Chapter Forty Seven

The brightness stabbed at Gaeolin’s eyes. He was wrapped up tightly as they made their way into the market district of Solitude. Urmha and Inigo followed him, Bai’lira and Auroth leading the group along the road. Gaeolin slowed to speak with Urmha. “So where is this man you need to talk to?” His voice was muffled by the cloth over his lips.

“If I know him at all, somewhere out in the open, where we can’t rough him up. While the guards know he’s a thief, he’s very good at getting his slimy ass off the hook. Always has an alibi.”

Bai’lira scowled. “You mean you do not know if he is even in town?”

Urmha sent an insincere smirk. “I’m sorry. Did the fact that I spend most of my time on a ship with a bunch of drunk sailors escape you?”

The alchemist hissed, prompting Auroth to step between them. “Arguing amongst ourselves will accomplish nothing.” He turned to Urmha. “Do you know anyone who might be able to point us in the right direction?”

She looked past him. “No need, he’s just over there.” She motioned for them to follow, leading to the eaves of the apothecary. The Argonian leaned against a post, eyeing them with interest, his teeth glinting as he saw Urmha among them.

“Ah! If it isn’t miss Urmha, prettiest wench on the waves.” He mocked a bow. “What can this humble businessman do for you?”

She jammed her dagger into the post by his head. “After what you did, you’re lucky I don’t scale you right here in front of Stendarr and all these people.”

“I’d suggest not.” He pushed her hand away. “The guards are particularly easy to offend lately.”

She looked around, noticing two Haafingar Soldiers marching down from the castle. Sheathing her weapon, she made a sour face. “Why they even let you into the city is beyond me.”

He shrugged. “I have my ways. Trust me, they don’t like that I’m here. They simply have no reason to send me away, nor do they know how I got in.”

She put her nose inches from his snout. “Listen, fetcher! I don’t have time for your games. I want what you took from me.”

He feigned confusion. “Of yours? I’m afraid you are mistaken…”

She seemed to struggle with the urge to kill him. Her hand squeezed her dagger’s hilt until the knuckles were white. “You know damned well what I mean. The Bloodgrass, the Skooma…” She gripped her scabbard for emphasis. “My sword.”

He grinned. “Ah, that… I’d be willing to sell the skooma to you for an even 350 Septims. The Bloodgrass will be more, and the sword…” He inspected his claws in a smug manner. “Let’s just say that it will take a lot of coin to secure an Ayleid blade.”

She spat at him. Gaeolin pushed her aside. “Perhaps we can work out some sort of deal?”

The Argonian looked him up and down, his false eyelids blinking in an unnerving way. “For which portion? I don’t know what she’s promised you, but I’ll warn you that MY goods are not cheap.”

Gaeolin did not blink, making sure to send every ounce of his anger through his eyes. “Listen… I know you must be out for more money. Most ‘businessmen’ are. You can’t be loitering here without purpose. For someone of your questionable standing to wait around in a public place means you must be desperate for either help, or information. Rumors and confidential words can lead to the latter but not the former.”

Jaree smiled. “Well, well, stranger. It seems you know how to read me.” He gestured them over to the shadows. Gaeolin, Urmha, and Auroth followed. “You want the Bloodgrass? I will trade it for a bit of legwork. The sword and drugs are off the table unless you pay.”

Before Urmha opened her mouth, Gaeolin stopped her. “What do you need done?”

“My crew and I have a big job lined up. A shipment from the south is due in a days time aboard a ship called the ‘Icerunner.’ It will likely be leaden with gold, weapons, and medicines to aid the Imperial war effort. Things like that fetch a pretty penny.”

“Get to the part where we come in.” Gaeolin snapped.

“Well, it would be a lot easier for my boys and I to loot the ship if it were to lose it’s way.” He checked to make sure no one else was around. “If you and your little band would do us a favor and snuff out the lighthouse, the ship would run aground to the east. Easy pickings.”

Gaeolin scowled. “You want us to wreck a ship for you?” He clenched his fist. “I don’t think so.”

Urmha took him by the arm. “Would you swallow your annoying morals for one damned…” But she and Auroth looked at one another. “You know, he’s right Jaree. I think it’s too risky.”

The argonian chuckled. “From you, I would expect as much.” He dodged her punch, walking quickly into the crowd. 

“Now what?” Bai’lira grumbled. “You have let the worm escape and we have learned nothing that will help us.”

“Not true.” Auroth interjected. “We know that his ship is nearby, and that they plan to intercept the Icerunner tonight.”

Inigo cocked an eyebrow. “How does this help our situation?”

Urmha smiled. “Well, they will need the lighthouse just as much as the Icerunner to avoid the shallows.” She held up her hands at the look Gaeolin gave her. “I know you seem to have this whole ‘morality’ thing going on, but unless you can give me a good alternative, I think this will be the way things go.”

“I will not sacrifice a ship full of men for my own gain!” 

She sighed. “You know, you’re cute and all, but you really need to stop and think about this.” She leaned closer. “What sailor worth his salt would try to approach a port with the lighthouse out?”

Gaeolin stopped, realizing her point. “So… Put out the light…?”

“And Jaree-ra and his band of miscreants will meet the same fate as the ship they had planned to wreck. Then WE will have the easy pickings on their ship.”

He looked to his friends. Auroth nodded his approval, Inigo shrugged, and Bai’lira looked too irritated to care about any of this. He turned back to Urmha. “Well, I suppose that’s the plan then.”