1. This Way Out
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"She's single-handedly responsible for restoring the Thieves Guild's fortunes across Skyrim, she is."
"Dragonborn. Dragon slayer. How many is it?"
Ta'aj flicked an ear and sampled her drink thoughtfully. "Eight? But I generally have help, you know."
Etienne waved that off. "And she can kill someone just by Shouting at them. I saw that with my own eyes: three hulking frost trolls, boom! Flying like rag dolls. This after just waltzing through the Thalmor Embassy."
"I'm more impressed that she can face down Maven Black-Briar and live to tell the tale." Vekel spoke dryly.
The murmur of gossip from the recruits and vendors carried on.
". . . Daedra . . . thanes . . . tombs . . . invisible . . . archer . . .giants . . .Azura . . . Greybeards . . . Foresworn . . ."
The Khajiit finished her drink and nodded to Vekel.
"I'll be off. As Brynjolf is so fond of saying, I've got something important to do." Pulling her hood up, Ta'aj Shadowwalker, Master of the Thieves Guild, Dragonborn, Nightingale, beloved of Nocturnal, favored of Hircine and Azura, Bard, Master Smith, Thane of Riften, Whiterun, Solitude and Markarth, slayer of dragons, who walked unscathed out of Cidhna prison mine and on the way to personally wiping out the entire Foresworn nation, strode quickly to the back of the Ragged Flagon and into the passage concealed in the storage closet.
Vekel polished a glass and began counting down under his breath.
Ka-dump-crash!
"Ow! Dammit!"
Bump-bonk-bang.
"Bleeding? I'm bleeding? What the fuck are we using for cleaning supplies here, caltrops and sharkskin?
The apprentices avoided each others' eyes as the tirade faded away and Vekel selected another glass, whistling.
"Who needs a special Thu'um to kill Alduin? I'll just knock him out of the sky with this bucket and beat him to death with a broom! Twin Moons above . . ."
.o0o.
A/N: Every time, people. Every. Damn. Time.