Diamond returns to the Sanctuary around midnight. She enters and heads down the steps to finally report her job completion to Astrid.

Since leaving the Guild back in Riften, she let loose every swear word she's heard any citizen of Skyrim say. Cursing Mercer's name in spite. After the whole process of making up with Libby just to have their factions yank them apart. Even if it's only two week, they're practically inseparable, and their chances of survival increase nearly to a hundred percent when together.

Cursing Mercer may not change their decision, but it makes Diamond feel better. Upon entering the Sanctuary, she finds Astrid doubled over a table with papers and dagger stabbing certain marked spots.

"Ah you're back. So, how went your first real contract? A bit more exciting than what Nazir's been offering you I'd wager?" Astrid asks over her shoulder.

"I only live to serve. Hail Sithis!" Diamond chants. It was something the members always said, and it made Astrid like Diamond more whenever she says it.

"Oh, very good. Very good indeed. You, my dear, are fitting in quite nicely around here." Astrid smiles. "Now, I need your assistance with a matter of the assassination group called "The Faceless."

"You've contacted them?" Dia asks, a sudden burst of excitement is consumed more with nervousness.

"Indeed I have. They wish to meet with a member of our group and in turn send a member of their own." Astrid explains. "They didn't say whether they wanted to ally with us, so that's why I'm being cautious and sending Veezara with you in case things get . . . bloody. I have no doubt they will do the same."

"If you, know that they will attack, why bother meeting them?" Diamond questions.

"These are all just precautionary measures if they were to throw a knife in our backs. I don't want you killed at the hands of another assassination group. They want to meet Frostmere Crypt, and if assumption holds, it's probably close to their sanctuary location; seeing as how it's far out of our territory. Go. Veezara will meet you there and be careful." Astrid says.

Diamond nods and after Astrid says to have a few moments rest, Diamond excuses herself to her bedroom where she manages to catch only a few hours of sleep before she's roused by Veezara saying he's departing. Diamond runs her fingers through her hair, smoothes it down and secures it with a rubberband. She gathers a new belt of daggers and pulls her cowl up over her head. Veezara guides her out of the Sanctuary and they bound off into the night.

Frostmere if far north of Falkreath, but only southwest of Dawnstar. Being one of many other burial crypts in Skyrim, it has great stonework around its entrance. Diamond and Veezara wait on the inside after killing a few lowlife bandits. They dumped the bodies off to the side and gathered about the fire. Diamond settles on a bed roll while Veezara stirs a stew in the cooking pot.

Torches burn orange on the wall, held by ebony brackets on either side of the door to the crypt. The bitter bite of the cold blows outside as the sun had set over the horizon, surrendering the day to the night and letting the darkness thrall with harsh winds and pelting snow. Diamond wraps the bed roll around her and rubs her hands. She peers outside and sees nothing but the thick opaque sheets of snow.

"How do you suppose they'll get here?" Diamond asks.

"Walking?" Veezara sarcastically answers.

Diamond gives an annoyed smirk. "You know what I mean. How do you supposed they'll get here with that storm?"

Veezara merely shrugs as he continues to stir. "They're assassins. They'll make it."

"You think they're . . . good?"

He's quiet, but his hands continue in their determined circular motions around the pot. "They seem worth giving attention to, but I wouldn't step far as saying that they're intimidating."

"Well, they've at least got Astrid, cautious." Diamond snickers. "I've never seen her so cautious."

"I'm sure she's more worried about the taking up clients rather than their skill. But remember this "meeting" is about seeing if they want to ally with us. Now come and get some soup." Veezara says.

"One of your special Argonian specialties?" Diamond snorts as she emerges out of her little burrito of comfort.

Veezara makes a comment about how he added some special Argonian spices to give it more of a kick as Diamond takes a wooden bowl. She's behind him ready for the soup when she sees a flicker of light over Veezara's shoulder, and peers around him to get a better look.

Then an arrow bolts towards them.

"Get down!" Diamond screams, dropping her bowl and hitting the floor.

The arrow hits the door to the crypt, and Veezara had just dropped to one knee when another hits into the fire. Veezara's arm wraps around Diamond's shoulder an shoves her toward the wall. The flames of the fire erupt in an explosion that knocks his body into Diamond's; pining her to the wall. Her rings ear and her right shoulder burns, and she sees Veezara crouched around her to shield her from the arrowfire. The pain subsides to a dull ache. Diamond ducks low, her shoes crunching pieces of wood and rock beneath their soles, and pulls her sword out of its sheath on her belt.

All around her the fire has dissipated from the explosion, like it had leeched out all of its light. Now they are crouching in darkness with only one torch that managed to stay alive after the burst of warm air after the blast. They wait for another arrow to whiz at their heads, but it stays quiet.

Veezara rises and draws a dagger. "Show yourselves!" he demands.

Diamond slides her hand under her armor and feels for the wound in her shoulder. She's not bleeding, but the forces of the combustion knocked her down so she must've been hit with something. She runs her fingers over her shoulder, and feels a hard bump here the skin used to by smooth.

Then voices whisper into the room.

Diamond jumps like a startled rabbit. She stands next to Veezara and spins the blade of her dagger out.

"That was quite the entrance!" she says from her stance. She then leans close to Veezara. "Safe to say they don't want to be friends."

Diamond's voice caught in her throat, for there was no one at the door. Again they heard the voice, echoing from wall to wall like a magician's trick. This time she clearly realized that a woman was doing the whispering, a fact that should have calmed her but strangely did not.

"We are the Faceless children," says the whisper. "We are the most fervent, the most skilled, for we have much to atone for. Are you a ginner, girl? Will you lift your arms to us and accept our mercy?"

Shadows dance around Diamond and Veezara in the room, not cast from the torch flickering on the wall. Diamond takes tiny steps back into its light, hoping it can somehow drive them away like sunlight drives away vampires.

"Show yourselves!" Veezara repeats. "We come here to make peace and you instead try to shoot us dead! An act as cold as the winter wind outside!"

When Diamond peers towards the entrance, she sees the shadows swarm together, grow in volume and mass, and then finally fill with color, becoming a woman shrouded in black with a thin white cloth covering the gap left for her eyes.

"Can't take the cold? There's warmth in the Void," the woman says as she draws a serrated dagger. "Would you like me to send you there, Argonian?"

"Don't try and makes threats!" Diamond snaps. "Astrid said you wanted to try and make piece. If you have other members, make them show their faces! We knew this would happen so we came prepared!"

"Careful of what you ask, little girl. Be clear with your demands, or accept the cruel gifts fools and selfish men may give."

Diamond forces a snarl. But it takes all her willpower to suppress the shaking of her hands and keep them gripped in fists.

"We wanted to become allies, but your attack had obliterated that!" Veezara hisses. "Why did you attack u without meeting the means of our agreement?!"

"Don't ask questions you should already know the answer to. Remain quiet. We are few, and some things must be done in silence." the woman says.

She wraps her cloak around her body, its fabric seemingly made of liquid shadow. A sudden jerk and she is gone, her body exploding into dark fragments that splash across the walls and fade like smoke.

"Skyrim has long forgotten about you and your reputation has dispersed. It's time a new and better generation of assassins devour the fear of her citizens, and show them the true fear and power true warriors of the shadows deserve." Echoes a whisper through the room. "Remember, the cost you pay is always dearer once it has left your hand."

Just as the last word hisses, Veezara is knocked to the side from a brutal kick to the head; nearly crashing into the other side of the room. Diamond was about to look to him, but kept her gaze forward enough to spot a pale wrapped face barreling towards her. She blocks the faceless woman's serrated dagger, but the woman then spins knocking the sword aside with her one leg, and ramming it into Diamond's gut with the other. Diamond grunts and feels the woman's right fist slam into his cheek, then her left before she grabs Diamond's hair and ears, bringing head down and ramming it to her knee. Diamond stumbles back and feels a stream of liquid run down her lip. Bloody nose.

Veezara pushes to his feet and readies his weapon. He charges for the girls and as he swipes, he expects it to land in the faceless' back, but it only hits the ground. He looks to the left and is met with a vicious punch to his jaw, then kick to the stomach before his feet are out from under him. Diamond goes to slash the faceless woman's arm, but instead feels her wrist grabbed and her head bangs into the iron door of the crypt. The faceless woman then pulls her back and spins and kicks her back. Diamond only manages to roll backwards to her knees.

"Let's take this outside shall we?" the faceless woman says. She then back flips all the way out the door and disappears into the blizzard.

Diamond snarls and follows despite Veezara's words of warning. Diamond stands in the middle of the storm, snow swirling around her like a vortex. She listens carefully; ignoring the howl of the wind in her ears. Diamond spins around, bringing her elbow up as she does, and thrusts it towards the woman's face. It catches the end of her chin, but not enough to stop her. She grabs Diamond's left hand with one hand and presses the tip of her dagger to Diamond's forehead with the other. A second later she drives the hilt of the dagger into Diamond's jaw. Diamond clenches her teeth to suppress a groan. Blood trickles down her neck – she broke the skin. The blood slides off the faceless woman's robes like water.

The woman back handsprings, leaps into the air, raising a sword. Diamond blocks it with her own and slashes it aside, kicking the woman in the shoulder; but as the woman hitches a cry and drops to one knee, she uses her other leg to kick Diamond's feet out. Diamond's back slams into the ground.

The woman goes for the killing blow, but Diamond raises her legs up, catching the woman's wrists and flinging her over. Rolling with her momentum, Diamond rolls back and to her feet, spinning out her dagger and gripping her sword. Veezara runs out and joins Diamond in the blizzard.

"She's fast." Diamond howls over the roar of the wind.

"Then let's be faster." Veezara growls.

Suddenly the woman bursts from the flurry grabbing Veezara's wrists, twirling and bringing her leg up to her neck. She hurls him down trapping his neck between her knee, cutting off his breathing. Within seconds he's unconscious.

"Not fast enough." The woman provokes.

Diamond sheathes her sword and goes to her belt of daggers. The faceless woman flips off of Veezara and lands on one knee a few feet from Diamond. She could not see the woman's eyes through the white cloth, but she had a feeling that behind it and the wrappings hid an amused smile. She leaps high flipping back drawing another dagger that matched the other.

Diamond doesn't waste time throwing her daggers at the woman. But she dodges every single one, coming closer and closer. Diamond leaps back and to the left as the blade of the woman's weapon comes close to her cheek.

The woman grabs Diamond's elbow, yanking her back, and pushes her thumb into the wound in Diamond's shoulder, twisting until the pain makes Diamond's vision go black at the edges, and she screams at the top of her lungs.

"I thought I recalled from the explosion that you getting hit in that shoulder," she says, "It seems I was right."

Diamond's knees cripple beneath her, and the woman grabs Diamond's collar almost carelessly, dragging her back towards the crypt entryway. The fabric digs into Diamond's throat, choking her, and she stumbles after the woman. Her body throbs with lingering pain.

She feels herself dropped to the floor and the woman steps over her. Diamond can't push herself up with the throbbing in her arm working its way to her head. Instead, she watches as the woman turns to face her.

"I'd really hate to be whichever one of you has to explain to your superior how you got obliterated by a faceless single-handedly." She giggles.

"Why . . .?" Diamond croaks. She grits her teeth and pushes up on one arm. "Why do this?"

"Because your organization is a pathetic excuse for a group of assassins. All your do is wallow in your little burrow only taking a small handful of the thousands of contracts you have. Only accepting very little coin that what you could have" the woman spites. "Astrid is a poor excuse of a leader. You don't even deserve to call yourselves assassins."

"I'd like to see you repeat that facing against all of us." Diamond challenges.

"I would. If I could take out the two of you, I can take on your organization. If you're the representation of what they offer . . . I am deeply disappointed." The faceless woman spins her dagger between her fingers as she approaches Diamond. Diamond tries to swallow but it feels like she has a wad of cotton balls in her throat. "Though, I won't lie; you seem to have some potential. Fighting you was most . . . amusing."

"I'm not here for giggles." Diamond scowls.

"Understandable. And lucky for you my orders are clear. When you come to, report back to your mistress that Skyrim is our territory now. And if we see one of her other members out, we won't be so merciful."

"Why don't you just kill me now?" Diamond asks.

The faceless woman's fingers brush against Diamond's forehead and Diamond shudders. She should strike, but she's too weak. Her only hope is Veezara comes to quick enough to ambush her, though Diamond doesn't hold her hopes up.

"Because my orders were to intimidate." She answers. "And judging from the look on your face, you've had enough. Though not for entertainment values."

There's a sudden burst of pain that crackles along Diamond's skull. She hits the ground, the grit stone scraping against her cheek. She thinks she screams, but she can't tell as her sense have become muted. The world gets fuzzy, her hearing muffled. The faceless woman approaches her and Diamond can feel her grip her chin.

"You're organization is dead." She seethes.

Diamond could swear she sees green eyes studying her through the white mask.

Diamond folds her lips in to suppress a sob. Her chin is released and her head is on the ground again. The faceless woman steps over her and Diamond listens as she hears the footsteps disappear.

Her vision is too blurry with tears and her hands too useless to grip her dagger. Diamond screams into gritted teeth, frustrated. She can't help. She is worthless.

Diamond feels strong hands gently grab her biceps and slowly pulls her upright. He blinks away tears, her ears ringing. Veezara holds her carefully, his face studying hers with concern.

"Veezara," Diamond croaks.

She closes her eyes, and his hands wrap around right where they join with the shoulder. He pulls Diamond against his chest, gathering her into his arms, easing an arm under Diamond's knees. Diamond presses her face into his shoulder, and there is a flash of black ink curling around the side of his shoulder and Diamond lets the gentle sway calm her frayed nerves, and rock her into darkness.


Goldenglow is a large estate and apiary outside Riften, located on a group of islands, connected by bridges, in Lake Honrich. The honey produced there is the primary supply for Maven Black-Briar's Meadery, making it an important location in the Rift. An Altmer named Aringoth owns the estate, and he has hired several mercenaries to patrol both the estate grounds and inside the estate house itself.

The sewer entrance Vex mentioned is located on the northwest side of the estate just on the shore near a mercenary's walkway. The bee hives are located on an island southwest of the estate's main building. The mercenaries outside are hostile to members of the Thieves Guild, and neutral to adventurers just stumbling across it.

Libby stands on a nearby farmland observing the property. The farm is situated on the northern shore of Lake Honrich just northwest of the Riften Stables. Merryfair Farm is the home of Dravin and Synda Llanith. They make a living growing wheat, cabbage and gourds. They have a cow and chickens. Dravin can often be seen working the flour mill. Dravin Llanith is a Dunmer farmer living with his wife Synda at the farm. Libby had retrieved his bow that got stolen by bandits back in the Ratways. For a mere famer, he gave Libby a small handful of flawless gems.

After speaking with the others on advice for the mission, Libby can't help but feel that this assignment if much bigger than she makes it. If this can help bring the Guild back to its feet, it much be huge.

Delvin's words echo in her mind: "Somethin' out there is piss-drunk mad at us. I don't know who or what is it. But it's beyond just you and me. We've been cursed."

This is probably the first step, but making it seem like a much bigger deal only makes her more nervous. And she needs her head on straight if she wants to complete this without mucking up. Libby takes a deep breath and wanders away from the farm. She makes sure to pick a spot near the sewer entrance, and thankfully it's opposite a gathering of trees.

Libby takes a deep breath and swan dives into the lake. The water snatches her with icy fingers a she plunges beneath the surface. It instantly seeps into h fabric of her uniform; nearly tripling its weight, and pulling her down. She brushes through some seaweed tendrils before her foot finds a thick enough mound. Pushing off with her toes, she breaks the surface.

Gasping for air, Libby takes two gulps before sinking back so the surface of the water levels under her nose. The sewer entrance is located under a wooden platform. Libby doesn't see any mercenaries, but still dives back under before crawling up to the entrance.

She quietly catches her breath, wipes her face and wrings out her hair. She grips and twists the lid, and slips inside as she hears footsteps approaching.

The rotting smell of food and mold has little effect on Libby as she drops in. Water drips from the ceiling and torches in iron brackets cast light along the walls; creating patches of bruising darkness. The smell of wet stone and skeever dropping make the air feel thick, and breathing a chore.

Libby keeps her bow at the ready as she toggles through the first passageway; taking out two skeevers already. Not long as she rounds the first corner does she hear the sneering of more. She presses close to the wall and peers her head slowly around the bend. Flicking her eyes all over, searching for a strategy, she finds a tripwire and a lantern dangling directly above. She sniffs the air and catches the smell of kerosene.

Libby steps back and slices at the rope with her dagger. There's a snap and the lantern drops. It shatters and explodes, sending a rush of hot air towards Libby and igniting the fuel beneath. The pathway erupts into flame and sends the pieces scattering, nearly nicking Libby in the cheek. There's the scent of roasted fur and flesh before the flames die down.

Taking cautious steps through, Libby comes to a small fork of tunnels, continuing on to the one to her left. She comes to a circular room with a pillar at the center. There's a small pile of bones and Libby steps back as a skeever comes walking out from behind the pillar. She loads an arrow in her bow and shoots it dead. Another one comes out and Libby shoots it too. There's another entryway with another tripwire, and when it's activated a mace on a chain comes swinging out, nearly missing Libby's face.

She's getting close. There wouldn't be any traps around here if they didn't think anyone would enter here. Libby heads down the path and comes to a dead end, but on her left still is a wooden ladder leading up to the surface.

Carefully she twists the lid and pops it off. Fresh air greets her and fills Libby's lungs. She doesn't know how long she was down there, it felt like hours, but given the light of day, probably not even thirty minutes. She stays low on her knees and twists her back until she hears a crack.

On her right is the back door, with an expert lock. Libby twirls a pick in her hand before sliding it into the lock. After certain fiddling, she hears it unlatch and slips in silent as a ghost.

The inside of the house is completely built in wood. Libby reviews her mission in her head. She needed to sneak into the estate: check. Now she needs to clear the safe in the main house, then burn down the bee hives. It probably would've been smart to burn the hives first, but then they'd know she was here.

Libby slowly creeps along the hall and comes to a small open room chairs and tables, and a mercenary siting in the chair up ahead. There's an open doorway that leads to the dining hall and around the mercenary. Killing wasn't really her thing, so this is one of those times she wishes she had Diamond with her to keep them busy while she searches for the key.

Slipping into the dining hall, she comes out the other doorway to find a cell door leading downstairs. Most likely that's where the safe is, and since she only has limited picks against a probable master set safe, they key is her main objective. She hears footsteps and peeks to find another mercenary walking down to the other sitting in the chair.

On the opposite end of the hall, are stairs leading to the upper level. She enters a room with small tables and chairs and empty bookshelves. The only thing worth stealing is the coin purse and scattered coin on the other table. Stalking inward, she makes an immediate left and right around an edge to find another mercenary standing guard at the next bend. Thankfully halfway down the hallway is another door that's bound to cut through. Libby slinks to the side of the wall and pushes open the door.

As she steps in, she instantly finds another mercenary sleeping. Slowly, she sneaks past, not even creating the slightest creak in the wood. The door at the other end is already open, and Libby comes to an intersection leading to two different bedrooms. The master bedroom is towards the right, and Libby finds another mercenary sitting at a table, back to her. Instead of taking him out first, she'll wait after Aringoth. She walks in to find a platform that's two steps up to the bed, the elf crouching in the corner. Libby pulls out her blow dart and adds a heavy powered tranquilizer. The dosage inside the dart is meant to kill a cave bear, and while Aringoth isn't the strongest of men, his elf blood makes him half resistant to poison. This should knock him out though, and if things get worse, it could go good either way. Aringoth will either die, or live with the pains and inflammations the serum creates. Either way, he'll know the wrath of Maven and the Guild.

Libby steadies her hand and blows. Seconds after is hits the skin of his neck, the elf begins to stagger. Libby then runs up and drives her right fist into his cheek, then her left before bringing his head down and ramming it to her knee. Libby catches him and drags his body over to the bed. She sets him on his side, removes the dart, and sets up his legs so that it looks like he dosed off. Digging through his pockets, she finds the key to the safe.

Out of her ear she hears, "What was that?" the mercenary must've heard.

Libby tucks back into the corner, one of her throwing knives at the ready. The mercenary comes in with his axe in hand and scans the room. When he finds Aringoth, Libby lets herself exhale when he doesn't bother to wake him.

"I guess I was just hearing things." He dismisses.

Then when his back is turned, Libby spins a dagger in her hand before launching it through the air. It sticks true into the man's neck, at the tip of the cervical of the spine. After a brief sound of choking on blood, he falls and red liquid puddles under his neck.

Libby runs past him, making sure she doesn't step in it. She instantly slips to the side of the wall, pulling her dagger ready. Evading his sight, she slips through the room and heads back downstairs. Gliding down the steps, she heads straight for the cell-like door straight ahead. She checks for the footsteps and finds them distant. Even if she has time before they discover the mercenary, Libby acts as though she only has minutes.

Picking the novice lock of the door, she heads in shutting the door behind her. Down the steps, she enters into the basement.

The room was thick with dust and there were old tables with the chair stacked on top. A single chandelier in the corner provided little light, and showed two more guards in conversation. Libby can feel the burn in her knee joint as she camouflages into the shadows and over to the door blocked out of view by the wall. Pushing through she sneaks right then left and left again before more kerosene wafts to her nose.

Up ahead she sees the silhouette of another guard. At this point Libby is beyond annoyed.

"What the fuck?" she swears.

Further back she can see another lantern. She could shoot it down, but the guard would probably spot it in enough time to run and jump in Libby's direction. Libby takes a small lighter in her back pocket and flicks the flame to life. She instantly steps back as the flame erupts.

"Huh?"

The guard stand too late as the flames rush him. He winces at first, then cries out in pain. She runs in the opposite direction of Libby, by relief. She follows and rolls to an inner wall as he turns around. Just to be safe, Libby takes a pinch of vampire dust which thanks to her alchemy playing one day, revealed to her that it makes you invisible. The powder dissolves in her mouth instantly, but still she tastes the tarp and spicy flavoring of the dust.

He walks past her without even looking, the burns not as severe as Libby was hoping. But she continues on and heads down a flight of stairs into the room with a chest and the safe.

"Hmm, nothing here after all." He dismisses.

Libby opens the safe first and finds gold and Goldenglows Bill of Sale. Reading it over briefly, Libby finds out he sold the estate. Tucking it away in her pocket, she empties out the chest next to it and takes the gold on the table on its right. Finally feeling comfortable enough to stand, she stretches high and opens the gate that leads to the other sewer opening.

With her mission completed, Libby doesn't hesitate to run through the sewer now cleared. She runs and jumps down a small hole that brings her back to the same intersection from before. She finds the mace still dangling and follows the tunnel by memory from there. Pumping her arms at her sides, and shifting her breathing, she barrels to the other end of the tunnel to the northwest.

Once back up top, it takes her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the sunlight. She blinks and flutters her eyes, shielding them with her hand. She looks around and finds the bee hives across the waterway. She sneaks back into the water and swims and sneaks so she's knows she's directly behind the hives. Hopping up on some rocks, she readies her lighter again.

She heads around one hive, not even bothering to try and hide this time. She twirls the lighter in her hand and sets it under the hive. The bees buzz and soon smoke billows up out from under. It surprises Libby how quickly the hive flares up, but moves on to the next. After the third begin to belch smoke, Libby hears one of the guards notice the smoke. Libby smiles deviously and instantly turns and swan dives into the water as she hears one yell, "Over here!"

Staying below the surface, she swims for a full count of a minute before her lungs burn for air. She dares to break the surface gasping for oxygen and her heart beating against her ribs. Her muscles flop as she fumbles to the shore. The mercenaries shout at one another to put out the fire, and Libby smiles through her bated breaths.

"Don't mess with the Guild bitch." She breathes. She allows herself a minute's rest before hauling herself to her feet and trying her best to ring out her uniform.

She walks back to Riften, ignoring the glances of her wet clothing and heads into the graveyard. Libby heads over to a shrine of Talos and plants herself in front of it to give the illusion she's praying. Waiting until after two guards pass by with an in-between time of five minutes, she gets up and goes into the mausoleum. Pressing the button, she peers over her shoulder and heads down the steps.

Within entering the Cistern, she finds Brynjolf near the eastern side of the circle near Mercer's desk. Libby takes a breath and can't hide her smile as she heads up the stone walkway.

Brynjolf spots her and smiles with her. "Word on the street is Goldenglow's been hit. Good job, lass."

Libby smiles bashfully. "Thanks. Oh, and here, this was in the safe." She hands Brynjolf the paper, which surprisingly stayed dry.

"Let me take a look at what you found." He says. Libby watches as he reads the bill. His eyes flicking across the page in-taking every word. "Aringoth sold Goldenglow? What's that idiot thinking? He has no idea the extent of Maven's fury when she' been cut out of a deal, but I'm certain he'll find out.

"Now if only the parchment had the buyer's name instead of this odd little symbol." Libby says.

"Any idea what that might be?" Brynjolf asks.

"No idea." Libby retorts.

"Blast," Brynjolf curses. "Well I'll check my sources and speak to Mercer. But for now, you're off to speak to Maven Black-Brier."

Libby gets wide-eyed. "What?"

"Yeah. She asked for you by name." Brynjolf says.

"Oh, okay." Libby fidgets.

"Nervous?"

"Very. Will I come out alive?" Libby asks and Brynjolf chuckles.

"Oh course lass. I can promise you that if Maven didn't think we were get the job done, she would've contacted someone else. She's on the reasons we still have a pull in Riften. So represent us well."

"So, what does Maven want with me?" Libby asks.

"That's between you and Maven, and I prefer to keep it that way." Brynjolf says. "Don't worry about it. Maven's business dealings usually involve quite a bit of gold for her people."

"Uh, speaking of which . . ."

"Of course, your pay." Brynjolf chuckles. "You're as smart as a whip, lass."

"Should I head out now?" Libby asks.

"Wait until dark. I'm sure Maven doesn't want things to seem, public." Brynjolf advises.

"Okay, I needed to be somewhere anyway." Libby says.

"Where are you off to?" Brynjolf asks raising an eyebrow.

"I'm meeting a friend of mine to go hunting in the woods."

"You're hunting?" Brynjolf questions with a suspicious smile.

"Well, I'm just killing it, she's the one skinning and gutting it." Libby rephrases. "But I'll be back before dark."

Libby then exits the Cistern. She jogs her way to the main gates, then riding her horse from the stables she heads north all the way to Winterhold, then to the southeast.

Inside the crypt, Libby paces back and forth to keep her mind off of the constant creaking and dripping and moaning of the room. She had already defeated the draugr about, but still she fears that one of the sarcophagus tops will pop off revealing another one of the annoying corpses.

Back in her younger years, she would constantly dead their awakening out of fear, but now she's ventured in enough crypts to have that fear morphed into annoyance. Corpses should stay dead. That's that. Coming up on ten minutes of waiting, she takes a seat on the stairs, her elbows to her knees. Her foot taps at a fast pace.

Then there's a kink on stone, and Libby instantly rises loading her bow. She faces a figure shadowed in darkness with a bow slung along her back. Libby lowers her own and sighs.

"Took you long enough." Libby says.

"I've actually been here, I just got tired of waiting for you to notice me." She replies.

Libby sheathes her bow. "Did you find the remains?" she asks, her voice nearly choking out.

"I did. And they still need to be put to rest. I'm not too keen on letting you see them though. Not like this."

Karliah says stepping into a shaft of light. Her violet eyes sparkle despite the ferocious swirling storm of anger inside.

"He was my father, Karliah. I deserve to see him." Libby argues.

"I understand, Libitania. I just wanted you to see him in a more, respectable way a man like Gallus deserves." says Karliah.

"I just . . . want to see him." Libby chokes. "He was my father."

"I've organized his remains, but they still need to be put to rest." Karliah says. "Follow me."

Gallus was the former Guild Master of the Thieves Guild and proud father to Libby. He was a master thief, and a promising scholar as well, and a natural born leader. She had little memory of Gallus, but Brynjolf once told her how he loved to play with her and bounce her on his knee. The entire thing sounds, silly for a place such as the Thieves Guild, but Brynjolf said that Gallus was always full of surprises. There were times he would mumble about how Libby reminds him of Gallus, similar personality and such. But Libby never really considered herself a leader, and didn't really felt like she deserved such a, compliment.

Karliah was Gallus's closest friend so she was constantly around Libby as a child and is more like a sister than mother. She and Gallus were very close, believed to be even lovers. Libby wouldn't mind if Karliah ever became her mother, it would be weird undoubtedly; yet it would still feel, appropriate.

Unfortunately, Gallus met his end when he was lured to the Sanctum by Mercer. Mercer then branded the murder on Karliah, and for twenty-five years she ran. When she finally cornered Libby one day back in Frostfall, she told Libby everything, and even without proof, Libby believed her. Her father trusted her, so she will too.

It also explained everything revolving around Mercer. His bitter attitude towards

As far as Libby is concerned, Mercer took both her father and Karliah from her. With Karliah forced to flee from the Guild, and Gallus dead, Libby would've lost all eminence of family if it weren't for Brynjolf "adopting" her. Since they reunited, Libby's been secretly meeting with Karliah; learning new combat moves, planning tactics and new strategies.

Now twenty-five years later, and Libby is determined to prove Mercer's betrayal. Even if it means turning against the Guild, and Brynjolf. Conspiring with Karilah is the highest of treason Libby could think of for the Guild. If they find out, they'll have her head and her hide. Hopefully she's earned enough of their trust and has established enough of a reputation for them to at least listen.

"Did you give them the paper?" Karliah asks.

"Yes. Showed them the symbol and Brynjolf said he'd consult Mercer. So it's going to happen. Gulum-Ei set?" Libby says.

"All set. Though I don't know what you plan to do during that time. He's more than willing to just give you the deed."

"I'll find a way. Also, I have a bit of a smaller plan we can add in; but it might be risky." Libby leaves it at that, and Karliah doesn't ask questions.

Libby follows Karliah into the very back of the crypt to a table poised in front of a wall with the old dragon writing etched across the stone. On the ceremonial table are skeletal remains set up so that it looks like it's lying on the table, hands to its side. Being in other crypts or even around the standing stones, Libby hesitates; worried it will come to life. Karliah approaches it and set her hands on the alter.

Libby approaches and stares at the head. She has half the mind to feel it, but she keeps her hands to herself. Her throat tightens so that a choking feeling makes her cough. This is all that remains of her father. Libby can't remember how old she was when she found out the news of her father's death, but it was enough to brand into her brain a new meaning of vengeance.

"Still can't believe Mercer managed to upper hand him." Libby mumbles.

"Mercer's deceivingly cunning. And Gallus wasn't clueless; only when he was close was when Mercer decided to strike." Karilah reminds.

"He was really the only family I had before. I should've taken better care of him. Protected him from Mercer for starters." Libby snarls.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You were still young. And it's too late for that now." says Karliah.

"Maybe. But it's not too late to get vengeance on his killer. Mercer is mine." Libby says. Her face contorting into a fierce snarl.

"You'll have your vengeance. But we need to make sure we're one step ahead of Mercer. Admittedly I'm surprised we've managed to come this far, and to make sure it stays that way, we need to keep out guards up." Karliah says.

"I know. And I will. Our next step is Gulum-Ei." Libby says.

"Frankly this is all truly inspiring." Karliah smiles.

"To ensure an enemy's defeat, you must first undermine his allies." Libby quotes.