The Dainty Sload The Dainty Sload is a quest available in . Summary . After completing at least five small jobs for the Thieves Guild in Solitude , speak to Delvin Mallory in The Ragged Flagon . There , he will inform the Dragonborn of a ' special job ' in Solitude . The Dragonborn is directed to speak with Erikur , a wealthy businessman who lives in the city . Walkthrough . Speaking with Erikur . Travel to the Blue Palace in Solitude and speak with Erikur . He may be at his home if it is late at night . It is not advisable to break into his house ; this may lower the relationship rank . It is better to wait until morning , where he can be found in the Blue Palace . He is not particularly polite , and seems to doubt the Dragonborn ' s skills , saying that he demanded Delvin ' s best man for this job . By speaking further with him , Erikur will eventually tell the Dragonborn that a man called Volf cheated him over a business transaction . Volf is the captain of a ship called the Dainty Sload , and Erikur asks the Dragonborn to frame him for a crime . He then directs the Dragonborn to plant an illegal drug known as Balmora Blue in the captain ' s footlocker inside the ship . The plan is to frame Volf for possession of an illicit substance , so Volf will be promptly sent off to jail . Speaking with Sabine Nytte . The next stop is the Red Wave , docked in Solitude ' s harbor outside the East Empire Company Warehouse . On the deck or somewhere inside the ship is Sabine Nytte , who claims to be the only one who can obtain Balmora Blue . She will sell its location and the key for 1500 . The location and key can be purchased or stolen . By choosing the purchase option , skip the rest of this section and see the Acquire Balmora Blue section below . If the Balmora Blue is to be stolen , Sabine Nytte has two keys that can be used in the quest . Pickpocket her for either or both the keys , or pick the locks instead . A safe containing a note about the Balmora Blue is in the bottom - most deck of the Red Wave . Pick the Master lock or use Sabine ' s key to open it . The note reads , " I stashed the Balmora Blue in a chest under the Wave . I put the best lock on it that money can buy . " Acquire Balmora Blue . The chest is in the water directly beneath the dock running parallel to the Red Wave . It can be lockpicked ( Expert ) or opened with another key pickpocketed from Sabine . Once the Balmora Blue is acquired , the next stop is The Dainty Sload . Erikur may try to speak to the Dragonborn after leaving the docks . It is not necessary to speak to him if he doesn ' t . Planting the Balmora Blue . Head for the Dainty Sload , anchored out towards open water . There are two Corsairs guarding the entrance to the interior of the ship . Either defeat them or sneak past them . To remain undetected , wait until the patrolling corsair disappears behind the cabin and slip through the unlocked door . Inside , there are more corsairs to deal with . With a high enough Sneak , it is fairly easy to sneak past the guards . Go down the stairs into the bottom of the ship , then back up the other side . The ship ' s First Mate stands near the objective , the Captain ' s Footlocker . Pick the Adept lock on the footlocker , or defeat or pickpocket the First Mate for the key . Plant the Balmora Blue and go back to the entrance . Note that there is a Stone of Barenziah on the table near the First Mate , and an Adept - level chest opposite the top of the stairs . There is also an unlocked chest by the door to the outside . Report back to Erikur . Travel back to Erikur at the Blue Palace . He will reward the Dragonborn with a random leveled Spell Tome , and the assurance that he will " re - open any doors the Guild needs for its return " . Return to The Ragged Flagon , where Delvin is waiting for the news . Speak to him to end the quest . When the quest is completed , Delvin will mention that the Thieves Guild is making progress . As a result , there will be a new merchant or service in one of the alcoves of the Flagon .