Chapter Eighteen

Dar' stayed and trained with the recruits she brought Delphine; Erandur, a Dunmer Priest of Mara, Golldir, a Nord warrior and her friend Kharjo, whom she had a feeling might return to protect his caravan from dragons-something the Breton was fine with. The group even took out a dragon that had been causing issues-the creature had listened to what the female Khajiit had to say about Paarthurnax in amusement before attacking them and the trio had worked together as a fairly cohesive unit. Odahviing and Esbern, however, were a different story-the archivist having relaxed enough around him to question the red dragon in-depth about how it was for them under Alduin. Odahviing told him things from back then, watching him write it down. Delphine had to shake her head. "He's going to be welcome here whether I like it or not," she said, looking at the white-furred feline. "I wonder what insights there are for the shouts you use?"

Dar' eyed her. "I could always ask Paarthurnax the next time I'm out that way-I go up there to give him news and find peace...Divines know I've had turmoil to spare." She saw the look on her friend's face. "Don't worry-I'm not joining them...though Arngeir does make a wonderful cup of tea."

The reply was a snort, the Breton laughing. "You speak of him well-you're tossing a lot of what we were out the window Dar', but perhaps it's for the best-it will take time."

"I know Delphine, and I apologize for sending you flying with the thu'um-heck, the Greybeards probably heard that one, meaning I may get a talking-to the next time I see them." She got up, stretching. "We should get going-if you have need, send a message. The couriers always seem to find me."

Delphine gripped her forearm, watching her do the same before they let go and she walked over to Odahviing with Inigo, the pair getting onto his back before he took to the air. "Esbern is...interesting to say the least." He intoned, glancing back at her. "Where to now thuri?"

"Lakeview Manor-my home in Falkreath." Was the reply. "I want to change my armor before we head to Riften-we can take the cart there though."

The dragon soared for a time before landing, letting them slip off before Dar' turned to him. "Let Paarthurnax know that the Blades won't disturb him for me please," she said, scratching his cheek before stepping back and watching him soar off, heading inside. She returned not long after in her Guild armor and smiled at Inigo, getting in the carriage and heading out.

~*Timeskip*~

She stopped in and spoke with Brynjolf, getting sent to Maven Blackbriar before heading to Whiterun and helping to take the Honningbrew Meadery out from under the owner Sabjorn. Dar' found it suited her again, having wanted to gut the fool for purposely making sure someone couldn't pay a debt just to get free labor. The next one was dealing with an Argonian named Gulum-Ei. She now had him cornered in a cave, watching him panic. "Now there's no need to do anything rash!" he cried, eyeing the dagger in her hand. "This isn't as bad as it seems! I was going to tell Mercer everything, honestly! Please-he will have me killed!"

The female Khajiit looked at him before lowering her hand, sheathing the dagger. "Mercer doesn't have to know Gulum-Ei," she said, folding her arms. "I don't kill needlessly and I'm sorry about the mess I caused in here."

The Argonian blinked at her. "I see you wish to be reasonable," he replied, relaxing. "Perhaps I misjudged you." He sighed. "The name of the person you want is 'Karliah'."

"You say the name like I should know it."

"Wait-Mercer never told you about her?" Gulum-Ei rubbed his forehead. "Karliah is the thief responsible for murdering the previous Guild Master, Gallus-now she's after Mercer."

"And you're helping her?" Inigo asked, his own arms folded across his chest and eyeing the lizard.

"Help? No, no! I didn't even know it was her until after she contacted me. Please, you have to believe me."

"I do my friend," Dar' said. "Do you know where Karliah went?"

"I don't know-when I asked that myself she just muttered 'where the end began'." He held out a piece of paper. "Here, take the deed to Goldenglow Estate as proof. And when you speak to Mercer, tell him I'm worth more to him alive."

"Don't worry-I'll explain it in your favor."

The pair headed out and took the cart back to Riften, heading into the Guild headquarters and finding Mercer. "Well?" he asked. "Did Gulum-Ei give up any information on our buyer?"

She nodded. "He said Goldenglow was purchased by a 'Karliah'."

Inigo watched the man get upset before telling them to meet him at Snow Veil Sanctum, heading out with his companion. As they rattled towards Winterhold, the nearest city, the female Khajiit looked up at him. "I don't like this-Mercer's too eager over dealing with this person. I want you to stay outside the place and scout while I go in."

"Are you sure Dar'?" he asked, watching her nod. "Yeah, I am. Something about this doesn't feel right."

~*Timeskip*~

Two hours after she went in, Inigo waited in the shadows for Dar', suddenly hearing movement and hurrying over, spotting a Dunmer woman dragging a bloody body. "Dar'..." he breathed, dropping down in front of them and drawing his sword. "Your friend needs help," the woman said. "Mercer did this and the only reason she hasn't bled out is because of the paralysis poison I had on my arrow."

The blue-furred Khajiit thought for a moment before sheathing his sword and lifting his friend up. "Let's go-I'll believe you, for now."

They moved off, laying the white-furred feline on a bedroll and tending to the stab wound, hearing a groan and watching her come to. "Kar...liah?" she asked weakly, the Dunmer steadying her as she slowly got to her feet. "Easy...don't try to get up so quickly-how are you feeling?"

Dar' shook her head, blinking several times as her vision cleared before glaring. "You shot me," she growled.

"No, I saved your life." Was the reply. "My arrow was tipped with a unique paralytic poison which slowed your heart and prevented you from bleeding out. Your friend here found us soon after and helped me get you to an area where we could treat your wounds."

"Why save me?"

"A split-second decision."

"Then I am in your debt Karliah." The female Khajiit looked at her friend. "It's all right Inigo-she speaks the truth. Mercer lied to us and everyone else-it was him that killed Gallus, not her and he stabbed me while I was...incapacitated."

Inigo relaxed at that, helping her stay on her feet as she got her strength back. "What will you do now Karliah?" he asked, watching her.

"Before you arrived, I recovered a journal from Gallus's remains. I suspect the information we need is written inside."

"What does it say?" Dar' asked, taking the journal and staring at the writing inside before giving a confused look, Karliah nodding. "You see the issue-the language is like nothing I've ever seen before."

"Then we need to get it translated." The Khajiit closed the journal. "Any ideas?"

"Enthir..." the Dunmer said, nodding. "Gallus's friend at the College of Winterhold-of course! He's the only outsider that Gallus trusted with his Nightingale identity."

"That word again-'Nightingale'..."

"There were three of us; Gallus, myself and Mercer. We were an anonymous splinter of the Thieves Guild. Perhaps I'll tell you more about it later-right now you need to head for Winterhold with the journal and get the translation." She gave her several potions. "Take these as well-they may prove useful for your journey."

Dar' took them, putting them in her pack as she asked a few questions about Gallus before heading off toward Winterhold, looking at her companion. "Now I know what that feeling was that I always got around Mercer," she said.

"When I saw you being dragged out I was frantic," Inigo admitted. "I was ready to run Karliah through before she spoke to me."

"I just remember Mercer stabbing me, then waking up with you and her there. I am sorry if I worried you Inigo. He was one that was not to be trusted and I walked right into a trap."

They reached Winterhold and entered The Frozen Hearth, brushing the snow from their cloaks by the door before entering as they looked around, spotting the Bosmer they were seeking and going over, the female Khajiit tapping him and watching him look up. "What can I do for you Arch-Mage?" he asked, watching her tilt her head. "I was sent by Karliah." She said, watching him get up and look at her. "Karliah? Then she's finally found it. Do you have Gallus's journal?"

"I do-but...there's a problem."

Enthir blinked as she took the journal from her pack. "A problem? Let me see." He took the leather-bound book from her and looked through it. "Oh, this is just like Gallus." He said. "Always too clever for his own good-he's written all the text in the Falmer language."

"Can you translate it?" Inigo asked, the elf looking at him. "No, but I know someone who might: Calcelmo-the court wizard of Markarth. He might have the materials we need. Word of warning-he's a fierce guardian of his research. Getting the information will not be easy." He eyed Dar'. "I am aware that your name means 'clever shadow' my friend, but be careful."

"Then may the thief-god Rajhin bless me in this...endeavor." Dar' said, knowing from the look she got that Enthir would be doing research on what she just said as they headed out, chuckling. They moved a ways out of Winterhold before she Shouted, watching Odahviing appear and land in front of them. "Hail thuri!" he said, watching her come over to him and bow before speaking again. "There is no need for faas young one-you and your friend need a lift, do you not?"

"We do," came the reply. "I am just unsure the best way to ask is all. I do not wish to...offend you Odahviing."

The dragon chuckled, looking up at the few guards that had seen him come in for a landing who had come towards them. "Why don't you two climb on Dar'Mora?" he asked, lowering his head as the two Khajiit climbed on, smirking at Inigo's nervousness as he launched into the air and soared off. "Where are you headed thuri?" came the question over the wind. "In what direction do we go?"

"I need to head to Markarth." Was the reply as she felt him bank slightly, holding onto his horns with a light grip so as not to obstruct his movement. "Might be best if you landed on the hill above the farm there-we don't need to be scaring anyone."

"Do you think Delphine would mind if I stopped by to speak with Esbern after I dropped you off?"

The white-furred feline laughed, her bright green eyes flashing behind her goggles. "I think Delphine will have to just deal-you know how Esbern gets. She might, however, have the recruits do some drills with you."

"I have no issues with this-there will be some dov that will not go quietly."

They flew for a couple hours, Odahviing's speed greater than that of the fastest carriage as he landed on the hill she pointed out as they neared, letting them slip off. The blue Khajiit breathed hard as his friend scratched the dragon's scaled cheek, bowing her head. "Kogaan my friend." She said, watching him smirk at her before launching into the air and flying in the direction of the balcony at Sky Haven Temple. The pair made their way down the hill and into Markarth proper, heading for Understone Keep and going inside. They managed to get access to the museum, slipping in and hearing the guards grousing about the posting as Dar' wove magic around them, hiding them from sight as they slipped to the laboratory door and went through after she unlocked it. Inigo was impressed, noting that her spell kept them concealed as they finally reached another door, Inigo watching as his friend slipped over to a cube and carefully placed it in a pouch before returning and both headed outside onto the balcony. They stretched before moving up to the tower, going inside and the white-furred feline's eyes shone when she saw everything, filling her pack with the choicest of items including a strange bow and grabbing every Septim she could find. The blue Khajiit called softly from a strange tablet nearby. "I think this is what we're looking for." He said, watching her grab some rolls of paper and charcoal and making a rubbing, crouching behind the tablet as the doors opened. "Something's not right," they heard Calcelmo's nephew Aicantar say to several guards with him. "Search the tower-I'll deal with my uncle about this."

The guard captain sighed, none of them noticing as the two Khajiit snuck out and jumped down the waterfall, swimming clear and climbing out. "Good thing it was dark," Inigo said, helping his friend to her feet and heading for the carriage outside. "That was crazy-let's not do that again."

"They were a little tougher than most," Dar' admitted, shaking out her tail. "But you could hear them coming a mile away in that steel plate." She shook her head as she climbed into the carriage after telling the driver they wanted to head to Winterhold and paying him, watching the other Khajiit climb in next to her as she went through the items in her pack, taking out the cube and looking at it. "Delvin will like this." She said, running her thumb over the carvings gently before putting it away again after wrapping it in some cloth.

(Sorry it took me so long to get this up everyone-my muse got sidetracked on another story and since that's now finished I'm raring to get back to work on this. Hopefully it won't be as long between updates

Dragon Translations:

Thu'um: the Voice

Thuri: Overlord

Faas: fear

Dov: dragon

Kogaan: in this context it means 'thank you')