Oblivion's Shadow

XV. Another Title

Since she was now pregnant, Brynjolf wouldn't let her do hard labor with the rest of the thieves. Macayla either monitored their progress in the shade, fetched them a tool, or brought them water; she appreciated his concern when she had to sit in the shade after the heat sent a wave of dizziness over her.

Wolun and Kjarke's friends and fellow soldiers in the Hold arrived a few days later and helped tremendously. With their assistance, a third of the city had been rebuilt. Now that Riften had homes and buildings awaiting shopkeepers, Macayla had Delvin set to work on writing letters to each city and town, asking people to come live there. Few people came at first, testing out the new city if they wanted to live there. Days became weeks, then months, and the trickle of people grew with the city.

***

"Macayla."

She turned at the call of her name to see Delvin standing beside a richly dressed man with fur around his collar, his blond hair braided back from his temples, and a gold circlet around his head. A female Dark Elf in leather armor stood at his left, arms crossed and suspiciously eyeing Macayla. Four guards wearing the colors and shields of Whiterun circled him and the obvious housecarl.

"This is Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun, along with 'is housecarl Irelith an' a few guards," Delvin introduced.

She politely inclined her head toward him; her swollen belly wouldn't allow her to bow properly—she only had two months left of her pregnancy now.

"I received your letter about Mehrunes Dagon, and I owe you, Brynjolf, and Karliah a debt of gratitude for keeping us safe—all of Tamriel does," Jarl Balgruuf said—he had a deep, powerful voice.

"There's no need, my Jarl; truly," Brynjolf said when he came up beside her.

"I wanted to come sooner but, alas, Jarls do not have the luxury of time. When I heard that Riften was regaining its standing as a city, I had to see for myself." His eyes swept the noisy marketplace behind them. "It looks like the city is back."

His gaze returned to Macayla. "May we speak in private? I wish to discuss something."

She nodded, asked Delvin to send Karliah after them, then gestured at Mistveil Keep. They went up to the restored palace and went in with two guards staying outside to watch the door. In a normal Jarl's residency, food and drink would be readily served for guests, but since a new Jarl hadn't been chosen yet and the place hadn't been occupied since Jarl Laila Law-Giver lived, no refreshments were served on shiny silverware. The main room was mostly empty, but at least a fire kept them warm. They seated at the tables encircling the fire and waited for Karliah to join them before beginning.

When she finally did, Jarl Balgruuf wanted to know the specifics of Mehrunes Dagon's defeat. They told him, with each pitching in, and didn't leave out Aadalyn's involvement in recruiting Akatosh. He looked quite surprised when they said she was Dragonborn and sincerely apologized to Macayla and Brynjolf—he couldn't imagine losing one of his three children.

After they finished their tale and Jarl Balgruuf took a moment to reflect on their adventure, he got to business. "You have done quite well here, considering the circumstances."

"Because we're thieves, you mean?" Macayla said.

He shook his head. "No; not at all. What I mean is that because there is no Jarl; no law in Riften. No one to extend judgement if crime is committed. Granted, Riften is not known to be lawful—this is the city of thieves—but Laila Law-Giver still held order. That is why Riften needs a Jarl: to stabilize society so crime does not run free and to give people someone to turn to when need arises."

Jarl Balgruuf made sense; from the way Riften has been, Macayla thought that Riften didn't need a Jarl. But she began to see a problem as the population grew: keeping people feeling safe or unrest and riots would break out in the streets, probably burning the city that had risen out of the ashes back to the ground.

If Maven Black-Briar was still alive, Macayla would've suggested her for the role. She racked her head for someone who could fit the position. Bolli? With his profitable fishing business, he was known far and wide. He was an upstanding citizen and known to give gold or food to beggars and people in need, so he had a heart.

Brynjolf looked at her. "I'm thinking about Bolli."

"As was I." Macayla saw the subtle twist of Jarl Balgruuf's lips. "No? Do you have someone in mind, then?"

"I propose that the role of Jarl goes to you, Macayla."

She was stunned at the offer—Brynjolf and Karliah were just as speechless as her. "Me? I'm just a thief!"

He leaned forward. "You may be a thief, but you also run a successful Thieves Guild, meaning you hold leadership, and you know how to command. You are part of the Nightingale Trinity, the Daedric Lord Nocturnal entrusts you to be her host, you helped defeat Mehrunes Dagon, and you've rebuilt Riften. That makes you more than just a thief, Macayla; you are righteous, loyal, selfless, heroic, and a leader—everything a Jarl should be."

"Do you understand what you're doing? You're giving a criminal control over the law!"

Irelith beside Jarl Balgruuf shifted at her belittling her jarl's intelligence, ready to defend him. He put a hand on her to control her anger.

"I know precisely what I'm doing, Macayla. I've thought long over this decision and what kind of effects will happen if things go bad. But now that I've met you in person, I am positive you will do what is right."

His confidence in her was unsettling; she kept trying to instill enough doubt that he would change his mind, "How could I possibly be the one who deals judgement on the thieves I've told to go rob a business?"

"He's making sense, lass," Brynjolf said.

She looked at him. "You support this idea?"

"It'll need some adjustments, but aye, I do. The people look up to you, Macayla. I bet they already think of you as their Jarl, because you're a leader—that's just what you are. I'm sure this doesn't have to be permanent..." He looked at Jarl Balgruuf to answer.

"No, it doesn't," Jarl Balgruuf agreed. "You can fill the role until you deem one worthy to replace you. I do not believe Bolli can be a good Jarl—he is too soft, easy to persuade."

Brynjolf turned back to her. "See? What do you say, lass?"

Macayla angled around her husband to see Karliah. "What do you think about all of this?"

It took her a while of further thinking, but she nodded. "I think it'll be good for Riften... and for you," she added in with a look at her swollen belly. "Being forced to remain accessible to the people will resist the urge to help rebuild the city or go on a nighttime raid and hurt you and the baby."

"What about knowing where the jobs will be?"

"We'll arrange something, so you won't know. If a thief gets caught on a job, it'll be on them, not you—as it's always been."

She couldn't think up another excuse of why she shouldn't be Jarl, other than her just not wanting to do it. Brynjolf looked so expectant of her answer being yes—even though Karliah was harder to read, the twinkle in her eyes had Macayla thinking she already knew what her answer would be.

She turned back to Jarl Balgruuf. "Are you sure I can do it?"

He nodded. "Absolutely."

With a heavy sigh, Macayla nodded.