Erandur put their things down by their bed in the Bee and Barb, a conveniently located inn in the middle of Riften's canals. Since their first mindnumbing time together, they'd not slept apart. Just remembering their first time made him feel flushed. It would appear Telki's bid to give him something more memorable worked like a charm.

Erandur shook his head at the wayward memory, and started sorting their belongings for the night. She was ostensibly out talking to the shady character that knew how to track down the person she needed to find. He was fairly sure she wanted to visit the Mara Temple for his benefit, but had no idea what she'd want visiting an orphanage. His musings were cut short when Telki, visibly shaking, came straight into his arms without saying a word and held him so tightly, he could barely draw breath.

"Telki, love. What's happened?" Her eyes were wide and staring at nothing, but the silent dam broke at his urging. Unfortunately, what came out was nearly an incomprehensible babble, words spilling on top of each other. Erandur feared for her sanity.

" I don't know what to do. I really truly don't know what to do, and I don't know if I even dare tell you." Tears finally spilled, and Erandur stroked her and held her, until she cried herself out.

"Love, you can tell me anything."

"Can I tell you I met a person worse than any bandit, and I can't get anyone to stop her? Can I tell you I seriously contemplated killing someone, just because they needed killing?"

Erandur couldn't believe what he was hearing. His Telki, contemplating murder? What could this person have done? " I think you better tell me the whole tale. Perhaps we can think of something together."

"I'd kept hearing stories of this little boy up in Windhelm trying to contact the Dark Brotherhood. It broke my heart. Why would a child feel the need to contact those assassins? So, I made it my business to find him and try to help him.

He lived in an empty, drafty, barn of a building, and he was performing the Black Sacrament over and over, so tired he could barely lift the knife. He would not believe I wasn't an assassin he summoned to kill Grelod, the woman in charge of the orphanage.

I was getting nowhere on that end of the problem. I thought, since I had business out this way anyways, I'd check on Grelod. I'd see if there were some way to solve the problem with her help.

Now, now I know why a child would turn to an assassin. That woman beats them, tells them they are worthless, and uses them as slave labor. She tells them nobody would ever want or love them, and none of them would ever be adopted. I'd heard enough, I had to leave. She apparently neither saw nor heard me.

I told a guard, and another guard after that when she wouldn't listen; when I asked to see the Jarl, the guards wouldn't let me in. I swear, it was as if they were in on the children's misery. I could not understand it. If I can't get the law to help, who, who does that leave?" Her eyes were wide and pleading, surely he had an answer for her?

Erandur couldn't believe his ears, and then remembered he was in Riften. From all accounts, the Jarl was a decent person, just grossly ineffectual because of the glut of snakes and false friends surrounding her. There would be no help for the children's plight, unless his darling dovakiin took justice in her own hands. He prayed to Mara, was he about to give her the right advice?

From the resounding righteous ire that infused him from the inside out, ringing clear as a temple bell, it would seem even Mara's patience had limits. "You attempted to remove Grelod through the right channels, and you are wanting to act out of love for those children. Since no other option remains, I think it may well be a divine duty to remove that horrid woman. Just, be careful; I don't want you getting punished for doing the right thing." The incredulity on Telki's face was enough to inspire a lopsided grin. "Surprised me, too. Apparently, this woman's transgressions are beyond measure."

"I hate it, but if I went now, every one of those guards would know it was me. Perhaps I should find that old codger on my own first, then deal with Grelod on the way out of town?"

"I think that might be wise." Erandur was plotting. There was no way he was going to be this close to a proper Temple, and NOT get Telki in it. He rationalized that what was good for the gander was good for the goose. Telki's inclination after this horror would be to avoid Riften at all costs. Just one night here made it clear that Riften needed her. Too many people had forgotten how to smile, or how to pass simple pleasantries. Strange that the town with Mara's own temple seemed to have the least share of her infinite love.

"That scalawag Brynjolf is waiting for me downstairs. I'ma try talking sense to the man one more time. If I can't get his help, I may well be trying to find my way alone through those noisome tunnels." Telki huffed, and changed into a more comfortable tunic and pair of loose trousers. Her molded leather armor was for traveling and dungeon delving. She needed to mind the mead tonight. She'd promise to once over both sets for repairs.

"Not alone, Love, not anymore. However, I WILL leave talking sense to that rogue all to you. It appears I have an errand or two of my own to tend." Telki noticed he slipped his old robes over the red leather armor they'd found for him. She wasn't about to let him face all the dangers Skyrim had to offer with naught but a bit of tundra cotton and linen between him and them. Besides, she thought he looked right dashing in red and gold, no matter how self conscious he felt.

"But it's after sunset, what could you be up to at this hour?"

"Now now, my turn to play mysterious. I promise you'll know first thing in the morning."

"What are you up to?" Telki's hijinks sensor was wailing like a wispmother, but her gallant love just blew her a kiss, winked, and was out the door. Whatever was she going to do with that mer?

Telki made her lackluster way downstairs. She worried that trying to talk to Brynjolf in this mood would only make things worse, but tonight was when they were supposed to talk. Keeping him waiting might make negotiations worse. It really REALLY irked her that he seemed to think she couldn't have gotten as far as she has honestly. Great, her tail was lashing before she even got down the stairs good. Thank the Nine Divines it wasn't as noticeable that her ears were laid back. This was one advantage being Daggi Raht had over the other Khajiit. The muscles behind her ears were already hurting, heralding an oncoming headache. Yay.

"Ah lass, good of you to join me. I hoped you'd reconsider my offer." Brynjolf tossed a friendly, rakish smile her way. His obvious good spirits not doing hers a jot of good. She did notice his eyes briefly catalog her current mood to try and plan his angle of attack accordingly.

"Lass, what has you in such a temper?" Well, that was straightforward.

"Another task I'm supposed to complete has run into difficulties. So far, I'm zero for two tasks to prove I'm something I had no idea I was. Now, you'd have me believe I'm a thief and didn't know it." Well, that could have been worded better. It was apparently a tactic never used on Brynjolf, because she caught him flatfooted. His blank stare only lasted a tic, but was long enough to see she surprised him. Was nobody in this Divine forsaken town used to plain words?

"Lass, you talk as if you'd have me believe you've never stolen so much as a kiss..." C'mon, who ever heard of a completely honest khajiit; wasn't that against some Khajiiti code?

"Can't steal what you didn't even ask for" To say her mood wasn't improving would have been an understatement.

She was amusing. Her immediate grumpy growl had Brynjolf laughing and completely disarmed. He realized he liked her. Oh, no way in Oblivion would he let her in the Guild; she'd have shown Laila herself where they lived without even realizing it. He could also tell he woudln't be getting any help from her with his little marketplace problem. What a waste, too. He'd watched her move about the market, taking in anything and everything. She carried herself with an easy grace. Even in her funk, her descent down the stairs was noiseless, when anyone else would be stomping each step as loudly as possible.

"Well, Lass. It's clear you're not the one I need to help me, so, why should I help you?" He poured her a mug of mead. He wondered just how she'd go about trying to get something for nothing.

"I'm sure it's not escaped your notice the dragons are back? I can't imagine their return has made your line of work any easier. Between the extra guards about everywhere, and the sheer damage a dragon attack causes in itself, I'd have to say they're probably the epitome of 'bad for business'."

Damn, never get snide with a Khajiit. they practically invented catty. Brynjolf sat back in his seat, thinking hard. The old codger had paid them good money to hid him, but if he was the only way to stop the dragon attacks. Nocturnal alone knew how much harder it'd gotten since not even the steward could talk the Jarl out of increasing patrols in case of an attack on Riften.

"Point taken, lass. You'll find him down the warrens, past the Ragged Flagon. You'll have to make your own way past the toughs, though. Think a wee little thing like yourself can handle it?"

"You showed a very unhealthy interest in my monetary value, Bryn. I think your liar's sense will tell you I never steal. How then, do you think I made all my money?" Telki took out a small tailbone from the dragon she helped down at WhiteRun, and danced it across her knuckles on both hands, before flipping it over to Brynjolf. Really, it probably wasn't the wisest course of action, but seriously! Where did all these people get off expecting her to 'prove' something to them? Hell, she's seen no reason yet they didn't have more to prove to her!

Brynjolf deftly caught the proffered bone, and raised his eyebrows at how heavy the small bone was. It took him no time to realize a few things. Firstly, the girl had real talent if she could dance such a heavy bone across her knuckles. Secondly, how'd she get her hands on a dragonbone, a fresh one at that, if she wasn't a thief? He did have a finely honed sense for detecting a liar, and frankly, she was about as far from a liar as a divine was from a daedra. Which meant she really did help kill that dragon at Whiterun. The guards made sure everyone far and wide knew about their success. He was sure shut-ins at Markarth had heard by now about the first dragon kill in an age. Which lead to the final realization about the girl in front of him. Damn but she was good at getting several points across without saying a word. He couldn't help but grin. "I must say lass, it really is our loss, if I can't convince you to join. I can assume I'll be seeing you soon at the Flagon, at least once?"

"Count on it, soons' I get some sleep." Which, of course, is exactly when a yawn attacked, and poor Telki wasn't very quick to catch it behind her hand, causing Brynjolf to chuckle again. "Excuse me! an' I'm sure you're not giving up that marketplace stand anytime soon."