Femke

After traveling back to Riften, the moment I had dreaded the entire journey home came. The moment that I would have to tell Mercer about this Karliah, and her mission to destroy the Guild.

But before I could get to that, Brynjolf intercepted me in the Cistern.

"Well, lass," he said, leaning against the wall next to me, effectively blocking my way to Mercer. He had the biggest grin on his face. "I see you're back. And in one piece. Did you get hurt?"

My heart fluttered a little, and I cursed it for doing so. "No, actually. Surprising, isn't it?"

"Means you're getting better." His grin fell just a little. "Lass, do you have a second to talk?"

I crossed my arms. "Bryn, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have some pretty big news to give to Mercer. It can't wait."

The grin faded. "Ah. I see. You'd best get going, then."

He moved out of my way, and I jogged to Mercer's desk. He was not hunched over his papers, but instead paced back and forth with a small journal in his hands. When I got closer, he closed the journal and pocketed it.

He crossed his arms and gave me a scowl. "Did Gulum-Ei give up any information about our buyer?"

I took in a deep breath. Please don't bite my head off. "He said Goldenglow was purchased by a 'Karliah.'"

His expression fell blank. His eyes grew distant, and voice became quiet. "No. It... it can't be. I haven't heard that name in decades. This is grave news, indeed. She is someone I was hoping to never cross paths with again."

Okay, that went better than expected. I decided to push a little farther, get some information about Karliah out of Mercer. "Gulum-Ei also told me she was a murderer."

His face hardened, and he slammed a fist against his desk. "Karliah destroyed everything the Guild stood for. She murdered my predecessor in cold blood and betrayed the Guild. After we discovered what she'd done, we spent months trying to track her down, but she just vanished."

"Why has she returned?"

"Karliah and I were like partners. I went with her on every heist. We watched each other's backs. I know her techniques, her skills. If she kills me, there will be no one left that could possibly catch her." He began pacing again. "If only we knew where she was...."

"Gulum-Ei told me she said 'Where the end began.'"

Mercer stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows at me. "There's only one place that could be. The place where she murdered Gallus... a ruin called Snow Veil Sanctum. We have to go out there before she disappears again."

"Wait." I shook my head and quirked an eyebrow at him. "'We'?"

"Yes, I'm going with you, and together we're going to kill her. Prepare yourself and meet me at the ruins as soon as you can. We can't let her slip through our fingers."

"What about my payment for Solitude?"

"Oh." He waved his hand towards the door leading into the Flagon. "Go speak to Tonilia about a new armor piece. That should cover the job."

Without another word, he left me alone, arms behind his back and head down.

"Lass?" When Mercer left, Bryn padded closer to me. "What's up?"

I shook my head. "I don't know if I'm allowed to say."

I watched as he scowled. But why was he scowling? "Look, lass, you don't have to be nice about it. If you like Mercer, that's none of my business. Just don't lead me on, all right?"

What in Oblivion? "What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?" His gaze hardened. "You've become awfully chummy with the Guild Master lately. He's asked for you by name, given you special tasks. Just now, you rushed off to speak with him. You know what that looks like to me?"

"Bryn—"

"It's Brynjolf to you, Femke."

I clenched my teeth. "I have no interest in Mercer, you pig-headed fool! Our relationship is strictly professional! Who in the world gave you this twisted idea that Mercer and I were—"

"It's pretty clear to everyone, actually. Don't bother lying."

Huffing, I raised my hand and struck him across the cheek. A loud clap of skin striking skin cracked through the Cistern's still air. Brynjolf reeled backwards, hand to his wounded cheek. His expression was one of shock and sudden pain. Like he could not believe I just slapped him. In front of the everyone in the Cistern.

"I am not lying to you, Brynjolf." I rested my hands on my hips. "If you want to know the truth about me, you can ask Mercer. There is nothing—"

"Don't bother." He rubbed his cheek. "I don't care, anyway. It's none of my business." He pulled his hand away from his cheek, revealing a bright red mark across his stubbled jaw. It went well with his angry face. "Go do whatever you have to with Mercer. Don't let me stand in the way of your happiness."

"Bryn—"

It was too late. By the time I tried to say something, he was already stalking away from me.

"Brynjolf!"

With him out of sight, I let my head fall and a sigh escape from my lips. What had I done? Why was he acting so childish? Where had he gotten these ideas about... Mercer and me?

I shuddered. The very thought of being with Mercer made my skin crawl, and I had the sudden urge to jump into the lake outside Riften and drown myself. To clean these disgusting thoughts from my mind. There had to be some way to fix things between Bryn and me, and a way to make him see the truth.

Unfortunately, I did not have the time to look for the solution. I had a task at hand.

"Trouble in paradise?" asked a voice behind me. I turned to see Etienne, who was wearing an amused grin. "That was very entertaining."

"Stalker." I shook my head at him. "And, no, it's not 'trouble in paradise.' Just a misunderstanding."

"Then that must be a huge misunderstanding. I think everyone in Riften will know where we hide now. You two were loud enough to wake the dead."

"Shut up. It's none of your business, Rarnis. Why don't you go steal some old woman's purse?"

With a chuckle, he left. I left, too, to go in search of Tonilia. I wanted to go ahead and collect my reward. And I wanted to get out of the Cistern. Get away from Brynjolf.

I pursed my lips as I walked into the Flagon. I never thought I would say that to myself. I loved being around Bryn, aside from the way he made my heart pound and face redden. He was a kind person. He saved me from starvation and freezing to death, after all. He did not have to, and he did. But now all I wanted to do was slap him again and make him listen.

"Look, lass, you don't have to be nice about it. If you like Mercer, that's none of my business. Just don't lead me on, all right?"

Lead him on? Why would he say that? Nothing was making sense. My world had been turned on its head in just a span of a few minutes. Bryn was angry with me, Mercer was hiding something from me, and I had no clue where to begin.

"Mercer said to see you about a new piece of armor," I said to Tonilia when I found her sitting on an old crate in the wooden, dock-like dining and storage area attached to the Flagon.

"Right, your reward for a job well done." She nodded to a pile of armor on the box next to her. "You're allowed to trade in one piece for an improved one. Not only will it serve as better protection, but it'll enhance your skills better than the old piece. Just remember that once you trade, you can't trade back."

I looked my armor over, trying to decide which piece I could use the most. My cuirass was in good shape, since I had it replaced after my Goldenglow mission. My hood was fine, too. I had not taken any blows to the head since I joined the Guild.

So, boots or gloves. Which will it be?

"I'll take some new gloves."

Ton nodded and handed me the new set. She took my old ones when I changed them out.

"Thanks, Ton."

"Don't mention it."

Next, I wanted to talk to Delvin about the map I found at the EETC. He was not hard to track down, since he almost never left the Flagon.

"What's the deal, Femke?" he asked as I sat down across from him. He had a scowl on his face. A scowl of disapproval.

I raised my brows a little. Was he mad at me for something? And if so, what? "What do you mean?"

"I mean about you and Bryn."

I sighed. "Word really does travel fast."

"Why'd you go an' break his heart like that, eh?"

I scoffed. "'Break his heart'? Really, Delvin?"

"Girl, the boy has feelings for ya."

"Yeah, right." I rolled my eyes and stuck my hand into my satchel. "Del, I don't have time for—"

"Jus' hear me out, please."

I sighed and leaned back. "Fine. But make it quick."

"I know there's no way for you to tell if Bryn is different. You don't know him like I do. But he is. He's been this way ever since he came back an' told us about you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't be a fool. You know what I'm talking about. He gets all starry-eyed whenever you're around."

"I've never noticed."

"That's 'cause you're too busy tryin' t' play it cool around him. You have feelings for him, too."

"Maybe I did. But that was before he called me a liar and stormed off in a temper tantrum."

Delvin shook his head. "Am I the only one who can see sense? The only one that's still got some brains in my head?"

"Look, I would love to stay and chat with you all day, Del. But I need to get going. I only came by to offer you something." I pulled out the map and laid it in front of him. "I found this in the EETC warehouse while I was shadowing Gulum-Ei. You interested?"

Delvin shook his head and sighed. Obviously, he wanted to keep talking about Brynjolf and me. But I did not have time for this. "'Course I'm interested. Only a fool wouldn't be. I've been looking for this little beauty." He handed me a heavy coin purse. "If ya find anything else like this, I'll be happy t' take it off your 'ands."

I slipped the money into my satchel. "Thanks, Del. I'd better get going now. Mercer isn't going to like being kept waiting."

"Where ya off to?"

"I don't think it's my place to tell. Mercer seemed to be pretty locked-up about it." I gave the old man a smile and stood up. "We'll be fine."

"Yeah, sure," he said as he raised a bottle to his lips. "Be careful. And think about what I said, eh? When ya get back, give Bryn a second chance."

I sighed. He was not going to give up. "I'll think about it, Delvin."

"Good. Keep to the shadows, Femke."