Life was perfect. Silver was the Guildmaster of the legendary Thieves Guild of Skyrim. The Guild was thriving and there was plenty of gold to go around. No one had any reason to be upset. Or at least, that was how it should be. It wasn't though. Silver was not a happy person, and it was beginning to show.
She stalked through the Flagon toward Delvin from the Ratways. She had taken to using that entrance over the one in the Cistern. It was easier to avoid him that way, but she avoiding thinking about that. In fact, she avoided thinking about him altogether. It was easier like that.
Delvin looked up at her when she approached the table where he sat. "Well, hello there, Guildmaster. What can I do for you?" The older man asked her.
Silver dropped a small pouch on the table next to his drink. He opened it and nodded when he saw its contents. "The mark decided to keep his most precious item in his purse. He seemed to think it was safer that way. He was wrong." For a brief moment, a shadow of her old, sly grin crossed her face before disappearing. "Send the rest to the treasury." The purse was fairly full, and while it wasn't a large sum, it would still help to fill the coffers.
Delvin nodded and pocketed the purse before gesturing to the mug in front of him. "Why don't you sit down and have a drink. You've been runnin' nonstop since you became Guildmaster."
Silver looked at the mug and food on Vekel's counter longingly. She really was hungry and a little tired, but the longer she stayed, the more of a chance she had to run into him. Apparently she didn't make her decision fast enough, because Delvin called for another bowl of stew and something to drink. With a reluctant sigh, Silver sank into her seat.
As soon as the stew was placed in front of her, she realized that she was hungry. She shoveled spoonfuls of soup into her mouth so fast that even Delvin seemed impressed. He let out a whistle that caused other heads in the Flagon to turn her way. She shot him a deadly glare but continued to eat regardless. Vekel placed another bowl in front of her as she finished the first one and she jumped into it without slowing down. When she did finish, she sat back and sighed with content. You wouldn't think that food made down here would taste good, but Vekel could work magic.
"Well, you were hungry." Delvin noted in an amused tone.
Silver rolled her eyes at him. "Bravo, Del. I never would never would have noticed." Her words held little bite to them though. It was hard to stay upset with Delvin Mallory.
Delvin laughed again and leaned back in his chair. He studied her for a moment, his eyes obviously searching for something. She knew he had found it when he took one more deep drink from his mug before setting it down and folding his arms thoughtfully. Silver decided that she didn't feel like waiting for him to get around to talking. "What is it Del? You have that 'I'm looking into your soul for a very good reason but you won't like it' look." He did that to people whenever he had advice to give.
Delvin shrugged. "You aren't as playful as you used to be is all. I haven't heard a witty comment come out of your little mouth for weeks. Come to think of it, I've barely seen you around." Silver didn't say anything and just stared at him. "You come in only for long enough to grab a few jobs and then you're gone. Why?" Delvin asked her. It wasn't in an accusatory way, which she was grateful for. She didn't want to seem like she was abandoning the Guild. She opened her mouth to reply, but Delvin held up his hand to stall her. "Don't say it's for the Guild. We're doing just fine." He gestured to the Flagon around them. They were doing fine. The merchants had returned and the atmosphere seemed much happier than it used to be.
Silver sighed. "I feel more useful in the field, Del. Besides, I have sticky fingers."
Delvin nodded, but replied, "That's true. Your fingers are little magnets, but that ain't the reason you're gone from your Guildmaster duties so much. Tell the truth." Now Delvin was leaning forward in his seat to look at her. His eyes weren't judging her, but she knew that he would be disappointed if she lied.
Silver cast her gaze around the Flagon for a few long moments, trying to put it into words. She knew why, but how was she supposed to explain it to Del without him thinking she was insane. She was about to say something when he strolled into the Flagon. He moved so softly that his feet didn't make a sound, but to her it sounded like thunder with every step. She stiffened immediately and her eyes darted around the room, looking for a good excuse to leave without looking too suspicious. Unfortunately his eyes found hers and she was trapped.
"Hey, Bryn! Sit and have a drink with us." Delvin invited the Guild's second in command with a friendly wave. Brynjolf's eyes didn't leave hers as he replied, speaking to her instead of Delvin.
"Sorry lass, I've got important things to do. We'll speak another time."
Those sentences, ones she had memorized from the number of times she had heard them, echoed in her head. She closed her eyes and nodded to him. If she looked at him again, she would start crying. After a few seconds she felt him turn around and walk swiftly back to the Cistern. She kept her eyes closed for a few more moments, composing herself, before opening them. When she did she saw Delvin sitting back in his chair nodding thoughtfully to himself.
"That's why I'm not here to do my Guildmaster duties, Delvin. Brynjolf's got it covered. He doesn't need me to get in his way." Silver tried to control her voice, but she could hear the bitterness in it. "He has important things to do, I wouldn't want to keep him from them. Besides, like you said, everything is doing fine. No one needs me to do anything, so I might as well go on jobs." Delvin didn't say anything, but she could almost see the gears turning in his head. With an inward sigh she asked him and Vex for jobs before leaving the Guild on silent feet.
