The journey to back to the Sanctuary was uneventful and painful. It wasn't enough that the injured rib hurt whenever she was conscious, the carriage ride was torturous as it swayed, bumped, and bucked in what she figured was every single hole and rut in the road that ran from Morthal to Falkreath.
Sable screamed when Gabriella's magic reset the rib and Astrid had instructed that she would not be sent out on a new contract until it had time to settle and there was no lingering pain. She spent the next few days mainly with Babette tending to the white deathbell plant that the child vampire had developed for her with the help of the Dunmer.
She found she was actually somewhat enjoying the small reprieve. She was able to reacquaint herself with all the pretty dresses in her wardrobe, though her rib prevented her from twirling around much. But as the days wore on and the soreness subsided, she began to feel antsy; growing until she thought she would go stir crazy. Going outside would not be enough she knew. She needed a contract. Her legend wouldn't grow just sitting around the Sanctuary.
Sable was sure she was going to snap when Astrid came to find her.
"How are you feeling, sister?" the leader asked.
"Depends on how you mean," Sable replied, "The pain in my side is nearly gone, but I'm going to go crazy if I don't get out soon."
"Well, aren't you the lucky one," Astrid purred "I've actually come to see if you wanted to handle a task for me?"
"You have a contract?" the white haired assassin perked up a bit.
"Actually, it is something that may end up being more … delicate than that." The matron of the Dark Brotherhood explained. "There may not be any killing involved, but it would at least grant you the opportunity to get out of the Sanctuary for a while. Interested?"
"Very." Sable replied immediately.
Astrid chuckled. "I thought you might be." She paused before continuing. "We have a … an old associate in Riften that has asked for a favor. I simply need you to go find out what he requires."
"And am I to perform whatever task he requires?" Sable inquired.
Astrid thought for a bit. "I trust you to use your judgment. If it is a matter you can handle, by all means do so. But you can report back to me if you so decide."
Sable smiled. It felt rather good to be trusted in this manner.
"Who is my contact for this favor?" she asked.
"I do believe you've met him actually." Astrid stated. "You are to meet with Delvin Mallory."
The name hit Sable right in the gut.
"Delvin Mallory of the Thieves Guild?" She was suddenly not sure of this task for Astrid.
"Yes, indeed," the blonde leader replied. "I am well aware of your past ties with the Thieves Guild and that you never gave them your … resignation as it were. However, I suspect that even if there is some … awkwardness there for both sides, the meeting will prove more fruitful if you go."
The white haired assassin wasn't sure about that, but also did not want to refuse Astrid. The Family had shown her the love and acceptance she'd never had before.
"I … I will leave at first light tomorrow, Mistress."
"You have my thanks." Astrid said before leaving her.
Sable hadn't thought of a return to the thieves since she had first joined the Dark Brotherhood. Sitting there she realized it was bound to have happened at some point. Still, that thought didn't seem to help undo the knot in her stomach. She wondered why she felt so anxious to return. From what she had heard, Delvin used to belong to the Brotherhood prior to leaving and joining the Thieves Guild. And certainly they wouldn't attempt to harm her. To do so would risk bringing the full wrath of the Family against them. And yet, her nervousness nagged at the back of her mind no matter how much she told herself she was being silly.
Sable stared at the cleverly camouflaged button that opened the secret entrance to the Cistern – the home of the thieves guild – carved into a stone coffin that slid away to reveal a passage into the sewers. She had used it countless times when she had been thief. Even though that had been less than year since she had encountered and subsequently joined the Dark Brotherhood, it seemed like another life now gone by.
The anxiety she had experienced when first hearing of this assignment was gone. It seemed almost funny to her. Now that she was about to face those whom she had left behind with no explanation or any other communication, there was only calm. She was not afraid or worried in the slightest. She knew no harm would come to her here. The Dark Brotherhood may have lost much of its glory during The Great War, but the thieves were on hard times as well and certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to incur the wrath of the assassin's guild.
And so she stood there in her full black and sanguine red leather armor that identified her as a member of the Family for a moment longer before pushing the secret button and re-entering a former existence.
A short stairway led to a trap door into the sewers. The ladder within led to a large circular room that the guild called The Cistern. It was where most of them spent their time. In the center of the expansive room was a large pool of water. Four stone bridges – one at each compass direction – met into a wide circular platform in the middle. There were four hallways leading from the Cistern; also located at each compass point. The passageway she entered from was one. To her left a passageway led to the tavern the thieves had made in the sewers call The Ragged Flagon. A massive vault was to her right and training rooms and lodging were found in the hallway directly in front of her.
Sable strutted purposely into the room and enjoyed the looks of astonishment she got from the members present. Generally if a member failed to return from a job, it was assumed that they had been caught and were serving time. It was generally understood that there were no rescues. If one got pinched, they were on their own. But as soon as any of them saw her in her Dark Brotherhood garb, they knew she was no longer one of them and they kept their distance. All except one.
"By the Eight, lass," came a familiar calm, mild voice. Sable looked to see Brynjolf, the second in command, coming towards her. "What happened to you?"
"I have found a new Family," Sable replied condescendingly, "a new home."
"That, I can see, lass." The red-haired Nord replied. "But, why? Why the assassins?"
"Unlike Frey or yourself, they appreciate what I do for them. They appreciate me." The former thief replied.
"So you prefer murdering, then" he returned, attempting to throw something back in her face. She giggled at his silliness.
"Of course I do." She cried out trying not to laugh at the absurdity of the question. She could explain how power was the most meaningful possession in life and that she was wielding the greatest expression of it, but she knew he wouldn't hear it; couldn't hear it. He was weak. She just fixed him with a cold, calculating stare.
"Then why come back?" Brynjolf retorted. "Do you think you could still be welcome here after that confession, lass?"
"A welcome doesn't concern me. I'm here to see Delvin." Sable replied. "I assume he's in the Flagon, as usual?"
"Aye, he is," her once mentor said, "Get whatever business you have with him done and be gone."
Sable wasn't particularly surprised by Brynjolf's reaction as she left him there and headed towards the entrance to The Ragged Flagon. He held the Dark Brotherhood as rather contemptible; nothing more than petty murderers. She knew that Brynjolf only saw the small picture of larceny. He didn't understand that she now exercised power beyond what he could hope for as just the second in command of a gang of thieves. And even if his view of them is all they were, her new Family actually treated her as a sister rather than the lip service she had found here in the sewers under Riften.
Once inside the sewer tavern, it wasn't hard to find Delvin. The bald, elder Breton was seated with his back to her at his usual table just to the left of the bar. Sable strode right up to him, arms crossed.
"Astrid said you had requested a favor." She stated flatly catching his attention.
"Well, well, well, "he answered. "You're making friends all over, ain't ya."
"It would seem so." She replied. Delvin didn't seem disturbed at all by her new profession. With the old thief having been a member of the assassin's guild once, she wasn't sure how he'd react, but the parting had apparently been amicable she guessed.
"Always figure you were more a cutthroat than a cutpurse." He mused.
"We all have our lots in life I suppose," the assassin allowed, but wanting to be out of the sewers, she quickly changed back to the desired subject. "You had requested a favor from the Brotherhood?"
"Aye, that I did." Delvin answered handing her a note. "All I ask is that you not open that until you are out of the Cistern."
"That's it?" Sable asked incredulously beginning to feel her anger flare up. "We called me all the way to re…"
"Aye, lass. Simple as that." He cut her off quickly. She now understood that whatever the favor was, he didn't want his comrades to know about it. She blew out a sigh. Typical secretive thieves and all their clandestine cloak and dagger nonsense; it was a wonder that any of them ever got any sleep.
"Very good." Sable replied too politely. "I will take my leave unless there is anything else."
"You're free to go, love." He answered. "Give Astrid my regards."
She turned and made her way back to the Cistern. But rather than going straight for the exit, she made her way to the living quarters of the thieves. Back to her old room. Thankfully they had left all her stuff there, probably in anticipation of her eventual return. She went to the chest at the foot of her old bed and quickly opened it and retrieved the first possession she had ever cherished. A length of silk ribbon. It was a deep purple color with golden embroidery in the shape of deathbell flowers. She didn't remember how she had come to own it, but she had had it for as long as she could remember. As the assassin took a moment to gaze at it and run her fingers along the smooth silk from which it was made, she felt that perhaps it had been her mother's. It was, without a doubt, the only remnant of her time in the thieves guild she missed. And now it was hers again. Her old life as a thief was now completely purged and gone. She tied her stark white hair up with it and strutted freely from the room. She knew she was never coming back.
After seeking out and giving Brynjolf her formal, though not very polite, resignation from the thieves guild, Sable left using the same route in which she had entered paying no heed to any of the looks or stares that followed her back out to the Riften graveyard. Once out, she triggered the mechanism that slid the sarcophagus back into place, hiding the entrance to the thieve guild once more. The assassin retrieved her cloak from where she left it in an inside corner of the mausoleum and fastened it and pulled her hood up before heading back into town. She needed to find a secure place to read the note Delvin had passed to her. Somewhere she could be sure the eyes of the thieves guild wouldn't be able to see what it contained. Then it came to her.
The pale Nord turned around and headed back toward the graveyard, but this time, went up the wide steps and into the Temple of Mara. Once inside, she quickly and quietly took a seat in a pew to her right just inside the door and opened the note, holding it close to her to do her best to keep any onlookers from seeing its contents. Truly there was nowhere in Riften completely safe from the spying of Brynjolf's gang, but she knew that most thieves would probably be more than a little uncomfortable at the idea of hanging out in the godess' temple.
Written with impressively delicate penmanship, the note was short and simple.
On the north bank of Honrich Lake, you'll find Merryfair Farm. Be there at midnight.
Delvin was being extremely cautious if he was dragging her outside the city in the middle of the night. Sable began to wonder exactly what she had gotten herself into by agreeing to do a simple favor.
There wasn't much to Merryfair Farm; just a simple farm house with a barn and the requisite crop fields all around it. It was nestled right up to the bank of Honrich Lake for easy irrigation. But, when she discovered that Merryfair Farm was not deserted, but very much still populated, Sable's annoyance with Delvin grew considerably. The moons were just beginning to reach their peak in the night sky as she had approached the settlement wondering if she was supposed to go inside the farm house for her meeting with the eldest member of the thieves guild or if their business was to be conducted outside in one of the fields.
Her contemplation was broken when she sensed a presence coming up slowly and stealthily behind her. The White Deathbell didn't move, not letting her potential assailant on to the fact that she was aware. As soon as they mystery person as close enough, she crouched low and spun from left. Swinging out her right leg swept the intruders legs out from under him and he landed on his back with a thud forceful enough to drive the air from his lungs. In the blink of an eye, the white haired assassin was perched atop him with a dagger poised at his throat.
Delvin Mallory heaved and coughed for a moment before finally regaining his breath.
"Not exactly the welcome I was expecting."
"Then why were you trying to sneak up on me?" Sable asked, an edge of suspicion in her voice.
"Can't blame a thief for attempting to ply his trade, can you?" He flashed the most dashing smile he could muster. "Just my luck that you would pick up on me right before I could make the grab."
"Oh, please," she countered, "I heard you slogging through the mud near where the lakeshore meets the potato field."
Mallory's eyes went wide. Either he was losing his touch or this one was very good to have noticed him that far away. Eventually his face reddened with consternation.
"So you've proven your better than me." His voice gave away how flustered he was. "Want to get off me so we can talk business!?"
Sable's red lips parted into a very satisfied smile. "No, I think I like this arrangement better at the moment. Now, what is this favor you need that required dragging me to some hick farm in the middle of the night?"
"Just being cautious is all," Delvin replied. "I ran a job off the books and need help cleaning it up so I wanted a conversation outside of town in a place the guild doesn't care about. I also wanted it to be populated in case I needed witnesses." He smiled again.
"The only thing these people would witness is the last drops of your blood spilling out of your neck as they came to check on their crop in the morning." She hissed.
"Never said my plans went perfectly."
"The favor." Sable reminded him, her impatience growing. "What do you need done?"
"As I said," the Breton began to explain, "I ran a job that went south. Guess I got a little desperate with the state of the guild and all. We're cursed, I tell you." Sable made no effort to hide her eyes rolling. "Anyway, I discovered a sizable skooma operation had set up shop out on the docks outside Riften. The plan was simple. Steal a shipment of their moon sugar and then ransom it back for some very good coin."
"Let me guess," the assassin interrupted, "the theft didn't quite go smoothly."
"Nah, I got the goods clean. Never knew I was there." Delvin answered. "It was the buy where all Oblivion broke loose."
"They decided it was more cost effective to kill you rather than buy their moon sugar back." Sable deduced.
"Exactly." The trapped thief answered. "As you can see, I escaped. Can't say the same for the recruit I brought with me."
"I'm still waiting for the part that involves me." Sable interrupted.
"I need these dealers killed." Delvin answered. "I hear they're not happy with just getting their junk back. I hear they're gearing up to take out the guild. Normally, we could just tip off a guard, but since this was done without Mercer's knowing …"
He left the implication hanging. While the thieves guild might be able to survive, they would be weaker than ever and Mercer Frey, the guild's leader, would not be pleased. Likely it would take consider pull from Maven Black-Briar to repel the skooma dealers which would lead her to have even greater influence on them.
"You've outdone yourself this time, Delvin." She said sarcastically.
"I realize it wasn't my best idea ever," he replied.
"How many are we talking about?" Sable asked.
"How should I know?" He shot back, irritated that he was still on his back with a dagger uncomfortably close to his arteries. "There were four of 'em at the buy. I'm sure there is more. A skooma ring is likely to be a sizable operation."
She sighed. "And how are you going to pay for this? The price would be rather high for this many lives."
"I'm calling in every favor I've still got with Astrid." Delvin replied. His usual unflappable and smug demeanor was gone. Sable realized then that this job was likely beyond her skills. Likely beyond the skills of any one assassin.
"Fine. I'll report to Astrid and we'll return to fix your problem." She said.
"You'll be too late." The bald thief argued. "The way I hear it, they'll be attacking soon."
"Gods, Delvin!" The assassin spat. "I'm good. I'm very good. But, an entire skooma cartel! That's suicide!"
"I never said this was nice or easy, love. But it needs doing. If there is any … unofficial assistance I can …"
"Any reason I shouldn't just leave and let you thieves face the dealers on your own?" She interrupted
"I doubt Astrid would very much like one of her own betraying a promise to honor a request for help." Mallory stated plainly.
Sable knew he spoke the truth. Couple that with the fact that Delvin maintained a working relationship between the two guilds and she knew that she had to at least try. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to prove her power over death. If she could pull this off, it would be spitting in the face of Arkay.
"Do you know when they plan to strike?" Sable asked hoping to get an idea of how much time she had.
"Soon is all I know."
"Fine, I'll take care of it." The White Deathbell promised. Before standing and releasing Delvin, she nicked his neck with her blade, just enough to draw blood. Delvin winced. "But, I don't care what kind of pull you have with Astrid, it's not enough to cover taking on a skooma cartel alone. You now owe the Dark Brotherhood."
With that said, Sable released the elder thief and vanished into the night.