Chapter Four

"Why does she still hang 'round here?"

"What are you talking about Delvin?" The redguard fence rolled her eyes, sighing as a familiar conversation struck up.

"I mean, she hardly does work anymore 'less Vex gives it to her herself," he grumbled around his meal. "I haven't seen her so much as once ask for work, just gets it from Vex. Which, ain't fair, probably gettin' all the good jobs our Guildmaster don't have time for herself."

Shaking her head, Tonilia took a long swig from the bottle of mead she was drinking. The two of them were sitting at the bar in the Ragged Flagon, Vekel sweeping the floor as the night started. While the redguard fence wasn't a member of the Guild officially, most everybody treated her as if she were, other than Delvin who constantly dogged her to join it completely. They'd sat down for a bit of dinner, the breton finally convincing her to even join him, when suddenly he'd started talking about Yosa'Min in the middle of his soup.

If she'd known he'd spend nearly as much time as he was gossiping about one of the senior Guild members, and the most notable outside of the Guild, she'd have rejected it just like all the other invitations. But, surprisingly given his occupation, Delvin was a blabbermouth. "Look Delvin, if you don't shut up for five seconds, I'm gonna take my trade elsewhere for a few days. Get away from your constant chatter for a change," she threatened earnestly. "I hear that Vex wants a fence set up in Falkreath, might move out there for a week even. If I like it, I might just stay."

The breton frowned, shaking his head swiftly, "Now why would you go an' do that?"

"Because you're an insufferable gossip," she said flatly.

"Alright alright," Delvin threw up his hands dramatically, "I'll stop."

"Good."

They finished in silence, Tonilia not even looking his way as she sipped the last of the drink down. As she put the empty bottle on the wooden counter, Delvin started up again. "Oh look," he sneered softly, "she's here."

Flicking her gaze across to the Cistern entrance, Tonilia spotted the other redguard walking in, hood up. At last, she'd had enough. She used to like the woman, respect her and think she'd turn the Guild around. And while sure, Yosa'Min had helped vastly in returning the Guild to glory, she'd changed and wallowed about moping like some hurt puppy. She couldn't stand to see it. Getting up with a hardened expression, she crossed over and cut Yosa'Min's path to a table off.

"Yosa'Min, nice to see you," Tonilia started up, "Would be fairly nice to see your face though. What are you afraid of? No one down here doesn't already know who you are."

The Dragonborn had frozen in place, staring at her with her head slightly tilted down to further mask herself from the fence's burning gaze. "Hey Tonilia," she shakily responded, "do you mind?"

Crossing her arms, Tonilia jutted a hip out. "A bit, yeah, actually." The Guild thief seemed to be taken aback by the response, "I gave you that armor, even helped craft some of it, I'd appreciate it if you would just take the hood off. Making this whole place feel like doom and gloom."

Yosa'Min blinked at her, and then shook her head. "No."

"Oh come on, what are you hiding? Didn't go and chop off an ear or something by accident did you?" Tonilia sarcastically growled, shaking her head with frustration. She'd not seen the woman's hair in months. Something about it, just bothered her on several levels. Vex had told all of them that they weren't to harass Yosa'Min because of what had happened, giving very few details but telling them that she was hurt deeply and it wouldn't do well to make things worse.

But now she wasn't caring much for that. Used to that Tonilia would get some might nice things from Yosa'Min when she came to fence them, but with her going on so few jobs she wasn't getting that nice stock anymore. Her hurt was costing her money, and Tonilia wouldn't be lying if she said she hated losing money more than someone being in despair.

The Dragonborn was like a deer caught in torchlight, frozen and alarmed at the same time, torn between staying or fleeing. "Take it down," Tonilia urged harshly, "you're being damn rude."

"Tonilia!" Came a sharp rebuke, the woman quickly turning at the sound. Vex was standing at the mouth of the corridor from the Cistern, a scowl so fierce it could probably set the redguard on fire. Storming her way over with a powerful presence Vex had grown into over the months, the imperial moved between the relieved redguard, and the horrified one. "What in blazes are you doing? I told you and everyone else to leave Yosa'Min alone!" Snapped Vex.

"Well I'm sick of her wallowing around here, we finally got back on top of things, why does she of all people have to bring it back down!" Defended Tonilia, throwing a hand to the side in emphasis.

Shaking her head firmly, Vex scolded her right back. "Because she's struggling with some personal things that she doesn't want to share with you or the rest of the Guild, and you are to respect that."

"What could be so bad that she has hardly said a word for months! I remember her being down and out after you came back from killing Mercer too, it's been half a year Vex! Did someone die?" Brown eyes bore fury at the amber eyed imperial. Yosa'Min was still frozen behind Vex, the few other people in the Flagon at the moment watching with anxious looks. Delvin was trying his best not to enjoy the show, though all at the same time he was nervous of its outcome.

Vex didn't respond, opting instead to glare at the woman who was only an inch taller than she. "Oh, now you shut up?" Sneered Tonilia, huffing and shaking her head with frustration. "I know you two are all buddy buddy once lovers and all that shit, but really, I hate you keeping stuff from the rest of us. How do you think we feel seeing one of our family members suffering, and no one telling us why!"

Vex lowered her chin a bit in shame.

Brown eyes narrowed at the gesture, Tonilia shaking her head. "You know what, I'm leaving, I'll be back in a week and she better have cleaned up her act or I'll take my business elsewhere for good." The redguard turned and started to stomp away.

"Tonilia-"

"No!" Vex was cut short, the fence throwing her hands wildly in the air, "I'm sick of her shit! If you won't share, fine, that's your business, but she needs to stop poisoning this place because we finally got it cured!" Tonilia said.

Suddenly the other redguard was moving, swift like a shadow, and put herself between Tonilia and the walkway that would lead to the long way out of the Ratways. "Move," firmly said Tonilia, disgust riddling every word. Yosa'Min lifted her chin, blue eyes shimmering in the shadow of the hood. "I said move dammit," Tonilia bristled, "I mean it."

"I know you do," Yosa'Min said in a raspy voice, one that hadn't seen much use in some time. Tonilia's brow furrowed in response. One hand reached up, gripping the edge of the black hood, blue eyes stared at Tonilia, as if to see if that's what she really wanted. Of course, it wasn't just Tonilia that was watching this, Delvin, Brynjolf, Vekel, the merchants, Dirge who surprisingly hadn't stepped in, and Vex were all watching from somewhere in the Flagon. Yosa'Min sighed faintly as she saw they all seemed to want to see what was under, except Vex who actually looked horrified.

"If I start... Acting better, will you stay?" Yosa'Min asked, looking at Tonilia who's breath seemed to be caught in her chest. A silent nod was her answer, "Oh no, you answer me properly," growled Yosa'Min firmly.

"Yes, I'll stay if you stop moping around the Guild."

With a deep breath, Yosa'Min nodded her head, and pulled the hood back. There were slightly audible gasp from the onlookers, Tonilia stiffening at what she saw before her. The new, short hair, was something none of them had been expecting. Vex gave an encouraging smile to the shaking woman as the criticism started up. At some point, a few other people had trickled into the Ragged Flagon no doubt because of all the shouting, and now at least five more members were looking at her. Yosa'Min struggled to stay where she was, knees quaking beneath her, as more and more eyes were upon her.

It shouldn't have been that big of a deal, it was just hair after all, but something about it meant more to them all then she'd like. Maybe it was because they all knew her as a rather outgoing and a woman aware of her beauty before she'd spiraled into depression. What she was showing to them now, was far from that. Vex walked out towards her, her near silent step sounding like thunder over the wooden planks, and gently put herself besides the redguard who looked near to fainting.

"I think we've all had a pretty intense night," Vex said in a tone that had people slowly retreating back to what they were doing, "wouldn't you say? Come on, off you go, no need to stare," she flicked her amber gaze to a stunned Tonilia, "it's rather rude."

Mutely nodding her head, Tonilia turned and started back towards the others, looking once over her shoulder to a Yosa'Min who struggled not to wince at the confusion and judgement on Tonilia's face. Vex gently nudged her towards the Cistern, the Dragonborn complying wordlessly and the two swiftly made an exit. Once they were through the trick cabinet and it was shut behind them, a burst of noise followed that Yosa'Min was all too familiar with. In the Cistern, the duo made a fast bee-line towards the training room. The gawking faces as they rushed by the few members that hadn't gone into the Ragged Flagon made Yosa'Min's skin crawl and her heart race.

It wasn't until they were in the empty, damp training room, that Yosa'Min started to calm down.

Vex paced across the floor, one hand to her brow as she muttered under her breath. Yosa'Min leaned against the cold stone besides the entrance, finding her breath gone and struggling to regain it. A shaky hand ran through her hair, stopping when she remembered that it was short as her fingers met open air soon. Despite it being months, she couldn't get used to it.

The imperial was silent for quite a while, until she suddenly turned to Yosa'Min with so many mixed feelings on her sharp face it was hard for the redguard to figure out just what she was thinking. "I could have handled Tonilia," Vex said, "she's temperamental at times, I'm used to it."

"I know."

"Then why did you do it?"

Yosa'Min ducked her head, "Because you're already doing so much for me, I didn't want to be more of a burden."

Vex sighed, shaking her head and crossing over to her. "Yosa, you're not a burden," she said gently, "though I won't deny how happy I'll be when you won't need me like this anymore."

A half smile came across Yosa'Min's face, though still her eyes wouldn't meet Vex's. "Right..."

"Why did you... Why did you show them your hair? I thought you didn't want anyone to see it," Vex asked further.

Shrugging, Yosa'Min sighed a bit more, "It was the only thing I could think of to get her to stay. She was all upset about me hiding even around family, so, I stopped hiding." Blue eyes flicked up for a split second before they lowered to the mossy stone floor. "Well, kinda stopped hiding."

"I'm proud of you," Vex suddenly offered, taking Yosa'Min off-guard. Confusion knitted her brow as she looked up at the smiling imperial. It still felt weird for Yosa'Min to see so many encouraging looks from the surly thief. "Really, that took a lot of guts. Something that the old you used to do a lot."

A cloud covered her at the mentions of the 'old her', the Dragonborn biting her black lip and just nodding her head. "I guess so," she agreed glumly, "I used to be rather... out there huh?"

"Sometimes dangerously so," joked Vex, who then shook herself back to a more serious attitude. "All right, I wanted to discuss the plan for tonight," she said.

"Okay, where do you want to do that? Here or at your table?" Yosa'Min asked.

Shrugging, Vex walked over to one of the chests they used to let people safely practice lockpicking and wiped it clean of a layer of dirt. "Here is fine, just give me a second," she said before walking out to fetch some things. Yosa'Min sat herself by the wooden chest Vex had picked, idly running a finger down along the splintering wood as she waited. Footsteps came, but they were a set rather than a single pair that would have belonged to Vex.

Stiffening, Yosa'Min went to pull the hood back up to cover her head before whoever it was arrived, but she stopped as a rather familiar accent called out. "Lass?" Yosa'Min ducked her head quickly, turning it to the left to completely avoid Brynjolf's green gaze. "That was quite the scene out there, in the Flagon, you all right?"

"I will be Bryn, thanks for asking," she croaked.

"Lass, I know what happened, I was there when it all went down on that lake," Brynjolf said tenderly, "if ever you need someone else to talk to, I'll be right here for you. Karliah too."

It was then that the second set of footsteps spoke up, "Yosa, we're worried," Karliah's gentle voice lingered in the moist air. Tensing, Yosa'Min looked up at the two who stood in the doorway, concern splayed across their faces clear as a blue sky. Since they'd defeated Mercer together, they'd become friends of sorts. Brynjolf never seemed to forgive her for what had happened on the lake though, Vex and Mjoll fighting for their lives. Yosa'Min couldn't blame him either. He cared for Vex, not Mjoll, and if Yosa'Min hadn't intervened and stopped them from killing each other, which they nearly had, he'd probably had chased her all across Tamriel. The nord man was her friend, but they all knew who took priority for him.

Karliah on the other hand, seemed to know just what to say to the redguard, and was eager to give it. Her loss with Gallus granted her plenty of wisdom to impart on coping the loss of one's love, but Yosa'Min wasn't exactly up to hearing it. The dunmer's tale ended with death and tragedy, Yosa'Min hoping desperately that wouldn't be the end of her tale. Though slowly the tragedy part was becoming clearer to her as playing some part at least in the conclusion.

"I know," she replied quietly.

"Will you talk to us?" Karliah asked gently, "Tell us something, anything, that could help put the others' minds at rests. They're going to form conclusions, and unless they know the truth it'll be hard to get them to not treat you in a way they shouldn't."

Yosa'Min narrowed her eyes at her, "And just what do they think of me Karliah? Am I a whore? A liar? A traitor perhaps even!" She sneered.

Brynjolf frowned faintly, shaking his head, "No one thinks that about you Yosa."

A laugh, mocking and insincere, rolled off her tongue, "At least two people do," she looked right at them.

Bristling, Brynjolf crossed his arms at her, "If you're trying to say we do then you're sorely mistaken Yosa. We're your friends, we're trying to help you, stop pushing us away."

"The only person I need right now," Yosa'Min whispered, "is Vex. And you're blocking her way in."

The two turned to see the imperial standing there awkwardly, holding a map and little tokens in her arms. She cleared her throat as she was revealed to the other two in the inner circle of the Guild, and they made way for her to enter. Vex placed the items on the chest, and then turned to them. "I hope everything is going well in here," she said.

"Could be better," Karliah optimistically said, but a scoff from the redguard got her cringing. "I suppose a lot better."

"Right well, we've got work to do," Vex said, "Do us a favor and keep anyone from coming in to train till we leave all right?"

"Sure," Brynjolf agreed, shooting a half glare to the redguard before they both turned and left.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Vex whirled on her friend. "What was that about?" Her words were icy, accusatory, she hadn't used that tone with Yosa'Min in quite some time.

"What?" Bristled Yosa'Min from where she sat.

"They're trying to be good friends, why are you so rude to them?"

Eyes narrowed, Yosa'Min started to sort out the tokens Vex had brought along with the map. "Because I clearly remember when you and Mjoll fought on the lake, that they were willing to kill her to protect you. I appreciate that they're such loyal friends, but they broke a lot of my trust in them in that moment." She ran her thumb along a small ivory icon of a castle.

"They're good friends," Vex grumbled.

"I'm not saying they're not," simply said Yosa'Min, her voice sounded distant.

"They would happily be good friends for you as well," Vex argued, "if you let them."

"I don't need anymore good friends," Yosa'Min looked up at her, Vex taking a seat besides the chest and helping get the rolled up map straightened out. "I've got Lydia, Iona, and you."

"That's all you need? The three of us?" Disbelief colored the imperial's words.

There was a slight pause before Yosa'Min responded. "That's all I dare to have."

Silently staring at one another for a few moments, eyes locked until at last Yosa'Min dipped her head away. Sighing, Vex placed the last token on its bottom. There were five tokens, two thief looking figures, the castle, a guard looking one, and a horse, each of them made of ivory and about as big as Yosa'Min's thumb. The map was of the Rift Hold, far more detailed than the map Yosa'Min carried of the whole Skyrim province.

Vex placed the castle to the southeast, the guard in Riften, and put the other three to the side for the moment. Yosa'Min watched with quiet curiosity as Vex began to speak. "So, I did some scouting today, and the fort is in fact in Dayspring Canyon, but that's as far as I could tell without venturing in. The Dawnguard used to be basically nothing, but seemingly somebody is claiming vampires are springing back up and the Dawnguard is a group of vampire slayers, so they're bolstering their numbers again and all that."

"Is the guard token a recruiter than?" Yosa'Min piped up.

With a nod of her head, Vex moved the two thieves besides it. "Exactly. We'll both go to him when he visits next, which should be tomorrow around noon according to the beggers. The two of us will convince him we honestly want to join the group, and when he either escorts us or tells us how to get there, we'll follow along. I'll have Rune and Sapphire bring our horses after we have left the city to outside the canyon, stashed somewhere safe. We'll scout it out from the inside for a night, maybe two, and once we feel we're ready we'll break in to the armory and run like hell. Get out of the canyon, get to our horses, and race back here to Riften."

Yosa'Min nodded her head in agreement. "We'll have to come up with the actual theft part on the inside then," she remarked.

"It'll be fun," Vex smiled wryly, "how would you like to do an inside job with me?"

"I'd love to."

Vex paused, and the bit her lip, amber eyes downcast before she spoke. "You know, Karliah and Brynjolf don't think that of you."

"I know," Yosa'Min looked at the floor. Vex felt herself go cold as she realized just who the two Yosa'Min must have meant were.