Walk by the Shadows

VII. City of Thieves

In the morning, they walked to Markarth to rent the carriage to take them to Riften, a week's journey away. Since Edvar Clear-Blood was on the Jarl's council here and Macayla had been seen with him before, she could be recognized and talk would reach him, Brynjolf went up to Markarth's stables alone to rent the carriage. Once it lumbered down from view of the stone city, Macayla approached the wagon, paid the fee, and boarded to sit opposite Brynjolf.

The wagon jostled its two passengers, but riding was better than walking. Friendly and talkative, the carriage driver conversed with both of his travelers seated behind him. And when they stopped for the night, the driver would share the food he had packed and sit with them around the campfire. After the first night, Macayla and Brynjolf helped ration the driver's food by hunting and scavenging berries and nuts.

Most of their journey was uneventful, just the creak of the wagon, the stink of the horse, quiet trees of different Holds passing them by—first the thin foliage of the Reach, then the thicker and green foliage of Whiterun Hold, followed by the serene autumn trees of the Rift—and the easy-going chatter of the carriage driver. When they rounded the south end of Tamriel's largest mountain, the Throat of the World, the weather changed dramatically from the mildness of the forests to freezing and dry air as it snowed, back to the comfortable temperature. In some moments, Macayla had to shoot some wolves or Frostbite Spiders who tried to attack the horse and passengers. Once they entered the Rift, they crossed a troll and Brynjolf jumped off to kill it as Macayla's arrows crippled it.

She had never been to the southeastern part of Skyrim—her jobs kept her in the western Holds—but the Rift was gorgeous. The Reach had always been her home with the thin and frail trees, withering bushes, clunky boulders, and constant mist. Time looked to have had stopped in the Autumnal Forest: the trees were full of golden and ruby leaves; the forest floor was a patchwork of those leaves and yellowed grass. It also held an abundance of wildlife, with deer bounding away from the carriage; gray doves scared into a frantic flurry of feathers; squirrels and rabbits hopping across the leaves and brief flashes of color as blue butterflies fluttered to land on bushes. It being afternoon just gave the landscape an even more golden glow.

"Lass," Brynjolf said to gain her attention. "I'll be leaving you soon, so we won't be paired together yet. At the gate, a soldier will attempt to tax you; tell him you know better and he'll relent and let you in. It's their way of trying to leech off of the Guild's influence."

"Sounds like Riften is just a city of thieves..."

He grinned. "You'll quickly see how true that is, lass; every denizen living there is out to swindle everyone else. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, though.

"But what you should do once you get in: go to The Bee and Barb to get a room for the night. Wait for me there; once Vex, Delvin, and I come up with your test, I'll show up to tell you the plan."

Brynjolf stood and looked down at her with a smile. "I'll see you soon, lass." He hopped off the carriage and headed off the road to disappear into the surrounding trees. The carriage driver never slowed, either not noticing the bounce of the carriage as a passenger jumped off or Brynjolf had told him of his plan beforehand. Probably the latter.

An imposing guard tower rose before them as the road angled upward on a hill. When the carriage crested the hill, the closed stone walls of Riften sat before them. Green and brown vines grew up the walls; guarding the wooden doors were two guards. At the left of its entrance were the stables, and the carriage driver pulled up to it.

Macayla thanked the driver as she hopped off. The stench of Riften's fisheries hit her with the sudden blowing of the wind. Brynjolf had warned her the smell wouldn't be a pleasant one, but it didn't take long to get used to it.