How to Pickpocket a Pickpocket

Chapter 16

The marketplace, or plaza as Artis was told, was surprisingly busy bright and early that morning. The few stalls there were, were being occupied with lines of people, most of them buying food and ingredients. Artis wandered about for a bit, making sure that she blended in well enough just in case one of the guards recognized her – or if Brynjolf was planning on setting her up again. She bought a few bread rolls, some apples, lavender, lock picks and even a wolf pelt, which was totally unnecessary, but she needed to blend in, right? She and Lydia ran a few errands after that and were now resting in the shade of the inn, spying at Brynjolf from afar.

"How do you know if we can trust this man, my Thane?" Lydia muttered under her breath, "What if he does the same to you like he did the last time you were here? I swear I'll kill him in every way he fears if he so much as touch you."

Artis leaned against the wall of the Bee and the Barb, observing Brynjolf from a distance as he tried selling his ridiculous potions, "I don't know anything, Lydia. But I'm curious to what he has in mind. I promise, if anything feels off, we turn the other way and leave Riften for good."

The two of them stood there for a moment longer until Artis worked up enough patience to stroll casually over to the red headed Nord. The moment she caught his attention, Brynjolf straightened up, pushed his shoulders back and plastered on his most charming smirk.

"Morning, lass." He greeted her charmingly, "I take it you're ready to make some coin, then?"

"Alright, spill it." Artis sighed, "It took a lot of energy just to work up enough self-control to walk over here without shooting you in the face. So, this better be good."

Brynjolf swallowed, but his determination pushed him to tell the lass about his scheme, "Here's the deal, lass. I'm going to create a distraction and you are going to steal Madesi's ring out of his strongbox. Then you're going to plant it on Brand-Shei over there, so that he'll be framed for the crime."

"And what exactly am I getting out of this?" Artis raised an eyebrow, already suspicious of his plan, "It sounds awfully like a fishing and shilling job, nothing like a bedlam where I actually got to keep the stuff I steal."

"I'll pay you, lass." Brynjolf played it cool, "Just don't get caught."

Artis frowned, thinking the whole thing through. The previous night he said that they both will make some coin out of it. However, she couldn't think of any way that he'll become a septim or two richer, since she's the only one who's getting paid. What if this was just another setup? How could she know for sure that he wouldn't call the guards on her in the middle of the job? Artis glanced over at Lydia, who was glaring death at Brynjolf. Would Lydia really attack guards if they threatened to throw Artis in prison?

"Alright." She decided to just deal with it like she always does. If things got out of hand, she could just Fus Ro their asses back to Oblivion. "Lydia, stay here with Brynjolf. Make sure he doesn't plan on calling the guards on me again. I'll be right back."

Brynjolf smiled brightly, reached back and grabbed two bottles of potions, "That's the spirit, lass!" He turned to the crowd and the plan was in action, "Listen up everyone, this here's a rare bottle of Falmer Blood! What does it do, you wonder? Well, make love like a sabre cat or crush your enemies to dust like a giant. Learn a whole library's worth of knowledge in moments or grow back that missing limb... the possibilities are endless!"

Artis, who was already in her sneaking position and hiding behind some empty crates, rolled her eyes in annoyance at his terrible marketing, "Cheap rubbish." Her eyes scanned the crowd, making sure everyone was gathered around Brynjolf's stall before sneaking towards Madesi's stall. With skilled fingers she slid open the little door at the bottom and set to work on the lock of the strongbox. It wasn't that tricky to pick, and she found the ring lying on top of a few other valuables, which she slipped into her pockets too fast for the eye to see. Artis stole a glance at Brynjolf, just to make sure he's still distracting the crowd. Their eyes met briefly as she snuck over to where Brand-Shei was sitting on a crate, observing the red-haired Nord's ridiculous marketing style.