Chapter 2(The Ropes)
Honorhall wasn't so bad, An'wyn decided during her second week at the orphanage. She was one of nine orphans they had at the time, but she was the only Khajiit. Most of the others left her to her own devices on all occasions except for the late meal and chores every other day. The two Redguard women that ran the orphanage, Grevca and Kallten, were sisters and both compassionate to a fault.
Middas was the first wash day of the week, the second was usually on Loredas. An'wyn stood in the small courtyard beside Honorhall, her sleeves rolled up as she scrubbed fabric back and forth over the wash board. A dark haired girl a couple of years her elder stood opposite of her at the wash bin, ringing the excess water from the clothes before moving them to the rinse. She seemed comfortable to work in silence, so An'wyn did the same.
A few feet away, Gaulastyr and Dunarius, the two oldest boys stood chopping wood in silent companionship. Two of the younger children, a set of twins, gathered the wood and carried it by armfuls into the orphanage. The boy, whom she only knew as Rabbit, stopped on his way to toss a few pieces of wood on the fire that kept the wash water hot. The girl, Jingle everyone called her because of the small bell she wore at the end of her braid, stood beside him, waiting patiently.
"Gittel," the boy whispered, or tried to at least, to the dark haired girl rinsing and hanging the clothes. "Bjurn says there's going to be a big group of dignitaries coming through night after the next," he said, casting a wary glance to An'wyn.
"Aye. Gaul and I have already gotten the sisters' permission to take some of you out for the festivities. There's supposed to be some archery tournaments and a few of Jarl Blackbriar's guard will be holding some sort of arms tournament as well." The girl glanced to An'wyn and smiled slightly. "New girl, you interested in a tour of Riften?"
An'wyn couldn't hide her shock. It was the first time any of them had talked to her directly. "Yes, this one would enjoy that very much," she agreed.
"What're you inviting the milk drinker for?" Dunarius scoffed, moving closer to better participate in the conversation.
Gaul set down his axe as well and joined the group, standing beside An'wyn. His dark eyes studied her intently, causing the young cub to avert her gaze. "Cause she'll come in handy when we go back out that night," he said after his silent analysis. "And a'fore ya go getting any ideas, you and Jingle will stay tucked in yer beds like the good kids ya are," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Gittel smiled at the Khajiit. "So, what d'ya say, girl? Interested in learning the ways of the streets?"
An'wyn thought it over, scrubbing the shirt she held against the board. She was already a fair thief, and lock picking was something she excelled at. Her gaze drifted from one member of the group to the next until she met Gaul's silent stare. "Yes, this one would enjoy that," she agreed with a tentative smile.
"Stick close and pay attention," Gittel advised An'wyn as they meandered through the crowds. The group of dignitaries making their way to Solitude had flooded Riften's walls with all manner of people. There were warriors that had traveled with the group for protection, merchants that had came out to hock wares to the new faces traveling through, even some beggars that hoped to find a sympathetic being in the strangers. An'wyn was simply amazed. Even though she'd only been in the city for a little over two months now, she'd never seen it so packed with people.
Jingle slipped her small hand into the cub's, giving her a beautiful smile when she looked down. "Rabbit is the distraction," she whispered, leading her through the crowd.
Sure enough, near a group of particularly well dressed people, Rabbit made an exaggerated show of tripping over some crates. He went sprawling on his face in front of the group, tears springing to his eyes and rolling down his dirty cheeks. His impish features contorted with a scowl of pain as he grabbed his ankle. "My leg," he cried, and it seemed genuine enough that An'wyn tried to disentangle herself from the small girl beside her.
Jingle held her back, giving a slight shake of her head and then directing An'wyn's gaze back to the group of adults. As she watched, one of the women knelt beside Rabbit. "Oh you poor thing, let me see," she cooed.
"Who leaves rubbish lying about like that," one of the men scoffed, moving to stand beside the woman.
As she watched, Gaul moved in behind the group. From her perspective, it just seemed that he stood there for a few moments before Gittel rushed over. "Rabbit, what have I told you 'bout paying more attention to the sword play than where yer feet are going," she scolded, kneeling beside the boy. She looked over his ankle, then helped him up. Rabbit slung an arm over her shoulder as he hobbled a few steps.
"Do you need some help? We've a horse if you have to travel far," the woman said, clearly still worried about Rabbit.
"Or perhaps we can get a healer or something?" The man offered, looking around the crowd.
"Our Ma is just beyond tha' stall over there, we thank ya kindly," Gittel assured the group with a smile. The pair made their way towards Mistveil slowly, Rabbit still hobbling along beside the older girl.
Jingle tugged An'wyn in the opposite direction, never once glancing back at the people or her brother. As they rounded the corner of The Bee and Barb, Gaul fell into place behind them. He held a palm out to An'wyn, opening it to show her a few septims and a ruby. "How?" She asked, clearly impressed. "You stood there but a moment, this one watched the whole thing."
Gaul flashed a small pocket knife at her with a smirk. "Tis easy enough when ya know what yer doing," he chuckled.
Jingle flashed that smile again. "We work the crowd and then split the loot at the end," she said.
"Teach this one," An'wyn said, her gaze turning to Gaul, who obviously had more experience in the realm of pick pocketing. He gave her a grin and nodded.
"I've almost got it, bite a skeever's tail, would'ya?" Dunarius grumbled, shrugging his shoulders as he hunched down to start on the lock for a third time.
"Oh, come off it, Dun," Gittel whispered harshly. She glanced around the darkened streets quickly then back over her companion's shoulder. "The girl is simply quicker," she sighed with exasperation. "Gaul wants it done, now."
An'wyn watched the brute-ish boy hesitate for a moment then give up. She met his hard gaze as he took a few steps away from the door. "I'll take up watch," Dun hissed, turning away from them. "Probably best this way anyhow," he shrugged.
Over the last few months Dunarius had actually made an effort to warm up to her, she couldn't deny that. Still, she thought as she slipped her lockpicks from the sleeve of her dress, she hated that he still seemed to be so offended. With a few deft movements from her fingers, the lock popped open and the two girls tiptoed into the library in the lower level of the Temple. She just wanted to help them, be a part of them. She didn't want to compete with anyone.
Gittel motioned for them to split up and then quietly slipped into the darkness. An'wyn went the other way, her eyes searching for the case that Gaul had described. Cylindrical and made from rawhide, it held a very important document. She had no idea what made this paper so special, or how Gaul could possibly have any use for it. And this one means to keep it so, she thought as she rounded a corner. Her amber eyes had no trouble discerning her surroundings, even though only a few candles burned here and there along the walls.
Her sensitive ears twitched as she heard shuffling footsteps overhead, her instincts causing her to freeze. There was muted conversation and someone laughed heartily. When it was apparent that no one was coming to investigate, she moved on.
In the fourth row of book shelves she found what she'd come for. It had the Riften daggers in white paint and a depiction of the amulet of kings painted over it with red. Her hands could feel the age of the case as she gingerly plucked it from the shelf. She looked it over for a few moments just to be sure, then silently sought out her companion.
Gittel was a few stacks over, a stub of a candle in her hand casting dull light over a table. As An'wyn neared she could see it was actually some sort of case with some sheets of parchment, or perhaps something older, spread across the bottom of it. Her friend was studying the papers intently. The cub waited silently, Gaul's container still perched in her arms gingerly.
"What are you doing?" she finally asked, flinching slightly as someone upstairs pushed back a chair or bench. Her gaze darted to the ceiling and her ears twitched, listening to the muted footsteps that moved away from them.
Gittel stared hard at her for a moment, her blue eyes searching for something. An'wyn sensed she must have found what she was looking for as the older girl let out a soft sigh. "I was reading," she admitted. "Never told a soul I can, ya hear, girl?" She grumbled.
"If you do not wish An'wyn to tell others, this one will not," she assured with a tentative smile. "Besides," she smirked, tipping her head to the side. "We are finished here," she said and held the tube out to Gittel.
The girl took the cylinder gently, a look of mixed amusement and consternation on her face. "What is he up to," she whispered into the darkness, her blue eyes looking intently at what she held. One hand moved towards the top of the container, hesitantly at first then with determination.
"Gittel," An'wyn whispered nervously. Another outburst of laughter overhead caused both girls to duck. After a few moments passed and nothing upstairs changed, she released the breath she'd been holding. "Let's no-"
"Are ya's lost?" Dun hissed from the door. Causing both girls to jump and Gittel to lose her grip on the cylinder.
An'wyn snatched the container before it could clatter to the floor. Both girls stared at one another with delayed shock for a second.
"Dunarius, ya hoarker's arse!" Gittel snarled as the two reemerged from the library. She glared daggers at the other member of the trio, who was just barely hiding his amusement. "Aye, laugh it up, boy," she snorted.
Dun chuckled once as the dark haired girl stomped a few feet away. "Aw, c'mon Gittel," he sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I didn't mean to scare ya," he insisted.
An'wyn cocked her head to the side slightly, hearing the clatter of armor. "Rounds," she said softly, leading the other two into the shadows. Two guards passed without so much as a glance in their direction but, they remained until they were sure they'd moved back out to the boards.
The trio emerged silently, eyes scanning the area multiple times. From An'wyn's guess they had nearly a half an hour until the next patrol would be upon them. "This one thinks it is best to follow the wall," she said, nodding to the shadow that ran the bottom half of the wall. "Quickly and quietly, stay low," she said softly.
"Wait," Gittel insisted, looking at the tube she once again held. "Aren't ya curious? Either of you?"
Dun shook his head adamantly and took a few steps towards the wall. "Nah. Gaul's put on a bit of bulk since Grevca got him that job in Redbelly. I've learned all my lessons where he and his business are concerned."
The other girl raised a brow and turned her questioning gaze to An'wyn. The cub shook her head slightly. "Gaul was very clear that no one should look," she said, looking to Dun for support. Dun nodded his agreement.
Gittel glared at the two of them for a few silent moments. "Bunch 'a milk drinkers," she grumbled at last. "Dawn's just a few hours away, let's be on then." She glanced at the sky then followed as An'wyn weaved them through shadows along the wall. In no time at all they were back in bed, the tube tucked safely under Gittel's bed.
Gaul stared at Gittel intently, watching different emotions flit across her face. He knew anger would win out in the end, it always did with that one. Not that he could blame her much, he hadn't been completely honest with his little band of thieves when he'd sent them after that damned paper.
"Ya gone daft if ya think I'mma let ya send that cub in to Mistveil," Gittel hissed. She glanced around the room, making sure no unnecessary attention was on them, using the distraction to reign in her Nord accent. Her temper had calmed only slightly when her gaze settled on her partner again. "You and I have been at this game for a few years now, Gaul," she frowned. "Do you know what they'll do to her if they catch her?"
Gaul looked at her with a mixture of shock and mild amusement. "When you first came to Honorhall, you didn't care about anyone but yourself. The only reason you agreed to team up with me was because I pointed out that I'd be able to keep you safe on the streets at night," he chuckled. He studied her a bit more carefully when she didn't seem amused by his reminder.
"I was hurt and alone, I felt like the whole of Nirn was against me," Gittel said softly, her gaze dropping to the sweetroll she was methodically tearing into pieces. After a few minutes her gaze locked with Gaul's, her blue eyes almost pleading. "Just like the girl is," she whispered.
Gaul rolled his eyes to the ceiling and sighed heavily. "She's the only one that can do it, Gittel."
"She has no experience with it," she insisted stubbornly. "She'll get caught."
"She's a damn furball!" He growled, slamming his hand on the table. Heads turned in their direction all around them and the two sat back in their chairs. "People like her are the reason our country is the way it is," he whispered fiercely.
Gittel was surprised by his sudden racist outburst. It had taken her three years of knowing the young man to learn about his family's murder at the hands of some Argonian outlaws. So rarely did he talk about his past, or let his true emotions show, she'd almost forgotten how much he hated the beast folk. "I'll not allow it," Gittel insisted, her blue eyes hard as they met his. "I'll be going in with her, and if Dun is willing he will be standing lookout."
Gaul snorted a chuckle and shook his head. "You think that either of them would stand against me?" He challenged, though his grey eyes held no real malice. He'd always enjoyed her fiery will.
She smirked slightly and shrugged one shoulder. "They respect me where they fear you. Without myself, neither of them will survive one job," she pointed out obvious facts. "Do you really want to risk the stability of the group just to test your theory?"
He thought about that for a moment, sitting back in the chair. The two of them were nearly out of Honorhall to begin with, but this job was going to give him the money to get to Morrowind - to get both of them to Morrowind. He wasn't about to throw it all away because Gittel had somehow gone and grown a conscience on him. "What about a compromise," he offered slowly.
Gittel gave him a wary look. "Compromise?"
"One more job before we run Mistveil, like a proving ground let's say," he agreed. "You and Dun will accompany her to make sure she doesn't get caught. We'll have her steal something trivial," he smirked, there was no way he could lose. He knew damn well that little sneak was capable of breaking into the Keep without a problem. Still, he figured it was better to placate Gittel if he hoped to keep her at his side until they reached Morrowind.
"And if she can do it without getting caught she runs Mistveil by herself?" Gittel concluded.
"That's the deal."
She sighed softly, still uncomfortable with the idea of An'wyn running a job on her own. There wasn't much to be done about it. She couldn't deny that their newest addition had a way with seeming to meld into the shadows. Plus, she was a better lock pick than the other three of them combined. "Aye."