Chapter 14

(T_T) I was up all night working on this chapter. Jealous Brynjolf is so hard to write! Time for sleep.

Brynjolf was strangely silent the next morning as they packed up camp and got back on the road. Liette watched him saddling the horse, the unspoken tension in his movements unnerving her. She readied her self to leave as well, not daring to ask what was bothering him. Soon they were back on the road to Whiterun, Liette seated in front of Brynjolf on the horse. She leaned in to him the way she had yesterday and he stiffened. Turning her head to look at him, she saw that his mouth was set in a hard line and his brows furrowed.

"Brynjolf, what's wrong? I hate to pry but if you're this distracted on the job you'll get us both killed" Liette said, frowning.

"Lass..." he sighed and relaxed a bit. "Ever since last night I can't seem to stop thinking about Gallus. He was like a father to me, he taught me everything I know. Karliah was his lover, she was such a sweet woman. It's still difficult to believe that she murdered Gallus" he said.

"I understand that it must have been hard" she said sympathetically.

"Aye. That isn't really what's bothering me, I mourned the loss of Gallus long ago" he hesitated. If he said the wrong thing it could ruin whatever tentative bond they were forming.

"To tell the truth...against my better judgment...I've allowed myself to become rather attached to you. The love that Gallus held for Karliah proved to be his downfall, I couldn't bear it if such a tragedy was born from my feelings for you" he said finally. His honesty made Liette feel as if her stomach had jumped into her throat.

"I don't really know what you expect me to say to that" she admitted. "What I do know is that I've been in danger since the moment I set foot in this backwards country. I'm not sure about you, but I just want to have some fun and enjoy the pleasure of your company before a dragon bites my bloody head off" she laughed.

Brynjolf was surprised by the simple wisdom of her words, a smile coming unbidden to his lips. He wrapped an arm around her waist and breathed in the scent of her hair.

"I'll never know how a youngling like you came by such wise words." He pressed his lips to her temple and a contented feeling settled in the pit of his stomach.

It was midday before they reached Whiterun. Brynjolf helped Liette dismount the horse and they stretched their sore limbs. They left the borrowed mare at the stables and made the short walk up to the city proper. The guards gave them a suspicious look but allowed them to enter the city.

"The Bannered Mare is this way" Liette directed, remembering her last visit. Before they'd managed to make it to the inn Liette was grabbed by the shoulder and whipped around only to meet the venomous red gaze of Irileth, the Jarl's housecarl. Brynjolf was instantly on his guard, hands reaching surreptitiously for the ebony dagger at his waist. Liette put out a hand to reassure him.

"I see you've returned, Thane Liette. I'm sure the Jarl will be eager to hear about your trip to High Hrothgar. You were gone much longer than we expected" said Irileth, suspicion evident in her voice.

"About that" said Liette, extricating herself from Irileth's grip on her shoulder. "I ran into some distractions on my way there."

Irileth looked irate, "Are you saying you haven't even been to High Hrothgar yet?"

"More or less. I've got some business in the city and then I'll be on my way there. I'm afraid I don't even have time to see the Jarl, give him my regards" she said, watching Irileth storm off.

"Thane? You're a thane?" Brynjolf gaped at her.

"It's not something I asked for. I'd much rather avoid having the eyes of the court on me, having a title like that isn't really conducive to being a thief" she remarked. "Now let's get going, we have a job to do."

"Gods above, woman. You'll be the death of me yet" he said, shaking his head.

Mallus Maccius was waiting for them in a secluded corner of the Bannered Mare. A gaunt little man with oily hair, he didn't even look up as they sat down at the table with him.

"Can't a man drink in peace?" He grouched at them, obviously well into his cups. Brynjolf cleared his throat. Mallus finally looked up, only for his eyes to widen in surprise.

"Brynjolf! Maven didn't say that you were the one she was sending for this job."

"That's because I'm only here to supervise" said Brynjolf, gesturing to Liette. Mallus seemed to notice her for the first time, he looked her up and down and she felt his gaze slipping over her body almost as if he was touching her with his oily hands.

"You mean this tempting little thing is the one who cleared out Goldenglow?" Mallus licked his lips, his eyes never leaving Liette.

Brynjolf didn't miss the thinly veiled lust in the disgusting little man's eyes and he felt an uncharacteristic rage building. He turned to Liette, who looked positively disgusted.

"Lass, why don't you go and wait outside? I'll get the details from our dear friend Mallus" he said, not wanting her to hear what he was about to say. She nodded, obviously relieved and headed out. Mallus' eyes never left her backside as she walked out. He turned back to Brynjolf only to see the anger smoldering in his eyes.

"Don't tell me you fancy that girl, Brynjolf. She's in the guild! Off limits to you, but as for me..." he licked his lips again. Brynjolf stood and gripped Mallus by the collar of his filthy shirt, lifting the much smaller man up onto his toes.

"Now listen here you little weasel, we're here for business, not so you can get off" growled Brynjolf, his voice deadly calm. "If I catch you looking at my woman again, I'll crush your skull. I'd rather pay a blood price to Maven than allow scum like you to lay eyes on her again!"

Mallus nodded his consent although a defiant fire burned in his eyes. Brynjolf set him down and he took his time smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt.

"Don't test my patience, Mallus. What are the details of this job?"

"Maven's competitor Sabjorn is planning on holding a tasting of his mead for the captain of Whiterun's guard. You're going to poison the mead" he said.

"Do you have the poison?"

"No, that's the beauty of it" Mallus continued. "Sabjorn will provide you with the poison. He's been having quite a pest problem and the whole city knows about it. The plan is for you to happen by and offer to exterminate the pests for him. You poison the nest and then move on to the brewing vats and contaminate the whole batch."

Brynjolf nodded, leave it to Maven to come up with such an ingenious plan.

"Alright, we'll head out then. The sooner I get Liette out of Whiterun and away from a piece of scum like you, the better" he remarked.

"Liette...what a beautiful name. I'll remember it" sneered Mallus.

Brynjolf took a deep, calming breath as he stepped outside to meet Liette. The fierce jealousy that had swept through him when Mallus had been eyeing her hadn't quite worn off. He truly wanted nothing more at the moment than to find a private place and claim her over and over again. But it would have to wait, they needed to finish this job or Maven would have both their heads.

Liette was sitting outside on the stone steps leading to the inn, obviously sizing up marks in the small marketplace. He tapped her on the shoulder and she stood, eager to leave. As they walked back towards the city gates together, Liette spoke up.

"Thank you Bryn. For sending me out, I mean. There's no telling what I might have done to that disgusting little man if he hadn't stopped staring at me."

"Don't mention it, love" he said, placing a hand protectively on the small of her back. She felt her heart flutter at his touch. They walked to Honningbrew Meadery together, a possessive fury Brynjolf had never known before surging through his veins.