"My thane, are you sure about this?"
Volund sighed. "The worst part is, I'm not even sure which of my questionable decisions you're referring to."
"I was talking about the one where we put the worst person in Skyrim on the throne of Riften. Although now that you mention it, the sewers might not have been the best idea either," she said as she stepped around a pile of something that did not bear examining. "Ugh. At least if she does become jarl, we can rest assured that no city deserved her more than this one."
Riften stank, in every sense of the word. Even above the ratways, the sewage and stagnant water in the canals contributed an awful smell to the wooden city. Thugs and thieves acted openly in the streets, or gave halfhearted efforts to disguise their natures while approaching anyone who wandered by in an attempt to gain their gold, their fear, or their cooperation.
When they had first entered the city, a giant of a man had attempted to threaten them into submission. When Lydia threatened to beat him senseless if he didn't respect the Dragonborn, he immediately became apologetic and submissive. Lydia had been rather smug about it all for a brief time, until it became apparent he was acting not in fear of her but in fear of Maven – the powerful woman had told him to watch for her "new friends" and bring them to her.
Maven, who had in the meantime discovered exactly who these two partygoers actually were, was waiting for the pair outside her large manor. She was exceedingly polite and pleasant, but her words boiled down to one message.
She wanted the throne of Riften.
Many would say Maven already controlled the city, and the truth of that was apparent even in so short a time to Volund and Lydia. The woman had almost everyone in the city frightened to death of displeasing her, on her payroll, or both. The rumors that she worked with the Dark Brotherhood and outright controlled the Thieves' Guild only served to further strengthen the assertion – and deepen the visitors' dislike for her.
Maven's offers of gold, thaneship, housecarls and houses did little to entice Volund. However, Maven had made one other thing clear that Volund couldn't ignore.
She would support the Empire.
"All of my legitimate connections are in the Empire," she had said, "while all of my… less public connections are in Skyrim. If Skyrim becomes independent, I will lose half my power – one way or another. Obviously, I'm looking to avoid this."
The chance to deprive the Stormcloaks of a major port as well as the financial resources and troops that Riften offered was too good for Volund to pass up, even with the greater threat of dragons looming overhead, and he had agreed to the plan that Maven detailed. She told him that a 'friend' in the Ratways would help him with the first step of her plan, and with his previous purpose of locating Esbern.
After he and Lydia had left the company of Maven, still with misgivings about their bargain, they were approached by a woman in heavy armor. She was tall and blonde, with scars on her face that were covered by blue warpaint. On her back was a huge battleaxe.
"You are a newcomer to Riften, are you not?" she asked, her voice heavy with Nordic accent.
"I am; my name's Volund."
"Allow me, then, to warn you about that woman you were speaking to. She's the worst thing to ever happen to Riften, including when the whole city burned down sixty years ago."
"What's so bad about her?" Volund asked.
"Well, she's the most power-hungry individual I've ever had the misfortune to meet. She has powerful connections across the Empire, and she oppresses the city here with the Thieves' 'Guild' – though to call it a guild is ridiculous. If Maven didn't keep them in line, they'd turn on each other and the whole thing would collapse. And Maven's more corrupt than the whole lot of them. She'd do anything for a bribe or a favor, if it was a big enough one. Her children and grandchildren are murderers and worse." Mjoll spat on the ground in disgust.
Volund was silent, thinking for a moment.
"And who are you?" he finally asked. "What is your stake in all this?"
"I'm Mjoll, sometimes called Mjoll the Lioness. I used to be a traveler, but I've decided to stay here in Riften and be a sort of protector for the city – when I can. I try to keep the worst of the thugs, violence, and theft out of the streets, at least, but it's a struggle. I think the only reason Maven hasn't had me killed yet is that I haven't seriously hampered her progress!"
"Well, I wish you the best in your work as a protector of Riften. And believe me, I'll help in any way I can."
"You know, I think I might just like you," Mjoll said with a smile.
She and Volund shook hands, and Volund and Lydia resumed their trip toward the Ratways. Volund, however, took a detour on the way, stopping to write two hasty letters and send them with couriers, one toward Whiterun and one toward Solitude. When Lydia gave him a questioning look, he ducked his head.
"I'm about to break the rules, Lydia – do something dishonorable, for an honorable goal. Luckily for me, I know someone who specializes in that sort of thing." He would say nothing more about it, and the two had entered the Ratways.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
After killing numerous thugs and rats, avoiding rusty traps, navigating a hasty exchange of information with a representative of Maven's thieves, and descending into a deep maze of more filth, the traveling pair was ready to be done with the sewers. To their surprise, however, someone else had braved the same conditions they had. Thalmor agents, in armor or mage robes, were fanned out across the cisterns and sewer passageways, searching for the same man the Dragonborn was hoping to rescue.
A well-placed arrow from Volund, and a perfectly placed arrow from Lydia, killed two of the mages. Lydia had time to shoot again before the last remaining mage could get a proper ward up, and he fell to the ground, gurgling. The foot soldiers charged the two, but Volund was ready with his sword and shield. The first elf, he knocked off the edge of the walkway they were on; he fell two stories to break his neck on the stone floor. The second elf swung a mace at Volund's head, but had made his swing too horizontal. Volund simply ducked it and stabbed the Thalmor in the throat.
By this time, Lydia had her sword out and was advancing on the other elves who were rushing toward them. She killed two, and Volund one more; the last living elf turned to run away. With no time to retrieve his bow, a phrase rushed, unbidden, to Volund's memory.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!"
The stream of fire emanating from Volund's mouth was identical to that breathed by the dragons. It melted the armor and the flesh of the elf, and evaporated the moisture that clung to the walls and floor of the Ratways. When Volund finally stopped the fiery blast, steam rose from all around him. The burnt remains of the Thalmor smelled horrible.
Lydia was silent, though whether in awe, pity, or disgust, Volund didn't know. She held her nose as they walked past the body. They pressed on to find Esbern.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Five days later, Esbern was safe in Delphine's care, and Volund and Lydia were back in Riften. Maven's preparations for the coup were complete. The Thieves' Guild had forged incredibly convincing documents tying Jarl Laila Law-Giver to the Thalmor. Volund had generously supplied some Thalmor armor and weapons that had just happened to be lying around in the Ratway to further verify the evidence of Laila's corruption. Maven had assured that more than a few prominent members of the community, as well as the guard captain, had ample reasons to support her over Laila. Maven had called the town meeting, presented her evidence, and the city had rallied around her, condemning Laila. She was stripped of her post, and within a day, Maven sat on the throne. Her first act as jarl was to open the city and its outlying fortress to the Imperial Legion, which had a division standing by due to a previous communication from Maven.
As the troops marched into the city, Lydia commented almost glumly, "Well, we've given her the city."
"Just wait, Lydia," Volund said with a smile. He had just seen General Tullius riding at the head of the troops.
Maven had seen him, as well, and seemed rather surprised.
"General Tullius! It's a rare pleasure to see you here in…"
Tullius interrupted her. "Maven Black-Briar, for the crimes of bribery, theft, assassination, corruption, and treason against the Empire, you are hereby relieved of your title as Jarl of Riften and placed under arrest."
Maven sputtered for nearly twenty seconds before finding words. "General, I assure you I have never done such things. Have you any proof or evidence of these accusations?"
In response, Tullius held up a sheaf of letters. "These letters, obtained through various means, each bore your personal seal. They were opened in the presence of no fewer than ten Imperial officers, and each one alone would be enough to put you in jail."
"I never wrote those! I've never seen those!" Maven shrieked. The guards ignored her, and carried her off to a waiting wagon outside the city. Tullius sighed heavily, then looked around.
"Is there a Lady Mjoll present?" he shouted.
"Here, my lord," she said, shouldering her way through the crowd with a confused look on her face.
"Lady Mjoll, also called Mjoll the Lioness, you are hereby appointed to be rightful Jarl of Riften, with all the responsibilities, powers, and privileges which follow, and with the full support of the Imperial Legion. Do you accept this appointment?"
"Y-yes, my lord," she said.
Tullius nodded. "Legionnaires, see it done and the city secure." The general then rode over to Volund. "You did well. When your letter said you had a gift for me, I didn't even think it worth my time, but Rikke vouched for you. Said you didn't do trivial things. I never thought your gift would be an entire hold – and Maven Black-Briar. I've wanted to see her fall for years, but she's never left any evidence behind. How did you manage to get so much?"
"Well, General, the Dragonborn has his ways."
"Hardly reassuring, but I suppose I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, now should I? At any rate, well done."
"Thank you, sir. Will she be able to get out of jail with her connections?"
Tullius laughed humorlessly. "Only the Emperor himself can give me orders, son, and he couldn't care two hoots about Maven Black-Briar. Trust me, either her head will roll, or she'll be looking at the same four walls until the day she dies of age."
Volund nodded, and the general took his leave. The Dragonborn, with a confused Lydia close on his heels, then walked over to congratulate the new Jarl.
"I hope your job will be easier now," he said to the tall blonde woman.
"I should think so!" she replied. "Somehow I get the feeling you had something to do with this?"
"Let's just say that I'll help however I can," Volund replied. "Good luck, protector of Riften – you're official now."
Mjoll nodded, still overwhelmed, and began to make her way toward the palace. Volund motioned Lydia into the Bee and Barb tavern behind him. They took a table along the wall, and Volund ordered a glass of mead for each of them.
"Ok, how did you do it, my thane?" Lydia's curiosity could be contained no longer.
"Taking all the credit for yourself, boy?" said a low female voice behind Lydia. The housecarl jumped, and turned around to see a dark elf.
"Jenassa, whatever are you doing in Riften?" Volund asked with a large grin.
"Cleaning house, apparently," she replied. "Your father would have loved to see what you managed here. He hated this city and Maven above all else. We had a few job offers in the Rift which he flat out refused." She paused, and looked at Lydia meaningfully. "I think I see something else you've done which your father would be proud of."
Volund's face got red.
"Jenassa, this is Lydia, Lydia, Jenassa. She worked with my father as a mercenary, and showed me some tricks in fighting. And Lydia is my housecarl…"
"… and bedmate," the dark elf finished. "Not sure what you're embarrassed about, boy, she's quite a beauty, and seems rather devoted to you as well. Then again, you Nords have always been a bit squeamish talking about sex."
Lydia's mouth hung open, while Volund attempted to regain his composure.
"How did you know?" was all he eventually managed. Jenassa just laughed at him.
"It's not hard to see when you pay attention, boy. For your sake, it's a good thing you learned my lessons on swordsmanship better than you learned my lessons on life. Keep your eyes open! It may prove useful."
The dark elf took Volund's forgotten drink, downed it, and walked out of the inn. Lydia glared daggers at Volund. He smiled weakly.
"An old friend of my father's," he said. "She happens to be quite good at things like forging letters and stealing signet rings."
"And announcing your sexual habits to the world," Lydia muttered, taking a long drink of mead.