M,

The time has come to pay Sabjorn a visit.

Our plans have been made and we need you

to send the pawn to set our project into motion.

"Brynjolf!" Mercer shouted across the cistern.

Brynjolf rushed out of the training room, "Mercer?"

Mercer wagged his finger and took a seat at his desk. "Take a look at this." He handed over the parchment with the anonymous message to Brynjolf. "I need you to convince the new recruit, er…Edvind to take this job. He's performed all of his previous jobs flawlessly and I think it's about time he shows us what he's really made of."

"But, Mercer…" Brynjolf paused for a moment, "Do you think it would be a better idea to send someone else to do this? I can't imagine the consequences if Edvind is caught, and the mission fails. He shows real promise and I think he will really be an asset to the Guild."

Mercer squinted his eyes and glared at Brynjolf. "It doesn't sound like you trust me on this, Bryn. He proved his skill at Goldenglow, so what makes you think he can't pull this off? With his flawless job performance," Mercer growled under his breath, "I'd say he's well on his way to becoming a prominent member of the Guild. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Aye." Brynjolf agreed hesitantly. "I'll have him on it right away."

Mercer thought to himself, plotting, as he sat alone in the cistern. If only he could get confirmation that Karliah had returned. He had consulted every contact he had in regard to the location of all Dunmer women in Skyrim, and none of the were discovered to be her. He again found himself drowning his thoughts in a bottle of skooma. Mercer knew very well that if Karliah were to return, a face-off would be imminent.

Mustering what strength was left in his legs, Mercer stumbled out of the cistern and made his way to Honorhall orphanage. Unsurprisingly, he found the door to be unlocked. Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Mercer walked into the main entrance, noticing a familiar young woman sitting at the table facing the door.

Constance jumped in surprise, "Frey…" she whispered softly. He pointed his finger and wagged her over to him. She sighed, hoping it wasn't yet another one-night-drunken-engagement he was after. She reached for a shawl and quietly scurried to the door. "Hroar is sick, I don't think it's a good-…" She was silenced when Mercer pressed his finger to her lips and quirked his head to the side, directing her out. She hung her head and obediently followed his cues.

"Frey, what's the meaning of this? I bed you last week. I think I more than paid you what I owed." Constance spoke, trying to catch her breath as she followed behind Mercer.

"While I did enjoy that succulent ass of yours, I've more pressing matters at the moment. Now, keep quiet and follow me." He scolded.

The town guards eyed the pair as they walked the quiet dark streets of Riften. They traveled past the gate and down past the stables to the quiet shores of the lake. Once Mercer was sure they wouldn't be heard, he turned to speak with Constance.

"I'd call it a favor but since you owe me more than your life is worth, we'll just call it a job." Constance remained quiet. "An old friend might be coming to pay me a visit and let's just say they'd like me out of the picture…permanently. I need you to get into contact with some of your old friends and commission them to assist me if things turn sour. Obviously, I have the coin to more than compensate them…and you,I suppose, if things work in my favor." He leered at Constance, awaiting her response.

"I…I suppose I could go to them again. Agnauch might be willing to assist, but you know they don't have much use for coin, Frey. The Reachmen make their own supplies, you know, and…"

"I'll stop you right there and sweeten the deal. 20,000 septims and my land in the Reach for their assistance, that's my offer." He growled impatiently.

"That does sound like a deal. What would you have them do?"

"That's between me and them. Have someone report to me here in Riften so we can work out the details. Have them give me this so I know it's from you." Mercer handed her an odd coin with a star in the middle.

"Yes, Frey. Is there anything else?" she asked hesitantly, reaching for the coin.

"Well..." Mercer smirked and walked closer to her, feeling the material of her clothes around her breasts. His eyes darted up to meet hers and he could tell she wasn't feeling comfortable. He furrowed his brow and scrunched his lips to the side. "I think that'll be all, buttercup." Constance jumped when his firm hand slapped her buttocks. He loudly laughed as she scurried back to the gates of Riften.

It was the next day in the evening when the self-proclaimed Dragonborn, Edvind, returned from his task of taking out Sabjorn from Honningbrew Meadery. Upon his return, he met Mercer at his desk in the Thieves Guild cistern and dropped the promissory note from Sabjorn's dresser in front of him.

Mercer quickly looked over the note, shaking his head in annoyance, "It would seem our adversary is attempting to take us apart indirectly by angering Maven Black-Briar. Very clever."

"You admire them?" Edvind asked cautiously.

"They're well-funded and they've been able to avoid identification for years. I'm impressed it reached this point. Just don't mistake my admiration for complacency; our nemesis is going to pay dearly. Even after all their posturing and planning, they've made a mistake. The parchment you recovered earlier mentions a 'Gajul-Lei.' According to my sources, that's an old alias used by one of our contacts. His real name is Gulum-Ei. Slimy bastard. Gulum-Ei is our inside man at the East Empire Company in Solitude. I'm betting he acted as a go-between for the sale of Goldenglow Estate and that he can finger our buyer. Get out there, shake him down and see what you come up with." Mercer hurriedly gathered some notes and walked towards the Ragged Flagon to track down Brynjolf.

"What can I do you for, boss?" Delvin Mallory noticed Mercer approaching.

"I need to know where Brynjolf went. I have some urgent business we need to talk about."

"Sorry to say, our sweet little Brynjolf is out on a job right now. Would you like to leave a message?" Delvin joked.

"Very amusing, Delvin. Have someone send him to my place when he returns, there's a matter of business that just can't wait."

"Rest assured, boss, I'll send him your way when he returns." Delvin returned to his drink once more.

Mercer rushed home, eager to read the anonymous letter he had received moments before Edvind arrived back at the guild. Once home, he assigned his mercenaries to stand guard at the doors. He briskly walked down to his secret office connected to the Ratway and threw his letters on the desk before searching the room for his hidden stash of skooma. With none to be found, he snatched a bottle of warm ale from the cupboard nearby and hopped into his seat to read the letter. The letter bore the same symbol ad the note from Goldenglow, a symbol of a dagger wrapped in shadow.

Mercer,

It's been 25 years and I am so close to having your head adorn my blade. It was a pity my parting arrow missed its mark, and you survived that day. I will never stop regretting my carelessness in leaving you for dead. Your betrayal of our lady, Nocturnal, and murder of my lover and your predecessor has earned you the death penalty. I'm aware that my contact in Solitude will soon be found out, so it is useless to hide behind my anonymity any longer. Meet me where the end began, and we can finish this once and for all.

-K

Mercer shook his head and smiled, reading the letter over and over. He snatched his bottle of ale and gulped it all down.

"Fucking bitch." He grumbled to himself.