A Daedra's Minion

Chapter 4

Riften's air held a warmth that thawed the bones of the travelling Daedra Minions. Shadowmere stood in its stall at the stable eating hay and resting in the shade. Clavicus had left Barbas in another stall close by before following the Nord and Imperial into the city. Within the city's walls Sylvi and Celestra walked around looking from Brynjolf. It was still early and stalls were being set up which meant he would be out and about at any time. As the two females stood by the railings overlooking the river a few of the local orphans came up and started talking to them. Celestra had been the one that killed Grelod, much to the children's glee. Since Grelod's passing a new woman had been put in charge of the orphanage, and the children seemed to be faring better. Sylvi smiled as she picked up one of the children who chattered away happily. Clavicus stood a short distance away watching with a mix of boredom and confusion. Boredom from the lack of activity in the city's center and confusion at how warmly the two women greeted the orphans.

Sylvi glanced over as Brynjolf walked over, a look of pleasant surprise on his face. He greeted both of the women pleasantly as the children all rushed off. "So, what brings you back to our lovely little hole?"

Sylvi looked around before motioning for Brynjolf to follow her and Celestra to a more isolated area. One the coast was clear she furrowed her brows, "The Twilight Sepulcher was attacked by Vigilants of Stendarr."

"Is Karliah okay?" Brynjolf asked, the Ebonmere and his oath to Nocturnal absent from his mind and concern for Karliah filled it.

"She is safe for the moment." Sylvi said, "I convinced her to let you and the others stay with her. I don't want her left alone, and she knows she cannot defend the Sepulcher on her own now."

Brynjolf lowered his voice, "What is going on?"

Sylvi looked at Celestra before giving the thief a serious look, "We think the Vigilants are trying to declare war on the Daedric Princes."

"That's insane." Brynjolf shook his head, "Sure they hate Daedra, but to start a war..."

"Wars have been started in the past over beliefs and hatred." Sylvi said, "I need not remind you of the civil war that is just now starting to settle."

Brynjolf nodded before sighing, "If it is as bad as you say it is, I will talk to some of the others."

"They don't need to become Nightingales. That doesn't matter anymore." Sylvi said, "Nocturnal would have said something back at the Sepulcher, or she would have given a sign that she did not approve by now if it was going to be a problem." Sylvi said, "Karliah needs help. That is what matters at the moment."

Brynjolf nodded quickly before quickly walking to the Thieves Guild's secret entrance. Sylvi took a breath before looking at Celestra. Both of them were concerned for what the future held but they both wanted to know how the Vigilants found the Twilight Sepulcher. No one outside of the Nightingales should have known about its location or what lay within its confines. They had passed ideas back and forth during the trip to Riften, but what was still a complete mystery was 'who'. Who gave the Vigilants of Stendarr the information and why? Who could gain from helping them?

Sylvi paused as someone bumped into her before continuing along their way. She caught a flicker of gold as the thief pocketed a handful of coins. She shouted as she chased after him, "Thief! Give that back!"

There was no need to do anything rash. The guards would grab the thief and she would have her gold back. The thief was far to amateur for her to bother teaching him a lesson herself, and she didn't want to risk jail time at the moment. She smirked as the guards began to cut off the ways the thief could escape but the smirk faded into a horrified gape as Clavicus stepped in front of the thief and grabbed the poor Argonian by the throat. The Argonian thrashed and struggled as he was lifted into the air, the grip around his throat tightening.