But then he had, for reasons Maven didn’t understand, gotten high on something at the Thalmor Embassy New Life Festival and proclaimed that he loved her in front of everyone. EVERYONE! She had never been more humiliated. The thief knew she had been looking to get married and then he had gone and pulled that stupid stunt.
Granted, Maven’s main intent had been to look available for potential alliances. More likely than not, wearing the Amulet of Mara would start conversations that would lead to desirable business contracts. Men might not find her beautiful, but most would be willing to put aesthetics aside for a chance to have a stake in one of the most prominent industries in Skyrim. And on the off chance she actually found someone worth sharing her bed and life with permanently… Well, she would revisit that idea if it happened.
Instead Mercer, in one fell stroke, had completely ruined that plan. No one would want anything to do with her if they knew she was involved personally with the Guildmaster of the Thieves’ Guild. It was useful for there to be rumors of her essentially running the Guild, but to be openly connected to them? Disastrous!
Maven sighed as she wheeled Frost around to head back to Black-Briar Lodge. It would get dark soon and she really did have to read that pile of documents that were waiting in her room. They weren’t going to sign themselves.
“Ms. Maven!” Maul called as Maven pulled up to the stable. The large Imperial burst into a big grin when he saw his mistress. He trotted up and took the reins of her steed so she could dismount more easily. “We got that Redguard who has been saying sh- um, discrediting you in town lately.”
“Where is she right now, Maul?” Maven asked, favoring her right hand man with a small smile. Of everyone who worked for her, Maul was her most efficient man. Too bad he was simply a bodyguard at the end of the day.
“Tied her up in one of the empty stalls,” Maul stated, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “Couldn’t be tracking the trash into the house, ma’am.”
“Very good, Maul,” Maven said. She handed him Frost’s reins. “Be a dear and get Frost settled in while I see if I can convert one of our wayward thieves to seeing the error of her ways.”
As the Imperial led the prized steed away, Maven walked over to the stall Maul had indicated. Inside, a naked Anika was tied spread eagle against the wall. Maven was pleased to see that she didn’t look roughed up other than the shiner on her right eye.
“Looks like you took the hard way,” Maven commented as she grasped Anika’s chin and tilted the Redguard’s head so she could see the bruise better. “Shame to have to mar such a pretty little face.”
Anika’s only response was to spit in Maven’s face.
The Nord stepped back and calmly wiped her face clean of the saliva. “Crude, but I honestly expected no less from one of Mercer’s people. I do believe he did the same thing to Maul one time. Ah, speaking of Maul.”
The Imperial entered the stall carrying a simple, straight-backed chair. “Do I need to rough this one up some more, Ms. Maven?”
“No, Maul, I have this under control,” Maven said, patting the man’s shoulder. She sat on the chair Maul provided before primly crossing one ankle over another. She tapped her riding crop loudly against her hip. “Feel free to hang around and watch or take a well-deserved break. Your choice.”
“I always enjoy watching you work, ma’am,” Maul grinned. He stepped back until he was just outside the stall and leaned against the side. “Girl, you’re in for a real treat.”
“Let me guess,” Anika snarled. “You’re going to torture me until I change my tune. You’re going to cut me and beat me until I beg for mercy? Maybe have one or more of those big lugs who work for you come in here and rape me a few times?” She tossed her hair back with a proud flip of her chin. “Well, good luck with that! I don’t break easily. I’ve never snitched on a crew I’ve been with and I don’t plan on giving in to any bully any time soon.”
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timeasmymeasure
Loud and Clear 3/?
Date: 2013-01-06 04:49 am (UTC)Granted, Maven’s main intent had been to look available for potential alliances. More likely than not, wearing the Amulet of Mara would start conversations that would lead to desirable business contracts. Men might not find her beautiful, but most would be willing to put aesthetics aside for a chance to have a stake in one of the most prominent industries in Skyrim. And on the off chance she actually found someone worth sharing her bed and life with permanently… Well, she would revisit that idea if it happened.
Instead Mercer, in one fell stroke, had completely ruined that plan. No one would want anything to do with her if they knew she was involved personally with the Guildmaster of the Thieves’ Guild. It was useful for there to be rumors of her essentially running the Guild, but to be openly connected to them? Disastrous!
Maven sighed as she wheeled Frost around to head back to Black-Briar Lodge. It would get dark soon and she really did have to read that pile of documents that were waiting in her room. They weren’t going to sign themselves.
“Ms. Maven!” Maul called as Maven pulled up to the stable. The large Imperial burst into a big grin when he saw his mistress. He trotted up and took the reins of her steed so she could dismount more easily. “We got that Redguard who has been saying sh- um, discrediting you in town lately.”
“Where is she right now, Maul?” Maven asked, favoring her right hand man with a small smile. Of everyone who worked for her, Maul was her most efficient man. Too bad he was simply a bodyguard at the end of the day.
“Tied her up in one of the empty stalls,” Maul stated, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “Couldn’t be tracking the trash into the house, ma’am.”
“Very good, Maul,” Maven said. She handed him Frost’s reins. “Be a dear and get Frost settled in while I see if I can convert one of our wayward thieves to seeing the error of her ways.”
As the Imperial led the prized steed away, Maven walked over to the stall Maul had indicated. Inside, a naked Anika was tied spread eagle against the wall. Maven was pleased to see that she didn’t look roughed up other than the shiner on her right eye.
“Looks like you took the hard way,” Maven commented as she grasped Anika’s chin and tilted the Redguard’s head so she could see the bruise better. “Shame to have to mar such a pretty little face.”
Anika’s only response was to spit in Maven’s face.
The Nord stepped back and calmly wiped her face clean of the saliva. “Crude, but I honestly expected no less from one of Mercer’s people. I do believe he did the same thing to Maul one time. Ah, speaking of Maul.”
The Imperial entered the stall carrying a simple, straight-backed chair. “Do I need to rough this one up some more, Ms. Maven?”
“No, Maul, I have this under control,” Maven said, patting the man’s shoulder. She sat on the chair Maul provided before primly crossing one ankle over another. She tapped her riding crop loudly against her hip. “Feel free to hang around and watch or take a well-deserved break. Your choice.”
“I always enjoy watching you work, ma’am,” Maul grinned. He stepped back until he was just outside the stall and leaned against the side. “Girl, you’re in for a real treat.”
“Let me guess,” Anika snarled. “You’re going to torture me until I change my tune. You’re going to cut me and beat me until I beg for mercy? Maybe have one or more of those big lugs who work for you come in here and rape me a few times?” She tossed her hair back with a proud flip of her chin. “Well, good luck with that! I don’t break easily. I’ve never snitched on a crew I’ve been with and I don’t plan on giving in to any bully any time soon.”