F'arrasha Skyrim Fic

Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to Bethesda Studio. I own F'arrasha.

Chapter 8: The Job at Hand

Having done some odd jobs for the Thieves Guild was fun. I especially like Vex's missions of stealth and breaking and entering. Those were fun. The fools' houses I would break into and sneak away would have no idea anything was taken until I was well outside the city and in the safe hands of the Thieves Guild. I almost got caught once, but with my quick thinking and flexibility, I was able to duck outside of a window and escape into the shadows. The lessons I picked up from her and from my adventures around the land were invaluable. Dungeon delving was also a favorite of mine. It is like breaking into someone's house, but, instead of avoiding the killing, I could kill whatever was inside it.

But, after my training, I was ready for the job. Brynjolf told me of the job I was supposed to go on. He, Vex, and I were sitting in the Ragged Flagon, at a table. He explained to me that there was a client that had attempted to negotiate a deal with someone else rather than Maven Black-Briar. I suspected this Maven wanted payback and Brynjolf told me that Vex nearly lost her life in an attempt to rob the safe in the basement. I could see a scar across her cheek as she grimaced a little about what had happened, but Brynjolf continued, explaining that this man had to be dealt with. I was to rob his safe, and burn up three of his bee hives. There were more, but Brynjolf expressly told me not to burn any more than three. This was a message, not a slaughter.

Vex then piped up, saying that these guards were hired killers and mercenaries. Former soldiers with a thirst for blood, and not all the moral objections that come with being a body guard. She told me of an old sewer grate underneath the estate I could sneak into. It was how she got inside on the northwest side of the lake. I thanked them both and the sun was still in the sky, but it was waning. It would be dark soon.

I spent a few hours looking from afar on the estate and made my way to the northwest side of the lake, just as it got dark. I realized I had to swim to the manor. My only other option was to go through the front door, and I was not about to do that. As I held my breath, I dove inside and swam underneath the surface of the water. This was going to do wonders for my fur and my armor. I got to a small island and then watched. The sky was darker and I continued swimming, until I found that sewer entrance. I slipped underneath the cover, barely making a sound. I did not see any guards as I entered, but, inside the sewer, the foul stench of death and decay was all too present. And, there were skeevers. Large ones, from the looks of it. I pulled out my daggers and sliced them both. I was in no mood for dealing with such nuisances, but, at the same time, I was sort of grateful that it was only rats and not something a bit more…intelligent.

Though my senses were sharper than a normal person's, it did not bode well for the fact that the sewer was a horrifying place to be in. The place was trapped with fire traps and even a spiked chain-ball trap I accidentally triggered. I narrowly missed it, my face almost getting splattered with the deadly instrument. I caught my senses and escaped the sewer to the backdoor of the estate.

Goldenglow Estate had a back door, one I picked the lock on with surprising deftness. Once I was inside, I quietly shut the door behind me and began looking for the basement. I could have gone looking for the key to it, but that could only increase my chance of alerting the guard and blowing my cover. I also did not feel like fighting a whole company of blood-thirsty bodyguards all at once. I was inside and the place was well furnished. All the comforts of home. However, this appeared built for the soldiers more than the actual owner. The owner lived on the second floor. Better to survey it all, I guess.

I got inside and waited for a patrolling guard to move away from a locked iron gate inside the mansion. That was probably the way to the basement. I had a few precious seconds and quickly picked the lock. The lock opened and I slipped in and quietly shut the gate. The basement was musty as I silently made my way down it. I could see the guards in the darkness and quietly slipped by them. It was all going so well until I came out of a hallway and into a room. To the left of me was a staircase, leading into the vault, but there was a bodyguard sitting, staring right at that staircase. I had a problem. I pressed my body against the wall, thinking of some way I could get by this guy without alerting the other two that I saw earlier. The walls were thick, and the place was covered in oil. I could have risked a fire attack, but, that would alert everyone as to my presence. No, my only option available to me was to kill him. I quietly slipped out my daggers and stabbed him in the back. The blades easily punctured his skin and he did not scream as he died. Once he was on the floor, I sighed, shaking my head. I really wish I did not have to do that. I am a thief, not a bloody marauder.

As I continued downstairs, I had to be quick. Any minute now, they would find that body. I had to be careful as I picked the lock to the safe. It was a better constructed thing than I had thought of. I actually regretted not getting the key earlier. No matter, I was here, and I was going to get this thing open. My fingers were trembling as I studied the lock carefully and allowed the lock picks to work their magic. I swallowed nervously as the lock picks were running afoul with me, but, after breaking my sixth one, I finally managed to get this thing open with patience and effort. The safe contained some gold and a note. The note was a bill of sale for the estate with an odd symbol on it. I shook my head and pocketed the note. There was a sewer access near me and I slipped back under the mansion.

The safe part was easy. The hard part now would be to set the hives ablaze. I navigated the sewers and returned to the surface where the back door was. I exited and noticed it was still night. I shook my head, muttering to myself about how these flames would give me away. Still, I had to do it. I dashed quickly, not caring that I would be detected. I charged up a stream of flames I had learned and set the hives ablaze.

In seconds, the place was on alert, and I saw some of the body guards coming after me. I ducked underneath one of them, dodging his sword and dashed for the water. The hard splash could be heard and, as they began looking for me, I swam underneath the surface in the darkness. I do not know how far I swam, or where I did, but, ultimately, my lungs burned with the desire for air and I surfaced. I was fearful they had found me, but, as I turned around noticed I was not far from the shore that I saw the hives' flames glow in the midnight sky. I swam to shore and shook the water off of my clothes and fur. I caught my breath and leaned against a tree for a moment. The distant shouts were that of the marauders desperately attempting to find me and put the fires out. I could only imagine what sort of ruckus that would cause once that owner woke up. I smiled, chuckling to myself.

I returned to Brynjolf once I gathered enough strength to travel. That swim took it out of me. As I entered through the Thieves' Guild entrance in the cemetery, he seemed quite impressed by my performance. Naturally, the subject turned to our payment, and I handed him the note of sale. He said he would contact some people he knew and pressed his connections on what they knew about this odd symbol.

But, the life of a thief is never done…

Next Chapter:

Sharp mead, sharper Maven.