Songs of the Crooked

3: Brynjolf's Offer

Morning arrived and Eliza threw off the scratchy fur cover off of her and changed into her simple green dress and threw on her comfortable boots. She had hardly slept at all that night, too busy being worried about what she was going to do. She had told Svana that they would be leaving the bunkhouse today, but where were they going to go? Eliza was penniless and unless she felt like going from tavern to tavern performing restlessly for just the littlest bit of coin, staying at the bunkhouse was really the only option for her. 

She got Bo up and dressed then sent him downstairs to go eat. 'I probably should tell Svana that I changed my mind.' Eliza thought to herself. 'Let's hope she hasn't told Haelga yet.'

It turned out that she didn't, thankfully. Haelga was out all night long, so Svana never got the chance to relay the message.

Eliza sat down at the table right beside Bo and began eating the salmon steak and grilled leaks. At least this food was better than the one they were served last night. Still though, she felt more like a prisoner than a guest here. If only she was a little bit richer, she would have taken Bo to a nicer city like Whiterun or maybe she would have been able to purchase a house in Solitude, that way she wouldn't have to put her bard career on hold. 

"Aunt Eliza?" Bo said, snapping Eliza's attention back to reality. 

She wiped her face off with her napkin. "Yes, Dear?"

"Can I go play outside?"

Eliza smiled softly and ruffled his hair. "Of course you can. Just be careful."

"Thanks!" Bo called out as he jumped from the table and rushed to the door. "I won't be gone too long!" 

Eliza finished the rest of her food and then helped Svana clean up. After they were done, she figured that if she was ever going to get away from Riften, she should first try to find some work. There had to be something that she could do. 

She found herself in the market place going from stall to stall making small talk with the sellers, and asking if there was any work available anywhere in Riften.

"Not unless you want to smell like fish for the rest of your days." Said one.

"No, now go away!" said another. 

Eliza sighed in defeat and figured that she had no choice, but to work at the fishery. It meant she had to work alongside Tythis, but it had to be worth it, she reminded herself. She took a deep breath and started to make her way to the Riften docks, but then someone grabbed her by the hand, stopping her. She whipped around already getting angry. 

"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you, Lass." It was the red headed con man that she saw yesterday, though in the daylight, he look more like a professional businessman. She guessed she misjudged him.

Eliza took her hand away from his and adjusted her dress. "It's fine. Maybe next time, use your words instead." 

The man chuckled. "Noted. I was just gonna say that I couldn't help but to notice you're a little light in the pockets."

"Excuse me?" Eliza questioned, crossing her arms.

"Your pockets. They're a little light, I can tell." 

"Are you sure it wasn't the fact that you probably overheard me asking for a job, that made you know I'm low on coin?" 

"Look, all I'm saying is, I have a job for you to do. If you're interested." 

Eliza uncrossed her arms and smiled softly. "What's the job?" 

"I need an extra pair of hands, and in my line of work, extra hands are well-paid."