Chapter 29

Loredas, the 2nd of Sun's Height, Year 202 of the 4th Era

As Daenerys walked back to her assigned suite, she wondered if she had made a mistake. Maven Black-Briar might be corrupt, but she was practical. Maybe she didn't have to go to war with the Black-Briar family. Unfortunately, it was too late to go back now. The war had already begun. Maven wasn't a fool. She surely suspected that Daenerys was behind the robbery of Black-Briar Manor. With Mercer hopefully missing, she hopefully couldn't be certain, but she had to suspect. Add in Honorhall Orphanage and they were already at war. Not to mention that Ull and Aela the Huntress were already off on their own mission. They wouldn't be back for days, but there was no way to recall them. Whether they were fully successful or not, Maven would be enraged by an attack on the Black-Briar Estates. While there should be no proof tying it to the Dragonguard, Maven would know. It was far too late to consider peace now. She was committed to her plan to destroy the Black-Briars.

It was a strange sort of war. She couldn't strike directly at Maven because of her connections to Jarl Law-Giver. Maven couldn't strike at her directly in return because she was practically a religious figure. The Nords didn't quite worship her for killing dragons and her ability to Shout, but Riften had already had three riots in the last decade. Attacking the Dragonborn would likely start another. Which is why they were both playing this subtle game of undermining each other while making deniable attacks. Daenerys felt like she was winning overall, but the assassination attempt came too close. How many more killers did Maven have at her beck and call?

When Daenerys entered her suite, she wasn't surprised to find that Vignar wasn't back yet, but Aringoth was waiting up for her. She sat close to Aringoth so they could speak quietly as she went over the events of the day. Despite the seemingly sturdy walls, someone was likely listening in on all her conversations. Aringoth didn't have much to report. He had sent a message to Saerlund Law-Giver, the disgraced son of the jarl, but had received no reply. Daenerys was disappointed, but not surprised. She had asked Aringoth to stay in his quarters, so she couldn't blame him. She spent some time catching him up on her eventful day. Aringoth wasn't surprised by the assassination attempt. Maven Black-Briar's enemies often met untimely deaths. He thought parading the corpse through the streets was a brilliant move and laughed as she described Hemming backing down. He was particularly interested in her conversation about Maven and had her go over it as closely as she could remember.

"Maven can be charming when she puts her mind to it, but don't let her fool you," he advised. "You know she only agreed to let the Dragonguard into Riften to get them to split up. She is likely hoping to pick off one or two and torture them for information. Just vanish them so you think they ran away."

"I know, but it gave me the excuse to bring them inside the city walls and I still need more manpower. With the entire Dragonguard, I can easily raid the skooma dens, but not the Thieves' Guild. Not given what Karliah said about the number of exits and the number of people who can be expected to be drinking in the Ragged Flagon or simply living in the sewers." If Karliah was right about dozens of exits, she simply didn't have the forces to watch them all. Not to mention she still didn't have the map that Karliah had promised her. "We know most of the people living in the sewers and drinking at the Ragged Flagon aren't in the Thieves' Guild, but they'll still fight when we attack. I want them captured, not killed. Especially not the face sculptor." Daenerys really wanted to acquire the Face Sculptor for the Dragonguard, but she also wanted to capture the thieves alive. She still owed Nocturnal a Nightingale. The problem was that killing was far easier than capturing, so she needed even more troops.

"So, we're not hitting the Thieves' Guild tomorrow?"

"Unfortunately, no. If Vignar tracks down Mjoll, we'll hit the skooma dens. Otherwise, we'll have to postpone." She had always planned to hit the skooma dens first. Maven and the jarl had both publicly and repeatedly decried the skooma trade. Taking out the skooma dens would make a statement that the Dragonguard was acting in the best interest of Riften. However, moving on the skooma dens had risks as well. It could reveal she had spies in Riften. Also, Daenerys had implied she wanted to release the Dragonguard on leave in Riften. Maven wouldn't let her march around Riften with her own private army for long before she evicted the Dragonguard. "We'll have to improvise. We need Mjoll. I have some ideas for getting more men, but even if they work, we'll still need luck."

"Maybe you should call it an early night and get some sleep," suggested Aringoth. "You have what many would call a long day today and it sounds like another tomorrow."

Daenerys shook her head. "Vignar isn't back yet. I'm going to try to talk to Saerlund Law-Giver. He's known to be in disgrace and confined to Mistveil Keep."

"I would wish you luck, Daenerys, but you seem to forge your own luck out of sheer determination."

Daenerys took Sofija and Lydia with her just to be safe. A few questions to servants and she was eventually shown to a small library. It was only one room, nothing compared to the College of Winterhold, but that one room was stuffed full of books. The setting sun lit the room with a ruddy glow. A man who could only be Saerlund was sitting at a table with a book on his left side taking notes on a scroll on his right. He wore the same heavy formal clothes with a fur mantel that were the current fashion. His hair was a rusty brown, cut short. He had a stubble of whiskers on his face as if he had shaved a week ago and hadn't bothered since.

Saerlund looked up at her and sighed. He set down his quill and stoppered his inkbottle. "Lady Targaryen, come to gloat, have you? To poke fun at the jarl's youngest son?" His words were full of melancholy and defeat and his attitude was like that of a scolded hound expecting to be kicked.

"And why would I do that?" asked Daenerys.

"Because I did something not a soul in this bloodstained house of war has the backbone to do. I dared to speak my mind. I dared speak of the Empire and the lies that have been spread by Ulfric, the leader of the Stormcloaks. Now my mother has stripped me of my heritage and incarcerated me here like a common criminal, and my brother has all but disowned me."

"I think you have me confused with someone else. I'm not the biggest fan of Ulfric Stormcloak. He all but threw me out of Windhelm, but I wouldn't call him a liar. Deluded perhaps. Full of his own self-importance, certainly, but I believe he means the words he says."

Saerlund frowned at her. "That's not what I expected to hear from the woman who proclaimed herself Ysmir. I thought you were allied with Ulfric."

Daenerys scoffed. "No, to both. I did not declare myself Ysmir. The Greybeards did and Shouted it from the Throat of the World. I am not hiding from the title they bestowed on me, but I did not seek it. In fact, it has made things more difficult for me and the Dragonguard. As for Ulfric, I already said he all but threw me out of Windhelm, and I counted myself lucky he didn't throw me in irons."

"But…" Saerlund frowned then scooted his seat around so he could face her directly. "Perhaps the stories aren't all true. Why did Ulfric Stormcloak throw the Dragonborn out of Windhelm?"

"First," said Daenerys. "You need to understand that I had not yet claimed the title of Dragonborn. I was known to be a Tongue, but nothing more. As to why he threw me out, I told him that going to war with the Empire at this time was foolish. Only the Aldmeri Dominion wins when men fight amongst themselves. I proposed a compromise that the Empire might accept so that both sides could get what they want."

Saerlund snorted. "What kind of compromise could both sides possibly agree to?"

"I suggested that the Empire first recognizes Skyrim as independent, and then Skyrim immediately rejoins the Empire under the same treaty terms that Morrowind enjoys – the freedom to practice religion as it sees fit."

"That's admirable, but the Empire would never go for that."

"That's what Ulfric said. He accused me of having a 'soft woman's heart' and that I didn't understand war. Then he went on a long rant about how it wasn't only about religion, but also about Skyrim being strong when the Empire kept bowing to Aldmeri Dominion." She smiled. "As for my proposal, I've had signs that the Empire would accept my compromise. I've spoken with two different Imperial Legates. Both were open to my suggestion and supported my claim of neutrality for the Dragonguard enough to assign me troops on detached duty. There may be concessions required, but it is very much on the table."

"I see." Saerlund stroked the scruff on his chin. "Then why Ysmir? That won't help you."

Daenerys sighed. "You think I don't know that? It doesn't help bring peace between Skyrim and the Empire. The Greybeards didn't care about that. They're monks. They cared that I passed their tests, all of them. I am the Dragonborn and if I don't defeat Al-Du-In then the world burns. So, they proclaimed me to be what I am."

Saerlund sighed. "And for a moment I thought you weren't as bad as Ulfric. You're just as full of yourself as he is."

"Gods, I hope I'm never become that bad." Again. She had become worse once. "You don't believe I'm the Dragonborn?"

Saerlund waved his hand in a quibbling gesture. "You're a Dragonborn. The Dragonborn? Priests and bards are always telling tales. Even when the story is done, the bragging continues."

"So, you're a skeptic. What would it take to convince you?"

"I don't know. You have killed dragons, but you have an army to help you, and who to say any dragon is Al-Du-In. The legends talk of his size and his black wings, but a dragon is a dragon. If I saw you kill a giant black-winged dragon with my own eyes, and if the dragon attacks stopped after that, then I'd believe you."

"Very well, I accept." Daenerys held out her hand.

Saerlund took the hand and shook it. Then he laughed. "You do know that I can't leave Mistveil Keep? You planning to lure the dragon to Riften?"

"No, I was planning to ask your mother to let you join the Dragonguard. Your political views don't bother me, and even your brother admits that you're a good warrior. Your mother would save face with you are far away and doing something honorable, you get to leave and keep your honor, and I get another warrior."

"That's…" Saerlund frowned. "Actually, that might work. I can't say that I thought of joining the Dragonguard. I'll admit what you're doing is needed, but I don't know… I'll think about it."

"Good. Let me know what you decide. Now then, I answered a lot of your questions. I have some questions of my own that I'd like answered."

Saerlund wagged a finger. "Just because I'm on the outs with my family, doesn't mean I'm going to betray them."

"Actually, what I want to know might help your family. You're obviously not someone who accepts what everyone else says without questioning it. So, how is it that everyone in Riften knows the Black-Briars are corrupt, but the Law-Givers think the sun shines out of their asses?"

Saerlund crossed his arms. "I think you have me confused with my brother, Harrald. Mother knows that Maven's a little dirty and I'm not blind. Ruling isn't clean. Sometimes you need someone to do the dirty work. Does Maven have too much influence over my mother and Harrald? Yes. Is she taking bribes? Yes. That's the way the world works. However, Maven has also stuck by my mother through years of illness. If Maven really wanted the throne, she could have taken it years ago. It would have been easy before Harrald came of age. She could have easily revealed my mother's illness, then pushed her to step down, and ruled as regent." He shook his head. "Easier than that if she was cold-hearted enough. It was Maven who found the medicine that Mother needs to survive. She could have simply not helped her find the medication. No, I know Maven is dirty, but Riften is a dirty city. It chews up idealists and spits out beggars and whores. We need someone like Maven on our side."

Daenerys nodded her head in acceptance. "I understand." Saerlund hadn't proved to be the ally she wanted, but he was obviously more insightful and pragmatic than Harrald. She didn't think he was right to trust the Black-Briars. The Law-Givers were nourishing a viper in their bosom, but she clearly wasn't going to convince Saerlund of that today. "Thank you, Saerlund, for your honesty and your insight. Think about my offer. With your wits and martial skills, you'll at least be an officer in the Dragonguard, possibly even on my council of advisors."

"Hmm." Saerlund stroked his scruff for a moment. "I do appreciate the offer, Lady Targaryen. As I said, I'll have to think about it. I will give you my answer tomorrow."

Daenerys smiled. "Good. I look forward to your answer."

.oOo.

When she returned to her suite, Daenerys waited up a little while for Vignar, but finally decided to get some rest. Sleep didn't come easily. When she tried to rest, she kept feeling the assassin's arrow pierce her neck. It felt like she had barely gotten to sleep when she was shaken awake to speak with Vignar.

The sun had set and the stars were out which meant it was quite late. Vignar reeked of mead but held his drink well. "Sorry, Lady Targaryen. The Snow-Shods were enthusiastic hosts, especially Vulwulf. We spent a long time drinking and talking about the Great War. Did you know we both fought in some of the same battles? I never met him during the war, but we were both there for the Battle of the Red Ring and lived through it. Very few men can say that."

Daenerys knew only the Battle of the Red Ring was one of the final battles of the Great War and an Imperial victory, but she was too tired and too worried to indulge Vignar's predilection to ramble. "Shh, quietly. I'm sure someone is listening. I'm glad your meeting with the Snow-Shods went well. Did you make any headway with them?"

"Oh yes, they were properly horrified about Honorhall Orphanage, and Vulwulf was ready to give Hemming a piece of his mind about harassing the Dragonborn. I won't say they're ready to turn on the Black-Briars, but I planted some seeds of doubt."

Daenerys nodded. "That's good. Did you get to talk to Nura Snow-Shod?"

"Oh, I talked to Nura and Aesgeir Snow-Shod as well. Not Unmid. He's the jarl's housecarl, but the other three. Nura is thrilled that you want to talk to her about Talos. Tomorrow is Sundas, so she suggested you stop by Snow-Shod manor in the morning. She'll be holding services at the shrine of Talos all afternoon. Not that she won't talk to you then, but it won't be private. Vulwulf suggested that you come early and stay for lunch.

"Good work," she whispered. She had far too much planned tomorrow to spend hours talking with the Snow-Shods, but they were important. "And did you make contact with the others?"

"Yes, I was able to talk to Olfina. Galdrus slipped her some documents." He handed over a scroll tube.

Daenerys pulled out the package of documents and examined them by the light of a candle. One was a large and detailed map of Riften that had been heavily marked up. Three different buildings were marked as skooma dens. Two were on the docks, but one wasn't far from the palace. Another was marked as 'Fights'. There were many places marked as fences. Daenerys had asked for this information before, but while Karliah had many talents mapmaking wasn't one of them. This map provided all the information she had asked for and more. The entrances to sewers were identified and numbered.

Karliah had provided a separate piece of parchment had a highly detailed map of the sewer system which included the infamous Ragged Flagon inn. Judging by the symbol of a dead rat on the map, Karliah had acquired it from the Ratcatchers' Guild. There were also additional lines added, probably by Karliah because it looked like a child drew them, detailing additional secret passages and rooms, including one labeled Thieves' Guild. Daenerys didn't like the number of passages leading off from the Ragged Flagon and the Thieves' Guild. No wonder they were never successfully raided. If she tried to cover all the passageways her men would be stretched too thin, and there was no way that Hemming Black-Briar would allow her to use the Riften Guard to help assault the Thieves' Guild.

There was also a passable sketch, obviously not done by Karliah, of what looked like a tomb. The drawing included instructions on where to locate the tomb and where to press to open a secret passage. There were also two letters.

Lady too-many-titles Targaryen,

I'll admit it. You were right. I was making things far more complicated than they needed to be. Your direct approach of simply ambushing Mercer in his home worked. The hardest part was slipping past the people he had watching it. Then we just camped in his bedroom and waited. Mercer didn't see us coming until it was too late. We got him and his guards alive. We did it clean, no evidence. I've got them buttoned up in a safe house. So far, his stooges have blabbed all they know, but nothing of any worth. Mercer refused to talk. Since he drowned Gallus and tried to drown me, I'm repaying the favor. I've got him bound with water constantly dripping on his head. I'm curious if he'll talk, go insane, or die first. Oh, he was also rich. He had chests of gold in his home, jewels, furs, fancy clothes. We had a fun time sneaking all that out and four unconscious men, but we got it done. Oh, and Mercer had his own private secret passageway from his house to the Thieves' Guild. I left his home looking like he packed up and cleared out in a hurry, just like you said.

Cleaning out Maven Black-Briar was much more of a challenge. She had servants and dogs. We fed the dogs meat laced with sleeping draught and then cut their throats. Sneaking around the servants was a pain in the ass, but worth it. She didn't have chests of gold like Mercer, but we cleared out a bunch of fancy paintings and statues. We also took the Black-Briar family tapestry – just for fun. The tapestry doesn't mention Mercer is the father of her kids. Attributes some dead Imperial, Plutus Cornicen. That's probably true for Hemming, but I'm certain that Mercer is the father of Ingun and Sibbi. He was proud of planting his seed in a lady.

You probably won't be surprised by what I found in the basement of Black-Briar Manor. The rumors about Maven having contacts with the Dark Brotherhood are true. I found full Black Sacrament: skeleton, human heart, human flesh, nightshade flower, and an iron dagger. I even found a copy of A Kiss, Sweet Mother that details exactly how to perform the Black Sacrament. I also found a note which I included. Double your guard and watch your back.

Gallus got in touch with your girl, Jenassa. The Thieves' Guild isn't happy with you being in town, and they're also nervous Mercer isn't around. Mercer is known for taking off for days at a time, but with Black-Briar Manor getting hit and no one bragging, a lot of them are pointing the finger at Mercer. Your girl, Jenassa, is supposed to be robbing Goldenglow, but she is planning to keep watch over your camp outside the gates. She's pretty sure that a thief named Vex is going to try to rob the camp. She hasn't heard about anyone trying to rob your people at the inn, but word is the Dragonguard is loaded. So, I expect someone to try it. I'm sending Galdrus to help Jenassa. I'll help keep watch on the Bee and Barb tonight.

Jenassa reported that your man, Torvar, is making a name for himself in the fighting ring. If it is the same scam Mercer used to run, some of the fights are staged. They'll let most of the fights happen however they go, but they'll also build up some fighters to be favorites. Set them up with some easy matches. Rig a few hard ones so he wins easy. Everyone loves a winner, so they get everyone betting on the new up-and-comer and set up a big match. Then they have him throw the fight and cash in on the bets. They also do dog and creature fights, but man-on-man is the big money maker. I marked it on your map.

I've marked all the exits you need to cover to make sure no one escapes when you hit the Thieves' Guild. I have also included a separate picture for the secret entrance in the graveyard so you know how to open it. I don't think anyone but Mercer knows about the secret passage to his house, but I could be wrong. Maven has a guard stationed outside, but I can easily get around him to watch that exit. Send a message through your merchant when you're ready to do the raid. I'll check in with her from time to time.

I still don't forgive you for putting a collar on my neck, but I will admit that this spy stuff pays pretty well and I like that I get to sit back while your pretty soldiers do the blood work. Oh, and vengeance on Mercer. Time to go kick him in the balls again.

Karliah

Daenerys flipped to the other shorter note and read it quickly.

Astrid,

I thought your people were supposed to be reliable. I've performed the Black Sacrament. I've paid the proper penance, and I've waited patiently for results. If you can't handle a simple assassination, I'll find someone who can. I want this contract handled, and I want it handled immediately!

Maven Black-Briar

Daenerys read both messages twice. She wasn't really surprised that Maven contracted the Dark Brotherhood to have her assassinated. This was just proof. Although with what Maven said about forging messages, Daenerys was skeptical that it would convince many people. Still, there were a few that were sitting on the fence that might be convinced.

Karliah was certainly proving her worth. It certainly helped that Karliah knew the Thieves' Guild from the inside herself and had a grudge against Mercer, but this was the information that she needed to take down the Thieves' Guild. That Karliah had robbed both Mercer and the Black-Briars blind just made it better. She really wasn't happy about hearing that the Thieves' Guild was going to try to rob her people, but there wasn't anything she could do to stop it. She just had to trust that her people could catch the thieves. Even if they failed, it sounded like Karliah had stolen enough to make up their losses. "Thank you for bringing me all this Vignar. Now we know where to strike. Unfortunately, we can't act yet. We need to get in touch with Mjoll the Lioness or someone like her."

Vignar chuckled. "I don't think there is anyone else like Mjoll in all of Riften. Lucky for you, I already found her. You have a breakfast meeting with her at the Bee and Barb. It was hard to make her wait. She wanted to rush in to meet you and to save you from the Black-Briars. She'll be waiting on you."

"Vignar! I could kiss you." Mjoll the Lioness was the last piece she needed. Mjoll's one-woman crusade against the Thieves' Guild was well-known throughout Riften. Working with Mjoll would give Daenerys the excuse she needed to use Karliah's information to strike a hopefully deadly blow against the Thieves' Guild. Then she could deal with the Black-Briars.