Light though the fake Jagged Crown had actually been in her pack, Vex nonetheless felt as if it were heavier. She certainly felt a massive weight on her shoulders.
It was almost Goldenglow all over again. The fact that the estate had been a centerpiece of her attention as she'd walked the road back to Riften, seemingly mocking her failed efforts before, had not helped her mood. Were it not for Vess' order to hide the fake Crown in the Flagon somewhere, she'd have probably thrown it into the lake.
She just wanted to forget her two biggest failures to date, but they seemed insistent on reminding her of her own shortcomings. All she could do to keep calm was tell herself 'never again', over and over. She would never again fail so spectacularly, never again disappoint those who looked to her with hope and high expectations.
It had taken everything she had to not use the secret entrance into the Cistern, but she had managed. Trekking through the Ratway was almost unfamiliar to her. Even so, she reached the Flagon itself with little to no trouble.
This, of course, left the new challenge of sneaking past fellow experts of her craft and hiding a fake ancient artifact in their den. She contemplated just making her presence known, but ultimately decided she didn't want to talk with anyone. Excluding Carissa, anyway.
Her first impulse was to just stash the Crown in one of the crates in one of the nearby empty work spaces. She weighed the pros and cons of doing so, and when no cons readily presented themselves, she decided that would be her course of action.
Storing the Crown in a random crate was not particularly challenging. Dirge, who usually watched the entrance like a hawk, had been inexplicably absent as she hid the fake, and remained absent until she was striding casually toward the Flagon. He quirked a brow at her arrival, and nodded wordlessly to her.
"Well well, look who's come on back to tell us a pretty adventure or two." The voice, while hardly her favorite, was definitely familiar and brought a slightly reluctant smile to her lips. The speaker was completely bald and a bit older than she. He was also the self-styled master of sneaking, and Vex had to admit that barring a few situations in the past, he really was quite adept at it. "Pull up a seat, love, and-"
"Shut it, Delvin," she said, chuckling lightly. "If I were here to talk to anyone, it sure wouldn't be you."
"Oh, my poor heart," he proclaimed dramatically, clutching his chest for added effect. It elicited several laughs, even a few from Vex herself. Gods, but how she'd missed the Flagon. She hadn't realized that until just now. Pervert though he was, she even missed Delvin Mallory, to some extent. "So then, what brings ya back to our little corner of Riften, eh?"
"I was looking for Carissa, actually. Have something for her."
"Aw, you missed her by a day," Delvin said with a small sigh. "Business matter."
"Any idea when she'll be back?" She wasn't looking forward to hanging around Riften for too long. She certainly didn't want to draw attention to herself.
"No, but bright as she is, chances are she'll return soon." It wasn't Delvin who replied, but a familiar Nordic voice from behind. She turned her head to face Brynjolf, whose hands were clasped behind his back, and a smile upon his face. Vex, however, knew Brynjolf well enough to know when the smile didn't quite reach his eyes - and she knew this one fell into that category. "I have something to ask you, lass. You free?"
"I... sure." She didn't really like the thought of talking to Brynjolf extensively. She had a feeling he would eventually try and out whether or not she was still thieving. Nonetheless, she followed him away from the Flagon and toward the area she'd hidden the Crown. She shifted uneasily as they drew nearer, but otherwise made no mention of the odd choice of location.
"Word on the street is that... well, here." He extended a hand toward her, revealing a paper, folded neatly in half, held between his fingers. She took it and unfolded it, finding very fine print written upon it. Not entirely to her surprise, it was about the theft in the Palace of the Kings. Of course he would have been interested in keeping up with that.
Of course, the words 'blonde Imperial thief' all but jumped off the page as she read them, and she started with wide eyes as she read them again and again. It made sense, the more she thought about it; Ulfric had absolutely seen her. Even so...
"Looks like I was right, lass." Brynjolf's voice was quiet, and he shook his head gently. "That isn't the Vex I tell stories about to your friend. That is the work of an amateur, the mark of impatience."
First Vess, now Bryn. To be honest, Vex was tempted to interrupt him, to defend herself... but she decided to let it be for now.
"I won't even get into the fact that you were operating without our approval," he said, crossing his arms. "Mercer read about this well before I did, wanted me to bring you to him if I ever saw you again. I'm not going to," he added, noting her mortified expression, "not this time anyway. I do want an answer, however, as to why. Why the Jagged Crown? For that matter, how had you heard of it prior?"
Ah, questions she was completely uncomfortable answering. After all, it held no personal significance to her, save that the fake had thrust her into the light... indirectly anyway. She couldn't just say it was a job, or else he'd come down even harder on her with tougher questions.
The silence was not an answer Brynjolf wanted, as evidenced by him staring at her, a disapproving look on his face. When it became evident she wasn't going to answer, he shook his head lightly. "Have you heard of the Summerset Shadows?" he asked quietly. When she shook her head, he continued. "They're a group of thieves situated up north, thieves trying to operate without our approval. Rumor holds that they kill their marks while thieving, and in so doing make the Guild look bad. We sent Durian - the Breton lad," he added, noting her confused expression, "to eliminate them alone."
She had a feeling she knew where he was going with this.
"To go after such a secretive artifact few knew about, and to take it from someone so high profile as Jarl Ulfric... that is not the work of a single thief, lass. I haven't told anyone else about my guesses, but maybe I don't need to. Lass, I know you're working with someone else, perhaps several others. The clues are easy to spot." He pointed at her briefly. "I don't want to see you and yours suffer the same as the Shadows up north. I will give you the warning I didn't give the Shadows: back off while you still have a chance."
"We know what we're doing, Bryn," she said without thinking. She cursed herself mentally for the slip; she hadn't wanted to confirm his suspicions, but she also wanted to defend Vess, to defend herself.
"Do you? I wasn't aware being spotted was part and parcel of being a successful thief." He frowned at her. "Lass, I have no doubt you think you and yours are more capable than you actually are... but you are making enemies of us if you don't stop. Do not forget what we do to renegade thieves and enemies." He turned away from her and disappeared behind the crates for a time. When something was tossed over the crates, she recognized it instantly and caught it before it could make a ruckus.
Brynjolf had known she'd planted the fake Jagged Crown?
"I get that you want to get revenge on Mercer, Vex," Brynjolf continued, walking back into view and making a small show of dusting his hands off, "but I won't let you drag the rest of us down with him."
Her hands clutched the fake Crown in annoyance. How had he known...?
"If your people want to play the most dangerous game with us, you'll all find we're more than capable and willing of playing it and playing it well." His arms crossed once more, and he had a sinister look on his face. It wasn't a face Vex had ever seen on Brynjolf before, and it wasn't a face she wanted to see again. "I have given you and yours the only warning you'll get, lass. Ignore it at your own risk." He jerked his head toward the door leading to the Ratway. "Now, take your little 'prize' back to your people and let them know just how thin the ice they tread really is."
"We know what we're doing, Bryn," she repeated, this time with a bit more confidence than she'd intended. "And we will bring the Guild to its knees if it proves the point. Scare tactics only work if you can back them up."
For a moment, his face registered pain, but quickly returned to the sinister look before long. "Then you and yours have made your most dangerous enemy yet," he said quietly, "for we know the tricks of the trade and we know them well." He offered no more words, only brushed past her and returned to the Flagon, leaving Vex to think about what she'd just said...
What she'd just done.
Finding Carissa at Faldar's Tooth was a surprise for Vex. It was the first time she'd ever actually seen the Nord at the fledgling guild hall, and it was unfamiliar... but altogether welcome. Carissa smiled and beckoned Vex closer once the Imperial entered the Guild hall.
"How goes? Agvar told me you and Vess started the Windhelm job," she replied brightly. It was obvious she was expecting a glowing tale of deceit, stealth and masterful theft.
It depressed Vex to tell her the truth of the matter, but she did it anyway. She went on to share her failure to plant the fake Crown in the Flagon. All the while, Carissa's expectant air shifted to a small frown, and by the time Vex finished recounting the tale, the frown remained, but she looked thoughtful.
"A curse..." she murmured quietly. Noting Vex' dubious expression, she proceeded to explain. "Delvin-"
"Yeah, I know he thinks the Guild is cursed," she sighed with a shake of her head. "Ignoring the fact that he's either losing or lost his mind, I'm not part of the Guild anymore. The curse shouldn't affect me."
"Shouldn't, but may," Carissa added with a tap of her chin. She glanced behind Vex, at the door. The Imperial was faintly aware of another presence suddenly in the room. "Been a while, Vess," Carissa said brightly.
"It has. What news brings you here?" As the wood elf came around to the table, she looked at Vex expectantly - then her gaze fell to the fake Crown, which she had placed upon the table during her tale, and Vess' expression turned to a scowl. "Please tell me you haven't left for Riften yet."
Again, Vex explained what transpired in Riften. Vess looked rather livid toward the tail end of it, and for several tense moments, Vex thought she would be thrown out - or worse, made too familiar with the wood elf's family dagger.
"It could be a curse, Vess." It was Carissa who spoke up on Vex' behalf. "The Guild has been down on their luck in recent years. Delvin, one of the notable members, believes it's a curse, that someone or something is furious at the Guild. Granted, Vex isn't part of the Guild anymore... but maybe the curse lingers still?"
Hearing a possible explanation seemed to dull Vess' anger considerably. Vex couldn't believe she was really considering it, but chose not to say it.
"It... would explain why such a talented thief has been failing lately..." Vess shook her head gently. "It would also, unfortunately, mean she's sidelined until we find a way to break-"
"I won't be pushed to the side, curse or no!" Vex spat, hands balling into fists.
In one swift movement, Vess suddenly had her hands upon Vex' collar and had lifted the Imperial off the floor a few inches. There was no denying the fury in her eyes.
"This is beyond just you, Imperial," she snarled. "I will not jeopardize the future of my organization because you have a massive ego that requires periodic stroking! I would rather push you to the side until we can confirm or disprove this curse business, instead of taking unnecessary risks that could ruin all of us! Doubly so because you effectively declared war on our greatest rival to date! All it takes is one mishap on your end to make them aware of our existence, our plans and schemes, our location..." She pulled Vex closer. "I will not let you ruin my organization, or me. Do I make myself fucking clear?"
It was the first time she had ever seen and heard Vess, the wood elf who had shown immense faith and trust in her, speak and act so... fiercely. It scared her, to be perfectly honest, to see the otherwise laid back and friendly wood elf so... hostile. It was almost as if Vess was another person altogether now. All words failed her, so Vex settled for nodding.
"Good," Vess snapped, dropping Vex back to her feet and releasing her. "Then you will remain on standby until I fucking say otherwise. Go... do something, I don't care. Just keep your gods-damned nose clean until I send for you, Vex, or so help me, I will personally make sure that you won't have a place anywhere."
"...Is there anything about this curse I could try and help with?" Vex was ashamed that her voice sounded so timid, but the memory of a furious Vess was still fresh in her mind. She doubted she'd ever forget it, for as long as she lived.
"Maybe if Za needs your help," Vess muttered. "Otherwise, no. No, there's nothing you can do."
"Actually," Carissa began slowly, "I would appreciate a helping hand-"
"Did I not make myself clear, Carissa?" Vess said, her tone sounding quite dangerous. "I want her to keep her nose clean-"
"Her biggest issues seem to lay with actual thieving," Carissa explained quickly. "From the sounds of it, she can still sneak and pick locks with the best of them. I'm not going to claim I'm better at both than she is, and thought having a partner for a... personal task would help speed it up."
For several moments, Vess just started at Carissa, then her gaze locked onto Vex for just as much time, making the blonde Imperial shift uncomfortably. She did want to get out of Faldar's Tooth, true, and she was eager to find if this... curse extended to her other abilities or not. Besides, she was also curious as to what sort of personal business Carissa wanted her help with.
"Fine," Vess said flatly. "It should keep her busy, at any rate, at least until Za returns and can secure a means to identify whether or not Vex is actually cursed. Once we know one way or another, well... we'll figure it out from there."
"Right." Carissa had already moved next to Vex, so hearing the Nord's voice directly next to her made Vex jump a little. "Well, come on. We have ground to cover."
Carissa had led Vex west from Faldar's Tooth, leaving the Imperial unsure of where they were going. The only settlement to the west was Ivarstead, and they weren't heading southwest, toward the road that would lead to Helgen. What could possibly be to the west that was of importance to Carissa...?
"It was just an excuse," Carissa finally said, as if reading Vex' mind. "I could sense you wanted to get out of there and not go crazy waiting around."
"So... there's no business to deal with?" Vex wasn't sure if she was impressed of disturbed to find that lying to Vess had come so easily to Carissa.
"Not really. Nothing that requires another thief's touch, anyway." She hesitated briefly. "Or... maybe. I don't know. It all depends on how well the ancient Nords locked up their tombs."
"Wait... a tomb? We're exploring a tomb?" Vex couldn't quite believe her ears. She had explored a couple in the distant past, on Guild business... and had told herself she'd rather become a hagraven than ever enter another tomb.
"Yes." Carissa looked over her shoulder to see Vex had frozen in place, and a small smile and giggle escaped the Nord. "Aw, you're terrified."
"And you aren't? Why not? Don't the traps scare you? Don't the draugr?"
"Relax, I cleared part of it already," Carissa said brightly. "If those those things scare you, then let me handle them, and you just focus on the locks and stuff. There's a reason I'm not sending you in alone."
Hearing that did wonders for Vex' nerve, for she reluctantly nodded and swallowed hard. Even so, staying at Faldar's Tooth with a hostile Vess sounded far more preferable.
A.N. - So my biggest issue with this chapter... I can't place it. I delayed its release a few days, trying to figure out the best way to make it better... but all alternatives failed me. That said, here's the chapter.
Saying to hide something in a den of thieves and actually doing it are two completely different things. I wanted to make it somewhat clear that 1) Brynjolf, at the least, has sharper eyes than we think, and 2) Windhelm wasn't just a one-time failure. Also felt like now, after the bungled Windhelm job, was the best time for Brynjolf to give his warning.
Even the gentlest soul can become vicious. I feel like I conveyed that pretty well with Vess, who is actually rather laid back most of the time. She also has pride and a fierce desire to protect those important to her - including her own growing guild. Beware of Vess, because even if she likes you, she will not hesitate to cut your coin purse - or something worse - if you threaten her or her friends. (That will come to light further in.)
Carissa's job may seem pointless at this juncture, but from a plot point, everything in this story has a purpose. There's more to the impending tomb dive than they both realize...
-Spiritslayer
