That's another city down! Damn, I'm good.

Thieving in Skyrim is a lot simpler than I imagined it would be. Gods know that the rest of the Bosmer in Valenwood don't look too kindly upon thieves. Gotta keep up with the upkeep of nature and the balance of life.

Piss on that.

I want to adventure. I want to steal across the world and make a name for myself. I want people to hear the name 'Kyari' and shudder, locking their doors and stowing away their treasures. I mean sure, I could work my way into the Dark Brotherhood, but murdering isn't for everyone. Wouldn't want to waste an arrow on some poor fishwife on the Riften docks. It's just not worth my time. But sneaking up to the fishwife and clearing out her pockets? Breaking into her ransack home and emptying her shelves simply because I can? That's what I want. Power over the lesser people.

I reach into my knapsack and pull out my map of this Skyrim place. It's a lot larger than I originally expected. Cyrodil was bad enough, with the Empire and their damn politics. Who has the time for that? Hitching ride after ride on the backs of carriages until I made it to the borders of Skyrim, Falkreath was my first target. I cleaned that place out easily. Horrible town, really. Nothing but doom and gloom but it made for easy thieving. Despair makes people a little less wary of outsiders, I guess.

Whiterun was next, and it was exponentially harder. Guards everywhere, salesmen everywhere, children everywhere...Gods, there were livestock everywhere! Chickens just...roaming the streets! It made for a challenge and I smile fondly in remembrance of each house I broke into, each pocket I picked and each guard I bribed. Funny how easily gold can change someone's mind. Money is power, or so I've heard. We'll see how it all pans out.

After Whiterun was Ivarstead. Another easy ransacking spot. Only two or three guards to the whole town, I took note. A few burly men who could have easily taken me out...but I'm too sneak for that. Wait for cover of nightfall, pick a few pockets, break a few locks and sweet talk in to some ridiculous sales. All it takes is the wink of an eye, a twirl of the hair and the bat of an eyelash. Easy.

And now, on the carriage ride to Riften, I inhale the cold, bitter, Skyrim air and smile. This is what I have strived towards. The home of the Thieves' Guild. I can't wait to see what kind of rag-tag team finds its place here. I bet I could steal from all of them without a second look. If they really are a decent guild, I'd bet they have treasure aplenty just waiting for my hands to wrap around it all. I stifle a laugh in the presence of the other passengers on the carriage and close my eyes for a bit, enjoying the voyage through the tundra.


An hour or so later, the terrain becomes less bumpy and I open my eyes. The sun is lower now, behind us as we make our way to the gates. I bite my lip to suppress a grin and my blood quickens in my veins. I cannot wait to see the city. Maybe I should make camp outside for the first night. Find a nice tree to climb and wait it out until morning. I'll need to rest up before my first heist, after all. I think on it, and change my mind. No, the inn should be suitable. A nice, warm bed and a belly full of wine helps anyone, thief or no. And a salmon steak sounds nice too. Maybe a sweet roll. I grin again as the carriage pulls off to the stables and people unload from the carriage.

I hang around, acting like I'm getting my things together. Once all of the other passengers are off and have paid their fee to the carriage driver, I slide up behind him, silent as a fox. He's counting out his coin, slipping it into his pocket. As he slips it in, I slip it out. It was only a 15 septim fee from Ivarstead to here, but every coin counts, right? 90 septims all together and I slip them into my purse, tying it tightly shut. I hope out of the carriage and begin towards the gate, but the carriage driver stops me.

"Oi there, elf, you didn't pay yet," he grumbles, holding out his hand to me.

I grin, turning around and adopting a perplexed expression. "I think you must be mistaken. I paid you back in Ivarstead. It was 15 septims. I left it in a pouch on your seat."

He cocks his head to one side. "You did? Ah damn..." he looks around, feeling under the seat for it.

"Oh bother, did someone manage to take it?" That someone being myself... I hold back a snicker as he nods solemnly.

"Aye, I think they did. Damn it all..."

I reach for my purse and pout my lips at him. "I can pay you again, if that's what you want."

He looks at me for a moment, then runs a hand through his hair, his cheeks reddening. "No no, that's fine miss. I wouldn't want you to have to pay twice. That wouldn't be fair. It's only 15 septims. I'll manage." He nods once, affirming his words.

"If you're sure," I coo, tying the purse shut again. He nods and waves goodbye to me as I near the gates.

So, so simple. Men are so predictable. 'Oh bother.' Pathetic, but so satisfying. I chuckle a bit as I open the gates to the city and stop as soon as I enter the streets. This place...is perfect. I smirk with delight as I look around the streets. Everyone looks so...downtrodden. Beaten down and depressed. Perfect! I should get through this city in less than a week, I think. I make my way into the square and take a moment to scan my surroundings. A few shops, a few back alleys, the Temple of Mara, the Jarl's place. And homes. So many homes both up here, and down on the water. This should be fun. Lots of places to hide, not that I'd need it. I've never been caught after all.

I look around the square now, sizing up the merchants and their stands. There's an armor stand, a jewelers, a vegetable cart over by the inn, and a few other stalls that don't look like they are worth my time. And then...one final stand with...potions? That's what it looks like. Six bottles of red liquid are lined up on the stand and a man in front with one bottle in his hand. A nord, most likely, with scarlet hair and a beard to match, Noble's clothing with a purse dangling from his hip. Hmm...my first target, perhaps?

I saunter around the merchants until I am on the outside of the square, watching people innocently as they flock towards the potion man. He gives some nonsense about a cure-all made from the blood of a troll and the venom of a hagraven or some other foolishness. These people believe that line? Oh, this city will be so simple to thieve...

One by one, they line up to purchase a bottle of this cure-all and I watch from the shadows, taking in the amount they are paying. 40, 50 septims a bottle? And seven people so far have bought one? Damn, this Nord is good. He is definitely my first target. As the customers stop coming, I start crouching, start sidling my way over to the potion stand. A few yards away, the Nord turns his back to me and starts stowing away his goods for a later date. Foolish move, you ginger-haired bastard. I bite my lip and inch towards him, his coin purse right in my view. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I reach out to untie his purse...

His hand slams down on my wrist and he squeezes, freezing my movements. I gasp, and make to move away from him, to run. Who is this man? How in Oblivion did he catch me? I...I've never been caught!

"Nice try, lass," he mutters, tossing my hand away from his purse.

What kind of accent is that? It's...unique. As is he. I stand, looking at him...staring, really. Why didn't he call the guards? Why didn't he try to knife me? What's going on?

"No, really. If you weren't so cocky when you came into town, you might've actually had me." He turns around and grins at me, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?" I bark. Asshole. Where does he get off?

He widens his eyes in mock offense and then quirks an eyebrow. "Me? Oh, I'm nobody, lass. If you count the second in command of the Thieves' Guild as nobody, that is." He shrugs, then leans forward, narrowing his eyes at me. "And who are you?"

I puff out my chest and place my hands on my hips. "My name's Kyari. Bosmer fresh out of Valenwood." This guy thinks his title is impressive? Wait until he sees me in action. Or...doesn't see me, I guess. I narrow my eyes right back at him and frown.

"Kyari. Aye well...you've got some skill, I'll give you that. What brings you to Skyrim then? To Riften?"

...What do I tell him? That I'm stealing my way across the province? That he was just another target? Just another pocket to pick?

I shrug nonchalantly. "Just passing through."

He laughs, a deep, dark kind of laugh that surprises me. The he looks at me and grins. "You expect me to believe that, when I've just caught your hand in my pocket? You take me for a fool, lass?"

I swallow. Damn. He's seen through everything I've done so far. He must be good. Maybe I underestimated the Thieves' Guild after all. I keep my expression even, determined not to give anything else away. I don't need to give him any more ammunition if he did decide to go to the guards.

"Well...let's take a look at you, then." He circles me, eyeing me over. Subconsciously, I tense. Is he checking me out? Once he starts to speak though, I think differently. "Well crafted leather armor, an ebony dagger on the hip and one in both boots, a beautiful, ebony bow on your back...and I'd say about 700 septims in your purse. That about right?"

My jaw drops. I have 734 septims...how did he know?

He chuckles. "I could hear the clink of it when you walked in the gates. Any thief worth his salt would be able to, lass." He comes full circle and leans against his stand, his posture relaxed. "A shoddy pickpocket though. That one's obvious."

I blink at him. "Excuse me?"

"You aren't as good as you think, Kyari." He chuckles, scratching the stubble on his chin. "Although...if you'd be willin' to hear out an offer, I'd be willin' to help you with that."

Now we're talking. I crack a smile and cross one leg over the other, hands in my pockets. "What did you have in mind?"

He runs his index finger over his bottom lip. "Ask me tomorrow. Go get some rest, and we'll see what we can work out," he comments before swiftly nodding, turning, and walking away.

What in the Gods name...? Who does he...? What is this? He's the second in command in the guild, he said. Catches me picking his pocket, though how he did escapes me, and doesn't call the guard. Blatantly looks me over and assesses my armor and weapons, offers me some work and when I take the bait, leaves without another thought?

This Nord is smooth. I give him an admiring look as he walks away, allowing my eyes to trace his body. Not bad for a human. I dust off my knees and head for the inn, eager to get some rest now that the sun is down. It smells of mead and smoke and I inhale deeply, welcoming the scents and sights of the Bee and Barb. What an odd name. I approach the owner and get a room key, heading straight to my room.

To my delight, there's a bottle of wine here. I crawl into a bed, taking a large swig of the bottle before kicking off my boots and setting the bottle to the side. I cross my arms behind my head and allow the sounds of the inn below to lull me to sleep.

((For anyone that's read To Make A Thief, I promise this will be different! New characters, new personalities and a spicy new storyline is cookin' in my brain! Stick around and see what's to come - I promise it'll be good!))