A Dragonborn by any other name

Shakedowns and Pockets Picked

A ring a ring of rosies,

A pocket full of posies,

A tissue, a tissue,

They all fall down.

Gwen sighed as she sat up, the old tune running through her head. It had been over a century since she played that game last, but she still remembered it as clear as if it was yesterday. They all fell down in the end, whether they served Talos, Sithis or even Nocturnal. Eventually they all fell down. She clambered out of bed and pulled on her clothes, picking up her pack. She sight wistfully, wishing she still had her armour, it had been soft, not heavy like so much other amour in this land, but still strong. But it was no use wishing for what she didn't have. She needed some armour, and for that she needed gold, and to obtain that she would need to find a fence, something difficult to do when you weren't part of the guild. So that was another thing on her list. She really should visit the Jarl, give him the news… but no. The dragons could wait. Knowing her luck he would send her on some quest, to kill something or find something, which she would need to find armour for. So she had to go to Riften, and join the Skyrim guild.

Not two hours later, her bundle lightened significantly, having sold all the things that either weren't stolen, or weren't traceable as stolen, Gwen stole out of Whiterun, as the sun was still rising over the walls, and trotted down the hill to the carriage, hoping the driver was out of bed and there. Nocturnal was favouring her it seemed, he was simply sitting at the carriage, looking around. "How much for a ride?" she asked, eyes fluttering.

"Depends. Where do you want to go?" It seemed her flattery wouldn't get her anywhere, so she lost the act, standing tall and proud.

"Riften."

"That's a rough city for a girl like yerself. But if ye insist. 20 gold."

She drew her breath in sharply. That was rather expensive, and she could take the road, but then it would take longer, and she would have to deal with bandits, and while she could use the gold, the inconvenience would be a pain. "Fine." She handed over the money and clambered into the cart, settling in for a bumpy ride.

The wagon was not bothered by any bandits as they plodded along the road, leading Gwen to believe the driver must have an arrangement with them, especially when they were waved past a fort. But that suited her just fine, giving her a little information on the man. She spent her time looking around, mentally noting any landmarks she would visit when she had time and armour. Finally they arrived, and she leapt down, thanking the driver, and walking towards the gate, until the guard stepped in front of her.

"Halt. Before entering the city you need to pay the visitor's tax." Gwen simply laughed, seeing the shakedown easily. They could at least have been a little more creative about it.

"Nice try, but I'm not going to pay a shakedown." The guard cringed.

"Fine. But keep it quiet. Let me unlock the gate." He did so and she entered the city, nose wrinkling almost immediately. Some burly big man tried to speak to her, intimidate her, but she brushed him off. She followed the path across the bridge, hearing the sounds of a market, and stood, leaning against the wall of an inn as she surveyed the scene. The merchants seemed legitimate, instead of one. She simply shook her head at his antics. Falmer-blood elixir? Ridiculous. She bet it was tomato juice, or something similarly ineffective.

It was time to make her move, while he was distracted, and while there were no guards around. She may not be good at subterfuge in killing, but she was a good thief. She dropped into a crouch, sidling up behind him and gently moving her hand into his pocket, closing around the first things she found. A key. Good. She would bet it wouldn't open anything, but it was a good thing to make a point with. She drew it out, and stepped back, going around the well in the centre to spin the large decorative loop around her finger, making sure to let it catch the light. He smiled.

"Can I help ye lass?" She stretched lazily, keeping hold of the key.

"Fine state your guild must be in, if it can't even keep watch of it's own pockets." Her words didn't have much of a visible effect on him, not to the untrained eye, but hers took in the tightening at the corners of his eyes, the glint that ran though them, the sour note in his laugh.

"You looking to join then? I hope you don't mind helping…?" She frowned, her eyes piercing.

"I do mind. I just picked your pocket… here's your key back by the way. And now you want me to do your dirty work. Doesn't that usually happen AFTER one joins a guild?" She had her arms crossed now, tapping her foot. "Obviously I am competent, or I would not have been able to pick a guild member's pockets.

"Alright, alright lass. You've made your point. Meet me at the Ragged Flagon, in the Ratway, and I'll introduce you to Mercer. You'll be his problem then." Gwen had her suspicions she wasn't supposed to hear that part, but she smiled, waving her fingers at him.

"Meet you there."