Chapter 4

A MudKrab skittered towards me, irritably snapping its claws. Thoroughly peeved with my entire situation, I roasted the fellow until he resembled a piece of ebony ore. I was completely surrounded by bleak and cold marshlands. I was nowhere near home. In fact, a part of me doubted if I was even still in Skyrim.

I had half a mind to walk right back in the cabin and demand where I was, but I refused to be defeated and strode forth into the wilderness.

Fortunately, although my only weapon was a small dagger, I'd spent three years accompanying a group of hunters and had learned the art of survival. Admittedly, in the eight years since that time my skills in some areas have slackened slightly. I kept in fairly good practice due to my profession, spending periods of time traversing the country, but it was not the same as living in the wilds. I was also never naturally gifted with such abilities, struggling at every hurdle, and so I was not imbued with confidence.

I also had my magic, which I suppose was useful in such circumstances. Either way, I continued to grumble, wincing and then sighing when I felt my foot sink into the murky marsh water.

I walked, keeping my bearings straight by relating my position to the distant mountains, and kept walking until my legs began to ache. I had been warily watching my surroundings, attempting to avoid any encounters with the predatory wildlife, but a sudden shout caught my attention and I ran towards the sound.

Two men were caught in a battle with an angry frostbite spider, darting away whenever the creature spat at them. Both parties appeared intent on winning whilst the horse attached to the material laden cart bucked and cried in fear and frustration. Sensing an opportunity, I ran forward and began to mumble under my breath.

"Out of the way," I bellowed. The merchants, at first confused, sprang back upon seeing the flames beginning to engulf my hands. The flames licked at the spider, igniting the course hairs, and sent it whirling in rage towards me. I darted to the side, avoiding its jaws and spitting range, and stepped backwards as it approached. Fortunately, I had plenty of practice dealing with frostbite spiders as they were often the easiest targets to find when I wanted to train. Not exactly the nicest thing to do, but I needed to learn.

Eventually, the creature crumpled, spirals of smoke rising from its body. The smell of its burnt hairs was atrocious.

The merchants regarded me warily before saying, "thank you." For all they knew, they would then have to contend with a bandit or malicious mage. I was a thief, but I wasn't a thug.

"No trouble, but I would like to enquire about something," I said.

". . . Yes?" they asked even more hesitantly.

"Where are you heading?" I questioned.

"Solitude," the shorter man said, pulling up his hood. "We've come from Windhelm."

"You've got to be kidding me," I grumbled.

"Excuse me?" The taller and leaner man questioned. I paused for a while to ponder on my situation, realising how complicated things were becoming.

"May I accompany you? I'd offer you my protection in return for a ride in your cart. I ended up in this region rather against my will and ill-prepared. I have no weapons or supplies," I explained to them. I decided to neglect informing them about my blood-smeared dagger. "I just want to get to the capital so that I can sort out my affairs and travel back home. I can only assure you that I'm not a bandit. I will not ask you to change your route or hinder you in any way."

The two merchants whispered together, debating whether to assist me or not. The taller of the two, older and with a slimmer build, seemed more reluctant. His heavily-lidded eyes repeatedly flickered towards me, expecting me to suddenly attack. The shorter man, blond tufts of hair poking out from under his hood, puffed out his chest and argued with his companion.

Eventually, the blond male turned to me. "Since you've helped us, we'll let you along. However, if you try anything we'll gut you."

"That is fair," I said as I walked towards the back of his cart and climbed up. I sat down, sighing with relief, and grinned at the pair. The taller man, sighing in exasperation, went with his companion to the front of the cart and prepared to set off. I wondered how Astrid would return, but on the other hand, I didn't really care. The harder her journey back, the better.

"Oh, come on, Sayma, you know I'm good for the money. I'll pay you back the next time I'm in Solitude. I just need it to get back home and I've had so much bad luck lately. Please, help an old friend out," I begged the warm-hearted general store owner.

Sayma sighed, but then she smiled in her maternal way. "You better," she said. "Otherwise I'll send Beirand after you," she joked.

"I could never cause so much trouble to such a beautiful lady," I teased. She snorted at my flattery and walked into the next room where she kept most of her money. I knew this for potential investment purposes.

"What the . . ." I grunted as I held my stomach.

"See, I'm the strongest," Kayd proudly proclaimed after punching me in the abdomen. I will forever be haunted by juveniles. If I am to be punished in the afterlife, it will be by an unruly band of children.

I glanced over my shoulder to see who he was talking to. Peeking around a pillar, staring bright eyed and with brass coloured hair, was a girl.

"Is that a formal challenge, sir?" I said.

"Yeah, and what if it is?" he asked, trying to be dominant despite the waver in his voice.

"Then, kind sir, I would have to accept," I answered as I turned to face him.

"Be careful, you two," his mother said as she came back into the room and started to count out the coins.

"It'll just be a brief lesson, milady. All children must learn," I said. Sayma pursed her lips, clearly concerned, but she also knew that swaddling her child would serve him no benefit.

I struck a fighting pose, and swung my leg towards him. As expected, and because I was moving deliberately slowly, he blocked. I dodged his frantic swings and returned a few motions. Watching him begin to tire, I grabbed his incoming fist and stepped to the side whilst still clutching it. In one swift gesture, I swept my leg underneath him and caught the back of his knees. He fell back onto the floor, but as I was still holding his wrist he did not fall too heavily.

"I have won, but you fought well," I told him with a pseudo superior tone.

"I lost," he grumbled irritably.

"Yes, but you have learned a lesson. I couldn't do what you did at your age. You have a lot of promise, but there is one thing you must remember," I said.

"What's that?" he asked with renewed curiosity.

"You must remember that arrogance and pride is dangerous. Anyone can win in a fight. We all have our skills, but we're also fallible," I informed him.

"What does fallible mean?" he asked.

"It means you're able to fail. Anyone can fail, but that's also how we learn. You can't learn if you're dead, though, so pick your battles carefully," I answered. "Young lady, please come here," I gestured for the girl to approach me.

She clasped the skirt of her dress, her cheeks colouring, as she slowly stepped towards me.

"Kayd is a strong opponent, but a lady should also have her own strengths. You can rely on those you love, but make sure you don't have to depend on anyone." I said to her.

She nodded, her large eyes growing wider.

"Is that a moral lesson I hear from you, Grin. My, aren't we growing up," Sayma then laughed from behind the counter.

"I'm growing old," I lamented mockingly.

"Hush, you. You have several decades before you can start using those words," she chided jovially.

"Ah, but do you disagree with me?" I turned the conversation.

"No, I don't. You're right. A woman should be able to hold her own. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise," she added for the child.

"Are you a fierce adventurer like Kayd said," she mumbled quietly, finally speaking. I could see that he had embellished my position in the hopes that defeating me would make him look better. Otherwise, he would never have called me fierce.

"Yes and no," I answered.

"That doesn't make any sense," Kayd argued.

"I used to travel a lot more. Now, sure, I get around, but it's not the same," I mused. Ignoring the past several days, although being a thief was fairly exciting it lacked the element of the fantastic.

"Isn't it boring? Why did you stop?" He asked. Usually, the boy spent the majority of his time sending me snide remarks. It was rare to engage with him in conversation. With my current luck, I will end up head of that orphanage in Riften. I'll be known as Peregrine the Stupid or Peregrine of the Brats.

"Perhaps it was mainly the loneliness. It's dangerous fighting alone and without a real cause. There was no one waiting for my return and no one to help me if I was injured."

"That must have been sad," the girl said. Kayd snorted, wishing for more heroism and dramatics.

"Ah, I just went on a new adventure instead. I went to go and find a family. However, that means putting other adventures on the side for a while," I said.

"So, do you have a family?" she asked.

"I suppose, in some ways. They're not perfect, but no one is. I believe they care about me," I surmised. Sure, Vex was often irritated with me, but it was like having a weary older sister who was tired of their sibling's immaturity.

"What happened to your mum and dad?" she asked.

"They're in Sovngarde," I lied

"Yeah, but don't you miss the adventures and the big battles? What about discovering caves and old tombs and finding treasure," he prattled on.

"Ah, yes, some of those things were fun in retrospect. They're not so fun when you're nursing broken ribs or the aftereffects of a poison trap. Sure, the coin was needed, but it's frightening going on your own. Anything beautiful is overshadowed by the fact that you have no one to share it with and may die without anyone ever knowing," I continued on.

"I wouldn't want to be an adventurer," the little girl said with surety.

"Why not just find a companion?" he asked.

"That's easier said than done. You need to find someone you trust not to backstab you, as well as someone affordable. People do not risk their lives cheaply and I am not rich. Many caves and tombs have barely enough for one person to scrape a living from," I told him.

"Then I can go with you and show you how it's done," he declared.

"Maybe in a couple of years," I then laughed and ruffled his hair. He ducked away from my hand and childishly pouted at the patronisation.

"I have the amount you need," his mother finally said, probably realising where Kayd's thoughts were heading. To him, being an adventurer was too glorious to sully. I'd like to hear his thoughts after three months. His face, confronted by a decomposing draugr, would be priceless.

"Thank you. I will repay you. Blessings of the Nine upon you," I said as I began to leave. "I expect to see improvement by the time I am back," I told the children. The boy crossed his arms and huffed, but the girl unclenched her skirt long enough to give a polite wave.

I really ought to avoid preaching to children. I could hardly talk.

"Where have you been?" Vex asked irritably as I sat down at the bar. The worn wood was smooth against my fingertips as they gently drummed the counter. Even the strong aroma of rushing water, particular to this region as it runs through so many underground networks and gathers the impressions of so many places, was nostalgic and significantly relaxing. I could see her in my periphery, seated by some tattered and unmoveable crates in the corner, but I was focused on more important matters.

"Ale, please," I said as I placed a coin on the table. I sighed in relief as the soothing liquid poured down my throat.

"Mercer-Frey has been looking for you," she said.

"Oh, is he still in the Ratway?" I asked.

"He's at his desk," she told me.

"Perfect, well, then I will go and see him," I said, choosing to take my ale with me.

"Wait a second," she said. "Where were you for the past week? You have responsibilities here. You can't just decide to wander around doing what you want and when you want."

"I am quite aware, but thank you for the lecture. Trust me when I say it was an unforeseen sequence of events," I told her.

"What happened?" she asked. Her tone dropped, the severity of her voice becoming more prominent, realising that something was not quite right.

"Nothing of consequence," I said as I strode out of the room.

"Ah, there you are," Mercer said as I walked towards him. He didn't even have to glance up, having recognised me by my foot falls. His arms were braced against the table, blond locks falling forward and obscuring his expression. He appeared focused on one particular parchment amongst the array that was spread across his desk.

"I've consulted my contacts regarding the information you recovered from Goldenglow Estate," he said in reference to a job I had handled several weeks ago. "No one seems to be able to identify that symbol." I frowned at the result. He drew in a slow breath before glancing up and fixing me with his stare. The light from the nearby torches reflected in his pupils, a beautiful contrast between stone and fire.

"It would seem our adversary is attempting to take us apart indirectly by angering Maven Black-Briar. Very clever," he praised. Despite his admiration, there was no warmth to his words. A deep anger was twisting beneath his still form.

"You admire them?" I asked hesitantly.

"They're well-funded and they've been able to avoid identification for years. I'm impressed it reached this point," he stated. Right at that moment I saw in him a wolf that was irritated because the hare had eluded him for so long in his territory, but relishing at the thought of an imminent meal. The wolf then showed his teeth, glinting merrily in the yellow light. "Just don't mistake my admiration for complacency; our nemesis is going to pay dearly."

"How can we make them pay?" I questioned.

"Because," he then smiled. "Even after all their posturing and planning, they've made a mistake. The parchment you recovered mentions a "Gajul-Lei". According to my sources, that's an old alias used by one of our contacts. His real name is Gulum-Ei." He paused before muttering, "Slimy bastard."

"Where do I begin?"

"Gulum-Ei is our inside man at the East Empire Company in Solitude," he informed me. A nerve twitched under my eye, but he did not appear to notice. I realised I would be returning to Solitude within the next several months, but I had not fathomed on it being so soon. "I'm betting he acted as a go-between for the sale of Goldenglow Estate and that he can finger our buyer." Realising the severity of the situation, I elected not to remark about the innuendo.

"Go out there, shake him down and see what you can come up with," he finished with.

Almost certain that Mercer-Frey would have discussed matters with Brynjolf, I chose to speak with him before leaving.

"Brynjolf," I called. "Have you heard?" I asked, covering my back just in case Mercer-Frey had not wanted his endeavours revealed to the rest of the guild.

"You're finally back," he said. "I was starting to worry. Yes I've heard. I can't believe Gulum-Ei's mixed up in all this; that Argonian couldn't find his tail with both hands," he then sighed. "Don't get me wrong, he could scam a beggar out of his last septim . . . but he's no mastermind."

"Think he'll give me trouble?" I jokingly questioned with a smirk.

"Trouble? He's one of the most stubborn lizards I've ever met! You have your work cut out for you," he teased. I scoffed, however, I knew Brynjolf was often right and it was probably wiser to be careful.

"How do you propose I get him to talk?" I enquired.

"You're going to have to buy him off," he stated bluntly. "It's the only way to get his attention. If that fails, follow him and see what he's up to. If I know Gulum-Ei, he's in way over his head and you'll be able to use it as leverage." I grinned at the prospect of twisting that Argonian's arm.

"Betrayal or not, I'll let him live," I said. I refused to fall in line with Astrid's methodology.

"I'm glad to see you're embracing our methods," Brynjolf teased, but I internally winced. The assassin was a deliberated necessity, but the others had been through my own doing. "It would be a waste to lose a contact at the East Empire Company before we had the entire story. Just keep on Gulum-Ei's tail and he's bound to step in something he can't scrape off his boot. Good luck in Solitude. Keep Gulum-Ei alive, but remind him who we are," he said. I simply nodded.

I walked passed Rune. He had just placed a pheasant's leg on his dinner plate and was off cutting a slice of bread by the cooking racks. With his back turned, and my stomach growling, I swiftly swiped the meat and strode more briskly towards the exit ladder. I swallowed the remainder of my ale, placing the bottle on the stone floor, and gripped the fowl's leg between my teeth so that my hands were free to heave myself up. When I reached the surface, ensuring no one had noticed me just stroll out of a tomb, I ate my free lunch in peace and tossed the remaining bone amongst the graves.

Before setting off for Solitude, I ensured I was well supplied. This time would be different.

"I expected that you'd be back, but not quite so soon," Sayma said with surprise upon seeing me walk through the door.

"Ah, business calls," I chimed. "And to settle our business, here is what I owe you, plus interest."

"There's no need to give us more than you borrowed," she stated.

"I want to. You really helped me out and so I want to show my appreciation. However, now I must go because time is pressing. Good day," I said. Truthfully, the interest ensured that if I was ever caught in another difficult situation she would be liable to help me.

I then walked to The Winking Skeever, returning to the world of real business and subterfuge.

"So, what do we have here? Hmm, let me guess . . ." the Argonian mused as I approached. His words dripped with humour and malice, creating an arrogant brew, so I responded to his jagged smile with a grin of my own.

"I'm here about the Goldenglow Estate," I said.

"I don't deal in land or property," he answered immediately. "But, if you're looking into goods. . ."

"I really do think you can help me, Gajul-Lei," I then grinned wider. I rocked back on my heels, folded my arms and portrayed a picture of ease despite the sudden tension. Fortunately, the bard's music was loud enough that we were not under threat of being overheard.

"Ah," he laughed nervously. "Did you say the Goldenglow Estate? I'm afraid I know very little about it. My apologies, for I cannot be of more assistance." I noted the sudden increase in politeness.

"I really do believe you can still assist me. You acted as a broker for its new owner," I refreshed his memory.

"Perhaps," he answered vaguely. "I can't be expected to remember every business transaction." For an Argonian that was renowned for his silver tongue, he certainly had a habit of stumbling over his own words.

"Tell me what I'd like to know and you'll be left in peace," I offered, tilting my head to where I knew the light would catch my scar. Despite marring my face, retracting one of the few decent qualities I had been born with, it did serve as an adequate intimidator.

"Fine, had I known the deal would bring me this much trouble, I never would have accepted all the gold," he confessed. "I was approached by a woman who wanted me to act as the broker for something big. She flashed a bag of gold in my face and said all I had to do was pay Aringoth for the estate." Even I could see that the entire deal was suspicious and liable to backfire. Brynjolf was right when he said Gulum-Ei was no mastermind. "I brought him the coin and walked away with her copy of the deed."

"Did she say why she was doing this?"

"Not at all," he then sighed and took a gulp of mead. "I tend not to ask too many questions. I'm on the job." I nodded in understanding. Some questions were best left unanswered. "However, she was definitely angry and it was being directed at Mercer-Frey."

"That's it? No name or anything?" I pressed.

"If you haven't noticed, we rarely deal with names in this profession," he informed me as though I was completely unfamiliar with the job description. "That's everything I know. I can't tell you anything more." He appeared tired from the entire dealing, but it served him right for blundering in and not realising there would be consequences.

"Now, since our transaction is done, I'll be on my way," and with that he finished his mead and passed by me.

I was at a loss. I had no recollection of a woman that could have such a vendetta against Mercer Frey. Perhaps he'd performed a sloppy job on one occasion or had caused such circumstances before I was a part of the guild. Either way, she appeared to be an intellectual individual with an agenda. If she sought to destroy Mercer Frey, there was no telling what she would attempt to do to the rest of the guild. A king no longer rules if he has no more subjects. I was technically new to the guild, having only been affiliated with them for four years and still an amateur in many respects. I would not be privy to some of the older secrets, and so there was no telling who was associated with whom and what underlying rivalry existed.

I gritted my teeth, unsure of what to do next and growing agitated by the impending threat, but then I realised that my charmingly devious Argonian may not have been completely truthful. He had said enough, but simply just enough. As soon as I was through the doors I pulled up my hood to shield my face. The rough caresses of the wind and the beginning patters of rain rendered my actions to conceal my face discreet amongst the crowd.

Knowing he was endowed with the virtue of light feet, I chose to follow him at a distance and as inconspicuously as possible. Our conversation had left him paranoid. In the end, realising that my skills had much to be desired, I pulled from my pocket an invisibility potion. Such a potion remained in my pocket out of cowardice, always on hand in case of a needed quick escape. My budget was not suited for a constant supply, but I always had one just in case. Being in Solitude, I was certain that I could acquire another before leaving the walls. My need to uncover what was occurring outweighed my desire to preserve the vial for a complete emergency.

Almost unbearable, the bitter liquid trickled slowly down my throat. Warmth spread throughout my body, my heart thudding to accommodate the shock to my system. Even with the potion, after I had regained composure, I continued to stalk my scaly friend with the same degree of care. One mistake would alert him of my presence.

As soon as he began moving towards the docks, I realised I had probably made the right choice. Well, in theory I had potentially discovered something of interest. There were never any promises on whether I would live to reap the benefit of my findings, though.

The potion of invisibility was not designed with durability in mind, and so I was limited with time. My form could waver into view at any given moment. I watched as Gulum-Ei walked onwards, seemingly more at ease, and I could see why. What prevented me from following him was an entire troop of guards stationed around the docks. Their stature, scarred and rugged from constant practice, indicated they were trained for real battle. They would not yield to bribery or honest surrender.

I held my breath, fearful a loose board or weak nail would call out to the guards, as I carefully climbed on top of the shelves. I could only crawl so far before it became too difficult and the objects beneath me began to protest. So, carefully lowering myself back onto the deck, I manoeuvred as discreetly as possible through the stacks.

I was almost caught several times. Fortune was smiling upon me, though.

Due to my frequent pauses, waiting for an opportune moment, I did not follow my slippery friend on his detour by the largest group of thugs. His paranoia was well-tuned, but pointless as he came straight back towards where I was crouched behind the deck.

However, Gulum-Ei surprised me when he walked down a ramp and into the water, finding a covert passage around the shelves moments later. Being unable to see where he was heading, but not wanting to be seen, I waited until I deemed it safe to follow.

The wooden door was old and battered, perhaps for nothing more than a storage cupboard, but there was nowhere else that Gulum-Ei could have gone. With trepidation, I lightly pushed open the door.

Mist rolled around my feet, hair clinging to my face due to the moist breeze, and before me was a cave-like structure. It was the perfect location for criminal activity, being a large space so close to the dock and yet practically invisible. I was not incorrect about the cave's use, and quickly realised that bandits had assumed control of the area.

Being completely mesmerised by these opportunists, I failed to notice a trap by my feet. As soon as my ankle collided with the rope, tugging before snapping, I threw myself to the side in hope. Barely, almost grazing my shoulder, I missed the chained ball of spikes that came swinging towards me. I could hear a conversation in the distance, but my stunt had not caught their attention. Being more careful, and so missing the bear trap, I managed to make my way through the tunnels.

Unlike the warehouse, space was limited and there was less objects to hide behind. Resorting to my past strategy, I slipped into the nearby river. Fortunately, despite the chill, the water wasn't too suspiciously clouded and the current was only a gentle nudge. I moved beneath the deck, passing the bandits as they continued with their usual activities.

What truly surprised me was finding a bandit swimming in the water, his associate hurling insults at him from the deck. With a bandit on the deck and another in the water, my position was more precarious. At times like these I envied the Argonian's ability to breathe underwater.

However, with that thought an idea was born. With few options, and a lack of time, I decided to place my life in the hands of fate. Perhaps I was being recklessly optimistic, but I wasn't left with much choice.

I inhaled deeply and held my breath. With time quickly trickling away, I swam beneath the surface and used the deck support beams to pull myself forward quickly and without losing direction. It was too dark to see where I was going, smell and hearing rendered useless, and so I had to rely on my tactile sense. If I couldn't find a beam, I resorted to pulling myself along the walls, gripping anything I came into contact with. I did not know how far I would need to go, so I just moved as quickly as I could and for as long as possible.

I was relieved to find that I had passed the bandits and was out of sight by the time I came up for air. Trying desperately not to pant loudly, I continued to tread water and steadily pull myself along. Strands of hair kept falling across my face and into my eyes, causing me to mutter obscenities under my breath as I swiped them to the side.

I was exhausted by the time I crawled out of the water, the distance alongside the cold made the whole experience ridiculously draining. I was certain that my nerves were frayed by this point, every slight creak of a board made my heart thud. I was the perfect dichotomy of bravery and cowardice. I allowed myself to wander into such situations, accepting the challenge, but was bordering a cardiac arrest with every other step.

I caught sight of Gulum-Ei beside a series of cages, and after realising he was alone I approached him. I held my jaw shut, breathing deeply through my nose in an attempt to hide my laboured breaths and pressing fatigue. I unsheathed my dagger, extending it far enough forward that the light glinted off my blade, and smirked as I approached the wide-eyed Argonian. His eyes flitted to the side, desperate for an escape route, but he made no motion to run. Instead, he stepped several spaces back and held up his hands.

"Hold on," he begged. "This isn't as bad as it seems. I was going to tell Mercer about everything, honestly! Please . . . he'll have me killed!" The soft patch of skin below his jaw, a trait of his species, moved rapidly as he took increasingly frantic breaths. My expression must have been murderous. Truthfully, I was just tired and very irritated by the entire situation.

"Tell me now, or you won't like what I'll do next," I threatened.

"No, please! There's no need for that! I'll tell you everything," he pleaded earnestly. "It's Karliah. Her name is Karliah."

"Karliah? You say that name like I would know it," I said. I frowned, tightening my grip on my weapon. The unfamiliarity rattled me. No one had mentioned her during my time at the guild, and so a small part of me winced at the lack of trust and solidarity. Once again, I felt like an outsider who had to prove they were worth something.

"Mercer never told you about her?" he asked with genuine confusion. A nerve twitched beneath my eye and I repressed the urge to sneer at him.

Realising I was not in a conversational mood, he spoke succinctly. "Karliah murdered the previous Guild Master, Gallus. Now she's after Mercer." I tried to remain expressionless in order to hide my shock, but I was finding it difficult. Gulum-Ei seemed to realise I wasn't wholly balanced and chose to remain still and quiet.

"And you're helping her?" I finally asked, venom seeping into my tone.

"No, no! Look, I didn't even realise who she was until recently," he explained in desperation.

"Where is she now?" I questioned.

"I don't know," he said. "When I asked her where she was going she just muttered where the end began."

With one hand, he steadily reached into his pocket. I changed stance and positioned the blade in front of me, but he moved slowly and only pulled out a parchment. "Here, take the Goldenglow Estate Deed as proof. And when you speak to Mercer, tell him I'm worth more to him alive."

"Remember, if you're lying I'll come back for you," I said. He nodded profusely, still with his hands elevated.

"I'll need your assistance," I told him. He waited patiently for my commands. "I'd prefer not having to leave in the same manner I came, so I would like you to escort me safely out of these caves. Try anything and I will kill you," I said. I could not accomplish the same feat again, I refused to go back in the water, and so I decided to use what was available. If he truly wanted Mercer's forgiveness, he would help me. If he was omitting the truth, then I would deal with him and find a way to escape. I had all the information I needed and knew the basic layout of the cavern. I'd manage.

"Of course," Gulum-Ei said.

Being true to his word, for once, the Argonian led me out of the system and back onto the docks beside the sea. The bandits and guards appeared perplexed, unsure of where I had come from, but Gulum-Ei reassured them that I was a friend and not to be injured. So as not to seem suspicious, I had to sheath my weapon, but my hand was at the ready.

I was relieved that he did not problematize the situation with betrayal. Despite the potential for a power shift, he did not take advantage. I suppose, realising that Mercer had sent me, crossing me would invoke the wrath of a power he would have little hope of overcoming. I thanked Gulum-Ei, and although he appeared confused by the shift in cordiality, he nodded and once again affirmed that he truly meant no harm.

With the promise that all would be well if he was telling the truth, I then walked briskly back up to the main city. Gulum-Ei remained on the deck, watching my retreating form with a stillness that could not be mimicked by any other species.