Chapter Twelve: The Thief of Riften

After some time the landscape below them changed from cloudy snow slopes, to lush green plains, to now a sea of yellow and orange forestry dotted with small lakes and ponds. Katara remembered the fall-like terrain from her travels with Teldryn. They were entering the Rift.

Teldryn had stopped shaking but he didn't open his eyes. Katara however was taking in every moment and every detail. The feeling of the wind whipping through her hair, the smell of the clouds, the change in the temperatures, and effortlessly gliding through the skies. It was euphoric. She indeed envied the power of the dragons, and understood why they were so prideful of their gift of flight.

Odahviing scanned the trees and rocks until his eyes landed on a certain point. He slowly descended and Teldryn once again tightened his grip around Katara's waist. Even she had to brace her hands on two small fin-like scales that protruded from his nape. He weaved and dove until he gracefully descended down in front of a house.

Around the house sat tall rocks, it couldn't be seen from the road and nobody would dare venture there from the road. This was the corner of Skyrim, not even dragons frequent the area. Odahviing lowered his neck and allowed for Katara and Teldryn to dismount themselves and regain their footing.

The house looked decent on the outside. It was wooden and had a covered front porch. It was dusty and dingy, certainly looking like it hadn't been tended to in years. Two large windows stood beside the front door. There was a quarry stone chimney sticking from the top of the house.

"This is the safest place I can find, Dovahkiin. I apologize for it's appearance.", Odahviing said as they stared up at the small cottage.

Teldryn had begun to calm down and started to walk towards the front door. "A bit drab, but it could be a lot worse. At least the weather is pleasant." He looked around him at the setting sun and the autumn trees.

Katara shrugged in agreement. "It'll be nice not being in an inn and sharing a bathroom with ten strangers." Her and Teldryn lightly laughed. "Where will you go now?", she asked turning to Odahviing.

"Alduin is surely looking for me. He's no doubt already heard whispers of my betrayal. I must deal with him accordingly, as the Divines see fit.", he replied back as he loudly turned around and faced the sky. "You have to stay here until then. Should you need me, Dovahkiin...all you must do is call upon me."

Odahviing lifted his head and flapped his wings a few times, slowly lifting off the ground. He hovered in front of Katara and Teldryn for a moment, kicking up dust from the rocks with each powerful flap.

"Until we meet again, Thuuri.", he bellowed.

"Thuuri?", Katara curiously asked looking up at him.

"It means - Lordship.", he turned in the sky and flew away, still kicking up dust as he gained height and could no longer be seen between the clouds.

"Yes...we could make this quite comfy.", Teldryn said as he looked around at the open room and floor in front of him.

Inside the house was an empty room, about ten feet in length. There was a dusty stone fireplace with cobwebs on it, along with a table and set of three chairs that sat off to the side against a wall. On the other side from the living quarters was a space that was just big enough for a bed and dresser. Finally in the front of the living quarters stood a door that led out to a small bedroom. Teldryn insisted that Katara take the bedroom while he chose to sleep outside in the room opposite the living quarters. She didn't protest him. There was already a small bed in her room along with a dresser and a night table. Teldryn compiled a mental list of things they needed in order to live comfortably for...however long was needed.

"All I need for the bed is some hay and cheap fabrics.", Teldryn said as he scanned the portion of the house where his bed would go. He then scanned panned over to the fireplace. "And a cooking pot for the fire. A broom wouldn't hurt."

Katara nodded as she walked out of the door and looked over the side of the porch. Down the side of the mountain and several miles down into the valley stood the city of Riften. Lights from businesses and streets and housing flickered softly as the sun set.

"Riften is the closest place to buy that stuff, correct?", she asked.

Teldryn nodded as he joined her at the porch and looked down into the valley. "Yes, perhaps in the morning we can go down there and get them. Looks like we'll need to become accustomed to Riften until we find out how long we're going to be here. We need somewhere to buy supplies and food, Riften is our only option. This truly is a desolate little corner of Skyrim."

"Desolate can also mean safe.", she added softly.

Teldryn nodded in agreement. He went to the fire place and started a burning flame in his hands, stirring the embers on the dusty firewood. "There's a couple carrots and a potato in my knapsack if you want to get them for me. I know it's nothing glamorous but it'll get us by until we head to town in the morning."

Katara reached for his bag and pulled out the two carrots and a potato. She found some thin sticks by the porch and skewered the vegetables. Teldryn took them and set them over the fire to roast.

The two of them shared a quiet meal by the crackling fire as nighttime set in. They pulled two chairs from the table and placed them around the fire. Katara had finished her food and was sitting in the chair with her knees up her chest, just staring into the fire. Teldryn was picking at his plate with one of the small skewers.

"Thinking about Ulfric?", he asked her.

Katara looked over at him and scrunched her face.

"Don't be coy. I saw the look you two exchanged before we took off on the back of a damn dragon.", he pressed.

Katara unfolded one leg back down to the ground and crossed her arms across her chest. "Ulfric is someone unlike I've ever met before. We...understand each other on a level that goes deeper than others because of what we share and what we've experienced." She sighed lightly. "He can read me like an open book, and I can read him. There's no doubt a...connection."

Teldryn was a little surprised at her answer. She didn't try to shrug it off but almost openly admitted that she felt something with Ulfric. He raised an eyebrow.

"When will you see him next?", he asked.

Katara looked down. "I'm not sure. It's not a priority now - this is." She nodded to the house around them, eluding to the prophecy in itself. "I feel like I've been at this for years, chasing the same rabbit." She seemed distant for a moment when saying that.

Teldryn lightly grinned. "Only we're chasing a dragon."

Mid morning came and Katara and Teldryn made their way to Riften and stood inside the city. It was a small wooden city that was built on the side of a lake. A small canal ran under it. It was two tiers. Where they were at lined small wooden streets and shops. In the middle sat a well that was dug to the lower tier beneath them where the canal and some housing lie. Around the well were some vendors selling food, jewelry, weapons, and potions. All the townsfolk were out and about.

"I thought you said Riften was a corrupt city? It looks very quaint and quiet.", Katara said as she glanced around them.

Teldryn looked around as well. "It's just what I've heard. It does look quiet."

They found a building that had a sign hanging outside the door that read 'Pawned Prawn'. They assumed it was a general goods store and decided to pop in. The shopkeeper, a middle aged red haired man, joyfully lit up when he saw them come in.

"Ah, welcome, travelers. Take a look around. If you see anything you like then give me a shout.", he boasted from behind the counter. Teldryn walked to one side of the store and Katara walked to the other, both to examine the shelves for the supplies they needed. Katara found a cooking pot but Teldryn said they'd have to pick up the hay at the stables on their way out, and that it wouldn't hurt to get a horse for supply runs.

Another customer walked in as Katara and Teldryn scanned the shelves for anything else they needed. The customer and the shopkeeper started quietly chatting.

"I've got a broom and the cooking pot, anything else?", Katara asked Teldryn as they met in the middle with their belongings in hand.

"I have a few candles and rugs here. You know, make the place feel more homey.", he replied back motioning to the small rugs draped over his arm. Katara had to admit that having somewhere safe and quiet to lie her head at night was a good feeling, even if it was because they were hiding. They'd been traveling constantly and staying at inns with several other people for weeks now. Her role as Dragonborn required her to be on the move, either running from Alduin or trying to plot his inevitable defeat. She didn't feel ready for that yet. She knew she was rapidly learning and becoming formidable, but she didn't feel ready yet to face Alduin. Perhaps having to hide wasn't such a bad thing right now. This had to be done the right way this time.

Just then a loud crash erupted behind them and the shopkeeper looked on in horror and anger at the customer standing over the broken gold vase that sat in the corner of his shop.

"What in blazes was that for?!", he exclaimed as he took a coin purse out of his robes and flung it at the customer. "Tell Brynjolf to take his damn money and I don't ever want to see another one of you in my store again!"

The customer caught the coin purse and quickly turned towards the door. Katara and Teldryn's eyes widened when they realized it was the Breton woman from Sadri's bar - the thief of Windhelm. Her long black curls hung in a low ponytail that was draped over her shoulder.

The shopkeeper rushed over to his broken gold vase and knelt beside it, fingering through the shards of it. Teldryn and Katara exchanged a look. They were running low on coin they both knew. They took advantage of the poor shopkeepers despair to sneak their way out of the store with the stolen items.

"Was that the same woman from the Gray Quarter?", Katara asked once they were outside and had turned a corner.

"It appeared to be.", he replied back carrying the items. "Let's go to the inn and get some food and wine to take back."

The Bee Barb was a decent looking Inn. There were several patrons enjoying their drinks and food and conversation. Katara was wide eyed when she saw two Argonians running the inn, one sweeping and one behind the bar.

"Don't just stare at them.", Teldryn snapped at her. She jerked towards him.

"I've only ever met one Argonian before, and he wasn't very friendly."

"Of course not. Like I've told you before, most Nords aren't very welcoming of anyone that isn't like them. He probably just assumed you were like most.", he replied as they walked to the bar.

The female Argonian behind the bar turned her attention to them. "What'll it be?", she asked in a raspy voice, her green scaley fingers tapping on the counter.

"Two bottles of wine and some venison chops, thank you kindly.", Teldryn answered her.

The door to the Bee Barb flew open and in stomped the shopkeeper of the Pawned Prawn with two Riften guards at his side. He scanned the room til his eyes landed on Katara and Teldryn.

"That's them!", he hollered as he pointed them out to the guards. The guards rushed over to the bar.

"You're under arrest for stealing, you can come along with us and make this easy", one guard said to him before placing his hand on his sword. "or do this the hard way."

Teldryn and Katara looked at each other, as well as everyone else in that inn. They both sighed and turned in their seats to face the guards. They complied.

Nearly an hour later they were sitting in Riften jail behind a set of iron bars. They had been stripped of their belongings, money, and weapons. It was stored in a chest on the other side of the room...a guard sat next to it.

Katara stood in front of the bars, resting her hands in between the cold slats. "We should've just paid for it.", she solemnly said.

Teldryn was sitting on a small wooden bench in the back of the cell, his torso slouched and his arms folded across his chest. "It'll be alright. We'll stay in here for a couple hours then they'll release us. It's petty thievery."

Katara turned to face him. "Have you been to jail before?", she asked accusatory.

He shrugged. "Once when I was younger. Killed a chicken in a town. Apparently that's very frowned upon. Spent a few hours in jail and paid a small bounty."

"But we don't have enough money to pay them off.", Katara reminded him despairingly. Just then the door to the room opened and a woman walked through and began whispering to the guard. They turned to look at their jail cell then the guard stood up and left the room. The woman walked over to the jail cell door and placed her hands gently behind her back, peering in at Katara and Teldryn.

The woman looked to be middle aged. She had short black hair that was braided at the sides of her head and down to her ears. Her lips looked to be a darker shade of purple and they were pursed in a skeptical look. Her eyes were sharp and narrow and she wore fine green robes.

"So...you two are the thieves?", she rhetorically asked them.

"Look, we're really sorry and we can return the stuff. I'm the Dragonborn and this is my blade with me.", Katara gently told her through the bars.

"I don't care who you are. All I care about is if you can make me rich.", she replied.

"Excuse me?", Katara asked.

The woman walked a little closer to the jail cell. "It's not often that we have someone try to muscle in on our turf. That can be a dangerous move amongst thieves. But a part of me almost admires you..."

Katara and Teldryn exchanged a confused look. The woman continued.

"That's why I'm asking for your help."

"In exchange for what?", Teldryn sharply asked.

"Your freedom.", she quickly replied back.

Katara and Teldryn fell silent again.

"I respect a fellow thief, and I think perhaps the two of you will prove useful for a job I need done.", the woman went on.

"We're not thieves - ", Katara spoke up.

The woman raised her eyebrows. "You stole from the Pawned Prawn, did you not?"

They both nodded softly.

"Then you're thieves. And if you help out our newest recruit in a heist tonight, then you're free to go. You'll earn a small cut of the spoils.", she said smartly.

"No, we'll just pay our bounty and walk out later tonight.", Katara told her. The woman made a sly smile.

"My dear, I fear you do not know who I am. I'm Maven Black-Briar. What I say goes in this city. I can see to it that you sit in that cell for a very long time."

Katara and Teldryn bleakly looked at each other.

Maven had a sly smile on her face. "So I suggest you go down stairs in front of the barrel with a lantern on it later tonight."

She spun on her heel and walked back to the door, motioning for the guard to come back in.

"Until then you'll sit in this cell of course.", Maven added as she walked out of the room and the guard sat back down in the chair.

Katara sat down on the bench next to Teldryn with a hard plop. Her mouth hung open.

"This is insane.", she angrily said but in a hushed tone.

Teldryn shrugged his shoulders. "Listen, we're low on coin, and if this is who I think we're dealing with then there won't be any bloodshed. Let's suffer through tonight and buy as much supplies as we can with our cut and stay in our damn house from now on."

"Agreed.", Katara said in a heavy sigh.

"I believe this is it.", Katara said as they stared at a large wooden door dug into the side of the stone wall. Off in the corner was a barrel with a single lantern on it, just as Maven said.

"If things get too...rowdy...in there just let me do the talking, alright?", Teldryn advised her. He was right unfortunately. She wasn't good at talking her way out of situations like Teldryn was with his quick wit. Katara nodded and they opened the door. They walked down a long winding tunnel that was stone. It was muggy and smelled like low tide. Perhaps they were underneath the canal somehow.

Suddenly the faint sound of boisterous laughter echoed through the tunnel ahead of them. They exchanged a look and kept following the noise. It led them to an underground looking tavern. It was rather bleak but there were fires and a bar a few people sitting around tables or at the bar. Some of them were wearing matching brown leather outfit. It was brown pants, brown shirt, and a hood sticking off the back that could be slid up or down. There was a small yellow emblem in the corner of the brown leather long sleeved vests, it was of a diamond shape with a circle in the middle of it. One of the men at the bar noticed them slowly walking in and stopped socializing to look. The gazes of the other patrons followed.

Katara and Teldryn didn't really know what to say. Eventually a tall red headed man wearing the brown leather armor stepped forward. He had blue eyes and jaw length red hair.

"So, you're the two Maven was talking about. Let's go somewhere to talk business.", the man said as he led them further into the tavern to a tall dresser in the corner of the room. All the patrons watched them move from one side of the room to the other. Katara and Teldryn exchanged a confused look when they were just standing in front of a dresser while the man fumbled with a key in his vest. He opened the dresser and stuck his key into a tiny lock on the inside of the dresser, popping out a false back panel and exposing a doorway. He led them through the hidden door and into a cistern. It felt damp and muggy and there was a large pool of canal water in the middle of the room. On the outskirts of the room were beds, chests, a kitchen, target dummies, a desk, and a living space.

"Welcome to the Thieves Guild, lads.", the man turned to them and said. He then faced the room and all the other members of the Guild walking around. At least 15 of them. "Gather around, gather around.

"Who are these two do-gooders, Brynjolf?", one member said as they all approached.

"These are the two thieves from Boris's shop this morning. They're going to help us out a bit by tagging along with the whelp tonight.", Brynjolf answered. "That's all you need to know."

"So what's our...mission?", Katara asked him.

"Just up the canal a mile or two is a little home called Goldenglow Estate. A rich old Bosmer lives there, he's been a long standing client of ours. We...move stuff around for him in exchange for hefty compensation. Lately he hasn't paid up. Here, meet the recruit who you're accompanying."

A woman with a hood stepped forward and removed it. Katara and Teldryn almost laughed. It was the same woman from Windhelm and from the Pawned Prawn. The three of them just stared at each other without saying anything.

"This is Fayleen. She's been acting as debt collector while still learning the ropes being the whelp that she is.", Brynjolf said.

"I told you I don't like being called 'whelp'. I can handle myself. I don't need help from these guys.", Fayleen said sharply as her eyes darted over to Katara and Teldryn.

Brynjolf laughed slightly. "As a matter of fact, these two are paying off a debt of their own by going along with you. Just clean out that old man's safe at Goldenglow and I may just start throwing high value jobs your way to see what you're really made of."

Fayleen looked upwards and sighed for a moment before nodding. She walked away towards one of the beds off to the side, presumably hers, and unlocked the chest at the foot of the bed. She picked up a few lockpicks, a silver ring, and a vile of white potion. She closed the chest and locked it back and pulled her hood back over her black curls.

"Let's go.", she said to Katara and Teldryn.

They were a quarter of a mile outside of Riften city gates and they still had not said a word to each other. Finally Teldryn broke the silence.

"Looks like we were able to find out your name after all.", he said. She scrunched her face.

"What?"

"Back in the Gray Quarter you wouldn't tell me your name.", he replied back.

"I didn't think it was important."

Teldryn scoffed lightly. "But stealing from me was..."

She lightly grinned. "Like you've never stolen anything before. Isn't that why you were arrested? My distraction wasn't enough for you?"

"Why were you smashing his vase in the first place?", Teldryn snapped.

"Like Brynjolf said, I'm still new so I'm just collecting petty bounties right now. Boris obsessed over that damn vase. It was the only way to get him to pay up.", she smiled again. "Worked, didn't it?"

Fayleen looked behind her at the two of them. "What are you two doing in Riften anyway? I thought you had some Dragonborn stuff to do.", she added.

"We live up the mountain a ways. Just laying over for a while in the hold.", Katara answered.

"Well, I'm sure this isn't how you imagined you'd be spending your vacation.", she said sarcastically.

Just then a rustling came from the shrubbery ahead of them, the sound of snarling and growling followed. Teldryn unsheathed his sword and Katara drew her greatsword. A large red eyed wolf stepped out of the bushes and walked its way closer to the three of them, his fur was black as the night and he was foaming and drooling from his muscular jaws.

Fayleen was in between the two of them and the wolf. Teldryn went to leap in front of her but she had extended her palms and began forming an ice crystal in her hands. She formed a large sharp crystal and flung it at the wolf with fury. It hit the wolf square in the shoulder with a loud crack, piercing it's fur and cutting to the bone. It cried out and stumbled back, falling to the ground and dying. Katara and Teldryn lowered their weapons.

"Impressive.", Teldryn admitted in light of her magicka. He then held out his palm and formed a burning fireball in his hand, showing her.

Fayleen nodded. "I figured being a Dunmer you were a spellsword. I tell you what, the next wolf is yours so we can see those flames in action."

Teldryn and Fayleen smiled at each other but then she quickly scrunched back her face and turned to keep walking.

Fayleen had halted Katara and Teldryn several feet away from Goldenglow Estate, a nice wooden home with dimly lit lanterns outside. The three of them crouched down in the bushes.

"The side window is probably our best way in. I'll sneak in and unlock the front door for you two. The old elf is bound to be asleep at this hour.", Fayleen instructed them in a whisper. They saw her slip the silver ring out of her vest and onto her ring finger.

"What's that for?", Katara whispered back.

"I've enchanted it with a spell to muffle the sound of my movement slightly. Helps when trying to be silent.", she responded back looking down at the ring.

Fayleen crouched her way to the side of the house and pried open the window very gently. Katara and Teldryn tiptoed their way to the front door and waited off to the side. Fayleen managed to silently crawl through the window and roll to the floor, resuming a crouch. The house was dark, a good sign that the owner had indeed gone to bed. She carefully slunk her way to the front door and turned the lock quietly. She opened it and met Katara and Teldryn.

"You follow me to the safe.", Fayleen instructed as she nodded to Katara. "And you stay close to the old elf's room in case he wakes up. You seem know some magicka - stall him by whatever means necessary...without killing him.", she then told Teldryn. The two nodded their heads obediently and snuck their way into the house behind her.

Fayleen carefully led them through the living quarters and then up the wooden flight of stairs. They made sure to be extra cautious on the creaky steps. At the top of the staircase stood a bedroom and a long hallway to the left of it, a second room at the end. Fayleen motioned to Teldryn and he crouched just outside of the Bosmer's bedroom, the elf snoring just inside the open room. She led Katara to the left down the hall and into the extra room.

"What are you trying to find here?", Katara whispered to her. Fayleen had opened up her vest and plucked a lockpick out of her breastpocket and was hastily but meticulously jamming it into a lock on a safe in the corner.

"Anything of value.", she replied almost distractedly as she carefully thumbed the lockpick around, a clicking sound coming from within the lock. One jerk too quick and the lockpick snapped in half. Fayleen muttered something profane under her breath and pulled out another lockpick from her vest. She went to work on the lock again, masterfully twisting and prodding the lock until a successful 'click' was heard.

Fayleen opened the steel safe door and peeked inside. There were two emeralds, a fat coin purse, a gold ring, and a fine silver goblet. She smiled at the inventory and eagerly stuck her hand inside to gather it all. She handed the goblet to Katara to carry while she stuck the smaller stuff into a light bag on her back. She gave Katara a signal and began crouching out of the room.

"Aren't you going to lock it back so he doesn't realize he's been robbed?", Katara asked her in a whisper, motioning to the safe's open door.

"We want him to know it was us. It sends a message from the Theives Guild that we're to be respected.", she answered back hurriedly. "Now go."

They both crept their way back down the hall and found Teldryn waiting for them by the elf's door. Katara's greatsword on her back began to teeter over in its sheath due to how she was crouched. She quickly jerked up to keep it from slipping off and dropped the fine silver goblet onto the floor with a loud 'clank'.

The Bosmer man stirred in bed and then shot up. "W - what? Who's there!", he hollered out through slowly wakening eyes.

"Oh piss, Dragonborn!", Fayleen snapped through clenched teeth. She sprinted down the hallway and eyed Teldryn, waiting on him to do something. Katara followed her, hastily picking up the goblet from the floor.

Teldryn thought for a split second before extending his hand out at the Bosmer who had spun around in his bed and was about to stand up at this point. A light green ball of light formed in his hand then the same green aurora began forming around the elf, engulfing his figure. He suddenly went still in the spot he was in at the side of the bed. He wasn't able to talk or move. Teldryn's face was that of one deep in concentration. His brow was sweating lightly as he focused all his energy into the green orb in his extended palm.

"Go. Now!", Fayleen yelled at Katara as they scrambled downstairs. Teldryn backed away and followed them in a hurry, the green aurora still around the Bosmer.

The three of them closed the door and sprinted into the bushes, crouching their way through the small hills and rocks til they hit the main road. They were out of breath. When they were a safe distance away Fayleen swiftly turned to Katara, snatching the goblet out of her hand.

"You could've cost me this gig if we would've been caught!", she yelled at her. Katara shrugged apologetically and watched Fayleen move towards where Teldryn was, who was nursing his left wrist and still sweating on his brow.

"What did you do to that guy?", Katara asked him. Teldryn massaged his wrist and glanced over at her.

"A calming spell. It's harmless and only last for a few minutes, but it's just...taxing.", he said wincing as he spun his wrist around and flexed his hand. "You're changing someone's body, their mind for a period of time."

Fayleen grabbed Teldryn's hand and examined it. Then she placed one of her hands over his wrist. A light glow emitted from her hand over his wrist and he winced slightly before becoming less tense.

She removed her hand and Teldryn spun his wrist around, nodding at her healing aid.

"Better. Thank you.", he softly said to her. She nodded and continued to walk ahead of them back to Riften.

"Ah, so I take it the job is as good as done?", Brynjolf asked Fayleen in his thick Nordic accent as the three of them walked unto the cistern where most of the Thieves Guild stayed.

Fayleen threw Brynjolf the light bag carrying the safe's items. He caught it and peered inside before giving her a smile.

"We managed.", Fayleen irritatingly said as she turned to glance at Katara and Teldryn. Brynjolf pulled out three small coin purses and handed one to each of them.

"Good job, whelp.", he said. Fayleen rolled her eyes. "Maven said when you returned that you two were 'free' to leave Riften. Guess I'll be seeing you around, lads.", Brynjolf added to Katara and Teldryn before turning away and walking towards another Guild member.

"Are you coming back to Riften?", Fayleen asked the two of them as she pulled her hood down to her nape.

"If so, I don't think we'll ever steal again.", Teldryn said to Katara wearily but lightly laughing. Katara giggled back.

"Well, you wouldn't make a bad thief.", Fayleen admitted to Teldryn in seriousness. "You on the other hand could use some practice.", she added looking over at Katara.

"That's because I've got enough on my plate as it is...", Katara said annoyed.

"I could help you, you know.", Fayleen mentioned softly. "You could come along with me on small runs and get a cut. I know you need coin, everyone does."

Teldryn looked over at her a second then at Katara. He sighed. "If we have to stay here for a bit then it's wise to have some money for supply runs.", he pointed out to her. "I could go with her while you stay hiding at the house as much as possible."

Katara mowed over the thought for a moment. It wasn't a bad idea. She knew Teldryn could handle himself and as much as it would make her go stir crazy, she had to stay hidden. Being out right now was a risk in itself. Thankfully they were underground.

"It sounds logical.", she finally said. Fayleen smiled lightly.

"Come to our house tomorrow morning with a horse, or don't show at all.", Teldryn told her.

She nodded and turned to walk away.