Walk by the Shadows

XIV. Discovery

Rune had boasted of his royal lineage to each and every member of the Guild. If he could've found a skeever to listen, Macayla was positive he would've told it too. At first, the news astonished everyone, but after the third, fourth, or fifth mention, they were ready to strangle him.

Macayla decided to go to the marketplace to buy an apple from Marise Aravel before she went down to the Flagon to sell her loot to Tonilia. She felt a swelling of pride in seeing the straightened shoulders and hope in the townspeople's eyes. She had helped to be a part of that change. She had only lived in Riften for about a month and a half, but she considered it her home now. If she belonged anywhere, it was here.

She ate her apple as she watched the hustle and bustle of the marketplace when she felt someone watching her. The majority of Riften knew who and what she was, so these weren't suspicious eyes: they were threatening as they recognized her.

Edvar. The blood washed out of her face and she felt all the strength leave her. He had found her. Her bliss at being dead and ignored was gone.

She had to keep it together and think; she couldn't go running for the Cistern like a spooked deer. She had the responsibility of protecting the Guild. So she turned north to head down to the lower level of Riften, scanning the multitude of faces for any she recognized or that stood out.

A light-haired man was focused on her, but as soon as he saw her turn, he immediately turned his eyes down to pretend to check out the vendor's merchandise. But even with him being caught, Macayla still felt the pressure of more eyes—there was one more.

Now with a plan, Macayla went headlong into the throng of the masses; she hoped she could lose them in the confusion. She even drew herself in making herself smaller than the people corralling around her. For a few moments, it worked; she didn't feel their gazes anymore. But once she exited, she was seen, and she felt them shadowing her.

No matter; the backup plan was guaranteed to work. She headed down the creaking wooden steps to the lower level of the city. Macayla was in no hurry to escape those following her as she crossed the makeshift bridge over the canal, only pieces of wood tied together. The entrance to the Ratway sat to her left, but she headed to the right. The wooden steps creaked under their boots behind her.

Once she rounded the corner that hid her from sight, Macayla jumped into action. She held the apple in her mouth as she jumped at the wall to her left and used it to propel upwards to grab onto one of the rafters overhead. She swung her body for momentum until her feet caught another beam; she pulled herself up, completely hidden among the rafters. She watched for the men to pass underneath her.

The men ground to a halt right below her. "What the— Where'd she go?"

"Maybe there's a hidden door..." The speaker felt of the wall she kicked off of for grooves of a door. The other one leaned over the canal to check for disturbances in the water. She desperately prayed they wouldn't look up.

"There's a sign; check that store, I'll go back up. She couldn't have gotten far."

They ran off: Elgrim's Elixirs' door opened as one checked the alchemist's shop and the other's feet pounding the other makeshift bridge to head up top.

She didn't waste any time swinging out of her hiding spot and dropping down—her arms were about to give out on her. Macayla turned back around and hurried for the Ratway entrance. She carefully opened the iron gate so it wouldn't squeak, closed it behind her, then did the same for the wooden door.

***

After carefully sneaking through the Ratway again—having to kill the skeever replacements—Macayla practically ran into The Ragged Flagon. Her urgency alarmed Dirge before she could even reach him; he eyed the door behind her.