“My Eorlund is the finest blacksmith in Skyrim, and that’s not just a wife’s boasting.” The proud Gray-Mane told Lurren when she approached.

She loved the elderly, so much wisdom and life to learn from them. They always at some point in their life loved someone so deeply it pained them as well. This elderly bride still wore her love for her husband for all of Tamriel to see. You hear it in her voice with eyes that twinkled just at the thought of him. Whatever this beautiful woman needed, Lurren decided she would help her.

After they whispered low at the Gray-Mane jewelry stall, Fralia asked Lurren to her home so they could talk freely. One thing, Lurren was glad about was the fact Vilja would probably not ask Fralia to join due to her age.

“Welcome to our home.” The sweet mother greeted Lurren and Vilja’s group.

Another large handsome nord fighter blasted through one set of doors, carrying a large battleaxe. “Mother, what is the meaning of this? Who have you brought into our home? This was foolish!”

Before Lurren could speak up about calling his mother foolish, Fralia calmly informed her foolish son that Lurren was here to help. “Avulstein, put that down! She’s here to help us find Thorald!”

Avulstein put the weapon away and walked over to Vilja. “You are here to help?”

Lurren put up one finger then decided to let Vilja take this one. It was all hers, no arguments from Lurren about it. She leaned against the wall to watch.

“This is sad, what can I have my group do for you? We are here to help.” Vilja was deeply touched that they wanted her help to solve this unsolved mystery.

Lurren just rolled her eyes and went outside for some air.

“What’re you lookin’ at? I’m not afraid of you, ya know. Even if you are my elder.”

Some annoying little girl’s voice grated on Lurren’s nerves. She reached over and pulled the mouthy brat back to me. “Care to repeat that?”

“Boys, girls, dogs, elders – there’s nobody I won’t fight!” Braith snapped at Lurren while trying to bite her arm and get free.

“That’s good because you may need to do just that.” Lurren gave the little girl a very spooky smile.

“What do you mean?” Braith stopped squirming long enough to ask.

“Unless you don’t leave Lars alone, I will beat you up. Personally.” She beamed a bright smile at the kid who wasn’t the least bit fazed.

“Meanie. Only mean adults pick on kids.” She stomped down on Lurren’s foot causing her to cringe in pain. “But fine, I won’t bother him anymore. Besides if he only kissed me.” Braith broke free to run home and tell her mother about the bully woman.

“I knew it!” Lurren declared as Braith fled from her grip.

“Hi.” Lars said to Lurren as she sat rubbing her toe.

“Hello, Lars.” Her eyes looked up at him.

Lars sat down by her and looked over, “Mind if I ask you a question?”

“Why not, everyone else does.”

“I am a bit confused on that love advice you gave me.” His legs swung back and forth as he leaned forward sitting on his hands.

“What part are you confused about?” Lurren was inspecting her toes for any signs of broken bones.

“I saw you step on some man’s foot and wondered if that was another sign of love.” Lars stopped swinging his legs to look up at her.

How she hated kids who were too observant for their own good. “Sometimes circumstances can be different.”

“How so?”

“In this particular case, his feet are quite large and tend to stick out beyond the normal length that a man has.” Lurren was trying to explain this situation to Lars the best she could. “I think you probably would have stepped on them as well.”

“No, I walked around them.”

“We are talking about the same man?” She looked for confirmation on this.

“Yeah, that big guy in thieves armor.” Lars was from a wealthy family and they knew thieves guild armor when they saw it.

Lurren smiled weakly, “Same one. To answer your question, the answer is no. Particularly when the man is that one.” She elbowed Lars playfully. “But I just may try that on someone special!”

He hopped off the bench, “Best method…stomp his foot. That’s an old nord trick to get someone’s attention. See you around.”

Lurren had one finger up in the air trying to get the boy’s attention. “Oh boy, Lurren, you have been sending the wrong signals!”

Nikolai and Golldir came out of the Gray-Mane home and directly to Lurren. They each grabbed one of her arms and led her to the Battle-Born home. “Go inside and get evidence that Thorald is still alive.” Golldir ordered while spinning Lurren around to face the door.

She was sure she missed something in regards to this certain Gray-Mane and asked for clarification. “You want me to go inside there and look for what?”

“Evidence” Nikolai confirmed her worst fears.

Lurren smiled so sweetly at them and agreed to do the task as requested. She waved with her fingers at them as she closed the door and found the entire family sitting at the table eating upon turning around.

“Olfrid, patron of the great Clan Battle-Born, a name I’m sure you know well.” The old man waved a grilled chicken breast at her.

“There’s a rift here in Skyrim, and can’t neither magic nor the passin’ of time make it right.” His wife offered as she scooped out grilled leeks for Lars.

“This war’s as stupid as our feud with Clan Gray-Mane.” Their daughter, Alfhild offered as Lurren slipped past the table looking for whatever she needs to find.

“That’s the love expert, Ma.” Lars told Alfhild, his mother.

“Hush now, Lars and eat your supper. One can easily tell she knows nothing about love.” Alfhild smoothed her skirt as she sat down to eat.

Lurren had one finger shaking at the head of Alfhild but couldn’t force herself to interrupt their dinner. Instead she snooped around their house, looking in rooms, peeking in drawers until she found something. What a surprise it was to learn there was another General Tullius. The one that everyone thinks is tall and now this general with the actual name. Somehow this name was familiar but she couldn’t quite place it. Since the book mentioned the missing man, she left the Battle-Born house by sneaking out the opposite door.

“Greetings, DA9.” Thrynn said as he sat whittling on his wolf project. “Come out the wrong door?” His beautiful brown eyes looked up at her.

She certainly wasn’t going to stomp his foot so she opted for asking a question. “DA9?”

“Lost a vote when Maurice stayed behind. Demotion.” He motioned with his carving knife at the front door. ”Door?”

“Right.” She flicked one finger at him then disappeared back inside.

Thrynn just smiled as his little puppet changed course.

“Excuse me.” Lurren said to Idolaf as he stood up when she past. “Pardon me.” Was said to Bergritte as she tried to carry hot stew to the table.

“You’ve been a good friend to me, that means something.” Idolaf Battle-Born said to Lurren.

“Just what does that mean? The return of the cheating husband?” Alfhild slammed her fork on the table.

Olfrid jumped up and demanded his son-in-law explain himself. “How dare you sleep with another! How was it?”

Bergritte stunned at her husband’s comment and smacked him over the head with a ladle. “You foolish old man!”

Idolaf defended himself by declaring he had done nothing.

Lurren tried to tell everyone that Idolaf was right about doing nothing with her but they had a communication breakdown. She found ducking from the flying tomatoes was a good move though the apple pie came close to her face.

Alfhild was tossing sliced bread at Idolaf while Jon was rescuing Lars from the battle. Olfrid was shaking his finger at his wife claiming he didn’t mean the question in the way she took it.

Olfine Gray-Mane came into the house; she had been waiting for Jon outside and heard the commotion. “Jon, did they find my letter about us? She cried as she ran to him.

The whole family stopped for a moment, looked at Olfina then at Jon. “For Clan Battle-Born, let the Gray-Manes cry in the mead halls for losing another battle. We are first into the fray and last to quit our ale! After her, Battle-Borns! We drink later!’ Olfrid declared as he leaped over his wife toward Olfina.

Jon blocked his father while sending a kick at Idolaf and tossing Lars at his sister, Alfhild. “Run, Olfina….RUN!”

And then along came Thrynn. Tall walking Thrynn. He pushed his way past the feuding family, ducked a few flying morsels and straight to Lurren. “Ah, DA9, always one for causing trouble.” He picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder and walked outside to Nikolai and Golldir. Without a word spoken, he causally removed her from his shoulder, held her slightly above ground then dropped her.

“OW!” Her knees were buckling to fight loss of balance.

Thrynn pointed to the Battle-Born house, “I don’t know how she did it and I don’t want to know.” He told the men then walked off to find the others.

“Wow, DA9, you sure do know how stir up trouble. What happened in there?” Nikolai was asking as they headed back to the Gray-Mane house.

“Honestly, Nikoklai, I have no idea but here’s the book for you.” She handed over the proof to Nikolai. “Do the honors, I’ll be out here.”

“Well, if you say so.” He said before entering the Gray-Mane home.

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