Guide:
Dwemeris
Thoughts
"Speech"
"Dovahzul"
Warnings/Disclaimer: see chapter 4
Chapter Warning(s): Headcanons, Thieves, mostly a filler.
A/N: My muse has finally returned from their extended fucking vacation, so I figured it would be a waste to let this story sit around and gather dust much longer. Thank you all so much for still being here or coming back! The past few months I had the worst case of writer's block I've ever encountered in my life. That said… I got some questions for chapter 59, and I'll answer those at the bottom of this chapter. Hope you all enjoy!
Last time…
I finish my dinner and add a single line: That's it, I'm going down there myself. I've more things to do than wait.
Chapter 60 – Dealmaker
As much as I despise the conditions, I quickly change into my Brotherhood gear in the Ratway, stashing my armor at the bottom of my bag before continuing and switching my axes for my dagger. I pull up the cowl, even, though not for intimidation as much as for blocking the smell of sewage.
The Ragged Flagon is as easy to find as ever, if surprisingly empty. Rune and Vex are pretty much the only members of the Thieves Guild present aside from their associates – the barman and bouncer, that is.
As it is, Rune is the one to approach me, whilst Vex watches carefully from her customary spot.
"Oh, err, hello Listener! You're… early!"
I decide to humor him.
"No, Brynjolf was just late. He was supposed to meet me two hours ago. But no matter, I am here now, and I can wait if it is an emergency. Perhaps you can inform me… Rune, was it?"
The man doesn't fidget, but it's a close thing. Being under the full attention of an assassin who knows your name must be unsettling. A bit like my first meeting with Astrid in a cemetery at night.
"Ah, yes, that's me. Did you hear about me?"
I give him a smile before realizing he won't be able to spot it underneath my cowl, so I nod my head slowly. "You are the one who searches for his past because of unknown runes they found you with."
Now it's his turn to nod, and this time, he gives in to the urge to shift uncomfortably. "Say… Etienne told us you were from the First Era, right? They must've had different writing systems then."
What… Oh. Well, I suppose it can't hurt.
"You wish for me to see if I know what the runes on that stone of yours mean?" I inquire cautiously, watching the thief carefully and crossing my arms. "Does nobody else know what they mean?"
"No one does. I've even taken the damn thing to the College of Winterhold. I must've spent every coin I made with the Guild trying to figure out what it might mean."
The College of Winterhold was built in the late First or early Second Era, but its oldest documents hail from the Second Era only. I… suppose I might at least attempt to recognize the script, even if I can't read it.
As I think it over, the thief retrieves a small stone from one of his many pockets.
"If Winterhold does not know which script it is from, chances are you are looking at First or even Merethic Era languages." I inform him in a low voice, even as I carefully take the stone from him and pull down my cowl so as to see it better.
After a few minutes of observation under the dim light of the sewers, I hand it back to him. "I can tell you what it is not. What you have here is not Daedric, nor Draconic, nor Dwemer or even Falmer in nature. Nor is it in any old Elvish language I have seen."
I pause, and watch the man's shoulder fall in disappointment. "How long ago has it been since you took it to Winterhold?"
"Five years ago."
I give him a small, reassuring smile and pat him on the shoulder. "Perhaps you are in luck after all. May I copy the runes onto parchment? I would like to send them to one of my friends at the College. He delights in mysteries such as this." I give the man's shoddy uniform a once-over, taking in the ruffled edges and half-torn belts. "I might even manage it free of charge."
"You – You'd do that? For a thief you don't even know?"
I shrug my shoulders and walk by him to get to the cistern. "I admit, it is partially due to selfish motives. I can't stand having mysteries unsolved."
It almost hurts to see the man's shoulders sag in relief at the fact that my aiding him is not a charity case. Keyword being 'almost'. I know of the honor amongst thieves that these guys hold themselves to.
For now, I will just pen a letter to Onmund and Ondolemar. Perhaps include J'zargo in it – that Khajit hates it when he's told he can't figure something out, so he should be devoted to the project, if nothing else it'll keep them all busy with something.
More importantly at this moment is to confront the Nightingales with their tardiness.
The Cistern is almost completely devoid of people. Perhaps most of the Thieves Guild members are just out on jobs. I do, however, see the infamous trio plus Devlin standing in the center of the room, and Etienne nudges the others as he spots me approaching.
"You couldn't be bothered to send someone up?" Come the first words out of my mouth, tinged with the dry casualness we all appreciate – it takes the edge out of the normally tense conversations we have.
Brynjolf shakes his head and grins mischievously. "Ah, there you are lad! Could have sworn I saw you dropping by just moments ago!"
Karliah swats the back of his head with a low, snide comment that I can't hear properly due to the distance still between us. If I'm right, it's something along the lines of 'behave'.
Devlin takes the initiative to start talking business without further hesitation. "Right. Good to see ya, Listener. It'd be nice to finally have some sanity in this place. Let's get down to it, shall we? I don't have all night, and now neither do you."
I raise an elegant eyebrow in question.
"I don't?"
Brynjolf picks up from there: "Aye lad, we sent out some feelers for that little place you were looking for. We just got the info we needed – Kagrenzel's location. Here, let me mark it down for you."
I hand him my map wordlessly and he places a small 'X' in the mountains near Mzulft. "X marks the spot, and all that. Before you go running off to fulfill your destiny, or whatever your plan is, we should take a look at what we all want to do with the Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild."
A deep breath, and I lock away the emotions of frustrated hope swelling within me with practiced ease. Business first. If I want to keep their trust, I'll take this seriously. I may still not be too fond of thieves, but any alliance can come in handy, and Etienne and Brynjolf for one aren't bad people.
"So we do. I'm afraid Astrid wasn't exactly in any state to explain what the relations between our factions were when the Family was handed to me, but Nazir explained enough for it to be clear – from what I understand, the working arrangement is something along the lines of 'coin for services' and not taking any Thieves Guild member contracts on our side of things. That, and bowing to Maven Black-Briar's bitching."
"Damn straight." Devlin mutters, rubbing the stubble on his chin. "That's the gist of it, at least. Form your tone, I take it you're going to handle things differently?"
I nod decisively. "I wish to make the 'coin for services' agreement mutual. As we pay you for things like redecorating or retrieving information, I propose the Brotherhood returns the sentiment in kind. We can do more than murder – Babette is skilled with non-lethal poisons, and I consider myself somewhat of an expert at retrieving lost items from ancient tombs, no matter how long ago they've last been seen. You could pay us for that without performing the rituals needed to summon us, as it's outside our… traditional purview."
They exchange glances. "I see no fault with it." Devlin concludes, and agreements are soon written onto two identical pieces of parchment by the Breton thief. "But, Listener, what about out… contract immunity?"
I shift uncomfortably. "I cannot influence on whom the contracts will be. However, I think I have found a loophole – though that comes with its limitations."
"Well, what have you found then?" Etienne asks after I pause to see how best to phrase it.
"The Tenets both mention not to kill family, and not to disobey superiors. As Listener, I am the highest rank within the Family, and could cancel any contracts on your members at risk of angering the Dread Father… Or I could claim the entire Guild as extended family, which would require that you stole nothing from us. Not even a Septim. Which has apparently been a long standing tradition."
The leaders of the Thieves' Guild immediately fall into a hushed discussion that I attempt to ignore out of respect more than ability to eavesdrop.
"I think I can live with being cousins." Etienne mutters under his breath, though Karliah scoffs haughtily. "I do not wish to anger Lady Nocturnal again."
"Hold on – Our deals with Nocturnal are business arrangements. We can make this out to be a similar thing. No stealing from the Dark Brotherhood in return for protection from their contracts sounds like a sound deal to me." Brynjolf chips in.
"I made no promises to Daedra, but Sithis is something bigger than that. Is there no other option?" Devlin asks me, and I turn to him with dead eyes.
"For me to obey the contracts and kill your members when one is placed on them."
The man winces. "Ah. I thought that'd be the case. How about we put it to a vote?"
They voted three to one in favor of protection from Dark Brotherhood contracts. "We'll have to check our marks a bit more thoroughly, is all." Etienne smiles at me, and I raise an eyebrow.
"If you say so."
"That leaves Maven." Brynjolf presses, looking at me carefully.
It seems a bit strange that they allow me to dominate the discussion, but if they did not agree with the terms they would make it known to me. Plus, I can have them all dead and I am in the minority, so I suppose it is also a tactic to keep me at ease.
Ugh, what a mess. Being Listener is harder than I thought it'd be. I should have brought Nazir.
But Nazir is hard at work tracking down prospective new initiates, so he would have turned down any offers to join me to Riften.
"As for Maven… To be frank, I refuse to bend my back for that incestuous bitch. Astrid may have ignored the tenets all she wished, but the Brotherhood is once more bound to the Will of Sithis. I can't afford to ignore the numerous contracts on her. She will die."
Devlin scoffs. "And where does that leave us? She's our benefactor!"
My eyebrows disappear into my hairline and I shoot back immediately: "If she's your only benefactor you obviously have been running this place all wrong. Are you the Thieves Guild or Maven's Guild, for Sithis' sake? The woman has done a lot of shit you wouldn't want to tarnish the Guild's name with, I assure you."
"And I suppose you have information on the Black-Briar's dirty laundry?" Brynjolf snaps, and I give him an unholy grin.
"Even better. I have proof." The files I gathered on Maven Black-Briar are more extensive than the ones I have on many a Skyrim citizen, because whilst she may have the gold to line pockets and the threats to hush dissenters, I have the titles of Dragonborn, Thane, and an equal amount of cash to burn.
Brynjolf only has to flip through the first three pages for his face to twist in disgust. "Do I even want to know how we've never even heard of any of this?"
"Some of it was in what could be salvaged from the Brotherhood's archives. But mostly, it is because my 'daytime occupations' allow me to face her as equals in power, standing… and finances."
Devlin nods at me approvingly. "That doesn't answer what we'll do when she's gone, but I guess we can keep ourselves afloat."
I snort. "I can give you high-paying jobs if those are what you're fishing for, Devlin. But they'll not be easy." A pause, as an idea pops up into my head.
"How about a test? You get me Veezara's belongings from Castle Dour in Solitude – he was the one who killed the decoy Emperor – and I'll get you 1500 septims. Sounds good?"
He gives me a lopsided smirk and reaches out his hand. "Deal." We shake on it.
I know for a fact they still have his stuff – under heavy guard, that is. He always carries some documents and even contracts around, plus handy potions, so if the Guild can get all that to ME…
"Does that solve the Maven issue for now?" Etienne asks, and Devlin and I nod in unison.
"Was there anything else?"
"Not really," Brynjolf allows, "But I can't help but note, lad, how this deal is mostly beneficial to us. Is there really nothing you want? You helped us with Mercer, and I'd like to repay that favor in some way."
There's really only one thing I can think of.
"I… have a network of informants, scattered around Skyrim. If… If you would be willing to add to that, keep me informed of anything important in politics, economics…"
"Sure." Etienne allows before anyone else can get a word in edgewise. "Anything we can get you you'd be able to get to yourself with a bit of effort, but I'm willing to make it easier if the others agree. I have some guys in Cyrodill and High Rock, myself."
"General information is a decent price to pay for all you've done for us, though of course, we will keep the juicier details to ourselves." Karliah agrees. "Very well. Do we pass it directly to you?"
"If it's too sensitive. The rest can be brought to one of my houses for my Housecarls to keep an eye on. Of course, my Housecarls needn't know the information is there."
The thieves exchange sly grins. "We can do that." Brynjolf grins, content with repaying the debt I never even thought was there.
If they want to be indebted to me, they can repay me all they wish. I need any help I can get.
"I believe that concludes it, then." Devlin signs the parchments with a flourish, and the rest of us follow. I take one copy, and the other disappears into the guild master's desk.
I tuck the parchment into my suit of armor.
"Now. If you'll all excuse me. I must take my leave. Places to go and mythical scrolls to hunt down."
Their knowing chuckles follow me out of the cistern.
A/N: I got some questions about the last chapter so I'll try and answer those here:
GalacticHalfling (Q: How did Fjaldi know it was 50 mins until new year?): First of all, thank you for reviewing! Your comments really make my day. I usually assume that the people of Skyrim have fairly accurate ways of telling the time, as they can do so in the actual games. I headcanon they have moon/sun dials and some sort of magical timepieces, a bit like the Tempus spell in Harry Potter.
Tichepotato (Q: Is 4E203 a typo & how thoroughly am I sticking to the canon timeline?): Yes, 4E203 was a typo. It should have been 4E202. And yes, I also take it that Alduin, at the very least, has to canonically be defeated by the 17th of Last Seed 4E202, exactly one year after he first appears. The Dragonborn DLC would have to be completed soon afterwards, like, maybe a month or so depending on when the Dragonborn beat Mirmulnir. But I did not use the DLC in this story, so I don't worry too much about its time constraints.
My Dragonborn is most empathically NOT going to complete every quest in the game. As you said, I had Onmund take on the Winterhold College questline, and Etienne tackles the Thieves' Guild's issues, for example. I feel, however, that having my story focus on just the main quest makes it feel… flat? Following a cookie-cutter questline without deviation would certainly make me miss a bit of originality. I generally have a similar line of thought to yours though – one person cannot do everything… But they can still chip in!