Chapter 361: Chapter LXXXIV: Consequences
(Maven Black-Briar's POV)
It had been ten minutes since the commotion outside calmed down but I still refused to let my guard down. The dragons may have beaten those mercenaries and were too busy feasting to attack any further.
Or at least that is what my idiot Court Wizard's research said they would do, not that the dunce's word was to be taken seriously. How the old hag managed to graduate from the college I will never understand.
Ingun's nervous shuffling draws my attention and I look at my pale daughter, holding dearly onto a vial of poison as if that would somehow save her from the terrors outside "Calm yourself fool child, we are safe here."
She takes a deep breath and calms her breathing, nodding rapidly as if trying to convince herself that I was right.
Sibbi had no such compunctions however, his deranged giggling enough to unnerve me, even if I would never admit to it "Foolish mother." He drawls "You fear the dragons, and you are right to do so." He giggles again "But you forget the other monster we must fear."
My hand twitches in anger, and a small twinge of pain I dismiss as a product of my mind "I do not care about the elf right now Sibbi, keep your crush to yourself."
His giggles turn to cackles "Oh sweet mother, sweet mother." The choice of words does not inspire confidence "He will know what happened here before we do."
I hold back a growl "I do not know what got into that fool Hemming's head but I am not losing the rest of my family to gods damned dragons!"
He goes to respond with another idiotic quip but loud knocking draws our attention, and Maul's voice comes from beyond the barricaded door "Jarl Maven, the dragons are dead."
I release a sigh of relief, the immense tension leaving my shoulders slowly.
But the world would not give me peace "They were killed by" He pauses hesitantly "Reinforcements."
I unlock the door and pull them open harshly "I did not pay you to be a coward Maul, tell me what happened?" I growl at the cowering man.
And immediately pause as I see who was standing next to him.
"Hello Maven." Dagoth grins widely and I already know things had just gotten worse.
-----
"So let me get this straight." Dagoth speaks softly, sitting on my throne and flanked by a tall elf in pale plate armor and his much shorter right hand man who was playing around with a dagger "You placed your forces in front of your city, foregoing all the... immense fortifications of an ancient hold" He pauses, as if baffled by the idea "So that you could what? Preserve the infrastructure?"
"I did not want the fighting to enter the city itself" I explain myself, and oh how the fact I even needed to do it chafed on my pride "Far more people would have died if they attacked the city directly, the population is too tightly packed."
He rolls his eyes "Please do not pretend you care for your people, Maven, it is almost offensive."
I hold back a scowl "The mercenaries were paid well to do their jobs, if they are willing to die for money then don't blame me for throwing it at my enemies instead of my family."
"And yet Hemming was seen leading a group of guards and nobles to face the dragons." Dagoth points out lazily "Could it be that you lost control of your dearest family, Maven?"
Sibbi cuts in with an amused rasp "Dear Hemming got the glory disease in Windhelm. Poor thing thinks he has honor after killing a few undead."
"He made some friends, yes." Dagoth shrugs "And some rather interesting connections with your neighbors with his actions."
A scowl does form this time "The fool wants to get himself killed when he can rule instead."
"Your son's respectable action aside." Dagoth forces the topic aside "Some of those mercenaries were the Dawnguard, men and women allied to me whom I had personally sent to aid your city in case of an attack..." He leans in and growls "And you used them as dragon fodder!"
Shit "If you wanted them protected you should have sent word." A flimsy response, I knew but nothing else came to mind as I felt a knife at my throat that was not there.
"You threw an elite force of vampire hunters armed with artillery into open battle against a dragon." He grits out "If Isran had died today I would have burned you alive for your fucking audacity."
Before our back and forth can continue the doors of the great hall open and my son marches in, followed by his own men and some of Dagoth's forces "Fire has been put out." He reports without even deigning to acknowledge our positions.
"Excellent." Dagoth's whole demeanor shifts and he grins "The wounded?"
"Your healers managed to save most of the critical ones." Hemming grunts "Some still died but a large number of those we thought dead were only partly burned or merely had their bones too broken to keep fighting. All together four hundred dead warriors and mercenaries."
"Nords are rather resilient." The elf nods, genuine respect in his eyes "What about the populace?"
"The losses are thankfully very low but..." Hemming trails off and gives me a hesitant look before steeling himself "The wall failed to stop multiple shouts from affecting the city, the current count is some eight hundred dead."
The elf remains silent for a moment before sighing "Less than I expected but more than I would prefer."
Hemming nods solemnly "Such things happen in war."
"They shouldn't" Dagoth scowls, and to my astonishment he genuinely means it. The moment I think it his eyes meet mine "Surprised Maven?"
I just scoff, much to his visible amusement.
Dagoth turns back to my son "So would it be safe to say that you have things well in hand?"
"Aye, Flame-Tongue." He nods "The city will be brought to order within the day."
"Good." He nods "I recommend you grant Thanehoods to those who proved themselves today, Riften lacks proven warriors in its ranks and this is a perfect opportunity to strengthen your rule."
Hemming looks at him with confusion before giving me a quick glance as well, and his eyes light up with familiar greed, barely held back so he doesn't miss what recognized as an opportunity.
"He has no right to give Thanehoods." I hiss before I can think better of it "I am the Jarl."
"No." Dagoth's eyes flash threateningly "You will abdicate for your son, or I will find another family to lead this hold" He leans in and I feel the air become heavy "You have disappointed me one too many times Maven. It is high time you retired."
Only the knowledge of how utterly useless it would be stops me from ordering Maul to kill him on the spot.
Sibbi begins to giggle in his usual deranged manner but a pinching motion of the Dunmer's hand shuts his mouth.
And then my idiot sun has the temerity to blush, leading to a genuinely disgusted scowl from Dagoth "Just... go sit in a corner." The elf sighs, much to Sibbi's obvious amusement.
Another elf appears behind him, a woman whose beauty I quite literally find myself unable to describe "I like him." She titters at Sibbi, her presence alone making the short one, Davos, still with fear.
Who in Oblivion was she?
"You would." Dagoth sighs, audibly disappointed.
"Hello child." The woman dashes over to Sibbi without making a sound "You and I have much to talk about."
"You have no authority to demand my resignation." I look back to the elf, uncaring for Sibbi's new 'friend'
Dagoth merely raises his eyebrow "Do you wish for me to make you join a temple as well?"
I had not felt such indignant rage ever since my fool of a father almost threw away all of our fortune with his gambling, but not even the near destruction of our clan came close to the endless hatred I was feeling right now.
And the bastard knew it, his grin widening with each moment as my emotions threatened to take control of me. But I understood his position, I knew damn well that this was the right choice for him. I had proven too willful and my son more easily molded, he would discard him as well if he proved foolish enough to refuse cooperation.
No matter, I would still have my businesses and contacts, and my clan would rule the city. I could salvage this!
"Oh and Maven." He interrupts my trail of thought "Should you attempt to take control of the city, or any kind of control that is not for the sole purpose of your son's righteous rule I will know."
I glare at him, as if my gaze would be able to harm him somehow, but in the end I knew I was defeated and finally grit out "Very well."
"Capital!" He claps his hands, the heavy air gone as if it were never there. He gets up from my, my son's throne "That is all the business I had with the Black-Briars today, the hold is yours Jarl Hemming. Do keep up the good work."
He claps his hands, and is gone.
Hemming grins and sits on the throne without any hesitation, giving me a mild apologetic look before looking to the short elf "You are welcome to remain in my hold for as long as you need to."
Davos of Dagoth inclines his head "Sure thing, Boss told us to make sure no further idiots join the dragons and that everyone at least has shelter for the night. We will be out of your hair tomorrow at the earliest." He twitches his head at the armored elf "Come on Anondor, there is work to be done."
The armored elf looks to Hemming and bows "May your rule surpass your ancestors, Jarl." And follows after Davos.
The moment Dagoth's people step outside I grab a nearby chair and throw it against the wall, shattering it into pieces with a shrike of rage "Damned bastard!" I spit.
Hemming clears his throat "Calm yourself mother."
"Calm myself?!" I growl "The fucking knife ear thinks he can order us around to do anything he wants and you want me to calm myself?!"
"Yes." Hemming's face darkens "Be happy I proved myself in Windhelm and defended the city today, or we would have certainly lost the Jarldom today."
"I don't care about you proving yourself I care about us being shamed so publicly!" I spit out.
"We have not been shamed." He points out coldly "You have. And while I agree that the Court Mage's influence is too great your flailing does you nothing but shame you further."
I growl "Ah yes, how wise you are suddenly, now that you have stolen my position."
"I was not raised by a flailing shrew, mother." He grits out "Control yourself."
A biting retort is barely held back at my teeth and I remain silent.
"Good." He nods "All that matters is that power remains within the clan. I was already your heir and you can focus on the business side of things while I curry favor. I already have an in with a lot of the Winterhold soldiery and the new Windhelm council. All we need to do is survive and we will prosper like never before."
My scowl could not have been deeper at being so thoroughly pushed into a corner but I could also not stop the genuine pride at my idiot son finally growing up.
And then a loud titter broke the spell and our eyes were drawn to the corner of the room where the beautiful Dunmer woman had just finished giving Sibbi some kind of coiled spider token.
How in Oblivion did I forget her presence?! And what is that toke-
Wait, a coiled spider? Dagoth's order of agents...
'Mephala.' My eyes narrow at the not elven woman, who just looks at me with eyes deeper than any I have ever seen and winks.
"Why I would be delighted to join your club, Your Ladyship." Sibbi bows, devotion in his eyes "Just say the word and we shall create such delightful mayhem!"
The Dae- woman titters "Oh you are a treat my dear, I will keep in touch~" She blows him a kiss and disappears.
A silence descends upon the room for a long while before Hemming breaks it "Sibbi.... what just happened?" He asks cautiously.
Sibbi looks at us with a wide, deranged grin "Do you wish to learn about our lord and savior the Webweaver?" He asks, his grin somehow widening.
And there I was, thinking my day could not have gotten worse.
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Spider mommy demands your stones!
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