Good news that Thane Shatter-Shield is ready to go home and be a part of his family as it is now. It sounds like Lili’s gift to Tova will be a big help as well.
Multiple births, oh my! How heartbreaking that Lili lost her whole family, including her five children. Sten has been paying attention, he was able to offer quiet comfort and not just run for the ale. And of course he has his own experience with grief.
The Thalmor! No wonder Lili’s been on the move and careful with her personal details. That’s a threat that isn’t going away.
Full Version: A Wood Elf in Windhelm
I'm glad that Lili finally felt comfortable enough to open up to Sten like that. It sounds like she has carried that grief with herself for a long time. 
@Acadian: I'm glad you quite enjoyed the glimpse into Bosmer life in the Liliverse as I have enjoyed your own take in the Buffyverse. This grief on the part of several folk will continue to reappear from time to time as Lili and Sten spend time in Windhelm. And I'm glad that you pointed out that her skill with speech craft has been honed due to constant exposure to grief, in herself and in others she meets. I wanted to show how much the Great War has impacted folk everywhere Lili has traveled. Oh, and your questions regarding Thalmor involvement in the loss of her clan are wonderfully perceptive. Be assured, those questions will be asked by our intrepid sellsword Stennvar in a future post!
@SageRose: Greek is a wonderful source of names for concepts and deities of various sorts! I admit that I have resorted to it in the past when trying to come up with names. And yes, grief kind of took over the evening, as it tends to do (we are going through the same thing here with our recent IRL loss). I wanted to show that grief never really quite goes away, we just learn to live with it. Good guesses on your part regarding the Thalmor and Lili. We'll see just how accurate your guesses are eventually!
@Grits: I felt there was a better way to handle that little quest where you find an Amulet of Arkay for Torbjorn to raise his disposition toward yourself. After finding the Amulet in question in Cronvangr Cave (in a chest next to the one in which the special sword is found, no less!) it occured to me that a real adventurer would search that chest for more than just the sword! And what else would one find in such a hoard? A little research in the Lore tells me that Arkay worship became widespread in Skyrim at a later date than elsewhere, so I figured why not a High Rock amulet? And yes, Sten is more than the brute he seems to be, and yes, he has had his own grief to deal with too. And of course, Lili is definitely on the run from the Thalmor. How ironic that her flight has led her to the location of the second highest concentration of these despised elves outside Summerset.
@Kane: Yes, it didn't take long for Lili to reach that level of trust with Sten where she could unload her own burden. Yes, she's carried it a very long time!
After the emotional struggle to keep all the accumulated grief under control, Lilisfina finally found relief before bed. Now she starts a new day, and maybe a new adventure.
****************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - A Morning Without a Plan
Sofie woke Lili with a cup of aromatic tea. “Are you feeling better this morning, ma’am?” Her dark eyes held worry as she set the beverage on the stand next to the bed. “I know you were upset last night when you came to bed.”
Lili winced. “I’m sorry I woke you, Sofie,” she sat up and rubbed the dried tears from her face. “Just bad memories last night, that’s all.” She took the child’s hands in hers and smiled. “Thank you, Sofie.”
“Drink up!” Sofie handed the cup to Lili, then moved to the wardrobe. “Shall you go adventuring today? Maybe the green outfit?”
“I don’t know,” Lili responded. “Maybe a walk to Kynesgrove.”
“Or a walk to the hot springs!” Sofie clapped her hands. “Before it gets too cold!”
“Too cold!” Lili shuddered for emphasis. “It’s already too cold for a bath in hot springs!”
“Not south of Kynesgrove!” Sofie countered. “It’s warmer there, not snowy like around here. Every spring many of us like to go there for baths after a cold, hard winter.”
“Hmmm, sounds appealing!” Lili reached for the green adventuring gear Sofie laid out on the bed. “I’ll have to discuss that with Stennvar.” She slipped into the tunic and breeches, but left the leather tabard on the bed and turned toward the wardrobe to see the girl kneeling at the foot of the open cabinet.
Sofie jumped up and put her hands behind her back with an air of guilt. Behind her, Lili noticed her carryall, still tucked in the bottom of the wardrobe. “I wasn’t doing anything, honest!”
“It’s okay to be curious,” Lili answered with a nod at her traveling pack. “Looking is fine, but not taking without permission!”
“I was looking at the ties,” Sofie gestured toward the bone tags attached to the sinews. “I’ve never seen carving like that. Is it Wood Elven?”
“Bosmer,” Lili corrected as she set the large bag onto the bed and cupped the bones in her palm.
“Bosmer?” Sofie repeated.
“We call ourselves Bosmer,” Lili sat on the bed and waved Sofie to sit next to her. “Elf is a human term.”
“Really?” Sofie asked as Lili unhooked the tags and dropped them into the girl’s palms. “And you called Dark Elves something else, too . . .”
“Dunmer,” Lili supplied. “And what you call High Elves are Altmer, they are descended from Aldmer.” She took a breath. “Or Meri, if you are using the plural form.” She watched Sofie run her fingers over the carved bone. “Did you know the folk you call Orcs are also Mer? They’re Orsimer.”
“Really?” Sofie glanced up at Lili. “But they don’t look Elven - ummm, like Mer.”
“There is a story about their origin. It tells of an Aldmer god named Trinimac. This god was beautiful, full of light and glory, and his followers were the most beautiful of all the Mer. This caused jealousy in one of the Daedra Princes, and they consumed him. Of course, being a god, this didn’t kill Trinimac, but his passage through the Daedra’s gut transformed him into an ugly, vengeful being we call Malacath. His followers were likewise transformed into what we now call Orsimer, or Orcs.”
Sofie regarded Lili with wide eyes, then gave the carved bone back to her. “You know a lot, ma’am!”
“I’m a mage,” Lili smiled at her. “That comes with a lot of book learning. Wherever I go, I find books to read. It’s one of the ways I learn.”
“Do you practice a lot of magic?”
“I do need to practice a lot,” Lili chuckled. “I’m not as adept as say, a Telvanni Wizard or an Altmer mage, but someday I hope to be quite good. Right now most of my healing is alchemy based, not magicka based.”
“So you’re more like Nurelion?” Sofie asked. Lili nodded as she reattached the bone tags to the ties.
“I have been advised to seek more mage training at the College of Winterhold,” Lili placed the traveling bag back within the wardrobe and closed the doors. “It’s taken me a long time to make my way this far, but now that I’m so close,” she sighed and shivered.
“And now?” Sofie snuggled against Lili’s side. “You’re closer to the hot springs than you are to Winterhold!”
“Don’t tempt me, child!” Lili laughed, then sipped at the tea. “This is very good, thank you Sofie.”
“Breakfast is ready for you upstairs,” Sofie moved to the door. She paused and glanced back, hand on the door handle. “Thank you for everything you’ve done, ma’am.” She was through the door before Lili could respond.
Lili closed her eyes for a few breaths and breathed deeply. I still feel so shaky after last night. It was finally too much. The memory of Stenvar’s strong arms around her beat back the grief that still threatened to overwhelm her. He’s startlingly perceptive - knew just what I needed in that moment.
That memory was what she needed to open the door and leave her room. Ah well, time to look for more work for the two of us. We still have three sevendays to go on his contract. Have I been here only one? Feels like longer!
Stenvar looked up from his armor, oiled rag in hand, as Lili seated herself across from him. The carved steel of the vambrace gleamed in the sunlight from the high window in the gable. “Good morning, boss,” he greeted her.
“No more ma’am?” Lili smiled when she saw the relief move through his blue gaze.
“It’s been seven days now,” he countered. “I think everyone here knows you’re my employer.” He set the oiling cloth down on the breastplate and leaned forward as Lili started into her oatmeal and smoked mutton. “We still have three more sevendays, do you still want to get to Winterhold before the end of our contract?”
Lili gulped down the mouthful and sipped at her tea. “Part of me is anxious to get there as soon as possible, but part of me wants to stay and explore this area a bit more,” she mused. “Sofie mentioned something about hot springs?”
“Yes, the sulfur springs south of Kynesgrove. It’s east of Cronvangr Cave, past Steamcrag Camp.” Stenvar smiled suddenly. “A visit there wouldn’t be amiss, boss. And you’ll get to see the giants and mammoths at their camp.”
Lili leaned back and rested her chin on her upraised left hand. “There are mammoths in Valenwood, you know,” she murmured. “We raise them for meat, wool, and milk. The meat’s especially useful for making rotmeth.”
Stenvar grimaced. “Sounds appealing,” he remarked.
“It’s an acquired taste, like jagga,” Lili chuckled. “And both are particularly potent for those not used to them.”
“More so than our mead?” Stenvar raised his brows at her.
“Oh, yes, more so,” Lili nodded firmly as she finished the last of the oatmeal. “Hmm, this is quite good.”
“Filling, too,” Stenvar agreed. “Sticks to your ribs all day.”
“Does it now?” Lili mused. “Good adventuring food?”
“Good for farming, or working the forge. Not so much for running from ogres and dragons,” Stenvar grinned mischievously.
“Then we’ll just have to avoid ogres and dragons today,” Lili matched his grin. The last of the persistent grief subsided, and her good humor eased back into the conversation.
“Speaking of which,” Stenvar leaned forward conspiratorially, “we’d best sneak out before the dragon downstairs comes up.”
“Dragon?” Lili frowned, puzzled.
“Dame Elda is still in a tizzy about having Sofie in her inn.”
“Should we leave Sofie here, then?” Lili felt a sudden surge of concern. “Really, I don’t understand why Elda is so hostile toward the child. Something about her father?”
“Hmmm, someone might know why,” Stenvar rose to his feet and buckled on his buffed armor. “Let’s go find Thane Free-Winter.”
“I’ll run down and grab my green tabard and hood, and I’ll meet you outside by the cat bowls,” Lili rose to her feet and collected the empty dishes. “I’ll just bring these to Nils on the way.”
A few moments later Lili stepped out to see Stenvar crouched down, hands on knees, as his voice enticed a dark gray tabby cat toward him. The cat’s pale blue gaze shifted from the big Nord in front of him to eye Lili momentarily, then returned to Stenvar as he tossed a piece of food from the bowl toward the tom cat. “Is that Soot?” Lili asked.
“Yes,” Stenvar responded. “And I’m not offering him my fingers. He looks as hostile as Nils makes him out to be.” At his soft voice Lili heard a soft growl rumble from the little cat.
“Don’t make eye contact with him,” Lili tugged at Stenvar’s pauldron in an attempt to pull him away from the tom. “It just makes him aggressive.”
Stenvar straightened up and stepped back, away from the food bowls. “He is decidedly unfriendly.” He met Lili’s gaze, and she could see the amused respect in his eyes. “Let’s go find Thane Free-Winter,” he brushed his hands on his thighs and stepped down to the street. “Time to solve a new mystery!”
@SageRose: Greek is a wonderful source of names for concepts and deities of various sorts! I admit that I have resorted to it in the past when trying to come up with names. And yes, grief kind of took over the evening, as it tends to do (we are going through the same thing here with our recent IRL loss). I wanted to show that grief never really quite goes away, we just learn to live with it. Good guesses on your part regarding the Thalmor and Lili. We'll see just how accurate your guesses are eventually!
@Grits: I felt there was a better way to handle that little quest where you find an Amulet of Arkay for Torbjorn to raise his disposition toward yourself. After finding the Amulet in question in Cronvangr Cave (in a chest next to the one in which the special sword is found, no less!) it occured to me that a real adventurer would search that chest for more than just the sword! And what else would one find in such a hoard? A little research in the Lore tells me that Arkay worship became widespread in Skyrim at a later date than elsewhere, so I figured why not a High Rock amulet? And yes, Sten is more than the brute he seems to be, and yes, he has had his own grief to deal with too. And of course, Lili is definitely on the run from the Thalmor. How ironic that her flight has led her to the location of the second highest concentration of these despised elves outside Summerset.
@Kane: Yes, it didn't take long for Lili to reach that level of trust with Sten where she could unload her own burden. Yes, she's carried it a very long time!
After the emotional struggle to keep all the accumulated grief under control, Lilisfina finally found relief before bed. Now she starts a new day, and maybe a new adventure.
****************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - A Morning Without a Plan
Sofie woke Lili with a cup of aromatic tea. “Are you feeling better this morning, ma’am?” Her dark eyes held worry as she set the beverage on the stand next to the bed. “I know you were upset last night when you came to bed.”
Lili winced. “I’m sorry I woke you, Sofie,” she sat up and rubbed the dried tears from her face. “Just bad memories last night, that’s all.” She took the child’s hands in hers and smiled. “Thank you, Sofie.”
“Drink up!” Sofie handed the cup to Lili, then moved to the wardrobe. “Shall you go adventuring today? Maybe the green outfit?”
“I don’t know,” Lili responded. “Maybe a walk to Kynesgrove.”
“Or a walk to the hot springs!” Sofie clapped her hands. “Before it gets too cold!”
“Too cold!” Lili shuddered for emphasis. “It’s already too cold for a bath in hot springs!”
“Not south of Kynesgrove!” Sofie countered. “It’s warmer there, not snowy like around here. Every spring many of us like to go there for baths after a cold, hard winter.”
“Hmmm, sounds appealing!” Lili reached for the green adventuring gear Sofie laid out on the bed. “I’ll have to discuss that with Stennvar.” She slipped into the tunic and breeches, but left the leather tabard on the bed and turned toward the wardrobe to see the girl kneeling at the foot of the open cabinet.
Sofie jumped up and put her hands behind her back with an air of guilt. Behind her, Lili noticed her carryall, still tucked in the bottom of the wardrobe. “I wasn’t doing anything, honest!”
“It’s okay to be curious,” Lili answered with a nod at her traveling pack. “Looking is fine, but not taking without permission!”
“I was looking at the ties,” Sofie gestured toward the bone tags attached to the sinews. “I’ve never seen carving like that. Is it Wood Elven?”
“Bosmer,” Lili corrected as she set the large bag onto the bed and cupped the bones in her palm.
“Bosmer?” Sofie repeated.
“We call ourselves Bosmer,” Lili sat on the bed and waved Sofie to sit next to her. “Elf is a human term.”
“Really?” Sofie asked as Lili unhooked the tags and dropped them into the girl’s palms. “And you called Dark Elves something else, too . . .”
“Dunmer,” Lili supplied. “And what you call High Elves are Altmer, they are descended from Aldmer.” She took a breath. “Or Meri, if you are using the plural form.” She watched Sofie run her fingers over the carved bone. “Did you know the folk you call Orcs are also Mer? They’re Orsimer.”
“Really?” Sofie glanced up at Lili. “But they don’t look Elven - ummm, like Mer.”
“There is a story about their origin. It tells of an Aldmer god named Trinimac. This god was beautiful, full of light and glory, and his followers were the most beautiful of all the Mer. This caused jealousy in one of the Daedra Princes, and they consumed him. Of course, being a god, this didn’t kill Trinimac, but his passage through the Daedra’s gut transformed him into an ugly, vengeful being we call Malacath. His followers were likewise transformed into what we now call Orsimer, or Orcs.”
Sofie regarded Lili with wide eyes, then gave the carved bone back to her. “You know a lot, ma’am!”
“I’m a mage,” Lili smiled at her. “That comes with a lot of book learning. Wherever I go, I find books to read. It’s one of the ways I learn.”
“Do you practice a lot of magic?”
“I do need to practice a lot,” Lili chuckled. “I’m not as adept as say, a Telvanni Wizard or an Altmer mage, but someday I hope to be quite good. Right now most of my healing is alchemy based, not magicka based.”
“So you’re more like Nurelion?” Sofie asked. Lili nodded as she reattached the bone tags to the ties.
“I have been advised to seek more mage training at the College of Winterhold,” Lili placed the traveling bag back within the wardrobe and closed the doors. “It’s taken me a long time to make my way this far, but now that I’m so close,” she sighed and shivered.
“And now?” Sofie snuggled against Lili’s side. “You’re closer to the hot springs than you are to Winterhold!”
“Don’t tempt me, child!” Lili laughed, then sipped at the tea. “This is very good, thank you Sofie.”
“Breakfast is ready for you upstairs,” Sofie moved to the door. She paused and glanced back, hand on the door handle. “Thank you for everything you’ve done, ma’am.” She was through the door before Lili could respond.
Lili closed her eyes for a few breaths and breathed deeply. I still feel so shaky after last night. It was finally too much. The memory of Stenvar’s strong arms around her beat back the grief that still threatened to overwhelm her. He’s startlingly perceptive - knew just what I needed in that moment.
That memory was what she needed to open the door and leave her room. Ah well, time to look for more work for the two of us. We still have three sevendays to go on his contract. Have I been here only one? Feels like longer!
Stenvar looked up from his armor, oiled rag in hand, as Lili seated herself across from him. The carved steel of the vambrace gleamed in the sunlight from the high window in the gable. “Good morning, boss,” he greeted her.
“No more ma’am?” Lili smiled when she saw the relief move through his blue gaze.
“It’s been seven days now,” he countered. “I think everyone here knows you’re my employer.” He set the oiling cloth down on the breastplate and leaned forward as Lili started into her oatmeal and smoked mutton. “We still have three more sevendays, do you still want to get to Winterhold before the end of our contract?”
Lili gulped down the mouthful and sipped at her tea. “Part of me is anxious to get there as soon as possible, but part of me wants to stay and explore this area a bit more,” she mused. “Sofie mentioned something about hot springs?”
“Yes, the sulfur springs south of Kynesgrove. It’s east of Cronvangr Cave, past Steamcrag Camp.” Stenvar smiled suddenly. “A visit there wouldn’t be amiss, boss. And you’ll get to see the giants and mammoths at their camp.”
Lili leaned back and rested her chin on her upraised left hand. “There are mammoths in Valenwood, you know,” she murmured. “We raise them for meat, wool, and milk. The meat’s especially useful for making rotmeth.”
Stenvar grimaced. “Sounds appealing,” he remarked.
“It’s an acquired taste, like jagga,” Lili chuckled. “And both are particularly potent for those not used to them.”
“More so than our mead?” Stenvar raised his brows at her.
“Oh, yes, more so,” Lili nodded firmly as she finished the last of the oatmeal. “Hmm, this is quite good.”
“Filling, too,” Stenvar agreed. “Sticks to your ribs all day.”
“Does it now?” Lili mused. “Good adventuring food?”
“Good for farming, or working the forge. Not so much for running from ogres and dragons,” Stenvar grinned mischievously.
“Then we’ll just have to avoid ogres and dragons today,” Lili matched his grin. The last of the persistent grief subsided, and her good humor eased back into the conversation.
“Speaking of which,” Stenvar leaned forward conspiratorially, “we’d best sneak out before the dragon downstairs comes up.”
“Dragon?” Lili frowned, puzzled.
“Dame Elda is still in a tizzy about having Sofie in her inn.”
“Should we leave Sofie here, then?” Lili felt a sudden surge of concern. “Really, I don’t understand why Elda is so hostile toward the child. Something about her father?”
“Hmmm, someone might know why,” Stenvar rose to his feet and buckled on his buffed armor. “Let’s go find Thane Free-Winter.”
“I’ll run down and grab my green tabard and hood, and I’ll meet you outside by the cat bowls,” Lili rose to her feet and collected the empty dishes. “I’ll just bring these to Nils on the way.”
A few moments later Lili stepped out to see Stenvar crouched down, hands on knees, as his voice enticed a dark gray tabby cat toward him. The cat’s pale blue gaze shifted from the big Nord in front of him to eye Lili momentarily, then returned to Stenvar as he tossed a piece of food from the bowl toward the tom cat. “Is that Soot?” Lili asked.
“Yes,” Stenvar responded. “And I’m not offering him my fingers. He looks as hostile as Nils makes him out to be.” At his soft voice Lili heard a soft growl rumble from the little cat.
“Don’t make eye contact with him,” Lili tugged at Stenvar’s pauldron in an attempt to pull him away from the tom. “It just makes him aggressive.”
Stenvar straightened up and stepped back, away from the food bowls. “He is decidedly unfriendly.” He met Lili’s gaze, and she could see the amused respect in his eyes. “Let’s go find Thane Free-Winter,” he brushed his hands on his thighs and stepped down to the street. “Time to solve a new mystery!”
Sophie might make a good healer one day. She’s clever, perceptive and is drawn to those who need her. A wonderful discussion between she and Lili which helped move Lili on from her grief – at least for this morning.
And a hearty breakfast with Stenvar. Lili is quite aware of Sten’s contract timing and it’s quite clear she will not be ready to let him go when that time comes. . . .
“Speaking of which,” Stenvar leaned forward conspiratorially, “we’d best sneak out before the dragon downstairs comes up.”
- - As soon as I read this I knew exactly who he meant!
So the next adventure is to discover the rest of the story regarding Edna’s dislike for Sophie.
And a hearty breakfast with Stenvar. Lili is quite aware of Sten’s contract timing and it’s quite clear she will not be ready to let him go when that time comes. . . .
“Speaking of which,” Stenvar leaned forward conspiratorially, “we’d best sneak out before the dragon downstairs comes up.”
- - As soon as I read this I knew exactly who he meant!
So the next adventure is to discover the rest of the story regarding Edna’s dislike for Sophie.
I'm with Sofie, let's go to the hot springs!
Ah, the end of their contract is also on Stenvar's mind. I'm guessing he will be more than willing to extend their partnership.
Love the little scene with Sten and Soot.
I'm glad they're going to investigate Elda's issues next. Sofie's life will be much calmer if she doesn't have to watch out for Dame Dragon.
Ah, the end of their contract is also on Stenvar's mind. I'm guessing he will be more than willing to extend their partnership.
Love the little scene with Sten and Soot.
I'm glad they're going to investigate Elda's issues next. Sofie's life will be much calmer if she doesn't have to watch out for Dame Dragon.
So the Nords take a bath every spring. Nice to know that they do that at least once a year... 
What happened to Trinimac that turned him into Malacath really is shitty...
I am with Sten. Rotmeth sounds like what meth does to your face...
So that is the infamous Soot.
And we go to get some exposition about Sofie, I mean, to learn more about Lilisten's young sidekick.
What happened to Trinimac that turned him into Malacath really is shitty...
I am with Sten. Rotmeth sounds like what meth does to your face...
So that is the infamous Soot.
And we go to get some exposition about Sofie, I mean, to learn more about Lilisten's young sidekick.
@Acadian: Healer? There's a thought for our little Sofie. However, I see her in more of a leadership role. Perhaps a future Thane? Or even a Jarl? Their discussion certainly helped Lili to move out of the funk left over from the previous night. Ah yes, that contract. Only a week gone and already she's thinking of doing - what? Yes, she is considering her next step regarding Sten. Off to solve a new mystery!
@Grits: Hot springs sure does sound nice in the midst of all that cold, doesn't it? No wonder the Windhelm citizens make a day of it (or two - many of them have no problem camping out under the stars) come spring when they're a little stir crazy. I'm glad you liked the little scene between Sten and Soot - I wanted to show the softer side of Sten's personality (he's a sucker for children and animals).
@SubRosa: I see the Nords as being like the Vikings - they wash faces, pits and hands out of a bowl every day, but baths are reserved for warmer weather. It's a practical function - serves to keep the fleas and lice under control . . . And yes, I agree with your assessment of the Trinimac/Malacath duality.
And as we all know, it's time to find out whyDragon Dame Elda is so hostile toward our little Sofie . . . Luckily, it's a mystery that's soon solved!
************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - History and the Future
Thane Free-Winter’s careworn face lit up when Lilisfina called a greeting to him. “Hello, you two, no, three,” he paused on the top step outside his home, his gaze on the silver tabby now seated on the stone beside him. “How are you this fine morning?”
“As well as can be expected,” Lilisfina smiled up at him. “We have a question that you might know the answer to, though.” She paused as the older man’s gaze moved from her to Sten. “It’s about Dame Elda,” she added softly.
“Ah, what about Dame Elda?” Free-Winter’s craggy brows rose up.
“You’ve known her a while, right?” Lilisfina took a deep breath. At Free-Winter’s nod, she took a deep breath. “Is there bad blood between her and Sofie Larinsdottir?”
“That little tyke?” Free-Winter glanced around. “Where is that rascal anyway?”
“She’s with Silda at the moment,” Sten volunteered. Best not to let them know where to find her.
Lilisfina nodded. “And we would like to find out how she can avoid being sent to Riften.”
Free-Winter growled. “That workhouse! I should have never let them send that young boy there . . .” He took a deep breath and settled his gaze on Lilisfina. “Dame Elda’s daughter Eldrid was a lovely child, but very shy. Despite this, she was drawn to Larin Snow-Bourne as a moth to a flame. He was kind to her, and she began to hope for a union with him. However he had eyes only for a young woman from Kynesgrove, Thora Ketilsdottir. When he married her, Eldrid was devastated and lost all will to live. She simply turned her face to the wall, and literally starved herself to death. Elda was heartbroken and never forgave Larin for her daughter’s death.”
“Did Larin ever do anything to mislead Eldrid?” Lilisfina’s tone was soft. Free-Winter shook his head.
“Larin was kind to everyone around him - maybe too much so. But he never showed Eldrid anything more than what he showed anyone else except Thora and his own children with her.”
“That’s a sad story,” Lilisfina remarked softly. “Nils never mentioned Elda had a daughter who died.”
“Nils wasn’t working for Elda back then,” Free-Winter responded. “He was fighting in the revolt over in Markarth. When he came back he wasn’t right in the head. Still, he’s a good man, and kind like Larin was. Maybe a bit too trusting these days.” He sighed. “I’ve tried to talk Elda into leaving Candlehearth in his hands, but she is afraid he wouldn’t manage without her.”
“And how can one keep an orphan like Sofie from being sent to Riften?” Lilisfina asked after a moment.
“The Jarl would let her stay if she was adopted by a Windhelm citizen,” Free-Winter mused.
“So Silda the Unseen could adopt Sofie?” Lilisfina asked. Sten shook his head, and noticed Free-Winter doing the same.
“In order to be a citizen,” Free-Winter explained, “one would have to own property in the city, and pay annual taxes on the property. Silda has no property to call her own, so . . .” He shrugged. “Fair enough, if you ask me. Raising a child is difficult enough without funds.”
Lilisfina nodded thoughtfully. She smiled up at the older Nord. “Thank you very much, Thane. I do appreciate your help greatly.”
Free-Winter smiled back, his faded blue eyes twinkling beneath bushy grey brows. “I always enjoy a conversation with you, lass.” He started toward the docks, then paused and turned back to Lilisfina and Sten. “By the way, the Argonians unloaded a ship from Morrowind late last night, and mentioned that there was a shipment in your name?”
“Oh, yes,” Lilisfina answered. “I did ship some items on a following ship. I wasn’t expecting it so soon, though.”
“You’ll hear about it soon enough from Thane Shatter-Shield,” Free-Winter nodded. “He or someone from his office should be notifying you regarding the shipment today.”
“Thank you,” Lilisfina inclined her head to him. “I appreciate the information. Should I wait for the notification, or head down to the office right away?”
“Better to wait,” Free-Winter advised. “The ship was unloaded late last night, and the clerks still have to update the books and check the manifest.” He shrugged. “Once that’s done, they’ll send a runner to find you and notify you.”
“Thank you very much, Thane.” Lilisfina inclined her head to the older Nord. As she turned away, her gaze fell upon the small house across the way. “What will happen to Corrium’s house?”
“Hrmm,” Free-Winter grunted. “I had an interesting conversation with Wuunferth yesterday. Seems he is looking for a place to practice his magic away from the court. I don’t doubt he’ll pay the outstanding trespassing fine in exchange for a deed to that place.”
“He’ll be living there then?” Sten could hear the surprise in his voice. Does that mean he is no longer a court mage?
“No, it will be his workshop,” Free-Winter replied. “He was asking how I felt about that. You may be aware that he works mostly at night, when others are sleeping. Claims it’s for minimal disruption - no one to bother him.”
“Would it be a good thing for him to work here?” Lilisfina turned back to Free-Winter.
“Good for him, and for the Jarl.” Free-Winter chuckled. “I’d suspect the Jarl doesn’t relish magicka experiments going off next door to him in the early hours of the morning when he is trying to sleep off a night of drinking.” He shook his head with an amused glint in his eye. “And no doubt Wuunferth is tired of the Jarl’s complaints every morning.”
“And would it be good for you and your people?” Sten asked. “Or would it be a case of ‘there goes the neighborhood’?”
Free-Winter laughed. “In the eyes of many, the neighborhood’s already gone.” He grew serious. “I told Wuunferth as long as there is no necromancy and he keeps his magicka within the walls of that building no one would have cause to complain.”
“Hmm,” Lilisfina mused. “After having visited him in his rooms, I’d say he doesn’t practice necromancy.”
“You sound certain,” Free-Winter remarked dubiously.
“If she can’t smell it, it’s not there,” Sten volunteered. He was both encouraged and relieved to see her nod in agreement. So it’s not a problem for me to speak of her abilities to detect necromancy.
“Smell?” Free-Winter cast his gaze skyward. “Ah, yes, Silverblade did say something about that. Does this little house still smell of necromancy to you?”
“Apparently Corrium is the source of that particular magicka, and with him gone, the house just smells like any other abandoned place. A good airing, cleaning and some repairs should set it right.” Lilisfina grinned at Free-Winter. “Perhaps a suggestion to our wise mage that there are a few Dunmer here who are skilled in those areas?”
Free-Winter chuckled. “You think like a good Thane, lass,” he remarked. “I actually look forward to a few more conversations with Wuunferth in the near future. He seems a man of wisdom and good humor.”
“So he does,” Sten agreed. “Once you get past his reputation, that is.”
“That reputation is something he cultivated himself, it seems to me,” Lilisfina murmured. “Another way to avoid being bothered while researching or experimenting.” She laughed softly to herself. “Wonder if that reputation will hold up once he moves his workshop out here.”
“Well, it’s a nice little corner, up against the city wall. No common walls with his immediate neighbors, which are Niranye,” he indicated a small house against the southern city wall with a side yard in the corner between it and Corrium’s house, “and myself.”
“Sounds like a better space for magicka practice than the rooms next door to the Jarl’s bedroom,” Sten remarked idly. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to experiment in peace.”
“Well, thank you for the conversation, Thane,” Lilisfina stepped back into the street. “I will wait for the Shatter-Shield messenger regarding my shipment, and look forward to seeing that little house being put to better use.”
“And thank you for the background regarding Dame Elda,” Sten added. “It does explain much about her.”
“She is actually a very kind hearted woman,” Free-Winter laid a hand over his heart. “But life has not been very kind to her.”
“As it happens all too often,” Lilisfina agreed before they turned away. Icicle darted ahead of them and sauntered nonchalantly toward the central Plaza, her tail curving lazily in the air.
“What next?” Sten asked Lilisfina as they passed the tall city gates. “Shall we look for more work?”
“Hmm,” Lilisfina mused. “It might be a good time to take stock of our finances,” she said finally. “See how things stand after the past week we’ve had.” She turned toward the inn. “Let’s get Star checked out by Helgird, then meet up in my room and count drakes. Then we can decide what our next steps will be.”
Sten regarded her thoughtfully. Is she considering renegotiating our contract?
@Grits: Hot springs sure does sound nice in the midst of all that cold, doesn't it? No wonder the Windhelm citizens make a day of it (or two - many of them have no problem camping out under the stars) come spring when they're a little stir crazy. I'm glad you liked the little scene between Sten and Soot - I wanted to show the softer side of Sten's personality (he's a sucker for children and animals).
@SubRosa: I see the Nords as being like the Vikings - they wash faces, pits and hands out of a bowl every day, but baths are reserved for warmer weather. It's a practical function - serves to keep the fleas and lice under control . . . And yes, I agree with your assessment of the Trinimac/Malacath duality.
And as we all know, it's time to find out why
************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - History and the Future
Ma -
Last night was rough - losing someone is always hard, but there are times that are harder than others. Hopefully we’ll be able to move forward today. It seems as if Boss may be looking for new problems to solve.
Thane Free-Winter’s careworn face lit up when Lilisfina called a greeting to him. “Hello, you two, no, three,” he paused on the top step outside his home, his gaze on the silver tabby now seated on the stone beside him. “How are you this fine morning?”
“As well as can be expected,” Lilisfina smiled up at him. “We have a question that you might know the answer to, though.” She paused as the older man’s gaze moved from her to Sten. “It’s about Dame Elda,” she added softly.
“Ah, what about Dame Elda?” Free-Winter’s craggy brows rose up.
“You’ve known her a while, right?” Lilisfina took a deep breath. At Free-Winter’s nod, she took a deep breath. “Is there bad blood between her and Sofie Larinsdottir?”
“That little tyke?” Free-Winter glanced around. “Where is that rascal anyway?”
“She’s with Silda at the moment,” Sten volunteered. Best not to let them know where to find her.
Lilisfina nodded. “And we would like to find out how she can avoid being sent to Riften.”
Free-Winter growled. “That workhouse! I should have never let them send that young boy there . . .” He took a deep breath and settled his gaze on Lilisfina. “Dame Elda’s daughter Eldrid was a lovely child, but very shy. Despite this, she was drawn to Larin Snow-Bourne as a moth to a flame. He was kind to her, and she began to hope for a union with him. However he had eyes only for a young woman from Kynesgrove, Thora Ketilsdottir. When he married her, Eldrid was devastated and lost all will to live. She simply turned her face to the wall, and literally starved herself to death. Elda was heartbroken and never forgave Larin for her daughter’s death.”
“Did Larin ever do anything to mislead Eldrid?” Lilisfina’s tone was soft. Free-Winter shook his head.
“Larin was kind to everyone around him - maybe too much so. But he never showed Eldrid anything more than what he showed anyone else except Thora and his own children with her.”
“That’s a sad story,” Lilisfina remarked softly. “Nils never mentioned Elda had a daughter who died.”
“Nils wasn’t working for Elda back then,” Free-Winter responded. “He was fighting in the revolt over in Markarth. When he came back he wasn’t right in the head. Still, he’s a good man, and kind like Larin was. Maybe a bit too trusting these days.” He sighed. “I’ve tried to talk Elda into leaving Candlehearth in his hands, but she is afraid he wouldn’t manage without her.”
“And how can one keep an orphan like Sofie from being sent to Riften?” Lilisfina asked after a moment.
“The Jarl would let her stay if she was adopted by a Windhelm citizen,” Free-Winter mused.
“So Silda the Unseen could adopt Sofie?” Lilisfina asked. Sten shook his head, and noticed Free-Winter doing the same.
“In order to be a citizen,” Free-Winter explained, “one would have to own property in the city, and pay annual taxes on the property. Silda has no property to call her own, so . . .” He shrugged. “Fair enough, if you ask me. Raising a child is difficult enough without funds.”
Lilisfina nodded thoughtfully. She smiled up at the older Nord. “Thank you very much, Thane. I do appreciate your help greatly.”
Free-Winter smiled back, his faded blue eyes twinkling beneath bushy grey brows. “I always enjoy a conversation with you, lass.” He started toward the docks, then paused and turned back to Lilisfina and Sten. “By the way, the Argonians unloaded a ship from Morrowind late last night, and mentioned that there was a shipment in your name?”
“Oh, yes,” Lilisfina answered. “I did ship some items on a following ship. I wasn’t expecting it so soon, though.”
“You’ll hear about it soon enough from Thane Shatter-Shield,” Free-Winter nodded. “He or someone from his office should be notifying you regarding the shipment today.”
“Thank you,” Lilisfina inclined her head to him. “I appreciate the information. Should I wait for the notification, or head down to the office right away?”
“Better to wait,” Free-Winter advised. “The ship was unloaded late last night, and the clerks still have to update the books and check the manifest.” He shrugged. “Once that’s done, they’ll send a runner to find you and notify you.”
“Thank you very much, Thane.” Lilisfina inclined her head to the older Nord. As she turned away, her gaze fell upon the small house across the way. “What will happen to Corrium’s house?”
“Hrmm,” Free-Winter grunted. “I had an interesting conversation with Wuunferth yesterday. Seems he is looking for a place to practice his magic away from the court. I don’t doubt he’ll pay the outstanding trespassing fine in exchange for a deed to that place.”
“He’ll be living there then?” Sten could hear the surprise in his voice. Does that mean he is no longer a court mage?
“No, it will be his workshop,” Free-Winter replied. “He was asking how I felt about that. You may be aware that he works mostly at night, when others are sleeping. Claims it’s for minimal disruption - no one to bother him.”
“Would it be a good thing for him to work here?” Lilisfina turned back to Free-Winter.
“Good for him, and for the Jarl.” Free-Winter chuckled. “I’d suspect the Jarl doesn’t relish magicka experiments going off next door to him in the early hours of the morning when he is trying to sleep off a night of drinking.” He shook his head with an amused glint in his eye. “And no doubt Wuunferth is tired of the Jarl’s complaints every morning.”
“And would it be good for you and your people?” Sten asked. “Or would it be a case of ‘there goes the neighborhood’?”
Free-Winter laughed. “In the eyes of many, the neighborhood’s already gone.” He grew serious. “I told Wuunferth as long as there is no necromancy and he keeps his magicka within the walls of that building no one would have cause to complain.”
“Hmm,” Lilisfina mused. “After having visited him in his rooms, I’d say he doesn’t practice necromancy.”
“You sound certain,” Free-Winter remarked dubiously.
“If she can’t smell it, it’s not there,” Sten volunteered. He was both encouraged and relieved to see her nod in agreement. So it’s not a problem for me to speak of her abilities to detect necromancy.
“Smell?” Free-Winter cast his gaze skyward. “Ah, yes, Silverblade did say something about that. Does this little house still smell of necromancy to you?”
“Apparently Corrium is the source of that particular magicka, and with him gone, the house just smells like any other abandoned place. A good airing, cleaning and some repairs should set it right.” Lilisfina grinned at Free-Winter. “Perhaps a suggestion to our wise mage that there are a few Dunmer here who are skilled in those areas?”
Free-Winter chuckled. “You think like a good Thane, lass,” he remarked. “I actually look forward to a few more conversations with Wuunferth in the near future. He seems a man of wisdom and good humor.”
“So he does,” Sten agreed. “Once you get past his reputation, that is.”
“That reputation is something he cultivated himself, it seems to me,” Lilisfina murmured. “Another way to avoid being bothered while researching or experimenting.” She laughed softly to herself. “Wonder if that reputation will hold up once he moves his workshop out here.”
“Well, it’s a nice little corner, up against the city wall. No common walls with his immediate neighbors, which are Niranye,” he indicated a small house against the southern city wall with a side yard in the corner between it and Corrium’s house, “and myself.”
“Sounds like a better space for magicka practice than the rooms next door to the Jarl’s bedroom,” Sten remarked idly. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to experiment in peace.”
“Well, thank you for the conversation, Thane,” Lilisfina stepped back into the street. “I will wait for the Shatter-Shield messenger regarding my shipment, and look forward to seeing that little house being put to better use.”
“And thank you for the background regarding Dame Elda,” Sten added. “It does explain much about her.”
“She is actually a very kind hearted woman,” Free-Winter laid a hand over his heart. “But life has not been very kind to her.”
“As it happens all too often,” Lilisfina agreed before they turned away. Icicle darted ahead of them and sauntered nonchalantly toward the central Plaza, her tail curving lazily in the air.
“What next?” Sten asked Lilisfina as they passed the tall city gates. “Shall we look for more work?”
“Hmm,” Lilisfina mused. “It might be a good time to take stock of our finances,” she said finally. “See how things stand after the past week we’ve had.” She turned toward the inn. “Let’s get Star checked out by Helgird, then meet up in my room and count drakes. Then we can decide what our next steps will be.”
Sten regarded her thoughtfully. Is she considering renegotiating our contract?
Ah, so it was the story of another woman with Elda. Just with more layers, and more tragedy. 
Given the circumstances, I don't see that glacier ever thawing. If they want to see to Sofie's care, I think they will have to look elsewhere.
Speaking of which, it seems getting her adopted is the ticket. Too bad January or Blood Raven are not around. They always adopt Sofie in their games.
So Lil has some stuff coming on a ship? Now that is interesting. I wonder what that might be? A long, heavy crate perhaps? Addressed to Mr. Barlow & Straker? (That is what I get for being in the middle of watching the original Salems Lot from the 70s...)
Back to Sofie, I wonder if in spite of her Winterhold aspirations, Lil might be buying up Calixto's old place. Or Hjerim? Well, it looks like the court mage already has dibs on Casa Calixto.
Given the circumstances, I don't see that glacier ever thawing. If they want to see to Sofie's care, I think they will have to look elsewhere. Speaking of which, it seems getting her adopted is the ticket. Too bad January or Blood Raven are not around. They always adopt Sofie in their games.
So Lil has some stuff coming on a ship? Now that is interesting. I wonder what that might be? A long, heavy crate perhaps? Addressed to Mr. Barlow & Straker? (That is what I get for being in the middle of watching the original Salems Lot from the 70s...)
Back to Sofie, I wonder if in spite of her Winterhold aspirations, Lil might be buying up Calixto's old place. Or Hjerim? Well, it looks like the court mage already has dibs on Casa Calixto.
An enlightening conversation with Thane Free-Winter, who reveals the ‘rest of the story’ regarding Edna’s dislike for Sophie. But what can be done? I’d like to think that with more exposure, Sophie would worm her way into Edna’s heart. The chance of Silda owning property in Windhelm to become a citizen seems rather remote.
The conversation with Wuunferth reminded me that Lili’s magical journey to the College of Winterhold seems ever more distant. There is a great deal drawing Lili to remain in Windhelm, and the court mage seems a reasonable alternate resource to discuss and refine magicks perhaps.
What’s next, Boss, indeed! Looks like Lili and Sten are going to count their gold and discuss their plans.
Nit? “You’ve known her a while, right?” Lilisfina took a deep breath. At Free-Winter’s nod, she took a deep breath. “Is there bad blood between her and Sofie Larinsdottir?”
Did you mean for Lili to double up on her deep breathing?
The conversation with Wuunferth reminded me that Lili’s magical journey to the College of Winterhold seems ever more distant. There is a great deal drawing Lili to remain in Windhelm, and the court mage seems a reasonable alternate resource to discuss and refine magicks perhaps.
What’s next, Boss, indeed! Looks like Lili and Sten are going to count their gold and discuss their plans.
Nit? “You’ve known her a while, right?” Lilisfina took a deep breath. At Free-Winter’s nod, she took a deep breath. “Is there bad blood between her and Sofie Larinsdottir?”
Did you mean for Lili to double up on her deep breathing?
Good thinking to get some allies in keeping Sofie out of the Riften workhouse.
Ah, and now we get the story on Elda. Worse than having her own romantic hopes dashed, she lost her daughter as a result of disappointment in love. In Sofie she may bitterly see the granddaughter she never had without realizing that there stands a granddaughter that she could have. Maybe young Sofie will help Elda finally soften her heart.
And also there’s the story on Nils. So, Nils needs someone to help him manage the inn, Silda needs real estate and an income, Sofie needs an official guardian, at least one house stands empty, and I’m guessing Elda would like to retire. Plenty of pieces on the board. I’m looking forward to seeing what Lili does with them.
Oh! I almost forgot. Who gets to keep the dog? I know better than to think someone could think they owned the cats!
Double oh!! I’m sure I’m not the only one asking, “What’s in the box?” (Brad Pitt voice)
Ah, and now we get the story on Elda. Worse than having her own romantic hopes dashed, she lost her daughter as a result of disappointment in love. In Sofie she may bitterly see the granddaughter she never had without realizing that there stands a granddaughter that she could have. Maybe young Sofie will help Elda finally soften her heart.
And also there’s the story on Nils. So, Nils needs someone to help him manage the inn, Silda needs real estate and an income, Sofie needs an official guardian, at least one house stands empty, and I’m guessing Elda would like to retire. Plenty of pieces on the board. I’m looking forward to seeing what Lili does with them.
Oh! I almost forgot. Who gets to keep the dog? I know better than to think someone could think they owned the cats!
Double oh!! I’m sure I’m not the only one asking, “What’s in the box?” (Brad Pitt voice)
OK, here's my theory. Star buys a house and adopts Sofie!
And for a twist, it's the Aretino Residence.
And for a twist, it's the Aretino Residence.
Oh, Lil definitely has her eye on Hjerim now. It'll be interesting to see if she has the capital for it!
@SubRosa: I agree with you - Sofie always gets adopted in my games, too, along with Lucie from Whiterun! I wanted to show Skyrim as a land of harsh beauty and grief, beginning with Kyne's over the loss of her spouse Shor. I was actually thinking of Nosferatu when I wrote that bit about the shipment Lili is expecting! And yes, I have spent time thinking about what happens to these abandoned homes - including Casa Aretino . . .
@Acadian: Perhaps Silda will be happy working at Candlehearth, and Elda will come to consider her part of her family. It will be harder with Sofie, though - too much associated grief there. We'll see what happens with that little rascal.I quite agree that Lili will consider pausing to learn about more magic from Wuunferth - it seems she has brought out the best in that grouch. Or maybe it's her association with Icicle? Thanks for catching that nit!
@Grits: Allies indeed! Whether they all work to keep the tyke safe in Windhelm or not remains to be seen. In considering the bad blood between Elda and Larin, it occured to me that Elda is old enough to be Sofie's grandmother, not her mother. Which meant I had to introduce a new family member for Elda - hence Eldrid. And Nils is a sweetie, but it strikes me that he is rather quick to trust strangers, which causes Elda no end of worry. And I'm thinking more of Robert De Niro or Jean Reno's "What's in the case?" from the movie Ronin.
@ghastley: Great theory! Wouldn't it be cool if Star could become a Thane of Windhelm too? Calder can look after him and carry his food and water dishes then!
@Kane: Not sure if Lili has her eye on a home in Windhelm - she's still too focused on the need to move on. Though that could change ...
Now we make sure Star is free of vampirism, and they run into another acquaintance again.
*********************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - Walking Forward with Remembrance
Helgird announced Star clear of any sign of Sanguinare Vampiris. The Husky licked her fingers at the sound of her voice, his tail waving gently over his back. “Yes, you are a very good boy,” she said as she cupped his jowls in her fingers and rubbed her thumbs beneath his eyes. He closed his eyes and sighed in pleasure.
Stenvar chuckled at the dog’s enjoyment of the priest’s caress. “Yes, Helgird, he is a very good dog.” He sent an amused glance at Lili
“Let’s stop and visit Susanna a moment,” Lili suggested. “I’d like to see if she is at rest now that she is made whole again.”
Stenvar nodded after a swallow. “It would be good to spend a few minutes of peace with her.”
Star left their side as they worked their way through the corridors to Susanna’s resting place. Briefly Lili wondered what the Husky was up to. Where did he go? We’ll see in a while, no doubt. Soon they reached the niche where Susanna lay. Together Lili and Stenvar stood in silence beside the wrapped remains of the Candlehearth server. Lili noted the snowberries, still fresh from the day before, where she had placed them. Beside them rested a sprig of juniper and a knitted wool scarf. So Elda and Nils have been here, too. Lili inhaled slowly at the sudden thought that others missed the warm-hearted Nord who had bought life and laughter to the inn. Will we see more offerings of remembrance over the next few days?
After a few moments Lili took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. She turned to look up at Stenvar. Ready to go?
“Ready when you are,” he answered her unspoken question. “Wonder where Star went?”
“I have an idea,” Lili turned away from Susanna’s niche and surveyed the corridors briefly. “This way,” she took the lead.
Stenvar followed Lili as she led them through the crypts to where Star sat beside Nilsine beside her twin sister’s niche. There the remembrance offerings were richer, gleaming in silver and bright woven colors of patterned woolens. A cloak of golden fox pelts covered the wrapped body within.
Star glanced over his shoulder at them as Lili and Stenvar approached, then nudged Nilsine’s hand gently. She rubbed his nose with her knuckles, then glanced in the direction of his gaze. “Oh, I knew you were here to see Susanna when Star came to me,” she said softly. “I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you both.” She paused and regarded them warily. “How are you today?”
“As well as can be expected,” Lili responded. “I felt like Susanna and I would be good friends, so losing her like this was - hard.”
Nilsine nodded somberly. Her eyes shifted to Stenvar. He cleared his throat. “You may know that we were - very close - when I first came to Windhelm. Like Boss said, it is very hard to lose her like this.”
Nilsine gave a tiny smile in response. She turned back to Lili. “I remember you saying one deals with grief one step at a time. I understand what that means better now. It’s still hard, but now I find myself able to think of other things, to speak of other things.”
“That’s good to hear,” Lilisfina agreed. “And your mother, is she starting to take her steps through her grief?”
“My father gave her that ancient Arkay amulet, told us you had it re-blessed by Helgird. My mother is very touched by your thoughtfulness, and this morning she did not go to the Temple of Talos.” Nilsine’s sad smile appeared again. “She spoke to us about breakfast, too. She hadn’t spoken a word to us since Friga passed away.” She turned back to her twin sister’s body. “I came to see Friga today because I need to make a few decisions.”
“Is there anything we can do to help you, Nilsine?” Lili asked softly. Nilsine nodded emphatically.
“Let’s leave this place and take a walk,” she added. “I feel like some fresh air.”
Yes, the air in here is a bit musty, Lili agreed silently. Star sprang to his feet and sidled his body against Nilsine’s skirts before leading them out of the Hall of the Dead.
“Yes, the air is fresher out here,” Lili’s breath appeared in a slowly drifting cloud. “But it’s still cold!” She wrapped the bear cloak around her more closely. Nilsine’s soft laugh echoed Stenvar’s chuckle at her recurring complaint. Good, I’m getting them to laugh a bit.
Icicle joined Star and led them out of the graveyard. When they reached the street that led to the marketplace to the south and the Stone Quarter to the north, the two animals paused and waited for the others to catch up. Nilsine turned toward the Stone Quarter and her family home.
“My father and I had a long talk last night,” Nilsine remarked softly as they passed the Shatter-Shield clan house. “Since I’m the eldest, he always expected me to take over the family business. It’s time for me to start learning the shipping business, and understand how the docks work. He also asked me to decide what to do about Hjerim.”
“Is that what you were discussing with Friga just now?” Lili asked gently.
Nilsine nodded. “Yes, I wanted to feel if her spirit wanted me to live there now that she’s gone.”
“What about yourself?” Lili asked. “Do you want to live there?”
“And be constantly reminded of how she died?” Nilsine shook her head. “I’m not sure I can live with her fetch constantly appearing in the corner of my eye in there.”
“And how can we help you with that?” Lili asked.
“I’m told you could sense necromantic magic in that place,” Nilsine responded. “I was wondering if you could tell me if it is still - cursed?”
“Cursed?” Lili repeated. I’m not sure my magicka abilities stretch that far. “I suspect Wuunferth is better at such use of magick than I am, but I can tell you if the necromantic aura is still present.”
“That would be incredibly helpful, thank you,” Nilsine paused and turned her gaze to the small stone building at the west side of the street. Lili realized they now stood outside Hjerim. She could sense Stenvar’s tension at the memory of what they had found in there.
Icicle strolled up the short walk to the front door, her tail straight up in the air and tip lazily curving from side to side. Star followed, sniffing with gently waving tail. Well, that’s encouraging.
“According to these two,” Lili gestured toward the dog and cat as she followed them up the walk, “the house is now neutral. Let’s go inside, shall we?”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll wait out here,” Nilsine responded. “Do you still have the key from the other day, Stenvar?”
“I do, yes,” Stenvar reached into his belt pouch and dug out the iron key. “With your permission, ma’am?”
“You have it,” Nilsine responded with a sad smile. “I’ll stay out here while you check inside.”
“Let’s leave the door open for light and fresh air,” Lili suggested as Stenvar unlocked the door and swung it open. Star paused briefly on the threshold, but Icicle strolled right in as if the house belonged to her. Lili stepped through and glanced back at Nilsine. “And you can hear what we have to say about this house as we go through it. Sound good?”
“Y- yes,” Nilsine stammered slightly as she peered in from beyond Stenvar’s bulk. She remained out on the front stoop as they walked through the large front room. Star explored the space, leading with his nose and sneezing at frequent intervals. Icicle moved to the large fireplace on the south wall and seated herself before it with an imperious miaow.
“We’re not building a fire here,” Stenvar told her. “The Nines only know what condition the chimney’s in after being empty all these months.” Lili chuckled to herself as she paused beside the wardrobe that hid the secret chamber.
“So far it feels like a lonely, abandoned house,” Lili pitched her words toward Nilsine. “I’m going into the secret room that Corrium put in. That’s the source of all the bad vapors.”The silence that followed prompted Lili to glance back and see Nilsine’s hands twist around themselves in anxiety and agitation.
“I’m not as sensitive as Boss here,” Stenvar assured the Nord woman, “but this house already feels a lot less - “ he paused as he searched for the right word, “ - foreboding as it did when we were last here.” He’s sensitive in his own way, and knows the way to say things to put folks at ease. Must come from looking like a brute and trying to get folk to trust him.
As Lili stepped into the abattoir, the magelight she cast showed only dark stains on the walls and floor, and the worn stone table near the back wall. The smell of rotting flesh and offal was so faint, she wondered if it was merely her memory of their prior visit. “Well,” Lili said as she turned in the middle of the room, breathing deeply. She felt none of the discomfort she had experienced during their previous examination. “There’s no trace of necromantic magick left in this house.” She stepped back out of the room and smiled up at Stenvar as she passed him.
“Really?” Lili noticed that Nilsine now stood just within the front doorway. Her hands still clasped and twisted around each other.
“Really,” Lili assured her. “Helgird was right, once the last remains were removed, the house became peaceful. It’s no longer haunted. All it needs is to take these partitions down, remove that stone table inside, and a good deep cleaning from top to bottom, both by hand and by magick, to make it a cozy home to live in once again.”
“I’m glad you think so, Lilisfina,” Nilsine responded, her hands growing still. She reached into her belt purse and drew out the twin to the key Stenvar held. “I’d like for you to have this house.”
What?
@Acadian: Perhaps Silda will be happy working at Candlehearth, and Elda will come to consider her part of her family. It will be harder with Sofie, though - too much associated grief there. We'll see what happens with that little rascal.I quite agree that Lili will consider pausing to learn about more magic from Wuunferth - it seems she has brought out the best in that grouch. Or maybe it's her association with Icicle? Thanks for catching that nit!
@Grits: Allies indeed! Whether they all work to keep the tyke safe in Windhelm or not remains to be seen. In considering the bad blood between Elda and Larin, it occured to me that Elda is old enough to be Sofie's grandmother, not her mother. Which meant I had to introduce a new family member for Elda - hence Eldrid. And Nils is a sweetie, but it strikes me that he is rather quick to trust strangers, which causes Elda no end of worry. And I'm thinking more of Robert De Niro or Jean Reno's "What's in the case?" from the movie Ronin.
@ghastley: Great theory! Wouldn't it be cool if Star could become a Thane of Windhelm too? Calder can look after him and carry his food and water dishes then!
@Kane: Not sure if Lili has her eye on a home in Windhelm - she's still too focused on the need to move on. Though that could change ...
Now we make sure Star is free of vampirism, and they run into another acquaintance again.
*********************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - Walking Forward with Remembrance
Helgird announced Star clear of any sign of Sanguinare Vampiris. The Husky licked her fingers at the sound of her voice, his tail waving gently over his back. “Yes, you are a very good boy,” she said as she cupped his jowls in her fingers and rubbed her thumbs beneath his eyes. He closed his eyes and sighed in pleasure.
Stenvar chuckled at the dog’s enjoyment of the priest’s caress. “Yes, Helgird, he is a very good dog.” He sent an amused glance at Lili
“Let’s stop and visit Susanna a moment,” Lili suggested. “I’d like to see if she is at rest now that she is made whole again.”
Stenvar nodded after a swallow. “It would be good to spend a few minutes of peace with her.”
Star left their side as they worked their way through the corridors to Susanna’s resting place. Briefly Lili wondered what the Husky was up to. Where did he go? We’ll see in a while, no doubt. Soon they reached the niche where Susanna lay. Together Lili and Stenvar stood in silence beside the wrapped remains of the Candlehearth server. Lili noted the snowberries, still fresh from the day before, where she had placed them. Beside them rested a sprig of juniper and a knitted wool scarf. So Elda and Nils have been here, too. Lili inhaled slowly at the sudden thought that others missed the warm-hearted Nord who had bought life and laughter to the inn. Will we see more offerings of remembrance over the next few days?
After a few moments Lili took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. She turned to look up at Stenvar. Ready to go?
“Ready when you are,” he answered her unspoken question. “Wonder where Star went?”
“I have an idea,” Lili turned away from Susanna’s niche and surveyed the corridors briefly. “This way,” she took the lead.
Stenvar followed Lili as she led them through the crypts to where Star sat beside Nilsine beside her twin sister’s niche. There the remembrance offerings were richer, gleaming in silver and bright woven colors of patterned woolens. A cloak of golden fox pelts covered the wrapped body within.
Star glanced over his shoulder at them as Lili and Stenvar approached, then nudged Nilsine’s hand gently. She rubbed his nose with her knuckles, then glanced in the direction of his gaze. “Oh, I knew you were here to see Susanna when Star came to me,” she said softly. “I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you both.” She paused and regarded them warily. “How are you today?”
“As well as can be expected,” Lili responded. “I felt like Susanna and I would be good friends, so losing her like this was - hard.”
Nilsine nodded somberly. Her eyes shifted to Stenvar. He cleared his throat. “You may know that we were - very close - when I first came to Windhelm. Like Boss said, it is very hard to lose her like this.”
Nilsine gave a tiny smile in response. She turned back to Lili. “I remember you saying one deals with grief one step at a time. I understand what that means better now. It’s still hard, but now I find myself able to think of other things, to speak of other things.”
“That’s good to hear,” Lilisfina agreed. “And your mother, is she starting to take her steps through her grief?”
“My father gave her that ancient Arkay amulet, told us you had it re-blessed by Helgird. My mother is very touched by your thoughtfulness, and this morning she did not go to the Temple of Talos.” Nilsine’s sad smile appeared again. “She spoke to us about breakfast, too. She hadn’t spoken a word to us since Friga passed away.” She turned back to her twin sister’s body. “I came to see Friga today because I need to make a few decisions.”
“Is there anything we can do to help you, Nilsine?” Lili asked softly. Nilsine nodded emphatically.
“Let’s leave this place and take a walk,” she added. “I feel like some fresh air.”
Yes, the air in here is a bit musty, Lili agreed silently. Star sprang to his feet and sidled his body against Nilsine’s skirts before leading them out of the Hall of the Dead.
“Yes, the air is fresher out here,” Lili’s breath appeared in a slowly drifting cloud. “But it’s still cold!” She wrapped the bear cloak around her more closely. Nilsine’s soft laugh echoed Stenvar’s chuckle at her recurring complaint. Good, I’m getting them to laugh a bit.
Icicle joined Star and led them out of the graveyard. When they reached the street that led to the marketplace to the south and the Stone Quarter to the north, the two animals paused and waited for the others to catch up. Nilsine turned toward the Stone Quarter and her family home.
“My father and I had a long talk last night,” Nilsine remarked softly as they passed the Shatter-Shield clan house. “Since I’m the eldest, he always expected me to take over the family business. It’s time for me to start learning the shipping business, and understand how the docks work. He also asked me to decide what to do about Hjerim.”
“Is that what you were discussing with Friga just now?” Lili asked gently.
Nilsine nodded. “Yes, I wanted to feel if her spirit wanted me to live there now that she’s gone.”
“What about yourself?” Lili asked. “Do you want to live there?”
“And be constantly reminded of how she died?” Nilsine shook her head. “I’m not sure I can live with her fetch constantly appearing in the corner of my eye in there.”
“And how can we help you with that?” Lili asked.
“I’m told you could sense necromantic magic in that place,” Nilsine responded. “I was wondering if you could tell me if it is still - cursed?”
“Cursed?” Lili repeated. I’m not sure my magicka abilities stretch that far. “I suspect Wuunferth is better at such use of magick than I am, but I can tell you if the necromantic aura is still present.”
“That would be incredibly helpful, thank you,” Nilsine paused and turned her gaze to the small stone building at the west side of the street. Lili realized they now stood outside Hjerim. She could sense Stenvar’s tension at the memory of what they had found in there.
Icicle strolled up the short walk to the front door, her tail straight up in the air and tip lazily curving from side to side. Star followed, sniffing with gently waving tail. Well, that’s encouraging.
“According to these two,” Lili gestured toward the dog and cat as she followed them up the walk, “the house is now neutral. Let’s go inside, shall we?”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll wait out here,” Nilsine responded. “Do you still have the key from the other day, Stenvar?”
“I do, yes,” Stenvar reached into his belt pouch and dug out the iron key. “With your permission, ma’am?”
“You have it,” Nilsine responded with a sad smile. “I’ll stay out here while you check inside.”
“Let’s leave the door open for light and fresh air,” Lili suggested as Stenvar unlocked the door and swung it open. Star paused briefly on the threshold, but Icicle strolled right in as if the house belonged to her. Lili stepped through and glanced back at Nilsine. “And you can hear what we have to say about this house as we go through it. Sound good?”
“Y- yes,” Nilsine stammered slightly as she peered in from beyond Stenvar’s bulk. She remained out on the front stoop as they walked through the large front room. Star explored the space, leading with his nose and sneezing at frequent intervals. Icicle moved to the large fireplace on the south wall and seated herself before it with an imperious miaow.
“We’re not building a fire here,” Stenvar told her. “The Nines only know what condition the chimney’s in after being empty all these months.” Lili chuckled to herself as she paused beside the wardrobe that hid the secret chamber.
“So far it feels like a lonely, abandoned house,” Lili pitched her words toward Nilsine. “I’m going into the secret room that Corrium put in. That’s the source of all the bad vapors.”The silence that followed prompted Lili to glance back and see Nilsine’s hands twist around themselves in anxiety and agitation.
“I’m not as sensitive as Boss here,” Stenvar assured the Nord woman, “but this house already feels a lot less - “ he paused as he searched for the right word, “ - foreboding as it did when we were last here.” He’s sensitive in his own way, and knows the way to say things to put folks at ease. Must come from looking like a brute and trying to get folk to trust him.
As Lili stepped into the abattoir, the magelight she cast showed only dark stains on the walls and floor, and the worn stone table near the back wall. The smell of rotting flesh and offal was so faint, she wondered if it was merely her memory of their prior visit. “Well,” Lili said as she turned in the middle of the room, breathing deeply. She felt none of the discomfort she had experienced during their previous examination. “There’s no trace of necromantic magick left in this house.” She stepped back out of the room and smiled up at Stenvar as she passed him.
“Really?” Lili noticed that Nilsine now stood just within the front doorway. Her hands still clasped and twisted around each other.
“Really,” Lili assured her. “Helgird was right, once the last remains were removed, the house became peaceful. It’s no longer haunted. All it needs is to take these partitions down, remove that stone table inside, and a good deep cleaning from top to bottom, both by hand and by magick, to make it a cozy home to live in once again.”
“I’m glad you think so, Lilisfina,” Nilsine responded, her hands growing still. She reached into her belt purse and drew out the twin to the key Stenvar held. “I’d like for you to have this house.”
What?
Whoop! Even though I hoped that Lili would end up owning Hjerim, that was a nice surprise!
“I’m not sure I can live with her fetch constantly appearing in the corner of my eye in there.”
I confess I’m not sure what fetch means here, though I can guess it means something unpleasant. Her ghost? Body parts?
This turned out to be a pleasant day in Windhelm. Good that folks are coming to terms with their losses and learning how they fit in their changed lives.
Icicle approves of her new ownership of Hjerim. Now would Lili please light the fire?
“I’m not sure I can live with her fetch constantly appearing in the corner of my eye in there.”
I confess I’m not sure what fetch means here, though I can guess it means something unpleasant. Her ghost? Body parts?
This turned out to be a pleasant day in Windhelm. Good that folks are coming to terms with their losses and learning how they fit in their changed lives.
Icicle approves of her new ownership of Hjerim. Now would Lili please light the fire?
I relistened to the HPPodcraft podcast recently, which went over HP Lovecraft's works in the order that they were written. One thing he noted is that while Lovecraft had a personal love for cats (which he states so many times in his letters), dogs are the heroes of the Mythos tales. It is always dogs that recognize the threat of Mythos creatures first, and never hesitate to attack. For example,
Star fits right in with those canine heroes.
I hope that Star does not make off with a bone while he is down in the crypt!
We are back to Hjerim, and I found a video clip of what Lil found there concerning necromancy...
Well I guess Lil won't need to buy Hjerim!
That was kind of Nilsine, though it certainly can be said that Lil and company all worked hard for it. It looks like it will take a little longer for Lil to get to Winterhold.
Star fits right in with those canine heroes.
I hope that Star does not make off with a bone while he is down in the crypt!
We are back to Hjerim, and I found a video clip of what Lil found there concerning necromancy...
Well I guess Lil won't need to buy Hjerim!
That was kind of Nilsine, though it certainly can be said that Lil and company all worked hard for it. It looks like it will take a little longer for Lil to get to Winterhold.
No surprise that Star’s first actions after receiving a clean bill of health is to offer comfort to the grieving Nilsine.
So let’s go check out Hjerim for any foul residual mojo.
’He’s sensitive in his own way, and knows the way to say things to put folks at ease. Must come from looking like a brute and trying to get folk to trust him.’
- - This quite struck me. Like Buffy, I imagine Lili is extremely familiar with the other side of this coin – looking like a child in size and trying to get folk to take her seriously. To understand how it might feel to be Stenvar, and possess a rather intimidating presence, is very astute indeed!
‘Abattoir’. Despite spending several years of my youth living in Paris and being rather comfortable with the language of the French, this was a new word for me. Much better choice for your story, I think, than ‘slaughterhouse’.
Well, that was a surprise! Lili is now a landowner. I’m already thinking about the adoption implications. . . . As SubRosa points out, Winterhold seems relegated to the back burner once again.
Nit? ’Lili inhaled slowly at the sudden thought that others missed the warm-hearted Nord who had bought {brought?} life and laughter to the inn.’
So let’s go check out Hjerim for any foul residual mojo.
’He’s sensitive in his own way, and knows the way to say things to put folks at ease. Must come from looking like a brute and trying to get folk to trust him.’
- - This quite struck me. Like Buffy, I imagine Lili is extremely familiar with the other side of this coin – looking like a child in size and trying to get folk to take her seriously. To understand how it might feel to be Stenvar, and possess a rather intimidating presence, is very astute indeed!
‘Abattoir’. Despite spending several years of my youth living in Paris and being rather comfortable with the language of the French, this was a new word for me. Much better choice for your story, I think, than ‘slaughterhouse’.
Well, that was a surprise! Lili is now a landowner. I’m already thinking about the adoption implications. . . . As SubRosa points out, Winterhold seems relegated to the back burner once again.
Nit? ’Lili inhaled slowly at the sudden thought that others missed the warm-hearted Nord who had bought {brought?} life and laughter to the inn.’
OK, but Star can still get the Aretino Residence, right?
Gifted a house! If only we could all be so fortunate in life. But in this instance, it's certainly well-earned.
@Grits: It seemed appropriate to me that Nilsine would want to give her sister's house to Lili - who else would cleanse that home of its curse and restore it to a home? And as Lili has already proven herself a friend of the family of sorts, it made sense to Nilsine to think of Lili first. "Fetch" in this context is another term for ghost or spirit, that is how I intended it.
@SubRosa: Of course, dogs are seen more as heroes, but my money's on the cats - perfect for rogue/sneak types who want to get things done without being seen or noticed. And yes, Winterhold's been put on hold - for now.
@Acadian: Yup, Star has already made himself the chief comforter to Nilsine. And yes, I wanted to remind folks that Stenvar is rather brutish looking in appearance, but that's never put off Lili. If you remember, in the first episode, Susanna told Lili that he has a heart of gold. And yes, Sten's smart enough to recognize this tendency in others and make an effort to be less intimidating when the situation calls for it.
@ghastley: I would rather see Soot own the Aretino house - it's full of rats!
@Kane: Not sure if this house is quite the gift it seems to be, as we will see . . .
Nilsine has surprised our intrepid team with the offer to turn Hjerim over to them. The coziest house in the best neighborhood! But Lili has ideas of her own . . .
*******************************************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - A Home of Our Own
Sten and Lilisfina stared at Nilsine in stunned silence. After several breaths Nilsine stepped forward and took Lilisfina’s hand in her own, set the key in her palm, and folded her fingers firmly over it. “It’s yours,” she said firmly. “I can’t think of anyone I’d want living here more than you, after what you’ve done for my family.”
Lilisfina took a deep breath and looked down at their hands. “All I did was find the man who murdered our friend, who also happened to murder your twin sister and turn your home into a charnel house.” She shook her head. “And I didn’t do it alone - Stennvar helped, and Watch Leader Silverblade, and Helgird . . . “
“But you were the one who tied all these clues together and made it possible for four families, and I’m counting Elda and Nils at Candlehearth, to have closure after such devastating loss.” Nilsine released Lili and stepped back. “You’ve bought an easing of our grief, not just with identifying the man who killed my sister, but also with the help you’ve given my parents.”
“Does your father know you intended to do this?” Sten asked gently. “He may object to this."
“You are aware that owning property in Windhelm comes with paying annual taxes,” Nilsine countered with a smile. “I would argue this would reduce the tax burden for our family.” She turned back to Lili. “I do know that being the smallest house here, this place does not even require a small fortune to maintain and to meet the taxes to the Jarl. I’m sure you will it find less costly to live here than to continue living at Candlehearth.”
Lilisfina chuckled as if at a sudden thought. “How would Jarl Stormcloak feel about a Bosmer paying property tax to him?”
“Drakes are drakes,” Nilsine winked. “After all, we have a certain High Elf who pays not only property tax on her residence, but also business tax on her stall in the market!”
Lilisfina turned the key in her fingers. Sten held his breath as he watched her. Once again Icicle broke the silence with a demanding miaow. She still waited beside the dark fireplace, her green eyes sparkling with feline indignation in the dim interior. Star sat beside her, his gaze shifting between Lilisfina and Sten.
I know what that cat is thinking, but what is Star trying to tell us? Sten met Lilisfina’s gaze. “If you want this house, Boss,” he said finally, “I’ll help you clean it up.”
Lilisfina chuckled to herself. She turned back to Nilsine. “I won’t just accept this house from you. I’ll purchase it, however.”
“I don’t want drakes for it . . .” Nilsine held up her hands in protest.
“There is the matter of an outstanding fine for trespass,” Lilisfina’s voice was surprisingly firm. “In the amount of - ah - five thousand drakes, I believe?”
“That’s moot,” Nilsine responded. “Considering the offender was executed for worse crimes than trespass.” She shook her head. “I suspect the Jarl added that fine because he could, not that he expected it to be paid.”
“I’ll pay you five thousand drakes for the fine, and we’ll call it even, then.” Lilisfina’s tone brooked no argument. Wisely Nilsine nodded acquiescence. “Good, I am expecting a shipment any day now, once I have it, I’ll be able to pay you the fine. How do we make this happen?”
“I bring the deed, and you bring the drakes, to Jorleif the Steward in the Palace,” Nilsine responded. “He’ll draw up the bill of sale, witness the transaction and transfer of the deed to your name, then add you to the tax rolls. He’ll also tell you when and how much to pay the tax on the house.” She smiled again. “Not to worry, the house is paid up through the end of the year.” Her gaze sharpened on Lilisfina. “When do you expect that shipment?”
“I was told that it was unloaded last night by your father’s Saxhleel,” Lilisfina responded.
“I see,” Nilsine nodded, her gaze on the beams overhead. Sten noted the cobwebs in the shadows overhead with some dismay. “I’ll head there with my father right now, and I’ll see to it that you get your shipment as quickly as possible.” She turned for the door, then paused. “I’m not sure how quickly I can get the Argonians to cooperate with me, but I’ll do my best.”
“Will you be taking over their management?” Lilisfina asked. Sten inhaled slowly as he recalled a previous conversation on the docks.
“Yes, sooner or later,” Nilsine responded. “Father wants to retire as soon as he feels I know the business.”
“Hmmm, are you aware that he pays the Argonians one tenth the pay a Nord makes for doing the same work?”
“What?” Nilsine exclaimed. “But they work two times harder than the Nords do!” Her gaze grew thoughtful. “At this point I can’t do anything about their pay, but how can I gain their trust?”
“First learn their names, and address them as such,” Lilisfina responded. “Don’t call them ‘scale-tail’ or ‘lizard’. Then I would look at improving their food, shelter and clothing situation,” Lilisfina responded. “They would prefer to stay by the water, since their skin dries out so quickly, that much I know. I’d suggest asking them how you can improve their living conditions.”
“That’s a good thought,” Nilsine mused to herself. She stepped out into the sunshine. “I’ll send you a message when your shipment is ready at the office.”
“Sounds good,” Lilisfina nodded. “Then we’ll make a time to meet with Steward Jorleif.”
“Look forward to it,” Nilsine gave them a wave, then set off down the street. Lilisfina and Sten exchanged glances.
“Are you comfortable chasing spiders from this house?” Lilisfina asked with an arched brow.
“As long as they are tiny and I can’t hear them clacking, I’ll manage,” Sten answered after a swallow of his dry throat.
“Remember, I have better hearing than you,” Lilisfina shook a finger at him. “I don’t hear them, though I see their webs high up in the beams.” She stretched one hand upward. “I can’t reach them. You’re the one with the height, so that job is yours.” Her green eyes, dark in the dimness, glimmered in mischief. “You can put that zwei-hander to good use in here.”
Sten grumbled to himself. “That’s a big blade for such tiny critters,” he remarked. Lilisfina laughed.
“You’re always saying a sword needs weight! If you wrap a rag around the tip of that long blade of yours you’ll catch more that way. Pull down the webs, too!” She walked around, but paused when Icicle miaowed yet again.
“We don’t yet officially own this house, Icicle,” she addressed the small cat. “Once we do, that will be the first order of business!” She shivered. “But no point in waiting around in a cold dark house. Let’s head back to the inn and count those drakes.” She chuckled again as she moved to the open doorway. “Let’s go, you two,” she addressed the two animal companions. “Stennvar, would you mind locking up?”
“My pleasure,” he moved to do so. Now that Boss has a house, do I stay at the Inn? I know she said I could live here, but I hate to leave while Elda and Nils are still finding their feet, but maybe Silda will provide what they need to keep the inn going. They’ve become like family! Of course, I may not be working for Boss once she leaves for Winterhold, or our month is up. Got to figure this out so I know what is happening.
Suddenly Sten felt a sense of loss. What is this? Why do I feel like this thinking about the end of my job with Boss? I really enjoy working for the Khajiit caravans, spending time with them. But Boss is different, somehow. How? He followed after Lilisfina, Star and Icicle silently as they wound their way through the city back to Candlehearth.
As they stepped through the lower door into the entry, Elda greeted them with a sour look on her face and arms crossed over her ample bosom. Uh oh, what happened?
“What is it, Dame Elda?” Lilisfina inquired as they made their way into the corridor leading past the rented rooms.
“That child is moving things around in your room!” Elda snapped. “When I asked what she was doing, she said she was cleaning! I keep that room spotless!”
“Let me talk to her,” Lilisfina laid one hand over her chest and bowed slightly. “Maybe she just needs something to keep busy.”
“I’ll get my bag out of my chest,” Sten addressed Lilisfina softly. “And meet you in your room in a few moments.” He moved past them toward the rear of the inn and the steps leading down into the cellar.
@SubRosa: Of course, dogs are seen more as heroes, but my money's on the cats - perfect for rogue/sneak types who want to get things done without being seen or noticed. And yes, Winterhold's been put on hold - for now.
@Acadian: Yup, Star has already made himself the chief comforter to Nilsine. And yes, I wanted to remind folks that Stenvar is rather brutish looking in appearance, but that's never put off Lili. If you remember, in the first episode, Susanna told Lili that he has a heart of gold. And yes, Sten's smart enough to recognize this tendency in others and make an effort to be less intimidating when the situation calls for it.
@ghastley: I would rather see Soot own the Aretino house - it's full of rats!
@Kane: Not sure if this house is quite the gift it seems to be, as we will see . . .
Nilsine has surprised our intrepid team with the offer to turn Hjerim over to them. The coziest house in the best neighborhood! But Lili has ideas of her own . . .
*******************************************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - A Home of Our Own
That was unexpected. Nilsine asked Boss to check her sister’s house for any remaining trace of evil. When Boss said nothing was left, and all it needed was a good cleaning and removal of the partitions and table added by Corrium to make it homey again, Nilsine said she wanted Boss to have it for her own.
Sten and Lilisfina stared at Nilsine in stunned silence. After several breaths Nilsine stepped forward and took Lilisfina’s hand in her own, set the key in her palm, and folded her fingers firmly over it. “It’s yours,” she said firmly. “I can’t think of anyone I’d want living here more than you, after what you’ve done for my family.”
Lilisfina took a deep breath and looked down at their hands. “All I did was find the man who murdered our friend, who also happened to murder your twin sister and turn your home into a charnel house.” She shook her head. “And I didn’t do it alone - Stennvar helped, and Watch Leader Silverblade, and Helgird . . . “
“But you were the one who tied all these clues together and made it possible for four families, and I’m counting Elda and Nils at Candlehearth, to have closure after such devastating loss.” Nilsine released Lili and stepped back. “You’ve bought an easing of our grief, not just with identifying the man who killed my sister, but also with the help you’ve given my parents.”
“Does your father know you intended to do this?” Sten asked gently. “He may object to this."
“You are aware that owning property in Windhelm comes with paying annual taxes,” Nilsine countered with a smile. “I would argue this would reduce the tax burden for our family.” She turned back to Lili. “I do know that being the smallest house here, this place does not even require a small fortune to maintain and to meet the taxes to the Jarl. I’m sure you will it find less costly to live here than to continue living at Candlehearth.”
Lilisfina chuckled as if at a sudden thought. “How would Jarl Stormcloak feel about a Bosmer paying property tax to him?”
“Drakes are drakes,” Nilsine winked. “After all, we have a certain High Elf who pays not only property tax on her residence, but also business tax on her stall in the market!”
Lilisfina turned the key in her fingers. Sten held his breath as he watched her. Once again Icicle broke the silence with a demanding miaow. She still waited beside the dark fireplace, her green eyes sparkling with feline indignation in the dim interior. Star sat beside her, his gaze shifting between Lilisfina and Sten.
I know what that cat is thinking, but what is Star trying to tell us? Sten met Lilisfina’s gaze. “If you want this house, Boss,” he said finally, “I’ll help you clean it up.”
Lilisfina chuckled to herself. She turned back to Nilsine. “I won’t just accept this house from you. I’ll purchase it, however.”
“I don’t want drakes for it . . .” Nilsine held up her hands in protest.
“There is the matter of an outstanding fine for trespass,” Lilisfina’s voice was surprisingly firm. “In the amount of - ah - five thousand drakes, I believe?”
“That’s moot,” Nilsine responded. “Considering the offender was executed for worse crimes than trespass.” She shook her head. “I suspect the Jarl added that fine because he could, not that he expected it to be paid.”
“I’ll pay you five thousand drakes for the fine, and we’ll call it even, then.” Lilisfina’s tone brooked no argument. Wisely Nilsine nodded acquiescence. “Good, I am expecting a shipment any day now, once I have it, I’ll be able to pay you the fine. How do we make this happen?”
“I bring the deed, and you bring the drakes, to Jorleif the Steward in the Palace,” Nilsine responded. “He’ll draw up the bill of sale, witness the transaction and transfer of the deed to your name, then add you to the tax rolls. He’ll also tell you when and how much to pay the tax on the house.” She smiled again. “Not to worry, the house is paid up through the end of the year.” Her gaze sharpened on Lilisfina. “When do you expect that shipment?”
“I was told that it was unloaded last night by your father’s Saxhleel,” Lilisfina responded.
“I see,” Nilsine nodded, her gaze on the beams overhead. Sten noted the cobwebs in the shadows overhead with some dismay. “I’ll head there with my father right now, and I’ll see to it that you get your shipment as quickly as possible.” She turned for the door, then paused. “I’m not sure how quickly I can get the Argonians to cooperate with me, but I’ll do my best.”
“Will you be taking over their management?” Lilisfina asked. Sten inhaled slowly as he recalled a previous conversation on the docks.
“Yes, sooner or later,” Nilsine responded. “Father wants to retire as soon as he feels I know the business.”
“Hmmm, are you aware that he pays the Argonians one tenth the pay a Nord makes for doing the same work?”
“What?” Nilsine exclaimed. “But they work two times harder than the Nords do!” Her gaze grew thoughtful. “At this point I can’t do anything about their pay, but how can I gain their trust?”
“First learn their names, and address them as such,” Lilisfina responded. “Don’t call them ‘scale-tail’ or ‘lizard’. Then I would look at improving their food, shelter and clothing situation,” Lilisfina responded. “They would prefer to stay by the water, since their skin dries out so quickly, that much I know. I’d suggest asking them how you can improve their living conditions.”
“That’s a good thought,” Nilsine mused to herself. She stepped out into the sunshine. “I’ll send you a message when your shipment is ready at the office.”
“Sounds good,” Lilisfina nodded. “Then we’ll make a time to meet with Steward Jorleif.”
“Look forward to it,” Nilsine gave them a wave, then set off down the street. Lilisfina and Sten exchanged glances.
“Are you comfortable chasing spiders from this house?” Lilisfina asked with an arched brow.
“As long as they are tiny and I can’t hear them clacking, I’ll manage,” Sten answered after a swallow of his dry throat.
“Remember, I have better hearing than you,” Lilisfina shook a finger at him. “I don’t hear them, though I see their webs high up in the beams.” She stretched one hand upward. “I can’t reach them. You’re the one with the height, so that job is yours.” Her green eyes, dark in the dimness, glimmered in mischief. “You can put that zwei-hander to good use in here.”
Sten grumbled to himself. “That’s a big blade for such tiny critters,” he remarked. Lilisfina laughed.
“You’re always saying a sword needs weight! If you wrap a rag around the tip of that long blade of yours you’ll catch more that way. Pull down the webs, too!” She walked around, but paused when Icicle miaowed yet again.
“We don’t yet officially own this house, Icicle,” she addressed the small cat. “Once we do, that will be the first order of business!” She shivered. “But no point in waiting around in a cold dark house. Let’s head back to the inn and count those drakes.” She chuckled again as she moved to the open doorway. “Let’s go, you two,” she addressed the two animal companions. “Stennvar, would you mind locking up?”
“My pleasure,” he moved to do so. Now that Boss has a house, do I stay at the Inn? I know she said I could live here, but I hate to leave while Elda and Nils are still finding their feet, but maybe Silda will provide what they need to keep the inn going. They’ve become like family! Of course, I may not be working for Boss once she leaves for Winterhold, or our month is up. Got to figure this out so I know what is happening.
Suddenly Sten felt a sense of loss. What is this? Why do I feel like this thinking about the end of my job with Boss? I really enjoy working for the Khajiit caravans, spending time with them. But Boss is different, somehow. How? He followed after Lilisfina, Star and Icicle silently as they wound their way through the city back to Candlehearth.
As they stepped through the lower door into the entry, Elda greeted them with a sour look on her face and arms crossed over her ample bosom. Uh oh, what happened?
“What is it, Dame Elda?” Lilisfina inquired as they made their way into the corridor leading past the rented rooms.
“That child is moving things around in your room!” Elda snapped. “When I asked what she was doing, she said she was cleaning! I keep that room spotless!”
“Let me talk to her,” Lilisfina laid one hand over her chest and bowed slightly. “Maybe she just needs something to keep busy.”
“I’ll get my bag out of my chest,” Sten addressed Lilisfina softly. “And meet you in your room in a few moments.” He moved past them toward the rear of the inn and the steps leading down into the cellar.
I chuckled as Lili ruthlessly negotiated the price of the house from zero to five thousand drakes.
More teasing about that mysterious shipment. . . and a good excuse for her to tactfully offer Nilsine some sound advice on dealing with the Argonian dock crew.
Sten has been recruited for spider duty. Hopefully those little ones won’t give him any trouble like the big ones do. Poor zwei-hander – reduced to dusting for cobwebs.
’What is this? Why do I feel like this thinking about the end of my job with Boss? I really enjoy working for the Khajiit caravans, spending time with them. But Boss is different, somehow. How?’
- - For a smart guy, it’s fun to see Sten confused and clueless. I hope Lili doesn’t have to club him over the head to get him to see what is right in front of him.
Uh oh, Elda has still not thawed to Sophie it seems. More work to do there.
More teasing about that mysterious shipment. . . and a good excuse for her to tactfully offer Nilsine some sound advice on dealing with the Argonian dock crew.
Sten has been recruited for spider duty. Hopefully those little ones won’t give him any trouble like the big ones do. Poor zwei-hander – reduced to dusting for cobwebs.
’What is this? Why do I feel like this thinking about the end of my job with Boss? I really enjoy working for the Khajiit caravans, spending time with them. But Boss is different, somehow. How?’
- - For a smart guy, it’s fun to see Sten confused and clueless. I hope Lili doesn’t have to club him over the head to get him to see what is right in front of him.
Uh oh, Elda has still not thawed to Sophie it seems. More work to do there.
I’m glad Lilisfina found a way to accept Hjerim in good conscience.
Sten’s concern and confusion is completely understandable. I hope he and Lilisfina can soon clear things up for him.
Yikes, Elda is still being Elda. I’m sure Stenvar would like Sofie’s help cleaning up those spiders!
Sten’s concern and confusion is completely understandable. I hope he and Lilisfina can soon clear things up for him.
Yikes, Elda is still being Elda. I’m sure Stenvar would like Sofie’s help cleaning up those spiders!
So Lil is going to look a gift guar in the mouth? Well not exactly. She is stubborn in insisting to pay for it. Well, unless she is swimming in coin. It sounds like whatever she has coming in is worth quite a bit of money. So I guess it is not a vampire after all, but something more exchangeable.
It is sad that "don't refer to them as slurs," actually has to be said. But the fact is, it does. And I know people who refuse to take that advice.
I do love the image of Sten chasing spiders with his greatsword!
I wonder how Boss could be different...
Well, she does have less fur than the Khajiit caravaneers. Yeah, that must be it.
And I see Elda is being difficult where Sofie is concerned, as ever.
It is sad that "don't refer to them as slurs," actually has to be said. But the fact is, it does. And I know people who refuse to take that advice.
I do love the image of Sten chasing spiders with his greatsword!
I wonder how Boss could be different...
Well, she does have less fur than the Khajiit caravaneers. Yeah, that must be it. And I see Elda is being difficult where Sofie is concerned, as ever.
@Acadian: Heh heh, Lili sure spent a small fortune on that house! Though when I checked it in the UESP wiki, that house could be purchased for 8000 gold, so getting it for 5000 was a steal! Nah, I suspect Lili figured given the anti-Elven attitude in Windhelm, it would be better optics if she was seen having purchased the house with real coin, rather than as a favor in return for a favor. And yes, Lili will smack Sten over the head before much longer - if I ever get the next few posts written, that is.
@Grits: Glad to see you echo Acadian's observations, and I agree, Elda's a tough nut to crack when it comes to poor Sofie!
@SubRosa: Regarding how to speak to Argonians, I believe Lili thinks Nilsine would be more amenable to that sort of advice than her hide-bound father. Hopefully he will turn full control of the family business over to Nilsine so that she can start paying them their worth! At least Lili has done her job - she planted the seeds in the woman's mind. As for Sten chasing spiders with his zwei-hander, I have that planned for a few posts down the line!
And now we return to Candlehearth, and another conflict between Elda and her tiniest boarder . . .
*****************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - A Deep Clean
“What are you up to, Sofie?” Lili asked as she entered the room. A glance around showed furniture shoved to the center of the room, and a bucket with a mop near the doorway. Somewhere near the back wall a small head poked out from behind the wardrobe.
“I was cleaning behind the furniture!” the child exclaimed. “There were dust dragons and spiderwebs back here. And I don’t want to know what those stains were from.”
“Dame Elda is unhappy with you right now,” Lili sighed. “And I need to get into that wardrobe and get my bag.”
“Oh, I’m just about done,” Sofie gave a final swipe at the back of the wardrobe. “We can put everything back once the floor is dry.”
Lili stepped back into the hall to find Elda standing beside the room, disapproving look still on her face. “Do you have a towel I may borrow?” she asked. “It sounds like Sofie was only cleaning behind the furniture - something I believe is normally done once or twice a year?”
Elda huffed and whipped the towel from her shoulder. “Use this one. It’s still clean.”
“Thank you, Dame Elda,” Lili responded. “I think Sofie is only trying to help you. She knows you have a lot on your plate without Susanna.”
Elda’s face softened into momentary grief. “Well, it is time to do the deep cleaning anyway, so I will admit that’s one less room to concern myself with!” She spun on her heel and bustled away.
Lili returned to the room to see Sofie standing beside the mop and broom. She noticed the water in the bucket was quite dirty. “I’m sorry if I made Dame Elda upset,” Sofie said softly, her face downcast. “I’ll get this dumped out and return these to Nils.”
“Wait a moment,” Lili responded. She cast a small flame from a fingertip and waved the towel over it. The fabric gleamed briefly, then Lili floated it down to the floor. “You may as well finish up here, go ahead and wipe things down with this towel.”
“What did you do?” Sofie’s eyes were saucers in her amazed face.
“Just a little drying spell,” Lili answered. “It will pick up any moisture on the surface and leave it completely dry with just a wipe. Should go quickly for you, little busybee.”
“Really?” Sofie bent down and began wiping the floor. “It works!” She glanced back at Lili. “Can you teach me how to do that?”
“Maybe,” Lili responded. “But Stennvar will be here soon, and the sooner you are done with this the sooner he’ll help us shift everything back into place.”
By the time Stenvar arrived to take in the chaos in Lili’s room, Sofie had completed her circuit around the perimeter with the enchanted towel. “Just in time, Stennvar,” Lili greeted him. “Sofie made quite the mess, and we can use your help to put everything back.”
Stenvar let out a low whistle. “Did you move all this by yourself, Sofie?” he asked wonderingly.
“Nils helped with the wardrobe and the bed,” Sofie indicated the two largest furnishings in the room. “But I moved everything else all by myself!”
“And now the child’s finished,” Lili turned to Stenvar. “So I’m sure if we both help her, we’ll have the room restored to rights in no time at all.”
“Of course!” Stenvar worked his way to the largest furnishing in the room, the wardrobe. “Move this first?”
“Yes, please!” Lili moved to help him, but the big sellsword made easy work of the heavy cabinet. “Perfect, thank you,” she said. “Now the bed, please.” As he moved to slide it back into its corner, Lili and Sofie worked together to push the small dresser against the wall opposite the foot of the bed.
In short order the nightstand was back in place, the rug unrolled in the center of the floor, the trunk back at the foot of the bed and the table and chairs in place. Sofie clapped her hands with pleasure as they looked around the room. “Dame Elda should like this better now,” she exclaimed. “And she won’t have to worry about cleaning behind the furniture until spring!”
“As long as this mop and bucket go back where they belong in the next few minutes!” Elda’s voice reached them from the doorway, where she glared at the offending cleaning tools.
“Right away, Dame Elda!” Sofie dashed out to pick up the bucket and mop. She shook out the now dry towel and held it out to Elda in askance.
“May as well add it to the laundry pile,” Elda folded her arms across her bosom emphatically.
“I’ll get you a fresh one,” Sofie offered as she tossed the towel over one shoulder in an inadvertent imitation of the innkeeper. With a quick bob to the older woman, she started down the hall toward the kitchen and Nils.
“Child!” Elda called after the girl’s retreating form. “Good job with the room. Thank you.”
Lili traded glances with Stenvar. Could it be she is starting to win over Elda? Perhaps the woman would consider adopting Sofie? Elda caught their silent exchange and scoffed.
“Don’t think of leaving that child here permanently! I expect you to take her with you when you move out of Candlehearth, whenever that may be!”
There goes that idea. Lili lowered her gaze submissively as the innkeeper stalked off. She caught Stenvar’s slow grin and smiled to herself. “Shall we?” she motioned him to the chair at the table while she reached for the bag in the wardrobe. Stenvar set his pack on the floor and seated himself, Lili taking the spot on the bed.
“Let’s see how you did,” she remarked to him. “I’d like to know if you are happy working for me or if you miss working for the Khajiit caravans.”
“Both, actually,” Stenvar began counting out his drakes in stacks of ten. “I quite enjoyed the adventures we’ve been on together, but I will admit that I miss the company of the Khajiiti traders.”
“Having spent a few decades in Elsweyr,” Lili smiled at him as he completed his count, “I understand what you mean. I’ve missed my conversations with friends I’ve made there.” Especially Za’taba. He always found the humor in any situation, no matter how dark.
“Well, I have just over a thousand drakes saved, and that’s after sending half my earnings to my Ma,” Stenvar mused.
“You support your mother?” Lili realized she wasn’t surprised at his comment.
“She’s pretty much on her own with the farm since Da died,” Stenvar responded. “It’s one of the reasons I left home - one less mouth for her to feed, and an additional source of income for her. The farm never did make much of a profit, and some years were a loss.”
“Successful farming depends on so many factors,” Lili remarked as she counted out her own drakes. She set aside two hundred and pushed them across the table to Stenvar. “Most of which are beyond any one’s control.”
“That’s why Kyne is so important to us out in the rural areas,” Stenvar responded. “She sends the rain when we need it, and clear skies for the harvest. We pray to her for mild winters and fruitful summers.” He glanced down at the coins Lili had placed in front of him. “What’s this for?”
“One month’s pay,” Lili responded. “As we agreed last week. I figured now is a good time to square things up with you.” She watched Stenvar’s face fall and waited.
“Does this mean you’re terminating the contract now?”
“Not at all,” Lili shook her head. “I’m enjoying your company so much right now, and I’ve come to trust you in various situations. I’d like you to stay on as we originally agreed - until a month has passed, or until I arrive at Winterhold, which ever comes first.” She tipped her head at him. “I’m counting on you to not take off and leave me in the lurch.”
“Never!” Stenvar exclaimed, then he added the pay to his pile of coins. “It looks like I’m set for a while. I can even upgrade to a room here!”
“Why pay for a room here when you can just move into Hjerim when I take over the deed?” Lili leaned back and met his startled gaze. “You can have more than just a bedroll and a chest for your belongings there.”
“You mean be a carl for you?” Stenvar began to shake his head, but stopped when Lili stopped him with a hand on his wrist.
“No Stennvar, not a carl. You’re still a sellsword, you can still work for me. The terms don’t change, it’s just more convenient to have you in the same place as me, as we have had here.” She held his gaze for a couple of breaths. “Of course, if you prefer to stay here in Candlehearth that’s fine with me as well.”
“As much as I like the company here, it would be nice to have a little bit of privacy,” Stenvar mused. He met Lili’s gaze. “Once we get it cleaned and furnished, just show me where to stow my gear.”
“We’ll figure it out then,” Lili agreed.
“One more question,” Stenvar propped his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. “Will you take Sofie with you to live there too?”
“Hmmm,” Lili mused. “It does occur to me that being a property owner makes me a citizen of Windhelm, and if it’s that simple, I would love to adopt her.” And maybe buy that bay mare that Stennvar likes so much. “But I won’t be living here much for the foreseeable future, and I don’t want Sofie to have to follow me all over Skyrim. I’m not even sure she would be welcome at the College!”
“I do see your dilemma,” Stenvar remarked. “A house can stand unattended for extended periods of time, as long as you have someone you trust to pop in and remove spiders and light the fireplace for Icicle from time to time. But a child is different.”
@Grits: Glad to see you echo Acadian's observations, and I agree, Elda's a tough nut to crack when it comes to poor Sofie!
@SubRosa: Regarding how to speak to Argonians, I believe Lili thinks Nilsine would be more amenable to that sort of advice than her hide-bound father. Hopefully he will turn full control of the family business over to Nilsine so that she can start paying them their worth! At least Lili has done her job - she planted the seeds in the woman's mind. As for Sten chasing spiders with his zwei-hander, I have that planned for a few posts down the line!
And now we return to Candlehearth, and another conflict between Elda and her tiniest boarder . . .
*****************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - A Deep Clean
“What are you up to, Sofie?” Lili asked as she entered the room. A glance around showed furniture shoved to the center of the room, and a bucket with a mop near the doorway. Somewhere near the back wall a small head poked out from behind the wardrobe.
“I was cleaning behind the furniture!” the child exclaimed. “There were dust dragons and spiderwebs back here. And I don’t want to know what those stains were from.”
“Dame Elda is unhappy with you right now,” Lili sighed. “And I need to get into that wardrobe and get my bag.”
“Oh, I’m just about done,” Sofie gave a final swipe at the back of the wardrobe. “We can put everything back once the floor is dry.”
Lili stepped back into the hall to find Elda standing beside the room, disapproving look still on her face. “Do you have a towel I may borrow?” she asked. “It sounds like Sofie was only cleaning behind the furniture - something I believe is normally done once or twice a year?”
Elda huffed and whipped the towel from her shoulder. “Use this one. It’s still clean.”
“Thank you, Dame Elda,” Lili responded. “I think Sofie is only trying to help you. She knows you have a lot on your plate without Susanna.”
Elda’s face softened into momentary grief. “Well, it is time to do the deep cleaning anyway, so I will admit that’s one less room to concern myself with!” She spun on her heel and bustled away.
Lili returned to the room to see Sofie standing beside the mop and broom. She noticed the water in the bucket was quite dirty. “I’m sorry if I made Dame Elda upset,” Sofie said softly, her face downcast. “I’ll get this dumped out and return these to Nils.”
“Wait a moment,” Lili responded. She cast a small flame from a fingertip and waved the towel over it. The fabric gleamed briefly, then Lili floated it down to the floor. “You may as well finish up here, go ahead and wipe things down with this towel.”
“What did you do?” Sofie’s eyes were saucers in her amazed face.
“Just a little drying spell,” Lili answered. “It will pick up any moisture on the surface and leave it completely dry with just a wipe. Should go quickly for you, little busybee.”
“Really?” Sofie bent down and began wiping the floor. “It works!” She glanced back at Lili. “Can you teach me how to do that?”
“Maybe,” Lili responded. “But Stennvar will be here soon, and the sooner you are done with this the sooner he’ll help us shift everything back into place.”
By the time Stenvar arrived to take in the chaos in Lili’s room, Sofie had completed her circuit around the perimeter with the enchanted towel. “Just in time, Stennvar,” Lili greeted him. “Sofie made quite the mess, and we can use your help to put everything back.”
Stenvar let out a low whistle. “Did you move all this by yourself, Sofie?” he asked wonderingly.
“Nils helped with the wardrobe and the bed,” Sofie indicated the two largest furnishings in the room. “But I moved everything else all by myself!”
“And now the child’s finished,” Lili turned to Stenvar. “So I’m sure if we both help her, we’ll have the room restored to rights in no time at all.”
“Of course!” Stenvar worked his way to the largest furnishing in the room, the wardrobe. “Move this first?”
“Yes, please!” Lili moved to help him, but the big sellsword made easy work of the heavy cabinet. “Perfect, thank you,” she said. “Now the bed, please.” As he moved to slide it back into its corner, Lili and Sofie worked together to push the small dresser against the wall opposite the foot of the bed.
In short order the nightstand was back in place, the rug unrolled in the center of the floor, the trunk back at the foot of the bed and the table and chairs in place. Sofie clapped her hands with pleasure as they looked around the room. “Dame Elda should like this better now,” she exclaimed. “And she won’t have to worry about cleaning behind the furniture until spring!”
“As long as this mop and bucket go back where they belong in the next few minutes!” Elda’s voice reached them from the doorway, where she glared at the offending cleaning tools.
“Right away, Dame Elda!” Sofie dashed out to pick up the bucket and mop. She shook out the now dry towel and held it out to Elda in askance.
“May as well add it to the laundry pile,” Elda folded her arms across her bosom emphatically.
“I’ll get you a fresh one,” Sofie offered as she tossed the towel over one shoulder in an inadvertent imitation of the innkeeper. With a quick bob to the older woman, she started down the hall toward the kitchen and Nils.
“Child!” Elda called after the girl’s retreating form. “Good job with the room. Thank you.”
Lili traded glances with Stenvar. Could it be she is starting to win over Elda? Perhaps the woman would consider adopting Sofie? Elda caught their silent exchange and scoffed.
“Don’t think of leaving that child here permanently! I expect you to take her with you when you move out of Candlehearth, whenever that may be!”
There goes that idea. Lili lowered her gaze submissively as the innkeeper stalked off. She caught Stenvar’s slow grin and smiled to herself. “Shall we?” she motioned him to the chair at the table while she reached for the bag in the wardrobe. Stenvar set his pack on the floor and seated himself, Lili taking the spot on the bed.
“Let’s see how you did,” she remarked to him. “I’d like to know if you are happy working for me or if you miss working for the Khajiit caravans.”
“Both, actually,” Stenvar began counting out his drakes in stacks of ten. “I quite enjoyed the adventures we’ve been on together, but I will admit that I miss the company of the Khajiiti traders.”
“Having spent a few decades in Elsweyr,” Lili smiled at him as he completed his count, “I understand what you mean. I’ve missed my conversations with friends I’ve made there.” Especially Za’taba. He always found the humor in any situation, no matter how dark.
“Well, I have just over a thousand drakes saved, and that’s after sending half my earnings to my Ma,” Stenvar mused.
“You support your mother?” Lili realized she wasn’t surprised at his comment.
“She’s pretty much on her own with the farm since Da died,” Stenvar responded. “It’s one of the reasons I left home - one less mouth for her to feed, and an additional source of income for her. The farm never did make much of a profit, and some years were a loss.”
“Successful farming depends on so many factors,” Lili remarked as she counted out her own drakes. She set aside two hundred and pushed them across the table to Stenvar. “Most of which are beyond any one’s control.”
“That’s why Kyne is so important to us out in the rural areas,” Stenvar responded. “She sends the rain when we need it, and clear skies for the harvest. We pray to her for mild winters and fruitful summers.” He glanced down at the coins Lili had placed in front of him. “What’s this for?”
“One month’s pay,” Lili responded. “As we agreed last week. I figured now is a good time to square things up with you.” She watched Stenvar’s face fall and waited.
“Does this mean you’re terminating the contract now?”
“Not at all,” Lili shook her head. “I’m enjoying your company so much right now, and I’ve come to trust you in various situations. I’d like you to stay on as we originally agreed - until a month has passed, or until I arrive at Winterhold, which ever comes first.” She tipped her head at him. “I’m counting on you to not take off and leave me in the lurch.”
“Never!” Stenvar exclaimed, then he added the pay to his pile of coins. “It looks like I’m set for a while. I can even upgrade to a room here!”
“Why pay for a room here when you can just move into Hjerim when I take over the deed?” Lili leaned back and met his startled gaze. “You can have more than just a bedroll and a chest for your belongings there.”
“You mean be a carl for you?” Stenvar began to shake his head, but stopped when Lili stopped him with a hand on his wrist.
“No Stennvar, not a carl. You’re still a sellsword, you can still work for me. The terms don’t change, it’s just more convenient to have you in the same place as me, as we have had here.” She held his gaze for a couple of breaths. “Of course, if you prefer to stay here in Candlehearth that’s fine with me as well.”
“As much as I like the company here, it would be nice to have a little bit of privacy,” Stenvar mused. He met Lili’s gaze. “Once we get it cleaned and furnished, just show me where to stow my gear.”
“We’ll figure it out then,” Lili agreed.
“One more question,” Stenvar propped his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. “Will you take Sofie with you to live there too?”
“Hmmm,” Lili mused. “It does occur to me that being a property owner makes me a citizen of Windhelm, and if it’s that simple, I would love to adopt her.” And maybe buy that bay mare that Stennvar likes so much. “But I won’t be living here much for the foreseeable future, and I don’t want Sofie to have to follow me all over Skyrim. I’m not even sure she would be welcome at the College!”
“I do see your dilemma,” Stenvar remarked. “A house can stand unattended for extended periods of time, as long as you have someone you trust to pop in and remove spiders and light the fireplace for Icicle from time to time. But a child is different.”
It’s true, deep cleaning makes a horrendous mess. Best to avoid it.
I used to work for a cattle farmer. He said if he ever won the lottery, he’d farm until the money was gone. Good for Stenvar, helping to support his Ma!
Nice to see Lili, Stenvar, Icicle, and maybe Star get their domestic arrangements settled. I’m curious how they will resolve Sofie’s, but confident that Lili will not let her sleep out in the snow again.
I used to work for a cattle farmer. He said if he ever won the lottery, he’d farm until the money was gone. Good for Stenvar, helping to support his Ma!
Nice to see Lili, Stenvar, Icicle, and maybe Star get their domestic arrangements settled. I’m curious how they will resolve Sofie’s, but confident that Lili will not let her sleep out in the snow again.
Sophie’s ambitious and trying hard. Too bad Elda is stuck on bitter. At least she does manage to toss a welcome thank you to the child before reiterating that the child is not welcome to stay once Lili and Sten move on.
Lili’s drying spell is handy and helpful!
The dance between Lili and Sten continues. Neither commits to their feelings for each other. . . yet, both of them somehow manage to ensure they remain together, citing ‘logical’ or ‘practical’ considerations.
Lili’s pile of reasons to stay in Windhelm does seem to keep growing. . . .
Lili’s drying spell is handy and helpful!
The dance between Lili and Sten continues. Neither commits to their feelings for each other. . . yet, both of them somehow manage to ensure they remain together, citing ‘logical’ or ‘practical’ considerations.
Lili’s pile of reasons to stay in Windhelm does seem to keep growing. . . .
Dust Dragons? I will take them over the other kind.
"Dame Elda is unhappy with you right now,”
Lil forgets that this statement applies every moment of every day...
Some dry cloth magic would be a handy thing after getting out of the tub.
So Sten is definitely not a housecarl. Just a live in mercenary. For now.
And Sophie's situation is still nebulous. As is Lil's long-term plans for Hjerim. It seems a lot of things are still up in the air for Lilstenphie.
"Dame Elda is unhappy with you right now,”
Lil forgets that this statement applies every moment of every day...
Some dry cloth magic would be a handy thing after getting out of the tub.
So Sten is definitely not a housecarl. Just a live in mercenary. For now.
And Sophie's situation is still nebulous. As is Lil's long-term plans for Hjerim. It seems a lot of things are still up in the air for Lilstenphie.
Whenever I see Lil mention Winterhold, I can't help but think "what will happen in Windhelm next to keep her there". I'm curious to see what she figures out for Sofie - the young one is definitely to young to live in Hjerim alone.
@Grits: I'm with you - I hate housecleaning! Hate it with a passion unmatched by anything else except lawn mowing . . . Sending half his earnings home to his Ma is such an innate part of what makes Sten Sten. It would be a shame to not remind our readers of this from time to time - Sten is more than just a dumb Nord. He's a Cat Daddy too! And yes, Lili is slowly working toward a resolution for our Windhelm friends. Silda now has a home, and Icicle will, too. As for Star, home is wherever Lili (and Sten) are - whether it's in a snug manor in Windhelm, a bedroll in Candlehearth, or a spider/draugr/vampire infested cave . . .
@Acadian: There is a slight thaw in Dame Elda's regard for Sofie - she can't deny that the little girl does know how to clean! Whether or not the thaw continues remains to be seen. And Lili learned that drying spell from Buffy, it seems! And yes, Lili and Sten both want to stay together, but neither wants to assume too much of the other. Hmmm, someone is going to have to hit both of them over the head soon! Maybe Dame Elda with her ever-present bar towel?
@SubRosa: Dust Dragons are much easier to defeat, I agree! Though they respawn faster than their deadly counterparts! And yes, Sten is going to be a live in mercenary - for now! I think Lili's plans will begin to coalesce in the next few days, we are still wrapping up Sundas a seven day after her arrival in Windhelm!
@Kane: There's always something to keep Lili in Windhelm just a little while longer! And yes, I agree our ten year old hero is too young to live alone in an empty house.
After soothing Dame Elda's upset ego and helping Sofie finish up her cleaning adventure, our intrepid couple finally sit down to assess the state of things. We find out that they are continuing their partnership as originally agreed. Also there is the question of that mysterious shipment awaiting final delivery from the docks.
*****************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - What’s in the Box?
Elda appeared in the doorway again, her face twisted in one of her disapproving scowls. “Oh no,” Lilisfina looked up as she closed the wardrobe door on her bag. “What has Sofie done now?”
“Oh, it’s not that little rascal,” Elda snapped. “I have one of those lizards in my entry! Won’t leave until you claim what is yours, apparently. I can’t make him go - he’s too big for me to push out the door.” She shuddered. “As if I wanted to touch his slimy scales!”
“Saxhleel aren’t slimy,” Lilisfina corrected. “Their skins are smooth and dry to the touch. He must have my shipment from Blacklight.” She moved toward Elda. “Can you show me where he is? Stennvar and I can meet him and take care of things quickly.”
“He’s at the front counter,” Elda made a shooing gesture toward the front of the inn, then turned for the kitchen with another scoff.
Sten caught Lilisfina’s smile as she headed in the opposite direction. “Come on, Stennvar,” she added. “I think I will need your brute strength for this job.” They recognized the Saxhleel waiting at the counter, a crate at his feet. “Hello, Neetrenaza,” Lilisfina greeted him.
“Greetingss, Bossmer friend,” the Argonian inclined his head with a pleased slant to his brow spines. “Dame Nilssine has assked me to bring thiss to you here.”
“My shipment?” Lilisfina glanced at the markings on the crate. “It looks good to me.” She turned to Sten. “Would you mind taking it to my room please, Stennvar?”
“Of course,” Sten reached down for the crate, but Neetrenaza stopped him with a gesture.
“It iss heavy,” the Saxhleel warned. “Let me help you lift it.” He crouched down beside the crate and tipped his head up at Sten. “Lift with the legss.”
Sten mimicked Neetrenaza’s crouch on the opposite side. Together they grasped the handles and lifted the crate off the floor. Sten could feel the weight within. “What do you have in this, Boss?”
“Ssmellss like coin,” Neetrenaza whispered to Sten over the top of the box. “Do you have it now, land sstrider?”
“Yes, I do, Neetrenaza,” Sten recalled Lilisfina’s advice to Nilsine and remembered to address the Saxhleel by name. “Thank you very much, friend.” He caught Lilisfina slip a hand into her belt purse and slide a few drakes to the Argonian.
“No need for thiss,” Neetrenaza shook his head, his spines displaying his appreciation at the Bosmer’s thoughtful gesture. “Dame Nilssine hass already paid me extra for thiss delivery.” He tipped his head toward the rear of the inn. “I’d besst be leaving, before your innkeeper getss her tail in more knotss.”
Sten stifled a chuckle as he turned for the rented room. Behind him he heard Lilisfina murmur her final thanks to the Saxhleel and close the door after him. She entered the room behind him, and directed him to place the crate on top of the bed.
“I'll answer your question, Stennvar,” Lilisfina remarked as she drew the small knife she kept for cutting herbs and inserted the blade beneath the top of the crate and lifted the lid to reveal a large leather case filling the interior. “First, please help me lift this out.”
Sten noted the rope handles on each end, folded against the top. He took them in his hands, and recalling Neetrenaza’s advice, used his knees to lift it out. The weight was more than he expected, yet less than what he had felt when picking up the crate. At Lilisfina’s signal, he placed it on the bed beside the crate.
Lilisfina reached inside the crate and pulled out five coin pouches. When Sten peered back into the crate, he could see the bottom covered by neat rows of more coin pouches. “Part of the reason it has taken me so long to come this far is I’ve been trying to save up enough to pay for tuition at Winterhold,” Lilisfina explained. “It got to the point where I found it easier to leave it with a trusted shopkeeper while I worked jobs in the area. Whenever I moved on to a new place, I would have this shipped after me.”
“That looks like quite a lot of silver,” Sten remarked. “Enough to buy the house from the Shatter-shields? And I've never heard of the College charging tuition,” he mused. Lilisfina glanced up at him.
“Perhaps not,” she admitted with a shrug, “but one still has to eat and wear clothing, especially warm ones!” She shook her head. “To be honest, if I’m spending all my time studying, I won’t have time to earn my keep!”
Sten eyed the leather case curiously. It was almost as deep as the crate, and heavier than the coin that remained in the bottom. “What’s in the case, may I ask?”
Lilisfina’s face grew somber. “My family, and our graht-oak. Rather, their ashes, after the Thalmor got through with them.” She slid a hand across the top of the case. “I’ve been trying to find an appropriate resting place for them, where I can return them to Y’ffre.” She sighed. “I thought of asking the Hist in Black Marsh, but the Hist could not connect to Y’ffre. But I heard whispers of a tree sacred to Kynareth, which I believe the Nords call Kyne. Since Kyne and Y’ffre share certain characteristics, I thought I would see if I could find the tree.”
“The Gildergreen?” Sten inhaled sharply. “That’s in Whiterun. Perhaps we can hire a carriage and take your family there?” He gestured at the case, then at the wooden crate. “Would you like me to put it back, boss?”
“Please,” Lilisfina smiled sadly. “But for now, let’s worry about Hjerim.”
“And you may as well figure out who’s going to be looking after the place while you are studying spells in Winterhold,” Sten carefully slid the heavy case back within the crate. He watched as Lilisfina tapped the sealing spikes of the lid back down. He could sense a faint tingle of magick as she activated a sealing spell on the crate. You’ll need a carl of some sort. Someone who’s not uncomfortable with magic.
“One thing at a time, Stennvar!” Lilisfina chuckled as she slipped the coin bags into the backpack and handed it to Sten. “Would you mind carrying this for me? No one would think to try and steal that off of you!”
Sten shrugged the straps over his shoulders and flexed his biceps. “Let them try,” he jutted his chin defiantly. “Are we meeting Nilsine now?”
“I asked Neetrenaza to request Nilsine meet us at the Steward’s office in the Palace,” Lilisfina rose to her feet and brushed her hands on her tunic. She flexed her fingers briefly.
“Your hands hurt?” Sten asked as he held the door open for her.
“They tingle, from that magic,” she responded. “Alteration spells always make my nerves twitch.”
“Not the flame spell or the healing spell you used?” Sten was curious in spite of his innate aversion to magic.
“No, destruction and healing spells make my fingers feel warm.” Lilisfina slipped past Sten out into the hall and headed for the exit. “Let’s not keep Nilsine waiting,” she glanced back over her shoulder at him. Sten was pleased to see the grief absent from her gaze.
“Let’s not!” he exclaimed. “Where are Star and Icicle?” He looked around at the sudden realization at their absence.
“In the kitchen, I imagine,” Lilisfina responded with a smile.
As he stepped out into the hall, Sten whistled sharply. A yip sounded from the kitchen, and Star streaked toward them, tongue and tail wagging happily. Icicle followed in his wake in a more sedate manner.
“Icicle seems a bit put out that we forgot about her,” Lilisfina whispered to Sten. “Don’t worry, Icicle,” she addressed the cat, “we’ll make sure to get that fire lit first chance we get!”
“What are the chances they were begging for something to eat from Nils?” Sten muttered as he followed after Lilisfina down the hall. She laughed.
“What better way to pass the time when we are preoccupied with less important matters?”
@Acadian: There is a slight thaw in Dame Elda's regard for Sofie - she can't deny that the little girl does know how to clean! Whether or not the thaw continues remains to be seen. And Lili learned that drying spell from Buffy, it seems! And yes, Lili and Sten both want to stay together, but neither wants to assume too much of the other. Hmmm, someone is going to have to hit both of them over the head soon! Maybe Dame Elda with her ever-present bar towel?
@SubRosa: Dust Dragons are much easier to defeat, I agree! Though they respawn faster than their deadly counterparts! And yes, Sten is going to be a live in mercenary - for now! I think Lili's plans will begin to coalesce in the next few days, we are still wrapping up Sundas a seven day after her arrival in Windhelm!
@Kane: There's always something to keep Lili in Windhelm just a little while longer! And yes, I agree our ten year old hero is too young to live alone in an empty house.
After soothing Dame Elda's upset ego and helping Sofie finish up her cleaning adventure, our intrepid couple finally sit down to assess the state of things. We find out that they are continuing their partnership as originally agreed. Also there is the question of that mysterious shipment awaiting final delivery from the docks.
*****************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - What’s in the Box?
Looks like Boss may be returning to Windhelm from time to time - she agreed to purchase the house from the Shatter-Shields. We are already planning how to clean the house, and she has suggested I move my gear there and stay there. Not as carl, mind you. I get the sense that she doesn’t agree with the status of carls here in Skyrim. In any case, she would like to adopt Sofie, but is concerned for those times she will be gone. That’s something I’m sure she’ll figure out soon.
Elda appeared in the doorway again, her face twisted in one of her disapproving scowls. “Oh no,” Lilisfina looked up as she closed the wardrobe door on her bag. “What has Sofie done now?”
“Oh, it’s not that little rascal,” Elda snapped. “I have one of those lizards in my entry! Won’t leave until you claim what is yours, apparently. I can’t make him go - he’s too big for me to push out the door.” She shuddered. “As if I wanted to touch his slimy scales!”
“Saxhleel aren’t slimy,” Lilisfina corrected. “Their skins are smooth and dry to the touch. He must have my shipment from Blacklight.” She moved toward Elda. “Can you show me where he is? Stennvar and I can meet him and take care of things quickly.”
“He’s at the front counter,” Elda made a shooing gesture toward the front of the inn, then turned for the kitchen with another scoff.
Sten caught Lilisfina’s smile as she headed in the opposite direction. “Come on, Stennvar,” she added. “I think I will need your brute strength for this job.” They recognized the Saxhleel waiting at the counter, a crate at his feet. “Hello, Neetrenaza,” Lilisfina greeted him.
“Greetingss, Bossmer friend,” the Argonian inclined his head with a pleased slant to his brow spines. “Dame Nilssine has assked me to bring thiss to you here.”
“My shipment?” Lilisfina glanced at the markings on the crate. “It looks good to me.” She turned to Sten. “Would you mind taking it to my room please, Stennvar?”
“Of course,” Sten reached down for the crate, but Neetrenaza stopped him with a gesture.
“It iss heavy,” the Saxhleel warned. “Let me help you lift it.” He crouched down beside the crate and tipped his head up at Sten. “Lift with the legss.”
Sten mimicked Neetrenaza’s crouch on the opposite side. Together they grasped the handles and lifted the crate off the floor. Sten could feel the weight within. “What do you have in this, Boss?”
“Ssmellss like coin,” Neetrenaza whispered to Sten over the top of the box. “Do you have it now, land sstrider?”
“Yes, I do, Neetrenaza,” Sten recalled Lilisfina’s advice to Nilsine and remembered to address the Saxhleel by name. “Thank you very much, friend.” He caught Lilisfina slip a hand into her belt purse and slide a few drakes to the Argonian.
“No need for thiss,” Neetrenaza shook his head, his spines displaying his appreciation at the Bosmer’s thoughtful gesture. “Dame Nilssine hass already paid me extra for thiss delivery.” He tipped his head toward the rear of the inn. “I’d besst be leaving, before your innkeeper getss her tail in more knotss.”
Sten stifled a chuckle as he turned for the rented room. Behind him he heard Lilisfina murmur her final thanks to the Saxhleel and close the door after him. She entered the room behind him, and directed him to place the crate on top of the bed.
“I'll answer your question, Stennvar,” Lilisfina remarked as she drew the small knife she kept for cutting herbs and inserted the blade beneath the top of the crate and lifted the lid to reveal a large leather case filling the interior. “First, please help me lift this out.”
Sten noted the rope handles on each end, folded against the top. He took them in his hands, and recalling Neetrenaza’s advice, used his knees to lift it out. The weight was more than he expected, yet less than what he had felt when picking up the crate. At Lilisfina’s signal, he placed it on the bed beside the crate.
Lilisfina reached inside the crate and pulled out five coin pouches. When Sten peered back into the crate, he could see the bottom covered by neat rows of more coin pouches. “Part of the reason it has taken me so long to come this far is I’ve been trying to save up enough to pay for tuition at Winterhold,” Lilisfina explained. “It got to the point where I found it easier to leave it with a trusted shopkeeper while I worked jobs in the area. Whenever I moved on to a new place, I would have this shipped after me.”
“That looks like quite a lot of silver,” Sten remarked. “Enough to buy the house from the Shatter-shields? And I've never heard of the College charging tuition,” he mused. Lilisfina glanced up at him.
“Perhaps not,” she admitted with a shrug, “but one still has to eat and wear clothing, especially warm ones!” She shook her head. “To be honest, if I’m spending all my time studying, I won’t have time to earn my keep!”
Sten eyed the leather case curiously. It was almost as deep as the crate, and heavier than the coin that remained in the bottom. “What’s in the case, may I ask?”
Lilisfina’s face grew somber. “My family, and our graht-oak. Rather, their ashes, after the Thalmor got through with them.” She slid a hand across the top of the case. “I’ve been trying to find an appropriate resting place for them, where I can return them to Y’ffre.” She sighed. “I thought of asking the Hist in Black Marsh, but the Hist could not connect to Y’ffre. But I heard whispers of a tree sacred to Kynareth, which I believe the Nords call Kyne. Since Kyne and Y’ffre share certain characteristics, I thought I would see if I could find the tree.”
“The Gildergreen?” Sten inhaled sharply. “That’s in Whiterun. Perhaps we can hire a carriage and take your family there?” He gestured at the case, then at the wooden crate. “Would you like me to put it back, boss?”
“Please,” Lilisfina smiled sadly. “But for now, let’s worry about Hjerim.”
“And you may as well figure out who’s going to be looking after the place while you are studying spells in Winterhold,” Sten carefully slid the heavy case back within the crate. He watched as Lilisfina tapped the sealing spikes of the lid back down. He could sense a faint tingle of magick as she activated a sealing spell on the crate. You’ll need a carl of some sort. Someone who’s not uncomfortable with magic.
“One thing at a time, Stennvar!” Lilisfina chuckled as she slipped the coin bags into the backpack and handed it to Sten. “Would you mind carrying this for me? No one would think to try and steal that off of you!”
Sten shrugged the straps over his shoulders and flexed his biceps. “Let them try,” he jutted his chin defiantly. “Are we meeting Nilsine now?”
“I asked Neetrenaza to request Nilsine meet us at the Steward’s office in the Palace,” Lilisfina rose to her feet and brushed her hands on her tunic. She flexed her fingers briefly.
“Your hands hurt?” Sten asked as he held the door open for her.
“They tingle, from that magic,” she responded. “Alteration spells always make my nerves twitch.”
“Not the flame spell or the healing spell you used?” Sten was curious in spite of his innate aversion to magic.
“No, destruction and healing spells make my fingers feel warm.” Lilisfina slipped past Sten out into the hall and headed for the exit. “Let’s not keep Nilsine waiting,” she glanced back over her shoulder at him. Sten was pleased to see the grief absent from her gaze.
“Let’s not!” he exclaimed. “Where are Star and Icicle?” He looked around at the sudden realization at their absence.
“In the kitchen, I imagine,” Lilisfina responded with a smile.
As he stepped out into the hall, Sten whistled sharply. A yip sounded from the kitchen, and Star streaked toward them, tongue and tail wagging happily. Icicle followed in his wake in a more sedate manner.
“Icicle seems a bit put out that we forgot about her,” Lilisfina whispered to Sten. “Don’t worry, Icicle,” she addressed the cat, “we’ll make sure to get that fire lit first chance we get!”
“What are the chances they were begging for something to eat from Nils?” Sten muttered as he followed after Lilisfina down the hall. She laughed.
“What better way to pass the time when we are preoccupied with less important matters?”
Elda continues to acquit herself poorly with her attitude about having one of those lizards in her entry.
The mystery of the shipment is solved! I hope the Gilderglean is able to help with the remains of Lili’s tree and family.
Neat how differing types of magicka affect Lili’s hands differently.
So, the shell of a plan for Sophie is beginning to take shape. Adopt her but also acquire some sort of housekeeper/nanny first to cover Lili's absences. Silda comes to mind but we shall see.
The mystery of the shipment is solved! I hope the Gilderglean is able to help with the remains of Lili’s tree and family.
Neat how differing types of magicka affect Lili’s hands differently.
So, the shell of a plan for Sophie is beginning to take shape. Adopt her but also acquire some sort of housekeeper/nanny first to cover Lili's absences. Silda comes to mind but we shall see.
Ooh, I do like that touch of magic having a different feeling based on the type used. Adds a little welcome depth to something that is somethings glossed over in the series lore.
Oh my. Elda’s attitude could sour milk.
I quite enjoyed Neetrenaza’s Saxhleel speech and mannerisms. And I had to copy/paste his name.
Yikes, Lili faces the problem of saving up a metal currency while hiding from the Thalmor, so she can’t use a bank. Gems and jewelry would weigh less but could attract attention when she tried to spend them.
I hope Lili, Sten, and Star can find a resting place for Lili’s family. Yay for an eventual Whiterun visit, I always come back to Whiterun as my favorite Skyrim town.
I quite enjoyed Neetrenaza’s Saxhleel speech and mannerisms. And I had to copy/paste his name.
Yikes, Lili faces the problem of saving up a metal currency while hiding from the Thalmor, so she can’t use a bank. Gems and jewelry would weigh less but could attract attention when she tried to spend them.
I hope Lili, Sten, and Star can find a resting place for Lili’s family. Yay for an eventual Whiterun visit, I always come back to Whiterun as my favorite Skyrim town.
Oh no, its one of those people at the door. You know, the kind who are not really people... Elda really grows on you, like a wart.
Nice reply by Lil, pointing out the reality behind serpentine skin.
So it's that coffin from home filled with dirt. Nothing to see here...
I always loved the term "land strider" that Argonians use for dry skins.
So not just money, but the remains of her people. Now that is a heavy burden to carry. Somehow I suspect that the GIldergreen won't be the tree she needs. But the Evergleam might just do the trick.
I liked Lil's little idiosyncrasies when it comes to using magic, and which types suit her, and which do not.
Nice reply by Lil, pointing out the reality behind serpentine skin.
So it's that coffin from home filled with dirt. Nothing to see here...
I always loved the term "land strider" that Argonians use for dry skins.
So not just money, but the remains of her people. Now that is a heavy burden to carry. Somehow I suspect that the GIldergreen won't be the tree she needs. But the Evergleam might just do the trick.
I liked Lil's little idiosyncrasies when it comes to using magic, and which types suit her, and which do not.
@Acadian: I felt it was time to introduce another reason for Lili's presence in Skyrim - the mysterious box. It had to hold more than just coin - and be something very meaningful to Lili that she wouldn't leave it behind as she moved from province to province. As we will see eventually, it will provide a major hindrance to her ability to move onto Winterhold and the College. As for Sofie, we will see how she solves a more immediate problem!
@Kane: I felt that different schools of magicka should feel different to one as sensitive to it as Lili. In my mind, it would also explain why different mages are more attuned to different schools of Magick. Here was a great opportunity to introduce that idea to a non-mage such as Sten.
@Grits: Dame Elda is actually quite fun to write - normally I detest bigoted characters but in her I feel like much of it is coming from stress of managing the inn by herself and trying to get by with just Nils and formerly Susanna, but now Silda. She doesn't deal well with change, and I suspect she will become a nicer person if she ever takes Thane Free-Winter up on his offer of a cabin in the Rift. And I'm with you, I love Whiterun!
@SubRosa: Yes, Dame Elda really is a wart you become fond of! And another Saxhleel term I love is "dryskin" - it really plays up the need for Argonians for a consistent source of moisture. And yes, you are correct in seeing a visit to a certain Sanctuary in Lili and Sten's future. . . .
The story so far: Lili has agreed to purchase Hjerim from the Shatter-Shields, and has finally received the shipment from Blacklight she has been waiting for. It turns out to contain not only her hard-earned coin collected over the past fifty years but also the remains of her family and graht-oak gathered after the conflagration. Now it's off to see Steward Jorleif to make the sale official!
**************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - Paperwork
“Hello!” Nilsine’s voice reached Lili and Stenvar as they moved through the Palace courtyard toward the large doors. “Glad I caught you,” the Shatter-Shield scion continued as she reached them. Star pranced joyfully toward her and brushed his body against her skirts. She glanced down briefly to return his greeting with a touch of her fingers on his pricked ears, then she turned her gaze back to Lili. “No need to go into the main hall,” she motioned toward the tall ornate doors. “We can reach Steward Jorleif’s office through here.” She pointed out the single small door set off in the northeastern corner of the courtyard.
Lili felt an inexplicable sense of relief at Nilsine’s words. At least I won’t have the Jarl’s eyes on me. Does he hate Bosmer as much as he does Altmer and Dunmer? Though he has not arrested me doesn’t mean he’s not watching for his chance. She sensed Stenvar move closer behind her as they followed Nilsine through the door into a corridor that ran back into the Palace. At intervals to the left open archways revealed glimpses of the main Hall.
The Steward’s office was a small room at the end of the long corridor. A closed door barred the way into the Hall near the Jarl’s seat. A small chandelier cast light upon neat sheaves of paper stacked upon shelves, several cabinets that looked to house even more papers, and a desk in the center of the room, with chairs around it. On the corner of the desk nearest Lili and Nilsine a tall vase held even taller quills, and a small pen knife rested beside it. A thin slab of slate on the surface of the desk provided a smooth writing surface for the Steward. Star sniffed at the small lantern that swung from a slender arm mounted on a sturdy post at the corner of the desk nearest Stenvar.
Jorleif turned from the cabinet behind the desk, a sheaf of papers in his right hand. His left held a heavy, polished crystal hemisphere above the pages as he peered through it at the writing beneath. “Good evening, Dame Shatter-Shield, Dame Lilisfina, and Stenvar Strongsword,” he greeted them all in his light tenor, his gaze remaining on the papers as he laid them down on top of the greenish gray slate. He glanced up toward the ceiling, and Lili recognized the darkening sky in the small windows in two walls just beneath the eaves. “I understand you have business to conclude?”
“It concerns my late sister’s house Hjerim,” Nilsine’s voice faltered only slightly over the mention of her sibling. “It passed to me with her - death, and now I wish to sell it.”
Jorleif’s pale blue gaze shifted from the tall Nord woman to Lili. “To whom, may I ask?”
“Lilisfina from Valenwood,” Nilsine gestured toward the Bosmer mage. “She is prepared to pay five thousand drakes for it.”
“Five thousand?” Jorleif repeated, his brows rising. He slid the crystal over the lines on the paper in front of him. Lili noted the lettering on the page seemed larger as the clear stone moved over them. “According to this bill of sale from four years ago, your father paid eight thousand drakes for it. It should be valued at least eight thousand five hundred today.”
“True,” Nilsine agreed. “However, value should also allow for the fact that it is the scene of a series of grisly crimes, and the fact that it has stood neglected since Friga died.” She nodded again at Lili. “Our Bosmer mage understands what it will take to restore the house to livable condition.”
“And there is the fine for trespass owed to the Shatter-Shields,” Lili added. “I do not feel it should go unpaid once they sell the house.”
“Ah, there is the conundrum,” Jorleif responded. “Wuunferth has also offered to pay the fine as well, in purchasing Corrium’s little house from the Jarl.” He regarded Lili for a few breaths. “The fine should not be the responsibility of anyone except Corrium, as the offending party.”
“Alas, he is no longer able to pay it,” Nilsine laid the paper in her own hand down on the desk. “Lilisfina insists upon paying us the fine before we sign the deed over to her.”
“And what of Wuunferth’s offer?” Jorleif raised his brows at Nilsine. “I can not let you collect twice on the same offense.”
“I care not for that ramshackle hovel,” Nilsine responded haughtily. “It never belonged to us, and I refuse to have it associated with our clan name. Let the funds go to the Jarl.”
“Or perhaps to Thane Free-Winter,” Lili suggested softly into the silence that grew between the two Nords. “Considering that Corrium lived in his quarter, and his actions have affected the people of that neighborhood.”
“Thane Free-Winter will not accept such silver,” Jorleif responded thoughtfully. “He always said a man should live within his own means.”
“Not necessarily for himself,” Lili responded. “He strikes me as a Thane who cares about the welfare of his people.”
“That is a good point,” a voice reached them from the doorway. Wuunferth stood in the open archway, his ice blue eyes glittering from the shadows cast across his lined face by his hood. “Personally, I don’t care who gets my silver, only that I get the use of that little house for my workshop.” He dropped a large coin pouch on the table in front of Jorleif. “Whether that goes to the Jarl or to the Thane of the Grey Quarter, I care not!” Then he chuckled. “Though the idea of my hard earned silver accumulated over the years as court mage to an ungrateful drunk going to help those he considers unworthy makes me positively giddy with glee!”
Jorleif cleared his throat in soft warning, then picked up the coin pouch. He peered in, then set it in one of the pans of a delicate balance scale. After he added a series of silver cubes to the opposite pan, he watched them settle level with each other. With a nod of satisfaction he removed the coin bag and set it aside. “Very well, I will give this to Thane Free-Winter.” He looked up at Nilsine and Lili. “And I will tell the Jarl that the Shatter-Shield clan is now satisfied by the payment of the fine. He won’t ask who paid the fine.”
“Let’s conclude this business quickly, then,” Jorleif drew two small stacks of clean parchment from another shelf behind him and laid them on the writing slate. “First, the bill of sale for Hjerim. From Nilsine Shatter-Shield, heir to the previous owner Friga Shatter-Shield, to Lilisfina of Valenwood, in the amount of —” He glanced up at the two women.
Lili turned to Stenvar’s backpack and pulled out the five smaller coin bags. “Fifty gold septims,” she remarked softly. “Would they be acceptable here in Windhelm?”
Jorleif and Nilsine regarded her in surprise. Gold coin must be very rare in Skyrim. What was it Stenvar said? “This Stormcloak uprising of his isn’t easy to maintain.” Jorleif regarded the bags before emptying them onto the weighing pan. “Yes, gold is always acceptable. Considering we value one gold septim as equal to one hundred silver drakes, these should weigh as much as five thousand silver drakes —” his voice faded off as the scale reached equilibrium with both pans perfectly level.
“Septims or no, gold is gold, yes?” Lili smiled at Jorleif as he returned the gold coins to their bags and set them on the table before Nilsine. He smiled back as he completed the bill of sale for the two women to sign. He added his own mark as witness.
“Now the matter of taxes,” Jorleif’s tone turned brisk. “The Shatter-Shields have paid through the end of the year. Starting with the first of the next year, you’ll be responsible for annual tax on the property, as will you, Wuunferth, on yours,” he nodded at the wizard.
“He can just take them out of my pay,” the old Nord responded acerbically. “I have enough books and equipment to last me the rest of my lifetime, and materials don’t cost as much when you know how to gather them.”
Jorleif held up his hand. “Please, I don’t want to hear about that.” He turned back to Lili. “For Hjerim, it is based on square footage of the property, not the house. Due to its small footprint, taxes are low compared to the other homes in the Stone Quarter - two hundred drakes a year.”
“And that’s for next year?” Lili asked. “Do they go up year over year?”
“The Thanes do not allow the Jarl to do raise property tax as much as he would like, so not for the past five years. And the tax rate for next year is already set.” Jorleif regarded Lili thoughtfully. “Since the decision is made in the second month of the year prior, you will get enough advance notice of any increase in taxes.”
“Thank you, Steward,” Lili nodded her understanding. “I will have the funds ready when the first of the year arrives.” She paused. “There is another matter I would like to speak with you regarding,” she ventured cautiously. “But it is getting late in the day —”
“Come back in the morning, after the ninth bell,” Jorleif responded. “I will be in here,” he waved his hands around the small room. “As you now know the way,” he added with a wink.
@Kane: I felt that different schools of magicka should feel different to one as sensitive to it as Lili. In my mind, it would also explain why different mages are more attuned to different schools of Magick. Here was a great opportunity to introduce that idea to a non-mage such as Sten.
@Grits: Dame Elda is actually quite fun to write - normally I detest bigoted characters but in her I feel like much of it is coming from stress of managing the inn by herself and trying to get by with just Nils and formerly Susanna, but now Silda. She doesn't deal well with change, and I suspect she will become a nicer person if she ever takes Thane Free-Winter up on his offer of a cabin in the Rift. And I'm with you, I love Whiterun!
@SubRosa: Yes, Dame Elda really is a wart you become fond of! And another Saxhleel term I love is "dryskin" - it really plays up the need for Argonians for a consistent source of moisture. And yes, you are correct in seeing a visit to a certain Sanctuary in Lili and Sten's future. . . .
The story so far: Lili has agreed to purchase Hjerim from the Shatter-Shields, and has finally received the shipment from Blacklight she has been waiting for. It turns out to contain not only her hard-earned coin collected over the past fifty years but also the remains of her family and graht-oak gathered after the conflagration. Now it's off to see Steward Jorleif to make the sale official!
**************************
Sundas 24 Last Seed - Paperwork
“Hello!” Nilsine’s voice reached Lili and Stenvar as they moved through the Palace courtyard toward the large doors. “Glad I caught you,” the Shatter-Shield scion continued as she reached them. Star pranced joyfully toward her and brushed his body against her skirts. She glanced down briefly to return his greeting with a touch of her fingers on his pricked ears, then she turned her gaze back to Lili. “No need to go into the main hall,” she motioned toward the tall ornate doors. “We can reach Steward Jorleif’s office through here.” She pointed out the single small door set off in the northeastern corner of the courtyard.
Lili felt an inexplicable sense of relief at Nilsine’s words. At least I won’t have the Jarl’s eyes on me. Does he hate Bosmer as much as he does Altmer and Dunmer? Though he has not arrested me doesn’t mean he’s not watching for his chance. She sensed Stenvar move closer behind her as they followed Nilsine through the door into a corridor that ran back into the Palace. At intervals to the left open archways revealed glimpses of the main Hall.
The Steward’s office was a small room at the end of the long corridor. A closed door barred the way into the Hall near the Jarl’s seat. A small chandelier cast light upon neat sheaves of paper stacked upon shelves, several cabinets that looked to house even more papers, and a desk in the center of the room, with chairs around it. On the corner of the desk nearest Lili and Nilsine a tall vase held even taller quills, and a small pen knife rested beside it. A thin slab of slate on the surface of the desk provided a smooth writing surface for the Steward. Star sniffed at the small lantern that swung from a slender arm mounted on a sturdy post at the corner of the desk nearest Stenvar.
Jorleif turned from the cabinet behind the desk, a sheaf of papers in his right hand. His left held a heavy, polished crystal hemisphere above the pages as he peered through it at the writing beneath. “Good evening, Dame Shatter-Shield, Dame Lilisfina, and Stenvar Strongsword,” he greeted them all in his light tenor, his gaze remaining on the papers as he laid them down on top of the greenish gray slate. He glanced up toward the ceiling, and Lili recognized the darkening sky in the small windows in two walls just beneath the eaves. “I understand you have business to conclude?”
“It concerns my late sister’s house Hjerim,” Nilsine’s voice faltered only slightly over the mention of her sibling. “It passed to me with her - death, and now I wish to sell it.”
Jorleif’s pale blue gaze shifted from the tall Nord woman to Lili. “To whom, may I ask?”
“Lilisfina from Valenwood,” Nilsine gestured toward the Bosmer mage. “She is prepared to pay five thousand drakes for it.”
“Five thousand?” Jorleif repeated, his brows rising. He slid the crystal over the lines on the paper in front of him. Lili noted the lettering on the page seemed larger as the clear stone moved over them. “According to this bill of sale from four years ago, your father paid eight thousand drakes for it. It should be valued at least eight thousand five hundred today.”
“True,” Nilsine agreed. “However, value should also allow for the fact that it is the scene of a series of grisly crimes, and the fact that it has stood neglected since Friga died.” She nodded again at Lili. “Our Bosmer mage understands what it will take to restore the house to livable condition.”
“And there is the fine for trespass owed to the Shatter-Shields,” Lili added. “I do not feel it should go unpaid once they sell the house.”
“Ah, there is the conundrum,” Jorleif responded. “Wuunferth has also offered to pay the fine as well, in purchasing Corrium’s little house from the Jarl.” He regarded Lili for a few breaths. “The fine should not be the responsibility of anyone except Corrium, as the offending party.”
“Alas, he is no longer able to pay it,” Nilsine laid the paper in her own hand down on the desk. “Lilisfina insists upon paying us the fine before we sign the deed over to her.”
“And what of Wuunferth’s offer?” Jorleif raised his brows at Nilsine. “I can not let you collect twice on the same offense.”
“I care not for that ramshackle hovel,” Nilsine responded haughtily. “It never belonged to us, and I refuse to have it associated with our clan name. Let the funds go to the Jarl.”
“Or perhaps to Thane Free-Winter,” Lili suggested softly into the silence that grew between the two Nords. “Considering that Corrium lived in his quarter, and his actions have affected the people of that neighborhood.”
“Thane Free-Winter will not accept such silver,” Jorleif responded thoughtfully. “He always said a man should live within his own means.”
“Not necessarily for himself,” Lili responded. “He strikes me as a Thane who cares about the welfare of his people.”
“That is a good point,” a voice reached them from the doorway. Wuunferth stood in the open archway, his ice blue eyes glittering from the shadows cast across his lined face by his hood. “Personally, I don’t care who gets my silver, only that I get the use of that little house for my workshop.” He dropped a large coin pouch on the table in front of Jorleif. “Whether that goes to the Jarl or to the Thane of the Grey Quarter, I care not!” Then he chuckled. “Though the idea of my hard earned silver accumulated over the years as court mage to an ungrateful drunk going to help those he considers unworthy makes me positively giddy with glee!”
Jorleif cleared his throat in soft warning, then picked up the coin pouch. He peered in, then set it in one of the pans of a delicate balance scale. After he added a series of silver cubes to the opposite pan, he watched them settle level with each other. With a nod of satisfaction he removed the coin bag and set it aside. “Very well, I will give this to Thane Free-Winter.” He looked up at Nilsine and Lili. “And I will tell the Jarl that the Shatter-Shield clan is now satisfied by the payment of the fine. He won’t ask who paid the fine.”
“Let’s conclude this business quickly, then,” Jorleif drew two small stacks of clean parchment from another shelf behind him and laid them on the writing slate. “First, the bill of sale for Hjerim. From Nilsine Shatter-Shield, heir to the previous owner Friga Shatter-Shield, to Lilisfina of Valenwood, in the amount of —” He glanced up at the two women.
Lili turned to Stenvar’s backpack and pulled out the five smaller coin bags. “Fifty gold septims,” she remarked softly. “Would they be acceptable here in Windhelm?”
Jorleif and Nilsine regarded her in surprise. Gold coin must be very rare in Skyrim. What was it Stenvar said? “This Stormcloak uprising of his isn’t easy to maintain.” Jorleif regarded the bags before emptying them onto the weighing pan. “Yes, gold is always acceptable. Considering we value one gold septim as equal to one hundred silver drakes, these should weigh as much as five thousand silver drakes —” his voice faded off as the scale reached equilibrium with both pans perfectly level.
“Septims or no, gold is gold, yes?” Lili smiled at Jorleif as he returned the gold coins to their bags and set them on the table before Nilsine. He smiled back as he completed the bill of sale for the two women to sign. He added his own mark as witness.
“Now the matter of taxes,” Jorleif’s tone turned brisk. “The Shatter-Shields have paid through the end of the year. Starting with the first of the next year, you’ll be responsible for annual tax on the property, as will you, Wuunferth, on yours,” he nodded at the wizard.
“He can just take them out of my pay,” the old Nord responded acerbically. “I have enough books and equipment to last me the rest of my lifetime, and materials don’t cost as much when you know how to gather them.”
Jorleif held up his hand. “Please, I don’t want to hear about that.” He turned back to Lili. “For Hjerim, it is based on square footage of the property, not the house. Due to its small footprint, taxes are low compared to the other homes in the Stone Quarter - two hundred drakes a year.”
“And that’s for next year?” Lili asked. “Do they go up year over year?”
“The Thanes do not allow the Jarl to do raise property tax as much as he would like, so not for the past five years. And the tax rate for next year is already set.” Jorleif regarded Lili thoughtfully. “Since the decision is made in the second month of the year prior, you will get enough advance notice of any increase in taxes.”
“Thank you, Steward,” Lili nodded her understanding. “I will have the funds ready when the first of the year arrives.” She paused. “There is another matter I would like to speak with you regarding,” she ventured cautiously. “But it is getting late in the day —”
“Come back in the morning, after the ninth bell,” Jorleif responded. “I will be in here,” he waved his hands around the small room. “As you now know the way,” he added with a wink.
Oh my, Wuunferth sure says what’s on his mind!
Nice to get the formalities over with. Hjerim has a new owner. Congratulations to Lili and her circle of new friends!
I wonder what else Lili wants to see Jorleif about? Good thing he suggested they meet tomorrow. I’m sure Icicle is impatient for her fire!
Nice to get the formalities over with. Hjerim has a new owner. Congratulations to Lili and her circle of new friends!
I wonder what else Lili wants to see Jorleif about? Good thing he suggested they meet tomorrow. I’m sure Icicle is impatient for her fire!
I chuckled over Lili’s use of gold septims as payment. It reminds me of a banker in Alinor who comments every time Buffy comes in about how unusual it is see non-Altmer in Summerset. One of her comments is, “Your gold will be as safe here as any Altmer’s. Y-you do use gold where you come from?”
Wonderful job portraying the steward as efficient but unsurprisingly steeped in bureaucratic norms. He was nicely balanced by the irreverent nature of Wuunferth. By delving into obtrusive questions like the reason for the sale and debating the price, Jorleif reminds us that this is a feudal society and his job includes representing the Jarl in approving the sale - rather than simply the clerical task of recording it.
And the deal is done!
I have a suspicion about the nature of the other matter Lili would like to discuss with the steward.
Wonderful job portraying the steward as efficient but unsurprisingly steeped in bureaucratic norms. He was nicely balanced by the irreverent nature of Wuunferth. By delving into obtrusive questions like the reason for the sale and debating the price, Jorleif reminds us that this is a feudal society and his job includes representing the Jarl in approving the sale - rather than simply the clerical task of recording it.
And the deal is done!
I have a suspicion about the nature of the other matter Lili would like to discuss with the steward.
At least visiting the parchment-pusher is less stressful than the Jarl. It looks like his eyesight is not what it once was, and he needs a reading glass to cipher the small print. One can empathize...
It is funny, but reading old ghost stories, no one wants to live in a house that is reputed to be haunted. The mere suspicion of a ghost made a place un-rentable. But now, having a ghost is a selling point! Hotels advertise that they are haunted, and whole towns brag about being the most haunted place in <insert nation, state, province, county here>
And Wuunferth makes an appearance! Well, he is certainly not subtle about his feelings, is he!
Gold is always acceptable...
I am guessing that the other matter Lil wants to discuss with the steward involved Sofie. Perhaps adopting her?
The Thanes do not allow the Jarl to do raise property tax as much as he would like,
I think the drunken Jarl sneaked an unworthy extra do into your sentence here...
It is funny, but reading old ghost stories, no one wants to live in a house that is reputed to be haunted. The mere suspicion of a ghost made a place un-rentable. But now, having a ghost is a selling point! Hotels advertise that they are haunted, and whole towns brag about being the most haunted place in <insert nation, state, province, county here>
And Wuunferth makes an appearance! Well, he is certainly not subtle about his feelings, is he!
Gold is always acceptable...
I am guessing that the other matter Lil wants to discuss with the steward involved Sofie. Perhaps adopting her?
The Thanes do not allow the Jarl to do raise property tax as much as he would like,
I think the drunken Jarl sneaked an unworthy extra do into your sentence here...
@Grits: Wuunferth is a typical elder - I've noticed many of them have no filter and say whatever they think. While it comes off as rude, I love their honesty! I've tried to give Wuunferth that bit of unpredictable unexpectedness. And while Lili will be meeting with Jorleif in the morning, trust that Icicle won't have to wait long for her fire!
@Acadian: I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the use of currency in Tamriel through the centuries. I've always thought it incongruous that the Imperial loyalists would use "septims" considering that anything related to Tiber Septim is now out of favor (also the use of "septims in 2E Tamriel, before Talos/Hjalti/Tiber was even born). I decided a long time ago that in writing Skyrim, I would use silver drakes as the main coin, partly because silver is so prevalent in Viking society, partly because the Great War would lead to widespread economic collapse, and partly because the silver mines in The Reach would be the main source of currency in the northern provinces. That meant gold would be appropriately rarer, and I've tried to keep my 4E Tamriel economy consistent with it. So yes, Lili does use gold where she's from, as she has accumulated so much silver it's more convenient to convert to gold septims still found in the south. I also loved your astute assessment of Jorleif's role as the Jarl's representative. I feel he is trusted enough to run the day to day affairs of the city and the Hold and let Jarl Stormcloak focus on the rebellion/war he is fighting/financing.
@SubRosa: I am also considering getting one of those myself, for those times I have fine print to read on paper rather than on a digital device! You are right regarding the other matter Lili wants to discuss with Jorleif, as we will see in a few more posts. Thank you so much for catching that nit! Eagle Eye as always!
And now the next day, and the cleanup begins . . .
*******************************
Morndas 25 Last Seed - A New Problem
“We have to break the news to Dame Elda,” Lilisfina sighed as she set her spoon down. “And to Nils, Silda and Sofie.”
“You are adopting Sofie, aren’t you?” Sten regarded her as he gulped down his cooling klah. “Child needs a home.”
“Yes, child needs a home,” Lilisfina agreed. “And a family. One that will be there for her, not off gallivanting in spider infested caves and draugr crypts.”
Not to mention practicing magick in an enclave of mages? Sten noted that Lilisfina did not mention Winterhold. “At least we can use her help cleaning the house. Way she cleaned your room, the spiders and ghosts at Hjerim don’t stand a chance.”
Lilisfina chuckled into her mug. “Maybe once we clear out that back room. I don’t want her to see what’s left behind there.” She rose to her feet and gathered the used dishes and utensils. “I should ask Dame Elda if we can borrow some cleaning tools.”
“Are you packed and ready to move yet?” Sten asked. Lilisfina nodded. “I don’t have much, but if we can get the house cleaned today we can move our gear there tonight.”
“That might be unrealistic,” Lilisfina remarked slowly. “It’s a lot of scrubbing and spider killing and . . . “
“And we’ve got a sturdy child who isn’t afraid of dust dragons,” Sten responded. “Think she’ll let a few spiders frighten her away?”
“Let’s work until the noon meal, then see where we are with the house,” Lilisfina nodded firmly. “Shall we get started?”
“You talk to Dame Elda, I’ll talk to Nils and Silda,” Sten took the stacked dishes from Lilisfina’s hands. “Let’s see if we can’t get a few towels, mops and brooms and a bucket or two gathered.”
Nils was happy to collect the breakfast dishes from Sten. He set them into the sink, then picked up his wood axe. Silda smiled at him from where she sat peeling potatoes.
“Before you go, Nils, there’s something I’d like to tell you and Silda,” Sten remarked. When he had their attention, he continued. “Boss has purchased Hjerim from the Shatter-Shield family. I’m going with her to help her clean the place up and get it livable again.”
“Dame Lili is going to stay?” Nils’s round face lit up. “Be part of Windhelm?”
Dame Lili? I like the sound of that. “Yes, it looks that way. She may still go to Winterhold, but it sounds like she will maintain ties to us here.”
“Can we help?” Silda asked. Sten shook his head.
“If you can loan us mops, brooms, towels and a bucket or two so we can get started?”
“Of course!” Nils set his axe down and moved toward the cellar. He paused. “But will Dame Elda let you borrow them?”
“Boss is speaking with her now.” Sten responded.
“And Sofie? What of her?” Silda asked. “You know Dame Elda won’t let her stay on after Dame Lili leaves Candlehearth.” Sten shrugged.
“That’s something Boss has yet to figure out. But she will, I know it.”
They heard approaching footsteps as Lilisfina and Star approached the kitchen. “Dame Elda is happy to let us borrow your cleaning tools,” Lilisfina said as she stopped beside Sten. “If you would go ahead and get everything up to the house,” she suggested to Sten. “Remember, I have a meeting with Steward Jorleif this morning. It shouldn’t take long, and I’ll meet you at the house?”
“Sounds good,” Sten agreed as Nils disappeared into the cellar. “I’ll get started on that back room, rip down the walls and get the fireplace going for Icicle.” He winked at Lilisfina as she chuckled in response.
“I’ll see you before the morning’s gone,” Lilisfina turned for the front of the inn and the exit. “Come on, Star, you can come with me.”
“Not taking Icicle, are you, Boss?” Sten called after her.
“No one takes Icicle anywhere,” Lilisfina called back. “She goes where she wills!”
A short while later Sten let himself into Hjerim and dropped his bundle of cleaning equipment. Icicle darted into the house behind him and headed for the dormant fireplace. Sten chuckled to himself as he joined her and examined the chimney breast.
“Let me make sure the chimney’s clear, lass,” he said to the cat. “Then I’ll get some wood and start a fire. First order of business in this house.” As he straightened up, he noticed a folded paper on the mantel. “What’s this?” Sten took it over by the open front door and held it up to the morning light.
Dame Lilisfina, the handwriting was neat, easy to read, Dame Nilsine sent us to clean the chimneys for both the main fireplace and kitchen hearth. It should be safe to start a fire in either. Scouts-Many-Marshes. Sten frowned over the signature. Scouts-Many-Marshes? That’s one of the Argonians on the docks. Nilsine must be developing a rapport with them already. Suddenly Sten grinned to himself as his gaze fell upon the impatiently waiting cat. “All right, Icicle, let me get some wood together.”
He turned and eyed the broken trestle table in the center of the room. “This should do nicely,” he said to the cat. She miaowed in response as Sten knelt down and began breaking off the legs. He used his feet as a fulcrum to break the boards into shorter sections. Once he had a small pile of shattered wood, Sten gathered them and carried them over to the fireplace. As he knelt and began assembling the fire, Icicle brushed against his knees and hips, miaowing impatiently until the flame took hold and began consuming the brittle wood.
As the silver tabby settled on the hearth next to the fire, Sten returned to the remains of the trestle table and began to break the rest of it into smaller sections. As he stacked the last of the wood next to the fireplace, he heard footsteps on the front stoop.
Calder stood in the doorway, uncertainty in his frame as he peered within. “Hello?” His voice, while gruff, was somehow tentative, as if unsure of his reception.
“Hello, Calder,” Sten straightened up from the hearth and moved into the light from the open door. “How can I help you?”
“The Shatter-Shields sent me,” the younger man responded. “Is the Wood Elf here? I have a message for her.”
“She’ll be along shortly,” Sten responded. “Must you give it directly to her?”
“Umm, yes, I’m supposed to,” Calder responded, shifting his feet. Sten eyed the younger man silently. “I can wait for her.”
“Sure, come on in,” Sten waved the carl into the house. Uneasily Calder stepped three paces into the room, then paused to let his eyes adjust to the gloom. “Are you willing to help me create some havoc?”
“H- havoc?” Calder squinted at Sten suspiciously.
“I see you have a great big warhammer, as well as your axe.” Sten pointed out the handle of the huge weapon rising past Calder’s left shoulder. “I can use some help taking down that room,” he gestured toward the secret room in the rear.
“It’s my da’s warhammer,” Calder responded. “And yes,” he swung the heavy weapon off his back, “Da won’t mind if I put it to use to tear that down.”
“Got to keep that cat happy,” Sten jerked his chin toward Icicle, who now regarded them with curious interest. “So let’s build a good stockpile of firewood.”
“We can do that,” Calder agreed and stepped to the rear. “Where do I start?”
“Let’s get that wardrobe broken down first, then that wall.” Sten moved to give Calder space to swing the heavy hammer. Calder paused and handed Sten his war axe.
“Use this to break down the boards,” he remarked. Sten hefted the steel weapon in his hand, testing its balance.
“This is a fine weapon,” he mused. “I’d hate to ruin it using it as a carpenter’s tool.”
“The blade can be resharpened,” Calder responded. “And I trust you won’t try to chop any nails with it.”
As Calder made quick work of the cabinet and doorway, Sten regarded the younger man thoughtfully. He doesn’t seem confident today - almost anxious? What is bothering him? All that nervous energy is being put to good use right now, but once we’re done? “Do you know what’s that message?”
“Not really,” Calder responded as he eyed the wall between the doorway and the back wall of the house. “I have an idea, but I’d rather not say until I’ve handed it over.”
“Do you like working for the Shatter-Shields, Calder?” Sten asked between chops. “What are they like?”
Calder grunted. “Like any other noble family,” he started breaking down the paneling between the wall studs. “Think they’re better than everyone else. Though Dame Nilsine . . . “ He paused as a particular tough section demanded all of his attention. Once the wall was battered down he rested the head of the hammer on the floor and leaned on the long handle in thought. “She and her sister Friga were always polite to us - always said please and thank you. It was hard when Friga died, and we became invisible to Nilsine. Until she met your Wood Elf.”
“Bosmer,” Sten caught himself correcting Calder. “Her people call themselves Bosmer.”
Calder tossed him a sharp glance. “Bosmer?”
“Yes, Bosmer,” Lilisfina’s voice reached them from the front doorway. “Hello Calder, I see you are helping Sten get started on this project. Thank you.” She paused beside the fireplace, regarding the hearth and the firewood stacked beside it. “That’s a good use of the wrecked furnishings and,” her gaze moved to the partition, “that damn wall.”
“Gotta keep the cat happy, Boss,” Sten agreed. “Calder has a message for you, from the Shatter-Shields.”
“Oh?” Lilisfina turned as Calder leaned the big hammer against the stone and reached into his hip pouch. He pulled out a folded parchment and handed it silently to her.
“Are there windows in this place?” Sten asked as Lilisfina moved to the door. “Might as well open them up and air this place out faster.”
“Yes, let me show you,” Calder seemed relieved to have something to do while Lilisfina read the letter. Once they were done, the house seemed brighter, more airy. Sten found Lilisfina still by the front door, her expression a thoughtful anger.
“What’s wrong, Boss?”
“The Shatter-Shields tell me every house in this quarter must have a carl, and they are giving me one,” Lilisfina’s green gaze lifted to Calder’s. “Calder.”
@Acadian: I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the use of currency in Tamriel through the centuries. I've always thought it incongruous that the Imperial loyalists would use "septims" considering that anything related to Tiber Septim is now out of favor (also the use of "septims in 2E Tamriel, before Talos/Hjalti/Tiber was even born). I decided a long time ago that in writing Skyrim, I would use silver drakes as the main coin, partly because silver is so prevalent in Viking society, partly because the Great War would lead to widespread economic collapse, and partly because the silver mines in The Reach would be the main source of currency in the northern provinces. That meant gold would be appropriately rarer, and I've tried to keep my 4E Tamriel economy consistent with it. So yes, Lili does use gold where she's from, as she has accumulated so much silver it's more convenient to convert to gold septims still found in the south. I also loved your astute assessment of Jorleif's role as the Jarl's representative. I feel he is trusted enough to run the day to day affairs of the city and the Hold and let Jarl Stormcloak focus on the rebellion/war he is fighting/financing.
@SubRosa: I am also considering getting one of those myself, for those times I have fine print to read on paper rather than on a digital device! You are right regarding the other matter Lili wants to discuss with Jorleif, as we will see in a few more posts. Thank you so much for catching that nit! Eagle Eye as always!
And now the next day, and the cleanup begins . . .
*******************************
Morndas 25 Last Seed - A New Problem
Ma-
Boss is now a property owner in Windhelm! That makes her a proper tax-paying citizen, too. It also means she can adopt Sofie, once she figures out how to have someone present to look after the house and child.
“We have to break the news to Dame Elda,” Lilisfina sighed as she set her spoon down. “And to Nils, Silda and Sofie.”
“You are adopting Sofie, aren’t you?” Sten regarded her as he gulped down his cooling klah. “Child needs a home.”
“Yes, child needs a home,” Lilisfina agreed. “And a family. One that will be there for her, not off gallivanting in spider infested caves and draugr crypts.”
Not to mention practicing magick in an enclave of mages? Sten noted that Lilisfina did not mention Winterhold. “At least we can use her help cleaning the house. Way she cleaned your room, the spiders and ghosts at Hjerim don’t stand a chance.”
Lilisfina chuckled into her mug. “Maybe once we clear out that back room. I don’t want her to see what’s left behind there.” She rose to her feet and gathered the used dishes and utensils. “I should ask Dame Elda if we can borrow some cleaning tools.”
“Are you packed and ready to move yet?” Sten asked. Lilisfina nodded. “I don’t have much, but if we can get the house cleaned today we can move our gear there tonight.”
“That might be unrealistic,” Lilisfina remarked slowly. “It’s a lot of scrubbing and spider killing and . . . “
“And we’ve got a sturdy child who isn’t afraid of dust dragons,” Sten responded. “Think she’ll let a few spiders frighten her away?”
“Let’s work until the noon meal, then see where we are with the house,” Lilisfina nodded firmly. “Shall we get started?”
“You talk to Dame Elda, I’ll talk to Nils and Silda,” Sten took the stacked dishes from Lilisfina’s hands. “Let’s see if we can’t get a few towels, mops and brooms and a bucket or two gathered.”
Nils was happy to collect the breakfast dishes from Sten. He set them into the sink, then picked up his wood axe. Silda smiled at him from where she sat peeling potatoes.
“Before you go, Nils, there’s something I’d like to tell you and Silda,” Sten remarked. When he had their attention, he continued. “Boss has purchased Hjerim from the Shatter-Shield family. I’m going with her to help her clean the place up and get it livable again.”
“Dame Lili is going to stay?” Nils’s round face lit up. “Be part of Windhelm?”
Dame Lili? I like the sound of that. “Yes, it looks that way. She may still go to Winterhold, but it sounds like she will maintain ties to us here.”
“Can we help?” Silda asked. Sten shook his head.
“If you can loan us mops, brooms, towels and a bucket or two so we can get started?”
“Of course!” Nils set his axe down and moved toward the cellar. He paused. “But will Dame Elda let you borrow them?”
“Boss is speaking with her now.” Sten responded.
“And Sofie? What of her?” Silda asked. “You know Dame Elda won’t let her stay on after Dame Lili leaves Candlehearth.” Sten shrugged.
“That’s something Boss has yet to figure out. But she will, I know it.”
They heard approaching footsteps as Lilisfina and Star approached the kitchen. “Dame Elda is happy to let us borrow your cleaning tools,” Lilisfina said as she stopped beside Sten. “If you would go ahead and get everything up to the house,” she suggested to Sten. “Remember, I have a meeting with Steward Jorleif this morning. It shouldn’t take long, and I’ll meet you at the house?”
“Sounds good,” Sten agreed as Nils disappeared into the cellar. “I’ll get started on that back room, rip down the walls and get the fireplace going for Icicle.” He winked at Lilisfina as she chuckled in response.
“I’ll see you before the morning’s gone,” Lilisfina turned for the front of the inn and the exit. “Come on, Star, you can come with me.”
“Not taking Icicle, are you, Boss?” Sten called after her.
“No one takes Icicle anywhere,” Lilisfina called back. “She goes where she wills!”
A short while later Sten let himself into Hjerim and dropped his bundle of cleaning equipment. Icicle darted into the house behind him and headed for the dormant fireplace. Sten chuckled to himself as he joined her and examined the chimney breast.
“Let me make sure the chimney’s clear, lass,” he said to the cat. “Then I’ll get some wood and start a fire. First order of business in this house.” As he straightened up, he noticed a folded paper on the mantel. “What’s this?” Sten took it over by the open front door and held it up to the morning light.
Dame Lilisfina, the handwriting was neat, easy to read, Dame Nilsine sent us to clean the chimneys for both the main fireplace and kitchen hearth. It should be safe to start a fire in either. Scouts-Many-Marshes. Sten frowned over the signature. Scouts-Many-Marshes? That’s one of the Argonians on the docks. Nilsine must be developing a rapport with them already. Suddenly Sten grinned to himself as his gaze fell upon the impatiently waiting cat. “All right, Icicle, let me get some wood together.”
He turned and eyed the broken trestle table in the center of the room. “This should do nicely,” he said to the cat. She miaowed in response as Sten knelt down and began breaking off the legs. He used his feet as a fulcrum to break the boards into shorter sections. Once he had a small pile of shattered wood, Sten gathered them and carried them over to the fireplace. As he knelt and began assembling the fire, Icicle brushed against his knees and hips, miaowing impatiently until the flame took hold and began consuming the brittle wood.
As the silver tabby settled on the hearth next to the fire, Sten returned to the remains of the trestle table and began to break the rest of it into smaller sections. As he stacked the last of the wood next to the fireplace, he heard footsteps on the front stoop.
Calder stood in the doorway, uncertainty in his frame as he peered within. “Hello?” His voice, while gruff, was somehow tentative, as if unsure of his reception.
“Hello, Calder,” Sten straightened up from the hearth and moved into the light from the open door. “How can I help you?”
“The Shatter-Shields sent me,” the younger man responded. “Is the Wood Elf here? I have a message for her.”
“She’ll be along shortly,” Sten responded. “Must you give it directly to her?”
“Umm, yes, I’m supposed to,” Calder responded, shifting his feet. Sten eyed the younger man silently. “I can wait for her.”
“Sure, come on in,” Sten waved the carl into the house. Uneasily Calder stepped three paces into the room, then paused to let his eyes adjust to the gloom. “Are you willing to help me create some havoc?”
“H- havoc?” Calder squinted at Sten suspiciously.
“I see you have a great big warhammer, as well as your axe.” Sten pointed out the handle of the huge weapon rising past Calder’s left shoulder. “I can use some help taking down that room,” he gestured toward the secret room in the rear.
“It’s my da’s warhammer,” Calder responded. “And yes,” he swung the heavy weapon off his back, “Da won’t mind if I put it to use to tear that down.”
“Got to keep that cat happy,” Sten jerked his chin toward Icicle, who now regarded them with curious interest. “So let’s build a good stockpile of firewood.”
“We can do that,” Calder agreed and stepped to the rear. “Where do I start?”
“Let’s get that wardrobe broken down first, then that wall.” Sten moved to give Calder space to swing the heavy hammer. Calder paused and handed Sten his war axe.
“Use this to break down the boards,” he remarked. Sten hefted the steel weapon in his hand, testing its balance.
“This is a fine weapon,” he mused. “I’d hate to ruin it using it as a carpenter’s tool.”
“The blade can be resharpened,” Calder responded. “And I trust you won’t try to chop any nails with it.”
As Calder made quick work of the cabinet and doorway, Sten regarded the younger man thoughtfully. He doesn’t seem confident today - almost anxious? What is bothering him? All that nervous energy is being put to good use right now, but once we’re done? “Do you know what’s that message?”
“Not really,” Calder responded as he eyed the wall between the doorway and the back wall of the house. “I have an idea, but I’d rather not say until I’ve handed it over.”
“Do you like working for the Shatter-Shields, Calder?” Sten asked between chops. “What are they like?”
Calder grunted. “Like any other noble family,” he started breaking down the paneling between the wall studs. “Think they’re better than everyone else. Though Dame Nilsine . . . “ He paused as a particular tough section demanded all of his attention. Once the wall was battered down he rested the head of the hammer on the floor and leaned on the long handle in thought. “She and her sister Friga were always polite to us - always said please and thank you. It was hard when Friga died, and we became invisible to Nilsine. Until she met your Wood Elf.”
“Bosmer,” Sten caught himself correcting Calder. “Her people call themselves Bosmer.”
Calder tossed him a sharp glance. “Bosmer?”
“Yes, Bosmer,” Lilisfina’s voice reached them from the front doorway. “Hello Calder, I see you are helping Sten get started on this project. Thank you.” She paused beside the fireplace, regarding the hearth and the firewood stacked beside it. “That’s a good use of the wrecked furnishings and,” her gaze moved to the partition, “that damn wall.”
“Gotta keep the cat happy, Boss,” Sten agreed. “Calder has a message for you, from the Shatter-Shields.”
“Oh?” Lilisfina turned as Calder leaned the big hammer against the stone and reached into his hip pouch. He pulled out a folded parchment and handed it silently to her.
“Are there windows in this place?” Sten asked as Lilisfina moved to the door. “Might as well open them up and air this place out faster.”
“Yes, let me show you,” Calder seemed relieved to have something to do while Lilisfina read the letter. Once they were done, the house seemed brighter, more airy. Sten found Lilisfina still by the front door, her expression a thoughtful anger.
“What’s wrong, Boss?”
“The Shatter-Shields tell me every house in this quarter must have a carl, and they are giving me one,” Lilisfina’s green gaze lifted to Calder’s. “Calder.”
Calder has been "given" to her? Is he the Shatter-Shields' employee, or a slave?
I imagine Torbjorn thinks they are the same thing anyway.
I imagine Torbjorn thinks they are the same thing anyway.
The house cleaning project is well underway! And Icicle has her fire. That was thoughtful of Nilsine to have the chimneys cleaned.
Looks like we’ll have to wait a bit to learn the results of Lili’s meeting with Jorleif.
Calder’s message was certainly a surprise that generates lots of thoughts and questions. An extra Nord may be good for demolition of walls and furniture but I’m not so sure when it comes to the delicate dance between Lili and Sten. Does a house carl stay in the house? Even a small one like this? If so, could that secret workshop be turned into quarters? Can a house carl be a nanny for Sophie? So many questions!
Looks like we’ll have to wait a bit to learn the results of Lili’s meeting with Jorleif.
Calder’s message was certainly a surprise that generates lots of thoughts and questions. An extra Nord may be good for demolition of walls and furniture but I’m not so sure when it comes to the delicate dance between Lili and Sten. Does a house carl stay in the house? Even a small one like this? If so, could that secret workshop be turned into quarters? Can a house carl be a nanny for Sophie? So many questions!
Oh my, the Shatter-Shields are heavy-handed with their employees and neighbors. Though having a carl in the house will solve some of Lili’s issues, as well as help ensure the neighborhood security. It sounds like Calder will not miss working directly for them.
In Jensa’s game she married Stenvar and they lived in Hjerim with Calder. The two men constantly got into fights, so much that I had to write it into her story. Eventually I figured out that they were fighting over the things Jensa dropped while she was decorating. I hope Lili’s Calder and Sten get along better!
In Jensa’s game she married Stenvar and they lived in Hjerim with Calder. The two men constantly got into fights, so much that I had to write it into her story. Eventually I figured out that they were fighting over the things Jensa dropped while she was decorating. I hope Lili’s Calder and Sten get along better!
As expected, taking care of Sofie is next up on the agenda, now that Lil is a land-owner. I wonder if she might try to turn Silda into a full time housekeeper at Hjerim, and in the process be able to legally act as a guardian so Lil can go to Winterhold and get some of that learnin' on her.
With some unexpected help from the Argonians on the docks, and from the nervous housecarl Calder, it looks like things might get put in order quicker than expected.
How nice of the Shatter-Shields to give Lil a human as a house-warming gift... This has happened to me in real life. I was working for CSC (a tech company) that made a deal with AT&T. As part of it all CSC people with network jobs automatically became AT&T employees. No one asked any of us what we thought of this of course. We just found out one day when we were told to hand in all our CSC equipment and go pick up our AT&T stuff. Good times.
With some unexpected help from the Argonians on the docks, and from the nervous housecarl Calder, it looks like things might get put in order quicker than expected.
How nice of the Shatter-Shields to give Lil a human as a house-warming gift... This has happened to me in real life. I was working for CSC (a tech company) that made a deal with AT&T. As part of it all CSC people with network jobs automatically became AT&T employees. No one asked any of us what we thought of this of course. We just found out one day when we were told to hand in all our CSC equipment and go pick up our AT&T stuff. Good times.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.