Not a Vampire
Chapter 7: Not a Vampire
30 Rain's Hand, 4E203
The horse slowed to a stop, the driver pulling on the reins.
"There it is, Riften," he said, pointing to the large gate up ahead.
The two assassins climbed out of the carriage, Noela straightening up and stretching her back. After the long hours of sitting on a hard wooden carriage bench, she couldn't be happier that they were finally here.
"That was—such a long ride," whined Noela as they began walking up the path that led into the city.
"Just be thankful we didn't have to walk all this way," chuckled Astrid.
As they approached the closed gates, Noela spotted a guard standing outside, and she stopped in her tracks, a look of fear clouding her eyes.
Astrid stopped too. "What?" she asked in urgency, seeing the mage's expression. "What's the matter?"
"Um… I think I might have a bounty here," Noela began.
Confusion manifested on the Nord's features, before comprehension dawned on her. "Grelod," she stated.
Noela nodded.
"Were you seen?"
Noela thought for a moment. "Not when I killed her, no. But the children and the other woman in the orphanage—they've seen my face. The guards outside, I don't think so."
Astrid exhaled. "As long as we don't go into the orphanage or run into any of the people that have seen your face, we should be fine. Anyway, best find out now—but do keep your hood up."
The mage nodded and raised her arm to lower her hood just a tad more so the top part of her face was completely hidden. For once, she was glad that she wasn't tall.
When they reached the gate, the guard spoke up. "Hold there. Before I let you into Riften, you need to pay the visitor's tax."
Astrid sighed loudly. "Ask me again and I'll see to it that Brynjolf turns you in. Now, let us through."
The guard looked taken aback, before recognising her. "Oh, it's you! It's been a long time since you've visited, hasn't it?" Astrid didn't reply, and he went to open to gate, letting them in.
There was another guard on the other side of the gate who just glanced at them as they passed.
"They've been running that scam for years," commented Noela. "I remember the first time me and Lydia visited, we didn't know any better and paid it."
"It's been going on for too long, if you ask me," said Astrid. "As for your bounty, I think you're in the clear."
Noela looked over her shoulder back to the guard. "That's a relief."
Riften was how Noela had seen it last, and smelled just the same. The sun shone down brightly on the houses and despite the stink, it was a lovely day. The citizens of Riften bustled about, and the assassins walked across the bridge toward the inn before turning left, walking past the marketplace.
Astrid turned onto a path that led to another part of the city Noela had never been to. Past a manor and Mistveil Keep, into a place that resembled a garden.
"Isn't the Ratway the other way?" Noela asked, looking back toward the main part of the city.
"Hmm," said Astrid. "Yes, but do you really want to fight through all the lowlifes that live there?" Noela looked at her in confusion. "My dear, we'll take the special entrance. Of course, I'm not supposed to bring anybody but myself there, but, ah well, I'm sure they'll forgive me," she laughed softly.
They walked past a giant statue of Talos on the right, and toward a small cemetery. When Astrid made her way between the tombstones and to the coffin that lay under a shelter at the back of the cemetery, Noela frowned. "Their secret entrance is here?"
Astrid took a look over her shoulder to see if anybody was around, and seeing that there was nobody besides them, pressed a diamond-shaped button on the side of the coffin.
Suddenly, a loud, screeching sound of stone grinding against stone filled their ears and Noela cringed. Her eyes opened in awe as before them, a set of stone stairs materialised, leading down underground.
"Wow," the mage said.
She followed Astrid down the stairs and into the hideout of the Thieves Guild.
Once through the circular grate, the two assassins climbed down a rope ladder, before their feet finally met dirt ground.
"Here we are," Astrid said softly. "You might get a few funny looks, but just ignore them and follow me."
Noela followed the Nord through what looked like a kitchen area, various food and ingredients along the right wall, pots and pans on the shelves of the open cupboard on the left. They passed a dining table, and Noela saw the first couple of Thieves. One of them glanced up in alarm, presumably about to yell that they did not belong here, when he spotted their uniforms and settled back, narrowing his eyes.
They received a few similar looks from more of the thieves as they made their way into a large chamber, two magnificent waterfalls falling into shallow water that ran under the stone walkways and floor of the room. The smell though, gave away that this place was undeniably a sewer, and as she spotted the beds that lined the walls, Noela wondered how the members of the Thieves Guild could possibly live here comfortably.
The two women continued on in silence and they turned left, walking across a sort of bridge and headed for the corridor leading off the left side of the chamber.
Once they were in the corridor, Noela let out a breath. "They seem… a little hostile, don't you think?"
"Let's just say that some thieves don't particularly like assassins," Astrid responded simply.
They met a dead end, and Noela frowned at the Nord in confusion. She waited though, knowing there was more than met the eye, and a second later Astrid had revealed a hidden storage cabinet, or what was the back of it, sliding it open and Noela saw another passage within.
They stepped through it, and Astrid closed the trick cabinet behind them.
A familiar sight met her eyes, and Noela gasped. "We're in the Ragged Flagon!" She recognised the short corridor that they were now in that led to the Ratway Vaults, where Esbern had been in hiding.
Astrid led them out into the tavern.
"Hey! Astrid!" said a man's voice in a strong accent. "Been a while since you've visited us, 'asn't it?"
A middle-aged looking Breton was sitting at a table straight ahead of them, and he got up from his seat. Astrid continued to walk toward him and they embraced, the sight sending an usual feeling of repulsion through Noela.
"Good to see you again, Delvin."
Delvin patted Astrid on the back. "Likewise, old friend. You ought to visit us more often, I'm sure I'm not the only one that's been missin' ya." He gave a small wink.
"Is that so?" Astrid asked with a smirk. Then she looked around the tavern. "Where is she, anyway?"
"Went out for a bit, I suppose," he shrugged. Then he finally spotted Noela, who was still a way back, closer to the corridor. "Who's this?" he asked curiously.
"This—is my new recruit," said Astrid, waving for Noela to come closer. The mage did, giving the Breton a brief nod.
"I'm Noela," she said, extending her hand.
Delvin took it, giving it a firm shake. "Ah, you're a pret'y one," he said, his eyes roaming her body in a way that made her want to punch him. "Where'd you come from?"
Astrid rolled her eyes. "Let's try to keep this appropriate, Delvin, she's got to be half your age."
Delvin seemed to take offence. "I'm not that old, Astrid. Besides, you and me, we're roughly the same age, aren't we?"
The Nord scoffed, "Hardly."
"Ah, speak for yourself," waved Delvin dismissively. "Didn't stop ya from takin' what was mine now, did it?"
Noela could practically see the flames shooting from Astrid's eyes. "I didn't take anything, I simply beat you to it. Don't be a sore loser."
"Ouch," said Delvin playfully, though Noela thought she could sense a bit of resentment just beneath the surface. But, she had absolutely no clue what they were talking about. "Anyway, have a seat, the both of ya. Let's catch up a lit'le."
Astrid and Noela walked over to the table he'd been sitting at, pulling out a couple more chairs.
"Drinks, Vekel!" Delvin called over to the bartender, who was busy polishing tankards behind the bar.
Noela looked around, seeing that the only other occupants of the tavern at the moment were a Redguard woman, who was sitting at the bar, and another man, tall and rough with a blond beard, that was walking the perimeter of the chamber, out across the water that also flooded much of the floor of this room.
"So, what've you been up to, Astrid? It's been months since you've visited. Too busy to visit friends now, eh? Not got anything nice for me to look at?"
"Uh," began Astrid. "Yes, I've been busy. Mostly with trying to find new recruits on top of my usual work with setting up contracts with clients. The Brotherhood is struggling just like your Guild, as I'm sure I've told you before."
Delvin scratched his chin. "Yeah, I figured as much," he said, then gazed to Noela. "But you got yourself a new one. She any good?" he asked, and Noela narrowed her eyes. She didn't particularly like that he was speaking about her like she wasn't there.
"She's absolutely wonderful," Astrid said fondly, patting Noela's shoulder as she was sitting beside her. The mage's cheeks involuntarily began to flush which was put to a sudden stop when Astrid added, "An excellent killer."
"That so?" asked Delvin, peering more closely at her. "Wait a second—are you?" Noela could see the grin that was spreading across Astrid's face. "Are you the Dragonborn?" He gaped at the mage.
Noela nodded slowly. Then she lowered her hood so he could better see her face.
"Blimey," he said in awe. "How in the name of the Gods did you get her on your side, Astrid?" he asked, eyes not leaving Noela's.
"Oh," Astrid began teasingly. "It was more luck than anything. Dearest Noela here stole one of our contracts; unintentional, I'm sure," she glanced at the mage. "I found her, intending to collect our debt, and she proved herself to me. She's the one who offed old Grelod, you know," she added, and Delvin's eyes went wide.
"No! You—killed her?" he asked Noela.
Noela just nodded.
Delvin continued to stare at her, shaking his head. "But you're the Dragonborn! And you committed murder?"
She just shrugged, not liking that the conversation was now back on the topic of her being a murderer. She said nonchalantly, "I did it for the kids. If anything, it was a good deed."
"By the Eight," he chuckled. "Wait till everyone hears this."
"Oh, don't go yapping about, Delvin," interrupted Astrid. "The last thing we want is to have Noela thrown in jail. What are the rumours, anyway? Does anyone know who killed Grelod the Kind?"
Delvin shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Think the woman that runs the orphanage now gave a description, but unless Noela sees her, don't think it's anything to worry about. Besides," he said with a wink, "I'm sure the lovely citizens of Riften are just as happy to see her dead, what with the shopkeepers always complaining about her sharp tongue. So, you did the whole of Riften a favour, Noela." He gave a smile, the wrinkles beside his eyes showing clearly.
"That was my intention," said Noela coolly, and Astrid laughed. The sound made the pit of Noela's belly flutter with a nervous sort of pleasure and she wanted to say something else that was funny, but she couldn't think of anything.
Just then, a loud creaking sound erupted from where the trick cabinet was, breaking both Noela's reverie and the silence of the Ragged Flagon. All three heads turned to see who the new arrival was.
Noela's eyes landed on the woman who had just emerged from the shadows of the corridor, and was mildly surprised to see a scowling, albeit attractive, woman with a head of platinum blonde hair walking towards their table.
The woman's eyes briefly met Noela's and the mage was briefly taken aback at her orange eyes that almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the tavern, although she was clearly no vampire. Her skin though, had a pale complexion that could rival any of the bloodsuckers that Noela had encountered.
Noela frowned. This woman was obviously an Imperial, but she didn't think she'd ever seen an Imperial with this light a skin tone before.
"Lit'le Vex," said Delvin, pulling out the spare chair beside him. "Guess who's 'ere to see ya?"
Vex then noticed Astrid, and her eyes widened in surprise. Noela thought she was just about to crack a smile or something but she just gave a courteous nod toward the Nord and sat down.
"Dearest Vex," said Astrid in a purr. "It's good to see you again."
"Been busy, have you?" responded Vex almost rudely. Or perhaps she was just curt.
"Indeed, my dear. Tough times for the Brotherhood now."
"And Astrid's just recruited a new member," said Delvin, and Vex followed his gaze onto Noela. "She managed to recruit the Dragonborn, for the love of Oblivion!"
Noela felt quite uncomfortable as Vex scrutinised her. She could also feel Astrid smiling in her direction which didn't ease her in the slightest as she felt her pulse accelerate.
"Noela, I'd like you to meet Vex," said Astrid warmly. "She's a senior member of the Thieves Guild here. And Vex," she turned to the other woman, "this is our newest member of the Dark Brotherhood."
Vex inclined her head ever so slightly and Noela said, "It's nice to meet you."
"You're the Dragonborn?" Vex asked her and the mage nodded. "No wonder you look familiar. You've been down here before."
It sounded more like a statement than a question. Noela knew she hadn't seen this woman before. If she had, she would definitely remember it. Someone who stood out so; though she was brusque, she was also rather attractive. "Have I met you before?" she asked to make sure.
The Imperial shook her head, her expression still surly. "No, but I was in the room when that big friend of yours started making a racket."
Noela raised her eyebrows. She felt a tinge of offence on behalf of Lydia, but her surprise at Vex's bluntness eclipsed that. "My apologies if my friend caused a disturbance," the mage responded politely, wondering what was up with the woman.
She looked up to see Astrid looking between them with a slight crease on her brow. Just then Vekel arrived with their drinks and he placed a tankard in front of each of them.
"Cheers!" said Delvin, and they all picked up their drinks and clanked them together.
They were taking their first sips when they were interrupted again by the trick cabinet, and this time a Nord man with red hair appeared, striding briskly towards them.
"Vex, I've been looking for you," he said with a matter of urgency. Noela recognised him immediately as Brynjolf, the one she had previously framed Madesi for. His eyes scanned the table and he looked surprised to see so many people. "Astrid, nice to see you, and…" he squinted at Noela. "D—Dragonborn?" he asked uncertainly.
"Hello, Brynjolf," answered Noela.
"By the Eight, what are you doing here?"
Vex waved her hand, "Yes, she's an assassin now. What is it you want, Brynjolf?"
He stared at Noela a few more seconds before snapping himself out of it. "Sorry," he said, clearing his throat. Then he brandished a piece of paper in his hands. "I need you, Vex, to go into town and collect—"
"If it's those debts again, get one of the newbies to do it," Vex interrupted. "They're always slacking off in there," she said pointing toward the Cistern. "I've got things I need to do."
"But," countered Brynjolf, "this is an important job. We've got to send a clear message that we can't be ignored. I know it's petty to you Vex, but it's for the good of the organisation…"
Vex looked resigned and even more annoyed and opened her mouth to reply when Astrid said, "Noela can do it."
All eyes turned to the assassin. "What?" Brynjolf said.
"Noela can do the job. She's an experienced thief, and she's got a bit of free time, right Noela?" Astrid turned to her with an expression of fondness and though Noela could feel a bit of fuzziness creeping into her, she was more confused.
"Of course!" Brynjolf suddenly said, clapping his hands together and turning toward the mage. "I know you do good work lass, so if you can spare the time, I'd really appreciate it."
Vex was looking back and forth between the other three, appearing just about as confused as Noela.
"Go ahead," said Astrid encouragingly. "I'd like to see for myself how you'll handle this."
"Er—" Noela began, peering from Brynjolf to Astrid and back again. "What exactly do you want me to do?"
Brynjolf unfolded his piece of paper. "We need debts collected from three citizens of Riften who owe us money. You'll find them here." He tapped the page before handing it to her. "It's not so much that we need the money, what's more important is that you get the message across that we aren't to be ignored. But, I don't want any of them killed. Bad for business."
Noela nodded in comprehension and tucked the paper into her pocket.
"Can you handle it?" Brynjolf asked.
"Not a problem," Noela said with confidence. It sounded easy enough.
In the corner of her eye she saw Astrid smiling widely at her while Delvin leaned forward on the table in curiosity. Vex though, was frowning and her expression conveyed that she was not convinced Noela could pull it off.
Noela was determined not to let any of them down.