The Ebony Renegades BOOK ONE

chapter three

Myra glanced behind her and saw Sabrina catching up with her after finishing reminiscing with Mjoll as Shadow-step was talking with a man in the Square the two laughing with each other and playfully smacking each other. Making a mental note to ask about that later on their way to Rendezvous with the rest of the team, wasting no more time they opened the door to the pawned prawn Myra and Sabrina's mouths started to water at the smell of sweet rolls on the inside. " welcome to the pawned prawn, come on in take a look around" the shop owner says as Myra steps up to the counter " hello sir, I may have some items you may be interested in, maybe even a gift for you lovely wife over there" she says softly and looks over at the wife analyzing her complexion, and her apparel." I'm guessing, gold and sapphire would suit her beautifully. " she said as she smiled softly under the masque, " why yes, it just so happens those happen to be her favorite I just haven't had enough gold in my budget to get her such an expensive present for our anniversary." he said with a defeated look on his face. She gently pulled out the small pouch and pulled out a set of a gold sapphire necklace and a gold sapphire ring then placed them in front of him. "A gold sapphire necklace and a gold sapphire ring? I could never afford even one of those let alone a set of both" he spoke in a depressed tone Myra smiling softly underneath made him an excellent deal she bought all of the health, stamina, and Magicka potions and then sold him the bag of jewelry but kept the two out to the side and gently put them underneath his hand. Bersi's eyes widened realizing that she was giving those two extremely expensive objects to him for his wife " I can't thank you enough, from now on whenever you shop here you will have a twenty-five percent discount on anything you buy." he said with a smile. " nonsense kind sir, you have a business to run Plus it's obvious that you love your wife very much besides I come across these things on my travel is almost all the time so it's really no big deal now you give those anniversary gifts to your wife and we'll be out of your hair" Myra spoke in such a velvety tone that she truly lived up to her last name of 'Silver-tongue.' They stayed and watched as he gave the necklace and ring to his wife watching her face light up they exited to give those two some time to themselves as they walked back towards the city Square Shadow-step was still talking to the man. "Okay, we got about seventy-five percent of the selling done we just need to find some way to Pawn all of the 'flagged' goods," Myra said to Sabrina as they walked up to Shadow-step  "Myra, Sabrina I assume it was successful?" Shadow-step asked as the red-haired man looked at the two he was about the same height as Shadow step although a bit bulkier. " yep about seventy-five percent done we just need somewhere to pawn the less than legally obtained items" the red-haired man standing next to Shadow-step had a grin like that of a sly fox and spoke. " if it's a fence you need lass, I know two of the most skilled fences in the trade, and since you're clearly associated with my friend here that makes you friends of mine," the man spoke with a smile and offered a hand which Myra wasted no time returning shaking the man's hand. As he led them down the stairs passing the Honorhall orphanage and leading down into the Ratway of Riften upon entering the underground sewer system where they were out of earshot of any unwanted eavesdroppers. Once getting a breath of the rotten, damp, and moldy air that circulated within the Ratway the group proceeded to walk down the narrow corridor taking a right going straight, and crossing a thin bridge then Shadow-step pulling a lever making the bridge go up and stopping Anyone from following them than the red-haired nord leading into a big room with a table in the middle and down a narrow Corridor that appears to be another room with vegetation growing with light sneaking in from the top. As they took a left and headed straight towards the door that was a couple of stairs the man turned and spoke to them Shadow-step began to talk once again "Myra, Sabrina, this is my old friend Brynjolf, he is the right-hand man of the Thieves Guild if you have any jobs where you want someone taken care of without any bloodshed these are the people to talk to" Brynjolf gave a salty laugh as they entered the ragged flagon the underground tavern where the base of operations of the Thieves Guild was. Upon seeing Shadow step many of the members of the Thieves Guild raised their flagons welcoming back their long-time colleague. A bald Breton man wearing the Thieves Guild Armor stood along with an imperial woman in her late twenties with stark white hair who also rose from leaning against the wall and walked towards them. Shadow-step and the two stood there in a tense silence the silent vibe between the three was so dense you could cut it with a knife. the three suddenly burst into laughter before the bald man spoke. " if it isn't the savior of the Thieves Guild, you sure are a sight for these sore old eyes" Shadow-step chuckled a little bit as the Redguard lookout and fence of the Thieves Guild walked over to greet him as well. Then the old man looked at the two girls that were with him " So tell me, are the three of you in a love triangle or something?" He teased with an evil grin while both Sabrina and Myra were blushing messes "It's good to see you too Delvin, I see you're still as spry as ever. And judging by the ring on both your and Vex's fingers guessing you two are an item now?" Shadow-step asked eyeing the two with a feral toothy smirk. "No, we're just sporting them to make you jealous dumbass" Vex spoke with a cocky sideways smirk which Delvin only added to by chuckling only to be cut off by the sound of a loud metallic snap and Brynjolf backing up away from Shadow-step holding his hand. "OW THAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Giving an evil grin shadow-step reached into his Nightingale cloak pocket and pulled out a full-size rat trap which upon seeing Vex started laughing hysterically as she herself had done that to him when he was training with Viper the fleet to be a better pickpocket and he being the Young novice Thief that he was back then he made the admittedly bold and dumb mistake of trying to pickpocket her. his fingers were bruised for about a week after that. " heh I can see you've certainly had lots of time to practice" Vex spoke with a smug grin. " well I learned that little jest from the best." Brynjolf while rubbing his hand gestures to the Redguard woman over " Tonillia, our friends here have some 'accidental' loot she would like to be rid of, would you be so kind as to help her out please?" Brynjolf asks the fence, pawnbroker, and look out of the group who nods and takes Myra over as they barter. " My my what did you do rob a treasury?" Toillia jokes as she looks through everything " How about 4890 for the whole set?" Myra asked as the entire set together was probably 6 digits but she had little to no room left in the coin pouch she had. " deal" Toniila said as she took the bag of stolen goods and handed over the coin discussed. Sabrina was at the bar of the flagon getting a drink while Shadow-step talked with Brynjolf, Delven, and Vex. After a few minutes, Brynjolf pulls Shadow-step to the side to discuss a more solemn subject. " I heard about Karliyah, how are you holding up lad?" Brynjolf asked solemnly regarding the recent passing of their fellow nightingale. " I'm, doing about as well as I can, but at least she and Gallus are finally reunited. " Shadow-step replies. Walking over to the corner of the flagon out of earshot, Brynjolf spoke softly, "Lad when I went to Nightengale hall to pay my respects. I found this on the table with a letter. It's from Karliyah and it's addressed to you." Brynjolf said as he handed over the letter. Taking the letter and unfolding it Shadow-step began reading the letter from his Fallen comrade.

Dear Shadow-step
If you are reading this then that means I am one with the evergloam whether my fate was by accident or fate I want you to know that I have no regrets, I want you to know that you and Brynjolf gave me a second chance. And that I will forever be grateful. Within my chest in Nightingale Hall is all of the treasure I have accumulated in my years of being a thief I would like you as my final wish to distribute that evenly Among The Guild. I hope to see you again one day when our paths cross once again in the evergloam.

Walk With the Shadows Nightingale
-Karliyah

Shadow-step leaned up against the wall holding the letter close to him and clenching The Amulet close to his chest as a few stray tears ran down his whiskers feeling the comforting hand of Brynjolf on his shoulder he gently took the hand of Shadow-step took Karliyah's amulet and placing it around shadow-step's neck. " Buck up lad, I'm sure she wouldn't want you to break down like this. Instead, she would want you to carry on not just for her but for yourself" Brynjolf said in a soft tone giving his old friend's shoulder a light squeeze as a show of support and comfort. " so lad, what did the letter say?" shadow-step's breath hitched slightly as he composed himself and told him. " in her chest in nightingale hall she wants us to bring it here and distribute the loot evenly among everyone." Brynjolf nodded in understanding " Would you like me to do it, lad? I'm sure she'd understand if you're too emotional to do it" Brynjolf asked as he patted his back. " as the remaining members of Nightengale, I think it would be best if we did it together, keep the unity intact" Brynjolf nodded and the two left the ragged flagon after he told Myra and Sabrina he'd be back shortly. going through the cistern then out the secret entrance in the graveyard then leaving through the back gate and heading southeast towards the Nightengale hall. coming up to the large boulder with the Nightengale emblem carved into the solid stone. turning to the left through the hidden cave entrance hidden by tall grass making it look like an empty rocky wall. following the narrow rocky path inside the cave opening into a large room with a waterfall and across the bridge to the right of the room was a small living area with a few beds, a long wooden table, a bed that had a black leather chest harness with a dagger sheath on the strap that went over the shoulder. next to it was a customized quiver with her special fire, ice, and lightning arrows along with the instructions on how to supercharge them along with about fifty of each of the elemental arrows. shadow-step walks over and gently picks the harness up. immediately recognizing it as Karliyah's harness rig. As he had it lifted up a trio of daggers dropped from the unrolled harness " Call me crazy, but I think she intended that for you lad." Brynjolf said softly as Shadow-step pulled it close to his chest and put it on. the dark silvery-black matches perfectly with the Nightengale armor he wore as if it was meant to be matched with it. a dagger holster on the shoulder strap and the sheaths for the other to set to the lower back vertically for a reverse grip. looking down and examining the daggers they were a pair of ebony daggers enchanted with shock/drain stamina, and shock/ drain health. "nightingale's talons" as Karliyah called the twins. and the dagger for the shoulder was a dwarven dagger enchanted with a paralysis/freeze enchantment 'Nocturnal's embrace' she called this one. Sheathing the daggers into their respective scabbards and attaching the quiver looking at Brynjolf with the same determined look in his eyes he had when he first joined the guild. "Ah, there he is. That's the master thief we know and love. Now, cmon let's fulfill her wish together." Brynjolf said as he picked up one side of the chest Shadow-step grabbed the other side as the two walked the chest out which weighs about one hundred pounds. They walk it up to the back gate into Riften before Shadow-step puts his end down then he lowers his Nightengale hood and puts on the grey cowl of nocturnal to see if anybody is nearby or watching. after a few moments and seeing no one was around he takes the cowl back off and brings his Nightingale hood back up then carries it down through the secret entrance and into the cistern placing it down for distribution. along with socializing with the other thieves conversing with Viper the fleet, rune and even Sapphire who despite her usual standoff demeanor walked up to Shadow-step and gave him a friendly squeeze. the four of them talked for a few minutes laughing among themselves with Viper even going as far as to compliment Shadow-step regarding the infamous rat trap trick that Vex previously used on him once upon a time. within a half an hour the loot was evenly distributed among the members of The Guild as Karliyah had wished. Before he left with Myra and Sabrina Shadow-step went into the ragged flagon cistern and kneeled at the base of the Statue of Nocturnal to pay his respects before reuniting with Myra, and Sabrina taking the secret entrance in the back of the graveyard the trio left Riften and were on their way to meet up with the rest of the crew at the Dwemer ruins of Ralbathar making their way down the back path going around and riding past the Riften Stables heading North-Northwest as Shadow-step clutched the Dwarven dagger on his shoulder remembering that when they rendezvous with the group he needs to talk to Ebon-shi about something.