After a week of walking, hitching rides with travellers, and sleeping in barns or in caves, I made my way to Riften, with no other reason than it was the farthest south I could go before the mountainous border stopped me. Besides, all of the bandit's money had been spent on the way, including the silver ring that I had pawned in Windhelm. I kept the steel dagger for protection.
Riften was a backwater dump compared to the large, glamorous Imperial cities of Cyrodiil, but unlike those grand cities where the scum was well hidden behind the big gates and palace walls, the scum of Riften were in the streets, in the alleys, and at the docks. The scum of Riften were everywhere, waiting for an opportunity to become better acquainted with your coin purse.
It was in the Riften marketplace that I met Brynjolf, a tall Nord with shifty eyes and a kind voice.
"Lass," he said, "how would you like to become rich?"
The thief inside of me had not forgotten all of the wonderful trinkets in the manor's storage room back in Cyrodiil and my fingers twitched at the thought of something I could put in the pocket of my tattered clothes.
"Steal the ring from Madesi and plant it on Brand-Shei without getting caught. Then we'll talk."
An initiation!
With simply a nod and the lockpick Brynjolf had slipped into my hand, I edged my way to Madesi's stall while Brynjolf gathered everyone at the other side of the marketplace with one lie or another. The crowd had to know it was a ruse, and yet they surrounded him, listening to every charismatic word. If I had not been given a task, I would have listened with deep interest, too.
Taking a quick peek into the stall, I spied the strongbox on the second shelf, pushed back into the shadows. Looking carefully around for any guards and market latecomers, I pulled the box toward me and thrust the lockpick into the lock, slowly turning it side to side until I heard the telltale click. The lid sprung open. What luck I did not break the pick!
I sucked in my breath as the sun caught the gleam of the silver ring. In that moment, transfixed by the little trinket nestled upon the red velvet, I had almost forgotten why I was here in this stall. A part of me wanted to snatch up the ring and run away with my treasure, but the thief inside urged me on.
With trembling fingers, I crouched low, toward Brand-Shei who, luckily, stood outside the crowd next to some large crates that had been stacked near a bridge leading to the marketplace. He, like the others, was still focused on Brynjolf.
I had never planted anything on someone before. Stolen, yes, but planted, no. Would Brand-Shei be able to hear my fearful, ragged breathing behind the crates? Would he be able to feel me plucking at his pocket?
With bated breath, I reached out for the folds of fabric and dropped the ring inside. Brand-Shei suddenly shifted from one foot to the other and I nearly fell backward from fright. I backed out from behind the crates and crossed the marketplace.
I did it.
I had actually done it.
My eyes met Brynjolf's and I lifted my eyebrows, silently informing him that the deed was done. He smiled slyly and quickly dismissed the grumbling crowd. I took a step toward Brynjolf but he shook his head.
Wait there, he seemed to say.
So I took my time, pretending to examine some of the trinkets at a stall, but watching Brynjolf out of the corner of my eye carefully. I wasn't about to let him slide away after doing his dirty work. The least he could do was give me a few coins for my troubles.
From the other side of the market, Madesi let out a howl of anger.
"My box!" he yelled. "It's been broken into!"
The Riften guards came running, closing off any escape from the area. People glared at each other accusingly. I caught a glimpse of Brand-Shei who looked slightly bemused but mostly unconcerned. From the other side of the market, Brynjolf winked at me.
One by one, the guards made everyone turn out their pockets, Madesi right behind them to examine anything shiny that happened to appear. Eventually, the guards reached Brand-Shei. One of them dug around in his pockets and slowly pulled out the ring. A confused expression crossed Brand-Shei's face. He looked around wildly, trying to figure out how the ring got into his pocket.
"That's it! That's my ring!" Medesi said.
"I...I don't know how it got there!" Brand-Shei cried. "Really, I don't!"
"Yeah, right." One of the other guards pushed Brand-Shei toward a bridge. "Let's go."
Just as quickly as the guards had appeared, they had left with their suspect.
I felt Brynjolf at my back - how he appeared so silently and suddenly I could not say - and his voice in my ear: "Nice job, lass."
