Sarila made extra sure to hide her backpack full of stolen jewelry in an unsuspecting place. It was near 9:50 in the morning. Brynjolf had told her to meet him in the market at 10 o'clock sharp. Sarila knew she would need luck on her side for this job.

This job could be really risky…time to perform my regular luck ritual.

Sarila reached for her ebony dagger. She wiped it off to make sure it wasn't contaminated by disease it might have picked up. She closed her eyes and clutched the dagger's hilt in her palm.

Father, mother, sweet, sweet brother, I call for your help today…

Grant me the power of strength like a tower, and not like a tree might sway…

Give me the swiftness and wits of a steed; these are the qualities I just might need…

Thank you for your love, your gazes above, and with caution, I will succeed.

Sarila finished her prayer by grasping her dagger and making a slight cut on the scar of her right cheek. She felt the blood ooze out, but she didn't mind. It actually felt comforting to her.

Sarila had told Lyvette earlier that she was going to help someone and that she'd be back soon. Technically, Sarila thought, it was true, since she was assisting Brynjolf in his business. She opened the old wooden doors of the Bee and Barb and exited the Inn, feeling the cool, crisp air greet her face.

Sarila strode to the marketplace, earning strange looks, probably from the cut and blood oozing from her cheek. She looked for Brynjolf in the market. She noticed him standing in a market stall, peddling some kind of potion in a tall, red bottle. This time, he was wearing fine, embroidered robes and tall, black boots. Brynjolf suddenly noticed her and turned to smile, but his smile soon faded when he saw the gash in her cheek.

"Er, lass? You appear to have a slight—" Brynjolf was cut off mid-sentence. "I know, Brynjolf. I can feel it. Don't worry, it's fine. Really." Sarila reassured. Brynjolf shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat, lass." He turned his gaze to Brand-Shei, the Dunmer selling goods at his own market stall.

"Tell me when you're ready, and I'll create a distraction. You remember the plan?" Brynjolf asked. "Of course I remember. I'm so good at stuff like this that Brand-Shei might as well arrest himself." Sarila joked. Brynjolf's eyes widened with surprise. Surely, he thought, she was not this experienced. Brynjolf merely shook it off and straightened his back. He cleared his throat.

"Everyone! Everyone! Gather round! I have something to show you that demands your attention!" Brynjolf boomed, grinning ear to ear. Everyone in the market, including the guards, rushed over to see what the rabble was about. Brynjolf, with all eyes on him, continued his sham. "I present to you, the Falmer Blood Elixir!" He exclaimed, raising a red bottle into the air. "You mean like the Snow-Elves?" Brand-Shei inquired, tilting his head. "The one and only." Brynjolf replied, still beaming.

While Brynjolf explained the "Falmer Blood Elixir" and its properties, Sarila casually walked over to Madesi's market stall. She ducked behind it when she was sure no one was looking. Sarila rooted around beneath the stall and found a sliding door. When she pushed it aside, the strongbox sat before her. Sarila took out her lockpick and inserted it into the lock. She began to twist it and slightly angle it until the lock came undone with a quiet click.

Sarila smiled. This strongbox was so loosely locked up…no wonder people get robbed here all the time! Sarila took everything from the strongbox and put it into her new satchel. She kept the ring in her hand, though, as she was going to need it handy. Sarila calmly approached Brand-Shei, but made it look as if she were there to view Brynjolf's "miracle."

Sarila steadily reached her hand out and dropped the ring into the unsuspecting Dunmer's pocket. She looked Brynjolf in the eyes and blinked twice to signal that the job was complete. Brynjolf winked at her. "Well, looks like my time here is up. I'll be back tomorrow morning if you wish to make a purchase." The crowd dispersed, and Sarila walked over to Brynjolf.

"Well done, lass. Your payment, as promised." Brynjolf praised as he tossed Sarila a thick purse full of 100 Septims. Sarila's eyes gawked at the sight. "It's a wonder our plan went off without a hitch." Brynjolf told her. This caught Sarila's attention.

"Why? What's the matter?" She questioned. "My organization's been having a bit of bad luck lately. But if you want more jobs, more coin, there's plenty more where it came from, if you're up for it." Brynjolf offered.

I need to do this. For me, for Lyvette, for the good of everyone. "You got yourself a deal, Brynjolf." Sarila shook his hand once more. "You'll need to enter through the Ratway. There are a series of tunnels beneath the streets of Riften that lead to our meeting place, the Ragged Flagon. You'll meet my organization there. Good luck." Brynjolf bade Sarila farewell.

This could be the start of a new job…one that could support Lyvette and I…but I still need to look for Ytri.