie asks happily taking my hand.
"I'll be sending you there with Stenvar and one of Papa's friends. Papa has to take care of some business but I'll be back as soon as I can. But you'll have time to get to know your siblings." I tell her leading her to Sadri's shop.
"Siblings? Am I going to have a brother or sister? Or both?" Sofie asks happily skipping as we walk.
"Both, I'm planning to get your brother before you leave." I say going into Sadri's shop with Sofie bounding around happily.
"Papa, is this pretty lady my new mama?" Sofie says walking over to Sofia who begins blushing.
"What?! Silvy! Where do you keep getting these children from?!" Sophia exclaims in shock.
"She would also like to know how big of a family you are trying to create!" M'rissi says rather pointedly while Kasia seems to be lost in thought counting supplies.
"Would you be mad if I said as big of a family I could get away with having?" I say with a smirk before rubbing her ear between my fingers distracting her long enough to tell Sophia and Stenvar, "Mind staying here and watching Sophie for a moment. I have one more orphan to adopt before we move on."
"Sure thing boss." Stenvar says.
"O-okay, but be quick… Um… Know any games…" Sophia agrees hesitantly before turning to Sophie.
"I know plenty Mama!" Sophie says before dragging Sophia around.
"W-wait, I never said I was your Mama!" Sophia exclaims in shock to an oblivious Sophie who drags her around to play some game or another.
And with that I head out before M'rissi can regain her senses. Slipping away to the Aretino residence residence before quickly picking the lock and going inside.
Once inside I can hear Aventus still performing the Black Sacrament.
"Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear." Aventus says, while repeatedly stabbing a dagger into a corpse.
"Boy, you can stop the ritual. The task has been completed and the old crone lies dead." I tell him as I emerge from the shadows of the doorway that separates us.
"You did? Really? This is the best news I've ever gotten! I mean, I knew the Dark Brotherhood was good… Just not that good! You killed the old hag before I even asked!" Aventus exclaims in joy before dancing around, before realizing something, "Oh yeah, payment. Here, it's an heirloom of my family. Please take it!" He says handing my a silver platter that stings a little as I take it and set it in my bag.
"Thank you, but what is it you plan to do now?" I ask as if I don't already know he plans to go back to the orphanage.
"Well… As much as I hated being sent to Honorhall, I really miss my friends there… And Constance Michel was always nice to us." Aventus says after some thought.
"You could do that… Or…" I say trailing off.
"Or what?" Aventus asks intrigued by what I have to say.
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Lemon_Square
Lemon_Square Thank you everyone for your support! I have built up a good amount of backlog and decided to give a bonus chapter to you all! Still working on getting my original novel ‘End Times: My Apocalypse System’ contracted so if you could give it a read and see if it is to your liking I’d greatly appreciate it, but know that regardless of getting contracted or not, there’s still plenty of work for me here on my favorite personal work.
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