Skyrim's Saviors

42: Emeaen Nightshade

The streets of Riften are a place a Bosmer like me will likely never get used to. As I walk calmly along, I look at the multicolored autumn trees. A chill wind sweeps through the streets, bringing about the scent of fish, water, and alcohol. It has been another long day as a guard for Jarl Laila Law-Giver, so I head to the Bee and Barb.

As I walk in and the warm air hits me, a smile crosses my face. Keerava, the Argonian female who owns the inn, looks up as I walk in. Talen, her beau, walks up to me nervously. He glances around before talking.

"Did you hear the news? Jarl Law-Giver is being forced to step down and in her place will be Maven Black-Briar," he says.  "Word is the Imperials have killed Ulfric, and since his daughter is either missing or dead, the rebellion might be over with now."

I sigh deeply. I detest Maven. She and her whole family are as twisted and wrong as they come. And if she were to become Jarl .... Kynareth save us.

I touch my amulet of Kynareth and suck in a deep breath and face Talen. If Maven is who I'm supposed to be protecting, I might just quit. Or see if I can be transferred.

"This poor town gets more and more corrupt every day."

Talen steps back and I sigh. I know that look. Brynjolf is here.

I whirl on him, taking in his appearance as a false-nobleman complete with the get up of one.  His red hair is shoulder length and he sizes me up as well. 

"I need to talk to you,  lass. In private,"he says.

"I'm not interested in buying your stuff," I snap.

"I'm not here to talk about that, lass," Brynjolf says.

"Good, then we're done," I say, and walk towards the bar.

Brynjolf is behind me instantly. "You protect the current Jarl, yeah? Well, she won't be Jarl for long."

I turn to look at him, and want nothing more than to punch that smug look off his face. Despite that, I can tell he is being serious. "Why don't we speak somewhere in private?"

We slip upstairs and into a private room where I lean against the door, ready to bolt the moment he threatens me like he just threatened the Jarl.

"Bold of you and your Guild to threaten Laila," I tell him casually.

"Threaten? No, lass, you've got it all wrong. You see, the Stormcloak rebellion is dead. It's over. They killed Ulfric, and now they're coming to replace the Jarls loyal to him with ones who aren't so close-minded, in their opinions. So, lass, can you guess which person that they want to put in the throne of Riften's court?"

"It better not be you," I say.

At this, he laughs. "No, lass, I'm afraid it's much worse. The new Jarl will be Maven Black-Briar."

My heart slams to a halt in my chest. "No ...."

He nods.

"Wait, it's all around town. Your Guild has ties with her and the Black-Briar family. So, what are you complaining about? She'd pardon all your criminal actions, and no one could do a damn thing about it."

"She could.... but here's where things get tricky, lass. We have a new recruit. And she .... has these weird dreams. Honestly, I wouldn't be putting any faith in it if it wasn't for the fact that all she dreams about has happened."

"Like what? And how do you know she's not just lying?"

He stares hard at me. "She's not lying, lass. Trust that I know when I hear a liar's words spoken in conversation."

"True, it could be you who's lying about all this."

"Believe me or don't, but either way, the Jarl you're protecting has had her death foreseen by this aforementioned Guild member. Ignore it, and you'll likely come to regret it."

"Does she say when it happens? Like, day, month, time of day? And how?"

Brynjolf clenches his jaw tight.

"Look, you clearly need or want some help with this," I say. "Otherwise.... it was foolish to come to one of the Jarl's personal guards and threaten her life through one of the other members of the Guild."

He sighs. "If what she says is true, then the Jarl dies in a tomb. Because of that, she has no way of knowing when or what time or where."

"Perfect. Then I'll keep her from going to the Hall of the Dead."

He shakes his head. "Don't believe it's that easy, lass."

"Look, you've done your part, now let me do mine. I'll keep her under close watch. But first, why are you so hesitant about Maven's rise to power?"

"The same thing will happen to Maven once she becomes Jarl, unless we can find their would-be killers in time. Sapphire from the Guild and someone else are searching. But unfortunately, when this girl dreams these events, she either cannot see the killers, or she is them. But honestly, lass, unless she had no other choice in the matter, this girl wouldn't harm a fly."

I stare at Brynjolf for a moment before I sigh and turn to walk back to Mistveil Keep, but he grabs my wrist.

"We can't let Maven die," he says.

"Alright, I get it," I say.

He shakes his head. "I don't think you do. Please, lass, I'm betting on your own abilities to see if you can actually do this."

"Look, I know. I get it. But still. I need to go, if you want me to protect Jarl Laila, I need to go now."

He nods. "Fine. But all eyes are on you, lass. Don't let her die."

"I'll do my best."