The two of them whip around, pulling away from the stranger. Kasaanda's expression remains more neutral, curious even while Freydis looks downright pissed off.
"How could you possibly know wh-"
"Our financial status is none of your business." Freydis snaps, interrupting her companion. Hands are placed on her hips though one lingers close to the hilt of a sheathed dagger. She gives him a quick look over. He's just a small bit taller than her, not so much to cause him to be overbearing but enough to be barely noticeable. His hair was a dark shade of red compared to hers. And unlike most of the people she's seen so up to this point, he's dressed in much finer clothes than they. "You been manhandling my coin purse?"
The man lets out a hearty laugh. Even when it quiets down his amused look remains in place. "No, lass, I haven't been messing with your belongings." he replies with hands held up in surrender. He glances between the two, giving a shrug. "It's just all about sizing up your mark. The way they walk, what they're wearing. It's all a dead giveaway. As far as wealth goes, wealth is my business. Maybe you'd like a taste?"
The mention of money instantly calms the dragonborn down. Kasaanda makes a mental note of that. It's rather humorous in a way. Really though she gets it. Being a mercenary for so long rarely had she or her company passed up a chance to earn a bit of coin. Exceptions did exist but were few and far between.
"What did you have in mind exactly?" Kasaanda inquires.
"I've got a bit of an errand to perform but I need an extra pair of hands. In this case it seems I've got two. And in my line of work extra hands are well paid." It's a vague statement to say the least. He must have taken notice to both of them about to open their mouths yet doesn't allow them the chance to ask questions or berate his murky speech for he quickly gets to the point. "I'm going to cause a distraction by gathering the crowd together and gaining their attention. While I do that, you're going to steal Madesi's silver ring from a strong box under his stand." He gestures towards an Argonian starting to set up a stall in the market center. "Once you have it, I want you to place it in Brand-Shei's pocket without him noticing." He then motions towards a Dunmer man moving towards the stall closest to them. "Simple right?"
"I'm sure we can handle it."
It surprises Kasaanda how quickly Freydis is willing to take on the task without so much as a second thought. Then again they've probably been given all the information that will be volunteered. No reason for asking why's. There's the thought that she'll need to count their coin after receiving it. Shokrakar always made it a habit to remind her and the rest of the mercenary company to never trust humans with numbers.
"Are you even listening?"
The snapping remark brings her back to reality. Kasaanda hadn't realized she had been spoken to nor did even really think they remembered her being there if she were being honest. She turns her gaze from the market place back to the two humans. "Ten minutes." she replies.
Both Freydis and the man give her an odd look. Granted Freydis looks more annoyed than anything.
"Ten minutes. That way my friend and I can get an idea of the guards rotation or routine." Kasaanda shrugs. "And when we're ready I'll give you a signal. Something like this." A loud cough is given as demonstration. "It's a little more inconspicuous that way rather than speaking to you again to get things started, you know?"
"Aye, that suits me just fine. I'll be looking for your sign, lass. Good luck." And leaves the two of them to get prepared.
There's only the sound of the shopkeepers and few customers bustling about as the two of them move closer into the area. They find a spot off to the side to stand somewhat huddles together. Their eyes roam the area, assessing every detail.
"I'll pick the locks and slip the ring into the Dunmer's pocket." Freydis mumurs.
"That's good. I don't know how to pick locks. Plus you're smaller than me and have less of a chance of fumbling around." Carefully Kasaanda watches the movements of the guards passing through the square in hopes of putting together some sort of pattern or routine. "Sounds like this isn't the first time you've done something like this."
There's a soft snort of a laugh that comes from the shorter woman, and the mage sees out of the corner of her eye the ghost of a smirk tugging at the Dragonborn's lips. "My brother and I have been known to have sticky fingers since we were kids. In fact we had planned to join the Thieves Guild back in Cyrodiil. Most likely through the Chorrol location. We took on mercenary jobs to gain a bit more experience."
It's not the activity that Kasaanda would consider typical sibling bonding. Yet it was as good as any. As for their current job, she feels like she remembers a task similar to this that Valo-Kas took on. It wasn't something in their usual repertoire however.
"I'll stand in the back of the crowd but in the general direction of where you'll be. When I see the guards or anyone else really getting close enough to you to notice what you're doing I'll yell something out. Maybe a question or a remark. Something to that effect to further distract everyone."
Freydis thinks it over and relents with a sigh, stretching. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with." she mutters. "Just don't fuck up. I don't feel like paying fines or doing jail time.
With that they both move into position; Freydis in front of Madesi's stand acting like she's considering his wares while making small talk and Kasaanda just a few inches behind her, glancing around. When all the guards seemed to be in a favorable position away from them, she started loudly coughing only stopping when Freydis and Madesi turned their attention to her. Her mumbled apology is drowned out by their employer calling out.
"Everyone gather around! Yes, everyone come here. I've got something magnificent to show you today!"
Madesi groans and rolls his eyes. "Not again. Brynjolf and his ridiculous cures..." he mutters. Even still he moves to congregate with the others to witness the spectacle. Kasaanda shoots Freydis one last look and follows the Argonian though makes sure to keep to the very back of the crowd.
Freydis is quick to crouch down and move behind the stall. Only when she's behind the booth does she retrieve a lockpick from a small satchel on her belt. Lithe fingers are quick to work yet delicate as to not break the pick. She's hidden for the most part. That is unless some was to walk up from the Southern part of the hold. The successful click of the compartment opening is like a high for her. Now all that's left is the box with the ring in it. This one is just a tad more difficult.
Kasaanda subtly scans the area, noticing a guard to her left coming from the North near the Bee and Barb Inn. One second, two seconds...and then.
"You're not making any sense! It sounds like bullshit." she calls out. That earns her a few chuckles and nods of agreement. It also causes the guard on the move to stop and observe the scene for the briefest minute.
Brynjolf merely chuckles, waving off the Qunari's heckling. "Perhaps you're not understanding. What this potion is..."
When he starts his long-winded explanation the guard continues on his intended path. It's also the same time that Freydis has retrieves the ring and closes up both the strongbox and the stall cabinet. Right before the guard gets to her position she pops back up, a frustrated look on her face while holding a simple golden hop in one of her hands. "Damn it all to Oblivion. These earrings are shit. Keep falling out and getting tangled in my hair. Ugh!" Her acting must be better than she thought or the guard on duty really hadn't caught a glimpse of her movement amidst the stall, for he barely spares her a second glance and continues on. Once he's out of range, Freydis scoots down towards Brand-Shei's booth and sees him sitting on some boxes right beside it. Perfect. Once again she crouches down and sneaks towards the unknowing Dunmer. He's as still as can be and his pocket is in plain sight. Her breath is held as her hand slowly and steadily reaches out to slip the silver ring into the man's pocket. Even when the deed is done she does not exhale. She stands up enough for Brynjolf to catch a quick glimpse of her giving him a thumbs up and to make eye contact with her. Quietly she makes her way over to Kasaanda. Not long after the two are reunited does Brynjolf finally wrap things up and the gathering disperses. They wait until everyone's gone back about their business before speaking to him.
"Well done you two. I knew I picked the right people for the task. As promised here's your payment. Two-hundred gold. So a hundred each or however you want to split it." A small red coin purse is held out to them. Kasaanda is quicker, grabbing it before her companion can. Yet only a second after does she take it does she start counting the coins inside. Seeing this, Freydis calms whatever anger was quick to bubble up.
"What happens now?" she asks with a glance back at the two other merchants.
"Now we wait for things to run their course. Won't be long I suspect." Brynjolf replies and starts to pack up the mystery bottles he set out earlier. "By the way, I'm sure you lasses have already heard but I'm with the Thieves Guild. Name's Brynjolf. If you two are interested in making more money, come meet me at the Ragged Flaggon down in the Ratways. The Guild could use some new blood."
"Can never have enough coin. Sounds like a good opportunity" Freydis laughs. She smiles as Kasaanda hands her the bag with their payment.
"Aye. Well don't forget what I said, lass. I look forward to seeing you two soon. Now if you'll excuse me, I have business to continue."
The two watch as he walks away with box of bottles tucked safely in his arms.
"That was quite an experience. Can't say I haven't done anything like that before. Granted you took care of the complicated part. Maybe I should learn to pick locks..."
Complicated but worth it, both for the coin and the adrenaline rush. As nerve wracking as thievery was at the same time it made her feel alive - a fact Freydis would happily point out. "Yes well now we have other things to take care of. First we deal with Grelod the Kind and then..." she gives the mage a quick look over, face scrunching up in disapproval. "And then we see about getting you a new set of armor."
Kasaanda frowns at the comment. Amber eyes look down at the knot work and brightly colored fabric of her Antaam Saar. "What's wrong with my armor?" It's a little off-putting to a number of people back home, sure. But for what it was worth it was comfy. Easy to put on and move around in. And it made her look good. Not that she would admit that.
"What isn't wrong with it? For one thing you stick out like a sore thumb. Most importantly you'll freeze your tits off once we start traveling around the Northern parts of Skyrim like Windhelm and Winterhold. And currently you're much more useful to me alive than dead. Just don't let that go to your head." Not to mention she's started to grow attached to the mage, even just a little bit. Then again it's the longest she's traveled with someone that wasn't her brother. If she wasn't working with him, she was working alone. It was easier that way. Less drama, less splitting the rewards and overall just easier to work alone. It also meant the less of a chance of getting attached to people that would either abandon her, betray her or just...die. Love and friendship were weaknesses that had the great possibility of ending in sorrow. And that was something she didn't need nor want. "Anyways, enough chit-chat. There's things to be done. Let's go." With that she turns on her heel and starts walking towards the part of Riften they had yet to explore. Kasaanda follows, catching up enough to walk side by side with the Dragonborn. Freydis doesn't miss to small smile on the Qunari's face yet acts like she isn't even paying attention to her.