Meet Malirika

“Back then the Thieves Guild was a bit different, you see. I understand that you are in a better place now with the new leader, but when I got taken in, when Tanoriah got taken in… We were young and impressionable then and signed a contract we couldn’t possibly understand. I have got the scars to show it. Tanoriah got it even worse.”

It is a rare day you see someone arguing with an intruder instead of calling the guards or sinking their blade into them immediately. Malirika stood up as the door got knocked on. A well brewed tea makes everything better. Something fruity for the little intruder, something caffeinated for herself.

“So you just left without consequences? And now you live in this apartment with all the riches of your spoils belonging just to you – and no one else?”

Malirika chuckled: “If only it had been that easy. I mean, in the jist of it that is true. My Sister and I ‘just left’. Nobody came after us – I mean we were bottom feeders at that time anyhow. No Leader in their right mind would spare the resources when two grunts go missing. See, we faked a bloodbath with abduction!”

Thinking of that little Scheme warmed Malirika’s heart. The brilliant idea had been crafted by her beloved sister in arms. She had not seen her in a long time, but the bond still remains. Ever so often she receives a note from her at the battlefront in Cyrodiil. That puts her mind at ease for a lazy second.

“I won’t bore you with the details as it wouldn’t work a second time anyways! We had just heard of the stories of a famous thief. Quiet as a mouse, fast as lightning, and always a part of the shadows themselves. She was known as ‘Claw of Darkness’ and we wanted to find her. She left the guild on bad terms. And I can only imagine why.”

With an involuntary action Malirika held her forearm. It had been broken in many places. They say it makes the bones grow back stronger. But to her, it just feels heavy and misshapen.

“Either way, Tanoriah and I knew how to take a beating, and settle for scraps. Perfect material for a rat aboard a Pirate Ship. But I will let her tell that part of our Story! I am just glad she survived. And understands I had to leave her behind. I mean, I got what was coming to me for that moral dilemma in the long run!”

“So, Thieve’s Guild and Pirates, didn’t get away from a life of crime after all then…”

“Now hold on, hold on. Not so fast! I didn’t say that! These Treasures were earned all legitimately I tell you. Which, by the way. I know what you have been sent here to steal. Take it now, so you can stop sneaking peeks at it. I will steal it back from under their noses later!”

She winked at the little thief and chuckled as they took a particularly shiny Urn and returned to their seat, Treasure in hand and visibly more relaxed with an Urn to hug.

“So, this didn’t seem like a very reasonable act of yours. How did you come to be known as the ‘Voice of Reason’ with silly decisions like this?”

Malirika laughed outright! “It is but a title. It only shows a sliver of my life’s achievements and is generally bestowed upon you by a group of people rather than your own viewpoint. I mean, what’s a great thing, if no one is there to witness or applaud it? I gained the Title by making quick decisions in Battle. I was actually just then going to talk about that, but you beat me to it.”

A little straightening up in her chair, a clearing of the throat and the story continued.

“After my crew got rudely attacked and most of them killed I basically got stranded in Alik’r Desert. I rented this apartment with what I had managed to grab on my way out and sat downstairs wrecking my brain of what to do with myself. No sister to protect, as to my knowledge at the time I had failed miserably at that, no crew to be a part of. I felt a bit purposeless. That, in my experience, is the most mind numbing state to be in. I mean… Even Bugs have a purpose. And as I was sitting there in self-pity, not knowing what to do, where to go, who to speak to or if they would even care – a tall, white haired elf approached me. She looked as though she radiated with light. An incredible presence I tell you!

— pause in thought —

Anyways, she tells me how she noticed me?! She said she noticed the smooth and fluent movements I had inherently adapted in my childhood. She said she had heard of my spoils – don’t ask me where she magically got all that information from, because I had been all over the place and definitely would have noticed a radiant person like her shadowing me! I asked her, but she just chuckled and said she had ‘been around’. Whatever that means.

She asked if I would be up for some honest work for a change. She said she had put together a group of mercenaries helping merchants or academics and such pass through dangerous territory. She was teaching people how to not land in sticky situations and she was still in need of someone capable of utilizing shadows to their advantage. How could I say no to that? I mean, hard work for certain, but look at all this treasure! And there is always more to gain!”

Malirika turned to the pile of gold and flicked a coin on it. The little thief’s eyes widened, a smirk appeared and as they sprung up from their chair onto the window sill like a tightly wound spring they whispered:

“I’ll be back.”