XVIII - Snow Veil Sanctuary

Merill was still trying to wrap her head around Paarthurnax’s existence as she clambered down the mountain to Ivarstead once more. It was midday and cloudy when she shouldered open the door to the inn and found Silronwe and Nalimir, sitting quietly at a corner table. Silronwe had a small stone mortar and pestle before her and was grinding something wet and red while Nalimir leaned back in his seat, reading.

XVII - Paarthurnax

Hi all - I'm truly very sorry about the recent delay. This past month there was a death in my family followed almost immediately by a wedding and heaps of other work for me to finish. I'm expecting smoother sailing for this summer. Thanks for your patience. -C

Their journey to Ivarstead took them most of the day, and they reached the small mountainside village when the moon had risen high into the sky. Merill, not keen on climbing the precarious slopes of High Hrothgar in the blustery darkness, suggested they stay the night at the inn, and Nalimir and Silronwe agreed. They paid for two rooms, one with two beds, and Silronwe pleasantly suggested she and Merill share a room, pretending not to notice Merill’s grimace at the suggestion.

XVI - Alduin's Wall

They left the following morning, quietly slipping out of Riften before the sun rose. Merill lagged behind Silronwe and Nalimir, listening as their chatter filled the dark air around them. She pulled her fur hood low over her face, her breath floating in clouds from chapped lips as they moved steadily northward. She kept quiet, Nalimir’s words still ringing harshly in her ears. Not everybody’s out to get you.

XV - The Winking Skeever

Days passed, and the other thieves quickly stopped asking her about Mistveil when they realised she would try to crack her fist across their jaws when they did. The Jarl didn’t send any guards down to the Ratway, though, so they assumed they were safe for the time being. She did a few odd jobs on her own, still frustrated with Brynjolf, and spent the time in between hunting in the forests around the city, glad for a chance to take her mind off her anger – anger at Vex, Brynjolf, Nalimir, the lot of them. Nalimir, mercifully, didn’t try to breach the subject with her, but the mere sight of him made her fume. He’d always been the smarter one, she knew. But you always have to do things my way, he would be thinking.

XIV - Mistveil Keep

As time stretched on, Merill found herself feeling almost at home in the seedy underbelly of Riften. She grew to know all the thieves in the Cistern, friendly with most of them, and spent much of her time in the flagon or out on odd jobs. There was still a wall between her and everyone she spoke to, a wall she imagined she would never be able to breach, but she could at least offer a smile and a joke or share a drink with most of them. Nalimir was well-liked in the Guild, and by association, most of the thieves went out of their way to make Merill feel welcome. Vex only spoke to her to insult her and occasionally pick a fight, so most of the tasks she received were from Delvin Mallory.

XIII - Honningbrew Meadery

The Bee and the Barb was as rowdy as it had been when Merill had first come to Riften, and she noticed a number of Guild thieves in the bar dressed in street clothes. They didn’t seem to be talking to one another, though, and when Merill caught Niruin’s eye he shook his head just slightly, insinuating that they shouldn’t talk outside the Flagon. Nalimir had been relieved to learn of her mostly-safe flight from Goldenglow, though he had apologetically left for Falkreath earlier in the afternoon to do a job with Etienne, wishing her luck in her meeting.

XII - Goldenglow

It seemed Mercer had made it clear to the other thieves that they were not to welcome her unless she returned from Goldenglow with the loot, so Merill wasted no time in climbing out the back entrance of the Cistern and ducking through Riften’s alleys, following Nalimir’s hooded figure to the front gate. Mercer had said forcefully that Merill was to receive no help heisting Goldenglow, but grudgingly agreed to let Nalimir at least point the way to the estate from the shore. It was just before dusk now, the air cooling and stars beginning to peer out from behind the clouds, and Merill kept her new hood low over her face as they made their way beneath the dappled shade of the path that surrounded Lake Honrich.