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<\/p>\nSabjorn was a perfectly obnoxious man, a Nord with a built-in sneer and an oily voice.\u00a0 He looked down his nose at them when they walked into the meadery the following morning, even though he was clearly distressed by the dead skeevers bleeding on the floor in front of his bar. \u201cIsn\u2019t it obvious?\u201d he growled when Dag asked what was wrong. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to be hosting a tasting of my new blend for the captain of the guard, and he will be here at any moment. I need to clean up this mess before he gets here, or my reputation will be ruined.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dag looked at him, standing there in a filthy apron and looking as though he hadn\u2019t bathed recently, and wondered what sort of grand reputation someone like him might have. \u201cMaybe I could help,\u201d she offered, trying hard to sound as though she\u2019d just had the idea that moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell I don\u2019t suppose you\u2019d do it for free, would you,\u201d he whined.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not really,\u201d she said shaking her head.\u00a0 \u201cPay up front. It\u2019s the only way I work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll pay you when the job\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, or I start yelling \u2018skeever.\u2019\u201d Sabjorn cringed. This is actually kind of fun, Dag thought.\u00a0 Even better than watching Brynjolf fight to control his temper.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, now, let\u2019s not do anything hasty,\u201d Sabjorn stammered.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll pay you half now.\u00a0 I got some poison for the pests.\u00a0 I was going to have my lazy, good for nothing assistant Mallus take care of it, but he seems to have gone missing.\u00a0 Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need. \u00a0Don\u2019t come back until every last one of those vermin is dead.\u201d\u00a0 He handed Dag the poison and a satisfying amount of coin. \u201cNow hurry up.\u00a0 I need to take care of this mess.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi followed Dag into the adjoining room, where they found the door to the basement.\u00a0 There were bloodied bear traps and skeever carcasses near the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why we came all the way to Whiterun? To get rid of some skeevers?\u201d Roggi asked, puzzled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u00a0 As you heard, this guy is hosting the captain of the guard for a tasting in just a little while, and the success of the event is crucial to the person back in Riften who hired me. We\u2019ll be paid a really good sum. I didn\u2019t question why it had to be me and not somebody local; I just need the money.\u201d That all was true enough, Dag thought, even if it wasn\u2019t the entirety of the story.\u00a0 There was no need to tell him in what way it was crucial.\u00a0 She was positive that Roggi would not approve.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long before Dag was once again thankful to have Roggi at her side.\u00a0 The skeevers in Honningbrew\u2019s basement were larger than the usual strains, mean and aggressive and eager to have Dag and Roggi for breakfast.\u00a0 Roggi\u2019s arrows took out four of them to every two she sliced apart with her swords.<\/p>\n
Dag entered the next area first and found herself facing more of her favorite spiders.\u00a0 These, however, were the smaller variety, and she had no major issues except one; just as her arrow found the last spider, there was a very human scream and a man casting a frost spell at her came rushing out from the dark end of the cave.\u00a0 Dag was good in a swordfight but not so good against magic and especially not frost magic; she drew her swords but her limbs didn\u2019t want to respond.\u00a0 \u201cHelp!\u201d she cried, trying her best to swing at the mage and missing wildly.<\/p>\n
Roggi barreled ahead with his greatsword high, and brought it down onto the man\u2019s shoulder with the same efficient slice she\u2019d seen him practice at Oengul\u2019s smithy.\u00a0 It divided the man\u2019s upper body in two.\u00a0 He dropped like a rock, bleeding out into the dirt.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s how a true Nord fights,\u201d Roggi growled at the corpse, then turned to her.\u00a0 \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Dag moaned, shivering, trying to rub life back into her arms. \u201cYes. Honestly, if you hadn\u2019t been here I\u2019d be dead right now.\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 I\u2019m so bad with cold. It\u2019s embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was some skeever,\u201d he grumbled, shaking his head.\u00a0 \u201cSabjorn didn\u2019t mention him.\u201d<\/p>\n
And neither did Mallus, Dag thought.\u00a0 I shall have to discuss that with him later.<\/p>\n
Nearby the spot where the mage had been camped out they found the nests, which she poisoned; there wouldn\u2019t be more baby skeevers there again any time soon.\u00a0 It made Dag\u2019s stomach turn to think of him living with, and so close to, the skeevers; she had to wonder whether he\u2019d been breeding them. At least the legitimate part of the job was complete, and Dag hoped Mallus would adequately appreciate that fact. With money.<\/p>\n
They worked their way up into the boiler room.\u00a0 Dag scanned it quickly and saw that the only access to the vats was upstairs.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t very well let Roggi watch her poison the mead.\u00a0 \u201cUm, how about you check around down here and see if there are any other skeevers or signs of nests?\u00a0 I\u2019ll go up top and do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag scurried up the steps to the platform that ringed the building, then around to where ingredients could be dumped into the vats.\u00a0 It was simple to slide the covers aside just enough to drop poison into them, and not so simple to replace them quietly; but she managed to do it by yelling \u201cit\u2019s clean up here, how does it look below?\u201d to cover the sound of the heavy lids clunking back into place.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll clear down here.\u00a0 I think we\u2019re done,\u201d Roggi responded.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The external door was locked, as Mallus had said it would be, but the key was hanging next to the door.\u00a0 They let themselves out and replaced the key before closing the door behind them, then returned to the bar.<\/p>\n
Sabjorn was wringing his hands nervously while a man in Whiterun guard armor looked about in the public areas, which were now clean and tidy.\u00a0 Mallus had returned while they had been exterminating skeevers, and was standing out of the way near the door.\u00a0 She looked at him and gave him a slight nod, then walked over to Sabjorn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took you long enough,\u201d he whined at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell the job\u2019s done,\u201d she said. \u201cHow about the rest of my pay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll just have to wait,\u201d Sabjorn said dismissively.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose you can stay until the tasting is over, if you simply must.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI simply must,\u201d she agreed, frowning at him but laughing inside. You\u2019re a nasty girl<\/em>, the sarcastic little voice in the back of her mind observed. Yeah, yeah, she told herself. Brynjolf knows what he sees, and he saw me. I get it.<\/p>\n Sabjorn was perfectly obsequious to the Captain.\u00a0 \u201cWelcome. Now, it\u2019s time for the tasting.\u00a0 I like to call this \u2018Honningbrew Reserve.\u2019 I think it\u2019s our finest blend to date.\u201d<\/p>\n The Captain snorted. \u201cCome now. This is mead, not some wine to be sipped and savored.\u201d\u00a0 He drew himself a deep flagon of it, then downed it in one go.<\/p>\n An endless moment passed, while Sabjorn, Mallus, and Dag held their breath in agonized anticipation.<\/p>\n The Captain turned pale, almost green.\u00a0 \u201cWhat,\u201d he gulped, nearly retching, \u201cis the meaning of this?\u201d<\/p>\n Sabjorn blanched.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 What\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n The Captain clearly didn\u2019t feel well at that moment.\u00a0 \u201cI should have known better than to trust this filth-ridden place. I\u2019ll see you in the dungeons for the rest of your days!\u201d\u00a0 He stifled a belch and his hue changed for the worse a second time. He walked slowly over to Mallus, glancing briefly at Dag as he passed. \u201cYou. You\u2019re in charge here until we get to the bottom of this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be my pleasure,\u201d Mallus murmured, nodding in acquiescence.<\/p>\n \u201cGet moving!\u201d the Captain barked at Sabjorn, pulling his sword.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re coming with me.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see what your story is after you spend some time in the Dragonsreach prison.\u201d Sabjorn protested and stammered, but finally put his head down and shuffled out the door with the Captain, struggling to keep from heaving, at his back.<\/p>\n Mallus approached Dagnell.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think that could have gone any better,\u201d he said, handing her a bag of coin.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, aside from the madman in the basement, it was easy. You\u2019ll have to clean that up yourself, by the way.\u201d She liked the feel of the coin purse, but she wanted to see Mallus squirm a bit anyway.<\/p>\n Mallus at least had the good sense to look embarrassed. \u201cI thought it best to keep some of the details to myself.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want you to quit the job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Dag said, frowning, and purposefully adjusting her swords.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll try to remember not to share that little detail with our — mutual friend.\u201d\u00a0 Or maybe I will, Mallus. Do I make you sufficiently uncomfortable?<\/em><\/p>\n Mallus smiled nervously. \u201cNow, is there anything else you need before you return to Riften?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u00a0 I need to get a look at Sabjorn\u2019s papers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I see,\u201d he said. \u201cShe wants to find out who Sabjorn\u2019s secret partner was. Here\u2019s the key to his desk upstairs. Take all the time you need. And,\u201d he added, dropping his voice so that only she could hear him, \u201cif you ever need anything fenced while you\u2019re in Whiterun, look me up.\u00a0 Pass along a good word to Maven for me, ok?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Mallus,\u201d Dag said, glad that they\u2019d soon be putting distance between themselves and this unpleasant man. \u201cWould you mind setting my friend up with a mead?\u00a0 Assuming you have some put aside that doesn\u2019t have poison in it?\u00a0 It would be the least you could do.\u00a0 If not for him I\u2019d be dead and you\u2019d still have Sabjorn to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Mallus turned away to speak to Roggi, and Dag went to the second floor of the adjoining room.<\/p>\n Sabjorn\u2019s bedroom had a few baubles and coins in it that found new homes in Dag\u2019s pockets.\u00a0 His desk held some papers, including one marked \u201cPromissory Note.\u201d\u00a0 It read:\u00a0 \u201cSabjorn, within the enclosed crate you\u2019ll find the final payment.\u00a0 As we discussed, Honningbrew Meadery should now begin brewing mead at full production.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The writer also promised to keep Maven and her \u201cassets\u201d at bay, which made Dag chuckle.\u00a0 The signature, though, was not a name, but the same odd symbol that had been on the Goldenglow Estate bill of sale.<\/p>\n Dag nearly turned to leave, but noticed a door at the back of the room.\u00a0 Jiggling the door handles, she found it locked.\u00a0 It\u2019s a perfect time to put these gloves to another test, she thought, smiling, and set to picking the lock.\u00a0 This time she broke three picks before it opened, but the fourth was the charm.\u00a0 This small back dressing room held, in addition to the mundane clothing and books one would expect to find, some jewelry, several very fat coin purses, and a shiny golden decanter that seemed just the type of gaudy trinket Delvin might be interested in.\u00a0 Grinning, she slipped it into a pouch and made her way back to the front.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Mallus,\u201d she said, heading for the door. \u201cFound what I needed.\u00a0 Let\u2019s head back to town, Roggi.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled at her. \u201cSure thing.\u00a0 Good luck with Honningbrew,\u201d he said to Mallus, waving as they walked through the door.<\/p>\n Dag heaved a great sigh once they were out in the fresh air and walking back toward Whiterun.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad that\u2019s over. I\u2019ll be happy if I never see another skeever up close. Look, I have a bunch of coin to split with you. I wasn\u2019t expecting to get paid until we got back to Riften, but I think this will make the trip worth all of the bother.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smiled at her.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s ok.\u00a0 I\u2019ve enjoyed it so far.\u00a0 Good company and all.\u00a0 But I won\u2019t pass up the coin. Why don\u2019t you hang onto it until we get you back to Riften in one piece?\u201d<\/p>\n Dag chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Roggi.\u00a0 I have, too. I think we should treat ourselves to another night at the inn before we head back.\u00a0 Oh, and don\u2019t feel as though you have to sleep in your armor.\u00a0 Really.\u00a0 I won\u2019t bite and I promise I won\u2019t try to take advantage of you.\u201d The little sarcastic voice in Dag\u2019s head snorted. Yeah, right. You know you want to try.<\/em> Dag ignored it. \u201cBesides, I liked being warm for a change,\u201d she teased him.<\/p>\n Roggi blushed.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d he agreed.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n Sabjorn was a perfectly obnoxious man, a Nord with a built-in sneer and an oily voice.\u00a0 He looked down his nose at them when they walked into the meadery the following morning, even though he was clearly distressed by the dead skeevers bleeding on the floor in front of his bar. \u201cIsn\u2019t it obvious?\u201d he … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/1-1-17-3.png\")
<\/p>\nPart I: Survivors<\/a><\/div>\nPrevious<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"