The Road Goes On

by caffeinatedmusing

Teldryn Sero may well come to regret his choice to travel with Ceirin to Riften; thieves, crime, corruption, the odd dragon...and all this walking. All in a days work for one Altmer dragonborn, but not so much for the best spellsword out of Morrowind. If only he could strike it rich without all these complications. Sequel to One for the Road.

10. Chapter 10

Ch 10

"It's only for a week this time, I promise."

"Lad, that's what you said the last time. You were gone nearly a month! And the time before that. And the one before that. You say one thing and do something else. It's not reliable." Brynjolf shook his head.

"We're not even going as far as Windhelm. There's that old Dwemer place into the foothills with the cave below it…"

"I know it. There's naught out there but animals, bandits, or bones. If you need coin, take some jobs from Delvin or Vex. Work's overflowing. Show them you mean to stay."

He finished the last quietly. If the slouch to the altmer's shoulders and the way his brows pulled in over his nose was any indication, the message had hit home. Brynjolf wasn't above using guilt to get results but this was different. It left a bad taste in his mouth. He shouldn't have to turn the tactics he used on marks onto his own people.

"Vex thinks the Crown of Barenziah is out there. A good lead, anyway." Ceirin leaned in and lowered his voice. "So, technically, I am doing a job for her."

The crown of….Brynjolf raised his head to frown askance at the young altmer while he ran a quick mental tally of the value, the odds, and time involved to get out there and back…Ceirin was his most capable thief and one of only two or three he would have ever considered for a job like this.

This was far too favorable to pass up.

"Mercer never found it. If we could get it, doesn't that give some huge boost to moral or reputation or something? Not to mention a ransom… We could spark a bidding war between Dunmer noble houses!"

The older thief held up a hand to stop him.

"Don't go counting your coins until they're in your hand, lad." Brynjolf sighed. "If anyone asks…I'll tell them you're on a job for Vex."

"Alright. We're leaving first thing in the morning. And Bryn? Thanks."

"Don't thank me. Just get that thing, if it's there, and get back quick."

Ceirin headed out, his step lighter.

Brynjolf stayed and stared into his mead, wondering how long he would be able to sell this to the others if it turned out to be another of Ceirin's disappearing acts.