Dar-Meena
~ ~ ~
Burglaries go better after sundown. The theft becomes less about your good timing and more about control and awareness. It demands a lot of skill. Check your footing. Balance your weight. Roll every step from heel to toe. Breathe steadily. All it takes is one mistake, one noise, and the whole job falls apart.
High risk stuff. And I love every bit of it. It wasn’t the money that drew me to thievery. It was the thrill. The challenge.
With my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I crept through the brick house of a Nord named Bolli, owner of Riften’s Fishery and among the city’s well-to-do. He was going to give a generous ‘donation’ to pay for Keerava’s debt tonight. There were plenty of other places I could’ve ransacked for coin, but of all the people who’d miss the money he would the least. His business was profitable. Besides, I had other reasons for the preference. He lacked the political pull of other wealthy residents like Maven Black-Briar, the kind that would have me strung up if my plans backfired.
Not that they were going to. The heist was plenty easy. I slipped in through a second floor window and combed the place methodically. I didn’t know where Bolli kept his earnings – he’s a smart business man, so he wouldn’t stash it all in his house – but there was bound to be enough that I needed lying around somewhere. I eventually found a small musty safe in the basement with plenty of money inside to satisfy the debt. I snagged a light purse filled with coins of ten and fifty denomination, over seven hundred Septims altogether.
Minding each slow step along creaking floor boards, I snuck back up to the bedroom. A couple was sleeping soundly beneath the blankets on their bed. One of them was Bolli’s wife, a Bosmer named Nivenor. The other sod wasn’t Bolli. Some other man I didn’t try to recognize. Bolli was out on business in Ivarstead. A faint breeze blew through the window as I opened it. The night was quiet. I climbed out and gently shut the panes behind me.
Instead of heading back down to the ground, though, I quietly scaled up to the roof.
An aurora was out. Its deep purple glow ribboned across the stars. When it first appeared in the sky, I didn’t know what it was. I’d never seen northern lights before. It was breathtaking. I decided to stay on the rooftop for a while. I wasn’t in a rush. Plenty of time to lay back and take in the sights.
I would always spend long nights like this when I was a little girl, staring up at the stars, nestled in the branches of Chorrol’s great oak. That wasn’t allowed, of course. The great oak is a symbol to the town and public property. But it was just so comfy. I still remember the first time I ever climbed it; Niish-Rei was with me. After the guards found us and took us home, we got such a scolding from mother…
Niish never went with me again. But I kept doing it. I got in trouble for climbing that tree too many times to count.
I didn’t care. I don’t shy away from the things that make me happy. I go after them.
Eventually I decided it was time to head for the Flagon. The cold was catching up to me. I descended to the city streets and wandered into darkness, keeping close to the mossy stone walls of Riften’s outskirts. Guardsmen and their torches walked sleepily in the distance. Patrols had become more frequent over the past few days, a ‘deterrent’ for Riften’s night crime. The guards weren’t watching the roads, though. They were watching the skies.
Maybe Helgen finally spooked those stuck-ups in Mistveil to take the threat of the dragons seriously. People were startled to hear that the town got burned down. Me? I saw it coming. Meeting that dragon on the road to Riften taught me all I needed to know about their ilk. They’re big, they’re fast, and they can burn up whatever they damn well please. That included villages and cities. Helgen was the first story, but it wouldn’t be the last.
Passing the temple of Mara, I arrived at Riften’s cemetery. Headstones were cropped inside an enclosure of iron fence. A memorial building stood at one end with a large stone coffin inside. Its lid won’t come off unless you know how to work it. Within lies a hidden passage, a ladder leading down to the city cistern; to the Thieves Guild.
As I sauntered through the cemetery, my eyes were drawn to the sight of nightshades. They were growing all around the graves in clusters with tall stems and violet petals. You see them a lot in graveyards. Some say the flowers only thrive in the presence of death. Tonight they looked even more vibrant than usual, glowing beneath the auroras above.
I turned to step through the memorial building. That’s when I heard a voice.
“You would visit the dead at this hour, marsh sister?”
A jolt shot down my tail. I spun around. A man was standing behind me among the headstones. I could see his smile in the dim torchlight.
“I have startled you… Apologies,” he said.
I knew faces in Riften. This was someone new. An Argonian mercenary or sellsword, maybe, wearing rough leather armor and a brown short cloak tucked beneath the straps of his knapsack. He was armed with a longsword, a knife and a crossbow. The man’s accent carried a hint of Black Marsh – raspy, but well spoken.
His face was hidden under the hood of his cloak, horns sticking out back. All I could see were the scales on his snout and the glint in his eyes.
“And you are…?” I asked.
“A traveler. Passing through Riften,” he replied.
Great. That tells me everything I need to know. Creepy bastard…
“Uh-huh. Look, I’m out for a walk,” I said. “Do me a favor? Go bother someone else.”
So much for heading to the Flagon. I couldn’t use the hidden entrance while he was around. I walked away to go kill some time.
“You went to some impressive lengths to steal a coin purse,” the man suddenly spoke up. “This one wonders what you mean to do with it.”
I stopped in my tracks.
…Shit…
“Excuse me?” I griped, feigning innocence. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“Do not play me for a fool,” he said. He wasn’t smiling anymore. “I watched you break into that home. You were on its rooftop for some time.”
Is he… stalking me...?
For someone who just caught a thief, he seemed docile. He wasn’t calling out for the guards. I had a feeling this guy had his own agenda.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I insisted.
“I believe you do. But if you insist on denying it…”
He glanced away. I followed his gaze to a distant guard on patrol. It was a threat if I’d ever seen one. He wasn’t letting me off the hook. I would have tried for one more misdirection, but it was obvious he knew what I’d done. That and his weapons had me nervous.
“Fine, fine. Guilty as charged,” I sighed, empty hands held up. “Guess I wasn’t as subtle as I thought. Silly me.”
“You sell yourself short,” he said. “I doubt anyone else saw you. Your theft was well performed.”
“Oh? Is that so?” I perked up, smiling coyly.
The man stepped closer and put his hands on his hip.
“Do not mistake my praise. I admired your theft. That doesn’t mean I approve of it.”
“Are you going to turn me in?”
“I have not so far, have I?”
“Then you care about me stealing, because…?”
“That money doesn’t belong to you. You shouldn’t steal it. No one should be stealing.”
I gave a sly smirk. “I don’t see you trying to stop me.”
His own smile was back. “And yet you haven’t left.”
“So… what is this, then?”
“Call it an intervention.”
“Ha! An intervention? You don’t look like a man of the cloth to me,” I teased. “Are you some disciple of Mara? Here to convert me from a life of petty crime?”
The man deflated, still smiling. “It would be nice if things went that way...”
I returned a wide grin, head cocked to the side.
“They won’t,” I said.
“As expected,” he sighed.
Alright Dar, that’s enough flirting. I’d had enough of this wise-ass. If he wasn’t going to do anything, I wasn’t about to stick around. I started backing off.
“Listen, I’m sure you find this conversation captivating, but if you don’t mind, I have other things… to…”
I stopped and felt for the coin purse at my waist. It wasn’t there.
“What the–!?”
I heard a soft jingling. The man glared at me.
“Let’s not get carried away,” he spoke sternly, holding the purse in his hand. “As I said, this doesn’t belong to you.”
My jaw dropped. How!? When did he–!?
Tying the sack to his belt, the man glanced at me indifferently.
“You seem surprised,” he said.
Damn right. That… Gods, I didn’t even know what he was, but that man made a fool of me in short order. Not once did I think to watch for pickpockets. I still should have caught him in the act, though. A thief has to learn to be aware of her surroundings.
Have I gone dull? I should have noticed him! Who is this guy…!?
“No one should be stealing, huh?” I growled. “Godsdamned, I actually bought that.”
“Bought what?” he replied, finishing his knot.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, shut up! If you were just going to take the money from me, why put on a show about it?”
“This is no show.”
“What’s with the self-righteous act, then!?”
“I am not acting.”
“Bullshit.”
“Hardly,” he said. “This money belongs to whomever you robbed. I wasn’t about to let you go and take it. Now that it’s in my hands, I can return it to its proper owner.”
That took me a second to process.
“You’re returning it!?”
The man blinked at me.
“Yes. Are you hard of hearing?”
“WHY!?”
The red Argonian folded his arms.
“Hmm… I suppose one might call this civility. I would be grateful if someone returned money to me that had been stolen. Would you not feel the same?” His words were harshening. “Or do thieves have no qualms getting stolen from, themselves…?”
The man walked toward me. He stopped as he passed, eying me intently. In the light of a torch I could see faint scars streaked across the side of his snout.
“How we choose to treat others is just that – a choice,” he said. “Be wary of the river you’ve chosen to swim, marsh sister. It will not end well for you. Contempt is repaid more often than compassion.”
He walked away, leaving me to chew on his words. I thought it was all a joke. There was no way, no way that man would actually return the money I stole. Of all the things I imagined that could’ve gone wrong with the heist, this wasn’t remotely among them. Yet there he was, going off on his merry way.
“Hey!” I barked. “You think I’m just going to let you leave!?”
“You would be unwise to try and stop me,” he replied.
“And you don’t have the slightest clue what that’s for!” I said, catching up to him. “Who do you think you are!?” I reached out to grab his arm.
That was a mistake.
He spun back and grabbed me first, snatching my wrist in a heartbeat. His strength and speed were startling. I reached for my knife out of threatened instinct. The man’s eyes snapped down to my weapon and for the briefest second I saw something in them.
Malice.
He pushed me away. There was flash of light. I froze, staring down the tip of his sword, drawn and poised at my head.
“Stop this foolishness,” he hissed. “Withdraw your weapon and step away.”
If a man could shoot fear like an arrow with the glare of his eyes, I hadn’t known it till then. The look on his face terrified me. It seemed almost practiced. I didn’t know what kind of wanderer this guy was, but even a fool knows a killer when she sees one.
“Please… I have no wish to hurt you,” he said calmly, softening his demeanor.
I recovering my wits and holstered my knife. The man lowered his sword and silently slipped it back into its scabbard. He had a disheartened look on his face, as though he felt ashamed at what he’d done.
“I am sorry, but you are stealing from nobody tonight,” he said. “There will be no more stunts.”
Again he started off. I couldn’t stop him. Maybe worse than that, I was afraid to try again. The man wasn’t just adamant – he was dangerous. My mother would’ve told me to cut my losses, that I was playing with fire. If I kept the matter in my hands they’d only get burned. It was time to move on.
I knew there was a reason why I never listened to her.
“Weren’t you wondering what I was going to do with that money?” I called out.
The man stopped and turned around slowly.
“You are persistent,” he replied. “But yes... I did say that, didn’t I? Though I am unsure what difference it makes.”
“It makes every difference, idiot,” I hissed. “That money isn’t for me. It’s for a woman named Keerava. I’m trying to pay off a debt of hers.”
I waited for him to crack some remark. He returned attentive silence. I kept talking.
“She runs an inn with her partner, Talen-Jei. They’ve spent years trying to save up enough to leave Riften, but they’re barely making ends meet. Now the Thieves Guild is trying to shake them down. It’s a control tactic. They don’t care if they can’t draw blood from a stone.”
“What role do you play in all of this?” the man asked.
My mind conjured the faces of Bersi and Haelga, the two I’d already collected debts from. Both affairs had been ugly. The man was making me hate myself more than I already did.
“Does it matter? I’m the one who’s trying to stop them,” I said.
“By robbing another…?”
“I could’ve robbed anybody. But I chose that fisher because of his wife, Nivenor. The man you’re trying to return that to?” I pointed at Bolli’s coin purse. “He’s one of the wealthiest people in Riften. All the while, his wife splurges the wealth of her husband on lavish living. It would take Keerava and Talen months to save up the money I stole. Nivenor would spend that in a day on trinkets or jewelry without a second thought! If her having one less necklace means another couple can keep their means to live, that’s damn fine by me.”
The wanderer flicked his tail. “You care much for this inn keeper,” he said.
“When I came here to Riften, I’d lost everything to my name,” I spoke with enough honesty. “She and her partner took me in and put me back on my feet. I owe them. But if I can’t find a way to pay for their debt, the Thieves Guild will send someone else to shake them down. They won’t be kind and considerate.”
“I fail to see how this justifies your actions,” he said with scowl.
“Bite me,” I hissed, “I know what I am. And I don’t care what you think. This isn’t about me or you. This is about Keerava. She needs that money more than Bolli or Nivenor.”
The man eased off, mulling over a new dilemma. He took himself to be some sort of do-gooder. It was a long shot, but I needed that purse back. I had to convince him that what I wanted was good. Good enough, anyway.
“Nothing you say can be believed,” he muttered. “But if you are telling the truth…”
“I am.”
“…then this does change things.”
He paused for a while, lost hard in thought, tail pacing back and forth.
“First, a question,” he said. “I did not come here to Riften on a whim. I am searching for a place north of here called Stonefalls Hollow. Have you heard of it?”
At last! The man decided to toss me a line.
“No,” I replied, “but now that you mention it I might know someone who has.”
Delvin Mallory. He may have screwed up the job in Cyrodiil, but that codger didn’t become a head of the guild on stupidity. He’s well connected and knows the province like the back of his hand. If anyone could tell me where to find this ‘Stonefalls Hollow,’ he might. And that was leverage I needed.
“I see,” the man said. “Could you take me to whom you speak of?”
“You don’t strike me as the kind of guy he’d be willing work with.”
“Then could you find out the location from him?”
I smirked. “Why yes, I could do that. With some incentive, perhaps...”
“Indeed. It seems we both have something the other needs.”
“Let’s keep this simple, then. Give me back that money and I’ll find out whatever information you want.”
The man shook his head. “No. I said I would return this and I meant it. You will not persuade me otherwise.”
“Then you’re getting nothing from me,” I growled, folding my arms.
“Do not be so sure,” he replied with confidence. “You have given your offer. Now I shall give mine.”
My offer was more than fair! But of course he wouldn’t be so reasonable.
“I will return this money to where it belongs,” the man said. “And you will go to this contact of yours and find out where Stonefalls Hollow is.”
Before I could speak, he hushed me with a raise of his hand.
“In exchange, I will pay for this debt personally, on my expense.”
I startled. “You’ll what!?”
“It is more agreeable than your proposal, yes? No one gets stolen from and everyone gets what they want.” He was smiling again with that stupid smile of his. “What do you say?”
Gods above… I can’t win…
“Are you out of your mind!?” I snapped. “I’m not falling for that!”
The man checked the contents of Bolli’s purse. “How much did you steal? Seven hundred Septims, give or take…?”
He returned the bag to his belt, pulled out another, and tossed it. The bag sailed into my hands with a rattling thud.
“That should be more than half of what you need,” the man said, grinning broadly. “The rest is yours, right now, if you choose to help me.”
I loosed the mouth of the bag, speechless. There were over three hundred Septims inside.
“Deadra and divines, you’re serious!” I said softly.
“I am always serious,” he replied.
That man was willing to pay Keerava’s debt to keep me from stealing. Who does that? As crazy as his offer was, though, it did get me the money I needed. He was right. It was a good offer, almost too good. The only one who seemed to be getting ripped off was him.
Wake up idiot, he’s manipulating you! There must be more to this he isn’t telling. He’s dangerous! You can’t trust him! Are you just going to let him string you along?
Apparently yes, I was.
“Fine. You’ve got a deal,” I muttered. “Give me the rest and I’ll do what you ask. As long as you don’t try anything funny…”
The man nodded. “I apologize, but there is one last concern. It would be easy for you to bring me false information. I hope you understand. I have no wish to be led astray.”
I grumbled inwardly. “Then you’ll just have to trust me, won’t you?”
“And I do. Which is why I would have you navigate for the both of us.”
What did he just say?
“You wouldn’t,” I hissed.
“Come with me to find this hollow, marsh sister. I will gladly compensate you further. I know it is much of me to ask, but given the circumstances I see no better way. My time is of essence and I cannot afford set-backs.”
He wanted me to travel with him. Plus he’d only given me half of the payment. Something told me he wouldn’t give the rest until I agreed to help him. I’d been roped into becoming his insurance. No wonder he made the deal sound so reasonable.
I should have walked away. But I didn’t. I had no reason to trust him. But I wanted to.
Why?
“I cannot say there isn’t a risk of danger,” the man spoke sternly, “but no harm will come to you. I promise.”
Was he talking about hazards on the roads? Or himself? Maybe both. I couldn’t make sense of what I was feeling. Something in my gut was telling me I could trust him. I didn’t know why at the time, but I think I do now. People in this world like to put on masks, acting the parts that get them what they want. They fake themselves and when push comes to shove you see what’s really behind the curtain.
That man wasn’t a fake. He was genuinely sincere.
“I’ll take your word,” I said begrudgingly. “When and where?”
“By the lakeside, after sunrise. Will you be rested enough?”
“I can deal with a lack of sleep.”
The man curled his tail, making some weird posture, and regarded me warmly. He tossed over the remaining payment.
“I shall wait for you, then. Gather whatever you will need for the journey,” he said, leaving quietly. “And please, forgive me.”
“Forgive you?”
“Yes. For my harshness before. And for misjudging you.”
Misjudging…?
Damn it all. His agenda was a mystery, but he seemed determined to leave an impression on me.
“I could always steal the money again, you know,” I said to him as he left. “You haven’t changed anything.”
The wanderer turned back one last time.
“You think I don’t realize this? Your actions are your own, marsh sister. You are free to steal again as you please.” He rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, smiling coolly. “Just as I am free to stop you.”
With those words he disappeared into the dark streets of Riften. I loitered in the graveyard for a while, coming to terms with what just happened. Then I went down to the Thieves Guild hideout. I had a debt to pay and preparations to make. To think the night started off so well…
If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million times: I don’t know how I get talked into half the things I do.
~ooooo~
“You look like you’re ready for long journey,” Talen remarked.
Morning came sooner than I thought. I’d given the money to Brynjolf and told Keerava about the debt. It took some effort to reassure her that I hadn’t paid it off illegitimately. At any rate, she and Talen were grateful for my unexpected gesture.
My work in Riften was done. It was time for the next order of business.
“Hmph. I’m not allowed to go hiking on a nice day?” I teased, gathering my things to leave the Bee and Barb.
“I didn’t think you were the type for that sort of thing,” Talen replied.
He was right.
I threw a bow and quiver over my shoulder; my bow and quiver. I’d decided to put some of that wanderer’s money to use. My leather outfit from the thieves’ guild would have to do for travel clothes.
“Then I guess you don’t know the type of girl I really am,” I said lightheartedly. “Try not to get in any more trouble with the guild while I’m gone.”
“Bah! Those lowlifes can go jump off the pier,” Keerava growled, hunched over the bar counter. Defiant till the end. I don’t think Talen fully approved – neither did I, for that matter. The guild was in bad straits, but they could still stir a lot of trouble for the both of them. They’d just need a reason.
“We’ll be fine,” Talen assured me. “You be careful too, Dar-Meena… Watch the skies.”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” I snorted, stepping out the door.
The city was alive, filled with the usual sounds, sights and smells. Leaves blew by in a strong wind and the air above was clear and cloudless. I strolled to the gates, passing by people I’d come to know. Marise, the produce merchant. Snilf, the begger. Madessi, the jeweler.
I was surprised to see two more new faces. A white furred Khajiit, wearing a simple dress, and a Breton courier. It looked like the cat received a delivery and stopped to chat with the man. I didn’t hear anything about a Khajiit staying in the city. It was odd, but it didn’t bother me. It’s not like I was in the mood to make any new acquaintances. Might turn out to be as crazy as that wanderer…
Speaking of whom, I found him far off from the city. He was quietly sitting cross-legged by the lake, watching the wind blow stripes of waves across its surface. His hood was still pulled over, only adding to his lonesome appearance. Beneath the morning sun his bright red scales shone clearly. I walked up behind him, idly rubbing the burn on my shoulder, and opened my mouth to speak.
“Were you able to settle your debt?” he asked suddenly.
I grimaced. “Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine. Let’s just get this over with.”
“You know where we’re going?”
“Stonefalls Hollow, right?” I said, pulling out the map Devlin had written on. “It’s a full day’s walk from here along the Velothi mountains. Used to be a hideout for a group of bandits.” I hesitated. “Is there a reason you’re trying to find this place? What’s waiting for us there?”
“I do not know,” he said eagerly, standing up. “I am searching for someone. If we do not find him there I hope to at least find some trace of where he went.”
“You going after this guy?” I asked.
The man looked at me reassuringly. “No. I am not pursuing him. Merely investigating. If we have a day’s trip ahead of us, let’s not dawdle any longer.” He gestured with an outstretched arm, inviting me to take the lead. “Shall we?”
Frowning, I folded my arms and kept my feet firmly planted.
“I’m supposed to travel with somebody who hasn’t even told me his name…?”
The man adjusted a strap on his knapsack.
“It did not affect our conversation before,” he said flippantly.
“I have to call you something. Don’t piss around. Just tell me your name already.”
I thought I saw somberness in the wanderer’s expression. It left as soon as it came. He smiled, letting out a long sigh.
“Ah, but what is a name?” he said, pulling back his hood at last. His real face was nicer than the one I imagined for him. A breeze rustled through the feathers on his head as I met his sky-blue eyes. “You may call me Chases-The-Wind, if you wish.”
Chases-The-Wind? What a weird name. It was almost… gentle sounding. It didn’t suit him.
“Okay then… Am I leading?”
“If you know the path, marsh sister.”
“I do,” I replied, brushing a comb of claws through my feathers. “I’m Dar-Meena, by the way. You can stop calling me marsh sister.”
He nodded. “As you wish, Dar-Meena.”
AUTHOR'S NOTES
I mentioned there being denominations for Septims in this chapter. That's nothing lore established, but in all practicality, there's no way anybody would carry hundreds or thousands of individual coins on their person. Thus I have decided not to depict Imperial currency as it is in the game.
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