Dear Reader,
Last time Mercer gave the Dragonborn something of an impossible task, however the Dragonborn eventually came around to the idea of giving this task as good a shot as she could muster and went in search of the Black Briar Manor just outside of Riften.
Meanwhile, Brynjolf was awakening to the aftermath of that conversation...
Stolen Heart
By: Anonymous
- Chapter 6: Sold out -
There was a certain mood in the Thieves Guild that morning and everyone felt it. The air was filled with something akin to the tension that would spread like wildfire whenever someone was suspected of being a snitch, only this was worse. Brynjolf had spent the best part of the morning glaring daggers at Mercer and in return the Guild Master had never seemed happier. His grin was as wide as the edge of a great sword.
"Oy. Bryn. You gonna tell us what's goin' on?" Delvin was looking at the Guild Second from behind his tankard.
"… I'd say it's best to stay out of this one." Vex sat down next to Delvin "I don't think Bryn wants to chat."
"You're right there, lass." Brynjolf replied, though his tone was notably blunt.
Delvin and Vex exchanged glances, Brynjolf's ratty mood and Mercer's mirth were connected; that much was clear and both had their suspicions that it probably involved Cathryne who had been absent from the guild and missed breakfast that morning.
"I reckon Bryn's had a fancy for her an' she's gone with ol' Mercer." Delvin concluded, when he and Vex were alone in the Flagon.
"Are you listening to yourself, idiot? We don't have all the facts and jumping to that kind of conclusion is what a numbskull who fancies a knife in his throat would do. I mean there could be any number of reasons. Such as a disagreement over a job cut, or the guild's direction. Hell. It could be that Bryn's finally grown a pair and fancies himself as Guild Master."
"Naw. It ain't that." Delvin shook his head enthusiastically "I know old Bryn. He ain't never gonna take that spot. Ha. I think he'd even promote me to the Guild Master ahead of himself."
"The day that happens, I'm leaving." Vex replied, rolling her eyes.
"Hey. You could at least give me a try, I might make a good guild master." He grinned "We could have all sorts of theme days."
"Are you planning to maintain a guild or establish a brothel?"
"A bit a both don't sound bad now, does it?"
Vex's fist met the back of Delvin's head and the stocky man let out a growl of pain as he hit the hard table surface. Vex flicked some of her silvery hair from her face and hissed "Even if you're joking, you're not funny!"
"Hmh. Everyone is testy today." Delvin muttered, sitting up from the table and draining his tankard "That does it. I'm goin' out on a job. Better than takin' in the sewer air down here…" he got up and looked at Vex "I have a feelin' today isn't gonna be pretty so you might wanna take some jobs up too."
"Yeah I might. Though I'd feel a little bad leaving Vekel and Tonilia, if those two buttheads are going to butt heads then I don't really want anyone else getting dragged in to it." Vex would never admit it, but she cared for her 'family' of associates.
Delvin sighed and shook his head "Look. Brynjolf and Mercer are grown men. They'll just have to sort this out between themselves an' everyone else ain't stupid. Everyone'll stay well outta it, their noses don't belong in the middle of Guild Master and Guild Second rubbish, I'll tell you that for nothin'. Now. You'd be much better off getting out there and getting some coin. Coin makes everything better."
Delvin would normally go through the Cistern but today he opted for the Ratways, not only was the ambience more pleasant in those skeever-infested halls, but there was less chance of getting knifed to death.
Vex decided to stay put, Vekel gave her a knowing glance before smiling slightly and sliding a tankard of ale her way. She huffily accepted the offering, but the tiniest smile remained on her lips as she drank her ale.
"This is cozy. Isn't it?" came a voice from the corridor which housed the Cistern.
"M-Mercer?" Vekel uttered out the Guild Master's name and could have been knocked down by a skeever's dropping if someone had thrown it at him. The Guild Master never came to the Ragged Flagon, not that Vekel minded his non-attendance.
"You don't have to look like you've seen a sodding Draugr." Mercer muttered, sitting down on the stool beside Vex. "So tell me, Vex, you didn't fancy going on a job? Why's that? Something bugging you?"
"…" Vex took a methodical sip of ale "Why? Should something be bothering me?"
"Well, I know you and Delvin are quite supportive of Brynjolf and things aren't so good between he and I." Mercer shook his head when Vekel held up a bottle of mead.
"What goes on between the two of you is none of my business. Or anyone else's for that matter." Vex cursed her slight feelings of concern, being trapped in a conversational duel with Mercer was high up on her list of 'things not to do'.
Mercer grinned, he seemed to be enjoying her discomfort immensely "Are you sure it has nothing to do with the Guild? I mean… things could get ugly, right?"
"… Mercer, I don't mean any disrespect but are you trying to get at something?"
"Me? No, no. Not at all. I just wanted a chat. Thanks for indulging me, Vex." Mercer rose from the barstool and walked back down towards the Cistern.
Vekel was about to say something, when Vex shook her head and rose her tankard "I'm going to need something stronger." He smiled at her and got out an unmarked bottle containing something that smelt worse than skooma. Vex smiled at him and took the bottle from him "Thanks, Vekel." She walked off to find a quiet corner.
Mercer returned to his table and found Brynjolf waiting for him, he glanced around and noted that all the guild members had become so industrious that they had cleared off leaving him alone with the Guild's Second.
"This your doing?" he asked, gesturing to the Cistern with a slight nod of his head.
"No. But no one in this place is an idiot, Mercer. They can tell something is afoot." Brynjolf scowled at him "Now. I'll ask you again, where have you sent Cathryne?"
"It's as we discussed last night, Bryn. I thought up a suitable job for Cathryne to complete in order to restore my faith in her. Granted it might be a little bit unfair and it might make Goldenglow look like child's play but, it's a chance." Mercer chuckled to himself "Yeah… it definitely makes Goldenglow look easy."
Brynjolf growled, he slammed his hands down on the Guild table, causing a few bottles of Black Briar Mead to topple off and clatter to the floor. He looked Mercer directly in the eyes "Enough with the games, Mercer. What have you done?"
"You want the truth, Bryn? I'm not convinced you'll handle it well."
"Just answer me, damn you!"
"Alright. Alright. Your little girlfriend is on her way to an infamous estate." Mercer was grinning, again. "Where she's going to steal a priceless treasure, if she succeeds then all is forgiven. Though if she fails it will be grim, to put it mildly…"
Brynjolf was furious, his fists were balled tightly and trembling. There was only a scrap of common sense telling him not to punch Mercer, he was still the Guild Master and irrespective of this disagreement, he still had to respect the rules of the guild. He knew that he would not get anything else out of Mercer regarding the punishment job and Cathryne had not left him any sort of note or clue about what she was up to. He had an intense sinking feeling which he had not experienced since he was a young boy surrounded by guards with his hand in a nobleman's pocket.
Brynjolf gave Mercer a final glare before leaving the Cistern. He stepped out in to the quiet graveyard, the birds were singing and the sun was shinning – it was a normal day in Riften but it was shaping up to be one of the worst days of his life. His head was filled with possible things that Mercer could have asked Cathryne to do as a punishment. They ranged from committing acts of larceny against the Empire, or the Stormcloaks to stealing from the Emperor himself or even pick pocketing a Daedra Prince. All of these were equally possible when it came to Mercer's venomous side.
Brnjolf sat down on a tombstone and looked at the statue of Talos that was tucked away in a corner of Riften. He was not a religious man but if any of the Divines could guide Cathryne and serve Mercer with his just desserts, then he might just be willing to believe in the deities of the world.
"Prayer…" He muttered to himself, and the butterfly that had landed on his hand "… I really must be desperate."
He looked skyward and let out a frustrated growl.
~ End of Chapter 6 ~
^^ Thanks for all the favourites thus far, it's really inspiring to know that people are keeping an eye on this story so a big thank you to all of you!
Please keep reviewing, I'd love to get more feedback!