Another chapter! Please leave a comment if you liked it! Criticism is always welcome as well.
Five days and many bandits later, Mordelia finally reached Riften. The sun was low in the sky and cast golden rays over the town, making Riften look like a rich city. But she knew it was just the opposite. Riften was home to the Thieves' Guild.
Sure, she'd once been part of the Thieves' Guild, until Mercer had tried to kill her. But that's a whole 'nother story.
As Mordelia approached the Riften gate one of the guards stopped her.
"Excuse me." He said. "You have to pay the visitor's tax before I can let you in the city."
"Visitor's tax?" Mordelia gave the guard a doubtful look. She'd already had this scam pulled on her before. "What visitor's tax? This is obviously a shakedown."
The guard shifted uneasily. "Alright, alright. Keep your voice down." He whispered. "Let me unlock the gate."
Satisfied, Mordelia walked into Riften.
Riften is a confusing place to say the least. The wooden path through the city is dirty and overshadowed by houses and inns. In the central courtyard is a market; beggars tend to frequent there. The only pleasant place in Riften is the Temple of Mara.
Mordelia stopped inside the temple and made an offering of a few septims. She had a soft spot for Lady Mara.
As she was descending the temple steps, she spotted what she was here for; Honorhall Orphanage.
Should I wait until it's dark? Or should I go in now and scout it out. Mordelia decided to go with the latter option.
Before entering the orphanage, she made sure to stow what weapons she could in her pack; so she seemed a little less formidable. If only I hadn't worn my Nightingale armour.
Immediately upon entering a young woman approached Mordelia saying, "I'm sorry, but you have to leave."
Ignoring her, Mordelia tried to probe for information. "Excuse me, but would you happen to be Grelod?"
The young woman seemed highly uncomfortable with Mordelia's presence. "No, Grelod is busy. You should leave."
Mordelia was slightly relieved this poor woman wasn't Grelod. "I can't leave without at least seeing the children." She pressed. "I am looking to adopt you see."
The woman became even more fidgety, looking almost frantic. "Please," She almost begged, "Go. None of the children are up for adoption. Try somewhere else."
Mordelia sighed in mock misery. "Alright." She let a small tear trickle down her cheek before leaving. Once outside, she quickly wiped away the tear and made her way to the Ratway, home of the Thieves' Guild. She still needed to buy some lockpicks.
As usual, the Ratway was littered with the riffraff of Riften; beggars, thieves, madmen, and of course skeevers. Skeevers are filthy creatures, Mordelia once caught a case of Ataxia from one.
Soon enough she was "safe" at the Ragged Flagon. No one is ever truly safe in the Ratway.
"What are you doing back here lass?" That all to familiar voice asked.
"Hello, Brynjolf." Mordelia said scornfully. She wasn't overly fond of Brynjolf, too full of himself if you asked her. "Is Tonilia around?"
Brynjolf sighed and pointed to Tonilia sitting with Delvin at the bar. "You know, we could still use your skill lass." He said seriously.
"You know what the answer will be and my reasons behind it, so don't bother." Mordelia walked over to the bar and sat down on an empty stool next to Tonilia.
Tonilia looked up from her conversation with Delvin as Mordelia sat down. "Well, look who we have here. Never thought I'd see you here again, Mordelia."
"Yes, what brings you here? Come to cheer up old Delvin?" Delvin said.
"I need some lockpicks, Tonilia. And advice." Mordelia said. She grabbed a bottle of mead off the counter and opened it, taking a drink.
"Sure, I'll get some for you before you leave. Now about this advice." Tonilia said.
"I'm not sure how to put this nicely, but what is the easiest way to kill someone without them seeing you or raising an alarm?"
Tonilia and Delvin sat in silence for a few moments. It was Delvin who responded.
"Well... Wouldn't a bow be easiest?" He said.
"Yes, but what about in an enclosed area?" Mordelia added.
This time is was Tonilia who spoke, "This sounds more Dark Brotherhood than Thieves' Guild to me. Are you planning on murdering someone?"
Before Mordelia could decide how to respond, Tonilia spoke again in a whisper, "The cleanest and simplest way that I can think of is a dagger in the back. But that would require extreme stealth." She paused in thought. "Unless they were sleeping."
"Who are you planning on killing anyway?" Delvin asked. "Mercer's already dead, so who else is there?"
"I have a contract." Mordelia said to Delvin. Turning her eyes towards Tonilia she said, "Catching them asleep sounds like the best plan. Thank you, both of you." She looked at both of them in acknowledgement. "Can I get my lockpicks now?"
"Yes, I'll just be a moment." Tonilia got up and went through a secret door at the back of the Ragged Flagon, leaving Delvin and Mordelia alone at the bar.
"We miss you around here." Delvin said suddenly.
"You mean, Etienne misses me." Mordelia said coldly. It was no secret among the Thieves' Guild that while she was there Etienne had become fond of her. After all, she had rescued him from the Thalmor. When Mordelia decided to leave the Guild, Etienne begged her to reconsider. She refused to stay, and hadn't seen him since that day. Occasionally, however, Mordelia gets gifts of septims from the couriers from an unknown sender. "How is he?" Mordelia asked quietly.
"Good. Making the Guild money." Delvin said. They sat in awkward silence for a few moments.
Delvin looked up. "Ah! Here comes Tonilia. Well, nice seeing you again Mordelia." He got up from his stool to leave.
"Wait!" Mordelia said, grabbing Delvin's arm. "Tell Etienne thank you for me." She let Delvin go with a word of farewell and paid Tonilia. Then she left the Ragged Flagon, back to the streets of Riften.