Legends of Skyrim: The Sapphire Smuggler (BOOK THREE)

VIII - The Pursuit

It was night when Ji'ssa and Karliah returned to Riften. As they pushed through the city gates, Ji'ssa froze, looking up at the roof of the Bee and Barb. Sapphire was watching them, a stern glare plastered on her face. "Looks like this isn't going to be so easy." Karliah sighed.
"Get to the Flagon," Ji'ssa ordered, "I'll handle this."
As she stepped forward, she heard something in the alley to their right. Karliah didn't dare move. "I don't think either of us will be doing any handling, Ji'ssa." the Dunmer drew her bow.
Cracking her knuckles, Ji'ssa turned back to Karliah, whose eyes widened. Turning, Ji'ssa's words became caught in her throat as a knife was pushed against it. She looked directly into Brynjolf's eyes; they were filled with rage. Delvin and Vex stood beside him, other Thieves circling the two, Sapphire in clear view. "You better have a damn good reason to be here with that murderer, Ji'ssa." Brynjolf threatened.
Ji'ssa didn't speak, or show any signs of fear. "Please, lower your weapons so we can speak," she put herself between Brynjolf and Ji'ssa, "I have proof that you've all been misled!"
After a moment's consideration, Brynjolf lowered his dagger. "No tricks, Karliah," he warned, "Or I'll cut you down where you stand. Now what's this so-called proof you speak of?"
"I have Gallus' journal," she took the book from Ji'ssa and handed it to Brynjolf, "I think you'll find its contents disturbing."
Brynjolf took a long time to read the translation, and with every word his heart sunk. "No, it..." he gasped, "It can't be. This can't be true. I've known Mercer too long..."
In a flash, he turned and took off back for the secret entrance to the Cistern. In confusion, the Guild followed him, one by one.

Brynjolf ran across the stone walkway before calling out, "Delvin! I need you to open the vault!"
"Wait just a blessed moment, Bryn," Delvin rushed to his side and held his shoulder, "What's in that book? What did it say?"
After catching his breath, Brynjolf explained, "It says Mercer's been stealing from our vault for years. Gallus was looking into it before he was murdered."
"How can Mercer open up a vault that needs two keys?" Delvin questioned, "It's impossible. Could he pick his way in?"
"That door has the best puzzle locks money can buy," Vex reminded him, "There's no way it can be picked open."
"He didn't need to pick the lock." all eyes turned to Karliah.
Everyone stared at her for a moment. "Delvin," Brynjolf held out his hand, "Your key."
With a grumble, Delvin slid his key into the second lock. It clicked, but the door still didn't budge. "The vault's still locked up tighter than a drum." Delvin commented.
With a deep breath, Brynjolf inserted and turned his key. Nothing could prepare the Guild for the sight they were about to behold. Brynjolf rushed in, his eyes practically bulging out of his head. "By the Eight!" he declared as Delvin, Vex, Karliah, and Ji'ssa rushed in, "It's gone, everything's gone!"
They all stood in a room of empty, open chests and barrels that once held rivers of gold and jewels. "That son of a bitch!" Vex spat, drawing her dagger, "I'll kill him!"
"Vex! Put it away... right now," Brynjolf ordered, "We can't afford to lose our heads... we need to calm down and focus."
With a mutter of swears, Vex obeyed. Suddenly, Ji'ssa remembered something that made her fur stand on end, and rushed away.

Brynjolf and Karliah followed, Sapphire remaining hidden as the three barged into Shadowfoot Sanctum. Ji'ssa grabbed her key and opened the secret room, and stopped in her tracks. Her chest was empty, the items she had collected for Delvin had been stolen, and even all of her Skooma supplies were gone. She fell to her knees, the stone beneath scraping them a little. "The time for grieving isn't now, cat," Brynjolf knelt beside her, "I have an important task for you. I need you to break into Mercer's home and search for anything that could tell us where he's gone."
"He has a house in Riften?" Ji'ssa raised an eyebrow.
"A gift from the Black-Briars after they kicked the previous family out..." Brynjolf explained, "Place called Riftweald Manor. He never stays there, just pays for the upkeep on it."
With a glare of her own, Ji'ssa turned away from her robbed room and promised, "I'll take care of it."
"Be careful, lass," Brynjolf warned her as she walked away, "This is the last place in Skyrim I'd ever want to send you. Just find a way in, get the information, and get out."
Nodding, Ji'ssa cracked her knuckles and left her home. In the Rataway tunnels, before reentering the Flagon, she ran into Sapphire, their faces inches apart. "Come to threaten me again?" Ji'ssa asked, a little hurt at her friend's attitude earlier.
With an annoyed expression, Sapphire took the surprised Khajiit by the shoulders and kissed her deeply before separating. She smirked as she watched her pupils expand until she could barely see the blue of her eyes. Holding her cheek, she whispered, "Just make sure you come back in one piece, okay?"
With a flustered nod, Ji'ssa walked past her, stumbling a little.