Chapter Twenty-Five

Riften was bustling with business as the day came, clouds far from view as the first morning in some time was open to the blue sky. Snow was crushed underfoot, trampled in only a few hours as the city-folk got on with their lives. Syldus stood at the edge of the marketplace, a circular area around the well in the center of town, watching as these strange people went about doing as they needed. It was a marvel to him that they could simply get up and do the exact same thing over and over again, expecting better outcomes and fulfilled purposes. Whatever they were trying to gain through their lives he couldn't see it, and it disgusted him because of it.

A woman brushed his elbow as she passed him, not even so much as glancing at him as she invaded his personal space, rilling Syldus and filling him with contempt for these people. Such arrogance they possessed to not even show some proper manners! Huffing, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers and approached the circular marketplace, glancing about for the man that Aerin had described to him. His brown gaze swept the area for the redheaded nordic man, expecting to find some shifty looking swindler he could easily peg as being a thief. Instead, there was but only one man fitting the physical description, and it was a suave nord who stood on a stand trying to sell magical cures to the common folk, shouting how they'd take away any disease and make the old feel young again.

Syldus approached him slowly, narrowed eyes trying to discern if this was the correct man and how to persuade him into showing the bosmer the way. Brynjolf held himself confidently, proud, there was an air about him that exuded charm even from a distance, and Syldus was reminded of a few people he'd known in his life. Despite himself, the man seemed almost likable, which was certainly not something the bosmer wanted. It would seem already he'd have to actually focus on detachment if all the thieves were as charming as this one.

"Excuse me lad," Brynjolf said, "but you look a faint bit lost."

"I think I might be," agreed Syldus.

"Well let me give you a hand," the nord gestured him over and so Syldus obeyed, "where are you headed?"

The curly haired bosmer frowned shamefully. "Looking for work really. This winter is sucking the life out of everybody. Can't even go from town to town without risking lost toes."

"Where are you from lad?"

"Nowhere really, and that's the problem. I was raised out in a hut in the mountains, there's no work up there except mining and I'm just not made for that kind of labor," he lied. "Do you know of anywhere an elf like me could find a job?"

Thoughtful, the nord looked the bosmer before him over, and then shrugged. "I'm afraid Riften isn't doing too well ourselves. Our market about crashed when the snow got too much for even us nords, couldn't leave our homes to sell and fresh stock isn't coming in as often as it used too."

"This winter has been impossibly strong," Syldus lamented, "almost as if the Gods are punishing us."

"Probably for the war that yet rages on," Brynjolf replied conversationally, an earnestness in his words that Syldus liked, "I doubt Talos likes that our province is tearing itself in two and blood is being shed every day. There isn't a job left that doesn't mean fighting for a pointless cause. Empire? Independent? Who really cares if we're all dead by the end of it."

Nodding his head in agreement, the bosmer shivered a bit in the chill. The winter truly had been a powerful and depressing one, making his tale of unemployment and poverty all the easier to believe. "You seem to be a man who knows the city," he moved the conversation back to its original purpose, "do you think you could help me out? There's got to be something around here that I could do. It doesn't even have to be a job for coin, I just need something to eat and somewhere to sleep where I won't freeze in the middle of the night."

Rubbing the red patch of hair on his chin, Brynjolf seemed to think deeply on what he said next. He slipped a hand inside his booth, and pulled forward a scrap of paper that had a mark on it; a diamond with a circle in it. Syldus looked at it with interest, but without a hint of recognition. "What's your name lad?"

"Syldus."

"Well Syldus, have you ever seen one of these before?" Brynjolf asked, leaning slightly against the wooden frame of his booth.

Squinting at it, he shook his head, curls bobbing about him. "I'm afraid not, what is it?" This was perhaps the first truth Syldus had said all morning.

"A shadowmark," whispered Brynjolf, the air about the two seemingly changing and Syldus found himself leaning towards the nord to listen. "It's a mark of the Thieves Guild."

"The what?"

"A guild of thieves of course! They reside here in the city, underneath the ground in the sewers."

Syldus crinkled his nose. "Sounds nasty."

Shrugging a bit, Brynjolf continued. "Sure, but what does that really matter? They're down there making gold like you wouldn't believe! Plus they all live down there, out of the cold. Probably have enough to eat too..." Syldus acted as if the thought was enticing and he lent his ear a bit longer. "If you're interested, I could probably set you up to meet a few friends of mine. They'd be right happy to introduce you to them."

"I don't know if I've got what it takes to be in a group like that," Syldus said shamefully.

"Don't be silly, of course you do!" Brynjolf encouraged, "just head on down to the boardwalks where the boats are, on the side near the orphanage. There's a gate, it'll be locked." The nord shifted something in his pocket and then pulled out a lockpick, slipping it to Syldus without a moment of hesitation. The bosmer clutched it for a second before he tucked it away in his sleeve. "That's your one chance to get inside, think of it as your first test."

Swallowing a bit dryly, Syldus nodded his head. "Test? How many are there?"

Brynjolf smirked a bit, fiddling with a bottle as if he was trying to convince the young elf to buy it. "Well anyone can try to be a thief you know, just not everyone can make it. That's what those tests are for, to find out who really has the right stuff. I'm sure you have it lad. Just trust your instincts and I promise you'll be with a good amount of work ahead of you in no time."

The bosmer glanced about them at the mildly busy marketplace, the people truly stubborn to continue their business, and then steeled himself before Brynjolf. "Okay, I'll do it. I don't have much choice between that and turning into a beggar at this point anyways."

"Whatever your reasons, a thief is still a thief," replied Brynjolf before he leaned back away from Syldus. "Are you sure I can't interest you in any of these tonics?" He spoke louder now, waving at the row of bottles on display.

Shaking his head as he backed away, Syldus replied, "No I believe I'll pass."

"Come back if you change your mind!"

The bosmer waved his hand, and turned back towards the well, curling around it past the booths towards the canals below. A smirk threatened to dawn his face, but just as always he kept his expression hidden. He had a whole host of things before him to do, now wasn't the time to celebrate just yet. Later, when he had Vex and Yosa'Min's heads to present to Isran and the Thieves Guild burning, then he could smile.

"You got here easier than I expected," Brynjolf said to the bosmer, the pair of them standing in the middle of a tunnel that smelled of many foul things. "Faster too."

Syldus shrugged, "It's like I said, this is my only option. Not much point in delaying." He hadn't been surprised to find that Brynjolf was a member of the Guild, the only thing that was a shock was how openly he operated among the common folk. City-people really were blind dolts.

The redheaded nord had changed, now dressed in a suit of black leather armor with many pockets and belts on it. "Fair enough. Follow me lad, it's time to show you home." He tilted his head back to the room behind them, a door on the far end. Syldus silently obeyed, and the pair made their way towards it. There was a lock on the door, but Brynjolf simply slid a key inside and it opened to a much larger part of the Ratway. Syldus was actually impressed by the little gem of civilization in the sewers he found as the nord led him through towards a tavern on the other side of a filmy pond of water. There was a circular opening in the roof that cast light down, but he couldn't figure where that was coming from on the surface, perhaps the well. To his flanks were little shops of a variety of trade; an armorer, blacksmith, fletcher and alchemist on either side of him as the two walked across wooden planks and damp stone.

A sign hung declaring the boardwalk pier and connected stone the "Ragged Flagon", and a swarm of thieves hung around drinking or talking. A man with a stained white apron was sweeping up besides a bar, scattered about tables and crates decorating the tavern. Brynjolf quickly approached him, and smiled back at Syldus who managed a slightly nervous expression back.

"Vekel! Pour me and my friend here something strong will you?" Brynjolf called, Vekel the Man nodding his head before he rested his broom against a cobblestone wall and ducked around the counter to serve them. Brynjolf gestured for Syldus to take a seat, and so he did, the nord sliding onto one of the barstools besides him. As two tall tankards of mead were produced and given to them, the elf could feel the eyes of everyone in the Ragged Flagon upon him. He swallowed dryly, he wasn't used to so much attention. "Come on now, drink up. Think of it as a welcome gift. We treat our family right here."

Nodding silently, he took one of the two tankards and began to drink the alcohol down. It tasted better than he thought it would, and soon it along with Brynjolf's were finished. A redguard woman approached them, and for a split second Syldus thought that it was Yosa'Min, until he noticed a lack of scars and her eyes were the wrong color. "Who's this Bryn?" Tonilia asked as she stood about an arm away.

"Syldus," he spoke up for himself, and offered a hand. Tonilia cocked a brow, and then looked at Brynjolf. Biting the inside of his cheek with a disgruntled twinge, Syldus lowered his hand.

"Picked us up a new one?" She asked the nord.

"Aye, that I did. I've got a feeling about this one, and the poor lad was on the outs so why not? If he doesn't get approved though, I suppose it won't be for the worst, probably could still find work elsewhere."

"Approved?" Piped Syldus from his seat.

With a nod, Brynjolf addressed him. "That would be correct. I might be a senior member of the Guild, but I can't officially make just anyone I want a member. That would be up to our Guildmaster to do and she's not here right now."

Suspicions raised, Syldus simply shrugged. "I can wait, how long until she comes back?"

Grimacing now, the nord gave a shrug of his own. "Truth be told I haven't a clue, no one really does."

"What?" Syldus sat up straight some. "What am I supposed to do in the meantime then? Where did she go?"

"Calm yourself lad," Brynjolf said, Tonilia rolling her eyes besides him, "it's nothing to worry about. I can make you an initiate, meaning you can stay here and do some small jobs for us. All it means is that you won't have the support of the Guild yet, and you're like a guest in our house. Once she returns from her journey, you can become a full-fledged member so long as in that time as an initiate you've proven you'll be an asset. If you decide before then that this isn't really the life for you, you're free to leave. Afterwards it's messy to depart from your family. It's as much a trial run for us as it is you."

Nodding his head slowly as if it had allayed his fears, though truthfully he hoped he would never have to truly join this band of rogues, Syldus looked to Tonilia. "So then who are you?" He asked politely.

"The local fence," she replied, "name's Tonilia boy."

Mentally huffing, he gave an outwards laugh and shook his head. "I'm not a boy," he managed to make it sound like he was amused when in all honesty he was far from it.

"Oh? Just how old are you then?"

"Twenty-nine."

Sniggering, Tonilia started to walk away. "Even by human standards you're a boy, by mer, you're an infant."

Scowling after her, Syldus glanced about to see who else was going to badger him. Brynjolf was smirking himself, bemused, when suddenly the nord snapped to a more serious attitude. A dunmer was making her way over to them, and Syldus felt his gaze get ensnared by the purple eyed dark elf as she approached. Her steps were light as if she bounced across shadows, graceful and poised, and the curious look in her violet eyes confused the young bosmer. Karliah stopped besides them, and scanned the new arrival curiously. "I see you've found us a new recruit," she said, voice like silk.

"Aye, that I have, but we'll have time for all that later. Has there been any news?"

"About our absentee Guildmaster? No, not since her last letter."

Sighing quite dismally, Brynjolf rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Alright, we'll have to figure something out tonight. She's been gone a week now, people are going to get antsy."

"You know how long traveling takes in this weather, I'm sure that's all it is," Karliah offered in explanation.

Syldus was slowly putting the pieces together of who the Guildmaster was, but didn't want to jump to conclusions if he didn't have all the pieces yet. As slyly as he possibly could, the bosmer cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but who exactly is the Guildmaster?"

"Oh right of course," Brynjolf scolded himself, "our Guildmaster is an imperial woman named Vex." The nord could have sworn he saw Syldus tense ever so slightly at the mention of her name, why that would happen he couldn't think of. "She's been away on a... business venture for about a week ago." These thieves were as easy with lying as he was, the thought amusing the bosmer who's mind was otherwise on fire. The Dawnguard had known that Vex was a member of the Guild, through what Yosa'Min had given up and then Mjoll the Lioness had admitted to them, but now... It changed many things. The thought that this Guild might just be swiftly dealt with for the crimes of a soldier following orders was gone. Now, the audacity that imperial possessed to attack them as she did boiled his blood.

Vex was going to pay quite heavily.

He was determined to toy and play with this Guild until he had her and the redguard woman in his grasp so he could deliver them to Isran, and then, they'd watch their world burn.

"Lad? You alright there?"

Snapping back to the world around him, Syldus nodded his head with a yawn. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little worn out. I know it's still early in the day but I've been doing so much traveling you must understand."

Brynjolf nodded his head. "Right of course. Well, you can head on through to the Cistern and get you some sleep then. I've got some things to take care of anyways. When you get up, there's a room on the far side of the place, it'll lead you to a training room. Go ahead and practice there, I'll try to have some work lined up for you by tomorrow."

Syldus rose to his feet, and gave a hearty nod of his head. "Thanks Brynjolf, I really appreciate this chance you're giving me."

"Don't worry about it lad, we all fall on hard times every now and then," he said with a smile. "Just make sure no one is using that bed when you get in it alright? Wouldn't be a good idea to start something when you're as new as morning dew."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, and then looked about before sheepishly smiling. "Uh, how do I get there?"

Brynjolf glanced about, and spotting a brunet nord woman across the way he rose his voice. "Sapphire! Come here please," he called over. She blinked at him, gaze flipping to the curly haired bosmer besides him, and made her way over to the bar.

"Yes?"

"Take Syldus to the Cistern and show the lad where he could lay his head will you?" Brynjolf half asked half ordered.

She ran her gaze across him, curious of the newest potential Guildmate and then shrugged. "Fine, come on," Sapphire said as she turned on her heels. Syldus hopped down from the barstool and followed after, bidding the two senior thieves goodbye. As they vanished around the corner through the hidden door in the closet, Brynjolf found Karliah scowling at him.

"What are you doing?" She demanded.

Green eyes shined with amusement, but there was a seriousness in his voice as Brynjolf responded. "What are you talking about?" He scratched at his beard. "I'm doing what I've always done, recruit. It's one of my primary tasks as a second, keeping the Guild pulsing with new blood."

With a slight roll of her eyes, Karliah gestured about them to the disgruntled but wealthy thieves. "Don't you see the situation we're in? Our Guildmaster and friend hasn't been seen for over a week, and all we've gotten from her was a letter explaining everything but not really telling us what to do." She was holding said parchment at that moment. "We should be trying to help her not train recruits we don't need."

"Calm down Karliah," Brynjolf soothed, gesturing for her to have a seat. "I know how much you worry for Vex, but you've got to remember that she's all grown now. She's not the little street rat you found on the streets so many years ago."

With a slight laugh, Karliah nodded her head. "You are right about that. To think little Vex is my Guildmaster now, and I put her there too!" She smiled softly, memories from pleasant times rising to the forefront of her mind. As the thought of how two of her friends were missing however jumped back to the mental spotlight, she sighed. "I just fear the worst. She said Yosa'Min had been altered by a supernatural creature," her words were a whisper, "a vampire even! She's working with that Lioness again and we both remember what happened last time." Brynjolf cringed at the bloody memory on the lake. "Those Dawnguard people aren't going to take a liking to what happened either. I wouldn't be surprised if next time we cross paths they try to kill the thief, regardless if we're not Yosa or Vex."

"Aye, I'm worried about this group of vampire hunters as well. They could be the vengeful type, even though they lost nothing but pride," agreed Brynjolf. "We've not heard anything from them however, and I've had eyes and ears on top for any sign of them but it seems they just want nothing to do with Riften."

"Let's hope it stays that way."

They were silent for a moment, watching the Guild, and then Karliah grimaced. "Did we make a mistake? Were we not there enough for Yosa?"

Brynjolf shrugged glumly. "I don't know... I used to get along well enough with the lass, but there was never any denying that I care for Vex more. We've got history on top of everything else. When I tried to console her after what happened... She just pushed me away like she did the last time we saw her."

"But is it our fault?"

They were silent for a good while, simply watching the Guild go about its business. Some thieves were enjoying dinner together, talking with small laughs, while others were visiting the little shops that had been set up on the perimeter of the pond. Even with the influx of gold from before, spirits risen higher than before, there was something wrong among the thieves. It wouldn't take a genius to tell it was the missing members. Vex certainly would have an effect of not being around, she was their Guildmaster, their savior from chaos and destruction, she'd rebuilt the Guild and elevated them higher than ever. However the redguard's absence was palpable just as well, the gloomy shadow gone and instead replaced with a sense of worry and wrongness. Lie all they wanted to, Brynjolf could tell the others held some degree of concern for their missing fellow.

"I don't know Karliah," he admitted, "we did what we could."

She sighed heavily. "Let's just hope we don't fail Vex as well. She needs us to manage this Guild in her stead, but I worry-"

"You always worry," he jested slightly, trying to dispel the depressing mood that had fallen between them. "Listen, you need to go relax, break into a house or two if you need to just find some way to calm yourself. I need you to be level here, not hurting."

"I spent so long aching, I'm done with that. I just want my family to be safe is all." She got a bit defensive, bristling a bit besides him.

"And there is nothing wrong with that," he countered, "but you know worrying about things in the distance is pointless. What can you do from here? Nothing, because you're here doing your duty. You're Third, I'm Second, as simple as that. Vex is gone to save Yosa and we're going to do our best to manage this crazy place while she's gone. We'll keep asking around to our contacts, monitor if any sign of Yosa or this vampire she's traveling with appears and if it does then we'll let her know right fast and I'll even send some of our own people to get them. We're not just turning our backs on Yosa'Min, not after everything. They've already forgotten we'd all be dead regardless if it wasn't for her."

With a sad sigh, Karliah agreed, "Many people do forget their heroes just as quick as they came."

"Well I haven't, Yosa'Min is still a good thief and she's still one of us. We'll find some way to help her... Even if we have to stay here so Vex doesn't have to worry about us back home. Because that's just a distraction, and she can't afford to lose sight of who's she's really after and should be concerned with right now. Just like how you need to focus on this not out there."

The dunmer laughed slightly. "You know, I remember you as a young man, you were quite the brash child. Now you're the one handing out advise and knowing the right thing to do."

Brynjolf shrugged a bit, smiling himself. "Well I had a good family... And I'll be damned if I'll let anyone hurt it."

Karliah smirked from one ear to another as she rose to her feet. "I'm going to tend to some business. Have fun with the new recruit," she said as she began to walk away. "He seems a bit out of place, might be a bit harder to get his feet wet than most."

Something told Brynjolf however, that there was another reason why the elf seemed out of place, but he simply shrugged it aside. He was worried for his friend too, but he had to take his own advice and leave it be. Besides, there was a host of things to do, and training this new arrival was at the top of the list. Deciding he'd go ahead and get the armor and equipment for Syldus squared away, he made his way to Tonilia, unaware he'd just invited the wolf into their flock.

AN: Bam! Look who's terrible with dates! No really. I suck with dates. I haven't finished all my training but I'm done with the first part so now I have access to my laptop so I can write! It'll be slow between updates but they're now in the works and on their way. I've missed writing this story and I hope you've missed reading it actually because now that I can do it again some I'm eager to continue the story and I hope you're still interested in reading along with me. I'd love to hear what you think of the chapter, we get to see what Syldus and the Guild is up to, and what you think is going to happen. Don't forget to check out "Tales From Tamriel" which will feature one-shots that aren't spoiler to the story but would help if you did read them. As always, thanks for reading, and don't forget to leave a review.