I reentered the cistern via the Ragged Flagon, for the secret entrance was locked for some random reason. I intended on talking to Mercer, but found most of the guild was standing with their backs to the secret entrance, glaring in my direction.
I confronted Mercer, who was at the head of the group.
'Guildmaster.'
'Shadow.'
'Why is the guild locked down?' I huffed, crossing my arms.
'Well Thyrrn here.' said Mercer coldly, 'Has uncovered your nasty little plan.' he looked triumphant. 'Oh yes! You were plotting to overthrow me and get Gallus and Karliah back into the guild! But that won't happen now, because it's time for you to leave.'
I rolled my eyes, before retorting back.
'You'll be sorry, Frey. For unfair dismissal. You'll find the Brotherhood will not take kindly to your presence in Skyrim, and the Stormcloaks will be ordered to kill on sight. If the guild dares to show their faces near me again, the Black-Briars will let you fall, I have Nocturnal with me on this one Frey. My lady does not agree with meddlers in her affairs. Farewell, Thieves Guild. For I will be your downfall.' I calmly stated, before spitting at Mercer's feet.
I glanced over at my carefully planned heist, before unslinging my bow and shooting an explosive fire arrow, which obliterated the map, before shooting a dozen more explosive fire arrows in strategic places around the cistern.
Running forward, I jumped as a huge black wolf, and clawed my way up to the surface of Riften as my old home shattered into chaos and flames behind me.
Time Skip, 3 months later (Frostfall)
Brynjolf
Mercer had everyone convinced that Shadow was not needed, but even the guildmaster looked thinner than when Shadow had been booted out. Two days after Shadow's exile, an argonian who claimed to be 'Thorn Vii' delivered Shadow's thieves guild armour, which made me feel an unwelcome pang in my heart, as though someone had just ripped out my very core.
The cold snow of Frostfall dusted the bountiful houses, the normal bustle of shoppers wandered the marketplace, Vex was acting as a guide, Delvin was in the tavern, Mercer was 'helping' the dark elf merchant, and I was stuck with my usual potion selling and scamming.
Of course Mercer had to get greedy, only half an hour into his role, the guards dragged him off after some shoddy pickpocketing. Vex had been forced to... seduce the guards into giving Mercer back, by then I had noticed that there were more shadowy figures moving across the rooftops.
Before long there were more cloaked figures than the guild had members surrounding the marketplace, a short sharp whistle seemed to signal to the figures, a dozen leapt from the rooftops and took put knives to the shopper's necks, I instinctively drew my daggers and attempted to attack one of the figures.
Another figure backflipped off a roof and pushed me back.