Chapter 12
Prepare for fluff!
"You've got to be kidding me. That little bitch did not clear out Goldenglow" raged Vex. Delvin just shrugged.
"That's the word from Brynjolf" said Delvin. Vex was positively furious.
"Whatever" she snapped. "She'd better not think she's replacing me just because Brynjolf wanted a new place to stick his dick."
"Is that what you think? You don't wear jealousy well, Vex" said Delvin, shaking his head.
"Fuck off. Just keep her away from me" she snarled.
Brynjolf was once again woken by a knock at the door.
"Gods-dammit..." he growled. "I'm coming!"
Not bothering with his breeches in his haste, he grabbed the blanket to cover himself and wrenched the door open. To his dismay, Maven Black-briar was the one who had woken him, again. She looked him up and down and cleared her throat.
"Why is it that every time I see you, you seem to be wearing less clothes?"
"Uh...just a moment" he stammered, closing the door and searching for his pants. After he had managed to make himself presentable, he opened the door to face whatever problem Maven seemed to have with him this time.
"I heard that Goldenglow was hit last night. I just wanted to say I'm very pleased with you, Brynjolf" said Maven. "I'd like to meet the person responsible as soon as possible, I have a special assignment for them." She looked at him expectantly.
He glanced back at Liette's sleeping form.
"I'll send her to meet you as soon as I can, she was injured at Goldenglow, she may not be able to take that job immediately" he said hesitantly, not knowing how she would react.
"This job has to be completed in a timely manner" she said, frowning. "Just send someone with her, go yourself if you have to. Now go and find this girl."
"Yes, Maven. If you wait just another moment I'll wake her for you" he said. She raised her eyebrows a bit but said nothing as he retreated back into the room.
"Liette, wake up lass!" He shook her gently and her eyes flickered open without the resistance of the other day. "Get dressed, someone very important wants to meet you."
Frowning, she sat up, the ache in her ribs considerably diminished. She dressed quickly and braided her hair, still feeling half asleep.
"Ready?" Brynjolf said, cupping her face in his hand.
"Mmm, this person better be important to wake me this early..." she drawled.
"Cut the attitude, lass. You're about to meet Maven Black-briar, the client behind Goldenglow" he said, starting to worry that she would anger Maven. She waved a hand at him in acknowledgment and they walked out to meet Maven together.
"Hmm.." droned Maven, her lips pressed tightly together. "You're the one Brynjolf chose for Goldenglow? You don't look like much to me..."
"How about we skip the conversation?" Liette grouched, not fully understanding the gravity of the situation. Maven's eyebrows nearly flew off her face.
"You're a firebrand aren't you? I can see why Brynjolf likes you, it's about time he sent me someone with backbone" she said, shooting a pleased look in Brynjolf's direction.
"I have a job for you. I have a competitor in Whiterun, Honningbrew Meadery. I want them put out of business for good. Go to Whiterun and speak to Mallus Maccius. He'll be waiting to fill you in on the details at the Bannered Mare" she explained, looking Liette up and down appraisingly.
"I understand you were injured at Goldenglow Estate" Maven stated.
"Just a few broken ribs, Ma'am" replied Liette.
"I see. Due to the time frame for this job you'll need to leave right away, but I'd like you to be sure you can succeed. Take someone with you to Whiterun, whoever the guild can spare. I won't have it be said that I set you up for failure" she said, waving a hand to dismiss them.
They retreated to the cistern after speaking to Maven. As Liette climbed down the ladder several thieves she hadn't been introduced to yet crowded around her and Brynjolf.
A young man with mousey brown hair stuck his hand out to her to shake.
"Name's Rune" he said. "I just wanted to say that I've never seen someone with skills like yours."
She shook his hand awkwardly, not really sure what was going on. After several more introductions and congratulations, Brynjolf ushered her away from the crowd and into the training room to speak privately.
"Are they all talking about Goldenglow?" She looked a little shell-shocked, it had been an eventful morning.
"Aye. It would seem you've earned their respect" he said, radiating pride. She rubbed her temples, not quite liking the direction this day was moving in.
"Bryn, about what Maven said, I can't take anyone with me" Liette said.
"You'll have to do as you're told, lass. No one defies Maven and gets away with it" he said sternly.
"No. I can't. Brynjolf, I'm going to High Hrothgar" she said suddenly. "After I complete this job. I just know that it's the right time." He was a bit taken aback.
"Why now?" Brynjolf asked, more than a little confused by her sudden change of heart.
"On the island...I might have died" she recounted. "The man who broke my ribs would have crushed the rest of me if I hadn't used the voice. I used it out of fear for my life, but it was powerful...if I'm going to have this kind of...power, I need to learn to control it. What if I lost control and hurt someone in the guild?" She looked up at him with eyes full of fear, fear for her new family, and it moved him. He pulled her into his arms to comfort her and leaned down to kiss away her fears.
Vex's anger only increased when Rune came in to the Flagon chatting with Thrynn about the new recruit. They sat down with Delvin and tittered like excited children about the kind of coin she was bringing it. Burning with jealousy, she decided to blow off some steam in the training room. Beating the stuffing out of a training dummy sounded like the most appealing thing she could think of.
Walking into the training room, Vex hadn't thought her day could get any more frustrating. But the sight of Liette backed up against the stone wall with Brynjolf's hands roaming all over her was enough to make her sick. She stomped across the room and clapped her hand on Brynjolf's shoulder, spinning him around.
"I've had enough of this" she shouted. "If no one else will say this, then I will! You're acting like a child, Brynjolf. This guild is falling apart and you're wasting your time canoodling with some girl you picked up off the street! You're the guild's second, so start acting like it!"
Brynjolf didn't bat an eye. "Vex, can't you see that this girl is the most valuable asset the guild has right now?"
"She completed one job, that doesn't make her the gods-damn Gray Fox" Vex retorted.
"No, but Maven has recognized her importance. It's time to swallow your pride and give her the respect she deserves" he said calmly. "But as far as my personal life goes" his voice took on a hard edge, "you'd do well to stay out of it."
Vex began to screech at him again and Liette had finally had enough. Brynjolf's patience was not the right sort of approach to dealing with a woman like Vex. She stepped forward and her fist collided with the left side of Vex's face, knocking her down.
"Lass! What-" Brynjolf began, but Liette held up her hand to silence him. Vex was sitting on the ground, a bit stunned and holding her face. Liette stepped forward and offered her a hand to help her up. Vex stood and dusted herself off.
"I'm sorry" said Liette. "But you deserved it."
"Aye. I suppose I did" Vex relented, still a bit shocked. "Thanks, I guess. Maybe you're not as pathetic as I originally thought..." And with that, she turned and walked slowly back to the Flagon for a drink.
Brynjolf watched the bizarre exchange, trying to stifle his laughter. When Vex had left he turned to Liette and burst out laughing, not believing what he'd just witnessed.
"That was the best thing I've ever seen, lass! Nice right hook" he chortled. "How did you know she wouldn't have tried to beat you to a pulp?" He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, chest sore from the heaving laughter.
"I didn't" she said, rubbing her sore knuckles. "I just wanted her to shut the fuck up."
"You're so impulsive" he chided, ruffling her hair a bit. She shrugged.
"I wanted to take control of the situation. You don't need to fight my battles for me, Bryn."
He nodded stiffly. "I understand...but that doesn't mean I'm not going to help you in any way I can. I owe you for Goldenglow and I understand that this Dragonborn business isn't something you're ready to share with the rest of the guild, so I'm going with you" he stated. Her eyes widened, unspoken gratitude written all over her face.
"I-are you sure? I mean, I couldn't ask you to do that for me. Besides you have responsibilities here in Riften and it's sure to just get more complicated" she babbled.
"You're not asking. I'm offering, insisting actually. I won't hear a word against it" he said. "Go and pack for Whiterun. We leave in two hours."
After speaking with Delvin about handling the day to day matters around the guild it was time to inform Maven of their plans.
"You should tell Maven the truth, lass. She'll keep it to herself and keeping this from her and making a stop for personal business in the middle of a job will only serve to anger her" Brynjolf counseled. "I'll meet you at the stables when you're finished."
Liette had grumbled about it, but eventually agreed. She took a deep breath and approached Maven, who was still sitting upstairs at the Bee and Barb, reading a book.
"Uh, Lady Maven?"
Looking up from her book, she gestured for Liette to sit.
"Brynjolf and I are preparing to leave for Whiterun, but before we go...I need to make something clear about this trip" she said, trying hard to maintain her composure. "After the job has been completed I'll send you word right away. But I need to make a stop on the way back..." Liette felt like a fool, asking for permission from this woman. She opened her mouth to continue but Maven interrupted her.
"I don't want to know. Just get going and come straight back to Riften after you've completed your personal business" she warned. "I can't have you and Brynjolf gallivanting all over Skyrim when there's work to be done. Gods only know Mercer gives me enough trouble when it comes to that."
"Thank you" said Liette, relieved.
"Just get going, girl" Maven said with a sigh.
She headed out to stables to meet Brynjolf and discovered him saddling a magnificent horse.
"I didn't know you had a horse" she said, patting the dapple gray mare enthusiastically.
"I don't" he said slyly. "I have an agreement with the stable master. Lucky for you I'm coming along eh? We'll get to Whiterun much faster with a horse than if we took the carriage."
"Lucky in more ways than one, Bryn" she chuckled.
He helped her mount up and then swung his own leg over the horse, clicking his heels to nudge her into a trot. Liette found herself enjoying the warmth of his body at her back, his breath tickling her ears occasionally as they rode along. She sighed, relaxing against him and closing her eyes. He snaked a large arm around her waist and held her, a possessive feeling welling up in his chest. Whatever this woman meant to the Thieves Guild or the Greybeards, she was his now.
