Serious nod.

Then: "I pissed off the Mythic Dawn when I tried to get between them and the Emperor. They make widespread use of amateur cultists for their dirty work - but they're not actually blustering about the 'worshippers of Mehrunes Dagon' thing. He's using them."

"Well, shit." She knocks back one of the drinks.

"They've got a base or something down Green Emperor Way. There's a tomb they tend to come and go from while they're on the job."

"They - or Dagon - can open portals to Oblivion in pretty specific locations, and they're extra pissed at me for getting in between them and their next target."

"You were at Kvatch?"

"Yeah."

"Damn, girl. Good job surviving. We heard almost the whole city burnt down."

"I did more than survive," she teases. 

She laughs.

"There was a break-in at the University. Unsanctioned. The mages are staying tight-lipped about what's gone, but it was the library that was hit."

...Considering hum, and a long pause. 

"The Mythic Dawn stole the Amulet of Kings from the Blades four days ago. We need it to keep Dagon from ripping open more portals to Oblivion."

"If you get to it first - I want the Blades to have right of first refusal."

"Not you?"

"Asking that first refusal go to an organization I represent is fully legitimate." 

"I suppose I can't argue with that."

"Not at all."

"Then you have a deal, Travere."

"Good to do business with you, Umbranox."

"Not sure how many people will be willing to risk actively murderous cultists, but I'll put the word out."

"Money and fame are a pretty big lure."

"Can't enjoy either if you're dead. But I guess if the world ends, same thing."

"Yeah, the world not getting eaten by a Daedric Prince is hopefully a good lure too."

"Assuming they choose to believe. Some people cling to a comforting lie longer than others."

"Or they'll think someone else will handle it, or that they can be one of the lucky ones who ride out the storm."

"But we don't need a popular army right now. We need a good thief."

"You've got at least one of those."

"Quite possibly the best thief."

"You said it, not I."

"I just report facts."