p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Assur's cheeks pinched as he pouted, not appreciating his new steward. Imperial appointed, of course. What else could he expect? Even span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"he /spanwas imperial-appointed and he hated that fact; the thought of it made the pride he'd always felt, freefall into nausea. br / br /When he was a boy, he would use his vivid imagination to concoct ideas of how to better Winterhold, to bring in trade, which would bring people, and rebuild it from the worn and pitiful state it had been in since the Great Collapse. Granted, some ideas were rather silly but the drive to make change was still there. br / br /The Empire had offered him the role of Jarl, a title he already had a right to by span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"birth /spanbut they would make sure he didn't have free reign or say over his own hold. br / br /Make no mistake, it was span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"his/span hold—tied to his blood as far back as King Erarne during the middle of the third empire. br / br /The steward was going over a backlog of important and official correspondence when the doors to the longhouse opened unceremoniously and in stepped someone who he thought he'd never have to see again. br / br /"Cruel-Sea, why do you darken my doorway once more?" br / br /The mercenary was covered in snow and shook it from his head and shoulders as he stepped inside. He gave a grin and a deadpan line, "Can't you tell? I've missed you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"so/span much." Followed by a singular, equally sarcastic kiss to the air in the direction of the Jarl. br / br /Assur rolled his eyes and they caught on the figure that had followed in behind Grimvar—a young woman, petite and blonde. His heart seemed to catch, wondering if Eirid had changed her mind and decided not to be banished after all. Of course, that's not how span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"banishment/span really worked but he watched her leave Winterhold nearly a week ago in Grimvar's company, hoping she would reconsider. Winterhold was a lonely place and when Eirid wasn't there, it just seemed more so. br / br /As she removed her hood, Assur felt a crushing disappointment. br / br /The woman was not Eirid. br / br /Of course, she wasn't. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Eirid loathed him, and she'd made that abundantly clear to him before she had departed. She had always been a contrary little girl and didn't hide her true thoughts—a brave yet foolish trait. He still didn't understand why she tolerated his games all those years if she truly despised them. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Still, the truth of her feelings didn't dissuade him from caring for her. He wanted her to be happy and if being away from her home, span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"from him/span, singing in strange places, would make her happy then he'd do anything in his power to make it so. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Though, her mother would disagree that banishing Eirid from the hold was done in the act of span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"caring/span. He might as well have had a heart made of stone according to the innkeeper's wife. So, he'd been avoiding the Frozen Hearth ever since that evening, and had his steward fetch his meals where he ate alone in the Longhouse. br / br /Lonelier than ever. br / br /A chill swept through the room and Assur knotted his brows as he came out of his musing, nodding toward a posted guard to go ahead and close the doors, lest they lose all cozy warmth from the hearths to the outside. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" br /Grimvar continued, "Truthfully, I'm just a glorified escort these days and it's all span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"your/span fault." br / br /He must have been referring to how he had escorted Assur to Winterhold and how Assur paid him to accompany Eirid to Whiterun to make sure she arrived safely. Even though she swore up and down she could take care of herself. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" "I bring you a lass looking for employment. Do you have any maids in your service? You'll be needing one to clean up your messes." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The mercenary grinned sardonically, and it spoke of more than just physical messes. Assur knew Grimvar disliked his company and didn't think him much of a leader. Assur thought the Cruel-Sea scion was unambitious and morbid, content to sit at the bar and drink until he forgot his problems rather than try to solve them. br / br /"I actually don't have a maid at the moment but I hear housecarls can take up those duties to fill the long hours," Assur mused. He didn't have a housecarl either. His father never kept one on retainer. However, he was sure that one would be chosen for him as well so it came as a surprise when his steward cleared their throat and said, "Yes, about that, my Jarl—one still needs to be appointed. The empire started providing allowances to the cooperating holds so as to better their court—" br / br /span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Bribery./span br / br / "—I can draw up a suitable list of candidates and start scheduling appointments for interviews—" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Assur held up his hand in a clear gesture for the steward to cease speaking. Then he pointed at Grimvar. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Cruel-Sea, be my housecarl." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Everyone seemed momentarily shocked at his offer. Assur didn't see a reason for Grimvar to refuse—the position was a stable one, so the man didn't have to question if he'd have enough coin to buy a meal or multiple span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"drinks /spanfrom one week to the next. Plus, in such a position, Grimvar could witness first-hand that Assur span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"could/span lead an entire hold. He would relish seeing that smug, doubtful, smirk wiped clear of the mercenary's face whenever 'span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Assur/span' and 'span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Jarl/span' were uttered in the same sentence. br / br /"Are you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"drunk/span?" Grimvar finally asked. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"you/span?" Assur was quick to turn the question. As adults, the times he'd conversed with Grimvar when he was sober could be counted on one hand. He would be a fool to pass up this opportunity. Assur tugged on the fine robes draped over his chest, straightening them, and continued, "I'm being perfectly serious, you should be my housecarl." br / br /"Let's come back to that in a moment. First—what about this maid?" Grimvar gestured impatiently to the petite blond, who looked more and more irritated under the crease of her brow but still managed to hold her tongue. br / br /She had been quiet so far. Standing back and taking in their conversation; observing. br / br /"Where were you employed before this?" Assur addressed her. Not that he cared, just wanted to know if she had the experience. He wasn't going to hire just any girl off the street and trust her to handle his effects. br / br /"I was recently at Dragonsreach, in Whiterun." she responded. br / br /"Yes, I know where Dragonsreach span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"is/span," Assur snapped. He held his hand to his chin in thought, wondering why someone would trade a position there to seek one in Winterhold of all places? He studied her—she didn't avert her eyes when she spoke to him. Her eye contact was unwavering as if she demanded to be engaged with on an equal level. br / br /It annoyed him. br / br /But no one else was interested in taking care of this place. Even under Kraldar's leadership, the long house seemed to fall more and more into a dilapidated state. There were more drafts than he remembered. br / br /"Can we take on a maid?" Assur leaned toward his steward to ask in a reduced tone. They probably had a better idea of the accounts than he. Would the Empire's bribes be enough? br / br /The steward bobbed their head, "Yes, but Winterhold's coffers are severely lacking, the compensation would not be generous." br / br /Assur made a displeased sound at the back of his throat and then coughed, "Very well, you are hired but pay is not going to be as generous as you had in Whiterun—we are a small hold, with a lot less work to do and places to clean." br / br /She only nodded in understanding, not lifting her frown one bit. She must have been desperate for work, but he'd ponder more on her later. br / br /"Now then" Assur turned his attention back to Grimvar, "Back to the matter of my Housecarl..." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Grimvar's face transformed to doubt, "Why me?" br / br /Assur could feel his cheeks gain warmth, why should he—a span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Jarl/span—need to explain himself? Grimvar's eyes narrowed at Assur's pause, and Assur knew he would have to flatter the mercenary if he were to convince him to take on the position. br / br /"You are rumored to be an able fighter. The first duty of a housecarl is to protect their lord," Assur listed and Grimvar's doubtful expression lifted somewhat with consideration. br / br /"If you can hardly afford a maid, then you probably could not pay the fees I would require in such a position." br / br /Assur rolled his eyes because Grimvar was daftly greedy, "The position comes with free lodging and allowance for meals." br / br /"What about drink?" br / br /"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Is/span there an allowance for drink?" the maid mirrored the inquiry, with a sudden, adamant interest. br / br /Assur raised his brows. He didn't approve of debauchery, and could barely stand the taste of mead himself. He partook in wine if it was offered but never enough to render him a fool. br / br /"I need span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"sober/span attendants," he answered in a hard tone. The maid huffed, and not even subtly at his requirement. He had a sudden ominous feeling that agreeing to hire her was going to bring him undue stress. br / br /Assur had pretended not to be interested in Grimvar's affairs while he lived in Windhelm but rumors spread far and fast, and he knew the young man hardly took residence in his own home anymore, and only by the pity of the barmaid was Grimvar allowed to fall asleep at the inn's counter. br / br /Grimvar seemed to consider the Jarl's words before saying, "Very well, I'll trial this position for a month and if I find it's not to my liking then I shall resign and move on." br / br /That was better than nothing, Assur supposed. At least with Grimvar Cruel-Sea at his side, he knew that the Empire hadn't stuck him with someone to mind over him like the steward. He didn't even remember their name, that was how little he cared for them. He didn't want to be a puppet, subtly manipulated to do the Empire's bidding like the most of the Jarls in the province. br / br /His father was always ranting with limited coherence about how the Empire blockaded supplies to provinces that defied their directives, starving them into submission. It was what was currently happening to Windhelm. br / br /"Very well, you both are hired as my attendants. I expect you to take orders and tasks without complaint," Assur proclaimed and stood gesturing to them both. br / br /"You there, maid—" he snapped his fingers and pointed at the waif. She immediately snapped back, "My name is not span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"maid/span." br / br /"It's what you are, I see no reason to call you anything else." br / br /Her eyes grew round before narrowing under a glower; he dared her to be difficult and convince him to send her away. br / br /She slumped and mumbled something that sounded like 'span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"arsehole/span.' br / br /"Excuse me?" br / br /"Very well," she spoke clearly and straightened her shoulders, resigned. Hopefully resigned to her work and place in life. He raised a brow, certain that is not what she had originally murmured. He figured if she was desperate for work, then she would show a little more gratitude and professionalism to her lord. br / br /"You will take assignments from my steward here, as they will know what needs to be cleaned—they can sort out a schedule for your work hours and rest hours." br / br /"Did you want me to finish going through your correspondence? There was quite a lot, it has piled up since the former Jarl's death." br / br /Assur nodded and sat at the throne again, motioning for them to continue. Grimvar seemed bored already but decided to sit on a nearby bench and listen while inspecting one of his swords. The Maid continued to stand at the front of the longhouse, looking a bit at a loss of what to do. br / br /"The broom is kept in that room. There's a family of spiders making webs in the corners—you could clean those out while you are in there," the steward suggested, seeing the same lost look on her and helped out by pointing to the room that housed the old Stormcloak Leader that used to advise Assur's father. br / br /Assur quite enjoyed the disgusted look that took to her eyes at the mention of spiders. She trudged from them with an air of annoyance at the situation, as if she shouldn't be expected to clean at all. She must have been dismissed from her position in Whiterun for being a shite of a maid in the first place. br / br /"We have one here from General Tullius," the steward held up a rolled parchment, sealed with a distinct wax emblem. br / br /Assur gave a light scoff, wondering what kind of message the General would be sending him, "Read it then." br / br /"Dear Assur, Jarl of Winterhold, br / br /I hope you are comfortable and settling into your former home after the years away. Thank you for agreeing to govern Winterhold in these unexpected times. I know you are young but the blood of leaders runs through your veins and I have no doubt you will succeed. The Empire looks forward to many years of profitable cooperation from Winterhold..." br / br /span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The puppetry was starting./span br / br /Everyone knew there was no profit in Winterhold besides the Mages College. Assur didn't want to have anything to with that place. It always spooked him. Magic in general did. He didn't trust it nor the Elves that wielded it. He felt his fingers clenching the edges of the chair's armrests with trepidation. br / br /The steward continued, "There is one matter left to discuss, a step to ensuring the success of your leadership of Winterhold. I propose—" br / br /"What's wrong?" Assur questioned as the steward abruptly stopped reading. They seemed mildly caught off-guard at the content but cleared their throat to continue. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I propose that you gain a partner that can support you in your endeavors. The best candidate is in Lady Dagnessa of Whiterun. She is beautiful, spirited, and known to be incredibly fastidious. She could be a great asset to Winterhold if you took her as your wife. It is in the best interest of the province and the Empire if you were to wed sooner than later. Consider this proposal carefully and return correspondence with haste." br / br /Assur suddenly felt in the trappings of a political game he couldn't stop. He was barely twenty and one turns and was expected to take a partner? He always knew he'd eventually have to have one, but this seemed so sudden. Unexpected, even. He understood he would be dictated to do many things by the Empire such as allow Legion soldiers into the territory, to trade specific goods, particular policies, and practices but not to be told to wed and span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"who/span to wed. br / br /He frowned in disbelief, "Tell me, Steward, do you know if the Empire commanded Kraldar to find a consort when they usurped the throne of Winterhold?" br / br /"He was given no edict to wed." br / br /Assur nodded tensely. So, they were trying to put a yoke on him because they feared what he would do if left unchecked. How would they punish him if he refused this match? He must have met the woman in question at some point in his youth, as children of nobility were usually introduced at least once but couldn't recall her. She must have been a boring person to have not left any impression. br / br /Something tightened in his chest, something more troubling than being commanded by the Empire to end his bachelorhood. The unknown of it all troubled him. br / br /He glanced to Grimvar who seemed the slightest bit more amused now, hearing of Assur's impending troubles. br / br /"What's so funny?" br / br /"Thinking of you married. Poor girl she'd be." br / br /Assur also didn't have a whip of a tongue like Grimvar. The mercenary seemed to always have ready a barbing quip and retort, which left Assur sputtering like a fool only in anger at the insult and incapable of doing anything to punish his new Housecarl for it. br / br /But Assur failed to see that Grimvar Cruel-Sea considered being Housecarl punishment already. They would both suffer each other. br / br /The steward hadn't halted going through the pile of correspondence and held up another parchment with the seal of Tullius, "More news from the General." br / br /Assur bristled with contempt and knew there was no use in refusing it to be read. br / br /"Dear Jarl Assur of Winterhold, br / br /I regret to inform you that Lady Dagnessa of Whiterun has recently fled the city under suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Perhaps I was too hasty in suggesting her as a match. Nevertheless, my sentiments remain that it will be prudent for you to find a bride for the good of the hold. I will send a list of suitable candidates in the forthcoming weeks." br / br /Maybe Akatosh had taken pity on the young Jarl, after all. In some respect—he didn't want to be married to a woman who was murderous. Waking up with a knife in his back was a horrid way to go. It was too bad Eirid hated him; of course, it would be shameful to take a peasant as a wife and she would hate the court life that came with it but he felt like if he had to create a partnership for the good of Winterhold, being with someone he was familiar with would make him happiest. It was funny how that which would make Assur happy would make Eirid the most miserable. She really was the most contrary person he'd ever known. Mara would never bless that union even if it were possible. br / br /"Did they say who she was suspected of murdering?" they heard the maid ask from the entrance of the room, seeming to be eavesdropping. He hated gossips. br / br /A thought struck Assur so suddenly that he felt stupid for not considering it before. She was a 'maid' but didn't seem keen to do her job, she didn't have the most solid of references, and came to this place—the last place anyone would want to travel—for minuscule pay doing a thankless job. br / br /She span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"had/span to be a spy. One planted by the Empire itself to watch over him. br / br /"No, it doesn't say. Don't you have spiders to be cleaning?" Assur snapped, not appreciating her presence nor her intense, interruptive gaze. He would have to be careful around her. He decided he wasn't going to dismiss her...span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"yet/span. If he was correct, and he was positive that he was, he had a leg up on the Empire knowing there was a spy in his midst. br / br /"They're dead now," she replied with no hint of her earlier annoyance at being told to take care of them, "Destroyed their homes as well." br / br /He stared at her, weighing his earlier decision not to dismiss her. She stared back, seeming to wait for his response. br / br /Both jumped at Grimvar's sudden jolt of laughter which he didn't care to explain. br / br /Assur sighed. br / br /At least, with the new company, the Jarl wouldn't be as lonely./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Eirid loathed him, and she'd made that abundantly clear to him before she had departed. She had always been a contrary little girl and didn't hide her true thoughts—a brave yet foolish trait. He still didn't understand why she tolerated his games all those years if she truly despised them. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Still, the truth of her feelings didn't dissuade him from caring for her. He wanted her to be happy and if being away from her home, span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"from him/span, singing in strange places, would make her happy then he'd do anything in his power to make it so. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Though, her mother would disagree that banishing Eirid from the hold was done in the act of span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"caring/span. He might as well have had a heart made of stone according to the innkeeper's wife. So, he'd been avoiding the Frozen Hearth ever since that evening, and had his steward fetch his meals where he ate alone in the Longhouse. br / br /Lonelier than ever. br / br /A chill swept through the room and Assur knotted his brows as he came out of his musing, nodding toward a posted guard to go ahead and close the doors, lest they lose all cozy warmth from the hearths to the outside. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" br /Grimvar continued, "Truthfully, I'm just a glorified escort these days and it's all span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"your/span fault." br / br /He must have been referring to how he had escorted Assur to Winterhold and how Assur paid him to accompany Eirid to Whiterun to make sure she arrived safely. Even though she swore up and down she could take care of herself. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" "I bring you a lass looking for employment. Do you have any maids in your service? You'll be needing one to clean up your messes." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The mercenary grinned sardonically, and it spoke of more than just physical messes. Assur knew Grimvar disliked his company and didn't think him much of a leader. Assur thought the Cruel-Sea scion was unambitious and morbid, content to sit at the bar and drink until he forgot his problems rather than try to solve them. br / br /"I actually don't have a maid at the moment but I hear housecarls can take up those duties to fill the long hours," Assur mused. He didn't have a housecarl either. His father never kept one on retainer. However, he was sure that one would be chosen for him as well so it came as a surprise when his steward cleared their throat and said, "Yes, about that, my Jarl—one still needs to be appointed. The empire started providing allowances to the cooperating holds so as to better their court—" br / br /span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Bribery./span br / br / "—I can draw up a suitable list of candidates and start scheduling appointments for interviews—" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Assur held up his hand in a clear gesture for the steward to cease speaking. Then he pointed at Grimvar. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Cruel-Sea, be my housecarl." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Everyone seemed momentarily shocked at his offer. Assur didn't see a reason for Grimvar to refuse—the position was a stable one, so the man didn't have to question if he'd have enough coin to buy a meal or multiple span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"drinks /spanfrom one week to the next. Plus, in such a position, Grimvar could witness first-hand that Assur span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"could/span lead an entire hold. He would relish seeing that smug, doubtful, smirk wiped clear of the mercenary's face whenever 'span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Assur/span' and 'span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Jarl/span' were uttered in the same sentence. br / br /"Are you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"drunk/span?" Grimvar finally asked. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"you/span?" Assur was quick to turn the question. As adults, the times he'd conversed with Grimvar when he was sober could be counted on one hand. He would be a fool to pass up this opportunity. Assur tugged on the fine robes draped over his chest, straightening them, and continued, "I'm being perfectly serious, you should be my housecarl." br / br /"Let's come back to that in a moment. First—what about this maid?" Grimvar gestured impatiently to the petite blond, who looked more and more irritated under the crease of her brow but still managed to hold her tongue. br / br /She had been quiet so far. Standing back and taking in their conversation; observing. br / br /"Where were you employed before this?" Assur addressed her. Not that he cared, just wanted to know if she had the experience. He wasn't going to hire just any girl off the street and trust her to handle his effects. br / br /"I was recently at Dragonsreach, in Whiterun." she responded. br / br /"Yes, I know where Dragonsreach span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"is/span," Assur snapped. He held his hand to his chin in thought, wondering why someone would trade a position there to seek one in Winterhold of all places? He studied her—she didn't avert her eyes when she spoke to him. Her eye contact was unwavering as if she demanded to be engaged with on an equal level. br / br /It annoyed him. br / br /But no one else was interested in taking care of this place. Even under Kraldar's leadership, the long house seemed to fall more and more into a dilapidated state. There were more drafts than he remembered. br / br /"Can we take on a maid?" Assur leaned toward his steward to ask in a reduced tone. They probably had a better idea of the accounts than he. Would the Empire's bribes be enough? br / br /The steward bobbed their head, "Yes, but Winterhold's coffers are severely lacking, the compensation would not be generous." br / br /Assur made a displeased sound at the back of his throat and then coughed, "Very well, you are hired but pay is not going to be as generous as you had in Whiterun—we are a small hold, with a lot less work to do and places to clean." br / br /She only nodded in understanding, not lifting her frown one bit. She must have been desperate for work, but he'd ponder more on her later. br / br /"Now then" Assur turned his attention back to Grimvar, "Back to the matter of my Housecarl..." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Grimvar's face transformed to doubt, "Why me?" br / br /Assur could feel his cheeks gain warmth, why should he—a span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Jarl/span—need to explain himself? Grimvar's eyes narrowed at Assur's pause, and Assur knew he would have to flatter the mercenary if he were to convince him to take on the position. br / br /"You are rumored to be an able fighter. The first duty of a housecarl is to protect their lord," Assur listed and Grimvar's doubtful expression lifted somewhat with consideration. br / br /"If you can hardly afford a maid, then you probably could not pay the fees I would require in such a position." br / br /Assur rolled his eyes because Grimvar was daftly greedy, "The position comes with free lodging and allowance for meals." br / br /"What about drink?" br / br /"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Is/span there an allowance for drink?" the maid mirrored the inquiry, with a sudden, adamant interest. br / br /Assur raised his brows. He didn't approve of debauchery, and could barely stand the taste of mead himself. He partook in wine if it was offered but never enough to render him a fool. br / br /"I need span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"sober/span attendants," he answered in a hard tone. The maid huffed, and not even subtly at his requirement. He had a sudden ominous feeling that agreeing to hire her was going to bring him undue stress. br / br /Assur had pretended not to be interested in Grimvar's affairs while he lived in Windhelm but rumors spread far and fast, and he knew the young man hardly took residence in his own home anymore, and only by the pity of the barmaid was Grimvar allowed to fall asleep at the inn's counter. br / br /Grimvar seemed to consider the Jarl's words before saying, "Very well, I'll trial this position for a month and if I find it's not to my liking then I shall resign and move on." br / br /That was better than nothing, Assur supposed. At least with Grimvar Cruel-Sea at his side, he knew that the Empire hadn't stuck him with someone to mind over him like the steward. He didn't even remember their name, that was how little he cared for them. He didn't want to be a puppet, subtly manipulated to do the Empire's bidding like the most of the Jarls in the province. br / br /His father was always ranting with limited coherence about how the Empire blockaded supplies to provinces that defied their directives, starving them into submission. It was what was currently happening to Windhelm. br / br /"Very well, you both are hired as my attendants. I expect you to take orders and tasks without complaint," Assur proclaimed and stood gesturing to them both. br / br /"You there, maid—" he snapped his fingers and pointed at the waif. She immediately snapped back, "My name is not span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"maid/span." br / br /"It's what you are, I see no reason to call you anything else." br / br /Her eyes grew round before narrowing under a glower; he dared her to be difficult and convince him to send her away. br / br /She slumped and mumbled something that sounded like 'span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"arsehole/span.' br / br /"Excuse me?" br / br /"Very well," she spoke clearly and straightened her shoulders, resigned. Hopefully resigned to her work and place in life. He raised a brow, certain that is not what she had originally murmured. He figured if she was desperate for work, then she would show a little more gratitude and professionalism to her lord. br / br /"You will take assignments from my steward here, as they will know what needs to be cleaned—they can sort out a schedule for your work hours and rest hours." br / br /"Did you want me to finish going through your correspondence? There was quite a lot, it has piled up since the former Jarl's death." br / br /Assur nodded and sat at the throne again, motioning for them to continue. Grimvar seemed bored already but decided to sit on a nearby bench and listen while inspecting one of his swords. The Maid continued to stand at the front of the longhouse, looking a bit at a loss of what to do. br / br /"The broom is kept in that room. There's a family of spiders making webs in the corners—you could clean those out while you are in there," the steward suggested, seeing the same lost look on her and helped out by pointing to the room that housed the old Stormcloak Leader that used to advise Assur's father. br / br /Assur quite enjoyed the disgusted look that took to her eyes at the mention of spiders. She trudged from them with an air of annoyance at the situation, as if she shouldn't be expected to clean at all. She must have been dismissed from her position in Whiterun for being a shite of a maid in the first place. br / br /"We have one here from General Tullius," the steward held up a rolled parchment, sealed with a distinct wax emblem. br / br /Assur gave a light scoff, wondering what kind of message the General would be sending him, "Read it then." br / br /"Dear Assur, Jarl of Winterhold, br / br /I hope you are comfortable and settling into your former home after the years away. Thank you for agreeing to govern Winterhold in these unexpected times. I know you are young but the blood of leaders runs through your veins and I have no doubt you will succeed. The Empire looks forward to many years of profitable cooperation from Winterhold..." br / br /span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The puppetry was starting./span br / br /Everyone knew there was no profit in Winterhold besides the Mages College. Assur didn't want to have anything to with that place. It always spooked him. Magic in general did. He didn't trust it nor the Elves that wielded it. He felt his fingers clenching the edges of the chair's armrests with trepidation. br / br /The steward continued, "There is one matter left to discuss, a step to ensuring the success of your leadership of Winterhold. I propose—" br / br /"What's wrong?" Assur questioned as the steward abruptly stopped reading. They seemed mildly caught off-guard at the content but cleared their throat to continue. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I propose that you gain a partner that can support you in your endeavors. The best candidate is in Lady Dagnessa of Whiterun. She is beautiful, spirited, and known to be incredibly fastidious. She could be a great asset to Winterhold if you took her as your wife. It is in the best interest of the province and the Empire if you were to wed sooner than later. Consider this proposal carefully and return correspondence with haste." br / br /Assur suddenly felt in the trappings of a political game he couldn't stop. He was barely twenty and one turns and was expected to take a partner? He always knew he'd eventually have to have one, but this seemed so sudden. Unexpected, even. He understood he would be dictated to do many things by the Empire such as allow Legion soldiers into the territory, to trade specific goods, particular policies, and practices but not to be told to wed and span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"who/span to wed. br / br /He frowned in disbelief, "Tell me, Steward, do you know if the Empire commanded Kraldar to find a consort when they usurped the throne of Winterhold?" br / br /"He was given no edict to wed." br / br /Assur nodded tensely. So, they were trying to put a yoke on him because they feared what he would do if left unchecked. How would they punish him if he refused this match? He must have met the woman in question at some point in his youth, as children of nobility were usually introduced at least once but couldn't recall her. She must have been a boring person to have not left any impression. br / br /Something tightened in his chest, something more troubling than being commanded by the Empire to end his bachelorhood. The unknown of it all troubled him. br / br /He glanced to Grimvar who seemed the slightest bit more amused now, hearing of Assur's impending troubles. br / br /"What's so funny?" br / br /"Thinking of you married. Poor girl she'd be." br / br /Assur also didn't have a whip of a tongue like Grimvar. The mercenary seemed to always have ready a barbing quip and retort, which left Assur sputtering like a fool only in anger at the insult and incapable of doing anything to punish his new Housecarl for it. br / br /But Assur failed to see that Grimvar Cruel-Sea considered being Housecarl punishment already. They would both suffer each other. br / br /The steward hadn't halted going through the pile of correspondence and held up another parchment with the seal of Tullius, "More news from the General." br / br /Assur bristled with contempt and knew there was no use in refusing it to be read. br / br /"Dear Jarl Assur of Winterhold, br / br /I regret to inform you that Lady Dagnessa of Whiterun has recently fled the city under suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Perhaps I was too hasty in suggesting her as a match. Nevertheless, my sentiments remain that it will be prudent for you to find a bride for the good of the hold. I will send a list of suitable candidates in the forthcoming weeks." br / br /Maybe Akatosh had taken pity on the young Jarl, after all. In some respect—he didn't want to be married to a woman who was murderous. Waking up with a knife in his back was a horrid way to go. It was too bad Eirid hated him; of course, it would be shameful to take a peasant as a wife and she would hate the court life that came with it but he felt like if he had to create a partnership for the good of Winterhold, being with someone he was familiar with would make him happiest. It was funny how that which would make Assur happy would make Eirid the most miserable. She really was the most contrary person he'd ever known. Mara would never bless that union even if it were possible. br / br /"Did they say who she was suspected of murdering?" they heard the maid ask from the entrance of the room, seeming to be eavesdropping. He hated gossips. br / br /A thought struck Assur so suddenly that he felt stupid for not considering it before. She was a 'maid' but didn't seem keen to do her job, she didn't have the most solid of references, and came to this place—the last place anyone would want to travel—for minuscule pay doing a thankless job. br / br /She span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"had/span to be a spy. One planted by the Empire itself to watch over him. br / br /"No, it doesn't say. Don't you have spiders to be cleaning?" Assur snapped, not appreciating her presence nor her intense, interruptive gaze. He would have to be careful around her. He decided he wasn't going to dismiss her...span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"yet/span. If he was correct, and he was positive that he was, he had a leg up on the Empire knowing there was a spy in his midst. br / br /"They're dead now," she replied with no hint of her earlier annoyance at being told to take care of them, "Destroyed their homes as well." br / br /He stared at her, weighing his earlier decision not to dismiss her. She stared back, seeming to wait for his response. br / br /Both jumped at Grimvar's sudden jolt of laughter which he didn't care to explain. br / br /Assur sighed. br / br /At least, with the new company, the Jarl wouldn't be as lonely./p
