Dragonborn Rising Ch. 09

"Good. So I think it's best we make ourselves scarce and start planning for tonight."

We immediately headed back to the Winking Skeever and relaxed until near sundown. Once the sky turned the usual mix of orange and purple to signify dusk descending, we headed towards the lighthouse. For some reason, it appeared to be unoccupied, so slipping inside and then up towards the fire wasn't a problem. From the top of the lighthouse, you could see for what felt like miles. Putting out the fire wasn't an issue. There wasn't a bucket of water we could use, so Karliah used magic. Watching ice appeared from palm to extinguish the flame was near mesmerising. Our part of the plan complete, we headed back to the inn.

In our room after dinner and drink, we could hear the music from downstairs, Karliah mentioning she hadn't danced in quite a while. So I offered my hand and held her close, moving to the music. I managed to not step on her feet as I held her, Karliah resting her head on my chest. I guess the relaxed mood helped, and certainly the music, as we were soon kissing as we danced. Kissing led to hands exploring. Hands exploring led to Karliah being slowed stripped to nudity. Nudity led to Karliah being placed on her back on the bed, where I could cover every inch of her body with my lips and tongue. I'm fairly sure the music would have covered her cries as I made her cum more than once, and if they did hear us, neither of us cared.

Lying back later after we'd made love, surprising myself by how long I managed to last before I finally had to release, I did ask what might have been an awkward question, but I was curious. "Was it like this with Gallus?"

She wasn't perturbed by the question, no doubt understanding my curiosity to a point. "To be honest, no. That's not to say Gallus and I were not lovers, but it was nowhere near as physical as you and I are. Gallus and I knew each other for years before we became intimate. It was friendship that became more. With you... Well, with you, Ragnar, the attraction was rather quick, and I knew we'd be intimate sooner rather than later."

"I'm not being arrogant when I suggest that happens more often than not."

Running a hand up and down my chest before resting on my flaccid cock, she said, "And I'm sure you can understand why. Young. Virile. Quite handsome. And you have the loveliest blue eyes too. Honest eyes, Ragnar. And the thing is, you are a warrior dressed up as a thief."

"Despite the natural talent I have towards thievery?"

"I'm sure you enjoy what you do, and I certainly enjoy working with you. But if you wanted to fight in the civil war, both sides would love someone like you in their ranks."

"To be honest, I have no interest in the civil war. Yes, I'm a Nord, but I grew up in the heart of the Empire. Both sides make good arguments. If anyone is the enemy, it's the Thalmor. Though I don't know much about them either except we fought them a few years back."

She laughed. "Now is not the time for a history lesson either," she said. Having stroked me as we chatted, my cock was hard again so she swung her leg over me, lowered herself down, and conversation ceased for a time, except for murmurs of desire and affection for the other, the occasional breath of my name, whispered in such a manner that made me even harder, with plenty of kissing dripping with unspoken passion... at least until we both came and quite happily drifted off to sleep a few minutes later.

The next morning, the Argonian we'd spoken to was waiting for us, letting us know the Icerunner had run aground, and that if we wanted a pick of goods, we should head to where it was. After giving us directions, he headed off, and I suggested we head out in our Nightingale armour. "Just to be sure," I said. Karliah understood my caution, though we left the hoods and masks off for the moment. We received some glances as we strolled towards the gates, explaining it was armour found on the eastern shores of Morrowind. Complete bullshit, but considering Karliah was a Dunmer, they believed us.

It wasn't a long ride to the wreck, ensuring we tied up our horses out of sight. I had no reason to trust anyone we were about to meet, but I was still seeing the benefits of a link up with whoever these people might be. They must have been informed of us coming, as they were rather friendly, one of them introducing themselves as a member of the Blackblood Marauders. Never heard of them before but figured they were pirates. Despite being friendly, I shared a glance with Karliah, words not required, when they said we would need to see Deeja, the sister of the Argonian we'd organised this with, who was further down the ship.

The pirates had apparently not bothered taking any prisoners, bodies and blood coating the decks. We walked by a number of pirates busy carrying loot out of the ship, taking care to see what they were taking, wondering just how much booty was on the ship. The further we descended, the more I was left thinking it was a trap. Karliah murmured as much, though I suggested that, if it was, we fight our way out. Karliah seemed to enjoy the thought.

Deeja was waiting for us on the lowest deck of the Icerunner. Like all the others, she was friendly to begin with, even shaking our hand. "My brother told me you were coming. I'm supposed to give you what you've earned."

Naturally, my eyes turned to the large chest behind her. Instead, I heard footsteps behind us, and knew at least two men were now armed and ready. The Argonian smiled. "Unfortunately for you, I'm afraid the loot has already been moved. You've been useful to the Blackbloods, though. You've earned a quick death."

What they didn't now is that I could unsheathe and strike rather fast. Quickly judging the distance between myself and the Argonian, it took only a step forward after I'd unsheathed to leave a diagonal cut across the chest of the Argonian. As she collapsed back, I twirled to see Karliah fighting off two of the Blackbloods. Stepping into assist, we made short work of them. They were tough, but like always, simply didn't have the talent that Karliah and I possessed. Once they were both dead, I checked Deeja for evidence, finding a note that suggested her brother, the other Argonian who was named Jaree-Ra, had moved it all somewhere else.

"Know where Broken Oar Grotto is?" I asked of Karliah.

"Yes. It's just a little further along the coast. We won't even have to take our horses."

"Good. Because they all die here, then we go get what's ours."

There was no fucking around now. Armed with sword and shield, Karliah taking out our bow, more blood ran along the decks of the Icerunner, this time being that of the Blackbloods. They knew we were coming, no doubt hearing the screams of their companions as they died, and most stupidly tried to fight us. It was only when we stormed out onto the deck that one or two finally turned and ran, and this time I told Karliah to fire, so they didn't alert their companions.

We didn't have a map but Karliah knew exactly where we were going, aware of various caves used by pirates and shady merchants as places to hide goods they stolen. Before infiltration, Karliah asked what the plan was. I said the Blackbloods were fair game, but if possible, take Jaree-Ra alive first, interrogate him, then kill him. She wasn't surprised by that, and didn't argue, as she was as pissed off about what happened as myself.

Though I would have liked to charge in and start swinging, Karliah suggested we do it as quietly as possible, at least to start with. As I always carried a bow nowadays, she handed me a few arrows and we got to work. It was rather wierd to begin with, alternating who would take the shot. I hadn't fired an arrow, except for the occasional practice, for quite a while, though each made its mark. As usual, Karliah was ridiculously accurate, and we made it most of the way with barely a sound uttered.

Taking position on a ledge, there were a couple of sunken boats below us, and a large building that no doubt housed plenty of loot. We could see a few more men on patrol, but no sign of the Argonian yet. Using the fact we hadn't been located, we fired a few arrows from the ledge. Karliah hit the mark every time, though I missed twice, but we'd whittled down their numbers enough that I could finally unsheathe my sword, getting up close and personal seconds later.

I really should have taken a couple of wounds but the Nightingale armour was either thicker than I thought, or Nocturnal really was now protecting us. It must be that, because it was only purely luck that allowed to actually divert an arrow that was aimed straight at my face, Karliah immediately firing an arrow straight back at the archer, hers going straight through his throat.

Once most of the pirates were dead, we were searching for the Argonian, finding him hiding underneath a bed. Dragging him out by his tail, we interrogated him for information, and I'll be honest, we were not pleasant. Blood was spilled to ensure he told nothing but the truth. But we didn't stoop to torture, and once we had the information we wanted, we were kind enough to make his death quick.

The pair of us took a good look around and the loot being held would make the Guild a tonne of coin. Not wanting to leave it unattended, I asked Karliah to return immediately to Riften and have a pair of horse and carts return to take the best of the goods back to the Guild, while I would link up with Erikur in Solitude to fence the rest of it via Gulum-Ei.

I didn't stay in the grotto the entire time, as I paid Gulum-Ei to take a shift, and he hired people he knew and trusted to also help out, with the promise of a few more coins too. Karliah returned five days later with Brynjolf and Vex in tow, the pair astounded at what we'd managed to find. Vex was so impressed there were whispered words in my ear about wanting an invite to my new house. Karliah heard, as Vex wasn't shy in asking, Brynjolf finding it all rather hilarious.

We spent a few hours loading up the best of the goods, the sort of things that we could move quickly and make plenty of coin. But we also took certain things that would make the Guild simply a nicer place to be. I didn't live down there any longer, and while I had suggested others could live around the city, many preferred the privacy of the cistern, preferring to spend their coin on other things... Those things usually being drink and women.

It was a long two-day journey back to Riften with two horse-drawn carts and a pair of horses. But it gave the four of us a chance to talk about things not just about the Guild. I spent some time getting to know Vex, or as much as she was still willing to share. She admitted Vex was not her real name, much like Sapphire. "Some of us are smart enough to keep our identities secret, Ragnar," she stated with a smirk.

"Where are you from?"

"Cyrodiil. I came to Skyrim a long time ago now."

"How old are you? And, before you say anything, I have no problem asking a woman that question."

"Well, I know old you are, so if this puts your mind at ease, old enough to know who Karliah is, not old enough to have worked with her, and probably old enough to know better than to even think about making our relationship anything but professional."

"But?"

"I'll be honest, I like the flirting between us, and I find myself away with my thoughts sometimes. The biggest thing? The way you dealt with the Mercer situation. Completely focused on just doing the right thing. I don't usually care about that, but what Mercer did to us... I know I give Delvin a lot of stick, but he's my best friend, if one has a best friend in this business, and I didn't appreciate seeing my friend hurting."

"What made you become a thief?"

"A natural talent that was noticed by Bryn. Mercer put me to the test and, voila, I was accepted."

"And what do you hope the future?"

She shrugged. "I just want to make enough coin so I can buy a little place away from everyone and everything so I can retire in peace." I couldn't help glance at her. "No-one wants to do this forever, Ragnar. We want to make enough coin so we can stop eventually. And even with Nocturnal on our side again, your luck won't hold. It will run out one day, and that's when you find yourself spending the rest of your days in a small cell, if you're lucky."

It was sensible advice.

Returning to Riften, we waited until it was dark before we had everyone moving goods down to the Guild, Maven having already paid off the guards in our pay to look the other way. If anyone had doubted my future appointment as Guild Master, I think what we came back with, and also the story about how we gained it, ended any arguments. There was one last city where we needed to gain a foothold in the east of Skyrim and the Guild would have regained all that it had lost since the fall of Gallus.

It was late by the time I returned to the city, and wanting to see Haelga, I avoided returning home and made my way to her room in the Bunkhouse. What I saw brought me to a halt, a sign she was really missing me. Not only was she naked, she had four fingers in her pussy and the toy up her arse. I quietly closed the door and leaned against it, just watching her in the mix of candle and moonlight. She soon noticed my presence, and simply put her fingers in her mouth before beckoning me to join her. I was naked by the time I was beside her bed, and she left the toy in her arse as I slid my cock inside her.

Haelga was well and truly double penetrated by one real and one fake cock that night. It was all a little too exciting for myself, and I'm not embarrassed to confess I came much quicker than usual, staying her enough to keep fucking her for a little while longer at least. Haelga simply kissed me and asked me to use the toy on her. I had a lot of fun with that, and she asked me not to be gentle. I wasn't, amazed at how hard she could take it, and when she finally had an orgasm, she pretty much passed out, leaving me to chuckle as she sleepily told me how much she loved me.

Holding her in my arms a little later, I asked, "You knew I was back, didn't you?"

"I saw you with your friends. I knew you'd come to see me once you were done. I like it when I'm proven right."

"If you ever want to put on a show for me..."

"Love what you walked in on, did you?"

"You're beautiful and or sexy all the time, Haelga, but seeing you like that... It's why I came so quickly." I paused before adding, "You'll have to come around to mine tomorrow. I'll have to show you the special room I've designed for us."

"Oh, is this to do what we've talked about?"

"Aye, and hopefully it will suit what you would love to do with me. Some of it I had to have made specially, which led to some awkward questions."

"But you did it for me?"

"For us, Haelga."

"I'll come around tomorrow night."

"I'll cook you some dinner first. Don't expect to go home."

I spent the next day relaxing around my home, giving it a good clean before Haelga arrived. That afternoon, I sat out on the balcony with a bottle of wine and a good book, listening to all the noises of Riften. The marketplace was as busy as always, but for some reason, Riften appeared to be alive with people. But there wasn't the fear I expected, as I heard whispers from people about the presence of the Guild. I'd already slipped word to Brynjolf about future expectations.

Funnily enough, despite what I did for a living, very few knew the truth, so I heard many calls of hello as I sat on the balcony. I had a short conversation with Ingun as she walked home for lunch, and I'm sure there was a subtle suggestion she was hoping for an invitation up sooner rather than later. Even Grelka wandered by on the way to the Bunkhouse and asked for a tour one day. It simply gave me a good chuckle, amazed at the attraction I seemed to have. Then again, I'd had the same thing in Cyrodiil...

Haelga knocked on my front door just after sundown. Opening the door, she quickly had to use a finger to shut my mouth. The dress she was hugged her figure perfectly, the amount of cleavage on display very unladylike, the bottom of her dress just below her knees, and I knew straight away she would definitely not be wearing panties. I knew her well enough.

We ate dinner first and enjoyed a little wine, though our eating and drinking was interrupted by plenty of making out at the same time. Half our meal was eaten before we simply gave into temptation and headed upstairs, though it wasn't to just strip naked and fuck. I knew Haelga wanted to see the room. So I blindfolded her first before I showed her into the 'Dibellan Room'.

Taking off the blindfold, she took one look around before she turned and hugged me tightly. "Just what I dreamed about," she whispered.

I showed her everything in the room available, including what was hidden away in the drawers. I still didn't fully understand nor comprehend everything she wanted, but the room was filled with all the desires she had mentioned. And, apart from being interested myself, the only reason I'd done it was to make her happy. She was already talking about what I could do to her in that room, suggesting that after a night in there, should be sore all over but she'd have had innumerable orgasms. But that would be for later.

That night, we stuck to the bedroom, where we made love until dawn.