Lying on her back with an arm supporting her head, Kaja relaxed under the vast expanse of azure above her. Clouds scuttled across the sky, the sun breaking out from behind them in glorious bursts of light. Leaves fell in herald of the coming winter, and Kaja sighed, taking in the autumnal beauty that surrounded her. The leaves that still clung to the near-naked branches above her fluttered, dancing in the soft breeze.
It was nearing midday, the sun climbing to its highest vantage, and Kaja had been lazing under the sky since she had woken that morning. Times such as these were hard to come by, and Kaja was appreciative of the chance to disappear into the forest and spend some time in solitude.
Kaja wished she could spend the rest of the day in the same way, but if she didn't return soon, she was all too aware she would be missed. Reluctantly, Kaja stood and reached for her bow, stowing it in its usual place on her slim shoulders. The weapon was her prized possession; crafted by her people deep in the forests of Valenwood it was decorated with intricate carvings etched into it.
Following the same overgrown path she had used on the journey in, Kaja headed back towards the city of Riften. Situated towards the south of the province, it was one of the few regions that did not have constant snowfall. Its climate was much more mild, if often a little overcast, and Kaja relished not being frozen to the bone constantly.
Reaching the main gate, she nodded in greeting to the guards as she passed. She had called Riften home for a nearly three years now, and it was one of the few places she felt comfortable in. The noise and bustle of the market reached her ears, along with the faint scent of saltwater that wafted in on the breeze. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, inhaling the smell, suddenly reminded of the day she'd taken her first steps into Riften.
She'd seen no more than sixteen winters, and had come to Skyrim a fresh-faced young Bosmer seeking fulfilment and excitement. Within a matter of hours of arriving, she'd had her purse cut, belongings stolen, and was left penniless on the street. Welcome to Riften.
Smiling slightly at her innocent naivety, Kaja turned down a shadowed alley, heading for the secret entrance that lead to the sewers beneath the city. Glancing over her shoulder to ensure she was not being observed, she pushed the small button that activated the mechanism put in place to open the sliding door. A narrow staircase was revealed, and Kaja hurried down it, the door sliding smoothly shut behind her.
She emerged in an underground tavern, long shadows flickering over the walls from the torches light. Tables were spread out in front of the bar, occupied by men and women all in the same simple leather armour that she herself was garbed in.
"Hey, Kaja, nice of you to join us," called out one of the men as he noticed her arrive.
"Good to see you too, Rune," Kaja said with an amused smile. Out of everyone in the guild, Rune was always the first to tease her. When she'd first been recruited, he was the one who had taken a liking to her and shown her the ropes. They'd bonded quickly and she now considered him almost akin to a brother.
"Where've you been this time? I still think you've got some kind of secret lover you're always with," Rune said, a cheeky smile lighting up his deep brown eyes.
Kaja snorted in derision. Chance would be a fine thing. "Rune, you got it. I'm secretly married. Do you want to see a picture of my children?"
Laughing, Rune crossed the room and embraced her. Kaja hugged him back fiercely; she always felt safe in his arms.
"Hey, Kaja." The voice came from the shadows; Vex stood against the wall in her usual spot, one leg resting against it. "Brynjolf wants to see you."
Kaja nodded in response. Her and Vex had a relationship based on mutual respect, and although they were not the best of friends, they got on amicably enough. During her first few months with the guild, Vex had treated her with distain, making it obvious that she didn't believe Kaja belonged with them. After some time, Vex seemed to warm slightly to her, but the two women were never fated to be close.
Kaja found Brynjolf in his usual place: pouring over some complex blueprints in the cistern. Since he had reluctantly taken over leadership of the guild the previous year, after Mercer Frey had left suddenly without warning, Brynjolf had spent most of his time in the cistern. She hadn't seen him enjoying a tankard of mead in the Ragged Flagon in months, and he was looking more stressed with each passing day.
Brynjolf didn't seem to notice her enter; his brow was furrowed as he focused intently on the papers spread out before him. Kaja hovered awkwardly in the doorway for a minute before speaking.
"You wanted to see me?" she said, her voice echoing in the silent room. Brynjolf jumped, almost knocking over the bottle of ink on the table.
"Divines, lass, those feet of yours are light!" Brynjolf said, his accent softer than most Nords.
"Well, I'm in the right profession then," Kaja smiled back.
Brynjolf nodded in agreement. "Indeed you are, lass. Now, down to business. I'm sorry to ask this of you, but I'm as close to desperate as I've ever been."
Kaja raised an eyebrow; if Brynjolf was worried, something was definitely wrong. He was probably the least uptight person she'd ever encountered.
Brynjolf continued. "Rumours have been spreading, and whispers have reached my ears of something I hoped I would never hear. Does the name Karliah mean anything to you?"
Thinking about it, Kaja had a vague recollection of the name. "I think I remember hearing Delvin mention that name once, long ago. Vex hushed him quickly, though. I didn't know who they were talking about but I got the impression there was some bad blood there."
"Aye, bad blood there is, lass. Karliah was in the guild around the same time I joined. We grew close, often doing jobs together. I had her back and she had mine. Well, I thought so. I'm still not sure why or even how it happened, but she ended up murdering the Guildmaster at the time. Gallus was a good man, and he didn't deserve such a fate. Karliah went into hiding after that, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of her for these past seven years."
Kaja carefully considered the information she had been given, taking time to process it. "If she is alive, what does it matter? She's had almost a decade to act, and hasn't so far. She doesn't seem to be much of a threat."
"I underestimated her once. I don't want to do it again. She's dangerous and manipulative and I need to find out if she truly is alive."
"So where do I come into this?"
"You're the only one capable of the job I need you to do that's not emotionally involved. Vex and Delvin, they're... sensitive about this. Personal feelings can cloud judgement and impair sense, and that's not something I want to risk."
"Just tell me what you want me to do, Bryn. You've all been good to me, and I want to help you now."
"I appreciate it, lass, and thank you. I need you to find out more about these rumours. My sources tell me Karliah was sighted near Winterhold. Some place called Snow Veil Sanctum. Go there, and find out if she's around. But watch out, Kaja. She's killed innocent people before, and she's more than willing to do it again."
Kaja hurried back to her chambers, mentally listing the items she was going to take with her. Throwing a selection of potions and other supplies into her pack, she opened her wardrobe and pulled out her traditional Bosmer armour. Brynjolf had advised her not to wear the guild's armour as it would be much too obvious.
Her own armour was fashioned from tiny interlocking green scales that camouflaged the wearer amongst the foliage. The top stopped short of covering her midriff and was decorated with the teeth of the first wolf she had hunted as a youth, as was the Bosmer tradition. Her arms were left bare, and she covered her hands with fingerless green gloves trimmed with gold. On her legs went pants made from woven strips of the strongest leather and soft boots that muffled the sounds of footsteps.
Kaja ran her hands over the familiar garments, admiring the supple leather and smooth scales. She had missed wearing it, and was glad that she had the opportunity now.
Shouldering her bag, she swept her eyes over the room one last time and left. She was going to leave straight away as Brynjolf had instructed. He'd also made her swear she would tell no one of her quest, and she had given her word. Still, Kaja found herself stopping by Rune's chambers.
"Hey, you got a second?" Kaja asked, leaning against Rune's doorframe.
Rune looked up from cleaning his vast collection of daggers. He stared at her for a second, not used to seeing her in full Bosmer dress. "Of course. What do you need?"
"Nothing. I'm going away for a while and I just wanted to say goodbye."
"I see. Where are you going so suddenly?"
"I can't talk about it, Rune, so don't ask. There's something I have to do; I'll be back soon. Maybe in a fortnight or so, I'm not sure."
Standing up, Rune frowned at her. His eyes, usually so playful, were narrowed in confusion. "Why so secretive? What's happened?"
"Nothing, I swear. I just have something to do, and I wanted to say goodbye before I left. That's all. It's personal."
Although Rune's face did not change, he nodded slowly. "Okay. But be safe. Nocturnal guide you, Kaja."
Dipping her head and murmuring her thanks, Kaja left the room. As she walked through the Flagon, she glanced back at her friends sat at the tables. She was grateful to them for taking her in when she had nothing, and was glad to be able to do something for them.
The sky had gradually filled with clouds of grey during the course of the day, and it looked very overcast as Kaja slipped through the secret entrance. The air was mild, warm almost, and Kaja guessed it was mid afternoon. With a few good hours of daylight left, she began her long trek to Winterhold.
Her journey would take her north through The Rift, Eastmarch and The Pale before she would reach Winterhold hold. Travelling from the bottom of the province to the top would take a good week's walk through dangerous territory, and Kaja was glad of her bow.
Leaving the city, she began to follow the path northwards through the autumnal forest. The ground before her was littered with trampled leaves that crunched slightly underfoot. This region of The Rift reminded Kaja somewhat of her home in Valenwood. Although she was fiercely loyal to the guild and would never leave them, she always felt a small rush of longing whenever her thoughts turned to home. She missed the feel of the ground beneath her bare feet and the ease of which she could travel through the dense forest.
When she had first arrived in Skyrim, she was surprised at how plain the native Nords appeared to her. With her ebony hair braided back on one side in the fashion of the Bosmer and her ears pierced multiple times, she stood out painfully against the sandy haired humans. They seemed to regard her with distrust, but she supposed they were naturally suspicious of mer after years of Thalmor oppression.
Crossing the rocky and uneven terrain of The Rift took much longer than Kaja had previously anticipated. She was almost a full day's walk from its northernmost border as the sun began its descent from the sky. Deciding to save her energy rather than carry on into the night, Kaja scouted around for a suitable tree that she could rest in. She had never understood the Nord's penchant for sleeping on the ground, preferring to nest between some high branches as she had done all her life. Sleeping in a bed had taken some getting used to.
After settling down in the branches of a sturdy oak, Kaja dipped into her pack and retrieved a hunk of bread and an apple, slightly bruised from the journey. It wasn't a very substantial meal, but it took away the pangs of hunger she had been feeling. Washing it down with a few sips of water, she lay back against the trunk, running her fingers over the rough bark.
The moons rose quickly in the black sky, huge orbs that shone brightly in the darkness. The stars were out clearly tonight, and Kaja could see them through the gaps in the leafy canopy above her. As a small girl in Valenwood, Kaja had been fascinated by the stars, learning their names and staying up late to watch them. This interest was still with her in adulthood, and she fell asleep searching the skies.
