Dovah ahrk Od

Prologue (Part One)

Cold winds.

Shrill, cold winds dominated the snowy plains of northern Skyrim on a wintry night.

A noblewoman—if one could even refer to her as such—struggled through nature's force, accompanied by her two, loyal guards.

She had some unfinished business in Dawnstar, an urgent matter that could not wait out this harsh, winter storm, and with her wish to keep this such a forever secret, traveling on foot, away from the roads, would serve the only option.

Her guards were trained in both weaponry and the arcane arts, so she had no doubt in her mind that they could handle anything that dared to cross the path of someone as dangerous as Maven Black-Briar.

Throughout the years, she worked her influences through both The Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild. Everyone in Riften knew better than to mess with her or her three children.

At first, not many in the ratway town perceived her influences as intimidating—that is—until they found the corpse of her husband, nailed to the wall of the Bee and Barb. His eyes were scooped out—his bare chest engraved with the words, "Never cross me."

The thought alone always gave Maven a little chuckle. She knew that—after finding her husband in bed with a little whore—her night would be filled with excitement.

Her ties with such deadly and dangerous cooperations came at a cost, of course—one of which causing this dreaded, chilling journey.

"Ma'am, I don't mean to speak out of terms, but why must we travel during such a dangerous night?" her newest guard, a man barely out of boyhood, asked.

Maven eyed him as they walked, not angered, but rather annoyed with his question. "There are things about me that you've yet to find out. When you become an age of maturity, I will inform you on these matters. As of now, you are still in training."

The young Nord, a boy named Maul, nodded, "Of course."

Maven's face hinted that of a smile. Maul and his brother, Dirge, were new members of the Thieves Guild, and Maul's test for becoming a full-fledged member was that of guarding their top influencer on her journey to Dawnstar. He was a strong boy, and Maven knew that if he ever decided to leave the Guild, she would not hesitate to offer him a bodyguard position.

The tiniest hint of light lit up from over the hill, everyone nearly sighing in relief as the houses of Dawnstar appeared into view.

"I will enter Windpeak Inn alone. If you hear anything that even sounds similar to me in danger, come in at once and defend me. If I die, you die. Are we clear?"

Both Maul and the much older guard nodded in agreement, leading Maven into the town. Most of the citizens were resting in their homes—save a few guards stationed on night duty.

Of course, with her influences, they practically ignored her as she made her way towards the inn.

Her guards sat on the bench outside as she made her way inside.

Maul glanced over at the older Nord that he was hired with, thinking of a way to make this ordeal a bit less awkward.

"So...what is your name?"

The older man glanced at Maul, glancing him up and down as if he was sizing him up, before focusing his eyes on something out in the bay. "Jorgen is the name. But listen, kid, this job isn't gonna suit you if you try and get all friendly with everyone. You're here to do your job—that's it. Thieves are quiet. Unless you want to get your ass in jail, take my advice."

Maul gulped at the thought, sitting a little farther from Jorgen. "No talking, got it. —just gotta look scary and shut up."

The older man huffed, "You'll get there, kid."