Brynjolf

Femke and I hid in the shadows close to Mercer's house, Riftweald Manor. She grumbled under her breath and readjusted her dress. I tried not to grin at her discomfort, but seeing her all flustered over something so simple brought a smile to my face. I knew if I was not wearing my hood, if Femke could see my grin, and if we were not trying to be quiet, she would be letting me have it.

With one low huff, Femke stopped messing with her tight skirts and grabbed her bow. She only had one arrow with her, but she had insisted that she would not miss. I watched her notch the arrow with practiced precision, pull the bowstring back to her cheek, then creep forward just enough to see the ramp's mechanism. Her shoulders loosened, she let out one breath, then released the string.

A hard thump and her wicked grin told me she had hit her target.

Quickly, she passed me her bow, then backed up a few steps. She stood up behind me, grinned, then walked out in plain sight of Vald.

I held my breath as the lout spoke up. His voice was angry. "Who are you?"

Femke gasped, as if surprised. I risked a glance around the corner, and I saw her place her hands on her hips. "Well, you see, I'm in a bit of a bind." She bit her lip, then began to twirl a loose lock of her hair around one finger. "I need someone who's strong and able to help. The guards won't listen to me. You're strong, aren't you? Can't you help?"

Behind the locked gate, Vald scratched the back of his neck. "I'm not supposed to leave my post."

"Oh, it's not far. For such a strong and... handsome man like you," (at this, she nearly cringed), "it won't take long. You can leave to help me, can't you?" Femke batted her eyelashes. "I'll make it worth your while."

Then Vald grinned, and Femke's shoulders tensed. She was trying not to shudder. I ground my teeth a little, having to remind myself it was all a game. A ruse.

"Well, lead the way, pretty girl." Vald unlocked the gate, and he left it wide open as he stepped up to Femke. He tried to put his arm over her shoulders, but she giggled and sidestepped him.

She tucked the loose strand of hair behind her ear and pointed to her right. "It's just this way."

With their backs to me, I crept through the open gate, looking over my shoulder for any signs of trouble. All clear. Now to get up the ramp.

I mounted the stairs, then padded up the rickety ramp leading to the second-story door. It was locked, but easy to pick open. Before I entered, I looked down for any sign of Vald and Femke. Unfortunately, I could not see them. I shook my head and pushed the door open.

She'll be fine. Vald can't hurt her.

It was dark inside, as well as dirty. Mercer never bothered with the place, and that was evident. Cobwebs and thick layers of dust covered the furniture and the corners of the room. The floors were unswept. I wondered just how often he even bothered to come in here.

Before I could wonder much more, a Redguard wearing mismatched fur armor came up the stairs, heading towards me. I pressed myself into the darkest corner I could find, forcing myself to breathe easily as the man came closer. I lowered my hand to the hilt of my sword. I never liked using it against others; violence was not my way. But if it came down to me or him, I was not going to let him kill me.

"Hey, what's going on up there?" called a reedy, heavily-accented voice below. It sounded like a Khajiit male.

The Redguard shrugged and headed back to the stairs. "Nothin'. Just thought I heard something."

With him out of the way, I sneaked towards the stairs and made sure to watch my steps on the creaky boards. Wherever that voice and come from, and wherever the Redguard had gone, was out of sight, making it easy for me to duck into the only set of doors that were shut.

I remembered this room from the few times Mercer had brought me into this place. Back when it was at least a little cleaner. He kept telling me it was nothing, but I had always been suspicious. Now standing in the room, I wondered why. There was nothing out of the ordinary. It was just another room.

I sighed, stretched to my full height, then began to search the room for anything useful. There was nothing. I suppressed a groan of frustration as I walked to the far side of the room, where a tall wooden cabinet sat. I opened it, finding it empty.

Now really miffed, I drove my fist into the back panel of the cabinet. I cursed under my breath as my knuckles stung, but my cursing was cut short as the panel popped open. I had to push it a little to get it fully open, then I found that the opening led to a set of stone stairs leading down. With a glance over my shoulder, I descended the stairs.

The stairs led into a well-lit but damp tunnel system. I did not bother to sneak about as I followed the tunnel. I found it doubtful that Mercer would waste good coin on hiring thugs to guard a tunnel system that was hidden under his house. I would bet he counted on no one ever finding it.

I dodged a tripwire that extended from one wall to the next, then kept going. Seemed that, while he did not count on anyone finding it, Mercer had taken the precautions of booby-trapping his little lair. He always was too cautious for his own good.

At the end of the tunnels, I found a room filled with loot. An entire bowl teeming with previous gems and gold. The Bust of the Gray Fox himself. A display case with an ice-blue glass sword inside. Not to mention the plans laid on a wooden table.

First, I swiped all the jewels from the bowl. Seeing as how she had done such a fabulous job at distracting Vald, I figured I could give Femke a few of these. I hoped she would like them. Next, I popped the display case open, taking the sword from inside. The blade was as cold as its color, and I read on the side of the case that it was called "Chillrend." Shor's beard.... I could not believe that Mercer possessed such a sword.

Well, he doesn't possess it anymore. Consider this part of the payment for your crimes against the Guild, Mercer.

I moved to the plans last. The heavy bust would just have to wait. I could always come back and get it. Looking over the plans, my eyes widened with every second. This could not be. It just couldn't.

"By the Eight..." I whispered when I realized that it was. "He's going after the Eyes."

I stuffed the plans into one of the bigger pockets on my cuirass, then took off. I had to get out of here and get this news to the rest of the Guild.

I turned around, Chillrend still in my hands, and found another open tunnel behind me. I took off in a dead sprint out of the treasure room I had found and headed for the Ratway Vaults. They connected to the Flagon, and I would be able to leave before anyone upstairs knew I was here.

-------

I burst into the Flagon, breathing hard. Vex, Del, and Femke all looked at me like I had lost my mind.

"What happened to you?" asked Femke. She took a few steps closer to me, laid a hand on my shoulder.

I then noticed the hem of her dress was ripped and dirty, and she had a few scratches on her forearms. I took her hand off my shoulder and gazed into her eyes. "What happened to you, lass?"

She shrugged. "Vald. When he figured out I was leading him away from his post, he got angry and tried to drag me back with him. I kicked him in the..." She shook her head, "... you know, that doesn't matter—and then I ran for the first tree I could find."

"You... you climbed a tree?"

She rolled her eyes. "My father lived in a tree before he came here. My ancestors climbed trees all the time. Why's it so surprising that I can climb trees?"

"Tell him about the roof-running," said Vex, a rare smile quirking on her lips.

Femke sighed. "Yes, I climbed a tree, leapt through the air—all while wearing this dress!—and ran across the roofs all the way back to the Cistern entrance."

I let out a low whistle and pressed my hand to her cheek. "You should've been an assassin, lass."

She shook her head. "Nah. I'm not a cold-blooded killer. Besides, thieving's way more fun." She pulled away from my touch, looked down at the necklaces covering her chest, then began to pull them off. "Anyway, can I change now? I'm tired, my skin is nasty, and I—"

"Hold up, lass. I found something at Mercer's house. I know where he's going."

"Where?" asked Delvin.

"He's going after the Eyes of the Falmer."

Everyone except Femke reacted in total shock. Del dropped his jaw and nearly fell on his backside in surprise. Vex's eyes widened, her fists tight and shaking.

"What're the Eyes of the Falmer?" asked Femke.

"They're massive gems that are worth more than any one thief can make in ten years. The Eyes were always Gallus's pet project."

"If Mercer gets away with the Eyes..." began Vex, her eyes burning like pits of Oblivion.

"... we'll never 'ear from him again," finished Del.

Femke's fists tightened around a silver necklace chain. "We can't let him get away."

"We're not going to, lass. The plans tell of the final resting place for the Eyes."

"Good. We should head there as soon as possible."

I gave her a small grin. "I think we can wait a little while. You need some rest. When was the last time you actually slept?"

"I can't remember, but I did sleep for almost a week before going to Markarth. That counts for something, right?"

I shook my head. "Come on. Get cleaned up, then sleep. I'll get the things we need for the journey."

She smiled a tired sort of smile. The poor lass. "Fair enough."

I took her hand in mine, leading her into the Cistern. Behind us, Del and Vex snickered like children, but I ignored them.

Once in the Cistern, I left Femke to get cleaned and changed, then I made my way to Mercer's desk. I laid the plans I had found on the desk and smoothed out the wrinkles and curls of the pages. I leaned over and began to study the plans. Not only did they give details on what he planned on doing, but they also mentioned just where the Eyes were. Unfortunately, they appeared to be under a Dwemer ruin. I cursed under my breath. Couldn't the Eyes have been in some nicer place? I would take anything over a Dwemer ruin.

"May I have a word, Brynjolf?"

I looked up, seeing Karliah standing in front of the desk. She had a sad sort of look on her face as she traced her hands over the old wood.

"Sure, but before you say anything, I want to apologize to you. For everything that the Guild has done to you since Gallus's death. We'd be happy to have you back, should you choose to forgive us."

"Thank you."

"What was it that you needed to ask?"

"It's about Mercer."

My hands clenched into tight fists.

"Because the Guild is leaderless right now, there's no one to decide Mercer Frey's fate. The task falls to you. I assume you'll think about it?"

I nodded. "Aye, but I don't like this. Deciding a man's fate just like that."

"He betrayed us. He killed Gallus, and he almost killed Femke. If anything, that should motivate you to choose."

"I said I don't like it. I didn't say I wouldn't do it. Don't worry, Karliah. I'll think it through."

"Good. When Femke gets done cleaning herself up, I need to—"

"Wait until the lass gets some rest. She needs it. When did she wake up after Mercer hurt her?"

"Last week."

"Has she slept since?"

She paused. "No, I don't think so." She then dropped her head and sighed. "She needs a break. We need her at her best." Then she looked up and smiled. "She's a good thief, and an even better woman. The Guild is lucky to have her."

"Aye." I'm lucky to have her, too. Lucky to be able to call her mine.

As if on cue, Femke came into the Cistern, wearing nothing but a pair of short black pants and a gray sleeveless tunic. The bandages over her wounded shoulder had been replaced, and new bandages across her chest peeked from underneath the collar of her tunic. She cast a look at me, flashed a smile, then headed for her bed.

"You know, Brynjolf," said Karliah when she caught me staring, "I never thought you'd get yourself roped down by anyone. Too much of a free spirit." She started to walk away, looking over her shoulder as she did so. "But I think it's safe to say that Femke has stolen your heart."

"She has. And I'm not ashamed to admit it."

A mischievous smirk played on the dark elf's lips. Then her head turned, and she walked out of the Cistern.

I cast a quick glance back to Femke before returning to the plans. I had to map out the fastest way to get there, and I also had to decide what was to become of a very old friend.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that Mercer was no longer my friend. He tried to drive a wedge between Femke and me, then he nearly killed her. He stole everything from the Guild, and he was now going after the biggest heist the Guild has ever dreamed of pulling. As if it wasn't bad enough that he betrayed our trust. He was just adding insult to our injuries. He didn't deserve mercy. He needed to die.

But that didn't make the decision weigh any less on my heart.