We'd had to wait until later the next day to meet with Mercer, the man scowling as soon as he heard that Destin's sister was among those waiting to see him. It wasn't until I finally relented and spilled my old name of Valencia that he paused, giving me a long look before he began asking questions that only a member of the Imperial City's Thieves Guild would be able to answer. Even if I had been absent from the guild for several years, I was able to answer enough questions that the man sat back and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Prove yourself to me, complete a few jobs for the Guild and help bring us back into Maven's good graces, then I'll see to it you have a meeting with her. But until you do that for us, I can't promise anything. Besides, it's common courtesy to offer a favor when asking one, even amongst thieves and assassin. Or so I had always believed. Was I mistaken?" Mercer spoke, a venomous grin on his lips as he gazed steadily at me.

Of course. I have not forgotten how things work in the Guild, simply because I have been absent from it for so long. But you must promise the safety of my Brothers while I see to these jobs of yours. I will not have them tossed out into the streets while I see to keeping my end of the deal.

I watched as the man nodded his head once the bald Imperial translated my words to him, standing and walking to the back of the room where my Cicero and our Brother waited, lowering my head as a scowl stretched my lips. The man had left a bad taste in my mouth, his attitude at odds with the rundown Guild that haunted this town's sewers.

And if you betray me, even Sithis himself will not be able to stay my blade.

I watched a vicious smirk spread across my Cicero's lips as he danced forward to meet me halfway.

"Do not worry, sweet Faith! Cicero will make sure that he and his Brother remain safe! Even if he must slice someone's throat to ensure they are well and waiting for her when his Faith returns for her Cicero! And her Brother, of course," he fluttered his eyes at me as his smile eased into a more playful one.

Standing close to my Cicero, I made sure I was at an angle only he could see my lips from as I kept my head tilted down slightly and peered up at him through my lashes. It wouldn't do for anyone else to see what I had to say.

I trust you, my love. It's that man that has me feeling the need to be cautious. He doesn't act like one who's Guild is laying in ruins around his feet. He doesn't seem upset about the ill-luck they are having, not the way a Guild leader should be upset. I don't trust him. Until I return, I want you two keeping an eye out for each other. Vellius always taught me, if the Guild leader doesn't share the same troubles as the members of the Guild, then it is likely they have their fingers slipping into someone else's pockets.

Leaning my head against his chest, I gave a tired sigh, not wanting to think about this issue anymore. This guild's problems were not our own and my focus should be only on what had to be done to get the meeting with Maven Blackbriar so that we could move forward in our search. And yet, I couldn't help moving my lips one more time, regardless that nobody could see my final words before I moved away to prepare for the job I was being given.

The question then becomes... who's pockets do his fingers wander into?

--------

I could feel Amicus' breath against my ear as we waited in the shadows for the guard to pass by, my heart hammering with excitement as if it echoed each footstep they took. A warm hand pressed gently against my back as we were finally able to move further down the hallway. Smiling at the touch, I hurried as quickly as I could without making a sound, pausing only when I felt one of the floorboards begin to shift under my foot so that I could place my foot on a more sturdy board before moving forward again.

I slipped through a doorway just in time to avoid catching the returning guard's eyes, moving deeper into the shadows as the footsteps came closer. I ducked down behind a barrel as the guard's shadow passed through the room, the man walking by as he barely paused to even peek through the doorway. Moments later, he was gone again, heading further down the hall to meet up with another guard before beginning the cycle again. The same cycle Amicus had watched him perform several times before he'd slipped behind where I had been waiting outside as the sun had slowly sunk beneath the distant mountains.

This is our chance, Amicus. We should have just enough time to get to the stairs before he heads back, once he passes us again. Then we can head to the vault and get the money, just like they said we need to. After that, we are gone from here. No more sneaking down dingy hallways, no more swimming through water, and best of all... no more bees! Stupid, stinging, nasty bees! I don't care how much honey they make, it hurts when they sting you!

I rubbed at a sore spot on my side, wincing as the tender flesh reminded me why touching was a bad idea. A quiet whisper from Amicus reminded me we would still need to escape successfully once we had the money.

Okay, maybe one more time swimming through the water, but then we are staying on dry land for a while... Aedra, if I have to swim through one more lake or river without getting to sit by a fire on the other side of it, I'm gonna scream...