Of Mead and Machinations

by Em Gris

It seemed like the only thing Kasha could do right recently was drink, but after a series of drunken escapades lands her deeply entangled in a dark and dangerous web of murder and age old conspiracy, the unlucky Bosmer thief finds herself face to face with death at every turn, and in dire need of reevaluating her drinking habits.

7. Nepos the Nose

Niruin smiled his usual, devilish smile.

"Not bad, newbie," he said.

"Not bad?" I huffed, grinning madly. "Come on, you've got to give me more credit than that for what I just pulled off."

"Don't get too cocky."

"Rich coming from the cockiest bastard in the guild."

He laughed. "That title belongs to Mercer Frey, I'm afraid."

"So does the title 'Guild Master'," I pointed out.

"Hey, don't get me wrong," said the Bosmer, still smiling. "The man has my total and deepest respect. It's just, y'know, he's no Gallus is all."

"No, I don't know," I frowned. "He's no what?"

"'Who'," he corrected me, seeming to remember who he was talking to. "Gallus was the previous Guild Master long, long before you joined us. He was much less... cranky."

Everyone is less cranky than Mercer, I recalled thinking as the memory arose unbidden while I climbed up the steps to the Shrine of Talos. Niruin had refused to say much more about Gallus after that, ignoring my questions with such expertise that it made me wonder if he had siblings.

Of course, mention of a previous Guild Master had made me curious. The thought hadn't really occurred to me at the time that there had been someone before Mercer, and Niruin's stubborn silence on the topic coupled with the increasing quiescence around the Guild drove me to books. Some lay around the Guild, but most I 'borrowed'.

Sine then, the only book I'd managed to find with even a mention Gallus' name was called Fall From Glory, a recent publication theorizing about the Thieves Guild's decline, and it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. It was frustrating, but when I had a book in my hand and felt the musty pages between my fingers, I found that reading was actually pretty enjoyable. Between the scarce jobs, the training, and the drinking, reading had asserted itself as one of my few hobbies to stave off boredom and to unwind.

It was odd. I hadn't thought about that day with Niruin in ages, and suddenly, here it was, flashing through my mind like it was yesterday. I was reminded of the book, the fourth volume of A Dance in Fire, sitting on my dresser back in the Cistern, suddenly wishing I could just sit down and read it now to lower my anxiety levels.

I shook my head, telling myself to focus. If my mind kept drifting off like that, sooner or later something would happen, and chances were it would suck. A lot.

A quick glance over my shoulder told me no one was following me, and I slipped deftly through the heavy metal doors of the Shrine.

"Eltrys?" I groped, searching for his silhouette against the candle glow around Talos.

"Kasha," he said, sounding as relieved as the first time I'd walked in. I saw his shadowed form rise from a sitting position by the right pillar.

"Hey," I said. "I've got your evidenc–"

"There's been another murder."

I froze. "What?"

"Another murder. Betrid Silver-Blood."

I strode towards Eltrys. "Silver-Blood?"

"Yes, Thonar Silver-Blood's wife. Right in his own home," he growled. "It was the Forsworn again. I knew the Silver-Bloods would be involved."

"More involved than you think," I said, reaching into my cuirass pocket and handing him Margret's red journal.

But something's not right.

Like me, Eltrys flipped directly to Margret's latest entry, and I could see his eyes drinking in the page hungrily.

"She was a spy?" he said softly, tone not giving anything away. "Investigating Thonar Silver-Blood?"

My brow wrinkled in a tight frown. "Yes."

But that's what's wrong with the picture. The Silver-Blood's are Nords. Why help them by slaughtering Margret and then turn around and murder Thonar's wife? It doesn't make sense.

I didn't say anything else as Eltrys found the note to Weylin and quickly absorbed that too while I stood by patiently.

"Any idea who N is?" He glanced up, and his eyes widened in shock. "By the Nine. What happened to your face?"

I blinked, forgetting for a moment what he meant until the reminder sent another flare of pain through my jaw.

"I found out who N is," I grumbled, rubbing it tenderly. "That's what happened."

"Really?" His eyes lit up, reflecting the candles around Talos' imposing figure. "I mean, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," I waved away his concern. "It looks worse than it actually is."

It wasn't swollen or anything, but the discoloring was getting more obvious, and it worried me that the bruise was visible even in this dim lighting. He nodded, only half convinced.

"N's someone who goes by the name Nepos the Nose." I said, getting back to business.

Eltrys turned and his face darkened. "Nepos," he repeated thoughtfully, chewing on his thumbnail. "I had a feeling the old man was involved in this. Anyways – " he faced me again, trying to smile. "You've done more than I ever would have thought in the time you did it. You've deserved this."

1200 gold for a worn out journal and a piece of paper. Not bad for a couple hours of work, if I do say so myself. That's 600 per piece, and much more than I would have made from Delvin or Vex on one of their jobs to be certain. I could feel a grin that would put a sabertooth to shame spread across my face as I felt the weight of the two pouches in my hand.

"Pleasure doing business with you, good sir," I said giddily, storing them safely.

"And you." We stood awkwardly for a moment, me waiting for the inevitable question he was bound to pop, and him drawing up the courage to ask. "Kasha..." he began at last, and I waited again while he searched for words in his mind. "Kasha, I'm grateful for all you have done for me. In such a short time you have already accomplished more than I have in years."

"You know I don't appreciate beating around the bush, Eltrys."

You know what he's going to ask, said the sane voice in my head again. Quit while you're ahead, and channel your energy into finding Sam.

"Sorry," he said. "I really do hope you understand how grateful I am though. But, um, listen. I have more gold in it for you, and I figured, since you seem to be a natural at this, if you wouldn't consider investigating some more about Nepos or Thonar?"

He was so timid that I almost threw back my head and laughed. A little chuckle did escape, but it was quickly cut off when the movement disturbed my bruise.

"What's so funny?" he asked indignantly.

"Nothing, nothing," I said, lips still curled. "I'll do it."

I'll do it.

My words still rang in my head after I left Eltrys and the Shrine, my voice echoing aimlessly. It was late now, but the high from receiving all that gold made my heart pound like a drum. I knew I should go rent a room at the Silver-Blood Inn and get some much needed rest, but my blood was rushing as if a dam had exploded in my veins.

I'll do it...

"I'll do it!" I said, overzealous and overeager to prove myself.

"You?" Niruin laughed, and I shot him a murderous glare.

"Now, now, kids," Delvin drawled. "Don't make me separate you."

I folded my arms across my chest, noticing Brynjolf trying to hide an amused smile behind a gloved hand. When I turned my glare towards him, he quickly composed himself, clearing his throat.

"Sorry, lass," he said. "But Mercer wants Vex on this job. Maven thinks something suspicious is going on and wants the best on this job."

"Vex isn't even going to be back for another two months," I complained.

"A couple months extra for you t'get some more experience under your belt. You're a bit too green to do a job this big yet I say," Delvin said.

"Green?" I bristled, standing up at the table the four of us were sitting at. "Green? I've been a member of this Guild –"

"A lot shorter than everyone else," Delvin interrupted sharply, snapping me out of my anger. "Some of us have been members of the Thieves Guild for longer than you've been stealin' period. So don't argue with Brynjolf, girl. He's second in command for a reason. Vex is the best at what she does, but if Maven's suspicions are correct, then even she'll have trouble with this job, I reckon."

I opened my mouth to say something but jumped as a thick, muscular arm draped around my shoulders, and looked up to see Thrynn grinning goofily down at me. Thrynn was one of the larger members of the guild, strong as a mammoth and a good head taller than me with the typical shoulder length dirty blonde hair and blue eyed traits of a Nord. It irritated me that I hadn't heard him come into the Ragged Flagon, especially after Delvin had just called me green, but his interruption came at a good time or my wounded pride might have caused some serious damage.

"What job is this?" he asked.

"Something going on with one of Maven's honey producers," Brynjolf answered, relieved that the tension had dissipated.

"Ah, yes," Thrynn said. "Heard about that. Goldenglow, right? Delvin and Brynjolf are right on this one. It's best to avoid getting in Maven's cross hairs, even if we are on her side. Trust me, Kasha."

I just grunted in response.

"Hey Delv, you got a job for us? I haven't been out for a while and I don't want my skills to get rusty. Niruin's been hogging the newbie all to himself for the past month, so I think it's my turn with her. "

He glanced at Niruin as he said this who just shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Take her."

"I'm not even new anymore," I said, grabbing the ex-bandit's hand and twirling out from under his arm like a dancer.

"You're newer than the rest," he construed with a shrug. "Until we get another recruit to pick on, you'll always be the newbie of the family."

"I don't want to be coddled. I'm good at what I do."

"We ain't coddling you, Kasha, and I certainly didn't mean to say you aren't good at what you do," Delvin said in apology, realizing that he might have come across a little harsh. "But in regards to yer question, Thrynn, I believe I actually do have a job the two of you can do."

I was in front of an unfamiliar door in the opposite direction from the inn when a guard strolled by with a torch held high, snapping me out of the second memory I'd succumbed to. He regarded me suspiciously as he passed but otherwise said nothing, and I watched as he walked away with his light source, thinking that perhaps I really was tired since I kept getting distracted by these memories.

It was at Nepos' house, I knew, despite never having been there. Eltrys had given me directions just moments earlier. The riverside of the City of Stone, where the Warrens was, was barren and wasted and rotting. But at least you could see the rot. This side of Markarth looked pretty with its identical Dwarven metal doors built into the mountain, with hardly any sign of of the rot that ate at the city's bones. And that was the scariest part. How oblivious the people and visitors could be to what was underneath, that is. The amount of indifference was perhaps worse than the actual participation here. At least in Riften people could recognize corruption when they saw it.

I recalled Mjoll the Lioness just then, the self proclaimed protector of Riften, and how much trouble she'd given Thrynn and me after we'd returned from that mission Delvin had given us, and I couldn't help but smile. She hadn't known who she was tracking, but she chased us around Riften for a good two and half hours before we finally evaded her for good. It hadn't been that long ago either. If there was one thing that Markarth needed, it was a Mjoll or three.

I never would have guessed that I'd end up missing the Lioness, I thought with dry humour.

Nepos the Nose's house wasn't anything special. A normal house built into the rocky foundation with a normal double door illuminated by a normal brazier suspended from the overhang.

I felt myself reach out and trace the lock on the door with my gloved fingertips, bending down to take a closer look at what I'd probably be breaking into tomorrow. I leaned my weight on the door to help me kneel, recoiling immediately when the door shifted slightly with a creak.

It's not locked, I realized. I was surprised again when I pushed on the door again to see light slash through the darkness from the crack to paint a golden line on the hard rock ground. It was joined by a heavenly aroma of what smelled like cooked salmon. I opened the door a bit further, the stream of gold flowing across the ground widening a touch, but I was still unable to see inside.

Just a little more...

Suddenly the door was thrown open, and I would have cried out had my heart not leapt into my throat. I threw my weight backwards so that I wouldn't fall forwards onto my face.

"Just what in Oblivion do you think you're doing?" a stern voice asked.

I stared up at the silhouette of a woman glaring down at me in the doorway with her hands planted on her hips, feeling extreme déjà vu. Senna had stood in the exact same position while chastising me earlier that day. My mouth opened and closed stupidly, a thousand words flying through my mind, but none through my tongue.

"What is your business here?" the woman questioned again.

"I-I, uh –"

"Uaile?" an elderly voice called out from inside the house. "Uaile, who is it?"

"Dunno," she called back, not turning away from me. I didn't move, uncertain about what was going to happen next. "Some sneaking Bosmer girl by the looks of it. We aren't expecting any visitors," she said, addressing me again. "The old man needs his rest, so if your business isn't urgent, I strongly suggest your come back another time."

"Wait," the voice called again. "It's okay, my dear. Send her in."

The woman looked shocked, and I imagine a similar expression lit my face, but she composed herself quickly and stepped aside.

"Hmph. Yes, Nepos." She scowled at me when I didn't move. "Well, you heard him," she said. "Get up and come in."

This is not how I expected this to turn out, I thought warily as I pushed myself to my feet and dusted myself off. I could feel her eyes boring holes into my back as she closed the door behind my stumbling form.

I walked down the narrow hallway that lead to the main room, awed by how big the place was. If this house was all one room, it might have almost compared to the Cistern. Almost. Two separate dining tables sat in the middle of the extensive main room, fully stocked with candles and sweet wine and food. A large chandelier dangled from the ceiling between the two tables, and two men milled about in a room further back, glancing quickly at me as I entered but they otherwise didn't acknowledge my presence.

"Over here, girl," said the elderly voice to my right, drawing my attention to an old man sitting on a wooden chair by a roaring fireplace in the corner, comfortably flipping through a book. "Forgive me, but my legs aren't quite what they used to be, so you'll have to pull up a chair from one of those tables and join me here I'm afraid."

I did what he suggested without a word, removing my bow and laying it across my lap so I could sit. My heart was a caged bird as I listened to the soft, almost lyrical rustle of pages being turned.

"I'm sorry about my housekeeper. She's a little protective of me," he said not looking up from his book as I positioned the chair next to him while keeping a safe distance. Nepos the Nose was aptly named I noticed when I managed to get a good look at him. His nose took up a good two thirds of his face and wouldn't have looked out of place on a giant. He was bald as an egg, with a beard that matched the fur shawl of his expensive green robes. "Now, what is it you want?"

The way he spoke so casually and confidently as if I was no more a threat than the cooked salmon on the tables unnerved me. It was clear that he knew who I was and what I was doing or he wouldn't have hired someone to come after me, so I decided to get straight to the point.

"You sent that thug after me."

"Ah, yes. You've proven to be a real bloodhound," he said, his attention still focused on his book. I felt a twinge of irritation. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to get so far so fast, but you've sniffed me out. Well done." My grip tightened around my bow's limbs, beginning to sweat nervously. "I've been playing this game for almost 20 years. Sending the young to their deaths," he continued, sounding a little remorseful. "All in the name of the Forsworn. And I'm tired. So tired."

"Then why?" I blurted out. I was genuinely curious why such a man, old, smart, and nothing like the typical Forsworn agent would do this.

"Because my king told me to," he said simply. "Madanach. When the uprising fell at the hands of the Nords, they threw him in the mines. I don't know how, but he lives. I get his messages, and I hand out his orders without question."

"And Madanach..."

"He is the King in Rags. A man who once held all the Reach within his grip. He stokes the passions of the downtrodden in this city. Directs them to kill the enemies of the Forsworn in our name. All from inside Cidhna Mine. A Nord prison." A small smile tugged at his lips. "The irony is quite thick."

My knuckles white around the bow.

"You realize that you've just confessed all your crimes to me. Even if people didn't believe me at first, there's no way an accusation of this sort could be ignored." I said slowly, my expression carefully neutral. "Why are you telling me all this?"

"My dear girl," said Nepos the Nose almost wistfully. He finally shut his book and looked up, solemnly looking me square in the eyes. "What makes you think you're getting out of here alive?"