Shadows Preserve Us

Chapter 3: Loud and Clear

Mercer turns and walks away after that, putting a very definite end to the conversation. "Well, isn't he cheery?" I hear a chuckle from behind me. "Welcome to the family lass! Don't mind Mercer, he is always like that. Now as much as I would love to sit and chat, we have work to do." He is right, as annoyed as Mercer made me, I still need to do my job. At least to help out Brynjolf. I don't know why I want to help him so much, but I am determined to help him as much as possible. It sounds like taking care of this job would be a big help. I turn to face Brynjolf, "Alright, give me the details on this job." Brynjolf quickly becomes all business again, and fills me in on Aringoth, Maven, and her relationship with the guild and Goldenglow. "Remember lass, be sure to only burn 3 hives. Any more and Maven will have all our heads. Before you leave, make sure to clear out his safe in the basement. Aringoth should have a key on him, but I doubt you would have a problem picking the lock on the safe. Talk to Vex before you go to see what she can tell you. Be careful on that island lass, those mercenaries don't take prisoners. I don't want you to come back as hurt as Vex was or worse." I nod my head and walk back towards the flagon to talk to Tonilia for armor, and Vex for tips. Before I get that far, I am stopped by the older breton man. He introduces himself as Delvin and explains that he is pretty sure we are cursed and that is why the guild is in a bad way. After finishing talking with him, I get to Tonilia and after she gives some speech about how she is the fence and she essentially charges for everything, she gives me my armor and I leave her. Finally, I face Vex and she goes on and on about how she is the best infiltrator in the guild. Finally I get her to tell me about the sewer drain on the island, that should let me onto the island pretty easily. I leave the guild and the city walls. I turn and look behind the stable and see the island in question. There is no avoiding the water now, it is the only way to sneak up on the island. I dive into the lake and begin swimming.

(Time skip)

I slowly pull myself out of the lake and step into the sewer drain before anyone can notice me. I work my way through the sewer until I find the exit Vex had told me about. First, I cast an invisibility spell on myself. Thankfully, I am an expert illusion mage. I have always loved illusion magic since my parents showed me my first illusion spell, this invisibility spell. I slowly creep towards the bee hives. I may have come out of the sewer near the house, but if I set fire to the hives first, then most of the mercenaries will probably go to contain the fire and the house should be mostly empty. Then I would be able to get to Aringoth easier. I may be able to pick the lock on the safe, but I would rather not risk my lockpick supply, when a key is readily available. So once I arrive at the hives, I step behind them and cast the basic flames spell at three of them. The three quickly catch on fire, and also catch the attention of the mercenaries who quickly sound the alarm. I quickly recast the invisibility spell and step away from the hives as the mercenaries run towards the fire. I look towards the house and see my plan working, as mercenaries pour out of the house. As the chaos ensues, I go into the house and begin looking for Aringoth. I reach the second floor and find the only room with a double door entrance. Good bet he is in there. I pick the easy lock and walk into the room, to see a wood elf cowering in the corner. I go to him and try to talk him into giving me the key. Since he is already scared, I try to intimidate him and it worked! He handed me the key, albeit mumbling that the buyer will kill him when they find out he gave in. Before I left, I grabbed the small queen bee statue on the bed side table. I leave the snivelling man and go back downstairs just to come face to face with a mercenary. His face twists into a sickening grin as he stabs me in the side with his dagger. Pain explodes in my side as I try to back away from him. I quickly call on my magic and cast pacify. He quickly stops attacking and walks away like I was meant to be there. I need to hurry, that spell won't last long. Unfortunately, between the pacify spell and almost constant use of the invisibility spell, I have run out of magicka for the time being. I don't have any health potions either. I tie some linens I see on a shelf around my stomach to try and stop the bleeding. I look at the wound while doing this. Not life threatening. Just hurts like hell. I tie off the linens and keep going into the basement. I sneak past all the guards down here, they weren't very attentive. I get to the safe as I hear people start yelling. I quickly clean out the safe and pocket the coin purses I see. The yelling gets closer, and I turn and leave quickly. I pop out of the sewer again, and quickly jump back into the lake. The water stings in the stab wound, even after I get out of the lake. I walk back to the guild quickly, now holding my side as it was really hurting. I probably didn't notice how bad it hurt while I was on the island because of the adrenaline. I arrive back in the cistern through the very noisy graveyard entrance. I spot Brynjolf and give him what I found. "Aringoth sold Goldenglow?! What is that idiot thinking? He has no extent of Maven's fury when she has been cut out of a deal, though I am sure he will find out. Any ideas on what this odd little symbol means?" My side starts to ache again and I respond "No, never seen it before." "Blast. I will speak with my contacts see if they know anything... Are you ok lass?" I grimace as my side radiates pain when he says that, as though being reminded that I am hurt. I raise the lower hem of my armor, revealing the now bloody linens. Brynjolf immediately becomes worried, asking if I need a healer, health potion, or anything else that may help. I chuckle a little, as I feel my magicka finally recharge enough to heal the wound. I place my hand on the wound and allow my magic to flow into me. My hand glows gold for a minute and when I pull away, I untie the linens to reveal that I am fully healed. Brynjolf is staring at my side and I begin to fully laugh. "Are you really that surprised I know restoration magic?" Brynjolf stops staring and quickly responds, "It's not that lass, I just thought that if you did know how you would have healed yourself before you got here." "Well I would have, but I used most of my magicka on the island. Casting a near constant invisibility spell drains a person's magic pretty quickly." He grins at that, "You know illusion magic too? You are just full of surprises. Speaking of surprises, you are off to go talk to Maven. She requested you by name." What?!