Returning to Whiterun felt like coming home. It wasn't Cyrodiil but… maybe this chosen place was beginning to feel more like home than Cyroeiil ever was. I thought of the message I'd sent my mother. It should have reached her by now even with the war unless it had been intercepted. I wondered which it was: was she carefully thinking over a reply or had the war prevented her from ever seeing my letter? Or maybe there was a third option: she wasn't going to reply at all now that the truth was out. Maybe she'd pretend to neer see 0r -

Or maybe I was being paranoid. Life spent in three guilds (and hiding that from each) was making me overthink my allegiances, loyalty… love. I shook my head as if doing so might clear the confusion from my head.

After all I had a job to do.

I entered through the back of the tavern and snuck around a redguard woman who was delivering food from the kitchen to the bars and up the stairs. It was as simple as lifting the coin from the safe and I'd be out.

But when I was near the top of the staircase I heard familiar voices arguing.

"We've been standing guard here a week, no one's coming," Torvar grumbled.

"Our contact said -" Ria began.

"Our contact can shove it up his -"

My heart was beating fast as I hurried down the stairs and out the backdoor. I leaned against the stone wall and tried to remember how to breathe. Contact? The Companions had a contact and the Thieves Guild had a leak and while it was maybe a minor thing to either group, it was a big hindrance to me.

When my heart calmed down I snuck around the building. I was fairly sure the window I wanted was in the corner, that was where the ledger had been anyway last I'd come here on Thieves' Guild business. It was likely the safe was there too. It had been a couple of months ago at least. I looked at the ivy clinging to the side of the building and began to climb.

My heart was in my throat and I prayed no one down below saw me. It was a back alley and I couldn't recall anyone ever in it during broad daylight. At night there were some wandering drunks at times but -

Focus Everlee.

I pushed the window open further, slowly until I could haul myself inside. My muscles felt the burn of the trip but months of training with the Companions had made me much stronger than when I had come to this land. I looked around and felt my body relax as I saw the grey boring safe still tucked in the wall between two bookshelves. I went over to it and opened it to find it empty. I fought to keep a curse from leaking out of my lips.

Stupid Mercer.

Not that it was his fault necessarily. It was his leak but the real problem was that I'd have to report to him I couldn't finish the job. I looked forward to the response of that. He held the power to reveal me to the Companions. He could and would blackmail me. Even though this wasn't my fault. Even writing to him was a risk, with or without my name attached.

The climb down was uneventful and I stretched my muscles out before coming out between the shops in the main square and heading up to Jorrvaskr. When I reached I entered they were all gathered for lunch, save Torvar, Ria, and Vilkas. No wonder the man was grumpy. He never woke early enough to eat breakfast so he was probably starving.

The ruckus laughter stopped as I stepped down into the dining area. Jared grinned at me.

"Everlee!" he said, his new, lower voice still so odd to me. "How was Lynn?"

"Settled in a wonderful home now," I said, smiling. "They seemed perfect."

"Sit down with us, Everlee," Farkas said, indicating to the seat next to him. "You must be hungry from the journey."

I sat down next to Farkas and flushed as he wrapped me in a one armed hug. Almost as soon as he did the door to the back opened and there was Vilkas. I opened my mouth as if to explain but what was there to explain? It was just a hug and no matter how much he imagined himself his brother's keeper, he was an adult man. And… and he was glowering. I frowned back at him.

Then he sat next to me.

Again I opened my mouth. Why sit next to me if so angry? Was it his way of watching me?

"You're back," Vilkas stated. "No more adventures?"

I gave him a look as I shrugged off Farkas's arm lightly.

"Why? Would that bother you?" I asked him.

"Of course it would," he snapped. Then he cleared his throat and said, "Not."

I coughed a laugh and looked to him, amused but he wouldn't glance in my direction.

"Evelee, I am to become a Companion Thursday," Jared said.

"Your birthday," I said. "I'm glad I made it home in time."

"Me too," Farkas said.