{"id":3263,"date":"2019-02-10T04:14:50","date_gmt":"2019-02-10T04:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/?page_id=3263"},"modified":"2022-03-13T23:20:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T23:20:55","slug":"chapter-12-brynjolf","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/volume-iv\/part-i-sayma-sendu\/chapter-12-brynjolf\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 12 – Brynjolf"},"content":{"rendered":"

They made decent time heading north out of Riften. They weren\u2019t in any hurry, but neither of them was used to walking slowly. There was a heavy mist and the sky was gray.\u00a0 Brynjolf sniffed at the air.\u00a0 Rain soon.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat sorts of information are we looking for, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything. He didn\u2019t specify. But my guess would be that Dar really wants to know what\u2019s going on in Ulfric\u2019s mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf snorted. \u201cIt\u2019s a little cruel to send you for that sort of work, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi frowned. \u201cNo worse than it would be to send you scouting at Volkihar Castle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf winced. \u201cYeah. I suppose so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Bryn. And yes, I\u2019m the one who\u2019s been closest to Ulfric of all of us, not that it does us much good. That man\u2019s mind is closed up as tight as the best vault in the world. But Dar is almost completely incapable of stealth. He\u2019s just big. And loud. And in Windhelm he\u2019s conspicuous just standing around and breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019re a couple of Nords.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. Listen, Bryn. How well do people know you in Windhelm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf thought about it. He had been there a number of times with Andante, but he\u2019d always had his hood pulled well forward. Before that\u2026\u00a0 Before that I mostly behaved like a proper Guild second and stayed put, unless it was to go to Solitude on business for Maven or Mercer. Before that, I would send someone else to do my work for me. And the times I did come north I did it in the shadows. Mostly. Except when I was a young fool trying to steal cheese out from under the guards\u2019 noses. I wonder if I still have that bounty for that damned cheese. <\/em><\/p>\n

Bah. I\u2019m turning into a regular idiot, wandering around like this.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThey know my name for certain. Or at least some of them do. As far as knowing what I look like, I doubt it. I don\u2019t even think our fence would know me if she met me face to face. It would be different if we were going to Solitude, but Windhelm? I\u2019m not well-known.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi grinned at him. \u201cOho, a fence in Windhelm? What am I saying? Of course there\u2019s a fence in Windhelm.\u00a0 Let me guess\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, don\u2019t. Unless I can convince you to join the Guild there are still some things that need to be kept separate from the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

It started raining, a cold, driving rain that made Brynjolf happy for his Nord blood. She\u2019d be complaining already, wouldn\u2019t she, about the cold.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cGood point. I just don\u2019t want there to be any trouble because you\u2019re from Riften and it\u2019s under Imperial control. We don\u2019t need them accusing you of being a spy. Even though that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re doing.\u201d Roggi frowned and pulled his collar in tighter around him. \u201cI hate this kind of weather. I can just hear Dag complaining about the cold.\u201d\u00a0 He stopped short and stared at Brynjolf, with his eyes wide. \u201cUh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf laughed. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. I was just thinking that same thing. \u2018I\u2019m cold, Red. Come over here and share some of that heat, Red.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi nodded, looking uncomfortable. \u201cI\u2019m, uh\u2026 glad you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s awkward, but it\u2019s time we got this cleared up, I think. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Roggi. It\u2019s time to stop worrying about this. You knew her before I did. I know what she was like. You\u2019ve got Dardeh now. And I\u2019m\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

What am I trying to say here? I don\u2019t even know what I feel about her. There\u2019s no point in poking at an old wound. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not even sure how I feel about things. I\u2019m missing Andante right now. But I do know that you\u2019re my friend, and I\u2019m not going to hold it against you that you know she hates to be cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFair enough,\u201d Roggi said, nodding. \u201cThanks, Bryn. I think you know that the whole thing still bothers me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. But it\u2019s done. In the past. We\u2019ve been through a lot together since then, haven\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo unless you\u2019re planning on going after Sayma behind Dar\u2019s back, it\u2019s a closed subject as far as I\u2019m concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi laughed. \u201cNo.\u201d He smiled at Brynjolf. \u201cNo need to worry. Even as much of a pushover as I am it would take something monumental to take me away from Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you admit it, then, Pushover.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi chuckled. \u201cNever tried to deny it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fort Greenwall emerged from the mists, down the road from them. Brynjolf squinted ahead and saw shapes rushing back and forth in front of it. He pointed. \u201cSome kind of skirmish going on up ahead. Maybe we should head around it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi nodded. \u201cSeems like they\u2019re always fighting there. That\u2019s one of the reasons Dar is worried, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

They dropped off the road, onto the well-worn path that went directly north, skirting the fort. They\u2019d made it almost to Shor\u2019s Stone when the rain let up for a moment. Not that it will let us dry out, Brynjolf thought as he pushed through the hip-high, dripping wet brush. He was trying to avoid the soggier spots on the trail, not really paying attention, when he heard Roggi cry out.\u00a0 Behind them, a group of three bandits had emerged from an unused wolves\u2019 den; one had struck Roggi hard enough to knock him off his feet, and Brynjolf couldn\u2019t tell whether he was alright or not.<\/p>\n

He had packed away his Daedric shield in one of Honeyside\u2019s chests because it reminded him too much of his days with Andante.\u00a0 While he had his sword with him, what he carried immediately at hand was a matched set of ebony daggers. They were excellent weapons, but he couldn\u2019t strike a man\u2019s head off with them, or throw him off-balance the way he could with the heavy shield. He grabbed the daggers and made for one of the bandits who, he saw too late, was gathering magic in his fists.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll give you a quick but painful end!\u201d Brynjolf shouted, stabbing in a dual attack that would have, not very long before, been the end of the mage.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A moment later he was regretting having made any noise at all. The mage had a shock spell ready, and fired it at him. He grunted with the pain of it and forced himself forward to press the attack. He got a few more solid blows in on the man; but all of them were swipes rather than stabs, and the fur cushioning on his armor absorbed much of the force of the blows and thus limited their damage. Just behind the mage, Brynjolf could see that Roggi had handled the man who had attacked him, and was heading for the third bandit, a man swinging a massive battleaxe in wild misses. They\u2019d be able to take him out, he was certain, just watching the way Roggi swung the dragonbone greatsword he carried. But first he had to get through the mage.<\/p>\n

Then he regretted having taken his attention off the mage at all. He was blasted with another shock that drove him to his knees, gasping for breath. He struggled to get at least one foot under himself, because if he didn\u2019t, he was going to die.<\/p>\n

That would be something, wouldn\u2019t it. Survive being undead all that time and go down to a common bandit in the end. I just really need to adjust for being mortal again. And I need to do it soon. <\/em><\/p>\n

He heard, in his mind, an echo from days long gone by. A deep, harsh echo.<\/p>\n

Yer a damn fool, laddie! A cocksure, impulsive, worthless thievin\u2019 brat and yer gonna get yerself er someone else killed wi\u2019 it one of these days! Ye need to grow up and act like a man, do some actual honest work fer a day and stop worryin\u2019 people half to death!<\/em><\/p>\n

He grimaced. Because he remembered the tremendous, brutal, stinging blow across the face that had preceded it just as clearly as he remembered the words themselves.<\/p>\n

Gods damn. Enough of that noise.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOver here!\u201d Roggi yelled.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf looked up to see the mage turn.\u00a0 Roggi had his hands full with the axe man, but his shout had distracted the mage just enough.<\/p>\n

Good man. <\/em><\/p>\n

He grinned and flung himself at the back of the mage.\u00a0 At the last second, he did something uncharacteristic and probably risky because he wasn\u2019t practiced at it.\u00a0 He reached around the man\u2019s shoulders and drew the dagger across his neck.\u00a0 To his surprise it felt easy, natural, almost as though his hand was being guided.<\/p>\n

The mage dropped to the ground. Brynjolf had no time to ponder his success; he circled around behind the final bandit and laughed to himself watching Roggi taunt him.\u00a0 This is a man who fights dragons, he thought; he\u2019s not intimidated by a lone bandit.\u00a0 He took two steps forward and slit this man\u2019s throat as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell!\u201d Roggi said, sheathing his sword. \u201cThat went well, all things considered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, it did. But I need to be more careful before I get someone killed. Someone\u2026 else\u2026 killed.\u201d He cleaned his daggers in the wet grass and put them away, then checked the bandit\u2019s pockets for valuables.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop that, Bryn,\u201d Roggi said. \u201cStop it right now.\u201d His voice was very low, and quiet, and carried overtones that caught Brynjolf\u2019s attention immediately. It made him think of the neatly packaged torture tools Andante had taken away from Fort Dawnguard.<\/p>\n

Oho. So this is what he\u2019s like, is it? I see. Best not get on the wrong side of that. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Roggi.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got a lifetime of practice taking the blame for other people\u2019s problems. It\u2019s a hard habit to break.\u201d\u00a0 He turned and started back down the hillside, north toward Eastmarch. \u201cEspecially when you see the problem happening in front of your own eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll talk about it later,\u201d Roggi said in a tone that left no room open for negotiations. \u201cI think we should stop off at my house in Kynesgrove. Warm up, dry off, get something to eat.\u00a0 Let me get myself ready for Windhelm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright.\u201d<\/p>\n

They walked in silence for a time.\u00a0 The weather couldn\u2019t decide what it wanted to do: for a time there would be drizzle, then a full, pelting rain, and then the sun would break out for a few minutes.\u00a0 It was during one of the sunny breaks, just as they were about to make the final descent onto the volcanic tundra, that a pack of three wolves hurtled out of the undergrowth and attacked them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

They made short work of the wolves, standing side by side.\u00a0 When they were all down, Brynjolf chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably put more energy into that than I needed to. I\u2019m still trying to find my feet again now that things are different.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we make a pretty good team,\u201d Roggi said, starting down the hill again. \u201cI\u2019ve never really watched you fight before, Bryn. I can\u2019t decide what style that is but you do it well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI usually carry just daggers. For the last \u2013 while \u2013 I\u2019ve carried a sword and a shield, and I got really good at it. Don\u2019t know why I decided to leave the shield behind\u2026\u201d he trailed off.\u00a0 Yes I do. It was part of my vampire kit and I can\u2019t bear looking at it any more.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t fool you, can I.\u00a0 I miss him. He gave me the shield.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi nodded, and walked along quietly for a time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you don\u2019t usually use an assassin\u2019s move across the throat like that,\u201d he said finally, in that same quiet inquisitor\u2019s voice he\u2019d let slip once or twice before. The hair on Brynjolf\u2019s neck rose.<\/p>\n

By the Eight, Roggi, that tone.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Not usually. I\u2019m more inclined to strike their heads off with a sword. In fact, that\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve ever done that specific thing. Purposefully, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s silent. That\u2019s why.\u2019 That\u2019s what she told me.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd twice in a row, too. Well done, Bryn. Strange, but well done.\u201d\u00a0 He stopped and peered down the road ahead, his head tilted to one side.<\/p>\n

\u201cListening for something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Dragons. Dar killed one by himself out here and the two of us killed another one. I don\u2019t know where they\u2019re coming from, and I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019m not up to dragon-slaying at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d just as soon avoid them myself. You\u2019re the dragon-slayer, not me.\u201d Not that I haven\u2019t fought them before. Gods.<\/em>\u00a0 He frowned, remembering the twin dragons that had burst upward through the frozen lake. Three vampires and two fire-breathing dragons. He was right to be angry with me; I nearly died, prancing around out on the ice like I thought I was invulnerable.<\/em><\/p>\n

Roggi snickered. \u201cNah. I\u2019m just the backup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf pointed to Roggi\u2019s dragonbone greatsword. \u201cThat blade says otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell it has done some work, to be sure. I\u2019m still concerned about something, though. Enough people in Windhelm know me that there\u2019s a chance they\u2019ll stop and ask how I\u2019m doing. Oengul, the smith, for example.\u201d He glanced sideways at Brynjolf. \u201cAnd they\u2019ll look at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf laughed. \u201cAnd unless someone recognizes the armor, they\u2019ll see an act put on by a con man. I\u2019m good at a sell, Roggi. That\u2019s why I was Second all those years. It was my job. That\u2019s what I\u2019m good at, not the leadership business.\u201d He paused to think for a moment. \u201cHmm. I have an idea, something that we can use in case someone asks. Let me introduce myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He grinned at Roggi, cleared his throat, and held out his hand as though he was doing just that.<\/p>\n

\u201cName\u2019s Brunulvr, laddie. Gud te meet ye.\u201d\u00a0 He\u2019d dropped into a thicker, darker, and deeper version of his own natural accents.<\/p>\n

Roggi stopped walking and fell a few steps behind him.\u00a0 Brynjolf turned to look at him and grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that face for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just surprised. You sounded completely different. Like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He chuckled. \u201cLike my father. From Falskaar and you\u2019d have known it if you spoke to him. Nobody in Windhelm would know the name. And I won\u2019t forget the name I\u2019ve picked if I use his.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve never talked about family.\u201d Roggi had started walking again, catching up to him quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Brynjolf frowned. \u201cAnd the less said about him the better, the bastard, but it\u2019ll make for a good diversion.\u201d They continued down the road toward Kynesgrove.<\/p>\n

By the time Roggi unlocked the door to his house, Brynjolf was ready for a break. He took a seat at Roggi\u2019s small table and watched silently as he built a fire and stood before it, warming his hands. There was something about him that told Brynjolf he wanted to talk. Here\u2019s a man, he thought, who has at least as much going on inside as I do at the moment. It may not be quite as strange, but it\u2019s just as deep.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He was about to say something about it when Roggi cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you miss it, Bryn?\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t even bother to ask what \u201cit\u201d was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said I didn\u2019t.\u201d He stretched and yawned. \u201cI couldn\u2019t possibly describe why. It was a hunger. Not just a needing-to-eat hunger, but something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmm,\u201d Roggi said. \u201cI do too. Miss it, that is, the thing I did. It doesn\u2019t make me proud to admit that I enjoy making people suffer. But it does make me proud to say how good I am at it, and there\u2019s something wrong with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know just what you mean, my friend, believe it or not. I\u2019ve done a lot of thinking about it. It seems to me that if you\u2019ve spent a lot of time being at the bottom of the heap, having some kind of power over other people is pretty\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAddictive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf raised an eyebrow. Roggi was facing the fire, not looking at him, but everything about him was radiating tension.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. I wonder if I\u2019ll be able to move past it. Maybe. Maybe we both will.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDardeh has told me a bunch of things about how it was while he was out there, well, saving the world and all that,\u201d Roggi said. He stopped for a moment and chuckled. \u201cThat still makes me laugh, to think that we can say that about him and not have it be ridiculous. Anyway, the leader of the Graybeards. Paarthurnax. He said a lot of things to Dar that have stuck with me, and one of them was this:\u00a0 \u2018There are many hungers that are better not to feed.\u2019 Dar says that a lot. Especially when he\u2019s getting angry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf nodded, slowly. \u201cI hear the wisdom in that.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was something Andante \u2013 no, Vitus \u2013 would never even have understood. He wanted to feed every hunger there was.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe that\u2019s why he was so exciting to me.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Roggi said quietly, \u201cany time I think about Ulfric, or hear about him, or the war, or anything of the kind, that hunger comes back. Because he\u2019s the one who taught me to do what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf turned to look at him, and Roggi met his gaze unflinchingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, not directly. He taught me many things. But he was the one who made it happen.\u201d\u00a0 Roggi rubbed his eyes tiredly. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019ll ever pass. And here\u2019s the worst of it.\u00a0 Dar hates him, you know that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDar will take his side if it comes down to it, Bryn. He\u2019ll join the Stormcloaks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi nodded. \u201cTalos.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. He\u2019s always made that clear. So did my wife, Briinda, and you don\u2019t even want to know about her little sister.\u201d He sighed. \u201cAnd all of the things that happened to him \u2013 on Solstheim, going to Sovngarde. He says he met Ysgramor, Bryn, can you imagine? I don\u2019t know whether it really happened or it\u2019s just in his mind but I don\u2019t care. It\u2019s all wrapped up with Talos for him and that means he hates the Empire. He hates the Thalmor. And it feeds his <\/em>hunger, the one that would be better not to feed.\u00a0 Because he can kill a man with a word.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf hadn\u2019t given much thought to the religious leanings of his extended family, because it wasn\u2019t a subject he thought about much to begin with. \u201cWhat about you? You were a Stormcloak once, you said.\u00a0 Why did you\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I didn\u2019t like the idea of people like Dar and Briinda being told who they could and couldn\u2019t worship, Bryn. For me, it\u2019s not the most important thing.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go visit the Temple while we\u2019re there. I always do. It\u2019s what I was brought up to do. But I don\u2019t know enough about things like that to know whether or not Tiber Septim turned into an actual god. It\u2026 doesn\u2019t really matter to me. \u00a0He was a great war hero and that\u2019s good enough for me. What\u2019s important is people being able to do what they want. I wanted us to be free. I don\u2019t hate the elves, I just want them to keep their own religion to themselves and let the Nords do theirs. Does that make any sense?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf laughed, a dry, sarcastic sort of laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a religious man, Roggi. So yes. It makes sense to me.\u201d He stretched out his shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Nocturnal?\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughed again. \u201cNocturnal isn\u2019t a god, she\u2019s a Daedric Prince. You know that. And besides, it\u2019s not religion. It\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi nodded and sat down before the fire. \u201cBut you got married in the Temple.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo did you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I did. Twice, even. It just\u2026 it\u2019s what people do<\/em>, Bryn, that\u2019s it. And if there is some good fortune that goes along with that, I figured I\u2019d be happy to accept it. It certainly felt special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. And that\u2019s exactly why I did it. I wanted to give that to her. I don\u2019t know if Mara is real. But it\u2019s a ceremony. A contract, almost. A deal, to stay together\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He was struck with a sudden surge of emotion, and he had to clear his throat. \u201cIt just seemed important. At the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Roggi sighed loudly. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Bryn. I know what it\u2019s like. I felt that way the whole time I was married to Briinda. It was so special for her. It was for me, too, but here I was trying to hide this gods-awful thing that was going on with Ulfric.\u201d He dropped his head into his hands. \u201cGods. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to do if Dar decides he has to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

An awful prospect dawned on Brynjolf, and it was his turn to rub his eyes against a headache that threatened from behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn.\u201d<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know what I\u2019ll do, either. Because like it or not, Maven is with the Imperials and I\u2019ll be damned if I let anything harm the Guild. Damn.<\/em><\/p>\n

Out of nowhere, Roggi changed the subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were drunks, Bryn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Who?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry. We were talking about family, sort of. I come from a long line of them. My father, his father, our ancestor Lenne. All good men with one big weakness.\u201d He looked at Brynjolf and grinned. \u201cI thought maybe I could break the chain. We know how well that worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know, Roggi. You\u2019ve done pretty well.\u201d He gave a half-hearted grin. \u201cWe really do have a lot in common. Mine were\u2026 mean. Physical. I thought I\u2019d break the pattern too, and\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He shuddered. \u201cDo you know, that\u2019s one of the toughest things about finding out I have a son. What would I do? What do I do if I end up hitting him the way\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, you don\u2019t need to hear about that old story. I almost hurt Dag once. You\u2019ve seen me kill people. I\u2019m a thief and it was a near miracle that I\u2019m not just a common murderer too like some of the bandits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi frowned, and Brynjolf could see the muscles in his jaw working.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what am I supposed to do about that? I didn\u2019t even know I had a son and he\u2019s already walking and talking and has his own personality. I don\u2019t know how he\u2019s been raised so far. Except that I know where<\/em>, and that\u2019s not a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, as it happens, Dar and I have talked about that. We\u2019d be more than happy to take him on if you don\u2019t think you can. I\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He paused to make sure he had Brynjolf\u2019s full attention. \u201cI don\u2019t want him growing up next to a torture chamber, Bryn. Everything bad about me? Everything bad about you? Those things are what he would get from that.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s right.<\/em><\/p>\n

And that means we have to deal with Sayma. Again.<\/em><\/p>\n

A feeling washed over him that was part regret and part anticipation.<\/p>\n

I have a reason to see her again. I want to see her again. I don\u2019t know what to make of that.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t decide about that right now, Roggi, but I know you\u2019re right about Dawnstar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi nodded. \u201cWell at least come back with me after we\u2019re done with Windhelm. See the boy. He\u2019s really something. Funny, and smart, even if he sounds like a toddler. I love him and he isn\u2019t even mine.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at Brynjolf. \u201cIt would be a strange thing for the boy, being brought up by a bunch of half-broken men but at least\u2026 at least we all know what\u2019s right and what\u2019s not. And we\u2019re trying.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a long, peaceful pause in the room as a slow smile crossed Brynjolf\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m lucky. I\u2019m lucky to have this man as part of my family.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Then he thought about Ulfric Stormcloak.<\/p>\n

I hope I can keep him.<\/em><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

It was late when they arrived at the Palace of the Kings in Windhelm. Rather than approach it head-on, they made their way through the marketplace.\u00a0 As Roggi had suggested might happen, Oengul recognized him and greeted him warmly; Brynjolf introduced himself as Brunulvr, and Oengul seemed pleased to meet him.<\/p>\n

When they passed Niranye\u2019s general goods store, Brynjolf noticed her staring at him.<\/p>\n

So she recognizes the armor, and now she knows what I look like. Well, now we get to find out how well we can count on her discretion.<\/em><\/p>\n

He met her gaze and nodded.\u00a0 She nodded back, slowly; and it seemed to him that she swallowed hard.\u00a0 He continued past her stall and grinned.<\/p>\n

Something changed me when I was a vampire, and that part of it I haven\u2019t lost, it seems. It\u2019s uncommonly fun to intimidate people just by looking at them.<\/em><\/p>\n

He took stock of the goods and wares on display in the market. They were poor, of second-rate materials.\u00a0 As he and Roggi rounded the corner and approached the Temple of Talos he saw the poor repair of the streets, and the threadbare condition of the peoples\u2019 clothing.\u00a0 Even the beautiful Temple, once they got inside, was much shabbier than it had been the one previous time he\u2019d seen it, as an earnest young thief looking to see what he could take away from it.<\/p>\n

Windhelm\u2019s hurting. The war is hurting it.<\/em><\/p>\n

He waited quietly at the back of the temple while Roggi spent a few moments kneeling quietly before the Shrine of Talos. I suppose, he thought, a person can do worse than to hedge his bets if he isn\u2019t sure whether a god is really a god. Some people might look poorly on such a thing but I understand. Roggi\u2019s being respectful and there\u2019s something to be said for that.<\/p>\n

I suppose I could go touch the shrine, too. I\u2019m a Nord after all.\u00a0 But I\u2019m not a hypocrite, and I would be if I were to do such a thing. At least that\u2019s one decent thing I can say about myself.<\/em><\/p>\n

They left after a few minutes and approached the Palace.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrab me if I start shaking out of my boots, Bryn,\u201d Roggi joked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t. Just remember to keep your eyes open and walk with the shadows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi grinned at him. \u201cAre you praying over me, Brynjolf?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a manner of speaking. As you keep reminding me, we\u2019re family.\u201d<\/p>\n

They pushed the door open as quietly as they could and slipped inside. Brynjolf recognized the deep voice coming from the front of the room instantly; the Jarl of Windhelm, Ulfric Stormcloak and would-be High King of Skyrim sat uneasily on his throne.\u00a0 His gravelly-voiced right hand man, Galmar, stood before him and while his words weren\u2019t clear, his tone was: he was arguing with Ulfric, urging him to do something. There was a slightly smaller figure standing there as well; a woman, judging by the long curling tail of hair falling from atop her head. She wasn\u2019t speaking, but nodded vigorously every so often as Galmar made a point.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Roggi went right and flattened himself against the wall, slinking forward in the deepest shadows he could find.\u00a0 Brynjolf followed suit. He also scanned the room and saw that, while there was a fa\u00e7ade of wealth in this space it was just that, a fa\u00e7ade. Riften was poorer to the casual eye, its buildings old and made of\u00a0 wood; but Brynjolf knew very well the size of the coin purses between its walls and there was no question in his mind.\u00a0 Windhelm was hurting, and so was its Jarl.<\/p>\n

He moved up close behind Roggi and strained to hear what was being said. It was important to Dardeh to find out what Ulfric was planning. And it\u2019s important to Roggi to see Ulfric and remember that he\u2019s a much stronger man than he used to be.<\/em><\/p>\n

Finally, they were close enough to the throne to hear Ulfric clearly. He turned to the blonde woman and spoke to her.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cImperial spies are everywhere. Never forget that.\u00a0 Now then.\u201d\u00a0 He paused, and it seemed to Brynjolf that, just for a moment, Ulfric\u2019s gaze was almost hungry as he looked at her. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re here. I have a message I need delivered to the Jarl of Whiterun. Deliver this axe to Balgruuf the Greater.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn axe, my Jarl?\u201d\u00a0 the woman asked in a light, musical voice.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf saw Roggi tensing, just in front of him, and fought the urge to move, to touch him in reassurance. Obviously they both had realized what Ulfric\u2019s war axe was meant to convey: an ultimatum. Ulfric was saying \u201cyou\u2019re with me, or you\u2019re against me. Make your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, an axe,\u201d Ulfric said, sounding annoyed. \u201cHow long have you been in Skyrim? Give. The man. \u00a0My axe. \u00a0If he keeps it, I will bide my time.\u00a0 If he returns it to you,\u201d he paused and exchanged a glance with Galmar, \u201cit means war.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I say anything to him? Have you any special message for the Jarl of Whiterun?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ulfric looked at her and smiled. \u201cMen who understand each other often have no need for words. There are but a few simple truths behind one warrior giving another his axe. Balgruuf will know my meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman nodded, and took Ulfric\u2019s axe, almost reverently it seemed to Brynjolf.\u00a0 And Roggi reached backward and waved toward the door.\u00a0 He was silent, but his message was clear:\u00a0 \u201cGo! Go!\u201d<\/p>\n

They slipped back to, and out, the door as fast as they could.\u00a0 Once they were outside, Roggi turned to him and grabbed him by the arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is bad, Bryn. This is very bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know it is. We\u2019ll have to get to Dardeh right away.\u201d And I will have to warn Maven, but I can\u2019t tell you that. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but it\u2019s not just that, Bryn.\u00a0 I have to tell you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

They heard the creaking of the door behind them.\u00a0 Roggi pointed to the far corner of the stairway and hissed \u201cGet out of sight! Just for a moment! Do it!\u201d\u00a0 He ran to the corner beside the nearer door and found the deepest shadow.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf had no idea what any of it meant, but he was willing to humor Roggi; so he followed suit and found a dark spot on the opposite side of the doors.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t have time to hide, but he did know how to look like a person who just happened to be in the area and did that.\u00a0 Behind them the doors opened, and the blonde woman who had been speaking with Ulfric Stormcloak stepped out, smiling.<\/p>\n

She was beautiful. In the dark he couldn\u2019t tell how old she was, but guessed that she was perhaps Dardeh\u2019s age, Sayma\u2019s age, some ten years younger than Roggi. She was a lovely woman, with hair of an even paler blonde than Roggi\u2019s.\u00a0 Dressed in sturdy but unpretentious leather armor she nevertheless carried herself with a fierce confidence that Brynjolf recognized immediately.\u00a0 She carried Ulfric\u2019s axe proudly, but on her own hip she carried a Nordic pick, a brutal-looking weapon with sharp spikes attached to a mace-like handle.<\/p>\n

This one is a fighter. If she is any good with that pick, I\u2019ll be staying out of her way. Ulfric has chosen himself a fierce ally, unless I miss my guess. <\/em><\/p>\n

She walked past Roggi without noticing him.\u00a0 But Brynjolf heard Roggi\u2019s sharp intake of breath.<\/p>\n

What is going on here?<\/em><\/p>\n

Roggi cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The woman turned back toward him as he stepped out of the shadows.\u00a0 Brynjolf took several steps forward, to be closer in case he was needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d\u00a0 Roggi\u2019s voice was thick with some emotion Brynjolf couldn\u2019t quite place.<\/p>\n

The woman stared at him for several long moments, her expression changing from confusion, to disbelief, and finally to joy.\u00a0 Roggi, on the other hand, seemed wrapped in deep sorrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoggi!\u201d she shrieked, and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. \u201cRoggi! By Talos it is so good to see you! It\u2019s been so long! What are you doing here? Are you come to rejoin the Stormcloaks? Will you come fight with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi gave the woman a hug, and then took her by the shoulders and pushed her gently away from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHush. Hush now.\u00a0 No, I\u2019m not here to rejoin. Jarl Ulfric and I did not part on the best of terms. You mustn\u2019t tell him that I\u2019ve been here. I\u2026\u201d he paused and looked her over, and it seemed to Brynjolf that he wore an expression of exquisite pain. \u201cI\u2019m happy to see you again. But you have to understand that things are very different now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes, I know!\u201d the woman said, clearly excited. \u201cYou\u2019re older, I\u2019m grown up, and\u2026\u201d she suddenly realized that Brynjolf was standing to her side, watching them carefully. \u201cAnd who\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi motioned him over, and Brynjolf approached.\u00a0 He held his hand out and, as they\u2019d rehearsed, spoke quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cName\u2019s Brunulvr, lass. Gud te meet ye.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roggi cleared his throat.\u00a0 As nervous as he\u2019d seemed to be near Ulfric again, he seemed worse at this moment, and Brynjolf couldn\u2019t imagine what the problem was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like you to meet Frina. She\u2019s \u2026 the sister of Briinda. My late wife.\u201d He smiled, weakly. \u201cShe\u2019s my former sister-in-law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part I: Sayma Sendu<\/a><\/div>\n
Previous<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

They made decent time heading north out of Riften. They weren\u2019t in any hurry, but neither of them was used to walking slowly. There was a heavy mist and the sky was gray.\u00a0 Brynjolf sniffed at the air.\u00a0 Rain soon. \u201cWhat sorts of information are we looking for, then?\u201d \u201cAnything. He didn\u2019t specify. But my … <\/p>\n

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