I think most of my Wolf of Cyrodiil readers are keeping up with this one. Good show! As per the title of this chapter, let's see how you like the good captain.

Still accepting OC's by the way. Just saying.

The Imperial City was just the same after few months. Not even the Waterfront looked changed. Then again, it was dark, so Sharah couldn't really see much detail. Well, the last three months had been…well, something. She went to Bravil, intending to train in hand-to-hand with the Khajiit Fighters Guild-head, Nahsi. But, as seemed the usual for Sharah, she got sidetracked on an adventure: the Forlorn Watchman. The intention was to use him to try and get over her issue with the undead. It didn't work. All the way from the spirit, to the haunted shipwreck, to the shackled skeleton in the brig, it had been one undead nightmare after another. Ugh, she was never going to get used to them. Sharah had found another Ayleid statue for Umbacano. The Altmer collector just loved these old statues and had paid her handsomely for the first she'd lugged up to the capital, giving ever indication that further procurements would be met with the same substantial reward.

After Bravil, there'd been that fun little excursion in Leyawiin. Which called for another 'ugh'. Sharah thought the undead were bad, but they had nothing on Countess Alessia Caro. Pure, snooty, over-empowered, full-of-herself noble. And a racist. Which was ironic considering she was countess of a city that was half populated by beast-folk. Sharah had narrowly avoided becoming a knight of the city. Well, she was a knight-errant, but only because the count had flexed a portion of his nearly nonexistent backbone. It was clear to everyone who ruled in Leyawiin, and she was a noble pain in the arse. Sharah may not have been stuck serving the Knighthood down there, but she had been roped into bodyguard duty for the Countess when she went to visit her mother, the Countess of Chorrol. The moment the Countess Caro had been within the castle walls, though, Sharah had bolted. She was going to watch how often she was in Leyawiin from now on. And avoid that Countess at every opportunity.

Now it was back to the Imperial City. She'd turn in the Ayleid statue to Umbacano, try out a few new moves in the Arena, then back out on the road. This time she'd head for Skingrad. Then Anvil. Maybe even brave that long incline up to Kvatch. The Fighters Guild up there was very, very small. Mostly because they were hardly needed. Sharah blamed the city's location. It was kind of hard to need the help of Fighters when you were a city set on a high hilltop with a count and city guard that kept on top of everything.

Sharah opted to walk the beach half of the Waterfront crescent on her way to her shack. The moon on the water and the sound of the waves were calming. She didn't see anyone in the shanty-town tonight. Just empty dirt paths between the shacks. Which was fine with her. Sharah wondered if Armand had kept his promise about her home. If her father's sword was where she'd left it.

And as she walked homeward wondering, a shadow came streaking around a corner and blew past her so fast Sharah wondered if she'd actually seen anything at all. She looked after it, but there was really nothing there. After a wasted moment trying to pick something out of the darkness, she turned back to her path toward home—just in time for another figure to come bolting around the same corner and a shiny steel cuirass to slam into her. Hard.

Sharah toppled backward, landing right on the Ayleid statuary in her pack with a yell.

"Halt!"

What kind of idiot—? She wasn't going anywhere down here. It felt like she'd broken her back on the statue. Had she broken her back? It felt like it. Damn, that hurt! And her head didn't feel so great either after making its acquaintance with the steel breastplate. She was normally much more coordinated than this.

"Where is he?" her assailant demanded. His tone told her guard. His armor told her captain. And his expression told her he was royally ticked off.

Sharah rolled over with a groan and started to get to her feet. The Guard Captain seized her arm and dragged her to her up. None too gently, either. "Where is he?" he demanded again, right in her ear.

Sharah winced at her various hurts. "He who?"

He shook her fiercely and growled, "The Gray Fox. Where is he? I know he came this way. I saw him."

Sharah rubbed at her forehead where he'd hit her. "Well, I didn't. Now would you let go of me?"

His grip tightened. "You're not going anywhere. The Gray Fox came this way and you're going to tell me where or I'll have you arrested."

"For what?" she demanded, "I didn't do anything."

The guard captain sneered. "Typical. All you low-lives covering for each other. I know you're game."

Low-life? It wasn't as disagreeable a term as 'plaything', but it sparked her temper all the same. Sharah jerked her arm out of his grasp. "I'm not covering for anyone. I didn't see anything because there was nothing there! And you're calling me a 'low-life'? I'll have you know I am Fighters Guild and a Knight-Errant of the White Stallion." Maybe that title wasn't so bad after all. "Is that low-life enough for you? And I don't appreciate being profiled based on where I live. Especially by a man who just slammed into me for no reason. I've half a mind to complain to your superior."

He gave a smug smile. "Oh, will you?"

She growled, "Yes, I will. I'm sure they'd be interested to know there's a jerk of a captain wandering the streets, accusing honest citizens without cause. And keep this in mind: I've gotten a city Guard Captain canned for misuse of his authority. I'm not scared of you just because you wear a fancy set of armor."

His face was impossible to read. But she doubted his pause was for fear of her complaint. He took an account of her, then said irritable, "Then move along, citizen."

Sharah straightened her leather cuirass indignantly. "Thank you." She skirted the Captain and continued her way down the street. A half dozen steps away, she tuned back to him and called, "And next time you go crashing into someone like that, start with an apology…Captain Jerk!"

That last little outburst made her feel better. Although it probably did absolutely nothing for her relationship with the man. Well, she'd had good experiences with guards in the past. Maybe it was just time to start adding to the other side of the column.

XXX

Sharah and her two Arena comrades were back down at the Bloated Float. The Float was just the same as it always was: populated mostly by the sorts of people you scraped off the edges of descent society. This time their celebration was for Gladion. He'd been set up against a tough Altmer. Sharah had watched the whole fight, cheering her head off the entire time. There's been no shortage of close calls and that made it all the more important to live it up afterward.

Sharah put her bottle to her lips when a familiar face walked into the Float. She choked on her mead and doubled over to hide her face while coughing as that jerk of a Watch captain and some captain companion walked in.

Gladion pounded her on the back until she got her breath back. "Damn, it's that Captain Jerk," she hissed, ducking behind the Dunmer to avoid being seen.

Gladion looked over at the officers. "Which one?"

She peaked out from behind his shoulder, still keeping him between her and the Captains' view. "The blonde one."

"Oh, Hieronymus Lex. Maybe he won't recognize you."

"Yeah, right," she said. "I threatened to report him for bad behavior. I'm pretty sure he'll remember."

Breni grinned, his eyes hazy from four swiftly downed beers. "Well, let's see." He threw his hand up. "Hey, Captain Jerk!"

Sharah kicked the drunken Breton hard beneath the table, but the captain in question had already spotted the group. And her. Oh, yes. He remembered her. And even worse, the two officers were now walking toward them.

She kept her eyes on her bottle until the mass of captain armor was in her peripheral vision and she felt his eyes on her crown. His companion was the one to speak first. "Hail citizens. I hope we find you well."

Breni held his latest beer aloft. "Very well, in fact, Captain Jer—Ow!" Sharah's second kick cut him off.

Gladion motioned to the other chairs. "Would you care to join us, Captains? Ow!" Sharah glared at him. Her toe was going to be sore tomorrow if this kept up.

The other captain replied, "Well, I don't think—"

Captain Hieronymus Lex interrupted, "We're not on duty, Servatius. I believe we will, thank you."

The Captains sat down and a bottle of wine was brought for them. Breni was exceptionally talkative given his consumption, Gladion and Captain Servatius kept the conversation civil. Sharah, however, kept her mouth shut and her eyes on her bottle. There were a few people who brought out her snide side. Methredhel, for certain. And apparently, Captain Lex was one as well. And she'd been through enough alcohol tonight that she was not going to risk going off on a Captain of the Imperial Watch. It just screamed 'bad idea'.

After about ten minutes she had nearly emptied her second mead while maintaining her silence. It probably wasn't such a good idea to keep drinking in the sort of situation where she wanted to keep a rein on her tongue.

She glanced up, just to get a better look at the man, and found him watching her. Sharah felt her face heat up and she swallowed the last of her drink. A few minutes later, she looked again and he still had his eyes on her. That was it!

"What? What?!" she snapped, cutting off whatever conversation was happening at the table.

Captain Lex played innocent. "I don't know what you mean."

She jabbed a finger at him. "You're staring at me. And you've got this look in your eye like you're just waiting for an excuse."

"An excuse to do what?" he asked.

She threw up her hands. "I don't know. That's why I'm asking."

He leaned forward."Perhaps I'm watching you because you look like you're about to snap and hurt someone."

"Because you're staring at me," Sharah retorted.

"Then I won't anymore."

"Good."

She didn't relax, and he didn't look away.

"You're still staring," she said.

"Now I'm just looking," Captain Lex said.

She growled.

Captain Servantius glanced between the two of them. "Is there something going on here?"

Gladion clarified, "They've met before."

"Ah."

"And not on good terms," Sharah growled, still glaring at Captain Lex.

"That was not my doing."

"You slammed into me."

"I was chasing a criminal," he defended.

"And then accused me of covering for them," she said.

"You threatened to report me and have me canned."

"Because of your unfounded accusation. And I did not threaten to can you."

"No?"

"No. I told you I got another captain canned. That was it," Sharah clarified.

"It certainly sounded like a threat," Captain Lex said.

"Well, it wasn't."

"I apologized, didn't I?"

"No, you didn't," Sharah said. "I told you that you ought to. But you never actually did."

"Because you were so anxious to be on your way."

"Well, I'm here now."

"Fine, then. I apologize for running into you."

"Good. I accept your apology."

"Good."

"Fine."

They seemed to have squabbled themselves out, at least for a while. Gladion just sat there smiling.

"What's wrong with you?!" Sharah demanded.

He shrugged, "Just enjoying the show."

Breni sniggered. "Your face is so red." Sharah's face heated further and he started cracking up. "And getting redder!" Sharah growled and kicked at him under the table.

"Ow!" Captain Servantius yelped.

She grimaced. "Sorry. That was meant for him," and she jerked her head toward the Breton who was just about to fall off his chair.

Gladion chuckled, "Your face is very red."

Sharah glared at him, smiling wickedly. "Well, then, Gladiator. You get to drag Mr. Happy back to the Bloodworks all on your own."

Sharah spun off her seat while Gladion begged plaintively after her as she stalked toward the door. Why did this have to happen to her?

She was out on the stone Waterfront walk when Captain Lex caught up with her. "Hang on, there."

"What do you want now?" she snapped.

The Captain narrowed his eyes. "I apologized. Why do you still insist on being angry with me?"

She crossed her arms and replied snidely, "As a woman, I am permitted to hold onto a grudge as long as I care to. It's the unwritten rule." Or so her mother had joked periodically.

"But I did apologize."

"And I accepted. So next time we meet, we can be civil. But for now, I'm still mad at you."

"For no reason at all," Captain Lex argued.

She smirked, "Isn't it frustrating when someone acts difficult for no reason?"

Captain Lex did not challenge her jab. But for whatever reason, he felt the need to clear up their disagreement here and now. "You are right. I behaved badly and rushed to judgment. As a Captain of the Imperial Watch, I should know better. I apologize for accusing you of wrongdoing. My accusations were unfounded and unjust." His sincerity caught her off guard. Especially after their squabble inside.

She groaned. "Well, since we're apologizing…I'm sorry for calling you Captain Jerk." Even if that accusation had been founded. But she managed not to say that last bit out loud.

"Let us start over," he said, extending his hand. "Hieronymus Lex, Captain of the Imperial Watch."

Sharah clasped his hand in return. "Sharah. Fighters Guild and…career adventurer."

"I'm pleased to meet you. May I walk you to your home?"

Sharah wanted to say that the only escort she needed was her blade. "What about your friend?" she asked, glancing back toward the Float.

"Captain Quintilius needs no keeper."

Well, he'd made an effort to be courteous so she had no excuse for not at least trying to do the same. She shrugged. "Do what you want." He took that as an invitation and they headed down the cobbled street of the Waterfront.

After a time spent walking in silence, Captain Lex asked, "So, what unlucky guard captain incited your wrath enough that you canned him?"

"Arrested, actually. And it was Ulrich Leland in Cheydinhal. He was stealing from the city coffers and oppressing the citizens to the point where it got a man killed. I just helped expose him. Garrus did the rest," Sharah said.

"You mean Captain Darelliun?" Lex asked.

"Yeah, that's him."

"Hm," he said thoughtfully. They walked a little further before he spoke again, "So would you consider yourself a good citizen?"

Sharah chuckled. "I spill blood for a living. I think 'good' would be a relative term. But I follow the rules, if that's what you're asking."

"Then would you be willing to help me with something?" the Captain asked.

Sharah eyed him. "Depends on what that is."

"Why do you live on the Waterfront?"

Sharah shrugged at the apparent change in topic. "It was the only thing available that I could afford. And it got me out of the Bloodworks."

"And you don't worry about the neighborhood?"

She shrugged again. "It's not a nice place, exactly. But no one bothers me, so I don't worry."

Lex said, "The Waterfront is a center for crime in the Imperial City. All the worst villains and lawbreakers do their…business from here. And the Thieves Guild runs it all."

Sharah didn't miss a beat. "There's a guild for thieves?"

Lex nodded. "I've been looking for a way to shut them down for years. But they know how to cover their tracks. And that Gray Fox is always one step ahead of me."

"So there is a Gray Fox?" Sharah asked.

He looked at her carefully, trying to judge something, "You don't believe me?"

She shook her head. "It's not that I don't. It's just…A thief guild, the Gray Fox. I mean, I've seen all the posters. But half the people I talk to think he's a myth, and the rest are terrified he's going to steal everything they have down to their socks and undergarments. And a thief guild? I've never even heard of that." Her eyes widened in apparent shock, "And I bought a house down here!"

Captain Lex reassured her, "If they haven't done anything yet, they have at least accepted your presence. It could turn into an advantage."

She laughed. "Living among a bunch of thieves? Yeah, right."

He replied, "What I mean is, you might be able to help me deal with them."

"How so?" Sharah asked.

"The Empire and most of the Watch is content to leave the Waterfront out of sight and mind. But I am not." He turned to her. "If you see anything suspicious around the Waterfront, people meeting or anything that doesn't seem right, I want you to come and tell me about it."

Sharah crossed her arms. "So, you aren't walking me home as a gentleman. This was just a chance to ask me to spy on my neighbors." She waved him off before he could reply. "Don't. Look, I'm on the Waterfront sporadically at best. But I certainly don't want anybody threatening my home. So, if I see anything that doesn't look right, I will tell you. I promise." Her answer seemed to satisfy him.

He walked her all the way to her front door. As Sharah took out her key, Captain Lex glanced next door where Armand Christophe lived. "You live here?"

The lock clicked and she pushed the door open. "Yeah. Why?"

He kept looking at her neighbor's house, then back at her. "Nothing you need to worry about. Just watch yourself. And if you see anything—"

"You'll be the first one I tell. Thanks for the escort, Captain. Have a good evening." Sharah went inside and closed the door.

She unhooked her belt and tossed it and everything attached on the table, then dropped onto her bed. Well, that had gone well. A conversation with a dedicated Captain of the Watch about the Thieves Guild and she hadn't blown open the fact that she was technically a member. Sharah pulled herself vertical long enough to remove her Arena raiment and pull on a robe for bed. But before she could follow through with the sleep of the dead, there came a knock at her door. Sharah answered to find Armand Christophe on her porch.

"Can I help you?" He held out three coins to her. She looked at it questioningly. "What's that?"

"Your taxes."

Sharah raised an eyebrow. "And?"

He explained, "I'm returning the taxes you paid to the city. I'm doing it for everyone on the Waterfront and you're included."

She didn't take the coins. "Why? I thought everyone paid taxes."

Armand sighed. "You really don't know how it works around here, do you? The city has traditionally not collected taxes from the Waterfront because everyone…almost everyone living here is very poor. Lex actually collected taxes from the Waterfront. I think it was an attempt to draw out the Gray Fox."

She glanced at the coins. "So, you feel the need to reimburse the Waterfront?" That certainly shouldn't have applied to her. A three coin tax was like plucking a hair from her head. It hardly made a difference to her. But, for the poor, a few coins could mean a day without food.

Armand gave a roguish smile. "While you were out on your romantic stroll with the good Captain, we stole into his office and recovered the taxes."

Sharah's eyes narrowed but she kept her mouth shut. Right. She'd forgotten. Don't do anything on the Waterfront unless you want everyone to know about it…within the hour.

The Doyen kept his eyes on her. "Did you tell him anything about the Guild?"

"No," she said firmly. "Although, apparently I'm supposed to be watching for anything that looks suspicious."

"Hm," Armand said thoughtfully, then offered her the coins again.

She waved them away. "Keep 'em. I don't need money from the Guild. Use it for something that matters. Night." She bowed her head slightly, not wanting to be completely rude, and closed the door on him.

The offering of the coins had been as meaningful as her refusal to take them. It was less about the sum—which they both knew was miniscule in regards to her—and more about each of them establishing something to the other. Armand offered the coin to her just like he would for everyone else on the Waterfront. Sharah refused to take the money, knowing she had no need of it when others did. Maybe Sharah should have felt more aggravated that she'd been used by the Guild to achieve its end, but there was no point.

Sure enough, the next day the Black Horse Courier carried a story on the taxing of the Waterfront and the gold stolen from the Watch tower that equaled the amount collected. Lex didn't ask her about it, so Sharah just brushed the incident off. After all, what call would he have to suspect her involvement? She'd been with him the whole time.

Well, things weren't any more or less complicated than they'd been the other day. At least she was on speaking terms with the Captain and the Guild. If this was the worst it got, she'd be able to handle it.

There are days when I think I'm sooooo funny. The day I wrote this was one of them.