DESTINY UNRAVELED

CHAPTER FOUR

30th of Evening Star, 4E 201

"What in the world was Aringoth thinking?"

I watched Brynjolf read the letter I took from Aringoth's safe and his expression was hardly something I would call 'satisfying'. "It would seem that whoever wanted to buy the farm was very, very persuasive."

Brynjolf nodded as he added, "And it would seem that they had a mediator. Did you read the letter?"

I shook my head and he offered me the parchment. True enough, it stated that the buyer had operated out of sight, giving the rains to an agent on their behalf. What caught my attention, however, was a signature at the beginning of the letter - a cloaked dagger.

"Do we know anything about this Gajul-Lei" I asked, not taking my eyes off the signature.

Brynjolf folded his arms. "Nothing yet. Mercer believes he can track the agent down with help of his contacts but all in good time. Right now, you have another task."

I eyed him curiously. "What task?"

~•~

The Bee and Barb was empty when I entered. Cautiously, I made way up the staircase. Once on the top floor, I found Maven Black-Briar herself sitting on a chair in the hall, her arms folded and her gaze piercing.

"So you're the one" the woman said evenly, eyeing me from top to bottom with her narrowed eyes. "Hmm, you don't look impressive."

I resisted the urge to bite back, "How about we skip the talk?"

Maven's eyes widened slightly as she said, "A firebrand, I see. It's about time Mercer sent me someone with business sense. I was beginning to think he ran some beggar's guild down there."

I chuckled, "Do I look like a beggar to you, Lady Maven? I may be young but I have more experience than most thieves in the Ratway."

The woman said, "That statement of yours could be taken as a sign of arrogance, but then again... Before you came, I was sure that my investment in the Guild was going sour with each passing day. In any case, I only hope you won't mess up the job I have for you."

"You don't have faith in the Guild" I asked, eyeing the empty chair opposite Maven.

"Faith" she scoffed. "I don't have faith in anyone. All I care about is did the job get done and was it done right."

"You'll have no problems with me, then" I said confidently.

She nodded when she said, "I hope not. This is a very important job and Mercer insisted that you're the best he can offer me."

I resisted the urge to gauge my eyes at her statement before I went back to the subject, "What is it that you need me to do?"

She frowned. "I need you to go to Whiterun. I have a competitor called Honningbrew Meadery who I want to put out of business. I also want to know how did they get the place up and running so fast."

"You feel threatened, Lady Maven" I teased, wondering if I may have gone a bit too far with my firebrand attitude.

She gave me a mean glare before huffing, "Don't remind me. That foolish owner Sabjorn's been a thorn at my side for a while now. Anyway, find Mallus Maccius in the Bannered Mare. He'll give you the details."

"Yes ma'am" I said.

"One more time in case I wasn't clear" she said with her finger pointed at me. "Butcher this job and you'll be sorry."

I nodded to the woman and spun on my heel, heading downstairs. What a stuck-up, I thought as I descended the stairs. Would it kill her to be more polite or at least less rude? Shaking my head in disappointment, I suddenly notice Keerava and Talen-Jei, both bearing saddened smiles.

"Hi there" Keerava said.

I grinned. "Hey."

"Gotta say, the armor fits you" Talen said, pointing at my outfit.

Strangely enough, I agreed with him but I was uncertain if he meant that it appeared fine or that I was suited for a thief. Perhaps both?

"Thanks" I said simply. "So, what's up? It's been a while."

"You would've known if you bothered to pay us a visit once or twice" Keerava said half-serious.

Talen gave her a side glance before adding, "She meant that we were worried for you. We haven't seen you in a month so..."

"So you assumed I was dead" I finished for him. "That it?"

"Don't push the guilt on me, little one" Keerava warned. "We had every reason to assume so."

"I'm not" I said. "Just saying that I'm not like the others in this city."

"We never said you were incompetent" Talen reasoned.

"It certainly sounded like it" I retorted.

"To think she took you away to avoid all of this" Keerava murmured to herself.

I frowned. "What? Who did?"

"Keerava, don't" Talen said to her.

"No" Kerava said. "She deserves to know."

"Know what" I demanded.

Talen sighed as Keerava continued, "Twenty years ago, a woman named Sasha moved to Riften, around the same time I established this inn. She was one of the few comrades I made in the city and the one I cherished the most."

I frowned. "You knew my mother?"

She nodded. "And I know that she lies dead now."

I gulped, ignoring the stabbing in my eyes. "Thanks for reminding me."

"Perhaps I should've told you sooner" Keerava said solemnly. "Maybe you would've evaded Brynjolf and his lot."

"Don't insult them, Keerava" I hissed.

"I'm not insulting them" she hissed back. "It was your mother's wish to keep you away from the city, especially the Guild."

"How would you know that" I scoffed.

"Because she sent a letter a year ago, telling me that she will send you to Skyrim" she said, reaching inside the pocket of her apron. "Here, if you don't believe me. It's all written there."

Hesitantly, I reached out for the folded parchment in her hand and opened it with shaking hands. Tears trickled down my cheeks the moment I read the first word.

My dearest friend,

I reach out to you in a final desperate attempt to save my child. They are unto us; in fact, they were sighted in the city about a fortnight ago. I fear the worst and I'm afraid that I can't hold on for much longer. In case the situation becomes more dangerous and I prove incapable of protecting Ziiah myself, I arranged for a friend to escort her outside the country and get her over the border to Skyrim. I would've contacted her father but I figured she'd be safer with you. I beg you, take care of her.

Walk with the Shadows,

Sasha the Nightingale.

I gripped the parchment, wrinkling it. I bit my lower lip in an attempt to suppress my sobs.

"She wanted to send me off" I whimpered. "She never intended to survive?"

"She wanted to protect you" Keerava said softly. "She knew her enemy and she knew she had no chance against them."

"Thalmor" I growled. "The Thalmor are our enemy and there's no need to omit their name."

Keerava frowned. "I know that you're hurt but - "

"She mentioned my father" I cut her. "It sounds like he's alive which can't be true since she told me that he died when I was an infant."

Keerava put a hand on my shaking shoulder. "I wish I could give you a more solid answer but I don't think anyone knew of your father but your mother."

I gripped the place on my chest above my heart and sobbed. Keerava pulled me in an embrace but I broke apart from her and dashed past her and Talen, heading outside.

It was raining heavily and I could barely see where I was going. It mattered little though as I headed towards the Temple of Mara's graveyard, hiding within the crypt where the secret entrance to the Cistern was. I sat near the tomb and pulled my knees towards my body, hiding my face in the palms of my hands. I sobbed freely and loudly, letting out all the sorrow and pain I was suppressing for a long time.

An image of my mother appeared before my eyes. Her raven locks, her golden eyes, her ebony skin...She was a beauty unlike any in existence and she was rotting in some shallow grave for all I knew. I could still hear her scream as the fiery tongues enveloped our humble home in the poor district of Sentinel. I still remembered the feeling of hopelessness and terror I felt that night as I realized that I've been orphaned.

The mere thought of that day made me sick; so sick that I wanted to vomit until I could no longer feel my body. I put two fingers deep into my mouth and provoked my throat into constriction but nothing came out from my stomach. I tried again but failed once more. Irritated, I punched the wall of the crypt and a crack appeared on the stone though I didn't care. I continued to cry my heart out, unaware that someone was watching me from nearby.

I realized that I wasn't alone when something touched my feet. Looking up, I stared at a pair of crimson eyes, burning like fire with wisdom and age from the darkness. Caught off guard, I gasped and backed away. The shrouded person looked at me with amused smile and I then noticed that it was actually a woman - a Dunmer woman.

"My deepest apologies, sera" I brushed off my tears, bowing low.

The woman chuckled as she took off her shroud, saying, "I've met many strange people in this land but you, sera, are the strangest of them all."

I sniffed. "Don't take this as an offence but I'm no mood for jests."

The woman knelt before me, her face pulled into a worried expression. "I can see that. What happened, child?"

I didn't look at her. "It's really not your business."

She tsked. "Come now. You were drowning in your own tears for a while now. Something must've happened."

I remained silent.

"Did a man touch you" she asked and I shook my head.

"Did someone steal something precious from you" she asked and I shook my head again.

She hummed as she thought of what to ask next.

"You lost someone" she asked and I buried my face again, hiding the tears from the stranger.

She then sat next to me, circling her arm around my shoulders and embracing me. Her soft hand stroked my hair in comfort as she rocked us both in an even rhythm.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you" she whispered. "Shh, child. It is alright..."

Suddenly, all I could her was her heartbeat. The rainshower dulled into a distant sound and I was slowly drifting into sleep. I resisted to succumb to the dreams - merely because I'd only have nightmares or no dreams at all. However, the lull and temptation of the quiet and rest finally won me over and all turned black...

~•~

By the time I opened my eyes, it was well into morning and sunny.

"Good morning" I heard someone say and I jumped, startled.

It took me a while to respond, which I embarrassingly acknowledged, "Morning."

It was the same Dunmer that comforted me the night earlier. She was awake and smiling softly at me.

"Feeling better" she purred.

I nodded hesitantly. "I'm sorry for burdening you."

She chuckled. "It's alright. You were distraught - you needed sleep."

"And I need to get going now" I said, standing up. "Thank you for watching over me."

"You'll leave without giving me your name?"

I gulped before offering my hand hesitantly. "Ziiah."

She looked at my hand before shaking it. "Elvaynu Nares."

"Pleasure" I said then offered a curt bow. "By your leave, sera."

She waved with her hand in a sign of approval and I left the graveyard and her in a hurry, oblivious that the Dunmer's kind smile turned into a cold stare...