"You sure you don't require a shield-brother?"

"Aela, I've been jumped by larger bandit clans and handled them just fine alone. Everyone else is busy and Skjor's half-way out the door already and he needs you more than me."

The painted huntress shook her head. "Whelp confidence." But she trotted away all the same.

Elana smiled to herself. To the Rift Hold to deal with a small matter of stolen inheritance, then, finally, she would go into Bleak Falls Barrow. She had put off the Farengar's request long enough.

She didn't want any of the others interfering in her own business. That, after all, was why she had joined the Companions those few weeks ago: so she would be strong enough to handle things on her own. She wasn't weak anymore.

As she ran final checks on her equipment, Elana thought back on her initiation. There were still things about the moment she puzzled over.

Oh, her test went fine. Littering Silver Hand bodies around various buildings had always been a necessary deed, but now she understood why. Farkas had been forced into revealing his wolf-form. That was a hairy moment, if she could use such a pun.

Each of the Companions seemed quite happy to welcome her into the fold of their group. Eorland had even offered to craft for her a new set of armor, "proper heavy armor to keep you well protected."

She had turned the offer down politely as possible, preferring light and flexible leather to weighty iron.

Farkas had started to argue with her, citing how easily it is to cut through leather.

"I don't intend to let anyone close enough to do so."

There was a beat of silence followed by loud laughter from both Farkas and Eorland. Aela and Kodlack had cracked smiles themselves at her confidence spoken without a hint of dangerous pride. Skjor remained his surly self.

Vilkas, however, had a strange look on his face, as if the most unpleasant of thoughts crossed his mind.

It was that second that she pondered over, the possibility that she reminded him of something he didn't desire to ever see again.

But now was the time for work, not philosophical puzzling that would quickly lead her to chase the warrior down and drag an answer from him. She shouldered her packs and moved towards the door.

A strong, warm hand touched her shoulder. "Where are you off to?"

"The Rift to take care of those bandits."

"Sounds like fun." The hand slipped from her shoulder and Vilkas stepped around into her field of vision. "Let's go."

Elana sighed. "I was going alone, due to a private matter I also wanted to handle."

"Hey, you can march into that bandit hole and dispatch them all without my help; I know. I'm not going to pry. All I'm asking is that you don't leave me alone with a bored Farkas while you get caught in a freak blizzard."

There would be no arguing with him. "Come along then. Talos forbid you'd have to interact with your brother."

He only chuckled in response as he trailed after the woman warrior.

Elana strolled through Riften contented as a cat with cream.

There had been no freak blizzard and Vilkas was a pleasant travel companion. He couldn't sneak worth salt, hardly, but he didn't talk too much nor let an awkward silence descend.

And even better, he'd let her storm the bandits' hideout solo, only trailing along behind as a "walking knapsack."

The "knapsack" had the decency to find her a few extra lock picks when there turned out to be a second chest with a lock.

Now he was selling off extra loot, being the same intimidating presence that had gotten them through the Riften gates without paying a septim. She quietly admitted to herself that Vilkas could be handy to have around. Elana could probably tell him so without it going to his head.

"Never done an honest day's work for all the coin in your pocket, eh lad?"

Elana whirled on the speaker, a red-haired Nord standing in a market stall. "Excuse me?"

"Ah, my mistake lass. I'm saying you've got the coin, but you didn't earn it honestly. I can tell."

"My wealth is none of your business."

He smirked, toying like a tomcat. "Oh, but that's where you're wrong lass. Wealth is my business. Maybe you'd like a taste?"

The desire to smack the grin off his face was very tempting. There was lightness to him though, a hint of pure charm that was both irritating and endearing. To hit him probably would've had the same effect as knocking over a sixteen year old boy: he'd roll with the punch and spring back up, unruffled and still overflowing with charm.

"What did you have in mind?"

The question slipped out with hardly a thought.

If he noticed the thoughtless instinct of the words, he gave no notice. "I've got a bit of an errand to perform, and I need a second pair of hands. And in my line of work, extra hands are well paid."

"What do I have to do?"

"Simple. I'm going to cause a distraction and you're going to steal Madesi's silver ring from the strongbox under his stand. Once you have it, I want you to place it in Brand-Shei's pocket without him noticing."

"Why plant the ring?"

The legality of this was non-existent. And yet curiosity remained and the thrill of a challenge beckoned. A small part of Elana reminded her that as a Companion she should have honor, but then the Nord spoke again.

"There's someone that wants to see him put out of business permanently. That's all you need to know."

"Why not just kill him," she replied, fingering the hilt of her dagger.

"That's not how things are done here. Now if you're ready, we'll get started."

Elana paused. She quickly glanced around and Vilkas was nowhere to be seen. The idea of that cabin far away from everyone seemed so close with this path. "I'm ready."