Chapter 5:

Lex couldn't help but anticipate his day at the waterfront, and the jingle of bracer keys at his belt only heightened his mood. Mandila had thought to escape him, but he had shown her otherwise, and today would be the completion of her lesson. There was something supremely satisfying about gaining one up on the woman, for the look on her face as he'd walked away last night had been priceless. For once, she was the one left wondering how she'd gotten herself into a situation—wondering what his cryptic comments meant. It was Lex's firm opinion that troublemakers should enjoy a taste of their own medicine, and hopefully Mandila would pursue him with less tenacity after today.

The captain finished fastening his armor and headed down the ladder from his quarters. He usually stopped in the common room for a glass of ale and some rolls, but given his expectations, he almost decided to skip breakfast. It was only as he reached the door that he realized how foolish it was to rush for that elf. She would have to sit and wait for him to unlock her bracers no matter what time he showed up, and even if her hands weren't bound, she'd find him anyway. So why change his morning habits for her? It wasn't like she was the Grey Fox or someone who he had a vested interest in catching. She was just a nosy Bosmer who might be a thief, and so he wouldn't consign himself to later hunger. He sat and ate, letting the inevitable wait on him, and taking his prior consideration as a sign that the elf was getting to him.

That would not be tolerated.

Lex continued toward the harbor at his usual pace and in the usual manner, thinking about what he had to do that day. His mind periodically returned to Mandila, although she was not his sole focus, and the closer his feet came to the harbor, the more she invaded his thoughts. He could imagine her sitting on the stone wall, hands cuffed and looking frustrated. The thought made him smile, but what if she had gotten out of the bracers? He was actually very interested to see if she had, despite that he'd given her bracers with incredibly complicated locks. Unless she possessed the utmost skill, she would still be trapped, and if she had unlocked them, then he seriously had to consider that she was a thief. No one with that much lockpicking skill was innocent, and so his suspicions would be confirmed. It was a winning situation for him either way, although he really did hope that she needed his assistance.

Lex was now on the familiar stone walkway that arched around the docks, but he did not see Mandila. That was unusual, but maybe she was hiding at home out of embarrassment. That would suit him just fine, although he had given her more credit for backbone. Still...

"Good morning, captain!" Lex turned around, and to his chagrin, the woman before him looked anything but chastised.

************

Mandila had seen Lex going about his normal patrol; seen how his head kept turning, as if he were looking for someone, and she had a strong inkling that she knew who that someone was. The keys to the bracers were still at his waist, so she had correctly assumed that he was expecting her to still be chained. Wouldn't he be surprised, and she began walking toward his back, imagining him as he had looked to her in the moonlight. His armor had been pale and sleek, his face cast in shadow, and his voice the loudest sound against a backdrop of crickets. Yes, the moonlight had suited him, but so did the daylight. She couldn't think of a single occasion when the captain did not look in top form.

She held the bracers in her hands and hastened her step, wondering if all prison restraints had such difficult locks. She had almost given up, and it had taken all night to successfully free herself, which explained her tired appearance. But it was worth it, she reminded herself. Lex had provided her with a challenge, and she'd risen to it, even if she'd briefly considered letting him win. After all, it would not make her look good to be so skilled with a lockpick. She already had one score against her since he'd found a lockpick on her, and this would do nothing to ease his concerns.

Maybe it will lead to more attention, and the thought was both worrisome and exciting. As Lex's head swiveled to the side, giving her a clear view of his profile, she called out.

"Good morning, captain!" And he turned and fixed her with those icy blue eyes, and she smiled quite naturally at seeing him. He looked less thrilled than her, but it might have something to do with the bracers in her hands. She walked until only several feet separated her from the captain, and then she held out her offering.

"I believe that these are yours, sir," she happily stated, and Lex eyed the bracers like he wanted to grab and chuck them into the water.

"How very thoughtful," he allowed, reaching out and accepting them. Mandila watched him hook the restraints to his belt, and then she returned her eyes to his. He was studying her like she might have eyed a locked door—thinking about how it worked and the easiest way to open it. An involuntary thrill shot through her, for he'd never looked at her quite like that before, even if his expression was hard and promised difficulties. She stared back, saying the most immediate thing that came to mind.

"How much would you have charged me?" she asked.

"Fifty gold," Lex answered, and Mandila nodded her head appreciatively.

"I figured as much. You didn't make it easy."

"I never do," and this was the point where she expected him to try and walk away. He'd clearly lost this round, and he was still on duty. When he didn't move, Mandila actually became suspicious. "So where is my ten gold?" he asked her. "And I haven't all day, citizen."

"Mandila," the Bosmer corrected. "And I have it right here." She passed him several coins, and if Lex was annoyed, he didn't show it. He was impassive as ever, and he wordlessly eyed the money for several seconds before he leaned in close to her face.

"And where, Mandila, did you get ten gold when you had none last night?" he questioned. Mandila knew that she had to be careful this time around, for Lex had that fanatic officer edge to him, and it warned her how close she was to danger. The man was looking for evidence against her.

"That's none of your concern," she told him, proud of herself for not getting lost in his features. As was, he was leaning so close that she almost did, and so her voice came out soft rather than teasing.

"It might be my concern," he corrected her, stepping back.

"No, it's not," Mandila stressed. "But if you really must know, I dug up a grave last night." Lex's eyes narrowed, and Mandila grinned. "Just joking. I borrowed from a friend, so stop looking at me like I have thief written on my forehead. Are you always this suspicious?"

"Only when it comes to people who warrant it," he said. Mandila's eyebrows shot upward.

"And I warrant it? What have I done to make you suspicious other than trying to be friendly? Maybe I like to cause mischief every once and while, but really, captain, you act like you're not used to female attention." Lex was about to respond when Methredhel came bounding over to Mandila and squeezed the other elf's hand in a friendly gesture. Lockpicks, hanging about with a suspected thief, breaking the law—Lex knew that he should never have overlooked Mandila as a possible link to the guild.

"No time to talk, sister," Methredhel interrupted. "I need your help with something." She tugged the younger Bosmer along with her as she moved toward the waterfront. Mandila was left giving Lex a hasty wave, and she even sent a wink in his direction.

"Until later, captain," she called. He watched her go, and then moved to check how another guard's patrol was going, for he needed to get that elf—his elf—out of his mind. The guard that he approached wiped sweat from a wrinkled brow and grumbled about the weather, and Lex sympathized with how hot armor could feel. Even he got sick of armor when the sun was high.

"I see that she hasn't laid off of you, sir," the guard finally joked in reference to Mandila. "I thought for sure that after the swimming incident, she'd leave you be. Guess she's as stubborn as you, huh sir?" Lex snorted as he looked to where Mandila had disappeared.

"I do not appreciate being compared to that elf," he stated, and the guard chuckled.

"Say what you want, sir, but there are several guards, including myself, that would not mind trading places with you. She's easy on the eyes with those long lashes...sir, perhaps you ought to relax your standards a little." Lex sighed and waved the guard off.

"You're married," he reminded the man. "I doubt that your wife would appreciate those comments, and I don't want to hear another word about it. She's up to no good."

"Yes, sir." The guard left, and Lex was left wondering why everyone else looked at how the elf interacted with him and saw an infatuated girl. She was an absolute she-devil, even if she was pretty, and she was years younger than him. He also suspected what others did not, and he could just imagine how a guild member would love to irritate and taunt him, acting as if she was unafraid in order to sidetrack his scrutiny. Besides that, he found it hard to believe that the elf could be as interested as other people seemed to think, and the guards loved to make smart comments about him as much as the waterfront residents did, so it was bound to be an exaggeration to target the lack of romance in his life.

The last woman that he'd been involved with was years ago, and she'd wanted to get married, but he kept postponing. When he finally felt that he was financially prepared to please her, he'd proposed, but she was no longer interested, saying that he'd distanced himself from her to the point where she couldn't stand the thought of living with him. Absentee husband—that's what she'd claimed he'd turn into, and so he'd left, wondering when this drifting apart had happened, because he'd been rather preoccupied to notice.

He hadn't bothered looking for another woman since that time, for she'd poisoned many social circles against him, and no one wanted to link themselves to someone with a reputation for being a fanatic over an imaginary criminal. He wouldn't have a wife that secretly scorned his work, for that would be the height of unbearable. Yes, the rejection had initially stung, but he was beyond that now. He found comfort in his career, and he had no need of a woman hanging about, so that settled the matter. He'd wait until his reputation was cleared to start the family that part of him thought necessary for an upstanding man such as himself. He was a minor aristocrat, and so he was expected to bear heirs, which he'd get to in good time, but not now. He watched a man pickpocketing another, and angrily stormed toward the scene, the thought of women all but gone.

**************

"What is it?" Mandila asked as Methredhel pulled her along. They were heading straight for Armand's house, which was highly unusual. The man did not like discussing guild business in public, and he often refused to even acknowledge the other thieves unless it was midnight or later. They had a regular meeting place in a small yard near Methredhel's house, and only then would meetings be called. Apparently something important and unexpected had occurred to break that routine.

"Armand's called an emergency meeting," Methredhel whispered. "Something big has come up, and if we don't move, we'll never finish the job."

"Oh," Mandila said, stunned at how massive the operation must be. She felt excitement racing through her veins as they entered Armand's house and found the man sitting on his bed, all windows bolted shut, and his dark features illuminated by a lantern.

"Lock the door," he instructed, and Mandila hurriedly did as told. Then it was the three of them in the shadowy house, and Mandila glanced at Armand with a confused expression.

"Where are the others?" she asked.

"They know what's to be done," he explained, "And I don't want to risk too large a gathering. Lex is on duty, as I'm sure you know." He fixed her with a knowing stare that made Mandila shift uncomfortably. This was her superior, after all, and his disapproval carried weight. She sat beside Methredhel at the small table near the bed, and focused on keeping a confident demeanor.

"So what's this job?" Methredhel blurted. "And why is it so sudden?"

"Remember the engraved dagger that we're supposed to steal from Handlor?" Mandila and Methredhel both nodded. "The man has decided to take an unexpected trip to see a relative, and that means that his house will be empty tonight. The problem is that it may be a trap. I've no evidence, but there might be a traitor among us, and the danger is doubled by the fact that the man lives near the northwest tower."

"That's where Lex is stationed at night," Mandila said, knowing what kind of difficulties that would present.

"Yes," Armand sighed. "So we need someone to distract him—make sure that he isn't there tonight. That's why I've called you both here. Someone needs to be a street lookout, and someone needs to keep Lex away. Take your pick." No sooner had he finished than a huge grin spread across Methredhel's face, and Mandila could guess what the trickster was thinking.

"Oh, I think that Mandila will be a perfect distraction for our captain," she smoothly teased. "She has more experience at it than I do." Mandila glared at her sister, and without looking, she knew that Armand was staring at her with those displeased eyes. She heard him sigh again as the staring match between the two Bosmer continued, and only when he clapped his hands did the two disengage.

"Just make sure that the job's done right," he said. "We can't screw this up or we're toast. The guild's entire reputation rests on pulling this job off, and I expect both of you to give a hundred percent. No fooling around." Mandila inwardly winced at his undertone, and she stood to excuse herself.

"Well, I better go think of a way to keep Lex busy all night." Methredhel snorted on a laugh that threatened to choke her with tears of mirth, and Mandila pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "I didn't mean—oh, Methredhel, that's enough. You've got a twisted mind, Bosmer!"

"I think that we should go our separate ways before someone notices that you're both here," Armand intervened.

"Whatever you say, handsome," Methredhel said, calming herself. "Let's go, sis." Mandila made to follow her elder outside, but she didn't even reach the door.

"Mandila," Armand called. "A word." Methredhel shook her head and shut the door behind her, leaving the two alone to discuss what Mandila was sure she didn't want to hear.

"Yes?" she asked Armand, rejoining him near the bed.

"I know about your odd behavior around the captain," he admonished. "And I don't like what I'm hearing. Ancus even said that you've been talking to him now."

"It's nothing bad," Mandila countered. "You know how I get sometimes, and he's fun to annoy."

"I wouldn't be worried if you were just annoying him," came the terse response. "Look, I'm in no position to tell you how to live, but these walls have ears, and when they tell me that one of my best thieves is expressing gratitude to our enemy, I get concerned. You don't want to give me gray hair, Mandila." The Bosmer tapped her toes against the floor and thought about the previous night. Armand did live next door to her.

"I guess you heard about what happened yesterday," she commented.

"Yes," and Armand smiled despite himself. "I hear that you nearly made Lex explode in frustration, but it backfired on you, didn't it? He found you, and now you've brought attention to yourself. Mandila," he stared into her eyes and passed her a new lockpick. "Remember that you can play with him, but don't do more than necessary. It's too risky for the guild, and I don't want to see him hurt you."

"He wouldn't," Mandila protested. "Come on. He's Mr. Rigid-for-rules."

"Have you ever been to prison?" Armand asked, and Mandila nodded.

"Once, when I was just learning how to pickpocket."

"And do you know what can happen to pretty girls who get sent to prison?" Mandila nodded, but more slowly this time. "It happens, and if he's the one that puts you there, he's responsible for knowing what could happen. He's obsessive, but he's not ignorant. So be careful."

"I know," Mandila weakly smiled. "I just can't believe that he'd catch me doing anything that he'd lock me away for."

"This is the same man that's planning to tax the waterfront," Armand pointed out. "He doesn't believe in leniency, and you should know that." But Mandila had seen Lex help Ancus, and reprimand fellow guards for abusing their power, and even help a girl find her way home once. He wasn't totally heartless, and she knew it, but she couldn't tell Armand that. He'd probably flip the table in disbelief at her kind words.

"Is he really going to tax us?" she questioned. It seemed like him, but she hadn't heard a word of such a plan.

"It's a rumor, but I wouldn't put it past the bastard. Keep your head down, and make sure that he's not near the target tonight." Mandila nodded and was finally given permission to leave. Great, but now Armand was upset with her, maybe even questioning if she was against Lex like the rest of them, but that was idiotic. Of course she was anti-Lex, for the man would hate her if he knew what she was. Ouch, but that stung a little. She didn't want him to hate her, even if they were opposed forces.

She checked the sun and realized that she had better get cracking on her plan. She had to keep the captain busy for an entire night, and that was a challenge if ever she'd faced one. The easiest way would be to dress as the Grey Fox and let him chase her around the city, but that would be suicide—and tiring, she quickly added. No, she needed something else, but the promise of an arrest or evidence was likely the only way to keep him distracted.

Mandila smiled as she noticed Methredhel talking to another woman. With a little help from her friend, she was going to hook the captain's interest.