Hoping to avoid Thalmor scouts, Tsuanr, the Thalmor's prisoner and Malborn made their way to wherever they needed to go. Tsunar made his way to the village of Riverwood. When Delphine saw him, she led him down into the secret room before asking for the results of his mission. When Tsunar told her that the Thalmor knew nothing of the dragons, she gave him a doubtful expression.
"The Thalmor know nothing? At all? You're sure?"
"Did you send me in to get information or just prove you right?" He asked frustrated by her reaction.
"You're right." Delphine admitted. "I was so sure it was them…" Delphine sighed, "Did you get anything useful?"
"Thalmor know as much as us, probably less," Tsunar said, holding the dossier. "But they think some guy named Esbern knows something valuable." Delphine's eyes widened at the mention of the name.
"Esbern? He's alive!?"
"I take it you know each other?"
Delphine explained that Esbern was a fellow Blade. She'd thought Esbern dead and herself the last of the Blades, but apparently the Thalmor had tracked him to the city of Riften.
"Riften? Probably down in the Ratway then. It's were I'd go." Delphine told Tsunar of the old sewers under the city known as the Ratway. No longer is use by the city, but a safe haven for the local Thieves Guild. Society's outcasts were also known to call the Ratway home, paying the Guild for protection, food and shelter. Giving Tsunar a description of Esbern, Tsunar recovered the gear Delphine had stored for him before leaving to retrieve the old man before the Thalmor could.
Stopping in Whiterun to pick up Meeko and Borgakh and tell them of their current task. The journey east took them only a day. No stopping for caves or bandits, sleeping only when necessary, they made their way to the City of Thieves faster than they normally would have. The city was mostly wood and had many of it's buildings on elevated platforms to keep them away from the lake below. Dealing with a failed shakedown from a guard and threats from a thug to stay out of some local noble's business, they stopped at the Bee and Barb inn.
"If we're in such a rush," Borgakh whispered, "Why are we stopping in a tavern?"
"If you want information that won't go down well with guards, you can either ask a beggar or an innkeeper." Tsunar responded "It's the way of things." The woman behind the bar was a white scaled argonian. Asking about a man of Esbern's description, the barkeep directed him into the Ratway, with the entrance being behind a gate under the market, on the lower walkway.
The three wasted no time in making their way into the old sewers. Tsunar noticed however, that someone seemed to be following them. He could see someone always close enough that they could see each other, but allways far enough that facial features were impossible to notice. Tsunar shrugged, thinking that it was likely just one of the Thieves Guild's members sizing up some possible marks, keeping an eye on newcomers or both.
They found their way to the metal gate with little difficulty. The entrance was blocked with the gate and a wooden door just beyond. Tearing the gate's hinges was less than a challenge for Borgakh as they proceeded to open the door to the sewers.. The stench caused Borgakh and Meeko to gag while Tsunar damn near passed out from the vile miasma under the city. Wrapping cloth around all of their noses, they made their way through the old tunnels to find the Thieves Guild's hideout. If Esbern was buying protection from anyone, it'd be them. And it likely wouldn't take much for them to betray him. The pair fought their way through skeevers and lowlifes to find a door with a sign: The Ragged Flagon.
"If there's a tavern down here, it's either from the old town or the Guild's hideout." Borgakh said ass he descended the steps to the door.
The Ragged Flagon was an eyesore. Expectations weren't high for a pub in the sewers, but the Thieves Guild gave the impression of slightly higher standards. The bar was situated near the cistern with tables here and there with food and drink set out for "customers." Each of the Ragged Flagon's patrons eyed Tsunar and Borgakh as they approached, turning away when the adventurers returned the gaze. Tsunar leaned onto the bar while Borgakh rested her hands on the axes at her hip, both feeling their coin purse from time to time.
"I don't know if the Flagon's the place for you." The barkeep said, approaching the unfamiliar faces. "People who come down here tend to go missing." Tsunar gave a brief chuckle at the threat.
"If these thugs think they can take an orcish warrior and the Dragonborn down, I'd love to see them try." Tsunar looked about as he pointed to a bottle on the shelf behind the bar. "We're looking for someone. Old man, bald with a beard, paranoid as they come."
"Get a lot of people coming down here for a place to stay." The nord replied, pouring the drink into a surprisingly clean cup. Tsunar dropped the smile as he leaned over the bar.
"Don't play games with me. I don't have the best temper." He growled as he allowed his eyes to change into his beast form's green hue. The barkeep began to sweat. "Sorry, did you say old paranoid man with a beard? He's in the warrens. Big iron door at the back." He chuckled nervously as he pointed Tsunar in the direction. Tsunar chugged down his drink and crushed the tankard in his hand before leading his companions on.
"What was that?" Borrgakh asked as they walked.
"What was what?"
"You." Borgakh gestured to her face. "It's not like you to threaten someone like that. At most you point at me or something. Never seen you use that curse."
"One," Tsunar held up a finger as he spoke, "Most people aren't instantly detestable like that lot are. Two, most people run the risk of telling people. Something tells me they won't be running to the guards about me. Anyway, let's get Esbern and get out of here quickly."
"Won't get any arguments from me on that one." Borgakh replied feeling her coin purse.
