“This is most worrying,” Caius shook his head reading the scroll that Lucien handed him. “Yes, the ‘ex-prisoner’ must be who you think it is, but he didn’t report any attacks, so I suppose he either got lucky, or they started a bit late and switched to you very quickly. It isn’t about your renegade member – Rayenna, was it?” He shot a glance at Lucien who nodded. “No, this is much, much bigger…” He focussed on the scroll again. “I’m sure ‘H’ is King Helseth. He’s been trying to increase his influence for ages… At this point it seems that any disturbance in Morrowind would be in his interest, including a war of assassins…”

“Which he would of course quell and restore universal peace,” Lucien smirked.

“Quite.” Caius passed the scroll back to Lucien. “Hauk will need to be told, since he’s the ‘ex-prisoner’, even though the danger for him has passed. But he can then go back to Eno and report, and that will complete your mission.”

“Where is he?” Lucien winced involuntarily realising that going in search of Hauk would mean a lot of travelling, and his half-healed wounds were still bothering him. However, he needed to speak to Hauk himself. “I shall also need to wait until he’ll have spoken to Eno Hlaalu,” he pointed out.

Caius did not object. “Actually, he is in Balmora,” he winked and handed Lucien a note with a name of a healer, and Lucien knew that it would be more than just common Restoration magic.

…

“Nice place you have here,” Lucien was sitting on the roof terrace of Hauk’s house in Balmora, and Hauk had seen him from a good distance away. “Hello.”

“Come in,” Hauk motioned Lucien to follow and unlocked the door, grateful that his friend did not take the liberty of breaking in and waiting for him inside. “I have a bath in the basement,” Hauk said in passing, noticing Lucien wince as he turned. “And did Caius..?”

“Yes,” Lucien nodded. “The healer. But that’s not why I came to see you.” The seriousness in his voice stopped Hauk in his tracks. “King Helseth is trying to trigger a war of assassins,” Lucien said without a preamble. “You tell Eno that. He’s got an army of so-called ‘Dark Brotherhood’ assassins in the ruins under his palace in Mournhold. They may not be Dark Brotherhood, but they are well armed, well armoured and well trained. This would be very bloody. Tell Eno not to fall for the provocation.”

“So this has nothing to do with Rayenna, then?” Hauk wanted to be sure.

“Nothing,” Lucien nodded. “There is a woman in Ald Sotha that calls herself the Night Mother of Morrowind, and it was apparently she who entered into a contract with the King. I don’t know what her role really is, but she sounds like a recruitment agent. Eno may want to take care of her.”

“Very well.” Hauk was making mental notes. Then, realising that Lucien was finished with his message, he delivered one of his own. “Your father sends his regards.”

Lucien froze for a moment, then relaxed, looking puzzled, if anything. He did not need to pretend with Hauk. “I am glad he is well,” he finally said. “Anything else?”

“The Salvel ancestral tomb is inside the Ghost Fence,” Hauk said matter-of-factly. “He didn’t think it was time yet, but he did ask me to tell you about it. That would be the place to meet.” He watched Lucien’s face, then added: “Some day.”

Lucien nodded. They sat in silence for a while.

“What’s next with Rayenna though?” Hauk got up and started putting food and drink on the table. The topic of Rayenna was less of a strain for both of them.

“Well, she’s still a danger, and you never know what Mephala has in store for her,” Lucien shrugged. “We still need to find her, but it is more of a personal issue now.”

“Can I kill her now?” Hauk asked impatiently. “Since she has nothing to do with the threat of the war of assassins?”

“Please do,” Lucien smiled.

…

“Where are you staying?” Hauk was watching Lucien wince again and again. “That wound has reopened.”

“The Eight Plates I suppose,” Lucien shrugged.

Hauk shook his head. “Wait here.”

He got up and left the house.

…

“Optio,” a Dunmer greeted Hauk in a spacious hall dimly lit with red oil lamps. Hauk could have sworn that the Dunmer paled.

“I need to see your Master,” Hauk smiled.

…

“Optio,” Ethasi Rilvayn repeated the greeting when Hauk walked into her room. “We have received instructions from the Grandmaster. What assistance may I offer you?”

“A friend of mine requires secure accommodation while he is recovering from a wound with internal bleeding,” he beamed at Ethasi. “His father is a Brother with your order.”

“But?” Ethasi sensed trouble.

“He is a Dark Brotherhood Speaker.”

“And you believe that accommodation at a Morag Tong Guildhall would qualify as ‘secure’ for one like himself?” Her laughter was viciously sharp. “Pray, bring him in.”

“I am serious,” Hauk insisted. “He is in Morrowind on a mission vital to both your organisations. Should he be harmed, you will have more than the wrath of your Grandmaster to contend with. I have to travel to Vivec as soon as possible, and I have to be sure of his safety.”

The seriousness of Hauk’s tone, his reputation and track record of the last 30 years, and the orders from the Grandmaster to offer him every assistance, all weighed on Ethasi. As uncomfortable as she was with allowing a member of the Dark Brotherhood to set foot in their Guildhall, she felt she could not refuse.

“Very well, on your head be it,” she hissed through her teeth. “But only for as long as absolutely necessary!” She glared at Hauk. “He leaves as soon as he can ride! We’ll even get him a horse!” She glared again, as if she was offering to procure a tame daedroth. “And he’ll need to clear the room he’ll be staying in!” She added with an afterthought. “It’s a very secure room, and we will even remove the corpse for his convenience afterwards,” she smiled. “What is his name?”

“Lucien Lachance,” Hauk beamed at her. “And thank you.” He turned to leave.

“What?!” Ethasi paled, her rage nearly boiling over. “He!! Never!!”

“Is there a problem?” Hauk turned around to face her again. “Or do I need to ask Eno to post a bodyguard for Azarath’s son?”

Ethasi was torn. She did not want to disobey the orders of their Grandmaster Eno Hlaalu, for that would not only mean her removal from the post of Master but possibly removal from Nirn as well. She also did not want to cross Azarath Salvel, a Morag Tong Brother with a long standing reputation… But to allow Lucien Lachance into her Guildhall… Lucien Lachance, the very assassin who cost her many a member and several targets… a man she considered her archenemy… a son of Azarath Salvel? No! Impossible! But what if it was true nonetheless? And his mission… She’d heard rumours of another war of assassins being stirred up, she knew that both Morag Tong and the Dark Brotherhood would try to avoid it… Then, what if… What if this wretched Imperial Speaker was in fact involved in that very mission and got wounded in the process? In which case it would be her duty to offer him every assistance… By the ancestors! How was she to know what to do?!

Hauk was watching Ethasi’s face waiting for her to make the right decision.

“He won’t abuse your hospitality,” he said softly. “His wife in Cyrodiil is in the final month of pregnancy, he will be eager to leave as soon as he possibly can.” Ethasi’s face softened at this but she was still hesitating. “And of course Eno will hear of your incredible gesture of good will.”

“Oh all right,” she finally gave in. “Have him come in. I guarantee his safety,” she sighed.

A Dunmer outside the door took his ear from the keyhole and sighed a sigh of relief.

…

Of course Lucien could not believe his ears when Hauk told him that he’d arranged lodgings for him at the Morag Tong Guildhall.

“I don’t think that nixhound meat and kwama eggs agree with your constitution,” he looked at Hauk in bewilderment. “Have you gone mad? They’ll slit my throat at the first opportunity!”

“They won’t, but you will need to slit a few throats to clear the room you’ll be staying in,” Hauk was serious. “They will protect you, assist with healing and even get you a horse to take you home. Alive,” he added, just to be sure. “Your father’s name carries weight in this organisation,” he grinned.

Lucien shook his head but agreed after some consideration. If Hauk thought it would be safe, he had nothing to worry about.

…

Lucien’s stay with Morag Tong in Balmora was indeed safe and largely uneventful. The fact that he had to kill another Morag Tong member locked in the room they reserved for him was a bit peculiar, but Lucien chose not to worry about it. The infusions that they gave him were effective, if also mildly sedative, and it didn’t take long before Lucien was ready to leave.

“Ride to the Shadow Pass,” a Dunmer handed the reins of a Bay horse to Lucien. “You’ll need to cross the mountains into Cyrodiil through a cavernous passage, you can’t take a horse through there anyway,” he continued his instructions. “Let the horse go, she’ll make her way home,” he patted her. “You’ll come out not far from Malada. There you’re on your own.” He watched Lucien mount the horse and check his map. “Good luck, brother,” he added softly.