A Wood Elf's Life in Skyrim

Riften

"Need a ride?" Bjorlam the carriage driver asked. "I can take you to any of the holds."

"I need a ride to riften," I nod.

"That'll be 20 gold, climb in back and we'll be off."

I hop on and we head off to Riften, it was a long ride. By the time we arrived in Riften it was already night.

"Hold there, before I let you in, you need to pay the visitors tax." A guard stops me.

"What's the tax for?" I raise a brow.

"For the privilege of entering the city, what does it matter?"

"This is obviously a shakedown, unless you want the Companions breathing down your back I suggest you knock it off," I growl.

"Alright, no need to act rash." He shook his head. "I don't want trouble with the Companions. I'll let you in just keep your voice down."

He unlocked the gate and I headed inside. I overheard two citizens talking about the Thieves Guild as we walked in, it reminded me of a bitter part of my past in Valenwood. I used to be a member of the Silent Crescents, a group of thieves. I didn't have much choice, after my family was slaughtered I was vulnerable. Some bandits broke into my family home and took what was left of our fortune, rendering me without a coin to my name. I had to resort to drastic measures, doesn't mean I liked it. I may be a good thief, but I never wanted to be. I quit as soon as I had enough coin to stay at an Inn. That's when I went back to playing as a bard, singing and playing my lute. That was recently too.

As I walked further into the town a man wearing steel plate armor spoke to me as he leaned against a wall.

"Hey, you. Get over here, I want to talk to you. I don't know you. You in Riften lookin' for trouble?"

"I'm just passing through." I say honestly.

"Yeah? Well, I got news for you; there's nothing to see here. Last thing the Black-Briars need is some stranger stickin'' their nose where it doesn't belong." He grunted.

"Listen, I'm just here for the temple of Mara and a night at an Inn." I say with a scowl. "Who are the Black-Briars anyway?"

"The Black-Briars have Riften in their pocket and the Thieves Guild watchin' their back," he rolled his eyes as if I should've already known that. "So keep your nose out of their business. Me? I'm Maul. I watch the streets for 'em. If you need dirt on anythin', I'm your guy... but it'll cost you."

"How about you tell me for free?" I say with my hand on the hilt of my Lunar sword. "I'm not the most patient when it comes to these things, I already had to deal with harassment from those stupid guards out there."

"All right, all right, let's not get too hasty now," he put his hands out in surrender. "So what do you want to know?"

"Well...do you know anything about the Thieves Guild I keep hearing about?" I say as I come closer to where he's standing.

"You kiddin'? My brother Dirge works in their hideout. I used to run with them myself, but took a job with Maven after they started hittin' a rough patch. If you want to get in on that action, find Brynjolf in the marketplace. I'm sure he could use someone like you."

"That's a hard pass," I shook my head. "I'm done with thievery."

"Oh, you do a bit of thieving yourself?" He smirked as if he didn't believe me.

"Back in Valenwood I was with the Silent Crescents."

"Oh is that so? Same as Niruin then."

"Niruin?" I recognize that name.