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<\/p>\nRoggi handed the young man a few coins and took the parchment he\u2019d said was for his hands only.\u00a0 He frowned, because he recognized the hand in which his name was written on the front.\u00a0 He made his way to the table on the porch and sat down, squinting against the sun and waving aside one of the many butterflies that had been enjoying it as much as he was. Elk were bugling from the hillside to their south. It seemed a real shame to break the mood of such a lovely day with what was undoubtedly bad news.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother one from Delvin?\u201d Dardeh asked from across the porch as he leaned backward, stretching out his muscles. They\u2019d been working on the gardens; hard, dirty work but perfect to do in weather like this. It hadn\u2019t taken much more than the courier\u2019s arrival to convince them to take a break.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, looks like it.\u201d\u00a0 He broke the seal and unfolded the letter.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm. I hope everything\u2019s alright.\u00a0 Seems like there have been a lot of them lately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi frowned again. \u201cI know. I\u2019m worried about this. We don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on with Sayma, and Bryn was just barely in one piece when he saw him last.\u00a0 We may end up with three children permanently at this rate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh smiled. \u201cWould that be so bad, love of my life? It\u2019s not like we can\u2019t afford it. They do pay us well for keeping up with the dragons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi looked up and smiled at him.\u00a0 Dardeh could finish any bad mood he might have without effort, by nothing more than a look; but when he talked about love, well it was all over as far as Roggi was concerned. He could ask for anything, and Roggi would do it if he could.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it wouldn\u2019t. He\u2019s a great kid.\u00a0 And frankly, living next to a torture chamber is not really a good environment for anyone, much less a child. We\u2019d be doing him a service by raising him here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh\u2019s smile faded. \u201cYou would know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I would,\u201d Roggi murmured as he flipped open the letter. The less said about that, the better, as far as he was concerned.\u00a0 It always disturbed Dardeh to be reminded that he had a finely-honed talent for putting people in the most exquisite pain. It disturbed him more to know that Ulfric had been directly responsible for that.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a healthy pastime. It eats at a guy. You can\u2019t ever be quite free of it. I don\u2019t want young Bryn to grow up like that, and I know Dar doesn\u2019t. I don\u2019t know how forceful we\u2019d have to get with Sayma to get her to agree with us.<\/em><\/p>\n He realized what he\u2019d just thought, and tsk\u2019d at himself. What am I even thinking? That\u2019s just not right. Honestly, every time I have a thought that involves Ulfric\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>He forced himself to focus on the note.<\/p>\n I hope you can see your way clear to make another trip to Riften.\u00a0 I hate to ask, but he just doesn\u2019t listen to me and for some reason you can always get through to him.\u00a0 He\u2019s not acting right.\u00a0 We\u2019re all on pins and needles down here. I\u2019m half afraid he\u2019s going to go out and find someone to\u2026 well, you know. \u2013 D.M.<\/em><\/p>\n He re-folded the letter and sighed. \u201cWell that\u2019s no good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProblem with Brynjolf?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d He cracked his neck and stretched. \u201cDelvin\u2019s afraid he\u2019s going to go looking for someone to turn him again.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh had been looking away down the lake but at that, his head snapped around and he stared at Roggi in dismay.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, we can\u2019t. There wouldn\u2019t be any way to cure him again. Because the rumor is that our friend Vitus also took out the only mage aside from himself who knew how to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh snorted, and tossed his hands up in annoyance. \u201cOf course. Of course he did. Damn. How long will it take you to get there?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smiled up at him. \u201cNot too long if I take one of the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh cupped his face with one hand. \u201cSo why are you waiting? Lydia and I can take care of the small fry.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stood and planted a quick kiss on Dardeh\u2019s cheek before starting toward the door. \u201cAs long as that\u2019s all she helps you take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cRoggi. You know better.\u201d He stepped closer and slid his arms around Roggi\u2019s waist from behind, then nuzzled his neck.<\/p>\n Roggi grinned, even as a shiver of delight ran up him. \u201cYeah, I do. But if you don\u2019t let go of me I\u2019ll never get out of here. I\u2019ll try not to stay too long.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nibbled on his ear.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn, Dar, don\u2019t do<\/em> that! We\u2019ll be here all day.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed and stepped back from him. \u201cAlright, alright, I\u2019ll leave you alone.\u00a0 I have some things to do, anyway. You get going.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood enough. I\u2019ll be off.\u201d<\/p>\n He was almost to the door when he heard Dardeh\u2019s voice again.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, Roggi?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how to ask this but\u2026 Keep an ear open.\u00a0 I want to know what\u2019s going on with the truce.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi frowned.\u00a0 Dardeh had been taking way too much interest in the war lately for his taste.<\/p>\n \u201cDar\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo to Windhelm if you have to. I need to know, Roggi.\u201d\u00a0 There was a different quality to Dardeh\u2019s voice in this statement. It wasn\u2019t a request, any more.<\/p>\n Roggi sighed. There it is. The tone that says \u2018obey me.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, alright. I\u2019ll see what I can do. I can always use an excuse to check in on Iddra and Kjeld anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBring Brynjolf back here if you can.\u00a0 It would do him good to see his son. Make him remember that there\u2019s a reason he needs to stay mortal. I can\u2019t imagine that Delvin would have a problem with that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOK.\u00a0 I\u2019ll do what I can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo it, Roggi. I know you know how.\u201d<\/p>\n Does he even know what he\u2019s saying?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah. Ok. I\u2019ll be back in a few days.\u201d\u00a0 He reached for the door handle, but turned to look at his stern-faced husband first. \u201cI love you, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u00a0 know.\u201d Dardeh\u2019s expression softened into a smile. \u201cYou make that very clear, every day.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi snickered. \u201cYes, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n He entered the house to gather his things, grinning as he went.\u00a0 Is it my fault that I enjoy my husband for more than just his personality and his big voice? A guy needs to do his spousal duty, after all.<\/em><\/p>\n He whistled as he walked up the stairs.<\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n Brynjolf paced.<\/p>\n He paced around the Cistern, back and forth to the Ragged Flagon, and back to the Cistern again.\u00a0 He stood behind the Guildmaster\u2019s desk and pretended to be examining the books; but in reality he couldn\u2019t focus on them, and he wasn\u2019t sure why not. It was as though he couldn\u2019t rest in his own skin at all these days, and no amount of mead, or pacing, or good food, or even contemplating a particularly fine heist had the ability to make him feel calmer. Maven had suggested dryly that he take some time for himself. Delvin had been in his face more often than was reasonable. Vex had been snapping at him. The rank and file had been excited to see him finally, officially become Guildmaster, but when they\u2019d felt the foul mood radiating from him they\u2019d all backed away. And every time he saw Karliah, she asked whether he was alright in that tone that meant \u201cYou\u2019re definitely not alright.\u201d<\/p>\n Is this what he felt like between doses of skooma, when he was mortal?\u00a0 This restlessness? This\u2026 hunger?<\/em><\/p>\n For a moment, yet again, he felt the piercing pain of his loss. To reach the heights he had reached and suddenly be cut down was hard enough. To lose Andante and only then fully realize how very much he had cared about him made it all worse.<\/p>\n Is that what it is?\u00a0 All that skooma I had while I was\u2026 could I be\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n He shook his head.\u00a0 That wasn\u2019t the problem, and he knew it. He\u2019d never had a problem with it in his youth. There were dozens of bottles of the best of Vitus\u2019 efforts stacked in Honeyside, and if he\u2019d somehow managed to become addicted to it in spite of a vampire\u2019s immunity to poisons the lure of it would have taken him long before this.\u00a0 He had no more desire for it, no interest in it.<\/p>\n It wouldn\u2019t be the same without him, anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n He turned back toward the Cistern and saw a figure wearing a dark hood crossing the center of the space, approaching Niruin and his archery practice. It was one of the new recruits, a slight man, and Brynjolf recognized him; but for a moment he saw Andante and his heart caught in his throat.<\/p>\n He returned to the desk and leaned against it, his head down.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and squeezed them as tightly shut as he could against the stinging behind them.<\/p>\n Dag is gone. Andante \u2013 no, Vitus – is gone. Dynny is gone, long ago, and I can\u2019t see him again. I know this. I just need to believe it.<\/em><\/p>\n For what felt like the millionth time he ran his tongue over the place where once had been long, sharp fangs and winced to find normal teeth.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t that he missed the taste of blood, in spite of having craved it when he was a vampire; that wasn\u2019t it at all.\u00a0 He missed\u2026<\/p>\n What is it that I miss, after all?<\/em><\/p>\n He opened his eyes and lifted his head, and thought of Andante, lounging in the bath in Honeyside with his head resting against the stones.\u00a0 His neck had been long, and supple, and always available.<\/p>\n It came to him. It wasn\u2019t the blood he missed; it was the sensations and the power. The strength, being able to lift a man off the ground like a rag doll and throw him through the air effortlessly. He missed the speed, being able to travel faster on his own legs than he ever could on horseback. His lips running along soft, warm skin, feeling the pulsing veins beneath.\u00a0 The sharp pop of his fangs pressing through flesh. Transforming to a Vampire Lord and flying along beside the younger man who idolized him so.<\/p>\n He missed being wanted like that.<\/p>\n And he missed the way Andante\u2019s lips had caressed his, drawing his emotions out through their touch. He missed that very much.<\/p>\n Why am I torturing myself? He\u2019s gone,<\/em> I\u2019m not a vampire any more, and none of that is ever going to happen again.<\/em><\/p>\n None of it.<\/em><\/p>\n He turned to face the wall and struck it with the edge of one fist, just above his head. And then stopped short; for this was exactly the spot where he had slammed Dagnell against the wall so long ago.<\/p>\n For a moment he saw her there in front of him as clearly as though she\u2019d never left, and he had to stop himself from calling her name. But then her face changed, and it was Sayma Sendu. He caught his breath. Just thinking about her made his pulse race, and he\u2019d thought about her a great deal. He remembered how it had felt in Dawnstar when he\u2019d realized it was her, and pulled her to him, and her warm body had felt just the same as it had the last time he\u2019d held her in Riften.\u00a0 But her face was different. She was even more beautiful.<\/p>\n Gods. How can I even be thinking about her like that? She left me. And for two years she let me believe that she was gone. And didn\u2019t tell me about the boy.<\/em><\/p>\n I was loved. I was needed. He gave up his life for me. <\/em><\/p>\n How can I possibly be thinking about how she looks?<\/em><\/p>\n He\u2019d thought about her all the way from Dawnstar to Riften, and he\u2019d been angry. Angry at himself for having the thoughts, surprised they had been happening, and horrified by them because he was also desperately angry with her for leaving him and with Vitus for leaving him, and with himself for being a stupid man who missed them both desperately in spite of it.<\/p>\n He closed his eyes again, and stood quietly, wondering if he was ever going to feel sane again. Right now, he thought, I\u2019m certain that I\u2019m going mad.<\/p>\n \u201cIs everything alright, Brynjolf?\u201d<\/p>\n The dark voice made him smile. She\u2019d been watching out for him since before he was out of his teens.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Karliah. It really isn\u2019t. I\u2019m losing my mind.\u201d He turned to smile at her.\u00a0 \u201cBut there\u2019s not a single thing to be done about it.\u00a0 Is there something you need, lass?\u201d<\/p>\n Karliah shook her head, smiled, and reached out one hand to touch his forearm. \u201cI know it\u2019s difficult for you right now, Brynjolf.\u00a0 If there\u2019s anything that I can do to make it easier, you have only to ask. I hope you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAye. Thank you, Karliah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just on my way out. Delvin asked me to tell you that he\u2019s looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf snorted.\u00a0 Am I that bad, now, that old Delvin doesn\u2019t even dare come to speak to me himself? Shor\u2019s beard, I\u2019m turning into Mercer.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHe sent you all the way from the other room, eh? Well. Did he happen to mention what this was about?\u201d<\/p>\n Karliah chuckled. \u201cNo he didn\u2019t.\u00a0 And don\u2019t be hard on him, Brynjolf. You\u2019ve been a bit of a bear to deal with recently, pacing around in here like a caged animal.\u00a0 He\u2019s worried about you and so are the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI appreciate the concern, lass. But it\u2019s not warranted.\u201d<\/p>\n Karliah smiled and turned to go, but stopped to look back at him for just a moment before continuing.\u00a0 \u201cIsn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n He watched her walk away and sighed.\u00a0 Clever lass.<\/em><\/p>\n Ah, damn it. They all know me too well.<\/em><\/p>\n He shook his head and made his way to the Flagon, nodding at Vipir and Thrynn and fighting to suppress a grin at the latter.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter how much time elapsed, Thrynn nursed a small grudge that Dagnell hadn\u2019t even noticed his attentions and had ended up with the Guildmaster instead.<\/p>\n Well, that\u2019s something. I\u2019m even thinking of myself as the Guildmaster now. She\u2019d be giving me a hard time about that, wouldn\u2019t she?<\/em><\/p>\n He stepped through the old storage cabinet and into the Flagon and said \u201cAlright, Delvin, what\u2019s this all about?\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin was standing with his back toward Brynjolf, but turned at the sound of his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, it\u2019s nothing, boss, it\u2019s just that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s that I\u2019ve come all the way out here to knock a little sense into you, brother,\u201d Roggi finished, stepping out from behind Delvin and grinning. \u201cI heard you were frightening the young ones and thought I\u2019d better come intervene.\u201d<\/p>\n In spite of himself, Brynjolf laughed. \u201cRoggi.\u00a0 It\u2019s good to see you, lad.\u201d He extended his hand, but Roggi shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNah, you don\u2019t get away with just that,\u201d Roggi told him, gathering him up into a warm hug.<\/p>\n Brynjolf hugged him back, hard, emotions rising up from his core and taking comfort in the warmth of the embrace. How often had this man shown up in his darkest moments, sharing his strength and asking nothing in return?\u00a0 At first he\u2019d thought Roggi did so out of guilt, but that wasn\u2019t the case. He was simply a friend, a good friend, maybe the best friend he\u2019d had in decades; and it was clear that nothing was going to change that.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s sit down and have a drink, Roggi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like that.\u201d Roggi found one of the tables and slipped into a chair.<\/p>\n Brynjolf turned to Delvin. \u201cDelvin, I have something I\u2019d like you to take care of while we\u2019re talking.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin nodded. \u201cOf course. What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn Honeyside. Bedroom. Left-hand table.\u201d He leaned close to Delvin\u2019s ear and whispered. \u201cSixty-four bottles of some of the finest skooma ever cooked in Skyrim. It was Vitus\u2019 specialty, and it\u2019s very, very good. I want them gone. They\u2019ll fetch a good price, I think. Yes?\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin\u2019s eyes twinkled and the corner of his mouth rose.\u00a0 \u201cYou bet. I take it you\u2019ve sampled the wares? You can vouch for the quality?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled. \u201cYes I have and it\u2019s damned good, Delvin. If you try some, make sure you\u2019ve got nothing else on your calendar for awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re certain about this? You don\u2019t want to keep it?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded. \u201cYes, I\u2019m certain.\u201d I don\u2019t trust myself in my current state of mind, and that kind of temptation just sitting there is the last thing I need. I just don\u2019t know what I\u2019m capable of, quite yet, and I don\u2019t want to make a mistake.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go now. Keys?\u201d<\/p>\n He snorted. \u201cAre you trying to tell me you need keys, now, Delvin?\u201d He fished the keys to Honeyside out of his pocket anyway, and handed them over.<\/p>\n Delvin chuckled. \u201cRight. I\u2019ll be back in no time.\u201d He started for the door and then turned back. \u201cI gotta tell ya, Bryn. About this? It\u2019s kind of nice not having to walk on eggshells about it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll make sure we get a good price.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s great. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n He took a moment to buy two tankards of mead from Vekel and then slid into the chair opposite Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cHere you go.\u201d\u00a0 He slid one of the tankards across the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks. So I couldn\u2019t help but overhear that. Force of habit, sorry. It sounds like a good idea to me, moving it out, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I want to keep some of his things. This, for example,\u201d he said, twisting the ruby ring Andante had made for him. This ring. I\u2019ll never take it off again.<\/em> \u201cThat, though, that\u2019s not a happy memory of him. Or, rather, it is\u2026 but it\u2019s not a safe memory. I think you know the kind.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded. \u201cI do. How are you doing, Bryn?\u201d He kept his voice soft. \u201cI mean really.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf looked down at the table.<\/p>\n I wish I thought I could get away with this.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to just tell you I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019d be full of shit if you did.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled. \u201cThat\u2019s a fact.\u201d He looked up at Roggi\u2019s concerned face and shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s hard. I\u2019m \u2026 not sure what to say, lad.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi frowned. \u201cWell you know I\u2019m not going to let it go, Bryn, but I don\u2019t know that this is the place for it. So I\u2019ll ask you something else instead.\u201d\u00a0 He took a drink of his mead and then lowered the tankard to the table. \u201cDar has been hearing things. About the truce not holding. He sent me out here to look into it. Is anything important happening out here?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf studied him for a moment. I wasn\u2019t expecting that.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t get involved in politics.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s curious eyebrows rose, and he snorted. \u201cRight. And neither do I.\u00a0 Come on, Brynjolf. This is important. Save me having to make a trip to Windhelm. Dar\u2019s fixated on this. I\u2019m worried about him, and just about the last thing I want to do is go anywhere near Ulfric Stormcloak.\u201d<\/p>\n I should think not. Talk about unsafe memories.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI wish I had something specific for you but I don\u2019t. It\u2019s a little harder to talk to Maven these days what with her sitting on the Jarl\u2019s throne and all. It looks more than a little suspicious for me to go sauntering in there during court when I never went near the place before.\u201d And Dag\u2019s not here to do it for me.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s just not going to let it drop, is he?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAlright. There\u2019s a rumor going on that our friend in the north is getting ready for something big. That\u2019s the extent of what I know. And that\u2019s all Delvin knows, as well. I will admit that I have asked.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi sighed heavily. \u201cDamn it. That means I am<\/em> going to have to go to Windhelm.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf watched as Roggi stared blankly at the table and shuddered visibly. He felt his ire beginning to rise as he recalled everything Roggi had told the family about his past with the Jarl of Windhelm.<\/p>\n That man still needs to die, in my opinion. I can\u2019t do it though, especially not now that I\u2019m the Guildmaster. I can\u2019t put us at risk. But\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cListen. What if I went with you? For backup.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi looked up at him with an expression of disbelief. \u201cDid I hear that right? Did you just offer to come to Windhelm with me?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf ran a hand through his hair. \u201cAye. I\u2019m going crazy down here. I spent all that time being able to run free and I\u2019m just feeling\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He shrugged. I\u2019m feeling like if I can\u2019t get out in the air for awhile I\u2019m going to explode, thinking about him. Thinking about her. Something bad\u2019s going to happen, somehow. It\u2019s no good<\/em>.<\/p>\n There was a long pause, while Roggi studied him and took a moment to drain his flagon.\u00a0 He leaned closer and whispered. \u201cOk, so maybe this is the time for this question after all. You\u2019re not thinking of doing anything stupid, are you Bryn? Tell me you\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n Ah so that\u2019s what this visit is about. I\u2019ll bet Delvin put him up to this. Sneaky bastard. <\/em>He scanned the room to make certain that nobody was close enough to hear them. Vekel was standing just a bit too close to their table, pretending to sweep the floor; but a pointed stare at him was all it took for him to nod and move away.\u00a0 Brynjolf turned back to Roggi, just in time for a particularly loud burst of raucous laughter from the other side of the room to drown out his first attempt at words. He smirked at it and then tried again.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, my friend. I\u2019m not. I won\u2019t say that the thought hasn\u2019t crossed my mind, though. I miss it. And I need to not miss it.\u201d\u00a0 He paused for a drink from his tankard, trying to find the right words. \u201cThat\u2019s part of why I sent Delvin to do that errand. I don\u2019t need any temptations. Look. It\u2019s my fault they\u2019re gone, both of them, Dynny and\u2026 Vitus. It was partly my fault that the Guild almost fell apart before Dag got here; I was too stupid to see what was going on right under my own nose. I can\u2019t change any of that but there\u2019s one thing I know for certain: I can\u2019t be the cause of the Guild falling apart now. I thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi was staring at him intently.\u00a0 Brynjolf recognized the piercing, analytical gaze of an interrogator and marveled at the idea that this was the case. The first time he\u2019d met Roggi, the man had been barely coherent from drink, skinny from lack of training and hadn\u2019t at all resembled the strong, dark man across the table from him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou thought what?\u201d Roggi pressed him.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I could protect the Guild, being a vampire, because I was so powerful. But I couldn\u2019t have. I couldn\u2019t sit still. I had to run, and hunt, and\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He stretched his shoulders out. \u201cAnd now I can\u2019t sit still because I can\u2019t get used to being normal again. Gods, Roggi. Yes, I\u2019ll go to Windhelm with you, before I lose what\u2019s left of my mind. Maven\u2019s told me to take some time anyway, and Delvin can handle things here at least as well as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi looked skeptical. \u201cYou do know that\u2019s ridiculous, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is?\u201d<\/p>\n He straightened up in his chair. \u201cYou being at fault for all that. You weren\u2019t. You\u2019ve got to stop thinking that way, Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I wish I could.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi folded his arms and gave him what could only be described as an evil smirk. \u201cI know how to convince people to change their minds about things. Need me to work you over?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf tossed his head back and laughed long and hard. He saw Vekel as well as the noisy table of bar patrons across the room turn to stare at him.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019ll pass. By the Eight, I needed a laugh. Alright. Let\u2019s go find Delvin and let him know he needs to work for a change and we\u2019ll head north.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi sighed and rose from his chair. \u201cYeah. I\u2019d just as soon pass on that part of it, but when Dar gets that voice going\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf grinned. \u201cSo he knows how to be convincing, too, I see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes. It\u2019s really something. I\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Roggi stopped, shook his head, and chuckled. \u201cYes he does.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf clapped Roggi on the back as they headed for the exit. \u201cYou have got it so bad, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s eyes twinkled as he looked at Brynjolf and said \u201cYou know it, my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi handed the young man a few coins and took the parchment he\u2019d said was for his hands only.\u00a0 He frowned, because he recognized the hand in which his name was written on the front.\u00a0 He made his way to the table on the porch and sat down, squinting against the sun and waving aside … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/4-1-11-2.png\")
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<\/p>\nPart I: Sayma Sendu<\/a><\/div>\nPrevious<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"