Chapter Ten: Mercer Exposed
On the journey from Winter hold to the rift, the carriage passes through a Tundra covered in steam vents and hot springs. Lucina is studying the sword Karliah gave her at the Frozen Hearth Inn. The Nightingale Blade of Lucina’s father, Gallus. The weapon is impossibly light for its size, but holding it she knows this blade is stronger than Skyforge Steel. Lucina’s focus is broken when a large boulder falls from the sky and crashes into the front of the carriage killing the horse and putting the carriage in a tailspin. The driver is thrown from his seat and Lucina holds on tight to the sides of the cart until it comes to a stop. She gets on her feet and stumbles away behind a ridge. When her head stops spinning, she looks around, “Where in Oblivion did that come from?!?!” No sooner do the words leave her mouth than does a pale giant, wielding a massive club, come charging towards the wreck.
The mangled mess of what was her driver crawls out from a bush. His head and left arm are bloody and his right leg is twisted in such a way that it is clearly broken in at least two places. The giant changes his direction and raises his club. Lucina reaches behind her to grab her crossbow, but it’s not there. She watches as the club comes down on the driver, crushing him. Lucina crouches down behind the small ridge hoping to go unnoticed. Feeling helpless she beats the ground with her fist. Her father’s sword is gone. Her crossbow is gone. All she has is two small daggers.
The loud footsteps of the giant can be heard drawing closer to her position. Lucina prepares to try and make a run for it, but the footsteps stop. She dares to peek over the ridge and sees the giant hunched over and sifting through the wreck. Then she remembers… “Small daggers… small Enchanted daggers…” The magic of the blades gives off a gentle hum when they are drawn from their scabbards. Lucina grips her blades tight as she eases up on top of the ridge. Knowing that if she makes a sound, the monster will crush her as he did the driver. Once in position, she leaps onto the Giants back and digs her blades into his back. The giant screams and rears back. His long arms try to reach the attacker on his back, but to no avail. Lucina stabs him again and again. She loses count of how many times she sinks Reaver and Siphon into the giant’s back. She shouts, “JUST DIE, DAMN YOU!! DIE!!”
The giant drops to his knees and slumps over to his side. Lucina continues stabbing the creature until she is certain he’s dead. She falls back on the road and lays there a moment trying to catch her breath. However faint, she hears the sound of wheezing. She follows the sound to the driver’s body. Shocked, she says, “You’re.. You’re still alive?” She tries to pour a healing potion into his mouth, but he can’t swallow it. She tries the only healing spell she knows, but it’s not enough. She continues casting the spell long after the man has stopped breathing.
After the shock has worn off, Lucina searches the area for her lost weapons. She finds the sword stuck in a tree and her crossbow in a hot spring. She kneels down and washes the giant’s blood off her and her blades. She puts her daggers back in their scabbards, straps her crossbow to her back, and wraps her father’s sword in her cloak. Lucina stands and looks back to the driver somberly. “Good bye…” she stands in silence a moment when she realizes she never asked his name. She glances downwards as she turns away.
It’s nearly sundown when she finally reaches Riften’s gates. A guard greets her, “Welcome back, Lu. You been gone a while.” Lucina recognizes him, “Hi, Rei’Nog. Yeah… been a rough week. Don’t suppose you’ve seen Mercer today?” Rei’Nog shrugs, “No, but he doesn’t talk to us guards unless he needs something.” Lucina frowns, “Well, come find me if you spot him. We have important business to discuss. I got a pint of mead at the Bee and Barb with your name on it.” Lucina gives him a pat on the arm and heads into the city.
Lucina enters the Inn and Keerava notices a limp in her step. Keerava motions to Talen and then follows Lucina up stairs to her room. She knocks on the door, but gets no answer so she uses her key. When the door opens, Keerava sees Lucina easing her cuirass off revealing several dark bruises. “What did you do to yourself?” She asks. Lucina moves over to her bed, “I’ll be f-fine. I just… Just need to rest for an hour or two.” Keerava scoffs, “Of all the bone headed… I’m going to fetch a healer from the temple.” Lucina groans, “I don’t need a…” Keerava interrupts her, “Oh shut it! Not like you are in a condition to stop me.”
Several hours later, Lucina rises from her bed. She still has some tenderness, but she can breathe easier and move freely. Knowing a healer’s services don’t come cheap, Lucina pulls up the floorboards and collects a few gemstones and a purse of gold. Everyone in the Inn is asleep so she leaves the stones on Keerava’s dresser then goes to Talen-Jei’s room and places the flawless Amethysts, he asked for, on his nightstand with a small piece of paper with just a “L” written on it.
Lucina hits the streets to find the city beggars. If Mercer made it back to the Guild, she needs to know what she’s walking into. If anyone knows the on-goings of the dark underbelly of a city, it’s the beggars. Word on the street is that the Guild is looking for her and not in a good way. She moves carefully through the alleys towards the Guilds back entrance, but it’s sealed shut. Only one way in, now.
As she heads for the Ratway, she spots a man wandering the markets. She’s never seen him before. Well dressed and the guards nod to him as he passes them. “Who are you?” she wanders silently to herself. She follows him a moment and sees him go into the house called Honeyside. One of the more expensive houses in the city. Since she arrived in the city, she has not seen anyone enter or leave Honeyside. There were no shadow markings on the structure so she assumed it was empty. If the fine clothes and jewelry the man is wearing are any indication, there must be a treasure trove inside. But it would have to wait. Karliah is supposed to be waiting for her in the Ragged Flagon.
When Lucina enters the Ragged Flagon, Karliah is waiting near the door. “I’m glad you’re here.” Karliah says, “I’m beginning to think these people are starting to suspect who I am… Are you ready to face the Guild?” Lucina looks around and notices Vex and Delvin are not at their usual haunts. Something is very wrong, but it can’t be helped now. “I’m ready.” Lucina says, “But what if Mercer is inside?” Karliah replies, “Then we show them the journal and hope for the best. Remember, We have proof and all he has is his word.” Lucina takes a deep breath, “Alright… Let’s do this.” Karliah nods, “Keep your eyes open. I’m not sure what to expect when we enter the Cistern.” Lucina feels suspicious eyes upon her as they make their way from the Flagon to the entrance to the Guild’s hideout.
When they enter the Cistern, Brynjolf, Delvin, and Vex are waiting. The rest of the guild members are blocking exits. When Lucina sees their daggers out, she draws Reaver and Siphon from their scabbards. Weapons are in hand and one wrong word would mean certain death. “You better have a damn good reason for being here with that murderer.” Brynjolf says. Karliah pleads with the thieves, “Please. Lower your weapons so we can speak. I have proof that you’ve all been misled.” Brynjolf puts his dagger away, “No tricks Karliah… or I’ll cut you down where you stand. Now, what’s the so-called proof you speak of?” Karliah steps up, “I have Gallus’ Journal. I think you will find its contents disturbing.” Brynjolf scowls at her as he takes the journal, “Let me see…”
After several tense moments, Brynjolf’s expression changes dramatically. “What?” he utters, “This… this can’t be… This can’t be true! I’ve known Mercer too long.” Karliah folds her arms, “It’s true, Brynjolf. Every word. Mercer has been stealing from the Guild for years right under your noses.” Brynjolf closes the journaal and looks to Old Delvin, “There’s only one way to see if what the lass says is true. Delvin, I’ll need you to open the vault.” The weapons are put away and Delvin asks, “Wait just a moment, Byrn. What’s in that book? What did it say?” Brynjolf shakes his head, “It says Mercer has been stealing from us for years. Gallus was looking into it when he was murdered.” Delvin finds the statement hard to believe, “How can anyone open a lock that needs two keys. It’s impossible… Could he pick his way in?” Vex says, “That door has the best puzzle locks money can buy. There’s no way it can be picked open.” In a hushed tone, Karliah mutters, “He didn’t need to pick the lock.” Delvin looks back at her, “What’s she on about?”
Once at the vault, Brynjolf nods to Delvin, “Use your key on the Vault Delvin. We’ll open it up and find out the truth.” Delvin slides his key into the lock and turns it until a latch catches. He pushes on the door, “I’ve used my key, but the vault is still locked up tighter than a drum. Now use yours.” Lucina looks to Karliah as Brynjolf tries his key. The latch catches a second time and the lock tumblers release. When the door opens, Brynjolf shouts, “BY THE EIGHT! IT”S GONE! All of it’s gone!.. Get in here, all of you.”
The group rushes in to find an empty room. Only a few items of little value are left. Delvin looks around in disbelief, “The gold! The Jewels! It’s all gone…” Vex draws her blade, “That son of a bitch! I’ll kill him!” Brynjolf looks around, “Vex, put it away. Right now. We can’t afford to lose our heads. We need to calm down and focus.” Delvin looks to her, “Do what he says Vex. This ain’t helpin’ right now.”” Reluctantly, Vex puts the blade away, “Fine… We do it your way. For now.” Brynjolf says, “Delvin. Vex. Go watch the Flagon. If you see Mercer, come get me at once.” With bruised egos, they leave the vault.
Karliah approaches Lucina, “I’m glad they listened to reason or that could have gotten bloody.” Lucina takes a small sigh of relief, “What do we do now? Where would Mercer go?” Karliah motions to Bryjolf, “For now, go see what Brynjolf has to say while I consider our next move.” Lucina turns and sees Brynjolf hunkered over Mercer’s desk sifting through papers. “Bryn..” Lucina says. He looks up, “Look, Before I help you track Mercer down, I need you to tell me what you learned from Karliah. All of it.” Lucina puts her hands on her hips, “You mean besides Mercer being the one that killed Gallus and blamed Karliah for it? Karliah was also the one behind Golden Glow and Honning Brew.” Brynjolf smiles, “Trying to make Mercer look bad in front of Maven, eh? Clever lass… Anything else?” Lucina looks to Karliah, “Karliah, Gallus , and Mercer are Nightingales…” Brynjolf stands straight, “What? Nightingales? I always thought it a tale. A story to keep the young footpads in line… Anything else?” Lucina just shakes her head, “That’s all I got.” Brynjolf ponders a moment, “Then there’s something I need you to do. I want you to break into Mercers home and search for any sign of where he’s gone.” Lucina asks, “Mercer has a house in Riften?” Brynjolf nods, “Aye. A gift from the Blackbriars. He never stays there, just pays the up keep on it. Hired some lout named Vald to guard the place.” Lucina agrees, “I’ll take care of it.” Brynjolf puts his hand on her shoulder, “Be careful, lass. This is the last place I would ever want to send you. Vald isn’t the only one guarding the place. Get in. Get whatever information you can find. Get out. Kill anyone that gets in your way.”
Word spreads through the guild quickly. Brynjolf instructs the member to spread the word to all the Guild’s contacts that Mercer Frey is a traitor and murderer and the Guild is offering a handsome bounty for his head. They don’t have any coin other than what’s in their pockets, but no one knows that. Lucina heads out into the city to scope out Mercer’s house. Vald is stomping around the back of the house and armored men can be seen in the windows. There is no way in through the front, but she notices an oddly placed elevated ramp to the second story on the back of the house. She has always tried to avoid killing, but nothing is going to stop her from getting on Mercer’s trail.
Lucina climbs to the top of the neighboring house and takes aim with her crossbow. She waits for the City Guards to be far enough away so as not to hear the Crossbow when it fires. She fires a bolt into the yard to draw out Vald and quickly reloads. She dips the tip of the bolt in a poison and waits. Vald draws his mace and rushes to where he heard a strange noise. He looks up and sees a shadowy figure on the neighboring roof just in time to see the bolt leave the crossbow.
Lucina watches him fall from the force of the bolt and try to pull the bolt out, but Silent Night is fast acting. His muscles stiffen and he stops moving. Lucina climbs down and picks the lock on the gate. She drags his body out of sight and kneels beside him, “I’m sorry. I have to get in the house… The poison will kill you eventually. It will be painful.” She draws Reaver and places it over his heart, “Close your eyes if you want me to drive this in…” Vald’s eyes shiver as he feels the poison begin to burn his insides. A single tear rolls down his cheek as he closes his eyes. She puts her weight on to the blade and his eyes pop open. She watches the light of life wade from his eyes.
Lucina looks to the ramp and see the mechanism holding the ramp in place. She aims and fires. The ramp slams to the ground. It’s loud enough that Guards will certainly search the area so she rushes up the ramp to the door and picks her way in. Once inside, she hears voices of the mercenaries Brynjolf warned about. She moves as quietly as she can. They don’t have anything to do with her vengeance… and she has had enough blood on her hands for one day.
Lucina searches the entire house, but can’t find anything that looks like it can help locate Mercer… Until she finds a note describing a hidden door in a closet. She searches a nearby closet and finds a false back that slides open. It leads down into the sewers below the house. She follows the passage. Avoiding several traps, she eventually finds a room that looks like some kind of study. She finds a blade that radiates a frosty mist, A bust of the GreyFox, several gemstones, and plans for a Dwemer Ruin on the edge of the Pale and Winter Hold to the far north.
She collects as much as she can carry and looks for another way out. A tunnel leads to a deeper section of the city's sewer system. She recognizes the area. It’s just behind the Ragged Flagon. “Huh…” She says, “So this is how he moves without anyone spotting him.” She makes her way back to the Cistern and finds Brynjolf where she left him. “Bryn!” she calls. He looks up, “You’re back? We’ve scoured the town and leaned on all our contacts. No sign of Mercer. What did you find?” “A ton of guards, traps and some of the guilds' stolen treasure.” She says, “But he wasn’t inside. I did find this…” She lays the plans she found on the desk. He looks at the plans over, “Shoar’s Beard… he’s going after the eyes of the Falmer?” He punches the desk, “If he gets his hands on those he’ll be gone for good and set up for life.” Lucina says, “We have to stop him!” He folds his arms, “Agreed. He’s betrayed us and going after the Eyes is just an insult. I’ve spoken to Karliah and made amends for how the Guild has treated her. She wants to speak with us.” and he walks away.
Karliah waits at the center of the Cistern, “Brynjolf. The time has come to decide Mercer’s fate. Until a new Guild Master is chosen, The decision falls to you.” He replies sternly, “Aye, lass. And I’ve come to a decision. Mercer tried to kill you two. He betrayed the Guild and made us question our future… He needs to die.” Karliah responds, “We have to be very careful, Brynjolf.Mercer is a Nightingale. An agent of Nocturnal.” Byrnjolf takes a deep breath and lowers his head, “So it’s all true. The nightingales, their allegiance to Nocturnal, and the Twilight Sepulcher.” Karliah says, “Yes. We must ready ourselves and meet Mercer on equal footing. Just outside Riften there is a path cut up the mountain side. At the end of that path is a clearing and an old standing stone. I ask you all to meet me there tomorrow. For now you need to rest and ready your mind for what’s to come.” Lucina interjects, “No! We need to move now. Every second we wait, Mercer gets closer to his goal.” Karliah puts her hand on her shoulder, “We must make time. I understand you are eager for revenge on Mercer for trying to kill you, but you must steel yourself. In this fight, we must get our heads clear… Do what you must tonight and meet me in the morning.”
They part ways and Lucina tries to get some sleep, but her mind races and keeps her awake. She needs to do something. ANYTHING! Then she remembers; the stranger she saw when she was sneaking around the alleys. Robbing some rich fop is just the distraction she needs. She makes a few invisibility potions at the Guild’s alchemy station and heads out the back entrance to the City’s graveyard. In the darkness of night she easily slips past guards unseen and cautiously picks the lock to Honeyside. The lock is sturdier than most in the city, but she only breaks two lock picks before it gives way. She enters and sees a Steel clad Nord woman asleep in a chair and a Breton man asleep in his bed.
She steps lightly and searches for valuables. She takes a staircase leading down to the basement. There are rare Alchemy supplies littered about and an Enchanting Lab filled with powerful weapons and armor glowing with magicka. Just as she reaches for one of the weapons she hears a sword being drawn and a woman shouts, “THIEF!” Lucina turns just in time to dodge the swing. She draws her blades to block the next swing and strikes back. Her blades land a direct hit, but the warrior is completely unphased.
Lucina lands several more hits, but the Nord only seems to get more agitated. The cuts heal almost as fast as Lucina can make them. The enchanting table catches her eye and she realizes that the Nord is magically protected. Lucina knows she will not win this and tries to retreat, but as she runs for the stairs a green bolt of magic strikes her and she falls to the ground paralyzed. The Breton says with an odd accent, “Well now. What we got here?” He stands her up and smiles, “You in a world of trouble, Cher.” The Nord walks up, “Forgive me, my Thane. She is more nimble than I thought.” “Never you mind, Iona.” he says, “Ol’ Lucian get d’is done quick...Get a chair and some straps from upstairs, will ya?”
Iona returns shortly and they bind Lucina’s wrists to the arms of the chair and her ankles to the legs. “Shall I fetch a guard, Thane?” Iona asks. He ponders the question a moment until he gets a better look at Lucina’s daggers. ”Hmm… Not just yet.” he says, “Well now… What d’is’?” He picks up the blades from the floor, “Reaver and Siphon. I haven’t seen d’ese since I was a boy… Just how you get d’ese, huh? Roderic would never give d’em to just anyone.” Lucina is shocked to hear her father’s real name, but as she is unable to speak she just listens to Lucian. “Did you steal d’em?” With a wave of his hand the paralysis is dispelled, but only around Lucina’s head. She is silent. Lucian grins, “Cher… You really want to answer my questions. And don’t you fib, now.” Pointing to an amulet around his neck, he says, “I’ll know.” A flame rises from his palm. Lucina grits her teeth, “No… they were left for me.” Lucian looks at her in disbelief, “Left? Roderic would never give up my master’s blades. D’ey were made just for him.”
Lucina begins to feel the spell holding her begin to weaken, “You said you would know if I was lying… Am I?” Lucian rubs his amulet, “Why would he leave d’ese for you, d’en?” Lucina pauses a moment, “That’s my business, not yours.” Iona slaps the back of her head, “Watch your tongue! Or I’ll remove it.” Sensing truth in her words, Lucina grumbles to herself before saying, “He… He was my father.” Lucian’s brow rises and his eyes widen. Again he rubs his amulet, “You?... You’re little Lucina? Ho ho ho... Oh, Mon Cher, it can’t be so.” Again Lucina is shocked, “How… How do you know my name? Who are you?” Lucian shakes his head, “You came into a house wit’out gad’ering intel on your target? Reckless.” He stands, “Well… My name is Lucian LeBeau. Pleasure.” He dispels the paralysis completely, “Untie her and bring her up stairs.” Iona turns, “Thane? She has tried to steal from you. I… as you command, My Thane.”
Shortly thereafter, Lucina is lead to the kitchen where Lucian has set out a few bottles of Black-Briar mead, “Come, Cher. Sit wit’ me.” Cautiously, she sits across from him, “How did you know my father?” He just smiles, “Roderic found me on the streets of Anvil when I was a young’un. Pickin’ pockets and swipin’ food. He said he saw potential in me and brought me back to the imperial city. Youngest member of the T’ieves Guild.” He sips of his mead, “Taught me all I know about gettin’ things what ain’t exactly mine. I also showed a talent for magic. So Roderic introduced me to a retired Synod Mage. The man that made the very blades you now carry and the man I would one day call my fad’er.” Lucina relaxes a bit as she listens. Lucian continues, “Roderic t’ought a mage in the guild would be handy. I was never the most talented t’ief, but with my magics I didn’t have to be. I was only in the Guild for three years before the College of Whispers broke it up.” He takes another sip, “Nasty bit of business, d’at. I slipped away and stayed with my fad’er in the Elven Gardens. I heard Roderic had come up here to escape d’e college. So when I was old enough, I came lookin’ for him. And what of you, hm? What brings you to this frozen province?”
They talk for what seems like hours. Lucina looks to a window as she sees the sun begin to rise. “Damn it!” she says, “I didn’t get any sleep… I.. I have somewhere to be.” Lucian reaches into a cupboard and takes out a few stamina potions, “Here… Take d’ese. D’ey will keep you sharp for a while, but you still need sleep, Cher” Lucina shakes her head, “You keep calling me ‘Cher’ or ‘mon cher’. I have no idea what that means.” she says. He just smiles, “It ain’t bad if d’ats what you askin’. Mon Cher means ‘my dear’. Cher means ‘bout da same.” Lucina shakes her head, “You are a strange man… I come here to rob you, you catch me, and now you give me these?” Lucian just smiles, “I owe Roderic a great debt. Besides, can’t rightly turn in the girl who was named after me.” It’s only then that Lucina realizes how similar their names are, “I’m named after you? You’re joking, right? You’re… you can’t be much older than I am.” Lucian shrugs, “Like I said. He saw great potential in me. Guess he t’ought it was... a lucky name.”
Lucina gathers the potions and begins to walk towards the door. She stops and turns back, “You know… The Guild is rebuilding. We could use a man like you... Interested?” Lucian gets up and walks over to her. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, “I’m not much of a joiner d’ese days.” She fights a shiver when he looks into her eyes. “Tell you what.” he says with a smile, “You ever need ol’ Lucian, you just find me. I’ll do you right.” Her heart flutters. She’s always had a weakness for Bretons. She clears her throat, “I uh… I should go.” Lucian tilts his head, “Shame…” She fumbles at the door knob behind her and backs out. When the door closes she leans against it a moment and shakes her head then slaps her face, “Get a grip, girl.” She drinks one of the stamina potions and she feels some of her strength return, “That man is going to be trouble. I just know it.” Then she heads for the spot Karliah told her about.
The story so far:
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