Chapter 34

Sundas, the 3rd of Sun's Height, Year 202 of the 4th Era

The throne room of Mistveil Keep was also the dining hall and intended for feasting. The purpose was to display the wealth of the jarl and bind the nobles of the court together through the sharing of the jarl's food and drink. The sounds of many people hard at work preparing the feast planned for that evening could be clearly heard from the adjacent kitchen. The smells of the feast also spilled over filling the room with the savory smells of bread cooking and meat roasting. This day the smell of food did not bring them together. The long bare table divided the room into two hostile camps. Daenerys and her witnesses stood on one side while Hemming Black-Briar and the Riften guard stood at the other.

Hemming Black-Briar's anger was a palpable presence, glaring across the table at her. That hostility did not carry over to the Riften Guard. Some of them looked scared, like they would like to be standing anywhere else. However, most of them had the look of desperate men who expected to do battle but were determined to face it. When she looked at them, their hands strayed to their weapons, yet they stood silent and waited.

Her Dragonguard, in contrast, was quietly confident. She saw predatory smiles mixed among stoic faces. They were alert but disdainful of their potential foes on the other side of the table. Her men had faced and killed a dragon. Even though the Riften Guard present in just this room outnumbered her forces by two to one, her Dragonguard stood ready but unafraid. Daenerys shared their confidence. She knew the quality of her troops and the power of her Thu'um. Not to mention that Barbas was with her. In an open field where the Riften Guard could bring the force of their numbers to bear they could overcome her troops. Here, in this room, if it came down to battle the Dragonguard would win.

However, Daenerys knew that winning this battle by force of arms would lose her the war. She would almost certainly end up on the throne of Riften, but if she seized a throne by force of arms, she would forfeit her position of neutrality. She would become just another jarl and one that couldn't be trusted. The other jarls would see her as a conqueror queen, a new Tiber Septim, come to unite Skyrim by sword. That would be a disaster. Skyrim would burn in a three-way civil war while the dragons ran amuck. No, the Dragonguard must remain a free and independent force. Only then would she have the freedom to do what was necessary to defeat Al-Du-In and save this world.

A door opened at the far end of the room, and a large Nord warrior entered the room. His head was shaved on both sides of his head leaving an auburn strip standing up in the center of his head. He wore elven armor which was all that Daenerys needed to identify him as Unmid Snow-Shod, the housecarl to Jarl Law-Giver. She was new to Riften, but even she knew the story behind that armor. Unmid had been present on the day that two Thalmor tried to arrest his mother, Nura Snow-Shod, for violating the White-Gold Concordat by worshiping Talos. Unmid had killed both of them. Riften had already been leaning to the Storm-Cloak cause, but that incident pushed Jarl Law-Giver to declare her support for Ulfric. Unmid wore the armor he'd taken from the Thalmor as a statement of his contempt. This was a man she wanted on her side, but his loyalty was to his jarl. Unmid took his place to the left and slightly below the throne, and he calmly met her gaze.

Daenerys gave him a slight nod. She understood Unmid. He was a man of conviction and principles. He stood ready to protect his jarl. If someone dropped the chamber pot, and this turned into a free-for-all, Unmid would do his best to kill her.

Maven Black-Briar followed after Unmid. She looked over the entire room with disdain, and she didn't spare Hemming any sympathy in her withering glare. She silently took a seat slightly to the right and behind the throne. Maven's housecarl, Maul, followed behind her like a dark glowering and armored shadow. He took a place standing behind Maven. Following behind Maul, a Bosmer woman with her blonde hair bound up in two ridiculous looking tight buns entered the room. Daenerys knew little about her other than that she was the jarl's steward, Anuriel. The fact that she sat down farther away from the throne than Maven spoke volumes about their relative importance in the court.

After a slight pause, Jarl Laila Law-Giver entered the room. The jarl was a red-haired woman with a good deal of white in her hair. She may have been beautiful in her younger years, but she hadn't aged well. She looked underfed, probably because of her addiction to skooma, but that stood out. Poor Nords were sometimes skinny, but Nord nobles tended to overindulge in both food and drink. They ranged between muscular, healthily plump, and fat. Jarl Law-Giver dressed in Nord fashion, full sleeves and heavily embroidered, but at least she had enough sense not to wear furs in the middle of summer. Her face was powdered, and her lips were painted. The cosmetics were well-applied, but visible due to the jarl sweating in the summer heat. Makeup was just not done, not among Nords. Warriors wore face paint. Only whores powdered their faces and painted their lips. Daenerys had seen plenty of older Nord women in the courts of Windhelm and Whiterun and none of them used even the subtle amounts of makeup that would have been commonplace in Westeros, let alone the garish amounts that were common in Essos.

Jarl Law-Giver sat down slowly, clutching the arm of the chair. "Lady Targaryen, Dragonborn." She spoke with a slight slur as if she had too much to drink. "I was looking forward to your arrival in Riften. You have done a great service for me and the Rift by slaying the dragon, Loknosdov." She waved a hand in an expansive gesture and then pointed at a finger at Daenerys. "And then you brought an army into my city, insulted my nobles, and threatened my guards. That was bad enough. Now I hear you attacked the captain of my guard. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Daenerys had wondered how the jarl could be addicted to skooma, and yet no one noticed. Seeing her, the answer was obvious – everyone thought she was drunk. Nords drank heavily every day. Some drank wine, but Nords preferred ale and mead. If they were poor, they drank it heavily watered. If they were rich, they often drank as much as they pleased. Being drunk wasn't a cause for shame among Nords. People would laugh at a drunk playing the fool, but it was friendly laughter. Nords bonded together through shared drunkenness. Nord feasts usually ended with half the revelers falling down drunk, and the rest just sober enough to walk. One of the worst Nord insults was milk-drinker, implying that one was a small child that couldn't even handle the watered-down ale that teenagers were allowed. Nords greatly admired those who could be drunk and still function. They would have loved Robert Baratheon. They sometimes went into battle drunk. For that matter half the mercenaries she just hired from the Forgotten Hole had been at least a little drunk. Burly Orryn more than the others.

Daenerys set that revelation aside for now. It would make exposing the jarl's addiction harder, but she had to address the jarl's question. She pretended a nonchalance she didn't quite feel and shrugged. "I would like to start by reminding you that you insisted that I bring the Dragonguard to Riften. You even sent an escort of one hundred men to ensure that I arrive safely. Lady Black-Briar extended the invitation for us to enter Riften proper on your behalf. Everything the Dragonguard has done since arriving has benefited both Riften and yourself, Jarl Law-Giver. We uncovered Grelod the Cruel abusing the children of Honorhall Orphanage, killed a Dark Brotherhood assassin hiding within the city walls, shut down three skooma dens, and brought an illegal arena to light. Rather than arrest them, your son, Harrald, convinced them to accept their fines, approach you, and become a licensed tax-paying establishment. Just this afternoon we raided the Thieves' Guild. This time the thieves didn't escape. They're all bound and waiting to be handed over to your justice. Do you find anything wrong with our actions?"

Jarl Law-Giver frowned. "I have no issues with the accomplishments, but I do have issues with your methods and with your attack on Hemming Black-Briar. He is the Captain of my guard."

Daenerys shook her head. "I will not apologize for my actions against Hemming Black-Briar. The man has a personal grudge against me. Three times he has abused his position to threaten me. First, upon the road to Riften, he insisted the Dragonguard accompany him immediately to Riften. Second, when the Dragonguard killed an assassin who tried to kill me. He called the Dragonguard murderers for defending me! Third, today. I offered to come here and bring the issue before you. He attempted to arrest me. He wanted to bring me here in chains for the crime of destroying the Thieves' Guild. I understand that as Captain of your guard he cannot be challenged, but the man is a coward who hides behind others and a fool." Daenerys kept her focus on Jarl Law-Giver and didn't even look at the man.

Jarl Law-Giver looked confused. "I see… What of the people who died in your attack? What proof do you have that any of them are thieves at all?"

Daenerys smiled. "Allow me to introduce my Shield-Brother, Torvar, a Companion of Jorrvaskr. His many deeds include slaying trolls, giants, and clearing out the bandits that infested Valtheim Towers. He is one of the few men now alive who has faced two dragons in combat and lived to tell about it. I'm proud to call him Shield-Brother. Torvar arrived in Riften the same day as Vignar Grey-Mane, but he entered the city alone. I'll let him tell his story."

Torvar strode forward with a huge grin on his face. The deeds she claimed of him were all true, but he hadn't fought alone. The Companions had still considered him a new blood, this would add to his story, his legend. He gave a slight bow to the throne. "Jarl Law-Giver, I will be glad to explain to you and your court. Although some here should know already."

Jarl Law-Giver frowned. "Please, explain."

"I had just entered the gates when I ran into Maul over there. He apparently didn't like my looks, so he made a point to explain to me how things worked in Riften. He told me that I needed to stay out of the Black-Briar's business because Maven had ties to the Thieves' Guild and the Dark Brotherhood-"

"Lies!" shouted Maven Black-Briar. "Maul is my housecarl. He is never out of my shadow."

Maul himself didn't move, but he was scowling.

Torvar stood there unphased, but Daenerys had spoken with him when she sent him to infiltrate the Thieves' Guild. She had chosen Torvar because he was a Companion.

"I am a Companion of Jorrvaskr," declared Daenerys. "Torvar is my Shield-Brother. His word is good."

Vignar Grey-Mane spoke up. "I am a Companion of Jorrvaskr. Torvar is my Shield-Brother. His word is good."

Maven scowled but didn't back down. "And I still say he is a liar."

"I call challenge upon you, Maven Black-Briar," said Torvar. "Face me in battle or name your champion."

Maven smiled. "As it is Maul that you are slandering, he will face you in battle."

Maul grinned at that. "It will be a pleasure. I bet Companion blood is still red." He strode forward and drew two daggers as he approached.

Daenerys frowned at how ready Maul was to fight. While Nords might challenge each other to a fistfight in a tavern, fights among nobles over honor usually had more build-up. There was more discussion about where, when, and who would officiate. That was a large part of the reason there was doubt over Ulfric's duel with High King Torygg. It hadn't been conducted in public before man and the gods. More importantly, Maven was smiling. She obviously thought Maul could win.

Torvar unslung his shield from his back and secured it to his left arm. He grabbed his axe with his right hand and stepped forward to meet him. "You even fight with a thief's weapons. My shield-brother Athis is always trying to convince me that small quick blades are better. Never worked for him. Let's see if you fare any better."

The Dragonguard enthusiastically chanted Torvar's name. The cheering for Maul was much less excited, but some of the Riften Guards cheered him on.

Maul didn't waste time talking. He darted forward and lashed out with his left hand. Torvar interposed his shield. Daenerys felt a small burst of magic, noticeable only because there was no other active magic in the room. Maul's blade was enchanted, but what it did she couldn't say. Torvar circled as Maul tried to come around his shield. Torvar blocked another strike. Daenerys felt the same burst of magic, and as Torvar continued circling she saw the result. There was a patch of white frost of Torvar's shield. The dagger was enchanted for frost damage, and it was a potent enchantment if two blows could leave a patch of frost on a shield. Maul attacked again striking Torvar's shield. This time she saw a spark as the other dagger struck. It was enchanted for shock. Torvar's shield was steel, so it offered little protection against lightning. Maul's strategy was clear. He was going to let the enchantments weaken Torvar until he couldn't block any longer.

Maul came in for another attack. He was laughing now. He struck for the shield again, but as he did Torvar surged forward slamming Maul bodily with his shield and briefly staggering him. Torvar finally struck his first blow, but it was a good one. Maul tried to parry it, but lost some of his fingers and the shock enchanted dagger. Maul ignored the loss and struck out at Torvar in a series of quick slashes with the dagger. Torvar blocked every one of them, the shield quickly building up a sheet of ice.

Torvar laughed. "I'm a true Nord. Do you think a little bit of cold will bother me? Now it is my shield and my axe against your puny dagger. I think the magic is already fading."

Maul stepped forward trying to get around Torvar's shield. He lunged to the left, to the right, but every time he was met by Torvar's shield. With each blow Torvar grimaced in pain, but he kept blocking while Maul had to dance in and out rapidly to avoid Torvar's axe. As it progressed the fight became less a battle of skill than endurance. The frost enchanted dagger clearly was affecting Torvar, but Maul was slowing as well. Both men exchanged blows that were turned by armor.

The end came suddenly. Maul tried to dance away but was too slow. Torvar buried his axe into Maul's neck. Blood flew. Maul collapsed to the floor clutching the wound as blood continued to pump from the wound.

Daenerys stepped forward and immediately healed Torvar. "Easy Shield-Brother. Well fought."

Torvar chuckled as she healed him. "All those times back at Jorrvaskr where I called Athis a damn fool for loving his daggers. I owe my life to him now. I knew just how to fight the bastard."

"I'm sure he'll never let you forget it either," Daenerys said as she pulled Torvar back onto his feet.

"No, he won't," agreed Torvar.

Everything was on a brief pause. Servants had been called forth to handle the cleanup after the battle. Maul's corpse was hauled away. The servants poured sawdust on the floor to soak up the blood and swept it away. Daenerys studied Maven as she had a whispered conversation with Jarl Law-Giver. If Maul had won that fight, that would have proved that Torvar was lying. Now by right of combat, it was proven that Torvar had spoken the truth about Maul. Maven should be in hot water, but Jarl Law-Giver was nodding her head. Jarl Law-Giver called her steward, Anuriel, over. After a whispered conversation among the three of them, Anuriel left with two guards and Maven returned to her seat.

Jarl Law-Giver raised a hand. "Lady Targaryen, Torvar the Companion, let me assure you that I acknowledge the outcome of that duel as does Lady Black-Briar. Please be patient. We'll resume shortly."

"Very well, Jarl Law-Giver." Daenerys was curious as to what was going on. Maven looked less angry now than she had before the battle. However, she couldn't very well argue with a reasonable request.

A short time later the jarl's steward returned along with the two Riften guards. There was a short whispered conversation among them, and the steward handed over a book to the jarl. More whispers followed. The jarl nodded as if agreeing, but in the end Maven bowed her head to the jarl. Everyone returned to their seats.

Jarl Law-Giver once again raised her hand. "Based on the outcome of that duel, I had Maul's room searched. We found evidence that corroborates everything Torvar the Companion said. Lady Black-Briar would like to say a few words."

Maven stood up. "Lady Targaryen and Torvar the Companion, I would like to apologize to both of you for not believing you and accusing Torvar the Companion of lying. Maul has been my housecarl for more than a decade. I trusted him in everything. He watched over me while I slept. I never knew he was conspiring with the Thieves' Guild behind my back. This explains why there are so many persistent rumors that I and my family are involved with the Thieves' Guild. Maul was secretly one of them all along. I also believe he led my son Sibbi astray. My son is currently in the Riften jail for crimes he committed. Now that I know about Maul, I hope to be able to save my son as well."

"It's fine," slurred the jarl. "You were fooled by a man you trusted, and your son is a bit foolish himself."

Daenerys forced herself to remain calm as the pieces slid into place. Maven hadn't been taking a risk at all having Maul fight Torvar. If he won, then Torvar was proved a liar. When he died, she shifted all the blame over to him. No doubt that book they were looking at earlier held evidence that incriminated Maul and 'proved' Maven innocent. There was no way that Maven created that in a few minutes. Maven had planned this in advance. She dipped her head to Maven, acknowledging a move well-played, let others think it was acceptance. "You were deceived by a thief, Lady Black-Briar. That's what thieves do. We had even more evidence to present against Maul. His brother, Dirge, was and still is a member of the Thieves' Guild. I accept your apology in the spirit it is given."

Torvar followed her example. "I also accept your apology, Lady Black-Briar. It is a rare woman who can own her mistakes."

Maven laughed. "I didn't know you were married, Torvar the Companion."

The entire room laughed at Maven's wit. Torvar included. "I'm not yet and have no intention of settling down. If that was an offer, you're a little too rich for my blood."

Maven touched a hand to her chest. "Oh, you wound me. If I still had the beauty of my youth, I promise you that you would think differently. While that wasn't an offer of marriage, but I do find myself in need of a housecarl. I need an honest man to separate myself from the stench of that was Maul's betrayal and alliance with the Thieves' Guild. It pays very well."

Torvar shook his head. "No, I'm a Companion. I've promised to fight by my Shield-Sister's side. There are still dragons to slay."

"Very well," agreed Maven. "Mjoll the Lioness, have you also joined the Dragonguard? You have long railed against the evil that is the Thieves' Guild, one that I never saw because it was always two steps behind me. What do you say about being my housecarl? I need an honest and loyal housecarl. With you by my side we can clean out any remnants that the Dragonguard's strike missed."

"I'll have to think about that," came Mjoll's voice from behind Daenerys. "It comes as a surprise."

"Please do." Maven turned to the jarl. "I'm sorry for interrupting."

Daenerys knew that was a lie. Maven had just played the entire room. Even knowing what was happening Daenerys had been crushed by Maven's momentum and unable to stop her as she played the part of the betrayed woman. Daenerys still had two arrows in her quiver: Maven's hiring of the Dark Brotherhood and her poisoning of the jarl with skooma. However, Maven was slippery and she lacked proof to back up an accusation. She had to be careful or Maven would just dance away clean again.

"No, that's fine," said Jarl Law-Giver. "I would like to say that I find the idea of Mjoll the Lioness as your housecarl to be a good one. It would firmly establish that Clan Black-Briar was as much a victim of the Thieves' Guild as Riften." She paused for a long moment before she continued. "And that brings us back to the Dragonguard and your actions Lady Targaryen. Riften owes you a debt, but some of your actions were questionable. First, and most importantly you owe an apology to Hemming Black-Briar. His actions were hasty, but he acted out of a desire to uphold the law. Your attack on the Thieves' Guild was not condoned and resulted in the deaths of several Riften citizens. I would like you two to put aside the bad blood between you."

Daenerys gave the jarl a slight dip of her head. "Of course." It irritated her to apologize. The trial by combat did nothing to clear Hemming of his insults. This was the reason that the grievances were usually clearly articulated for both sides. That hadn't happened for this duel. However, the Black-Briars had lost and the Dragonguard had won. Continuing to hold a grudge would just make her look petty. She turned to face Hemming. "I took what actions I deemed necessary to prevent a violent altercation, but I will accept the ruling of Jarl Law-Giver. I overstepped. I offer my apologies to you Hemming Black-Briar and to Clan Black-Briar." The words tasted like ashes, but overall she had still won today.

Hemming nodded. "Very well, Lady Targaryen. I accept your apology for your hasty and foolish action of attacking the Captain of the Guard and representative of the jarl of Riften. I can overlook it this once."

Daenerys ignored the slight. Hemming's petty backslap of an apology just made it obvious that he was a spoiled brat given too much power. Hemming was a pawn. It was Maven that was the danger.

Jarl Law-Giver clapped her hands. "Yes, yes. Now, I have decided what to do. Lady Targaryen, your attack on the Thieves' Guild was well done, but it should have been done in cooperation with the Riften Guard. I do award you the spoils of battle, but you will have to pay weregild for each citizen who died who was not a thief. I trust your honor and that of Torvar the Companion not to lie about who the thieves were. To be fair to you, the total cost of weregild shall not exceed the spoils you obtained today. Do you have any objections?"

"I understand and accept your decision, Jarl Law-Giver." The jarl had effectively seized all the spoils of the battle for the deaths of beggars and homeless people. Those would normally be written off, but Daenerys didn't care to fight it. Karliah had already robbed Black-Briar Manor and emptied Mercer Frey's home. While the Dragonguard had looted and some stolen goods and gold from the vault of the Thieves' Guild, the real treasure had been capturing the senior officers of the Thieves' Guild.

"Good. Good." Jarl Law-Giver paused again and glanced down at a scrap of parchment. "Ah yes, one more thing. I had already planned to reward you for your defeat of the dragon Loknosdov. The estate of Ivarstead has been held by the jarls of Riften since the Great War. I wish to offer you the position of Lady Ivarstead."

An estate was about the greatest gift a jarl could bestow. It made the jarl appropriating the spoils from the Theives' Guild small in comparison. However, accepting would make her a landed noble in the court of Riften and would require swearing fealty to Jarl Law-Giver. That was not an option. Daenerys gave a deep curtsey. "I thank you for the honor, Jarl Law-Giver, but I lead the Dragonguard. In this time of civil war, it is still important that someone stands against the dragons. I and the Dragonguard must remain neutral."

Jarl Law-Giver nodded. "Maven Black-Briar predicted you would say as much. Very well, at tonight's feast I will name you an honor thane of the Rift. I have more that I would like to ask you. I want to hear your deeds, but that will have to wait until the feast tonight. Go, get ready. Tonight, Riften celebrates your many victories."