Jack leaned in to tenderly kiss Mark's shoulder, asking in a soft whisper. "Are you sure"? Mark's warm breath tickled his ear, replying. "Yes. Been following you since we arrived. Over my shoulder, by the wall". Jack let only his eyes scan around, before looking at the wall. There a Khajiit woman was leaning against the wall, staring at them with sharp feline eyes. The second their eyes met, she averted her glaze to the burned and crumbled market circle. Jack took in her appearance quickly. He didn't recognize her. She was dressed in worn tattered clothing, but her fur looked pristine in its calico coloring. She only carried a small dagger at her hip that was made from a higher quality than her suggested station could normally afford. She either had stole it, or she was trying to blend in as a lower class citizen of Riften. 

The Khajiit woman may have been looking away, but one of her ears was fixed in their direction. Jack knew little about how good her kinds hearing was, but he imagined it was really good. Mark nibbled on his earlobe, forcing Jack to close his eyes from the shiver it gave him. Then Mark whispered to him. "Stay close". Mark stepped back, telling him in a normal voice. "If you want to find him first. Then I won't distract you". Jack rolled his eyes, uttering back. "You always distract me". Jack stayed on Mark's left as they continued down the steps. The more distance he had between her and himself, the more time he'd have to cast spells to defend them. Walking into the broken market circle, Jack politely asked an Argonian man if he knew where he could find Brynjolf. The Argonian man pointed to a stall across the way with a dissatisfied scowl.

They made their way toward a man setting large red bottles up on a shelf, when a woman grabbed Jack's wrist to stop him. Mark's hand reached up to clutch his greatsword's hilt, but Jack wasn't worried. The old woman was sitting cross legged on the ground, barely covered in her shredded clothes. She looked up at him with hopeful eyes as she asked in a shaky voice. "Spare a coin for an old woman"? Mark let go of his sword, placing a hand on his shoulder to probably warn him about Riften being a town of thieves. Yet, Jack still removed a few gold coins from his pocket and placed them into the woman's palm. A tear fell from the woman's face as she held his hand tighter, telling him happily. "Thank you! You're such a kind soul! Blessings upon you, Dragonborn"!

He helped the woman stand upright and she released him to head to a wagon close by that was laden with food. It wasn't until then that Jack noticed all the eyes watching him. They stared at him in what looked to be surprise. Mark shifted nervously beside him, when a heavily accented voice spoke out to them dryly. "Well, what have we here? A noble handing out charity? You best be careful, lad. You could get robbed around here for flashing coin. Or worse. You could get that lass killed for all the coin you just gave away". Jack turned his eyes on the man, asking curiously. "Are you Brynjolf"? The man leaned against the post holding up his little stall, answering calmly. "That depends on who's asking for him, lad". Jack glanced around, feeling uneasy with all the eyes on him, but asked him casually. "We're looking for an old guy, probably hiding out in the Ratway"?

The man raised an eyebrow with interest, answering steadily. "You think I give information for free"? Mark moved in closer, muttering out. "Watch yourself. You're talking to the Dragonborn and the Thane of Riften". The man's eyes locked with Mark's to state aloud without a care. "Fancy titles. They truly are. However, The Jarl doesn't run Riften. Raven Black-Briar does. She's got both the Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves guild in her pocket. So, unless you're going to tell me that she sent ya. My lips are sealed, lads". Mark took a step forward, but Jack pushed him back. He didn't want a brawl to break out here. Sighing, Jack removed another few coins from his bag, reluctantly handing them off to the man. The man quickly pocketed the money, answering sincerely. "Yeah. I bet I know your guy. He's hiding out in the Ratway Warrens. Paying us good coin for nobody to know about it".

Mark rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "And yet here you are, turning him in? He must not be paying that well". Brynjolf gave him a warm smirk, answering back smugly. "Actually, Lad. A couple of Thalmor guards came trudging through here earlier looking for the same man. They paid a lot more coin. So, consider your price discounted. Cause I'll bet by the time ya reach him... There will be nothing left of him". Jack gave Mark a grave look, before Mark took his arm and started to run for the stairs leading to the lower part of the city. Dashing down the steps, Mark drew his greatsword muttering bitterly. "I hope we aren't too far behind them"! Jack scrambled to keep up with Mark, stating grimly. "Do you even know how to navigate your way through the Ratway? What if we run into the Thieves guild"? Mark skidded to a stop in front of an iron gate, telling Jack a little out of breath. "One problem at a time".

Mark opened the creaking gate, gesturing for Jack to go in first, when his eyes drifted behind Jack with concern. Jack glanced over his shoulder to see the calico Khajiit woman, panting at the top of the steps, looking down at them with fierce eyes. Mark grabbed Jack's shoulder and practically shoved him into the Ratway as he muttered out bitterly. "Like I said. One problem at a time". Jack entered into the Ratway and Mark followed, slamming the gate closed behind them. Through the bars, they saw the calico Khajiit race down the steps heading after them. Jack opened the wooden door and gagged a bit. The smell of the place was making his stomach turn. It smelled like moldy water and piss. Mark coaxed him to continue inside, telling him bluntly. "Breathe out your mouth, not your nose and prepare yourself for a fight".

The Ratway was built like a rounded stone tunnel, but everything was wet and dripping. They followed the tunnel, their feet splashing in the puddles pooling on the stone floor. As they reached an opening, they came across two dead burly men. Mark pushed Jack on, telling him grimly. "Probably criminals trying to avoid the guards. I bet the Thalmor took justice into their own hands. Come on". They slipped into the next room and Mark pushed him back against the wall. Jack was going to yell at him, when he suddenly heard it too. Soft splashing coming from the tunnel they just left. The calico Khajiit had entered into the Ratway. Mark put a finger to his lips, backing up to stand on the other side of the entrance. Jack watched Mark remove his dagger, waiting patiently as the Khajiit woman came into view.

Swiftly, Mark lunged for her. Slamming her against the stone entranceway and putting the dagger to her throat. The calico Khajiit's ears fell flat against her head, letting out a loud aggressive hiss at his face. Mark shoved the dagger closer to her neck, yelling out sternly. "Why are you following us?! You've got less than a minute to answer before I kill you"! The Khajiit hissed at him a little softer, before saying in a thick purring accent. "Go away if you know what's good for you"! Mark lost his patience, yelling out. "WRONG ANSWER"! Jack tried to reach for Mark, but was too late. The Khajiit woman raised her hands to sink her sharp claws into Mark's arm. Mark wailed out in pain, unintentionally dropping his dagger. She was more animal than woman. Starting to slash at any flesh she could, until Mark had no choice, but to back away from her.

When Mark slumped back against the wall, holding his bleeding arm, she turned to stalk toward Jack. Jack drew his sword as she stalked closer. Circling around him with her claws at the ready and hissing out at him venomously. "And now you pay for meddling in the Thalmor affairs"! Jack's heart plummeted as he asked curiously. "You were sent from the embassy, weren't you"? The Khajiit flashed him a sharp toothed grin, replying menacingly. "Shavari never dreamed it be you, Dragonborn. Before Shavari takes your life... Will you answer a question"? Jack raised his sword at the ready, preparing himself as he boldly answered. "What"? Shavari suddenly started to take slow steps back, asking with an evil grin. "Can the Dragonborn see in the dark? Cause Shavari can"!

Mark rolled across the ground, picking up his dagger with his left arm and throwing it at her. Shavari back flipped to avoid it, grabbing the torch from the wall as she flipped over it. Landing gracefully back on the ground, she simply dropped the torch into a puddle. Sending the whole tunnel into a pitch black darkness. Jack stayed very still, listening for the tiniest sounds. Keeping his sword up at the ready, he raised his left hand and waited. He knew where he had last seen Mark. So, he took a huge risk. Casting the spell for Candlelight and shouting out into the tunnel in front of him. "FUS RO DAH"! The second the Candlelight spell lit up the room, he got a spilt second to see Shavari leaping away from a wall at him with her claws fully extended. She had been going for his throat, when the force of the shout caught her in the air, knocking her back.

Jack watched her body helpless turn through the air as she was sent falling into the next tunnel up ahead. Her body vanished into the darkness ahead and he stood waiting a moment for her to come back. When she didn't, he quickly turned to kneel beside Mark. Mark raised an eyebrow at him, stating a little concerned. "Are you crazy? You could have made the Ratway collapse"! Jack placed a hand on Mark's injured arm, healing it quickly as he answered. "Between the two of us, I'm the sane one. Now come on. She could be back any second". Jack finished healing Mark and helped him up on his feet. Mark flexed his healed arm, retrieving his dagger and wandering closer to the tunnel ahead. Jack was just starting to follow him, when Mark turned slowly his way to tell him calmly. "Jack. She's not going to be coming after us anymore".

Cautiously, Jack moved up beside Mark. His little ball of bright light shining light in the next tunnel to reveal a heavy wooden bridge that was drawn up and a sudden drop to the stone floor below. On the floor below, Shavari's body was laying across a mess of large broken stones. Mark put a hand on his shoulder, then pointed to a bright tunnel, saying very softly. "There is a torchlight down that way. It might be a way around. We should check it out". Jack nodded in agreement. He didn't feel bad for Shavari. After all, she did try to kill him. His only grievous was that he was starting to get used to death. He didn't like killing people. He could imagine that these people were just doing their job. Trying to make some form of living in these tough times. Yet, to live himself... He'd have to keep taking lives. It made him feel weird.

Mark took Jack's chin in his hand, forcing Jack to turn away from Shavari's body, before looking him in the eyes to comfortingly say. "Stay with me, Jack. We've got to get to Esbern, before they do". Jack nodded, clearing his mind and jumping down with Mark. The fall wasn't that far, but Jack guessed the force of his shout and her body landing on the stones did her in. Mark moved to her body, searching her pockets. Straightening back up, he showed Jack a folded parchment. Mark moved closer to use the hovering ball of light to read the paper aloud. "I have good reason to believe the target will be coming to Riften in the next few days. Discretion is preferred, but elimination of the target is of the highest priority. The usual restrictions on exposure are lifted. You will be reassigned outside Skyrim, if necessary, without penalty. Do not fail me. E".

Mark shrugged, handing the paper to Jack as he asked curiously. "You think she was sent by the Thalmor embassy"? Jack looked over the hand writing, answering confidently. "Ya. I recognize this hand writing from the journals I took. This order came from Elenwen. She was the only one who knew Esbern was somewhere in Riften. She probably noticed the journals were gone and assumed the culprit was headed this way for him". Mark took the note back, crumpling it up in his hands as he growled back. "Elenwen must have set this trap expecting to catch Delphine! Again we are taking hits for HER! I'll fucking kill her"! Mark stormed off toward the bright tunnel and Jack sighed softly. Mark was in his hot headed mood again. There was no point trying to reason with him. Following along behind him, Mark kicked open another wooden door.

The door burst open with the kick, sending two large iron spikes shooting out from the wall. The spikes sprung out just above and just under Mark's leg. Missing him by just a foot or two. When the spikes retracted back into the wall, Mark's fowl mood was gone as he staggered back into Jack's arms, yelling out. "WHOA! Son of a bitch! That was close"! Jack tightened his arms around Mark's shoulders, holding him close for a terrified moment. Jack had to remember how to breathe. If Mark had been standing upright to open that door... Mark would have died. Mark placed a warm hand on his arm, asking him suddenly really worried. "Jack? Are you ok"? Jack pried his eyes away from the door to see that his hands were shaking against Mark's chest. Holding Mark in a death grip. To Be Continued...