Roggi chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cDid I not tell you that he has one of the best networks in Tamriel?\u00a0 And that we\u2019ve met each other and talked? We sort of talked shop a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you did tell me that,\u201d Dardeh murmured.\u00a0 \u201cSo\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we made an agreement just before I left Riften. \u00a0Bryn really wasn\u2019t up to it at the time so the two of us decided to put our ears to the ground. Whoever heard something first would send a note to the other.\u00a0 And apparently Delvin has heard something while I\u2019ve been otherwise occupied,\u201d he said with a chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to get down there, Dar. Besides, it\u2019s about time you met Brynjolf at last, don\u2019t you think?\u00a0 Now that we have the truce worked out we can take a little bit of time for you, can\u2019t we? It\u2019s going to take Balgruuf time to get himself and his entourage back to Whiterun anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh could scarcely believe what he was hearing, but he nodded vigorously.\u00a0 \u201cYou bet we can. We\u2019ll rest up here and head out in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi nodded.\u00a0 \u201cSold.\u201d<\/p>\n
They walked toward the inn, Roggi musing aloud.\u00a0 \u201cWonder what he found.\u00a0 I thought I had checked all the obvious sources and I know he had. He was well into diving deep by the time I left\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh shook his head. \u00a0\u201cI still can\u2019t quite get used to the idea of you doing this sort of work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi looked up from the page and gave Dardeh a sly grin.\u00a0 \u201cI know, I don\u2019t really look the part. That\u2019s kind of the point, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really don\u2019t. Well, I suppose I shouldn\u2019t talk. Sometimes I look at my life and wonder whether it\u2019s really the one that belongs to the guy who used to dig rock in Markarth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi stopped walking for a moment and turned to face him.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cWait just a second before we go inside. I need to tell you something.\u00a0 Do you have any idea how good it is that I have been able to share all this with someone?\u00a0 Not have to pretend to be someone else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi nodded.\u00a0 \u201cIt really is, Dar,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve had to pretend for ten years. More than that, really, because I had to pretend while I was working with Ulfric. I even had to pretend with Briinda so that she wouldn\u2019t find out about the uglier pieces of business. \u00a0My oldest friend knows nothing of it. Dag knows about my family, Bryn knows that and knows I have some specialized skills. Delvin knows that I have contacts. But nobody except you knows everything. \u00a0It\u2019s really special.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh just smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re welcome.\u00a0 I\u2019m just glad you\u2019ve been with me through all this, regardless of what you did or didn\u2019t do before we met each other.\u00a0 Couldn\u2019t possibly have done it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi grinned.\u00a0 \u201cAlways underestimating yourself.\u00a0 You know what else is really something, though?\u00a0 None of us would know each other if not for your sister.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t ever have met Brynjolf or Delvin \u2013 or you.\u00a0 So even if we all want to individually strangle her, well, we have plenty to thank her for, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh smiled at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t really want to strangle her, Roggi. I saw how you were looking at her when I first met you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi frowned, and shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWell, that was then and this is now. But you\u2019re right, I don\u2019t want to strangle her. Not really. Nor any other ugly thing. \u00a0I\u2019m certain Brynjolf doesn\u2019t, either. \u00a0He may be angry, but he wants her back. \u00a0Not so sure about Delvin, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
They laughed, and went to get a room at the inn.<\/p>\n
—–<\/p>\n
They took their time getting to Riften, in part because it was a rare stretch of beautiful weather and in part because Dardeh just didn\u2019t want to hurry.\u00a0 Everything had been life-or-death for months on end and, while in many ways it still was so, the negotiated truce meant that for however short a time Alduin would not be getting the souls of more soldiers to increase his own strength.\u00a0 Dardeh felt as though he needed a moment, a deep breath, a casual stroll down the banks of the river on a sunny day with his best friend, to restore his own soul.<\/p>\n
But he couldn\u2019t stop thinking about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you think it means?\u201d he mused aloud, frowning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does what mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh looked out over the field grass moving with the breeze, the deer and rabbits running along the edge of the water.\u00a0 Could this really all come to an end if he failed?\u00a0 All the people he\u2019d met in Solstheim, and before that in Hammerfell and High Rock, all the people he\u2019d met and come to love \u2013 and even hate \u2013 here in Skyrim, all of them just vanish?\u00a0 All of their struggling, and succeeding, and hoping for thousands of years – would it all be for nothing?<\/p>\n
\u201cEsbern said that Alduin was feeding on the souls of the soldiers who have died. I\u2019m sure he must have gotten that from his books of prophecies. Do you think the souls are \u2013 gone? Destroyed?\u00a0 Or does Alduin just have them trapped somehow and they\u2019ll be free to go to Sovngarde if I can kill him?\u00a0 What do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know what to think, Dar. Every religion says something different about souls and dying.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know whether it\u2019s something that actually happens or just\u2026 a way of describing things we don\u2019t really understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if I fail? What if I can\u2019t stop Alduin?\u201d<\/p>\n
He was surprised when Roggi reached over to pat him on the back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think\u2026 that if you can\u2019t stop Alduin, we will be no worse off than we were before you tried.\u00a0 And at least you will have tried.\u00a0 Like a true Nord. That\u2019s what I think.\u201d<\/p>\n
They walked together in silence for a time.\u00a0 Then Roggi spoke again.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think that you must be the bravest man I\u2019ve ever met, to have something like that on your shoulders and keep going. I wasn\u2019t just making noise when I told Ulfric that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh shut his eyes for a moment and tipped his face up to the warmth of the sun. He opened them, looked at Roggi and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what else to say except thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
A movement off to the side, past Roggi, caught his attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch out!\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi turned and drew his sword, and Dardeh drew his, as the assassin closed in on them.\u00a0 Roggi stepped backwards, just enough that the man missed him and lunged just slightly off-balance toward Dardeh.<\/p>\n
Dardeh growled and stepped into the man, slashing with his scimitars, then whirling with a single backhanded stroke that neatly lopped the man\u2019s head off and sent it careening off the road and down toward the river.<\/p>\n
Roggi sheathed his sword and knelt to examine the headless body.\u00a0 \u201cA note,\u201d he said, pulling it out of a pouch on the man\u2019s bandolier.\u00a0 \u201cDark Brotherhood.\u201d\u00a0 He stood up and ripped the note into pieces, then looked at Dardeh.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m getting really tired of them.\u00a0 One of them attacked Dag when I was travelling with her, and now this.\u00a0 Who wants you dead?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh frowned.\u00a0 \u201cElenwen, I would imagine.\u00a0 She sent one after me the first time I was in Riften, in addition to the group of Thalmor who were already there looking for us.\u00a0 That also ended poorly for the assassin.\u201d\u00a0 He took a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m getting tired of it, too.\u00a0 Can\u2019t even walk down the road.\u00a0 Come on, let\u2019s get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
_____<\/p>\n
Dardeh hadn\u2019t anticipated ever going back into the Ratway after leaving it with Esbern in tow, but that was where he found himself, following along behind Roggi.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t impress him any more than it had the first time he\u2019d been in it \u2013 dark, damp, musty-smelling and populated with people who made him just slightly uncomfortable.\u00a0 He was willing to trust Roggi\u2019s judgment, though, that Delvin Mallory was someone he should meet.<\/p>\n
The last time he\u2019d been here, he\u2019d made for the far side of the room and left as quickly as possible.\u00a0 This time, though, he followed Roggi into the bar\u2019s main area.\u00a0 There was an older man, a Breton with a shaved head, sitting at one of the tables.\u00a0 He looked up and gave something like a smile when he spied Roggi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell there you are,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad the message reached you.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/2-2-10-2.png\")
<\/p>\n
Roggi looked around the room, shared a quick glance and a nod with the bartender. Dardeh remembered him from the last time he\u2019d been through.\u00a0 This has to be the cleanest floor in Riften.\u00a0 He\u2019s still sweeping it.\u00a0 Makes a great cover for eavesdropping. <\/em>\u00a0Several others nodded at Roggi, too.\u00a0 So they all recognize him down here.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll never know everything there is to know about him.<\/em><\/p>\n Roggi scooted into the empty chair across from the Breton.\u00a0 \u201cGood to see you.\u00a0 The courier found us in Ivarstead.\u00a0 Delvin, I\u2019d like you to meet Dardeh,\u201d he added as Dardeh pulled up another chair and slid into it.\u00a0 \u201cDar, this is Delvin Mallory.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin was as nondescript a character as Dardeh had ever met, in his dark leathers, with his shaved head and unremarkable looks. \u00a0He looked to be about the same age as Ulfric and Balgruuf, to Dardeh\u2019s eye. \u00a0As unlikely it was that anyone would give Roggi a second look when he was in his mining clothes, it was even less likely that anyone would even notice Delvin.\u00a0 He was more a shadow than anything else.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re Dag\u2019s brother,\u201d he said unceremoniously.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t say that I would have guessed.\u00a0 Good to meet you.\u00a0 I hear you\u2019ve been \u2026 making a bit of noise around Skyrim.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi chuckled.\u00a0 Dardeh didn\u2019t know what to think.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I guess you could say so,\u201d he said, grinning. \u201cI am kind of loud.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou raised quite the ruckus the last time you were here, too,\u201d Delvin said.\u00a0 \u201cThat business with the Thalmor was something. People were talking for a week.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you saw me then,\u201d Dardeh said.\u00a0 \u201cI was trying not to be too conspicuous.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi and Delvin grinned at each other.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll never be inconspicuous, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially,\u201d Delvin added, \u201cwith Thalmor mages trying to blast holes in you in the middle of the Ratway.\u00a0 It was a good thing there are lots of little hidey-holes down there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Sorry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what have you got for us, Delvin?\u201d Roggi asked.<\/p>\n Delvin shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNot here. Let\u2019s go find Bryn.\u00a0 I think he\u2019s up at Honeyside with Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi raised an eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cAndante?\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin rolled his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 He\u2019s been with us for awhile; you haven\u2019t met him. Bryn gave him Honeyside and moved back down here not long after you left.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s a good place to gather and even though the boy is a bit\u2026 different\u2026 I promise you can trust him.\u00a0 He has some rather useful connections.\u201d<\/p>\n He pushed back his chair and headed for the door, Roggi and Dardeh following along behind.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi, uh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t ask me.\u00a0 I\u2019m really surprised Brynjolf moved back to the Cistern, and I\u2019ve never heard of this other person.\u00a0 But if Delvin\u2019s ok with him I am too.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded.\u00a0 \u201cSo I finally get to meet Brynjolf,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n \u201cYour brother-in-law.\u00a0 Although I don\u2019t know that you want to mention that, specifically.\u00a0 I think Bryn\u2019s pretty much ok but \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWhy remind him, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh vaguely recalled having seen the building called Honeyside on his first trip to Riften.\u00a0 It was a nondescript house, but pleasant enough from the outside, leaning out over the water. A neat little garden of bright flowers and other alchemical plants lined both sides of the path just in front of it. Tucked out of the way as it was, there wasn\u2019t much foot traffic near the home; it was quiet and more or less private. Delvin knocked on the door.<\/p>\n \u201cCome!\u201d a lilting and distinctly Imperial voice called from inside.\u00a0 \u201cThe more the merrier. We\u2019ll make a party of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin rolled his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cAndante.\u201d He turned to grin at them. \u00a0\u201cI tell you, the boy could take a visitation from Lady Kynareth herself and somehow turn it into a dirty joke. And they say I\u2019m bad.\u201d<\/p>\n They pushed into the house, Dardeh bringing up the rear.\u00a0 He was glancing down to make sure he didn\u2019t trip over the threshold when he heard Roggi say \u201cBryn.\u00a0 Good to see you.\u00a0 You\u2019re looking well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello, lad.\u00a0 How\u2019ve you been?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh\u2019s head snapped up.<\/p>\n That voice.\u00a0 \u201cLad.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou?\u201d he blurted out, looking at the man who had tried to convince him he needed to earn a few extra coins when he\u2019d actually been carrying far too many.\u00a0 Tall, red-haired, about Roggi\u2019s age, and with a large, jagged scar down his face.\u00a0 He was in dark leathers, not a fine green robe, but it was definitely him.\u00a0\u00a0He looks like a thief.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re<\/em> Brynjolf?\u201d<\/p>\n The dark-haired Imperial seated at the table chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cIndeed he is,\u201d he murmured, looking up at Brynjolf with what Dardeh could only interpret as a suggestive grin.<\/p>\n Brynjolf sighed.\u00a0 \u201cSave it, Andante,\u201d he said, glaring at the man and earning a wide smile in return. \u00a0Then he looked back at Dardeh and smirked.<\/p>\n Roggi and Delvin both looked back and forth between Dardeh and Brynjolf. Delvin looked puzzled; Roggi looked thoroughly confused.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know each other, Dar? I thought you didn\u2019t,\u201d Roggi asked.<\/p>\n Dardeh struggled for words.\u00a0 This man. This sleazy man, he is my brother-in-law?\u00a0 How much worse can things get?\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n Then he thought about Miraak.<\/p>\n Oh.\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 I guess it could get a lot worse.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell we don\u2019t exactly know each other, Roggi. The last time I was here I was supposed to find Brynjolf.\u00a0 I guess I did, but didn\u2019t realize it. That was when the business with the Thalmor happened, that Delvin was talking about.\u201d\u00a0 He looked back at Brynjolf.\u00a0 \u201cDelphine had told me to ask you for some information, but I ended up finding Keerava first, and\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled. \u201cI tried to talk the lad into helping me on a job the last time he was in town and he turned me down cold. Didn\u2019t even look me in the face, just said no. I guess I deserved it.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t really paying attention.\u00a0 When he turned around to leave I saw the size of the coin purse he was carrying. I was a little embarrassed. \u00a0It\u2019s good to meet you, lad.\u00a0 I understand that you\u2019re Dagnell\u2019s brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded. \u201cWell\u2026 half-brother.\u00a0 We don\u2019t really know each other.\u00a0 I only met her once, when she was travelling with Roggi, and never got her name, so I didn\u2019t know it was her.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been trying to find her for\u2026 a long time now.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThat would have been not long after she joined the Guild,\u201d he said softly, and to Dardeh\u2019s ears a bit sadly. \u201cWell that\u2019s why we\u2019re all here.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been trying to find her, for a number of reasons.\u00a0 Andante\u2019s the only one of us who\u2019s never met her but he can help us in other ways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I do hope so,\u201d the man murmured, earning himself a glare from Delvin.<\/p>\n \u201cTry to keep it contained, son,\u201d Delvin griped.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re asking a lot of me, Delvin.\u201d\u00a0 The man had a devilish grin playing around the corners of his mouth.<\/p>\n Brynjolf sighed.\u00a0 \u201cShut it, lad.\u00a0 Just once.\u00a0 I know you can be serious, I\u2019ve seen you do it. We all need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n As they were being seated, Dardeh looked across the table at Andante, who was staring at him intently with vivid blue, fascinating eyes that absolutely sparkled with mischief.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t look to Dardeh like a person who owned a serious expression; or if he did, he kept it for special occasions only. And he was very sure of himself. He looked at Dardeh, checked him over, and grinned knowingly.<\/p>\n Oh I see how it is, Dardeh thought, smirking.\u00a0 Or at least I think I do. He\u2019s sized me up just as neatly as Ulfric did. Well then, Andante.\u00a0 Well met.\u00a0 Keep your distance.<\/p>\n As though he\u2019d read Dardeh\u2019s mind, Andante\u2019s eyes flickered toward Brynjolf and back to twinkle at Dardeh.<\/p>\n Really.\u00a0 Now that\u2019s an interesting wrinkle. Well then.\u00a0 <\/em>He hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Roggi and smile.\u00a0 Roggi smiled back, then went back to talking to Brynjolf.\u00a0 Dardeh heard Andante chuckle softly, and looked back at him.\u00a0 In spite of himself, Dardeh couldn\u2019t quite contain a grin.<\/p>\n All right then.\u00a0 Now that we have that all settled, perhaps we can introduce ourselves. You\u2019re no more with Brynjolf than I am with Roggi, but that was a fun little game to play, wasn\u2019t it?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAndante, is it?\u00a0 Nice to meet you.\u00a0 I\u2019m Dardeh.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded.\u00a0 \u201cLikewise.\u00a0 I understand you\u2019re the Dragonborn and can do all sorts of fantastical things.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYes, sadly enough that\u2019s the case. It makes life interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded.\u00a0 \u201cInteresting can be such a double-edged sword.\u201d He grinned. \u201cBut double-edged swords can be interesting, can\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin cleared his throat and looked around at them all. \u201cNow then. About Dagnell. I\u2019ve been shaking every bush I could shake for months, and coming up short. I even checked in Cyrodiil.\u00a0 I know some people who know some people who were going to put me in touch with the best of the best, someone I know of by reputation but haven\u2019t actually met. But things there have fallen all apart just like they did here and the best of the best have scattered to the winds, out of contact.\u00a0 Here\u2019s the thing.\u00a0 Nobody has seen her.\u00a0 Not here, not there, not in Morrowind or High Rock or Hammerfell.\u00a0 She\u2019s just vanished.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe already knew that, Delvin,\u201d Brynjolf said.\u00a0 He\u2019d been pacing back and forth from one side of the room to the other and stopped between Dardeh and Delvin. \u201cIf she hadn\u2019t vanished we\u2019d have had the lass back home already.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but here\u2019s the thing, Bryn,\u201d Delvin said. \u201cThere are rumors that surfaced just recently that our friend the face-changer did a job outside the Flagon, somewhere in Riften, sometime right around when Dag disappeared.\u00a0 If that\u2019s true, there\u2019s a chance that nobody is going to see her again.\u00a0 At least not what they expect to see. It also means she could be right under our noses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd do you need some pressure put on the face-changer to get an answer?\u201d Roggi asked.<\/p>\n Dardeh stared at him, open-mouthed.\u00a0 He\u2019s talking about doing that himself.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n Delvin waved his hand dismissively.\u00a0 \u201cNo, no.\u00a0 I appreciate the offer but that wouldn\u2019t solve anything and we need to keep her down there. She\u2019s really useful when people need to go into hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what does that do for us, Delvin?\u201d Brynjolf asked. \u201cI agree that we can\u2019t lean on her, but it\u2019s the only lead we had.\u00a0 What now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Delvin said, leaning back in his chair, \u201cit means that we have to be watching for someone who acts like Dag, sounds like her, but doesn\u2019t look like her.\u00a0 It also means that I need to pull in some favors from our friends in Dawnstar, if that\u2019s all right with you, Bryn.\u00a0 There will need to be some money involved.\u00a0 It\u2019s my understanding that the Listener may have some leads that we don\u2019t and that she\u2019s looking for some, uh, upgrades to the new sanctuary there.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante snorted.\u00a0 \u201cI can verify that part.\u00a0 The place is altogether a dump aside from the work you\u2019ve already had done, Delvin.\u00a0 I seem to remember musings that a proper torture room would be a good addition. A person can\u2019t very well hone his skills without practice.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi glanced at him.\u00a0 \u201cTrue enough. So you\u2019re connected there as well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Andante said, smiling.\u00a0 \u201cI often suspect that\u2019s the only reason Brynjolf puts up with me.\u00a0 I can be useful as well as ornamental.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLad<\/em>,\u201d Brynjolf sighed.\u00a0 \u201cHonestly.\u201d<\/p>\n As if building a torture room is the most natural thing in the world for people to be discussing. To say nothing of having people in the room who have used such a thing. This is the most bizarre conversation I have ever taken part in.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe can do that, no problem,\u201d Delvin said.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you say, Bryn? Ordinarily she would pay me for the work, but if we were to grease the wheels a bit\u2026 Are the coffers up to that?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf had gone back to pacing.\u00a0 \u201cYes, yes. You know they are.\u00a0 If there\u2019s one thing the lass was good at, it was making us money.\u00a0 Send the letter, Delvin.\u00a0 And money.\u00a0 And tell the Listener to get back to me as soon as she knows anything.\u201d\u00a0 He turned to Andante.\u00a0 \u201cCan you make the delivery, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u00a0 Anything you want,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go tonight.\u00a0 I\u2019m due to check in there anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin pushed back his chair.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry it wasn\u2019t something more definite to share but seeing as how the walls have ears I thought it would be best to do it only once.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell at least it\u2019s something, Delvin,\u201d Roggi said, rising as well. \u201cI don\u2019t know much use I can be, but I\u2019ll keep my ears open as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Brynjolf said.\u00a0 \u201cAndante, can we put the lads up here for the night since you\u2019ll be off?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante looked at Dardeh and grinned.\u00a0 \u201cBut of course.\u00a0 I\u2019d be more than happy.\u00a0 Besides, it\u2019s your house, Brynjolf,\u201d he said, turning to smile at him. \u201cYou\u2019re always welcome to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf rolled his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cGo.\u00a0 Delvin, I\u2019ll be right there and we can unlock the vault.\u201d\u00a0 Then he turned to Roggi.\u00a0 \u201cMake yourselves at home, lad.\u00a0 You know where it all is.\u00a0 I\u2019m back down in the Cistern if you need me for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Bryn.\u00a0 And thank you, Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded, almost a bow.\u00a0 \u201cEnjoy yourselves.\u00a0 Until next we meet,\u201d he said, and followed Delvin out the door.<\/p>\n Brynjolf smirked.\u00a0 \u201cThe boy is a trial, but trust me, he\u2019s one of the best.\u00a0 Good to meet you, Dardeh.\u00a0 I hope we\u2019ll get to talk more under better circumstances one of these days.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes, I hope so. And thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n When everyone else had left, Roggi turned to Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cThere. You\u2019ve met them.\u00a0 What did you think about it?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stretched, and cracked his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cI think,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cthat I like Delvin.\u00a0 And probably Brynjolf, even though I didn\u2019t get to talk to him much. But I don\u2019t think we\u2019re a lot closer to finding Dagnell. I hope it was worth the side trip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what did you think about that Andante fellow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a lot more to him than we know.\u00a0 I also think he\u2019s working on Brynjolf just as hard as he can.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi grinned.\u00a0 \u201cIt did seem that way to me. I can\u2019t picture it, myself. Not Bryn. Listen, Dar. Grab a bottle of mead and come with me.\u00a0 This house has a terrific bath, and I think we deserve to relax in it for awhile before we head off to catch dragons.\u201d\u00a0 He disappeared down the stairs.<\/p>\n Dardeh stood in the middle of the room for a moment, shaking his head.<\/p>\n Sure.\u00a0 You bet.\u00a0 This day can\u2019t get any stranger.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go sit in the bath with you, Roggi, why not.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n They had only gotten a short way into Ivarstead when Dardeh heard someone behind them, making no attempt to disguise the sound of their running.\u00a0 They turned just as the slight figure slowed, panting, just in front of Roggi. \u201cI\u2019ve been looking for you,\u201d he said, reaching into the pouch slung across his body.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/2-2-10-3.png\")
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