A/N: I don't like changing between POVs in a scene, it also limits my ability to truly write out a scene between two people, like in the 18+ scene I did not long ago, so I'll be changing the way I write, hope you like it!
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"For just 20 septims, you can have that, what do you say?"
A slick and greasy haired, but otherwise rather handsome and well built merchant asked a young man browsing his wares
"20 septims for an iron dagger?"
The young man felt he was being ridiculed, so his tone was rather cold and harsh
"I- iron? That's a steel dagger, young man!"
The merchant was baffled by the audacity of the brat in front of him, how dare he insinuate that his business was actually a scam? What if others heard him?
"You think a Companion can't differentiate between an iron and a steel dagger you fool?"
The young man masterfully waved the dagger around in his hand, his brows furrowed, but voice no longer cold and harsh, but filled with giddiness
"Cough, cough, well if a young man such as you says so, then that must be it… Ehm, good day"
The merchant quickly found a way out and packed up his things in a sack
And in just bare moments, the man was off the road and running through the dark alleyways of Riften, filled with filth and homeless
"Brynjolf at it again, huh?"
Another merchant, looking more like a beggar, whispered to himself, but the young man was able to hear the words
'Brynjolf, noted, next time I'll teach him a lesson then'
Thought the youth to himself
"Volfir, Maven Black-Briar wishes to speak with you, come with me at once"
A huge, burly and dark haired man appeared by the youth's side, speaking to him with evident displeasure
"Let's go the long way, there are still some places I haven't seen"
That was a lie, it's been a bit more than a week since the young man's stay in this forsaken place, within the first couple of days he already visited most establishments and places in the city
He didn't like it one bit… Corrupt guards, filthy skooma addicts, thieves and murder, this city had it all and in large quantities
"Hrmph"
The burly man made his displeasure even more evident, but nodded nonetheless, a reaction developed due to the last battle he had with the young man. After which he woke up with a broken face in Mara's Temple
Maven Black-Briar was situated in the centre of Riften, in the inn by the name of 'The Bee and Barb'. It was perhaps one of the most grandiose buildings in all of the dark stained city, which was separated into different compartments
Depending on which social class a being was part of, determined which part he was able to visit or stay in
It felt wrong in many ways, at least to Volfir who felt more and more disgusted to deal with the Black-Briars by the day…
As the duo took the long way to the inn, they walked outside the centre circle of the city, separated by a large water stream that was once used by merchant ships to dock inside the city and drop off goods at the centre circle
Now, that space remains unused and the gates blocked, the water stale with diseases from all the drowned bodies and hidden caches of skooma
As Volfir looked around the filthy streets, he once again affirmed that the guard presence was as minimal as it could get and just now he saw a beggar mugging another beggar in one of the dark alleyways
"What a despicable city…" Volfir couldn't help but speak aloud
"Yeah, it's perfect" the burly man couldn't help but reply with a wicked smile
The young man didn't comment, he just increased his pace, eager to finally get out of this rat hole by finishing up his business with the Black-Briar matriarch
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"This is my daughter Ingun, you are to be her guard as she travels to Windhelm"
The Black-Briar family was lavishly dining at a huge and embroidered table, while the newly arrived duo stood by the entrance door
"Hi!"
A young woman with decent looks was eagerly waving at Volfir who didn't bother to spare her a glance and continued to stare in Maven's sinister eyes
"The product of you and your eldest son?" Volfir spoke up with unhidden disgust
"Of course, we are married after all" Maven answered without shame
"Maul, have the carriage ready for tomorrow morning, pack my daughter's belongings as well" she continued
"No need, I'll pack them myself, we wouldn't want your pet to die, would we?~" Ingun spoke up with a disturbing smile and half closed eyes
"You are dismissed" Hemming Black-Briar, Maven's eldest son and husband joined in on the conversation
While Maul left the room, Volfir remained, his gaze now directed to the sorry excuse of a man
"My business is with Maven, not with you, check your tone when you speak to me, product of Boethiah"
The young man spoke to him, his eyes emanating a dangerous azure glint that made Hemming look down at his plate in nervousness
While Ingun and Sibbi, his children laughed aloud at his misery, Maven just shooed the young man away, no longer bothered by his challenge of authority
Volfir clenched his hands into his fists, but left with a door slam nonetheless
'This is so infuriating, why do I have to work for this daedric incarnation of family because I enacted justice to an equally disgusting merchant'
The young man thought furiously as he made his way to the room where his belongings were stored
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Carriage racketing echoed throughout the ancient stone walls of the Windhelm bridge, while a group of Windhelm guards, undoubtedly in Black-Briar's pockets, marched in escort
'That wasn't so bad, if the little shit didn't try to test her poison recipes on me it would have been even better'
The road from Riften to Windhelm was nothing but a test of patience for Volfir, one which he successfully passed
'Hope the last two tasks are as easy as this once' he blissfully thought
The young man planned to stay and unwind in Windhelm for a couple of days before going back to the shit hole by the name of Riften
After leaving the Riften Hold which was filled with despair, the cold and harsh environment of Windhelm felt like an invigorating breeze
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"Lady Black-Briar, your daughter, escorted by Volfir Strong-Will has safely made it to Windhelm and applied for an alchemy internship under the best alchemists in the apothecary college, she also sends back word of her saying it would be best to study under Master Elgrim of Riften"
A courier dressed in Black-Briar colours spoke reverently to the matriarch while bowing his head
"Elgrim is still useful to me, in a few years when he grows unable, bring her back and place her at his side for learning"
The matriarch replied as she looked to the side in thought, her fingers tapping the table engrossed the room in sinister aura
'Now that the young pup got his guard down, it would be the best time to break his strong will, such a useful pawn would be best put to use by my own hands'
A wicked smile painted her weathered face, her mind rumbling with different plans of how to best break the young man and contain him within her own sphere of influence
"Has word about Strong-Will's stay gotten to Balgruuf?" asked Maven
"It has, the Whiterun Jarl's courier containing his personal letter asking why Volfir is being held in Riften for enacting justice" answered the courier
"Tell Laila to write back that Riften and Whiterun Holds have different laws and as a Law-Bringer it is her duty to make sure Strong-Will serves out his transgression on Riften soil" answered Maven while twirling expensive wine inside her cup
"I will make sure the Jarl understands what has to be done" the courier bowed in understanding
"Make sure you do"
Maven shooed the courier away with a happy face, it seems the Divines have once again blessed her with a great opportunity
Volfir Strong-Will, a name widespread among Skyrim's youth as a model nord, if she has him in her grasp, many will flock to Riften instead of Whiterun
'Perhaps the harbour and dock's reconstruction is in due time, our strategic position between Cyrodiil and Morrowind will bring large amounts of septims, while the arrived youth will work for the betterment of the Black-Briar name' her thoughts ran rampant
'No, if I do that, the Law-Bringer's name will be elevated, not mine… Should I put her out of the picture?'
'All in due time… The pup is special, even now thinking of his gaze sends shivers down my spine… He is not normal, so he will be most useful… Perhaps having a child, a male to become my heir, with his abilities and my temperament the child will be able to become the High King…'
The old woman was lost in her illusion of grandeur, while ambition and greed made her very being… Truly, a monster in human skin, a daedric incarnation