Dragon's Conquest

A Past Trade

"This," the Guildmaster said, gesturing to the Thief behind him as they both sat down, "is who I had in mind. He knows Aldmeris and he hates the Thalmor more than most. Dragonborn, I believe you've met before."

Nariilu nodded at Etienne Rarnis. She noticed he was still walking with a limp from his time in an interrogation cell, though the scars visible on his face and neck had faded considerably. If he was the forger, that just made negotiations that much more in her favor; a life debt wasn't easily repaid. "Should we take this conversation to a more private location?" She asked. "I don't intend to set a price with half the Guild able to hear my offers."

"Smart woman," the Guildmaster replied, "but I'm afraid this is as private as the Guild has, at the moment. I can assure full security of your assets from any of our members. It would be bad business to harm any of the Guild's employers, you see."

Nariilu sat back. "And you can assure anonymity for myself, my companion, and the rest of the College? I'm sure you understand that we cannot be attached to the Thieves Guild, at least publicly."

"You have my word."

"And how much value can we place on the word of a master thief?" Stormcloak asked. Nariilu kicked him under the table, but he had an excellent point. Stormcloak kicked back.

The Guildmaster smirked. "Almost none, but it's a little too late to be anonymous, isn't it, Jarl? Enough of this banter. We have business to do. You said you had an example of the handwriting?"

Nariilu nodded and pulled a folded stack of parchment from her robes. Five of Ancano's letters, about Divines knew what. She passed them across the table to Etienne, standing up to reach to his waiting hand. He inspected the letters for a long quiet while, occasionally flipping through the sheets and then back again.

"This is partially coded," Etienne finally said. "But the writing style will be easy enough. If I can figure out the code, I can do it. No problem."

"How long will you be contracting Etienne?" the Guildmaster asked.

"Hopefully, for a few months, at least," Nariilu replied.

"How many pages will I need to forge each day?" Etienne asked.

Nariilu thought for a second. She'd never given any thought about what Ancano did, except when he made it his business to find out all of her business. She knew he had spent most of his time either shadowing the Arch-Mage or writing reports back to the Embassy. "Five or ten, at least."

Etienne closed his eyes in thought. "Simple enough."