The cistern of the Thieves' Guild was quietly tense. Most of the Guild sat in silence, stunned at the news Brynjolf had delivered. Mercer, stealing from the Guild? Mercer, the one who had gotten them in so well with Maven, who'd talked the Guild out of trouble time and time again?

The news that he'd murdered Gallus had created a variety of reactions. Most of the Guild were fresh enough to have never met him and seemed more surprised than angry. But those who'd known Gallus personally - Brynjolf, Delvin, Tonilia, Vex, and Vekel - their reactions were bordering on violent.

Vex sat at a table, gouging huge chunks out of the wood with a knife. Her expression indicated pretty clearly that she was picturing more than a table. Tonilia was across from her, five daggers spread across the tabletop while she honed a sixth in perfect rhythm. Vekel had spent a few minutes violently kicking a chair around until it shattered; now he was throwing the pieces into the cistern's central pool.

Delvin, Brynjolf and Karliah conversed in hushed tones at the mess that had been Mercer's desk. Issana wasn't quite close enough to hear, seated next to Rune on one of the beds.

"Are you all right?" he asked quietly.

Issana looked up. "What?"

"You're wincing when you move."

"I got stabbed, Rune."

Rune chuckled. "I know. I just want to make sure you're all right."

"Well, I'm not. And I'd really rather not talk about it."

"I understand. I do. But if you ever want to, you know I'm here, right?"

Issana said nothing.

"Issana?" Rune shifted a little closer to her.

Brynjolf glanced up from Mercer's desk. "Issana." He beckoned her over. Issana rose quickly, wincing at the stabs of pain, and strode towards him.

"We're going after Mercer," Brynjolf said. "We've got to deal with him before he turns Maven on us. He's got plenty of money." He scowled. "Money that should be in our vault right now."

He gestured for her to sit at one of the stools. "Karliah and I are going after him. We've got more reason than most to want to take him down. I want you to come."

Issana leaped up from the stool and inadvertently sent it clattering to the floor. "Why?"

"You want payback, don't you?"

Mercer's sword flashed through her thoughts again. No. She shook her head slowly and didn't miss Karliah's contemptuous look. I don't think I could.

Brynjolf reached down and righted her stool. "Look, lass. We need someone with your skills. You can get us into places we can't."

Someone with your skills.

Not me.

Anyone with my skills.

Issana shook her head again.

"What's the matter, lass?" said Brynjolf. "What's wrong?"

"She's terrified," said Karliah. "She's been this way since I got her healthy again. Nightmares, fits of panic, I spent weeks dealing with it on the way here. Are you sure it's wise to bring her?"

Brynjolf ignored her. "Talk to me, lass. What's wrong?"

"I don't think I can do this anymore, Brynjolf."

"What do you mean?"

Issana felt a lump growing in her throat. She blinked and felt tears beginning to form. "This." She gestured with a sweep of her arm. "I'm tired, Brynjolf. Tired of looking over my shoulder, tired of being useful, tired of-" She broke off and bit back a sob.

Brynjolf leaped up and grabbed her gently by the shoulders. "Slow down there, lass. Is this... because of Mercer?"

Issana shrugged him off and stepped back. "I'm sorry, Brynjolf. I can't. I just can't."

Brynjolf's hands fell to his sides. "You can't what?"

Issana swallowed hard and tried to stop her tears. "I…" She knew what she had to say and yet she didn't want to speak the words. "I'm leaving the Guild."

Even Vex stopped carving up the table as a stunned silence settled over the cistern. Brynjolf stared at Issana. "What?"

Issana looked down at the floor. Brynjolf stared at her for a long, long while. "Is that what you want?"

Issana squeezed her eyes shut, causing tears to roll down her cheeks again. She took a step backwards. Then two steps. Three steps.

"Fine," said Brynjolf. "Go on then. Leave."

"Issana, wait!" Rune crossed the room at a run. "Brynjolf doesn't mean-"

"Yes, I do," said Brynjolf. Rune looked at him, horrified, but Brynjolf turned away. "She doesn't need us anymore."

Issana opened her mouth to say something but no words came. Rune grabbed her by the shoulder. "Issana, I-"

Issana pushed his arm away. Her back hit the ladder out of the cistern. She turned and reached for the iron rungs, and hesitated.

"I thought you were one of us," Brynjolf said. Issana couldn't tell if it was anger or sadness in his voice.

It was probably anger.

I thought I was too.

She gripped the ladder and climbed.