The Last Dragonborn

Chapter 14

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When I woke there was a bowl of water and a half a loaf of bread waiting for me on my nightstand. I sat up and scrubbed a hand over my face. It was always difficult to tell the time of day down in the cistern, but I could hear enough people moving around to know it was time I was up.

It was nice to be home. I was assuming I had Bryn to thank for my breakfast. I splashed the water on my face and chewed on the bread as I pulled on my armor.

I stepped out from behind my privacy screen and spotted Brynjolf sitting at my desk. Although if I was honest, he spent a considerable more time at the desk managing the guild than I had of late. I chewed on the bread as I crossed the cistern. Several members of the guild nodded respectfully to me, while others waved and smiled, pleased to see me.

If I was honest the guild was one of the few places I had ever felt like I was welcome, like I was home. I certainly had never had one growing up. I dropped down into the seat across from my desk and put my feet up, crossing my ankles.

"You feeling well rested, Lass?" Brynjolf teased.

I arched a brow questioningly. "Did I sleep a long time?" I asked.

Brynjolf snorted. "You could say that. Almost slept the day around. It's almost dusk."

I sat up with a start. I never slept that long. I couldn't even remember waking from the nightmares that normally troubled my sleep. "I didn't-" I started to say and shook my head.

"Been spending too much time surrounded by enemies," Brynjolf pointed out grimly. "Not enough time around people you trust."

I nodded in agreement. He was right of course. While I wouldn't have said I was uncomfortable in Windhelm, I had also been injured more often than not. And the time on the road since hadn't lent itself to many hours of restful sleep when I didn't have someone to share the watch.

I scrubbed a hand over my face, but made it clear I didn't want to continue with this conversation. "Are you ready to do this Bryn?" I asked.

"Oh Lass," he said, flashing me a devastating smile. "I was born ready."

Byrnjolf and I had been friends for longer than either of us cared to remember, and there were times in the past, when I had considered pursuing something more with him. We had danced around each other and flirted for years. Byrnjolf had a way of using his good looks and charm to his advantage and when he smiled he could make a girl think she was the center of his world. While usually his charming smile could make my stomach flip flop, for some reason I was unmoved by it this time.

Instead, I caught my mind wandering to a certain blonde Jarl. I jerked, unwilling to allow myself to think of Ulfric like that. My gaze landed back on Brynjolf who was watching me with shrewd eyes. I had never pursued anything with Brynjolf. One, because I valued him too much as a friend and Two, because there was a part of me that always knew he would be nothing but trouble. Ulfric however, was a whole lot more trouble than Brynjolf could ever dream of being.

I stood, stretching my muscles. "Lead the way," I prompted, stamping down any thoughts that weren't related to the mission. I was the Dragonborn first, I always would be.

"He's down in the Ratway Warrens," Brynjolf told me. "Been paying us a pretty penny for protection and our silence."

"That was foolish of him," I said with a frown.

Brynjolf shrugged. "Perhaps. Although I wouldn't have given up his location for anyone but you, Lass" he said honestly. "He's been a client for a long time. Easy money to keep my mouth shut and make sure some food gets delivered."