A heavy banging on the door reverberated through the Bunkhouse’s thin wooden walls. Haelga was in the middle of serving her latest customer. I was helping Svana refresh the beds upstairs. Haelga roughly put on a robe and opened the door, sleeve slipping down her shoulders, hair a mess. Generally looking like she had just fucked. Breahtless, “What?”
“We are aware that there is a thief residing under your care. She has committed crimes against Riften an-”
“I’m sure you have too, now either join me and your commander or fuck off.”
Svana and I giggled, Haelga hated being interrupted. Though I had something nagging at me that this was more important than the usual “Crimes against Skyrim and her people” bullshit.
“I do apologize for interrupting, mam, however this is no simple stolen apple. The Bosmer Riya has stolen a ring from Madesi of great value to Maven Black-Briar.”
Svana stopped giggling and stared morbidly at me, “Tell me you didn’t,” from the frantic look I gave her she knew it was true, “Dibella have mercy on you. I told you that all your thievery was going too far.”
“I- I didn’t know.” Tears welled in my eyes, Riften Jail was worse than the Ratways, “You know I’m not stupid enough to steal from Maven!”
Heavy boots thudded up the steps and the lone guard walked up to me. “What say in your defense?”
“You got me.” I felt queasy and weak.
Like a lamb I was herded and roughly dumped in the dank cell that was to be my home for what could be a lifetime, Maven Black-Briar was unforgiving. I was given a second floor cell; they were neater and more civilized than the rest of the prison. Maven was planning something and Divines knew I had no intention of finding out. As the guard patrolled a couple times I noticed the dangling keys on his belt. Too easy. I waited four patrols and on the fourth I took the keys just as he put his foot down that clinked from the chain mail, muffling the keys being taken. It was perfect. As he walked out of sight I quickly unlocked the barred cell door. I kept it shut though, and waited for him to pass my cell a second time.
This is when I opened the cell and stepped out, I followed him until he passed the hall that led to freedom. A heard a shuffle of feet as I reached the end of the hall and from behind the door another guard stepped up, he was surprised and drew his battle-axe. Out of quick reflex I got in close and twisted his neck. He slumped in my arms and I buckled under his weight. Carefully I rested him on the floor, took the evidence chest key and sneaked to it. Took my clothes, my dagger and the ring that I had stolen from Madesi.
As I stepped outside, I hopped from the stone steps down into the bushes beside Mistveil Keep. Carefully making my way to the Bunkhouse. I snuck in and everyone was asleep. I crept upstairs and took my gold, and an ale and some bread from my secret stash. Svana stirred and rolled over, sleepily she opened her eyes and sat right up as she saw me still in my prison rags.
I rushed over and covered her mouth, “Sshh! I’m getting out of here, leaving this… the Rift. You don’t know me anymore. I’m visiting the face-sculptor, I’m not Riya anymore. Riya is dead! You hear me?” She nodded I hugged her and she sobbed.
At the ragged flagon saw a High Elf robed in white and violet, too prim for the Ratways. I approached her, “I hear you can alter ones appearance.”
“And what might you desire, astounding beauty or hideous deformity? My artistry does not come at a beggar’s price.”
“Nor am I paying a beggar’s price.”
“Well then what shall it be?”
“I’m your canvas, I don’t want to be recognized anymore.”
“On the run? I won’t question. It costs a thousand septims.”
“A thousand septims it is.”
Last thing I remember was a green flash from an illusion spell before I fell unconscious.
When I woke up, I lay on a bedroll. A silver hand mirror lay next to me. I looked at it and didn’t see my face I saw perfection. My once auburn hair was now silken ebony. My once spring green eyes, dark amber and angled. And the scar that I had received from a Khajiit in Honorhall wasn’t there anymore. My skin was smooth and with no imperfections. My cheekbones were higher but not jutting. I looked at my arms and realized that I didn’t have any imperfections in my skin at all. The sculptor walked towards me.
“And, Athiri’El Windchaser, isn’t exotic perfection pleasant?” It took me a while to realize that Athiri’El was my new name. I nodded, “I hope you never return, I don’t ever want to alter a masterpiece this perfect.”
Without question I was off, It was night time as I stepped out of the Ratways, the guard was still on high alert. To my right was a poster of Riya with a bounty of 4100 Septims. I knew quite a few people within Riften that could and would hunt down for me. This wasn’t my home anymore it was time to leave.
I snuck out from the docks and took a carriage to Whiterun, the carriage driver looking at me like no man had looked at me before.
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