She mounts Shadowmere with delight. 

And onwards to Riften.

At top speed, naturally.

Oh, this is wonderful. 

She endeavors to provide only the best service.

Maellys would say she gets a bit past 'endeavor.'

It's Maellys's leadership getting her that far.

A leader matters little without a follower.

That's a role she can fill with pride.

It's the combination that's powerful.

Some time earlier, in Riften...

A certain young (read: up and coming) thief is loitering in the marketplace, supposedly looking for marks but really keeping his eyes and ears open for information.

Most experienced travelers know to guard their purses in Riften market. It would take a bold thief to go after Fu Bai's purse, with his armor and sword and confident way his exotic scaly tail swishes behind him. Still, he has not lived this long and come so far by being incautious, so he takes note of the way the young man is watching passersby and leaves no openings for him to exploit.

He is not picking his marks based on hotness but he does get a very brief temptation to wolf whistle. Provide the full Riften market experience and all that.

He does, however, idly work his way closer to the strange man.

He stops to buy a pair of apples at one stand, then wanders over to a slightly more deserted corner. When his tail approaches, he tosses one of the fruits at him.

"Something I can help you with, young man?" he asks, arching a long, golden brow.

He catches the apple deftly and takes a bite. "I was curious about you, sir."

"Curious, is it? Curious about the contents of my pockets, I think."

"There are easier and wealthier marks here, if what I wanted to know was just what's in your pockets."

"True enough. What is it, then?"

"To start: what should I call you?"

"Fu Bai, of the Companions. And you are?"

"Lily the Swift, at your service." 

"Are you, now."

"Do you doubt my word?"

"It is a bold claim, boy."

"Most would call it 'traditional,'" he says, with an exceptionally innocent expression on his face, "Though I do think 'bold' suits me better."

"What need do you think I might have for the service of a thief?"