She ran in the darkness, stopping every now and then to clear out the mist; for some reason, it only cleared for few moments, before it ensnared her again soon after. Too soon, no matter how many times she Shouted.
'' Hi los zofaas. (You are scared.)'' She stopped, looking around in the fog to catch the smallest glimpse of him, with sparks ready in one and ice spike in the other hand. He flew over her, and she crouched, looking up to find him. '' Hi los sahlo. (You are weak.)'' He said, while her heart was thumping in her ears, faster and faster.
She could hear him land, and felt it as the ground shook; she turned around in all directions, looking for where he landed; but all she could she was that cursed fog.
That is, until she heard him Shouting the Fire Breath and sending a flame gout at her.
Her eyes widened, and she tried to move, realizing that she was paralyzed, forced to welcome the flame as she heard him mocking her one last time:
'' HI FEN DIR!''
Gasping, Illie jerked and sat up, looking around in the darkened room with wide eyes and sparks ready in her left hand. She was shuddering, shaken down from the nightmare.
That's all it is. She thought. A nightmare. Alduin is dead.
'' He's dead.'' She whispered to herself, calming herself down. '' He's dead…''
She fell back on the bed, dispelling the sparks from her hand. Taking a deep breath, she ran her hand through her long blonde hair, closing her blue eyes and releasing a deep sigh. Opening them again, she stared at the wooden ceiling of her room, before looking aside and staring at her new bow leaned on the night table, where her steel dagger was lying next to the room key and the coin purse.
Thinking for few moments, she pulled off the blanket and sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning, still sleepy and tired. Standing up, she put on her boots and took her stuff, before unlocking the room and heading down to return the key, avoiding the light sources every way possible.
When she got out of the Bee and Barb, she realized it was still early in the morning; only the Argonian jeweler and the rude armor seller was there, while there was no sign of Brand-Shei or Brynjolf. She jerked slightly as she heard the blacksmith hitting the iron on the anvil, making a new sword in his hot forge.
Since it was still early, and there were people already out, she could find out more about Riften.
She missed the first opportunity to get there when Delphine suggested that she will take care of Esbern and bring him safe to Riverwood, while Illie would bring the horn of Jurgen Windcaller back to the Greybeards, in order to prepare herself better with them to use the Voice.
Only months after the Alduin's defeat, she witnessed the end of the war in Solitude, where Ulfric Stormcloak swore that he will not take the mantle of High King until the Moot declares it. That is, until the Moot meets, for by then every Jarl in Skyrim was already on his side. Every ruling Jarl, actually.
But none knew about her secret. About her project, her power. Not until only a day ago, when someone reported her to the guards and turned her life upside down, causing her to appear in Riften.
Realizing that she was standing in front of the inn for quite a while now, she snapped out of her thoughts and head for a walk around Riften to find out something about the town until Brynjolf shows up.
'' Working at the Riften Fishery is tough, but it puts some coin in my pocket.'' A Dunmer named Tythis said, chopping some firewood while talking. '' Though, I'm beginning to think leaving Mournhold was a mistake; if Riften is the best Skyrim has to offer, I may as well turn back right now and just head for home. ''
'' People say I'm making gold off of other people's misery, but what else should I do? Smithing is all I know.'' Balimund complained, sharpening that same iron sword on the grindstone, while Illie nervously glanced at the embers in the forge. '' Next time when one of my shields deflects a killing blow, they'll change their tune.''
'' Corruption, lies and deceit are the order of the day here.'' Mjoll the Lioness said, and the man next to her, who she called Aerin, nodded.
'' I hope that someday this city will be free of corruption and we can all live in peace.'' He added.
'' Have you seen the condition of this sorry excuse for a city?'' A fisherman named Bolli scoffed, while Illie's gaze fixed upon the red-headed Nord that had started preparing his stand to sell his new potions. '' Beggars roam the street, crime runs rampant and the threat of now ended war has driven away the business.'' Illie looked back at Bolli and nodded in confirmation, after which he excused himself and headed to his work, while Illie thanked him and bid him goodbye, heading toward Brynjolf.
'' Ready to make some coin?'' He asked, smiling at her when she appeared. She confirmed, and he nodded. '' Good. Any questions before we get started?''
'' Only one.'' She said, making him raise his eyebrows slightly. '' Why plant the ring on Brand-Shei?''
'' We've been contracted to make sure Brand-Shei remembers not to meddle in affairs that aren't his own. There's someone that wants to see him put out of business permanently, and that's all you need to know.'' Brynjolf answered, crossing his arms. '' Now, since we're not the Dark Brotherhood, we're not going to kill him. We'll just going to make sure he sits in the prisons for a few days.'' He explained.
'' Understood.'' She nodded, and then took a deep breath as she looked in his green eyes. '' I'm ready. Let's get this started.''
'' Good. You'll need these, I believe.'' He said, handing her a few lockpicks. '' Wait until I start a distraction, then show me what you're made of.'' He said, while she let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding, walking away from the stand as Brynjolf started calling out for the people.
'' Everyone! Everyone! Gather round!'' He called out, watching her in the corner of his eye.
'' Come on, Brynjolf… What is it this time?'' Brand-Shei scoffed, sitting on the crate near his stand.
'' Patience, Brand-Shei. This is a rare opportunity, and I wouldn't want you to get left out.''
Illie heard him respond, while she sneaked behind Madesi's stall and started to fiddle with the lock of the sliding door. It was quite easy to unlock it, and the chest was surprisingly even easier to unlock.
'' That's what you said about the Wisp Essence and it turned out to be crushed nirnroot mixed with water!'' Madesi groaned, while Illie unknowingly took his ring and closed both the strongbox and the door, moving closer to the wall behind her. Raising her hands, she took a deep breath as both green and purple lights appeared, before dual casting them and disappearing, both to eyes and ears.
''That was a simple misunderstanding, but this item is the real thing.'' Brynjolf said, staring to get nervous when he didn't see her anywhere near Brand-Shei. Pulling on a smile, he proudly presented: ''Lads and lasses I give you - Falmerblood Elixir!''
"Oh come on, are you talking about the Snow Elves?" Brand-Shei snorted, while Illie avoided the walking guard in the last moment, knowing that she had to hurry up, so the spell wouldn't stop working too early.
'' The one and only.'' He smiled even wider.
Illie moved closer to Brand-Shei, seeing that his closest pocket was quite tight, making it hard to plant the ring without noticing. While she was carefully reaching for it, she retreated her hand when he shifted, mumbling something about getting one, but also making the pocket a bit more loose.
Illie smiled, and after quickly dropping the ring in his pocket, she pinned to the wall behind her just in time, for in that moment both spells stopped working.
'' What a waste of time.'' Madesi mumbled, and everyone else went away, leaving a disappointed, but also worried Brynjolf look around for the girl.
'' Are you alright, miss?'' Brynjolf's gaze snapped towards Brand-Shei, smiling when he saw her being pulled back to her feet by the Dunmer, smiling and thanking him. '' You're welcome.'' He replied and went back behind his stall, while Illie smirked and winked at Brynjolf, walking towards the other side of the Bee and Barb to wait for him, as they have agreed the day before.
Seeing that there were no more customers, he decided it might be best to close it for today; he needed it only to make sure Brand-Shei's been taken care of.
And just when he was finished, he could hear Madesi reporting the theft to the guard and pointing at Brand-Shei.
The guard has approached Brand-Shei, and while he was resisting, Brynjolf disappeared behind the wall of the Bee and Bard, smirking as he heard the Dunmer shouting about the corruption of the city and his own innocence.
'' Looks like I chose the right person for the job.'' He smirked at the blonde Breton, who waited for him leaned against the outer wall near the back door of the inn. '' And here you go… your payment, just as promised.''
He offered her a pretty heavy pouch, making her hand freeze when she felt the weight of it. She frowned, glancing at it and then back on him. '' Are… are you sure you gave me-''
'' I've told you – in my line of work, extra hands are well-paid.'' He said, smirking.'' The way things have been going around here, it's a relief that our plan went off without a hitch.''
'' What's been going on?'' She said, tucking the pouch in a small satchel she had on the robes.
'' Bah.'' Brynjolf waved his hand. '' My organization's been having a run of bad luck, but I suppose that's just how it goes.'' He said, sighing as the thought of the Guild falling apart crossed his mind, evidently worrying Illie as she saw the emotion cross over his face. '' But never mind that.'' He looked back at her, pulling on a smirk. '' You did the job and you did it well. Best of all, there's more where that came from… if you think you can handle it.''
Illie blinked once, twice… Did she understand him correctly?
'' You… You want me to join you?'' She raised her eyebrows. '' I didn't know the Thieves Guild is recruiting people for one planted ring.''
Brynjolf turned serious, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. '' You seem to know more about me than I know about you.''
'' Thanks to that Nord over there.'' She glanced at Maul, who was still watching at the main gate, overlooking the travelers that entered the town. '' He was the one to suggest I talk to you about it.''
Brynjolf felt relief; he already thought she was a spy or something alike.
'' If that's the case… What do you say?'' He raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Her smirk dropped, and she thought about it; she could get more money and ensure a better future in either Cyrodiil or Morrowind (though she still didn't know which), yet if they start looking for her and she stays for too long… She could only end up worse than before.
'' I…'' She started, sighing. '' The money's nice, but I don't know… I'm not sure if it would be a smart call for your group.''
'' The group I present has its home in the Ratway, in a tavern called The Ragged Flagon.'' He said, and she looked up, still unsure whether or not to accept.'' If you change your mind and decide to join us, come find me and we'll discuss your future.''
And with those words, he turned around and headed towards the bridge, but stopped to ask her one more question.
'' Out of curiosity… You know my name, but I never heard yours.'' He asked, and she looked around, waving her hand towards her, on which he came closer.
She swallowed thickly, whispering, '' You must promise me that you're not going to say it to anyone, no matter what they say.'' She said, still cautiously glancing around. '' This was not my first crime and I wouldn't want the word about me being here spread all around.''
He straightened, nodding. '' Alright. But only if you don't snitch me either.'' He smiled, and she nodded.
'' Illie.'' She said, taking a deep breath. '' My name is Illie.''
'' Pleasure doing business with you, Illie.'' Brynjolf smiled even wider, and the Breton chuckled, smiling herself.
'' The pleasure is all mine.'' She said, smiling. '' But I'm afraid that I'll have to go know; I'm hitting the road tomorrow and should get the supplies.'' She pushed herself off the wall, and Brynjolf nodded.
'' If you'd rather stay, you know where to go.''
He told her, and then walked away, leaving the blonde Breton, who entered the inn and went back to her room.
'' Stupid, stupid, stupid!'' She resisted every urge to hit something (or go out and do the same to someone) when she realized what she had done.
Am I out of my freaking mind?! She thought, growling and burying her face into her palms as she sat on the bed.
She risked to get a bounty in the nearest (and currently only) place in Skyrim she could stay in, gave her name to a stranger while in a town owned by the Stormcloaks, and remained in it while the price on her head was either in preparation or already out.
What else should she do to make the job easier for the ones looking for her?!
Looking up while leaning her chin on her hands, she sighed, still furious about herself; she had to admit, Brynjolf was very persuasive. Not really a wonder, he was a thief after all.
And the thought of joining the Thieves Guild… No, it would be too risky.
She already had a pretty price on her head that needn't to be increased. Stealing, pickpocketing and planting someone just wasn't right, but even less ethical was what she was trying to do.
And considering all the chests she looted from the tombs, the draugr she either sneaked by or killed them before they even had the chance to wake up… She did have some experience and skill to become a thief.
No. You're not becoming one of them. She stated in her mind, standing up and nearly jumping back as she almost hit her head in the chandelier above her, feeling her heartbeat increase rapidly at the sight of the flame, though barely significant one.
Shaking her head to distract her thoughts, she huffed, deciding she shouldn't delay anymore.
Fastening her quiver and bow on her back, her dagger on the belt and ensuring her money is in her satchel, she walked out of the room and said goodbye to Keerava, exiting the inn without paying attention to anyone, being them a priest, messenger or mercenary she couldn't pay for anyway.
But before she asked to get out of the city, she overheard the guards' conversation, speaking about the Ratway. Or rather someone dwelling there.
'' Oh, come on! You look just fine! Take my advice; don't listen to that talk of the 'face sculptor' from the Ragged Flagon!'' The woman advised the same guard Illie talked into letting her enter the town yesterday. '' 'Face butcher' is more like it from what I've heard.''
'' Excuse me?'' She asked, and both guards looked at her now. '' You were talking about some… face sculptor?''
'' Butcher.'' The woman said, nodding. '' What's it to you?''
'' I'm new in this town, and… I'd like to know what or who to avoid.'' She said. '' And that face scu-butcher…'' she corrected herself, earning a nod from the women. '' …she seems like one of the latter.''
'' Aye, that's true.'' The woman confirmed, while the other guard got a call to go on the other side of the door. '' It's only one type of the vermin you can find down in the Ratway. According to the stories, she can remake your entire face.''
Illie raised her eyebrows, and she thought about it; should she check it out?
'' I don't believe it at all, and neither should you; if she were really that talented, she wouldn't be dragging down in the Ratway.'' The guard scoffed.
'' Everyone mentions the Ratway. What is that?'' Illie frowned.
'' It's our name for the sewers beneath the market. A place where you can find rats both in animal and human form.'' The guard explained in disgust. '' If you want to stay alive, better keep out of there; goodness knows what exactly dwells there these days. Save for the Thieves Guild, of course.''
'' Sure, I will. Thank you.'' She said, turning around in haste and walking back towards the market; she could stay for a little longer, if only to find out if she has a choice to stay. And if she does, to do everything needed to make it happen.