Brynjolf

Shadow came into the cistern very early, it was barely dawn and the Khajiit had already scouted the Jarl's keep, stolen from none other than Maven Black-Briar herself, robbed every single building in Riften, and somehow managed to stay standing when she entered the cistern looking bone-tired.

Mercer had been healed and was now ordering everyone around like he owned the guild (which he does...), Karliah and Gallus had been moved by Shadow to a new location, Mikai was still trying to convince her that Mercer was a betrayer.

'If we entered through the front doors, we would arouse suspicion.' stated Vex, 'So we sneak in through the windows.'

I tilted my head, thinking. 'We may,' I said thoughtfully, 'Need a few deaths on our hands.'

'That's where I come in.' Shadow piped up. 'I'm the Dark Brotherhood's listener, if you put contracts on the Jarl's guards, I'll be honour bound to murder them.'

There were nods of appreciation. 'And besides,' she continued. 'If it's a contract done by Maven, she has  to pay the assassin. I'll do the assassinating and share the gold around.' There were murmurs of excitement at this.

Shadow shooed away everyone else before spreading a map of the Jarl's keep out on the table in front of us, heaving a huge sigh before tracing her claws lightly over the map, occasionally dotting places where the guards would be with a Raven feather quill. 

I watched her run her claws through her hair distractedly as she stared at the intricately marked map, weak rays of sunlight spread from the ceiling of the cistern over her soft red strands. For hours on end we stood, fine tuning the heist, positioning the members of the guild and writing ransom notes.

Over the hours, Shadow had been running her claws through her hair, double checking the plans, and fidgeting constantly. If I tried to console her, she would brush it off and say she was fine. Then she would fidget again.

She folded up a letter.

'I'm going to visit Maven. Get her to do the Brotherhood contract or we acknowledge the contract on her.' Shadow rasped. 

Her voice was becoming the harsh tone the other Khajiit used, because she was using it less and less in her exhaustion. The truth was, Shadow hadn't slept since Delvin woke her up. She had been constantly doing something to help Mercer, who tried to get closer to her.

'Sure. Just... Don't get killed.' I replied, re-reading the ransom notes.

Shadow strode confidently over to the secret entrance, before climbing out of sight, voices suddenly echoed from where shadow had just gone.

'WHAT?!'

'Yes! You're a traitor to the guild, a temporary installment!'

'Traitor yourself! I don't see you doing anything to help! Guess who's been planning all the heists? Guess who just spent four hours standing and planning the biggest heist yet? Guess who does all the dirty work while you pigs just sit around and drink your mead? ME!'

There was the sound of a blade being unsheathed and a oof! from the voices. Stone grated on stone as shadow left and none other than Thyrrn entered the cistern, his blade covered in black ink... it looked like... Blood