So I head back to Riften to clear some stuff up, and as I head into the town I hear a dragon. The dragon attacks inside the walls.

OK. Not the first time, but the first time there's been one since the last patch.

However, as I run toward the dragon and pass the Bee and Barb I see the back of a familiar balding head. Going into the tavern is--Esbern? He'd turned up wearing an expensive red robe the first time I went back to the Blades hangout in the Reach and he was still wearing that, BTW. I haven't started the truce quest so he wasn't on his way there. As far as I know he should have been back reading books about Dragons. I guess he just hankered after the ale. He wasn't anywhere to be found when I followed him in after I'd taken care of the flying lizard.

Bur there was a Dark Elf in there telling a story about his ancestory Valen Dreth fighting off Mythic Dawn assassins and escaping the Imperial City Prison....

This game never ceases to amaze me.