From One Thief to Another
So I based my Skyrim-character on Queen Thyra, only I’m in the Thieves’ Guild now so I guess it’s an alternate universe where she founded a line of thieves instead of rulers.
So. Have this. I might rewrite it one day but this was really fun to do
The troubadour’s jolly music filled The Bow, and it was a cheerful group filling the tavern tonight. Rolling her dagger over her knuckles, Erika grinned widely as she watched the many sailors sing, lifting their mugs into the air, the mead foam lapping over the edges. On her side, her brother sat, sipping on his drink. To the world, he undoubtedly looked perfectly relaxed, but his eyes were flickering over the room, taking it all in. Undoubtedly, he had full knowledge about everything going on in here. Such was his job, after all. To know everything about this city.
Nimbly grabbing her dagger, she flicked it into the table. It vibrated as it stuck. Immediately, one of the barmaids was over, handing her mead. She nodded in thanks, lifting it to her mouth and downing half. The cold drink was soothing in her throat.
A pearling laugh came from behind, and soon a body slid into one of the free chairs around their table. Bluebell smiled at them, lowering his eyelashes seductively as he leaned forward over the table. To everyone else, he was flirting. Trying to get her into his bed in exchange for her money. “They’ll be here anytime now,” he murmured.
“Perfect,” Erika replied. Fishing up a few golden coins from her pocket, she slid them over the table. Grinned at him, pretended to eye him. Kept up the charade. Giggling, Bluebell took the money, reaching in between his breast for safekeeping. Louder, she added, “Don’t know what I’d do without your services.”
“Probably find someone else,” Vali said, throwing down his empty mug on the table. It bounced before falling onto its side, rolling off the table. “Though finding someone as skilled would be hard, I admit.”
“Indeed,” Bluebell agreed. “I am good at what I do. See ye later, then?”
At their nods, he rose, leaving them behind. Chuckling, Erika watched him drape himself over one of the sailors’ shoulders, whispering into their ear. The sailor turned red, much to her delight. Having one of the city’s most popular whores as your informant was… useful, to say the least. That he also happened to quickly have become one of her best friends, well, that was just a plus.
Suddenly the doors were thrown open, and her gaze flickered over. Her grin grew. In the opening stood a group of people who couldn’t be anyone but those she was waiting for. There were few from their part of the world here along the Beast’s Bay, and no one around here had skin that dark. Their eyes searched the room, and she waved. Four people had come. Two undoubtedly were witches, with their red eyes. A naga. And one who simply looked human. Would they cause trouble, they’d be nothing for the many thieves she had hidden in the tavern.
Leaning back in her chair, she gestured toward the empty chairs. “Sit, please. Saga,” she yelled, turning toward the closest barmaid. She twisted around, nodding quickly. “Get my guests something to drink. I wouldn’t be so rude as to not offer.”
Slowly, they obeyed. The naga’s tail wreathed around her chair, but not enough. Saga had to jump over it when she came with the mead, handing it out. The witches both nodded shortly in thanks. Even when they did, none of them took their eyes off her and Vali. Smart of them. Crossing her legs under the table, she leaned onto it. “The name’s Erika Valkyria, officer of the Guild. She and her. So, who are you and what are you doing in our city?”
“Captain Samiha Sapali,” the naga said sharply, “of Sarynthia, from Drahenport. She and her. This is my quartermaster, Fiya Koiree, her twin brother and our master gunner Rahil Koiree, he and him, and our Sailing Master Vanita Chaudhary, she and her.”
A nod. Humming, Erika sipped on her mead. “Alright then. As I assume you know, this is our territory. And the rules are simple; don’t steal any of our heists. Do make sure you pay us our part of yours, for the generosity of allowing you to do your thing here. And if you don’t-”
Fast as a viper, she broke the dagger free from the table. A gasp escaped the twin as she pressed the edge of it to the underside of his jaw. The quartermaster stared in horror. “Well,” Erika said, smiling blithely. “You’ll find yourself regretting it. Am I understood?”
She removed the knife, and watched the siblings relax again. Rahil glared at her, and she smiled innocently. “Understood,” he muttered, averting his gaze.
“Great,” she chirped. “Then we’re going to get along great. And if you wanna join our fleet, we’re always open for more people. Oh, and one last thing. The whores of The Bow are under my protection. You hurt them, you’re dead.”
He raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with his sister. Nodded stiffly.
“Fabulous.” Her grin turned into a real smile as she sheathed her dagger by her leg. “Now when the unpleasantries are over with, you’re welcome to stay and have a drink with me and my brother.”
