Chapter LXXXIX – Rise Up
"Are you alright?"
Aeyrin whispered quietly under her breath.
She wasn't even sure why she was whispering, but it seemed appropriate. Their entire journey had been so strangely tense and silent. Maybe it was suddenly dawning on everyone what was going to happen. How bad this brash action could turn out. She really hoped that Karliah hadn't disposed of her rational and careful tendencies entirely, but… she still looked so angry. It was a familiar sight for Aeyrin. She knew what it meant when the rage took over. And she knew how badly it could ruin things.
Her question was directed at Raven. The only time when any one of them talked was when they picked him up from Shor's Stone and explained what happened. After that, there was silence again. Karliah marched resolutely in front of all of them with Bishop trailing closely behind her and Raven and Aeyrin traipsing after them in the back. It wasn't very surprising that Raven was silent of course. It was much more concerning to see the constant scowl on his face in place of the usual charming smile.
Raven's eyes stopped focusing dead ahead for a second and he turned his gaze towards Aeyrin. He smiled and nodded slowly, but as convincing as Raven could be in his line of work, this time she wasn't convinced at all.
She didn't know what to say. She wanted to talk about what was happening, about how this just might have been a bad idea, but to be fair, she wasn't even sure if it was. This was exactly what she had been thinking about doing for a long time now. But they said it was too dangerous, too careless. The Guild members wouldn't go along with it and a lot of innocent lives would get caught in the middle. Why did those concerns suddenly not matter? Would Mercer really act so fast that they had to ambush him at the Guild? She asked Karliah before why they couldn't wait until Mercer left the Ratway and figure out how to take care of him less publicly, but Karliah was convinced that the Guild would be seething about this. They would suspect Karliah instantly and they would probably try to exact revenge or never cooperate with her as the best case scenario. They would never absolve Aeyrin of the bounty and they would continue to fight Karliah's network every step of the way. Karliah wanted to be involved with the Guild no matter what and she wanted to kill Mercer no matter what. So she was adamant about barging in and trying to convince as many of them as possible – that an uprising was the way to go.
That was the end of the discussion. Karliah had been curt and irritated by every question and Aeyrin stopped asking them very soon.
Maybe Karliah was right. It would be over soon. All the trouble with the bounty and everything that Mercer had done to her and Bishop would be in the past. Maybe it was for the best to finish this.
Why did Aeyrin still feel like she needed reassurance?
She fixed her eyes at the back of Karliah's head. The Dunmer didn't even look as if she was paying attention to anything but the road dead ahead. She wouldn't probably even notice if a dragon landed right in front of her.
"This… this is a good idea, right?" Aeyrin muttered almost silently again. She didn't know why she even asked. If anyone had doubts, they would stop this excruciatingly silent march, wouldn't they?
Raven smiled at her again and nodded. This time it looked a little bit more convincing, but he could probably see that it still wasn't enough. He promptly reached towards his belt and took a small notepad and a sharpened piece of charcoal into his hands. He was always ready. He had really adapted so well. He was even prepared to write on the go.
She waited anxiously while Raven scribbled onto his notepad. The words turned out very squiggly and messy, but she could still read them somewhat comprehensibly.
.
Karliah always knows what she's doing. This is the best option we have now. She wouldn't put us all and the Guild members in such danger if she thought there was a better alternative. Mercer needs to be stopped. And we will finally stop him now.
.
Raven was right. This had been a long time coming. Why was she being so anxious? She wanted this for so long. Freedom from that man and his revenge schemes.
Aeyrin gave Raven a small smile in return. It was for the best. And Karliah did always know what she was doing. And she only wanted the best for all of them. They had to stop Mercer's plans of hiring the Brotherhood or Gods-knew-what-else he was planning now. There was no other way.
With another reassuring nod, Raven stashed his notepad and charcoal again and, instead, he reached out to drape his arm around Aeyrin's shoulders and squeeze her towards his flank amicably. It was a comforting gesture, but it made Aeyrin's armored pauldrons clank unnaturally against themselves and the sound made Bishop look behind his shoulder to see what had caused it.
Bishop barely even managed to scowl before Raven's free hand shot up with a prompt middle finger raised towards him. Aeyrin only let out a sigh and shook her head subtly. Even now they couldn't just drop those hateful looks and petty gestures?
But surprisingly enough, Bishop seemed just as tired of it at that moment as she did. She could see how much the tension and anticipation were getting to him. She was surprised that his teeth hadn't shattered yet from how he had been clenching his jaw the entire time. Instead of engaging with Raven in any way, he averted his eyes back towards the road. No remarks, no rude gestures in return. He didn't even stop to try and pry Aeyrin from Raven's arms and into his instead.
There was a moment of silence when Raven squeezed Aeyrin briefly, concentrated on her again and on making the gesture as reassuring as he could. He released her a few seconds later and she was kind of disappointed to have to go back to the unbearable silence again, but it was soon interrupted by Bishop.
"There's just the four of us? You're really counting on the Guild to support you?" he asked Karliah somewhat sternly. It probably wasn't supposed to sound accusing though, they were all just tense.
"I am. They've been helping us for a long time now," Karliah nodded resolutely but she didn't even turn around to look at Bishop or anyone else for a second. Her eyes were still fastened on the road.
"Right. And if you're wrong?" Bishop scowled. She had to have a backup plan, didn't she? This had to be thought out more than it seemed. "And how are we even getting into the cistern?" The entrance wasn't just about some conveniently hidden switches. The mechanisms were locked. Only the members carried the keys or rings or whatever it was. Bishop didn't really recall what the others used. He had never really gotten one and had to wait for someone to let him in. He was still being 'tested' and not a full member after all before the mutiny came to pass.
"You forget that we have friends in the city now," Karliah answered without elaborating any further.
Hmm… Maven? That was probably a good fallback, provided that no new information reached her. Like information about who really killed her son. She could probably help them get into the cistern, but… did Karliah mean that she would give them backup too?
Barging in with a bunch of mercenaries at their backs could only ever go well, couldn't it?
…
"Right now? You're going in right now?" Maven's brows shot up in surprise. She looked like she herself wasn't able to process Karliah's abrupt plan. They reached the Black-Briar mansion in record speed, but their approach inside the city was anything but subtle. Mercer's people must have informed him of their presence by now.
"Yes. And I need your help, lady Black-Briar," Karliah nodded respectfully. The fire from her eyes never dissipated. She still looked like she was seething, but she was trying to keep herself composed. It was still a strangely palpable contrast to her usual demeanor.
"My dear, I promised you assistance, but I need the Guild. I need their trade and their connections. I cannot have you barging in and slaughtering them all with my men's assistance," Maven scowled.
"There is more at stake here," Karliah sighed. "If Mercer gets the money he needs, there will be nothing stopping him from destroying everything we have all worked for, including you. He will hire enough men to decimate the operations I have built in preparation for our cooperation. He will send the Brotherhood after Aeyrin. He will come after you as well."
"He will not get to sell those artifacts easily. I control most of the trade in the city," Maven shook her head. "And you need not worry about the Brotherhood. I am sure I can get in touch with them and null any contracts that would threaten any of our safety."
Her reassurance was met with an involuntary scoff of disbelief from Bishop. He didn't exactly mean for it to be audible, but in the dead silence of the room, everything was. Maven promptly shot him a questioning look at the sound. Fuck, he couldn't talk about the Brotherhood.
"I just… doubt they would listen to anyone when they had a contract," he shrugged noncommittally. Honestly, he would have thought as much even if he didn't know what he knew.
"Bishop's right," Karliah nodded resolutely. "Your offer is kind, but we cannot count on that. We cannot waver this time and risk losing… everything. Mercer needs to be stopped now. Please, Maven," she gave her a surprisingly pleading look. "Mercer needs to pay for what he's done to all of us. To your family. To Sibbi. And he cannot be allowed to harm us anymore."
There was a long tense moment of silence. Maven closed her eyes and let out a deep breath before she spoke again.
"Very well. This ends now then. I have the key to the cistern, of course, and I will send a few of my men with you. But you have to do everything you can to save the Guild."
"I will," Karliah nodded resolutely. "I need them too. I… we are just there for Mercer. We will try to end this peacefully."
Maven looked like she attempted a smile, but she seemed to be too doubtful to actually manage that. It was no wonder. Mercer surely knew that they were coming and now they would march in there with armed men.
But whatever it took to get rid of Mercer. Once that was done, the Guild could rebuild, their lives would go back to normal again, or as normal as it could get, and everyone would surely be better off under Karliah's leadership.
It had to work out.
…
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
They got inside the cistern without any issues, without encountering any resistance whatsoever on the way. There were seven mercenaries at their backs, cramped into the small passage below the secret entrance, all with their weapons ready. They were all ready for things to go bad, but the men were instructed not to do anything at all until Karliah tried to convince the Guild members to join her endeavors and to bring Mercer to justice. Hopefully they wouldn't need the backup. Hopefully the thieves were all just as tired of Mercer's tyranny as the rest of them were.
But this did not bode well. There was no sound at all echoing through the passage from the cistern.
It could only mean one thing, although they had expected as much already.
Mercer knew that they were coming. He had people in the city who would tell him about their presence and he knew that they were allied with Maven after the Sibbi debacle and he knew that they would breach the cistern.
He was ready for them.
None of them said a word. They were all tense with anticipation and a measure of fear. None of them had any idea how this was going to go down. None of them had any idea what Mercer had managed to do before they got back to Riften. At least Maven would have likely known if he had already managed to sell the Eyes.
With determination, and some trepidation, Karliah stepped forth, following the narrow passage with Bishop, Aeyrin and Raven right at her heel and the mercenaries some distance behind.
When they stepped into the view of the whole cistern, they were met with a disheartening sight. The entirety of the Guild, all the thieves, spies and rogues were awaiting them there with somber expressions, armed and armored and ready for battle.
That did not look good. None of them had obviously refused to stand with Mercer in this when they knew what was coming.
Mercer stood in the center beneath the grand orb on the ceiling illuminating the room in a dim light. He had a menacing sneer on his face but he looked… confident. Frighteningly so. Even with the mercenaries, their group was clearly outnumbered. And many of these rogues knew how to fight well. Mercer always made sure that his people knew how to get themselves out of trouble by any means necessary.
But battle wasn't the plan here.
"Took you long enough, whore," Mercer smirked at Karliah smugly. "But I guess I left you quite… drained. And it must have taken a lot of begging to get these charming gentlemen to lay their lives down for your zealotry," he gestured towards the mercenaries standing some distance behind the Dunmer.
"There was no begging, Mercer," Karliah hissed at him. "Everyone wants you dead."
"Oh yes," Mercer scoffed. "Even our dear old Maven. That was quite the stunt you pulled there with that brat Sibbi. I have to give you some credit for that."
Bishop and Aeyrin tensed up instantly at his words. They should have suspected that Mercer would bring Sibbi up. Why wouldn't he refute the blame for his murder? They didn't dare to say a word though. It could only make the situation worse. Right now, Mercer didn't know that it was Bishop who had done the deed. And neither did Karliah.
"What are you talking about, Mercer? Trying to worm your way out of your revenge schemes again?" Karliah snarled. "Maven sees you for what you are now. And so should the rest of your allies."
Mercer only scoffed disdainfully at that. Hopefully that put an end to the discussion about Sibbi.
Karliah promptly stopped focusing on Mercer, but she still held her shortsword tightly in her hand, even as she let her gaze wander around the room with much kinder eyes.
"Listen to me, friends," she started addressing the crowd of tense thieves, but Frey interrupted her in an instant with a mocking snort.
"'Friends'?" he scoffed.
"Everyone," Karliah corrected herself through gritted teeth. She could already see some of the rogues scoffing at her phrasing as well. "You don't have to stand for this. You don't have to listen to this tyrant! Hasn't he done enough to all of you? Keeping you in line with threats and fear. Allying himself with despots that would inflict unimaginable tortures on any of you for misbehaving. Stealing from you. Taking for himself what you have all worked so hard for. It is time for this to stop. It is time to stand up to him. It is time for him to pay for every bit of misery that he had inflicted upon you. It is time for him to die!"
The rogues didn't react to her speech in any way. It looked like they had expected this much. They all knew Mercer, they all knew his ways. But some of them had allied with Karliah already! Why were they still standing by him right now?
"Don't you know what he's done? Don't you know that he has sent every one of you to Thorn for any little misstep? Don't you know that he empties your vault to take your wealth for himself?" Karliah looked at them desperately.
"We know," suddenly Brynjolf took a small step forward so that he stood right next to Mercer. "I have already told them about everything. We all know what he's doing." Mercer's eyes went wide at Brynjolf. Apparently he didn't expect the Guild to know about his schemes, at least not about the vault. The Thorn thing may have been common knowledge already. "But we talked about this, Karliah. You agreed not to do this!" he almost growled in anger. Brynjolf had always been very vocal against a confrontation like this. It was one of the main reasons why Karliah never forced it before.
"I am sorry, Brynjolf," the Dunmer let out a regretful sigh. "Plans change."
"'Talked'?!" Mercer kept his gaze fastened on Brynjolf with hatred in his eyes. "What?! You fucking too, Bryn?! You fucking betrayed me too?!"
"You are the one who betrayed us, Mercer!" Brynjolf scowled at him. "Time and time again. We struggled, we tried so hard to turn things around. Some of us thought that we were cursed. But it was all you, all along, dragging us back down and threatening us with your sick friends. I have talked to Karliah the second you decided to ignore our struggles again and put up that fucking bounty on the Dragonborn. Your Guild is crumbling against many threats and all you think about is your vengeance and how to line your own pockets. And we have put up with this for too long."
"You think this is about getting rich and about revenge?" Mercer scoffed at him. "Don't be fucking daft, Bryn! There's more to this than you know. There's more to that bitch that you were so eager to ally yourself with! I am doing this to end her! I am doing this to protect you from her and her twisted worsh-"
"Enough talk!" Karliah yelled at him angrily, interrupting his speech. "You all know what he's done. It's time he dies!" Her hand darted towards her belt in a swift motion, but before she could do whatever she had intended to, Brynjolf's voice stopped her again.
"No!" He took a step forward. It almost looked like he was going to stand in front of Mercer to shield him from whatever Karliah had intended, but he seemed to second-guess that move. "We don't want him dead. We agreed. You said you would wait. We are no assassins and this is not what we do to our own."
"I cannot allow him to live, Brynjolf!" Karliah shook her head desperately. "Not for what he's done. Not for what he will do. I cannot!"
"Of course not," Mercer snarled at her. "You're losing everything after all. I will make sure of that, whore! All of you, you have no fucking idea who you're messing with!"
"We know your tactics all too well, Mercer," Brynjolf sighed in exasperation.
"No. Not me, Bryn," Frey scoffed. "Her."
"Enough!" Karliah yelled again. What was Mercer talking about? Was this about Gallus again? Was he trying to pin his death on Karliah in front of everyone again?
"Why? Are you scared?" Mercer chuckled. "Bryn wants to talk. Why don't we do just that?"
"Yes," Brynjolf nodded. "Let's all calm down. I don't understand what happened," he shook his head at Karliah before he turned his gaze towards Bishop. "We spoke about this and we agreed that this is not the way to do this. Lad, you assured me that this wasn't the plan!"
"It wasn't. But it is now," Bishop scowled. He was talking to Brynjolf, but he could not take his eyes off Mercer. Any second that fucker could pull something. "He's too fucking dangerous. What are you all waiting for?! Why are you giving him more time to do more harm?!"
"It isn't that simple, lad and you know this," Brynjolf gave him a surprisingly pleading look. "We discussed this. And I told you that none of us will do anything about the bounty."
"It is that fucking simple, Brynjolf!" Bishop gritted his teeth. The man's promise was no longer enough. Not with the threats of the Brotherhood looming over them, not with Mercer having enough money and means to do anything that he wanted. He wanted to explain this and tell Brynjolf about the Eyes, tell him what changed, but… that wasn't a good idea. If everyone in the room knew about the treasure, who knew what they would do? How many of them would try to get it for themselves? How many would stand by Mercer with the promise of unimaginable wealth? He had to go about this differently.
"You don't have to do anything about that fucking bounty. Others will," Bishop continued. "Why the fuck do you keep closing your eyes to his shit when you know full well what he does? You think your hands are fucking clean while he tortures people, sends them to Thorn or cuts out their fucking tongues for fun whenever someone pisses him off?" he vaguely gestured to the silent spy by his side. "Wake the fuck up already, Bryn! He just tried to kill us all yesterday. Why the fuck should we do anything but the same to him? Why the fuck should I wait to drive a blade in him after what he's already done?! He's already earned a slow and painful death for what he's done to Jules and he's earned even fucking worse for what he's done to Aeyrin!" He was getting pretty riled up himself as he spoke. He had been hesitant, true. Because of the Guild, because of what it would mean to have them after revenge if they killed Mercer. But the more he spoke and the more he looked at Mercer's smug face, especially that fucking self-pleased grin he wore when Bishop uttered Jules's and Aeyrin's names, the more he couldn't stop imagining that bastard finally dead. He deserved so much worse than what was without a doubt in store for him.
Karliah looked at Bishop with a hint of pride in her eyes after that speech. She worried about his previous hesitation, but he was clearly not afraid to step up and do what was necessary, no matter the potential dire consequences. She had been hesitant about him too. But maybe… she needed to think about this a bit more. But maybe her original instincts were right. He certainly had what it took to be chosen.
"We need to end this, Brynjolf," the Dunmer looked back at the Nord again with determination. "Before he can do more damage. We know that he plans on doing… much worse." It was vague enough. She couldn't reveal Mercer's true plans about severing his oath to Nocturnal. Not just yet and definitely not so publicly. It wouldn't help her current efforts. Surprise revelations were to be avoided at all costs. She needed to approach this delicately. She knew that.
"Oh am I?" Mercer let out a sudden laugh. "Why don't you tell them then? Tell them what horrible thing I'm going to do," he threw her a challenging look.
She couldn't. Not the truth and not even the version that her loyal allies knew. Not about the treasure. It could buy him his loyalties back instantly, even just the prospect of this. But luckily, she wasn't the only one who knew that this couldn't be revealed.
"Hasn't he fucking done enough already for you to get the picture?!" Bishop growled. "How long will you keep making excuses for him?"
Mercer chuckled at their evasive maneuver and the blond thief next to Brynjolf, Vex, interrupted the display with a derisive scoff.
"This is familiar," she shook her head at Bishop.
Of course it was familiar. He had already tried before to get them all to turn on Frey. It worked really poorly back then and it got Jules killed in the end. He would not allow anything like this ever again.
"You should have acted back then instead of cowering in front of him," he snarled back at Vex. "Are you seriously going to do the same shit this time too?!"
"Lad," Brynjolf made a soothing gesture at him with his hands. "We know you got the short end of the stick, but there's history here. We don't kill our brothers."
"No?!" Bishop scoffed. "Because he killed mine! And Jules was one of you too!" How could they still defend Mercer after what he had done to him? Everyone at the Guild loved Jules. And they did nothing when Mercer sent him to his death for something that they were all plotting. "And so was Thrynn," Bishop gritted his teeth. "So was Raven. Frey doesn't play by the same fucking rules as you do, Bryn! And you just ignore that because 'there's history'?"
"Thrynn?" Vex's expression faltered. "What happened to Thrynn?"
They didn't know.
"He was a traitor," Niruin, the elf by Mercer's side hissed at her. "He allied with them and he paid the price."
"And so would have Sapphire if we didn't protect her in time," Karliah scowled. "She was a 'traitor' too. As I'm sure all of you are now to Mercer. It is time for you to finally judge him for who he is. Time for you to rise up against your tormentor and leave your cage of fear."
"Ha!" Mercer scoffed at her. "How about we start judging you for who you are instead, whore?!"
"Spit your venom, Mercer," she snarled at him. "You have made up enough lies about me before. Who do you all think really killed Gallus? Who was the only one who gained from his death?"
There were a few scattered murmurs among the crowd before Mercer interrupted them with a hateful sneer.
"'Gained'?! You're the one who gained from his death, you zealous cunt! You gained yourself an eternal puppet, didn't you? Do you even have any idea who you follow, you shit-for-brains?! Do y-"
Suddenly Mercer's speech got stopped short by a sickening gurgle.
Nobody noticed a thing when it happened.
The next thing they knew, Mercer had a glinting silver object stuck in his throat and instead of more words, a stream of blood poured from his mouth. Karliah stood with her hand outstretched, making it obvious for a second who the source of the unexpected attack was.
They all stared in shock as the room was filled only with gurgles and spurting noises of Mercer's last choked breaths.
It had to be done. He couldn't have been allowed to speak a second longer. Every sick word out of his mouth was a threat to her. Whatever the consequences would be, Karliah would deal with them. But it was done.
His spirit was seconds away from the eternal service. He would go to the Empress's embrace soon.
She did it. She saved the soul that would escape.
Nocturnal will be pleased with her.
The sickening sounds coming out of Mercer stopped after a while and his body crumpled to the ground limply.
It was done. She could have sworn that she could feel the… fulfillment of his spirit traveling to the Sepulcher for his service.
But she couldn't bask in it for long. As they all stared in shock at Mercer's corpse, their eyes slowly moved towards her.
"I…" she let out a shocked gasp. She almost couldn't believe it herself. "I couldn't. He… he killed the man I loved. And he keeps trying to pin this on me! Spinning his tales! I couldn't…" she had to play it that way. It was partly true. But they couldn't know that there was something that Mercer would have revealed with his speech. Something that she needed to interrupt. Not yet.
There was silence again. They all stared at her. She met Brynjolf's eyes for a second. Accusing. Disappointed. He would understand eventually.
Bishop stared at Mercer's limp body in disbelief. Was he seriously dead? It was really over? All those fucking years, dealing with this bastard's schemes and revenge plots. Everything he had done to him, to Jules, to Aeyrin. Just… over. He had waited for this moment for so long. It should have brought him satisfaction. Peace. Freedom. It didn't feel like he thought it would. He just felt his body clench in unpleasant anticipation. Mercer was dead. How could that fucker still make him feel… threatened? Could everything he had been waiting for so long actually make things worse? What would the thieves do now? Were they sufficiently convinced that this was the right choice?
Aeyrin wasn't looking at the body on the ground anymore. She only saw it for a second. She couldn't bear to look at that harmless husk there any longer. Everyone else was looking at him, but not her. Her eyes scanned each and every one of the thieves in the room with an anxious gaze. Mercer was dead. Why did this feel… wrong somehow? She wasn't sure why, but she had a bad feeling about this. It was probably the fear of what was to come. The thieves had made it pretty clear – they didn't want him dead. Maybe they changed their minds during the exchanges. Maybe this would really all be over. Maybe the bounty would be history and all those horrible things that Mercer had done to make their lives miserable would be a thing of the past. Maybe. Maybe this sudden brash action would make everything worse. She had never seen Karliah… snap. Not like this. Her eagerness to come here had been uncharacteristic enough, but… this? It almost seemed like there was more to it. It almost seemed like… Aeyrin didn't even know. What was Mercer talking about the entire time – protecting the Guild from Karliah? It was about Gallus, wasn't it? He still tried to push that narrative onto everyone. It was understandable. She couldn't even imagine herself in Karliah's shoes. If Bishop was killed and someone tried to pin this on her… Gods, she couldn't even think about that for a second. She certainly wouldn't have had as much restraint in her as Karliah did. It was a wonder that Mercer hadn't been dead the second she saw him. Then why did this all still feel strangely wrong?
Aeyrin's hand clutched the hilt of the mace on her hip tensely and she still watched the rogues with trepidation. She wanted this uncertainty to stop. She wanted nothing more in that moment than to hide herself in Bishop's embrace and finally believe that they were free from this.
But she couldn't lose focus now.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a sudden swift movement. And before she could properly notice what was happening, it was too late. The Bosmer who had been standing by Mercer's side suddenly notched an arrow and shot it with surprising speed, straight at Karliah's head.
"TIID KLO!"
Once again, Aeyrin wasn't sure if it was instinct or her own volition. The arrow was already in the air, a hair's breadth from Karliah.
There was no more time to think. No more time to hope that this would all end peacefully. Aeyrin hurried forth and grabbed the arrow in the air, preventing it from killing the Dunmer. She snapped the arrow in half and threw it onto the ground. The time was still halted and everything was coated in eerie silence.
What now?
Should she attack? Whom would she attack? The elf that shot the arrow? Every one of those thieves? She didn't want to do that!
She unclasped her mace from her hip, but she still didn't know what to do. She kind of wished that she hadn't stopped the time. At least she wouldn't have the opportunity to think so much about all of this. But then again, Karliah would have been dead on the spot.
It wouldn't take long now. She just stood there, uncertain. She didn't know what to do.
It was best if she did nothing.
Even if it was just a few more seconds, it felt like an eternity.
Then, finally, the time resumed. First, there was a series of loud gasps. Nobody knew what happened. Some of the people around probably didn't even notice the elf's attack, but the man himself certainly didn't seem to appreciate what happened, even if he didn't exactly understand where his arrow went.
"Kill that bitch!" he yelled as he notched another arrow. Aeyrin wasn't sure if he was referring to her or Karliah, but none of that mattered. It was enough to bring the weight of Oblivion down on them all.
Chaos ensued instantly. Someone tackled the elf, stopping him from shooting another arrow, but another rogue instantly yanked the offender off the Bosmer. The mercenaries apparently decided that they shouldn't hesitate any longer and they all charged forward towards the thieves. But… not all of the thieves wanted to harm them, it seemed.
There was no time to make sense of things. Everyone started running around, rogues attacked rogues, while others defended themselves from the mercenaries. There were a few desperate cries echoing through the crowd – Brynjolf tried to call out to everyone to stop, but nobody listened. The hustle and cries of battle drowned him out effectively.
The battle spread all over the cistern and even when Bishop, Aeyrin, Raven and Karliah didn't actively try to attack anyone, it soon caught up with them as well.
One of the rogues charged at Aeyrin. He didn't even look like a rogue. He was clad in heavy ebony armor and wielding two menacing axes. She quickly intercepted his attack and clanked her mace against one of his axes, but the man was quick to chop with the other one. It hit her in the elbow, sending dull pain through her whole arm, but at least it didn't do any actual damage through her chain.
Before the man managed to attack again, a Redguard woman appeared at his side and firmly punched him in the face. Aeyrin had seen her before, though she didn't recall her name. What was happening? Everyone was attacking everyone.
"The fuck are you doing, Tonc?!" the armored man snarled at her as he licked the blood from his lip, left there after the punch.
"Don't call me that!" the Redguard woman yelled. "And are you insane?! You know that we lost three shipments to those beasts in the last month! Leave her the fuck alone!" The woman brandished her dagger at the man and he quickly heaved to chop at her with his axe. She wasn't that well protected in her leather armor! He would kill her!
But as the armored man's arm outstretched, he was grabbed by his elbow and yanked back harshly by another assailant.
"Get away from my girl, dick!" a Nord man yanked back the armored one so hard that he ended up stumbling and falling back on the ground. The Nord didn't hesitate and squatted down to slit the armored man's throat in one quick motion.
Aeyrin only stared at the scene, uncertain what to do. How was she supposed to fight when she didn't even know who she was fighting? And the thieves seemed just as confused. The battle was pure chaos all around.
Bishop was sword-locked with Cynric, trying to overpower the Breton. The man shot at him at first, but he got tackled by someone else. Bishop could barely even tell who. All he knew was that the Breton appeared at his side a few moments later with his lean sword brandished. He didn't even know what the fuck was happening anymore, he just tried to defend himself from whatever was coming his way.
Finally, Cynric's strength began to wane and Bishop quickly took the opportunity. He put all his strength into his grip and when the man staggered back, Bishop grabbed him by the hair with his free hand and yanked him to force him to the ground. Bishop had to balance himself not to fall along with him, but he managed to withstand the momentum. He didn't hesitate anymore when Cynric was on the ground. That asshole attacked him twice already! He thrusted his sword into the man's stomach, sending powerful lightning shocks through him. He was dead on the spot.
A loud 'thud' behind Bishop's back caught his attention a mere second later and he turned around sharply. A hooded man that he didn't recognize was lying on the ground with his dagger firmly gripped in hand. He definitely almost managed to attack Bishop from behind.
Bishop quickly looked to see who disposed of the man for his benefit until his eyes fell on Raven.
He was already crouching down to slit the attacker's throat. His eyes met Bishop's only briefly, but he gave him a surprisingly determined nod.
Did Raven just… save him? Bishop had almost expected him to let someone kill him without a second though. They were allies of sorts, sure, but he was certain that Raven wouldn't mind in the slightest if Bishop died in this battle.
Or maybe he wasn't giving him enough credit. After everything, Bishop would probably not exactly let him die either. Probably. No matter how much that asshole bugged him. He suddenly kind of understood what Brynjolf had been talking about. There was… history. It wasn't that easy to let something like this happen. Though Raven didn't do even a fraction of the shit that Mercer had.
There was no time to think about shit like this now though. The battle still wouldn't let up and Bishop was losing sight of what was happening. It was so hard to tell who was on whose side.
Karliah plunged her sword into another thief's gut swiftly, disposing of another assailant. She didn't know this one personally. She had information on all the members, but she couldn't recognize them.
It didn't matter. This all went poorly. She wanted to save the Guild, she wanted the network, the followers. They could have all been saved by her Mistress if only they let her.
But none of it mattered now.
There was one goal she had to accomplish at all costs.
Nothing else mattered now.
She had to get away with her life. And she had to get away with the Key.
If she lost that, she would risk Nocturnal's wrath again. Even though she managed to secure Mercer's service, none of that was enough to earn her place in the Sepulcher with her beloved Gallus for eternity.
She found herself with a rare opportunity. Everyone else was busy in battle and, for a change, none of the rogues were attacking her. She needed to be quick.
She swiftly made her way through the cistern, avoiding everyone she could. She managed to slit another thief's throat on the way, one that was currently aiming his bow right at Raven, but she didn't linger to make sure that her spy was well. She needed the Key. No matter what.
She finally reached the center of the room and she crouched down by Mercer's corpse as inconspicuously as she could.
Here he lay. The one that ruined her life. He looked almost peaceful, were it not for the blood covering half his face. But she couldn't waste time looking at him, as mesmerizing as it was to finally, after all these years, see him like this. Harmless. Serving.
Her hands went to his belt and she started to frantically rummage around the pouches and pockets.
At last!
She felt it. The familiar shape. She could feel the power emanating from it. Like the Evergloam itself. It felt like home. Like everything she hoped for. It felt like love.
She grabbed the Key and raised it in front of her eyes, staring at it for a second. The beautiful glowing teal runes on the pommel, the sleek metal of the end – gazing at Nocturnal's grace always filled her with such peace. Something she barely dared to hope for in the midst of this chaotic battle.
But suddenly she felt something pull on her hair. Someone.
A cold edge of a blade pressed against her throat.
"Is this what you were after?" She recognized Brynjolf's voice by her ear, but it wasn't the one she was used to. It was trembling and filled with hatred and anger. "Is this what my family is dying for?"
"No, Brynjolf," she whispered as she swallowed hard, her throat pressing uncomfortably against his blade. "This is about so much more. Please. Let me go."
He could slit her throat at any second. She betrayed him. She broke her promise. But she couldn't let that happen. She couldn't leave the Key here in the wrong hands. None but her knew its place.
"Brynjolf," her voice came out so quiet that she wasn't sure if he even heard her. "Please. Don't."
The sounds of battle raged all around her, but more and more, it felt like it was quieting down. She thought that her senses began to overwhelm her, that the despair of her situation, beneath Brynjolf's blade, made her deaf to her surroundings. But that wasn't the case. The sounds were dying down, one by one, and she dared to look around.
They were stopping. All of them. All of them left their assailants be and they stared at her. At her, while she knelt on the ground at Brynjolf's mercy.
Then it was finally all quiet. Every single one of them stopped and they waited. Those who would help her couldn't. Any wrong move could force the man behind her to act and kill her in a second. And those who would see her dead only prayed that their brother would finish the job.
"Please," she whispered again into the dead silence of the cistern. She didn't know what else to do. She had no plan. For once in her life, she didn't think anything through.
But she didn't anticipate Brynjolf's next move.
Instead of ending her life, Brynjolf let go of her hair. It was only a second of respite before something much worse happened.
She didn't see it coming and he took the Key from her all too easily. An involuntary gasp left her lips at the loss, but she didn't dare move in any way. The blade was still pressed tightly to her neck.
"Kill her!"
A voice echoed through the cistern, breaking the silence.
Several more joined in, encouraging Brynjolf to act. Karliah's eyes went briefly over the room to look for her allies. Raven was shaking his head at Brynjolf desperately with fear in his eyes and Bishop and Aeyrin only stared at the scene in startled silence.
Every time Brynjolf moved his hand subtly and the blade shifted a bit on her neck, she thought that it was it.
But he never did act.
"No."
The one word silenced everyone again.
"No more death," Brynjolf let out an exhausted sigh and the pressure eased. Soon, she was free of the blade and she frantically got up to her feet again. She thought that was it. She thought that she would die and that Nocturnal would send her straight to Evergloam, never to see Gallus again. She knew that her mistress would keep him serving in the Sepulcher for all eternity without ever releasing his soul to the realm as a punishment for losing the Key.
It almost came to pass.
The Key was still out of her reach. But there was a chance now.
The crowd began to protest quickly, but it didn't take too long.
"Enough!" This time, they listened to Brynjolf. This time, they went silent.
"Look around you!" Brynjolf threw his arms up in exasperation. "We have butchered our friends, our family. No more! It ends now!"
It almost looked like most of the thieves hung their heads in shame at his words.
"I know that this isn't how we wanted this," Brynjolf sighed. "I know that some of us didn't want this at all. But this is where we are now. And there is no reason for us to lose more than we already have."
"That bitch killed Mercer!" a voice from the crowd echoed through the cistern. "And she gets away with it?!"
"We all know damn well that Mercer did countless things to deserve that reaction," Brynjolf scoffed. "We all know what he was doing. Whether you agreed with his methods or not, you would have wanted him dead if you were on the receiving end too. But… he was one of us. And I am sorry to see him meet his end."
Dead silence reigned in the room. Nobody else protested.
Karliah briefly looked around again. This could… this could still work. She could still salvage whatever she could. Brynjolf was laying down his arms and so should she. She quickly turned her eyes towards one of Maven's mercenaries. There were only three of them alive now.
"Men, go back to lady Black-Briar. No more death," she nodded somberly.
The mercenaries all sheathed their weapons with palpable reluctance. They probably feared another attack, now that they weren't battle-ready, but they obeyed. They knew that they were overstaying their welcome now though. This was a Guild matter.
The men began marching back towards the passage leading back up into the cemetery and the clanking of their armored feet was only interrupted by Brynjolf's voice.
"Thank you for that," he nodded at Karliah briefly. "But that doesn't change what you've done. You acted against our agreement, lass. Your actions cost us many lives."
"Bryn… I… I can explain," she could still salvage this. She could tell him about the Eyes if it was for his ears only. They would be used for the good of the Guild now, of course. That was her plan all along. She wanted the Guild to prosper and Brynjolf would be on board with that idea. He only cared about the Guild. Personal greed never guided him. He would understand once he learned the truth she chose to tell. And maybe soon, the whole truth. "I couldn't let him live anymore. The circumstances changed. Larger things were at stake. His plans were… I can explain."
"It be better be one good fucking explanation, lass," Brynjolf growled at her. His next words were spoken much more quietly, for her ears only. "And don't think you're getting your hands on your prize before you make your case."
So be it.
The slaughter was… not how it was supposed to go.
But she could still salvage this, build up the network and prosper. And she would do everything to show Brynjolf that she could be entrusted with the Guild, that she would lead them to wealth and security. She would do everything to show him that she could be entrusted with the Key.
Anything was possible with luck on her side.