Chapter twelve - Taking Baby Steps

Sundas, First Seed 26, 4E 0 - Morning

knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it?" I called behind me to the door, I had been sitting at my study, awaiting, but worried, at the news of the ambush.

Plenty of thoughts scrambled through my head, such as, what if Luciana and Amusei both get hurt? What if they don't come back? What if Theranis hadn't been killed?

I only hoped Theranis had gone to see Luciana because if he had gone to Dar Jee in Leyawiin first, that would have ruined our ambush plans. I figured Theranis would go to Bravil first since it is before Leyawiin, let's see what happens.

The door had cracked open, "Guildmaster, you have a couple visitors." Armand Christophe noted.

"Send them in." I said, I got up and walked to the center of the room.

Amusei and Luciana Galena had stepped in, I had been relieved to see both of them in perfect health. Both had approached me.

"Master." Amusei spoke first.

"Good to see you both are alive and well." I responded.

"Thank you, it was a close one. If Amusei hadn't showed up, I'd surely be dead by now." Luciana added in.

"Yes, good thing he arrived just in time."

"Master, right after the Dark Brotherhood initiates stepped in, and then myself, I had Luciana come with me then we ran straight to the stables and rode to where we would meet the initiates at the Ill Omen Inn. They had never showed up, we waited more than a few hours, enough time for them to walk from Bravil to the Inn. We think they are dead." Amusei said.

"Unfortunate news we will have to send to Arquen. What of Theranis?"

"We don't know. We assume maybe he's dead also, but we're not sure." He said.

"Well, we only have one more fence out that we've left out, Dar Jee. Let's hope Arquen would be willing to spare a few more initiates to guard Dar Jee, and hope he's not already dead."

"I hope not." Luciana said.

"Anyways, thank you Amusei for your mission success. If it weren't for you, Luciana here wouldn't be standing with us. You've done the guild a great favor." Amusei smiled. "But I will need you to quickly ride to Leyawiin, meet with Dar Jee, inform him of the recent news, then bring him back. If you find that he is already dead, just return here."

"Understood, master. I will get right to it. However, I must include, I got well-acquainted with the innkeeper at the Ill Omen Inn, Manheim Maulhand. He is a Nord, and he is a fence." He said.

This took me off guard. "What?"

"Manheim is a fence, but he is with no guild or faction. He will buy stolen items from anyone, I've sold a few to him. Perhaps, we should consider recruiting him as our fence since he has the experience of one."

"Perhaps we should, this sounds like a great idea. Good job Amusei." I said.

"Thank you, Master. I will get going now."

"Be careful." Luciana said.

"Thank you." Then Amusei left.

I turned my attention to Luciana. "For your safety, speak with S'Krivva, I want you to stay with her for awhile. Your life in Bravil is now at end, returning will only bring you danger. You understand? Your life starts here in the city."

"Yes, sir. I will speak with her right away. Thank you, master." She said.

"Not a problem." I responded then she walked out the door.

An hour later...

knock, knock, knock.

"Come in!" I called out.

Methredhel came inside, I had completely forgotten about her. "Ah, Methredhel. There you are."

"Master! Luciana Galena, I lost her in Bravil! She hadn't come out her home in the morning to go work at the Lonely Suitor Lodge, and I went to check in on her to find dead bodies on the floor!" She said.

"Oh, well. Luciana is here. I had Amusei go retrieve her after I had the Dark Brotherhood go and engage Theranis. Is he dead, by the way?" I asked.

"I didn't see his body in her house, just three corpses of 3 Dark Brotherhood initiates."

"So he's still alive then." I said.

"Yes." She agreed.

Sundas, First Seed 26, 4E 0 - Nightfall

I had considered Amusei's idea, we are losing fences and it's time we start getting them back, but we can only one small step at a time. I had taken a personal trip down the Green Road to the Inn of Ill Omen to meet with Manheim Maulhand.

It is just along the road from Faregyl Inn. I now stood outside the inn, I took off my gray cowl, but held it with me, and left my horse to wait in front.

I stepped inside, and first thing I seen was the ground floor contains the reception area consisting of a bar with a counter with Manheim standing behind it, and a dining room to the right. Walking forward, Manheim had been standing behind the counter. He looked at me, then gave a small smile as he wait for me to approach him.

I failed to notice also a woman, a Redguard, sitting on a chair in the dining room and drinking a tankard which must have contained mead or ale. She wore a quilted doublet, a pair of laced leather pants, and huntsman moccasins.

I noticed also Manheim had been wearing a blacksmith's apron, but had been an innkeeper, and nothing to be involved with the work of a blacksmith.

"Well I be a spotted snow bear, a customer!" Manheim said as I sat before the counter on the high chair.

"Hello, innkeeper. How are you doing today?" I responded.

"Doing well, business is slow, as always."

"Tell me about the Inn of Ill Omen." I said, trying to get acquainted with him.

"It's a horrible name for an inn, I know. But I just can't bring myself to change it. Besides, I like the sign." He responded.

"I hear you barter goods, even if they are stolen." I said to him.

He began to be a little hesitant, unsure of how to respond. "Yes. I do. What's it to you?"

I put on my gray cowl, then looked at him.

"By the nine, the Gray Fox! Why, sir, it is such an honor." He said.

"Oh, so you know of me." I said back.

"Well, of course! You're the most famous thief in all of Cyrodiil!"

"Thank you, I have heard of your bartering with buying stolen items, in my Thieves Guild, we call that a fence."

"Yes, sir, I had already known! I am such a fan for your works." He said.

"Thank you again. I've come here to give you an invitation, to become a fence within our Guild. You need not to be a thief, but our thieves will come to you to sell their goods. Besides, you look like you need this opportunity, you need more business."

"Yes I do, this is my opportunity in life that I have been waiting for! Thank you, sir. I will most humbly accept your invitation."

"Great! Very good. Welcome to the Thieves Guild. After I report that you are now an official fence for the Thieves Guild, your business will start rising." I told him.

"I cannot wait till I see that first customer walk in! Thank you, sir." He said.

"I will be sending you lockpicks soon, a thief's best tool, and something you can sell to the Guild. Good day now."

"Goodbye my friend! And remember, you're always welcome here!" He said.

I got up from the stool, turned around, an the Redguard woman stood behind me.

"It's good to see you, friend. This inn has been cheerless for far too long. I overheard your conversation. I would also like to be involved in your Guild, sir." She told me.

I considered for a moment. "Tell me about yourself."

"Me? My name is Minerva. I got no place else to be. I am a permanent resident here and I only talk with Manheim. Nothing else to tell other than just living off the rest of my days." She said.

I felt a little pity for her, but at the same time, opportunity. She looked trustworthy and loyal, so I considered her.

"Alright. Speak with Armand Christophe in the Waterfront District of the Imperial City. He will give you an admission test, and if you complete it, you will officially be a member of the Thieves Guild."

"That sounds wonderful, sir! Thank you! You have just changed my life around." She said.

"Don't forget about Manheim though, he won't be leaving."

She looked at him and back to me. "Yes, I can see that."

"Good day, Minerva."

"Good day to you, Gray Fox." She said, then I had left.

Once going outside, an Imperial Legion Forester had been walking up to the door. We both froze where we stood, unbelieving our eyes.

Perhaps I stayed a bit too long, he pulled out his sword and I dodged out his way and ran to my horse.

Once I got on, I rode away as the Imperial Legion got on his horse and followed. I rode back to the Imperial City, and lost him on the way there.