Sapphire’s mead tasted good and sweet on her tongue, just enough honey to be delicious and enough alcohol to give her a buzz. She was feeling lucky tonight. There was a rich new stranger in town and she’d bought Honeyside. According to Snilf, the owner was often out but whenever she returned, she brought back riches aplenty. The woman was a Nord, a big, red-headed barbarian of a woman, wearing ebony armour. That in itself would have turned Sapphire’s attention, but the idea that she had more down in that house, enough to set her up for a while, made her little thief’s head turn in delight.
Vex clambered onto the stool next to her, slim and toned, and eyed Sapphire warily. Vex was the breakin girl and Sapphire had been after her job for quite some time. Sapphire knew it. Vex knew it. Vex was determined, after the Goldenglow mishap, to not let anyone else take her place, but Sapphire was determined to trailblaze. She was going to break into Honeyside, steal as much of the Nord’s riches as she could fit into her pocket, and return a wealthy woman. Maybe she’d go on a little trip to Solitude and see what else she could nab from there. It was rumoured to be wealthy, one of the trading capitals of Skyrim.
“You look too excited,” Vex began, and Sapphire just shot her a grin. Vex had every right to be nervous. Sapphire was just as good as her.
“I’m going to break into Honeyside, of course I look excited,” the girl replied. The blood drained from Vex’ face.
“Sapphire, that is a very, very foolish thing to do,” she told her quietly. “Please tell me no one set you up for this job. If Delvin did…I’m gonna kill him.”
“Jealous?” Sapphire sniped.
“Sapphire, that woman is an unknown,” Vex warned her. “If you get your ass kicked – or worse – on this job, it will be your fault and yours alone. I get that you’re headstrong, but this is just crazy.”
“And when will she be back? Did you just forget what we do-”
Sapphire simply stood, shooting a glare at her superior. Vex was trying to talk her out of it so she could claim the riches for herself. If she really thought feigning concern about Sapphire’s skills – like Sapphire didn’t know Vex was just trying to get her to second-guess herself so that Vex could remain the top infiltrator – was going to get her to stop her plan, Vex had another thing coming. There was no way she was going to be convinced to cut the plan short. The Nord was out, the moon was new, and her veins were buzzing with liquor-induced courage. She felt lucky.
-
No lights were on in Honeyside, so Snilf had been right. Sapphire resolved to toss him a few extra septims next time they saw each other in thanks. She’d certainly have the money for it after she pulled this off. Checking that there were no guards around, she brought out her set of lockpicks and began to gently try them on the door. It took her a few minutes – and nerve-wracking minutes they were – but then she got the door open, and slid inside. Her eyes adjusted to the gloom and darkness gradually, and she looked around to see a magnificent sword of black and red hanging above the empty fireplace. Opposite her sat three mannequins, all adorned with ebony, glass and better armours. She almost whistled in astonishment. There were potions and gems laid out over various desks and Sapphire picked up a handful before opening her satchel and putting them in.
She noticed a set of stairs leading down and, stuffing the last of the gems into her pockets, she headed over to them quietly, descending into a slightly colder lower floor. Her eyes scanned the current room, seeing an alchemy table and enchanting desk, and then her eyes spotted black soul gems. Oh gods yes, this was exactly what she wanted. She hardly noticed the open bedroom door as she slipped past, and her hands reached out, filling themselves with soul gems and hearing the gentle clinking sound as they mixed with the precious jewels she currently held. She crept over to the alchemy table and spied expensive potions, as well as things like Daedra hearts. She had grabbed the first Invisibility Philter when someone came up behind her and knocked her out.
Stealing Her Heart, 1/4
Vex clambered onto the stool next to her, slim and toned, and eyed Sapphire warily. Vex was the breakin girl and Sapphire had been after her job for quite some time. Sapphire knew it. Vex knew it. Vex was determined, after the Goldenglow mishap, to not let anyone else take her place, but Sapphire was determined to trailblaze. She was going to break into Honeyside, steal as much of the Nord’s riches as she could fit into her pocket, and return a wealthy woman. Maybe she’d go on a little trip to Solitude and see what else she could nab from there. It was rumoured to be wealthy, one of the trading capitals of Skyrim.
“You look too excited,” Vex began, and Sapphire just shot her a grin. Vex had every right to be nervous. Sapphire was just as good as her.
“I’m going to break into Honeyside, of course I look excited,” the girl replied. The blood drained from Vex’ face.
“Sapphire, that is a very, very foolish thing to do,” she told her quietly. “Please tell me no one set you up for this job. If Delvin did…I’m gonna kill him.”
“Jealous?” Sapphire sniped.
“Sapphire, that woman is an unknown,” Vex warned her. “If you get your ass kicked – or worse – on this job, it will be your fault and yours alone. I get that you’re headstrong, but this is just crazy.”
“She’s hardly ever there,” Sapphire argued. “She’s gone tonight. Snilf said so.”
“And when will she be back? Did you just forget what we do-”
Sapphire simply stood, shooting a glare at her superior. Vex was trying to talk her out of it so she could claim the riches for herself. If she really thought feigning concern about Sapphire’s skills – like Sapphire didn’t know Vex was just trying to get her to second-guess herself so that Vex could remain the top infiltrator – was going to get her to stop her plan, Vex had another thing coming. There was no way she was going to be convinced to cut the plan short. The Nord was out, the moon was new, and her veins were buzzing with liquor-induced courage. She felt lucky.
-
No lights were on in Honeyside, so Snilf had been right. Sapphire resolved to toss him a few extra septims next time they saw each other in thanks. She’d certainly have the money for it after she pulled this off. Checking that there were no guards around, she brought out her set of lockpicks and began to gently try them on the door. It took her a few minutes – and nerve-wracking minutes they were – but then she got the door open, and slid inside. Her eyes adjusted to the gloom and darkness gradually, and she looked around to see a magnificent sword of black and red hanging above the empty fireplace. Opposite her sat three mannequins, all adorned with ebony, glass and better armours. She almost whistled in astonishment. There were potions and gems laid out over various desks and Sapphire picked up a handful before opening her satchel and putting them in.
She noticed a set of stairs leading down and, stuffing the last of the gems into her pockets, she headed over to them quietly, descending into a slightly colder lower floor. Her eyes scanned the current room, seeing an alchemy table and enchanting desk, and then her eyes spotted black soul gems. Oh gods yes, this was exactly what she wanted. She hardly noticed the open bedroom door as she slipped past, and her hands reached out, filling themselves with soul gems and hearing the gentle clinking sound as they mixed with the precious jewels she currently held. She crept over to the alchemy table and spied expensive potions, as well as things like Daedra hearts. She had grabbed the first Invisibility Philter when someone came up behind her and knocked her out.