DESTINY UNRAVELED

CHAPTER TWO

2nd of Evening Star, 4E 201

All the sounds suddenly became quieter, less noticable.

There was Brynjolf and there was me in that moment only, each staring at the other. I stared into his forest green eyes, searching for any sign of despicable demeanor or ill intent. After all, it is not everyday someone straight-out comes to you and asks if you'd help them scam an innocent. It's something I'm used to doing, mind you - back home in Sentinel, I would scam merchants to secure food on the table. It just seemed different that time when Brynjolf proposed the idea; I felt somewhat guilty. However, as I watched him like so, I saw no trace of nervousness or hesitation. The man was almost indifferent at my possible decline but then again, he also seemed hopeful.

I weighed my options carefully.

"So" I said, "if I do this for you, you'll induct me into your Guild?"

He nodded with a grimace. "Not quite but close."

"Don't pull my leg, old man" I said. "I may be young but I'm not that gullible."

He sighed. "I'm not trying to humiliate you. Consider this a test of some sort - if you pass, you can proceed with the next step. If not..."

He needn't continue.

"Let's say I succeed" I said, "what then?"

"Succeed and I'll tell you" he said.

I then chuckled. "Very well, I accept then."

His eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah" I nodded. "I mean, it'll be...fun, right?"

He smiled gleefully. "I knew it - I knew that you were the one for this job."

I shook my head in slight disbelief as he briefed me enthusiastically on what I was supposed to do...

~•~

I crouched behind the crates on which the Dunmer merchant, called Brand-Shei as I eventually learnt, was sitting.

Soundlessly and unseen, I slipped a golden band I previously stole from the An Xileel jeweler's stall into the Dunmer's pocket. Once the ring was nested deep within his pocket, I glanced at Brynjolf and nodded. He smirked in return and dramatically dismissed the crowd.

"Sorry everyone" he shouted. "Time's up! I'll have something even better next time!"

The crowd rolled their eyes at his theatrics then turned their backs on the Nord as they returned to their day-to-day activities. Once the crowd dispersed entirely, I felt free to approach Brynjolf directly. He smiled as I came closer to him.

"Nicely done" he said in a hushed voice. "Don't take this the wrong way but I really didn't expect you to succeed. As of late, nothing seems to be going as planned for me."

"Meaning" I asked.

He frowned. "Let's just say our organization has hit rough patch as of late."

"Oh, I've heard about that" I teased. "Is it really as bad as they say it is?"

"Don't mention it" he waved it off.

"Very well" I said. "What now?"

"Now" he said, "you will have to figure out the rest of the path on your own. I'll wait for you in the Ragged Flagon, down in the Ratway. We'll talk about business there - if you get there."

"Once I get there" I corrected him.

"If you get there" he insisted. "Ratway is not that easy to get through. Good luck, lass."

With that said, the man curtly bowed to me and left on his merry way, leaving me alone at the market. I watched him walk towards the Temple of Mara, disappearing behind the said building. I lifted a brow but said nothing as I returned to the Bee and Barb somewhat satisfied with myself...

~•~

It was later that night that Keerava visited me in my room.

I was going through my stuff, packing what I need and throwing out that which had expired or was of no use anymore. She stood at the entryway, leaning on the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest.

"You haven't had dinner" she remarked.

I offered a guilty smile. "I wasn't hungry - sorry."

She waved it off. "It's alright. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something..."

I lifted a brow at her. "Go on."

She distanced herself from the doorframe and closed the door. Her expression was stoic, serious.

"Brynjolf asked you to join the Thieves Guild" she asked though it sounded more like a statement than actual question. "And you have accepted his proposal?"

I stood up straight, looking at her. "It seems like I'm not the first one to be asked that."

She shook her head, her maw stretching into a sarcastic grin. "No, you're not. A lad came to the city, not a month ago. Askar, he called himself. He wanted fortune and glory, and sought out the quickest way to achieve that goal."

I frowned but said nothing as she continued.

"The lad, like yourself, was asked by Brynjolf to scam one of the traders" she said. "He succeeded and was instructed to seek out their quarters in the Ratway."

"What happened to him" I asked, already assuming her answer.

"According to rumor and Brynjolf himself, the lad was in" she said with a chuckle. "However, it didn't last long - his body was found in the canal a week ago."

I remained silent.

"He wasn't the only one, just the latest" she continued. "Before him was a Breton named Damian, before him a girl from Summerset Isles, before her an egg-brother of mine who refused to listen to my advice..."

She then turned quiet as she came closer to me, resting her hands on my shoulders. I expected her palms to feel rough to touch but they were actually softer than I thought.

"I know that nothing I say can change your mind" she said. "I'll only ask you that you promise me to be careful and not end up with a slash across your throat."

I was taken aback by the seriousness in her voice. Speechless, I merely nodded in agreement and she nodded in return, a relieved smile on her face.

"Good" she said. "Now, do you need some help with packing?"

I took a look at my bag and thought what could she possibly help me with. With that said, I merely shook my head.

"I got it covered, don't worry" I said to her.

She nodded and let go of my shoulders, taking a step backwards. "Very well. I'll be downstairs if you need me."

Keerava then turned around and headed outside. She spared one final worried glance over her shoulder before closing the door shut. I remained standing in the silence alone, thinking of nothing in particular. After a short while, I continued to pack my belongings inside by bag. Once I was finished, I flung the bag over my shoulders and secured the straps beneath my breasts or where they might be.

Taking a look around, I checked if I missed something or left some stuff unpacked. I then headed towards the door when I suddenly stopped in my tracks. I didn't want to see them, Keerava and Talen-Jei, as I left. Call it cowardice or shame if you wish but I just couldn't waltz out of the establishment with them watching me taking the first steps into the life of larceny. So, instead of going through the front door, I opened the window of my room wide enough for me to slip through. I looked over the edge of the window and lept, disappearing in the darkness of the narrow streets of Riften...

~•~

It was my first visit to the Ragged Flagon.

The tavern was like any other, except being more...ragged. Hence the name, I suppose. A single bartender ran the whole place, but seeing only six people - seven including myself - occupying the entire space of the tavern, I figured the business down there was running low.

Quickly taking a glance around the place, I spotted Brynjolf's red hair near the bar. He was seemingly endorsed in conversation with other patrons. I made sure I didn't attract too much attention as I strolled around the wide pool of what I hoped was just water, making my way towards the tavern.

As I came closer, I could overhear bits and pieces of their conversation, which seemed to have been heated and repeated several times before.

"Give it up, Brynjolf" said the bartender solemnly. "There's no way that it's her."

"I never said that it's her" the man stressed in return. "But someone like her..."

"Come on, Bryn" said a blond young man dressed in leather armor. "Let's drink away those foul memories and think of tomorrow."

"If I'm right, our tomorrow will be much better than yesterday if she comes here" Brynjolf retorted, turning his back on the blond.

"Time to face the hard truth, old friend" the bartender said. "You, Mercer, Vex...You're all part of a dying breed. Things have changed..."

Brynjolf seemingly took a deep breath as he distanced himself from the bar and other patrons then turned around, finally noticing me. I smiled and curtly bowed my head as a sign of greeting to which the redhead grinned widely.

"Dying breed, eh" he said, nudging his head in my direction. "What do you call that then?"

He then walked over, folding his arms over his chest, facing me with a confident smile on his face. "Well, well. Color me impressed, lass."

"If this is what it takes to make you impressed" I said, "I wonder what would it take to make you speechless?"

"Easy, now" he said through a chuckle. "No need to get so ambitious."

I scoffed. "And here I thought this was an ambitious organization..."

The corner of his lips quirked at my sarcastic remark but Brynjolf contained his smile as he said, "Anyway, you came - congratulations!"

"Thanks" I said, "but I didn't almost crawl my way here just to chat."

"Of course" he agreed. "Well, I'll go set up a meeting with the Guild Master while socialize with others. I'll wait at the alcove over there."

He pointed towards the tunnels nearby then turned around and disappeared in the said tunnels. As I watched him distance more and more with each taken step, I heard a shift of footsteps that was getting louder and I turned around to see a beautiful Imperial woman glare at the retreating man with a scowl on her face.

"A word of advice - don't get too comfortable around him" she drawled. "Name's Vex, in case you've been wondering."

I nodded and said, "Ziiah - a pleasure."

The woman made a sound that could've been a sneer or scoff and said, "Save the politeness for those who care. Here, we care about coin and loyalty to the Guild."

As she said that, she beckoned me to follow her. We walked towards a patio resting atop the pool I circled around minutes earlier. Sitting at the tables were two women and man. Upon closer look, I noticed that one woman was actually a Bosmer. Vex stood near them and started pointing fingers.

"Tonilia" she said, pointing to the fellow Redguard. "She's our fence down here, and the first and last person you go to. Don't cross her and she might reward you with a discount."

The woman immediately scoffed and said to me, "Don't get your hopes up kid - I need the coin."

Vex then pointed at the scruffy looking blond man. "This is Dirge, the bouncer. He keeps rejected recruits away from the Flagon. You might've seen some of them on your way here."

As a matter of fact, I did indeed.

Dirge nodded his head in acknowledgment and raised his tankard in symbolic manner, before adding, "Welcome, new blood."

I smiled as Vex turned to the Bosmer. "This is Galathil. She is...well, let's put it this way. Want to change your face - go to her."

I looked at the elf and she gave me this mysterious smirk that spoke more volumes than I'd like to know. The Bosmer didn't say anything though the confidence oozing from her person implied she was more than capable at what she does.

And that thought sent chills down my spine.

"The rest you'll meet eventually" Vex suddenly said. "Oh right - the bold-head over there is Delvin Mallory, a slimy old bastard."

"Heard that" came the response from the said man, who gave me a warm smile and a scowl to Vex, who didn't seem to care either way.

"Vekel is at the bar" Vex added, pointing at the bartender, "keeping our drinks cold and food fresh."

I nodded in understanding. "Anything else I might need to know?"

Vex gave me the dullest yet deadliest look I've ever witnessed. "I am the best infiltrator in this rat's hole - remember that."

Without another word, she left the conversation, sitting on the crates near the patio. I resisted the urge to flip her a middle finger - I figured it'd not only be inappropriate but childish as well. Instead, I satisfied my urges by rolling my eyes before turning around to find Brynjolf waiting for me at one of the alcoves. He was leaning on the cobblestone walls, his arms crossed. His face was all smiles, but I could sense the nervousness emitting from his body.

"You ready to go" he asked.

"Yeah" I nodded and so we left the tavern.

~•~

When I first met Mercer Frey, I didn't expect so much tension around the man.

He appeared to be constantly on edge, ready to pounce, slash and bite at first sign of danger. He wasn't afraid but he was definitely fidgety. Though I could hardly call myself dangerous for a man of such caliber, being the Guild Master and a master thief, I would've found the demeanor flattering hadn't it been ridiculous.

"Brynjolf told me all about you" he drawled and I swear I heard hissing in his tone somewhere. "So, you want to become one us?"

I chose my words carefully - or rather, a word. "Yes."

Mercer huffed. "And you expect us to just accept you into our outfit?"

Frowning in annoyance, I shook my head. "No."

Mercer raised a brow and was about to leave the conversation when Brynjolf quickly jumped in. "Mercer, come on. She's got a potential to be really good in this business. Think about it - a new protege and a skilled one at that."

Mercer merely looked at him. "I don't have the resources for another one of your proteges, Brynjolf. If she is to join our ranks, you will take full responsibility for her and the money needed for her training will go from your pocket."

"Fine by me" Brynjolf said confidently.

"Then I guess it's settled." The Guild Master made a grimace before turning to me. "And you; if I hear any complaint about you or even from you, you're free to pursue your larcenist dreams elsewhere. Are we clear?"

I nodded and he continued, "Good. Since Brynjolf here claims that you'll be nothing but a benefit to the Guild, then...you're in. Welcome to the Thieves Guild."

I could hardly keep the grin off my face and Brynjolf seemed to have had similar difficulties.

Mercer then added, "Now that we're done with the formalities, it's time we see what kind of talent you possess."

He then called for one of the thieves. The man who approached him was a short Breton dressed in a leather armor, similar to the ones Mercer and Brynjolf were wearing but instead of being colored black, it was more of a woody shade of brown. He had his hood pulled over his head which concealed most of his features.

He had a nice smile, though.

"This is Etienne" Mercer said. "He will be your partner for the time being. Any heist he's assigned, you're obliged to follow and assist."

I stretched out my hand to the man which he took into his own. "Pleasure, sir."

He shook his head and smiled. "No need for such things, young lady. Just Etienne is enough."

I smiled back and let go of his hand.

Mercer added, "You two go and see Vex. She's got something for you."

Afterwards, Mercer gave a quick nod to both Brynjolf and Etienne before heading to his desk. Etienne then turned to me.

"I'll go on ahead first" he said. "You take your time getting ready. I'll wait for you in the Flagon."

Nodding, I bid him farewell as he left for the tavern's door. I looked at Brynjolf who had a proud smile on his face.

"Welcome to the family lass" he said. "I look forward to working with you."

"So do I" I said, anxious to get to work.

"If you have any questions, let me know" Brynjolf said, resting his hand on my shoulder. "Etienne may be your partner but I am your mentor, for the time being at least."

I nodded with a smile. "Got it. Thanks, Brynjolf."

He smiled in return. "You're welcome! Now, let's have you get acquainted with the space."

He then circled his arm around my shoulders and guided me around the place.

"This whole dome room is called Cistern" he said, pointing around with his finger. "It's located beneath the well at the market."

"Can you jump through the well and into the Cistern" I asked jokingly.

Brynjolf chuckled. "Technically yes but there are planks blocking the passage. I'd rather advise the secret entrance at the graveyard."

I raised a brow. "Graveyard?"

He then pointed towards a distant alcove where a set of wooden ladders stood straight. "There's a tombstone atop the secret entrance. If you press the shadowmark on it, the stone will retreat via a machinism and a way will be clear for you to enter the Cistern."

"Clever" I admitted.

He appeared to be flattered by my remark but then he brushed it off, as if it were only natural that the Guild would have a secret entrance - at the graveyard, no less.

"Moving on" he announced and guided me around the stone bridge that stood over the central pool in similar fashion as in the Flagon.

"There" he said, pointing towards another alcove that seemed to be leading into a tunnel, "are our training quarters. If you need to brush up on some of your combat skills or lockpicking, that's the place to go."

"Am I provided with an experienced teacher" I asked, adding, "or am I expected to pick up this sort of stuff on my own?"

He chuckled. "Ask Vex for some tips or refer to other thieves for a sparring session. I'm sure they'd be glad to help you out either way."

With that said, I took a look around the Cistern, taking in all the curious glances and glares directed my way.

"I'm not sure if they'd accept me as quickly as you think" I asked honestly. "I don't want to sow seeds of discord within your outfit."

He waved it off. "Don't worry about that. Here, 'honor among thieves' is considered an unwritten law."

"That so" I asked, raising a brow.

He coughed nervously before pointing with his hand towards the Flagon. "If you'll excuse me now, I have to continue with my own work. Acquaint with the folk while Tonilia finds you an armor set."

I nodded and saluted him. "See you soon."

He smiled in return and then left. As he walked away, I took a deep breath. This wasn't so bad, I thought.

For now...