The Adventures of a Dragonborn – Sixty Years of Solitude

by Systemfel

The Second Great War is over and the time of noble intrigues has arrived. Aurora is now Jarl of Solitude and does her best to control a changing Hold, fighting Thanes and her own nightmares which has only grown worse since defeating Alduin. Olfina/Harrald/Nilsine/Idgrod the Younger/Ingun/Cyrodiil nobility

17. 24th of Hearthfire, 4E 203

p class="MsoNoSpacing"emspan style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"24supth/sup of Hearthfire, the Blue Palace/span/em/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor walked up the stairs in a gentle pace before stopping just outside of the Jarl's office. The man had washed and arranged his hair that morning, and he was rather pleased about how it turned out. The dark, almost black curls weighed heavy on his shoulders. Most of them were cork like, and appeared as if they were intentionally styled with a heating iron. He had kept the front of his hair shorter – his bangs barely reached the earlobes and framed his face./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The man reached out, and while still walking, knocked twice before opening the door and looking inside. Ratibor did not bother to await her response, not out of arrogance, but because he knew that Stewardess Nilsine would have been close by, ready to turn away anyone who had not asked for an audience, had the Jarl been in a position where she was unable to meet. Aurora was sitting by her table, but immediately looked up as the man's head became visible. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Hey, Ratibor. What's going on?" she asked, looking up from her writing./span/p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Ratibor smiled a little with only the right side of his mouth, however, he suspected his smile came out more as a smirk. Either way, he /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"casually/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" entered the room, pushing his legs slightly to the side as he took each step. He raised one hand to just below his face while keeping the other in his pocket. "I searched my coffer for my old winter jacket. It didn't fit," the man spoke as he reached Aurora's desk. "… So I went and got myself a sweetroll. It fit. Bastard." The man held half of the sweetroll in his hand and took a bite as Aurora giggled. "Busy?" he asked her./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Yeah, trying to figure out what to do about the horrible logistics," Aurora sighed before collapsing her elbows on the table in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""You look tired," Ratibor calmly spoke, trying to keep the sweetroll inside his mouth. "What is the issue?" he continued as he swallowed./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The woman looked as if she had been through a rough morning. She was wearing her old leather trousers and a white tunic, her hair was let out, but the expression on her face was far more telling than anything else./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"He looked at her weary appearance from above. "Roads are clogged. Did you know it takes almost an entire day to get supply from the docks to the city?" Aurora asked with a genuinely surprised facial expression. "The roads just aren't wide enough for everyone who…" she put her head against the table. Her light brown, /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"straight/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" hair parted in the middle of her head as she bent forward. It had grown since he met her for the first time, over in Cyrodiil. By then, she had it cut to just above her shoulders. Ratibor suspected it was a necessity in war and did not pay much attention to it. By then she was just a soldier whom Bogdan for some reason took a liking to. It had taken Ratibor some weeks to start appreciating Aurora, but he had come to like the woman's company. At first, he found her partying ways fun, but by now he considered her enjoyable in other ways as well. She took her job with seriousness, and he was fond of that. To a certain extent, he saw a younger version of himself in her commitment to be a good ruler. /span/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor was a man who did not seek challenges. However, when they presented themselves, he found quite a lot of joy in handling them. Especially when in an area he was familiar with, and matters of ruling were./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""What does the system look like today?" he asked as he walked around the table and placed himself behind the woman, looking over her shoulder. He noticed a map of Solitude and its surroundings in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""What do you mean?" Aurora asked, turning her head in a manner where her cheek remained glued to the table, but looking up a him./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Do you have specific days for when… let's say wheat, metals and other goods are allowed to pass the gates?" Ratibor turned his gaze to Aurora, who turned slightly in the chair and straightened up. It was apparent to the man that the Jarl did not follow his reasoning./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Look," Ratibor said, pointing at the map of Solitude and its surroundings. "Between the stables and this mill, you have unused space. Do you have any plans for it?"/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora remained quiet for a short moment and wrinkled her forehead. "I think it's part of the future expansion of the city."/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""But nothing is being done there now?" he asked. "No building work?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""No," Aurora said, checking the parchments lying around the map on the table./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor leaned over her and pointed at a spot. "You could have the ground flattened, and give passing rights to trade wagons certain days. For instance – wheat on Morndas, metals on Tirdas, other foods on Middas and so on. That way, it would become predictable for traders what day they can pass, and they would plan their trip accordingly. If they arrive too early, they will await at this flat piece of land not far from the stables. This way, it would be more profitable for the traders, as they could leave… let's say Morthal on Morndas, and pass through the gates to Solitude on Tirdas, instead of leaving early and clogging the roads, then having to wait in order to get into Solitude."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Ratibor could feel Aurora's gaze on him as he finished the /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"sentence/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". Judging by her expression, she was rather impressed. /span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Why haven't my Thanes come up with this?" she complained, looking up at him./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Well…" Ratibor said, looking into her eyes. "Have you asked them?" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Yeah, I've told them to look into how we could fix the roads."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor observed her for a while longer. In certain moments, it was unbelievable how naïve she appeared. Ratibor had to remind himself that this woman in front of him was the one who had killed countless of dead nordmen in caves, bandits, giants and even dragons. She had travelled to that place where Nords of valour go when they die, she had led armies. Yet she sat in front of him, barely understanding more of ruling than a milkdrinker, or whatever the Nord terminology was. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"In a sense, this was something he disapporved her for. She would have had at least five years of leadership experience – both in that Companions group and the Nord army. Aurora may not have been a General, but she was the closest thing to it, being sent on both diplomatic and military missions. The man could not get his head around how she could not figure out how to lead. She must have been brilliant in combat alone to accomplish the things she had, but by the Eight, she was useless when getting the most out of people, Ratibor thought. /span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""This isn't really a question about fixing the roads, though, is it?" the man asked. He turned towards her, leaning his behind against the table. He did not quite know how to begin the sentense without appearing mean or inconsiderate. The woman held her hazel eyes fixed at his gaze. Gods, how young she looked in that moment. /span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Look, Aurora, being a ruler is as much about communication as it is about leadership. If you ask them to solve an issue concentrating on a specific way of solving it, you won't get their ideas that go outside the frame you have put up," he began and crossed his arms in front of his chest, still leaning against the table. "If you approach it from a slightly different angle you can get more appeasing results. The real problem here is that the roads are clogged due to people and trade wagons entering the city all at once, not the width of the roads."/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Aurora looked at the man, but he could not quite make out what she was thinking. Her light brown hair had fallen over her shoulders /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"unevenly/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;", but she did not appear to notice, or at least did not do anything to correct it. /span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Please, don't take offence," Ratibor spoke. "It was simply a friendly suggestion," he continued softly./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""No, but you are right," she said. "I've been so busy trying how this all works that I haven't considered… Well…"/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"She gestured by throwing her hands up and allowing them to fall back into her lap. It would have been rather adorable, had not Ratibor known that the quality of thousands of lives depended on her ability to make the right decisions./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""It's easy to miss the great picture whilst looking at details," he spoke. "And it appears no one has truly explained to you what your role is all about."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Yes, Ulf… The High King merely handed me this Jarldom, he was busy with the Thalmor peace treaty… I went here to find my Thanes almost at war with one another, and not being sure whether they acutally accept me, or remain loyal to Elisif."/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""And without any experience in ruling lands," Ratibor added before walking around the table and grabbing a chair. "Look," he said as he swung the chair before sitting down next to Aurora./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He reached over her and took a piece of parchment and a quill before starting to write. "The main parts of ruling are taxes, supplies and law." He drew three circles around the words. "Taxes should preferably be low enough to attract people to work and set up businesses here, yet high enough to cover expences for the guards, servants, building work etc. Taxes can be spot taxes, for instance on luxury products that the elite can afford, or general – let's say a general tax of 10 percent of the value of the trade wagon which passes the city gates." He drew more circles under the first one. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Supplies should be stable and predictable, this way you can ensure the lowest possible, stable price on goods. You remove risk from the supplier. A merchant who knows there will be another supply tomorrow won't raise prices today. Supply depends on the quality of the roads, passing systems for the gates, and the safety when travelling between towns."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The man continued to draw lines and circles, sometimes looking up to ensure Aurora was still listening and keeping up with his thought process. /span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;""This brings us to the guards. They should patrol the roads, especially the places that are more likely to be subjected to attacks. Also, it should be visible on the streets to prevent pickpocketing and other petty crimes. Corruption should be persecuted in order to avoid preferred treatment of certain people or organisations. You can also use the guards to gather valuable information one people you have a power struggle with – I'd say this would be Vittoria Vici /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"among/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" others."/span/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The woman appeared to be taking everything he said with great seriousness. Ratibor hoped it was clear enough, so that she had understood him well enough to trust her own future actions in the matters he had spoken of./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora looked at him with an almost begging gaze. "Can you help me?" she asked./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor did not know what to say. In fact, he did not know how he felt about the whole situation. He had work on his own, and it was a daily struggle to ensure Bogdan did any writing whatsoever. On the other hand, it was indeed a matter he felt he could help her with, and he did feel obliged to guide her. "Look, I really have to finish writing the play. We only have two months to the opening," he said, awaiting her reaction./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Please?" she asked, obviously trying to make the most deer like eyes she could. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The man looked at her and could not help but to smile. "Alright then," he sighed./span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"*/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor had lost track of time, but knew that they had missed lunch, and it was probably late in the afternoon. The initially positive feelings towards sharing his knowledge with Aurora were mostly gone as he felt that the day had mostly been… if not wasted, at least incorrectly spent. His newest play was troubling him – or rather, not the play itself, but the work that was still needed to pour into it. He did not feel angry, but promised himself not to end up in a similar situation again./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The problem was that Aurora truly knew nothing about this topic. Ratibor did suspect it, and should have known that he would end up in that situation. He blamed no one but himself, even though it was somewhat frustrating to teach rather than mentor./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"After a while, Nilsine entered the room. Aurora did not notice, as she was absolutely engulfed in the parchment rolls. Ratibor, on the other hand, immediately reacted to the door being carefully opened, and the Stewardess sticking her head in./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""My Jarl, remember the festival," she spoke and Aurora suddenly looked up. "Shouldn't you get changed?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Yes, just one minute," Aurora said. "Oh, don't bother, actually. I'll just wear something I can put on myself."/span/p
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p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Nilsine nodded and closed the door. Aurora immediately took her quill and wrote under her "to do"-list. Ratibor kept his gaze at the door and continued his lecture, even though his mind was on the look the Stewardess had as she closed the door./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Tell your Thanes to gather all information they have about the number of wares being transported into Solitude on a weekly basis. We will try to figure out how much taxes you are losing out on due to products being sold illegally," he spoke without putting much thought into it. "You should use as much information you can to calculate which percentage your should put your taxes at."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The man was sure. There was something Nilsine thought but did not utter. She was a quiet woman and very difficult to get information from. Ratibor could sense that she had drawn some conclusions, but could not make out which, even if his life was dependent on it. If she was any good, she ought to be worried about the fact that her Jarl had spent the entire day with a foreigner in her office. Ratibor was not sure that was the case though./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;""Taxes are a function depending on number of goods being sold, and the tax rate. The higher the rate, the less goods will be sold. We will calculate which is the optimal compromise," he continued as Aurora finished writing down his last /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"sentence/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". He illustrated what he had just said by drawing a graph but noticed a silence as he did so. Turning to the woman, he noticed that Aurora merely stared at him./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""It would be at the top of this graph, right here," he said, pointing at the top of an upside-down U-shaped line. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""So what is it?" Aurora asked./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""We'll have to put in the numbers," Ratibor said./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He took the parchment roll with the last years' tax revenue numbers and did some calculations in order to prepare the input for Aurora. After ten or so minutes, he presented them to her. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""It is a function where the derivative should be zero," he spoke, writing down em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"f'(x)=0/em on the parchment infront of her. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora's eyes were wide open. "Bare with me," Ratibor smiled towards her. "I will explain."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"*/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He had spent the entire day at the Blue Palace before returning to Proudspire to get changed. As soon as he entered, the man threw his coat over the hook and picked up a wine bottle which had been standing on a small table by the door. His head was foggy from helping Aurora out. It was a long time since he used formulas, and being a good instructor took more effort than just doing everything himself. He could not say Aurora was a fast learner, but he suspected her schooling was limited and poor. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor collapsed in the sofa and reached inside of his inner vest pocket. He gripped a small piece of old parchment pressed into a square containing fire salts. The man leaned back, with his neck resting against the top of the sofa. He slid down even further in the sofa and opened the tiny package. Ratibor brought to his nose, snorted and closed his eyes. A few moments later, he felt the substance making him more alert./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"He thought of his life. He had hoped to get some writing done that day and felt frustrated it did not turn out as he planned. Also, Bogdan did his best to avoid him and the work they needed to do before the premiere. As Ratibor decided to move from the Imperial City, due to their father's Steward being on the brothers' track, he worried about the effect it would have on his younger brother. Especially after the death of their close friend, the Steward's son Oleksander more than two years ago, which caused a seemingly permanent change of their relationship. They fought more, or rather, it was not exactly fighting. Bogdan was not particularly confrontative with him, but turned inwards instead, not informing Ratibor on how he felt wronged. Bogdan had been isolating himself more and more as time /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"progressed/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" – and even though Ratibor could see the effect of this, he did not grasp the cause. /span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The man felt how he grew increasingly drunk as he drank the wine in combination with consuming the fire salts. His mood improved as he felt more aware of the surroundings, and let go of the thinking which was required of him at the palace. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor's thoughts slid to the topic of Aurora. Even though he was fond of her as a person, he had still not entirely made up his mind about her as a woman. There was something incredibly unattractive about her, but he could not pinpoint what it was. Most men would disagree with him, he figured, especially the Nords. Physically, he found her pretty, even beautiful to some extent, but there was something about her persona which pushed him away from her femininity. The man suspected there was something about her self doubt unrelated to her inexperience in ruling. If that was the case, he did not know why she felt so about herself. She was, by all means, successful, and obviously took her destiny in her own hands. Ratibor felt an aversion to guide his women in their life – and he did indeed feel like he was becoming a mentor of a sort in her eyes. On the other hand, why did this matter even frustrate him? Did this mean he did consider her? The man leaned his head against the backrest of the sofa and tried his best to focus his thoughts on Aurora, but it only took a few seconds for him to grow bored of that thought. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"He tried to figure out what Bogdan saw in her – because it was evident his brother felt a strong connection to that woman. Ratibor came to the conclusion that it must be the same part in his brother he could not quite get his head around, which was so attached to Aurora. Bogdan rarely made close friends, but the Jarl had apparently become one, and fast. He liked her so much the second time they met that he lent her one of their mother's dresses. Only Eupaxia held that /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"privilege/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" in Bogdan's world before Aurora./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Thinking about Eupaxia… Ratibor was fascinated by women with a lot of character. Usually, young women without much life experience grew boring after a short while. That's why he /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"enjoyed/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" the company of dock workers. Ratibor found slight vulgarity immensely sexually attractive. Daughters of the rich or noble were mostly raised differently, they were prepared to become good, representative wives. Yes, there were few women whom he could share the Kvatch throne with and still respect. Perhaps none. /span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor thought of what Vecheslav said about Eupaxia. He knew she was not in love with him, not even as a teenager, and neither had he felt anything but slight attraction for her. The man did, however, wonder if he should have chosen her to be his wife regardless./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"No one could deny that she was incredibly beautiful – Ratibor had never met a woman who had as perfect features as Eupaxia. Her hair was thick and soft and smelled wonderfully. She was confident, elegant and always a pleasure to be close to. In truth, perhaps it was her confidence and sensuality which camuflaged as beauty – that may indeed be the case, but it did not make her any less stunning. The woman was witty and a wonderful hostess, but behind the façade, she was demanding, maniulative and difficult to please. Ratibor had realised a few years back that these were the attributes he looked for in women. He loved it when they questioned, reprimanded and even provoked him. The more he thought about it, the more he realised that he had made a mistake. Eupaxia's father had introduced them many years ago, hoping to marry his daughter to Ratibor. Their fathers had grown to adore one another, which was the reason to why Eupaxia's had waited for eight years for Ratibor to propose before marrying her off to the future Count of Chorrol./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"The man thought of the time they had spent together. They had often gone to ride together, and those days were some of the best in his life. She followed him to the theatre at the rehersals at times, at first watching from the sides, but after a while, she came with suggestions of her own. Eupaxia did not live through her future /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"spouse/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" – she had her own life. Both in terms of interests, but also a social. Being outgoing and the daughter of a rich man, she nestled herself into the company of everyone who mattered. In fact, she was even better at this particular game than Ratibor himself. Even though she was socially ambitious, she still appreciated the company of, and even searched for young, talented writers and painters. Ratibor would never live a boring day with that woman, had he chosen to marry her. /span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He was 30 years old. Father would demand a daughter-in-law and an heir in the coming years as he grew increasingly old and weak. Ratibor felt it was the case. He had managed to put off his marriage for a long time. When the question of an heir would become acute, there would be no women like Eupaxia./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"So why did he not love her like a woman? He had been thinking about that for many years but not reached any conclusion whatsoever. At one point, he even considered asking her. He was sure she had never felt anything romantic for him either, even though she must have enjoyed his company. They had spent a considerable amount of time together since Eupaxia and her father were frequent guests of Kvatch. Perhaps she merely felt like a sister due to the fact that they met at a young age. Perhaps his father's great mistake was having introduced them too soon. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor felt how the fire salts had done him good. His mood was dramatically better, and he decided to improve it even more so with Redguard wine. The man had finished the half empty bottle from the small table by the door, but found yet another one one the right side of the sofa, pushed between the armrest and a pillow. Ratibor chuckled – it must have been Bogdan who left it there./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Having finished yet another half of a bottle, the man walked up to the door, put on his cloak, corrected his outfit and went outside. He immediately saw lights flickering from the neighbouring house – the Bards College. It was dark outside, but torches were lit around the town, and especially around the college. The air was rather warm for that time of the year, and smells of wine and spices spread like a blanket over Ratibor. The man noticed Ataf standing by the stairs leading to the college. He was a Redguard, and the youngest student of the /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"institution/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". Ratibor had spoken to him a couple of times, but considered him rather boring. Nonetheless, as Ratibor descended from the stairs to Proudspire, he called out the man's name./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The Redguard greeted him happily, but did not agree on a drink./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He claimed not to drink at all, regardless how much Ratibor tried to convince him to get to the terrace and have some wine with him. Having given up on the dull Redguard, Ratibor proceeded up the stairs and over to the courtyard. The chef had baked sweetrolls and other pastries which smelled wonderfully. There were more torches and lanterns placed around the area. Music and the sounds of voices echoed between the walls of the buildings. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Having just ascended the stairs, the first person Ratibor noticed was Olfina Grey-Mane, who threw and angry, condescending gaze at him. She appeared to be an arrogant bitch. It was a shame that her personality was uttermost unpleasant – for Ratibor quite liked her features. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The Jarl and her Stewardess stood by one of the walls together with Idgrod the Younger, each holding a glass of wine. Aurora wore a simple, blue dress and a coat of the same colour. Ratibor had only seen her wear trousers before, with two exceptions – the time he had spilled red wine all over it in the Imperial City, and the following day when Bogdan had lent their mother's dress to her. On second thought, it might be three times, since she had shown up at Proudspire in one as well. Either way, she was unusually pretty when dressed like that. He had always seen her as rather… masculine. She was almost as tall as he was, and muscular throughout her entire body. When wearing those horrid, leather trousers which she seemed so fond of, it was evident her thighs were hard and rather thick. The woman's arms were the size of his, but his were no where nearly as strong as hers. Her charisma was not too impressive, though, and it appeared as if she just followed along the group. As if she was pretending to be self assured around him and the other men. Ratibor felt as if she waited for him to show affection almost like dog would. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"On the other hand, she got drunk with him. Often. There was a wild side to her which he was very much amused by and fond of. Ratibor had not quite made up his mind about her. Regardless, he had branded her as too psychologically weak. He could not understand why a woman like she would feel bad about /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"themselves/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". It was evident Aurora did not respect herself as much as she ought to. But she was still lovely to spend time with./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He had a rather beige impression of the heir to Hjaalmarch. She was short, not particularly pretty – she was too pale, her eyes were long but too hooded. Her face was narrow, and she dressed rather badly. Olfina had made an effort and looked neat in a green, decorated dress which reminded of the one Vittoria Vici often wore. Compared to her friends', Idgrod's dress looked more like a stable girl's than something a noble woman would present herself in. Particularly a Jarl's firstborn, and thereby heir to a hold. Ratibor was under the impression that Idgrod was reserved and somewhat shy, often tagging along Aurora and, in particular, Olfina./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Looking around, Ratibor noticed that Bogdan had walked past him and approached Ataf, who had followed Ratibor not long after he went to the courtyard. Close by, Vecheslav was conversing with Viarmo, the Headmaster of the Bards College. Vittoria Vici and her husband were standing on the other side of the yard together with the Thanes of the hold. Residents of the College as well as ordinary townspeople were everywhere, and especially many of them were found queuing for either pastries or drinks. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Ratibor caught Olfina's gaze again. She rolled her eyes at him and engaged in a conversation with an older woman. Ratibor kept his gaze at her as she gestured intensively as she spoke. The longer he observed her, the more disgust he felt towards her. She was too much – breaking all social norms, constantly complaining and attacking. Ratibor enjoyed confident men and women, but did not appreciate arrogance. There was a fine line between confidence and antagonistic haughtiness, and the Grey-Mane was obviously in a /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"category/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" on her own. Nobility did not accept such outbursts, and it was surprising that she was allowed to act the way she did./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Suddenly, Ratibor heard his name being uttered just in front of him. He had not noticed, having had his gaze turned towards Olfina, and jerked slightly upon being spoken to. It was Harrald Law-Giver, the heir to the Reach and officer in the army. Nilsine had introduced them a few days ago at the Blue Palace but they had only exchanged a few words. The man was tall and very much the embodiment of a true Nord. His body language portrayed precisely that./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""How do you like it here, Lord Goldwine?" the man asked with a forced smile./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor assumed Harrald meant in Skyrim in general, rather than the specific evening."It is… it's nicer than I anticipated. The people are great too," he answered. "The Jarl is a fine character," Ratibor continued, throwing a gaze and gesturing with his head towards Aurora. "I assume you are familiar with her?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""She's a friend. We fought the war together," Harrald stated dryly./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""I see. Well, she is lovely," he responded, mirroring Harrald's dry tone./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Are you planning to propose to her?" he asked blatantly./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor was stunned for a few moments before opening his mouth to speak. "I beg your pardon?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Why else would an Imperial noble be here?" Harrald continued without any delay, as if he had been planning for the conversation to go in that direction./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""I could think of plenty of reasons," Ratibor answered, trying to soften the tone slightly./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Oh, such as?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"br /Ratibor went silent. He realised that no matter how he would react, that Law-Giver would be antagonistic and rude towards him. The Imperial contemplated whether he should say "Matters which people with only one ability should not worry about," but did not have time to say anything before Harrald continued:/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""As long as you stay away from Olfina Grey-Mane," Harrald spoke, looking down at the shorter Ratibor who was looking at him with a disapproving gaze. "She's my friend," the man continued before leaning in on Ratibor and lowering his tone. "I am going to ask my mother to propose a marriage between her and me."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Great," Ratibor said insincerely and abruptly./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The men looked at one another for a few more seconds before Law-Giver made a gesture signaling a em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"good bye/em with a barely noticable bow. Ratibor found the man's complex laughable. He needed not worry about Ratibor taking Grey-Mane under his nose. In fact, he probably needed not worry about anybody doing so./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"As Ratibor contemplated over the previous exchange of words… or threat, a a girl from the Bards College had approached him. She was a Nord with shoulder-length hair of a dark brown tone. Her face was somewhat heart-shaped, and she was rather thin. They greeted one another and spoke for a short while about the college and cultural scene in Solitude. Illdi was her name, if Ratibor remembered correctly. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Aurora and Idgrod had moved closer to him and were now speaking to that Grey-Mane, but Nilsine was nowhere to be seen. Ratibor saw Bogdan standing on the other end of the courtyard, alone, and with a /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"mischievous/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" facial expression. The older Goldwine brother decided to ensure that the younger did not cause trouble. In order to reach him, Ratibor had to walk past the trio./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""There's nothing a man can do that I can't do better – whether it's serving drinks or slaying trolls," he could hear Olfina uttering to the young women./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Shut up, Olfina," Aurora said. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""I wasn't challenging your authority."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""No, but you're challenging my patience!" Aurora hissed at her just as Ratibor had reached a distance where he could no longer tell their words apart due to the noise from the rest of the guests and the music./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Hey," Ratibor said and placed an arm over his brother's shoulders. Bogdan looked at him with his drunken expression that the older brother knew so well. "Have you had a drink yet?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Nah," Bogdan said. "I was thinking of speaking to Ace first."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""She's over there with Idgrod and Olfina," Ratibor said and clapped Bogdan over his shoulder. "Where's Umbranox?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Bogdan looked around. "He was here a minute ago… oh, there he is," he said before turning his face towards Ratibor, who was clinging to him. "Oh, brother, you stink of wine."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Ratibor chuckled. "I've had a few," he said, /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"twitching/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" his head upward as he noticed Vecheslav emerging from the wine que./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Just as Umbranox walked up to them, Bogdan broke free of his brother's grip, avoiding the nasty smell coming out of his mouth. He set off into the direction where Aurora was having a heated discussion with Idgrod and Olfina./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""What is this, some sort of pagan festival?" Ratibor asked Vecheslav./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Yeah, a Nord tradition," Vecheslav said. "A yearly one which defames a former High King for allegidly bribing people to say that he captured a dragon. They burn an image of him."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor did not really pay attention to what Vecheslav was telling him. He was not a fan of Nord stories either way. Instead, he observed his younger brother with the female trio some ten yards away from him. Olfina appeared upset with Bogdan. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Oh," Ratibor said, having barely listened to Vecheslav. Turning his gaze toward him, the man continued: "I think it's a bad idea to wear something this bright at this time of the year. Have you seen the mud?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Vecheslav looked worriedly at his socks. "Perhaps you're right. It's time for the black ones," he spoke as Ratibor held his gaze fixed at Bogdan. "Hey, that's Giraud Gemane of the Bards College. I'll go and have a word with him," Vecheslav said, having noticed that Ratibor had other matters to attend to./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Alright," Ratibor said, still without turning his gaze. As soon asspan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanVecheslav turned his heel, the older Goldwine began approaching the girls./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""What's the matter? You can't stand the sight of a strong, Nord woman?" Olfina hissed, with her hands on her hips and leaning slightly forward./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Bogdan looked at her, not knowing for what reason he was under scrutiny and attack. Ratibor knew that gaze of his. It usually meant Bogdan was innocent, and in a situation with the Grey-Mane, there was a possibility Bogdan was in fact not the one to blame./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Miladies," Ratibor interrupted them and immediately felt how everyone's gazes turned toward him. "I beg your pardon, did my brother say something inappropriate?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""No, Lord Goldwine" Aurora ensured whilst turning a stern gaze to Olfina. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor perfectly understood the situation and rolled his eyes at Olfina. "You are troublesome, milady," he said and placed a protective arm around his brother's shoulders and began turning his body away from the group, as if to gesture for Bogdan to leave. Bogdan did not quite understand his intentions though, and merely buried his feet into the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor had to let go of his brother, and looked at Aurora. "Milady, may I request a dance with the Jarl?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Judging from her reaction, Aurora was obviously not accustomed to such addresses. He bowed deeply and offered her his hand. Ratibor felt like being prince charming that night and to pomper women. He enjoyed that role at times, and large social gatherings, and in particular those with music, made that impulse stronger. The Jarl grinned widely and lowered her head before taking Ratibor's hand./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The older Goldwine brother quickly turned his head toward Bogdan, whose expression begged not to be left alone with that Grey-Mane and Idgrod. Ratibor smiled at him and gestured with his head toward Egor, who was standing close by and speaking to Aia Arria from the College. It was not very helpful, but at the moment, it was all Ratibor could suggest./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Instead, he took the Jarl to the centre of the court. The music was rather quick and playful – one of Ratibor's favourite paces. He placed his left arm on the woman's back and held out the right one for her to take. The pair threw a grinning gaze at one another before taking a jump, and thereby initiating their dance. As the Burning of Olaf Festival was open for everyone, the dances were more folk oriented than aristocratic. Aurora seemed to love it – she was giggly, enthusiastic and very outgoing. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""How much have you had to drink?" Ratibor asked as they let go of one another to spin around themselves once./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Perhaps too little," Aurora laughed as she approached the man again after the spin./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor leaned closer to her and placed his cheek against hers. It was rather evident that she too had taken a bottle or two before heading to the Bards College that evening, and this was the Jarl he was fond of. Ratibor genuinely enjoyed himself while talking to and dancing with the somewhat tipsy woman. Aurora mis-stepped and almost fell, and nearly pulled Ratibor with her to the ground, but the man placed his feet widely apart and managed to balance both himself and the Jarl. The woman giggled as he held onto her lower back and did his best to remain on both feet. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""This damned hemline," Aurora chuckled. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Yes, I'm unused to seeing you in a dress," Ratibor said and returned to dancing./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora giggled. "I guess it's time to put my armour on the shelf," she said. "I have a new role now."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""How are you coping?" he asked as he spun her around, holding onto the tips of her fingers as he lifted his arm above her head./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""It's alright," she said. "Not quite what I expected it to be, but I do like some aspects of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Well, the dress looks lovely good on you," he casually said, smiling. A wave of his hair fell in front of his face and he blew towards it to make it fall back into its place./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Aurora laughed at his attempt as they returned to move in /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"rhythm/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" with the music. Ratibor drew the conclusion that Aurora had in fact tripped on her hemline out of inexperience rather than /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"drunkenness/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;", as she was fully agile otherwise./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"The music moved faster. Ratibor once again held Aurora's right hand in his left, and had his other placed on her lower back. Next to them, Jorn from the Bards College had just placed both his hands on his co-student Illdi's waist and lifted her, spinning her around./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora gasped at the sight. Ratibor turned his head towards what Aurora was looking at and noticed Jorn and Illdi. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""You want me to spin you like that too?" he asked with his eyes half closed, in a manner much alike his brother's./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"There was actually no need to ask. Aurora looked at the other pair like a child on a sweetroll stand. Suddenly, in order to surprise the woman, Ratibor grabbed Aurora's waist and tried to lift her, failing miserably in his /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"endeavor/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". He did not even get her half an inch above the ground, but instead, his bottle of wine and fire salts made themselves known and he almost lost his balance. He was thrown forward, and in a desperate attempt to remain upright, he stepped right onto Aurora left foot with his right, and placed the other on her hemline in the centre. The woman had a fit of laughter which forced her to bend double once Ratibor had regained his balance./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor was laughing too. As Aurora had calmed herself slightly, he took her hand with his left hand, and yet again placed his right on her lower back. "I think we should do it the other way around," he laughed. "You weigh as much as a horker!"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"This threw Aurora into yet another fit of laughter. So much that Ratibor almost uncomfortably looked around as he held the wobbly woman closer to him, as her limbs became /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"uncontrollable/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". /span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""If you were a soldier, you would be able to lift me," Aurora spoke through her laughter and leaned closer to him. With her forehead against his, she continued. "What does it say about you? Other men have been able to."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"She had a /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"mischievous/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" expression as she looked up on him from underneath her forehead. Her chin was almost pressed to her chest while the centre of her forehead touched his. He was still holding her lower back with one hand, and her palm in the other, raised to shoulder level. Their feet began moving in /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"rhythm/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" to the music of the lute and drum, with both the woman and man smirking at one another./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Such as the High King?" Ratibor asked looking straight at her. "I thought you were marrying marrying him by the way." He knew very well that she had not accepted the High King's proposal, but wanted to know how she would react to him bringing it up./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"The woman stopped with an empty gaze, looking at him, but as if with a missing /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"presence/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". Ratibor wondered whether he had gone too far as they stood there in silence. Meanwhile, the quick and cheerful tune continued, as did the dance of the pairs around them. Colours were changing in seconds – capes, robes and hemlines swung around in close proximity to Ratibor and Aurora. He looked at her, as if to dig up her gaze, which was fixed into the distance at a level slightly above that of their navels. She quickly smiled and took his hand, beginning to move again./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Yeah, we weren't compatible," she stated./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"There was no nuance of dryness or /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"displeasement/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" in her voice. She sounded as if she had genuinely thought about it for a moment, and answered a friend. Ratibor knew her reply was not the whole story, though, and continued./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""You didn't love him," he stated./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""How would you know?" she asked him with a subtle smile, but challenging tone./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Ah," he said, leaning over her shoulder. "You don't look like the woman who has found her great love."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He did not whisper, or even lower his tone. He merely took a step closer to her, still holding her hand and lower back, with his gaze set a few feet in front of him. They were yet again dancing, moving from side to side, then diagonally, making a full turn by the eight or tenth step./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Tsss," she exclaimed. "And you'd know what one would look like."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""You look like Umbranox, Egor and I," he said, catching a glimpse of Umbranox while he was speaking to Egor and the headmaster of the college. "None of us has exactly met the love of our lives yet."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora immediately looked very unhappy. Or rather, her body language gave it away, and Ratibor confirmed this was the case by leaning back and looking at her face. "Cheer up," Ratibor grinned. "He might be just in front of you, maybe you just haven't realised it yet."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"She was just abut to open her mouth as Ratibor ducked. It must have appeared rather bizarre at first, but soon his little joke paid off. Aurora stood in silence for a while before breaking out in laughter. Ratibor turned around to see whom her gaze had fallen on and noticed Aifur Blue-Quill standing five yards away, seemingly confused and not entirely sure about what was going on around him and what he had walked into. Ratibor laughed too and put an arm around Aurora as she had trouble standing upright. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"As she returned to a somewhat normal state after her fit of laughter, Ratibor hastily kissed her hand, and placed his other on her lower back. "Come," he said and pulled her from the dance floor./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"He took her to the wine stall and ordered two glasses. His mood was excellent, and it turned him rather cocky – up to the point that he pressed past everyone in the line and threw some septims up on the counter. The server looked at him with a certain degree of resentment, then at the Jarl, and served the man two glasses of wine. Ratibor, however, did not care. The music, the wine, the dancing and the general atmosphere of the evening contributed to a /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"joyfulness/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" he had not felt in a long time. Also, he felt very good about himself. He was charming, a good dancer, obviously wildly entertaining, based on the amount of laughter coming from Aurora. In short, he was a genius./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""For prospering business and cultural ties," he said and leaned closer to Aurora as he handed her one of the glasses. "And friendship between the people of Kvatch and Haafingar."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora was smiling. "Cheers," she said as she took the glass from him, first raising it slighty towards him, then towards her lips./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor emptied his quickly, in one go. As he lowered the glass, he noticed Aurora looked at him with a inquisitive expression. He looked at her with a faked severe expression. "Bottom up, Aurora. How will I get you drunk otherwise?"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"She giggled at his remark and drank her wine. As soon as the last drip escaped the glass, he called for the server and loudly ordered two more. Aurora looked anticipatefully at him as he presented her with the second round./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""For friendship between the leaders of Kvatch and Haafingar," Ratibor said, winking./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He emptied his as quickly as the last one, then let his gaze fall at Aurora. Having noticed she was still only sipping it, he pressed the bottom of Aurora's glass upwards with the tip of his index finger. This caused the woman to giggle again. Some strands of her hair fell in front of her face and stuck straight across it, over her eyebrows. The bright sun in Hammerfell must have brightened it, because it was of the brightest brown colour, almost going on blonde, while her brows were more of a full nuance. Ratibor had the impression that she did not really care much for her hair – she rarely had it in an updo, and it had not been cut in a long time. Umbranox would be horrified if the split ends Ratibor noticed on Aurora's hair would belong to him instead. It was the first time Ratibor paid attention to it, and a strong urge to bring out the scissors arose within him./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Suddenly, he felt a hand hit him on the right shoulder. "Getting drunk without the rest of us?" Egor asked loudly. "Bastards!"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;""We're only on our second glass," Ratibor said, grinning at the Nord. "Besides, this woman looks like she can handle a bottle," he said, winking at Aurora. "At least she /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"weighs/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" like she could."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"He grinned towards her and lifted his glass to the level of his eyes before remembering he had already finished it. Ratibor clapped Egor on his shoulder and gestured that he was about to walk up to the counter. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Not yet," Egor responded to Ratibor's non-verbal suggestion. "I was thinking to ask the Jarl up for a dance," Egor said, lifting his chin up towards Aurora. He did so with obvious over-chivalry which was ment to be ironic, but the woman probably did not catch that. Instead, he bowed in front of her, but not before spinning his right hand in small circles with his pinkie raised. This time, she caught the jokefulness in his gestures and laughed. Egor grinned as she gave him her hand./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor followed the pair with his gaze. Egor elegantly jumped to the dance floor, holding both of Aurora's hands while backing into place. He placed his right arm around her waist, and managed to half-lifted her up – they were probably speaking of Ratibor's joke at Aurora's expense. The Goldwine chuckled and shook his head. Egor never came across as sly, but he always made the right friends, and Aurora was easy to influence if done correctly, Ratibor thought. If he wanted to, Egor could charm himself into a marriage with a Baron's daughter, or even a Countess in her own right. He was very attractive in the way he moved – he gave the impression of knowing all social codes, yet being slightly rebellious, or above them, but taking the person he was talking to with him. Down-to-Nirn, yet with the necessary sophistication. When Egor partied, he sure knew how to party, though./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Even Nilsine seemed to let her hair down slightly that night. She was standing on the opposite side of the courtyard, observing the dancing pairs. Ratibor walked around the area of the dance floor and up to the Stewardess. She noticed him as soon as he placed himself to her right, hit his heels together and bowed./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Lady Shatter-Shield?" he asked, still in a bow. She thanked him but declined. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""I'm looking after the Jarl, and you are not exactly making my task easier." She spoke kindly, there was no ill will in her tone, but she was stern./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor snorted, pretending to be upset. "What do you mean?" he asked as he stood up and placed himself about a foot away to her side, looking at the style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /!- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /!-[endif]-/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;""You are getting her drunk," Nilsine spoke, not with a particularly happy tone. It sounded rather /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"accusative/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;", and even though she leaned her head somewhat to his direction, she was still looking diagonally, at the wine stand, rather than at Ratibor./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""You have to let her relax at times," he smiled./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""I know," Nilsine said, lowering her tone. "I'm not implying it is all bad. She has trouble sleeping most nights, but when she is drinking with you men… She gets more than three or four hours," the Stewardess spoke, still looking straight ahead, and not at the man she was speaking to. "That said, my job is to ensure she is well and in a state where she is capable of doing her job – decision making." /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor chuckled. "Are you implying I am distracting her?" he asked, grinning. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Nilsine turned her head towards him. "As I said, it is not all for the bad that she has friends who can take her mind off things." /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"She said so in a kinder manner than previously. Ratibor even thought he could sense a little smile being directed at him for a moment, before the woman once again turned her gaze at the dancing pairs. Ratibor looked around to ensure no one was looking directly at them or listening from behind their backs. Thereafter, he leaned closer to the Stewardess, his mouth almost touching her ear and whispered. "Did you not understand what occurred on today?" he asked. "She has asked for my assistance."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""I am sure you can help her choose a good wine and entertain the Jarl," Nilsine spoke straight out and with a normal tone. She was not looking at Ratibor./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""No," Ratibor said, still whispering. "Your Thanes aren't doing their job in supporting the Jarl's decision making."/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Nilsine turned her head towards the man, prompting him to back of a few inches. "What do you mean?" she asked, now almost whispering too./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""They should be able to assist her in tax calculations and other administrative tasks. Either they are not loyal, or incompetent, and I do not know which is worse," Ratibor said./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Tax calculations?" she hissed./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""She showed me the documents when…"/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;""She did /span/spanem style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"what/emspan style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"?" Nilsine exclaimed. Her face was turned towards him, but her eyes were set at his /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"throat/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;". "Are you sincere?"/span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;""Keep quiet," Ratibor hissed at her. He looked around and leaned/span/spanspan style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;" /spanspan style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"closer to her again, leaning in over her shoulder. "I know what it appears like, and I don't want this to be publicly known either. Just make sure she doesn't /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"accidentally/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" leak this."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor backed off again, and Nilsine looked at him. Their eyes met. She had a more stern expression than he had ever seen her with./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""We'll talk about this when you aren't drunk," she said in a somewhat loud manner./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""How do you know I'm…?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: 13pt;"Nilsine gave him yet another stern gaze with an annoyed expression. So much that he began to wonder if his /spanspan style="font-size: 17.3333px;"tipsiness/spanspan style="font-size: 13pt;" truly was visible. Either way, Ratibor excused himself, bowed and walked towards Idgrod who was standing further down the wall./span/span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;""Lady Ravencrone?" he bowed. She looked somewhat nervous and reluctant as he tried to get her to dance with him. "Oh, come on, Lady Idgrod," he said and pulled her with him to the dance floor./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Having placed one arm on the woman's lower back, and holding the other in his palm, he took the first steps, lightly pulling Idgrod with him. It became rather evident to Ratibor that Idgrod had almost no experience dancing – either that, or she was extremely shy. His mind soon turned to Aurora and Bogdan, who were dancing next to them. The older Goldwine caught his brother's gaze and smiled. Bogdan gave him one of his elusive, genuine smiles. /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Aurora was laughing. "I just didn't expect you to know how to waltz," Ratibor could hear her giggle./span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacing"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"Ratibor winked towards his brother and chuckled for himself as he turned Idgrod into a spin. If only Bogdan could behave as well as he did with Aurora or Eupaxia when in other people's company, he would have been a published writer by then./span/p