Ah the snow. A double edged sword as I have discovered. But here it serves me well. They will never hear me coming, jumping from roof top to roof top. I dropped down looking in through the window of the house. I watched as Torsten fell asleep. Poor sod, when he had done so much for us. Sure it is nice to have the backing of the influential families of Skyrim but a job is a job. With our new foothold in Skyrim we are starting to getting noticed further afield. Someone wants what Torsten has and is willing to pay good money, and that's just in advance. I licked my lips at the thought. Keep this up and we won't need the word of the Black-Briars, the Cruel-Seas or anyone else soon. But able to pay off anyone who comes sniffing. Ice had formed around the window; that complicates matters. Not by much, just means it'll take a little longer to get in. I took a breath and started to chip away at the ice with my dagger. A fine piece of Dunmeri craft. The blade was a dark, almost black rock, with thin lines of ruby red and made of incredibly hard and sharp stone. I held my breath as the blade worked its way under the wooden frame and I formed a hole large enough to get a grip on it. By my estimate about half an hour had passed when I was confident that I could open the window. The wood groaned as it was moved for what I believed would be the first time in at least decades. Fortunately my small stature means that I needn't open it much before I could squeeze in. The wood creaked slightly and I froze. Checking that I hadn't alerted anyone I quickly cast muffle and took another step. I was greeted by the reassuring sound of nothing and I smiled. There it was. An ornamental gold model ship. I took a moment to examine it. Brilliant detail, with a gorgeous amethyst in the centre of the main sail. Most likely Argonian, they like their amethysts. So do I for that matter. Hmmm. I should tell my husband about that. But then he'll probably argue that we have enough. I chuckled softly as a picked up the ship and crept back to the window, but we're thieves, we can never have too much. I crawled out of the window and dropped to the ground, tucking my legs in to help absorb the force of the drop. I held up my Nightingale Amulet, a wedding gift from my husband supposedly from the Blue Palace he claims. It was beautiful and fitting, I never went anywhere without it. The amulet was in the shape of the Nightingales emblem, a bird cradling the moon in its wings. I drew the pendant close to my lips.

'Praise to Nocturnal my loving Mother of Night and Lady of Luck.'

The ignorant guards continued on their rounds. One of the reasons I loved leaping across the roof tops. No one bothered to look up. My husband would say that I was daring my luck to run out, but that's only because he can't do it himself. Growing up in Valenwood had been for something then. Wood elf luck he could it. I calmly walked right passed a guard cutting free his coin purse as I did so and making my way to my escape path. Tucked away in the corner was a pile of boxes and barrels with some protruding stones a couple of metres above it. I worked my way up the wall of Windhelm and onto the battlements. Noticing the lack of guards I relaxed I walked along the wall to get closer to where I had hidden my horse. The most paranoid city in Skyrim cannot keep out a solitary elf thief.

'There you are Frost.' The brilliant white horse looked up as it recognised my voice. I leapt off the wall, rolling as I hit the ground. Frost walked up to me, pressing my chest with his nose.

'Yes it's me, you didn't think I would leave you know did you.' The horse looked into my eyes and allowed me to rub his neck. 'Now if you keep this up my husband may get jealous. Come on boy lets go.' I said as I mounted Frost and headed off south back to Riften.

As I walked into the Bee and Barb I saw Brynjolf and the client having a friendly chat over a couple glasses of mead. I told him not to get to friendly when business is involved. As he saw me I he knew that he was going to be in trouble now. Regardless he beckoned me over and I took a seat beside him. I pulled out the Gold model and placed it in the centre of the table.

'Here it is as promised. One gold model ship with amethyst decoration.'

'And here is the rest of the payment.' The client, an ageing Imperial with a receding hair line dropped a fat purse of coins on the table. Proceeding to pick up the model and placing it safely in a knapsack. When the client left the tavern I turned to find Brynjolf trying to sneak out.

'Hey mister I want a word with you.' Brynjolf sighed and slouched as he recognised defeat. He turned to talk to me.

'What was I suppose to do, he offered to pay.'

I put on a thoughtful face though we both knew what I would say. 'By Nocturnal that sounds so simple when you put it that way.'

'Look I like a drink as much as the next man,' he paused as a gave him a look, 'Well who am I to turn up a free drink.'

'Not that you're known for being a cheapskate. But I expect you to keep it professional. Especially when I entrust watching a client to you.'

'I suppose you're right as always.'

I smiled as I walked up to him and kissed him lightly. 'That's why I'm in charge, and don't you forget it.'

'Not like you give me any chance to.'