Brynjolf dipped his hand into the cool water below him, Mercer and the Lass had yet to return from their quest to find Kharaliah. He shouldn't be too worried, the Lass was perhaps the strongest thief he knew, and Mercer was the leader, both were strong in their own way, yet, Brynjolf felt worried for some reason. Bringing his hand out of the water, the blonde man shook the excess water off and let out a sigh. Turning around, he almost ran right into Delvin.
"What are you doing outside of the flagon?" Brynjolf found himself asking the other man.
"We got ourselves a bit of a problem in the flagon, three newcomers came in, they don't look welcoming. In fact, one of them is that crazy guy that hangs around with the lass."
"Lass wasn't with him?" Brynjolf found himself asking, Delvin shook his head, for some reason, that made Brynjolf's stomach drop a bit. He the focused on the main issue at hand.
"What did these people want?" He asked Delvin, he got a shrug in response.
"Don't know, didn't ask, I just thought I give you a fair warning."
"On what?"
"These people, they're the dark brotherhood."
Almost everyone in the guild seem to stop the moment Delvin said that. The only sound that could be heard though out the guild was the sound of the water running around them.
"The dark brotherhood?...Delvin...are you sure?" Brynjolf asked him, breaking the silence.
"Aye. I know dark brotherhood members when I see them."
"Shor's bones..." Brynjolf breathed out in slight surprise, a few other of the thieves gasped, while others took out their weapons, getting ready for a fight.
"Brynjolf, what do we do? Do we attack them?" Vipir asked the blonde man, there was another uncomfortable silence that followed as Brynjolf paused to think it over. After a couple of seconds, he shook his head.
"No, we won't attack unless they attack us. We should talk to them, they have to be here for a reason."
"I'll tell you the reason, Brynjolf, we're thieves, we obvious rubbed someone the wrong way and now they want all of us dead!" Sapphire growled, others nodded in agreement, a mummer ran around the place, Brynjolf put his hands up signaling everyone to quiet down. Once it was quiet enough, he spoke.
"Look, there are more of us then there are them. If they try anything, then we can over take them."
Delvin quickly scoffed at Brynjolf's words, making all of the attention turn on him.
"You forget, Brynjolf, the dark brotherhood killed the emperor, as well as the Penitus Oculatus, they may be out numbered, but, I don't doubt that if it comes to it, they will win." Delvin said, he then added, "It'd be more easier to turn back the tide, than it is to fight with the dark brotherhood."
A few of the guild membered looked at each other and tossed uneasy glances at one another, after a few seconds of silence, the door to the guild open, without hesitating, Brynjolf unsheathed his weapon, as well as the rest of the guild.
The first thing to greet the thieves was a jester, this jester had Vex in front him, one arm pinned behind her back, a knife to her throat, forcing her to walk forward. Behind this jester, was a redguard and a child of all things. Holding Vex hostage wasn't what really unsettled Brynjolf, it was the fact that these three characters were coated in blood.
"Alright...Lets just talk this out...Just let Vex go, and we can settle whatever problem you guys have with us peacefully." Brynjolf said, the jester, whom Brynjolf has seen hanging around the Lass, but can't remember his name, just let out a bitter scoff. Before the jester could speak, the redguard did, stepping up to Brynjolf. The assassin spoke, loud and clear so everyone could hear him.
"Listen up! One of our own is dead, we know that her death was caused by your leader. Tell us where your leader is, then we will leave the rest of you alone!" He yelled out at them, there was a slight silence. All the other thieves looked at each other, then at the assassin. Taking a deep breath, Brynjolf spoke up.
"That's not our way, we don't kill. Mercer wouldn't kill your...listener?...Unless your listener would of provoked him, that is." Brynjolf growled at the redguard, before he could speak up, the jester cut him off, pressing his knife closer to Vex's neck.
"Our Listener was with your leader! Hunting an ex-thief! I found her dead! Your leader killed her!" The jester screamed in, all the thieves looked at each other for a few seconds as the assassin's words slowly sank in.
"The lass is dead?" Brynjolf asked, breaking the icy silence that had gripped the thieves guild, Delvin looked down and let out a sigh, a couple of the others around did the same. Seeing they're reactions, the child and the redguard stared at each other and back to the thieves. Letting out a soft sigh, the redguard spoke to the jester.
"Let her go, Cicero."
The jester let out a soft noise, hesitated, then complied, bringing his blade off of Vex's neck, the jester, Cicero, then proceeded to push Vex towards Brynjolf. Quickly, the blonde man grabbed Vex, who in turn, jerked her arm out of his grip and took out her weapon.
"That's your final mistake! I'll teach you-" Vex started with a deep growl, but, was quickly cut off by Brynjolf.
"Vex, no, not yet, just hang on...We don't know where Mercer is, as you know, he left with the Lass a few days ago...but, I don't believe that Mercer killed her."
"He did! He left her to die in a pool of her own blood! I watched him leave!" The jester screamed at Brynjolf, pointing his dagger at the man. Bynjolf shook his head.
"Did you see him actually kill her?!" Bynjolf demanded darkly, Cicero opened his mouth then quickly shut it and growled.
"I did not...But, I know your leader killed her! He showed no concern for her when he left the sanctum, I found her dead on the ground!" Cicero yelled back at the thief. The redguard quickly put his hands up, silencing the jester and Brynjolf.
"Nazir, is what this fool saying true? The lass is dead?" Delvin asked the redguard, Nazir looked at Delvin, then nodded.
"We just want to know where your leader is. He must be punished for killing our Listener." Nazir looked at Brynjolf, obviously wanting the blonde man to answer his previous question. Brynjolf just shook his head.
"I don't know...Nor, will I tell you if I would. You have no hard proof that Mercer-" Brynjolf was promptly cut off in midsentence by female's voice from behind the assassins.
"Brynjolf...if I may...I have seen it with my own eyes."
Moving aside, Nazir and Cicero watched as a female dark elf walked up to the nord man, a journal in her hand. For a few seconds, no words were spoken, then finally, Brynjolf spoke only a single word.
"Kharaliah..."