R... That one letter was enough information to help Vilkas find his brother. But so many places Started with R. Rorikstead, Reachwater Rock, Reachwind Eyrie, Riften, Redoran's Retreat, Rimerock Burrow, and many other places, so at the end of the day, Vilkas was stumped. Where to look? Riften didn't seem likely to him. No one there would be selfless enough to take Farkas in so he crossed that off the list.

Rorikstead was likely but, again, no one would take Farkas in. Crossed off. The only other places seemed to be tombs or forts, so those were likely too. Well, if he wanted to find his brother dead that was.

Vilkas growled in frustration and huffed childishly. He hated being stumped. He knew he couldn't give up though. Farkas was counting on him to find him. He sighed. He'd never thought he'd miss his twin so much. Then again, the two had never been apart for very long so they never knew what it'd be like to be apart. Vilkas guessed that it was subconsciously scary to the both of them. It was likely the reason that both men, both in their thirties, weren't married.

Most men their age were married unless they had an occupation that prevented them from being married. Vilkas snorted as he jokingly thought about marrying his brother. As if being brothers wasn't hard enough, adding marriage into that equation was just stupid. They fought over their funds enough as it was, being married would make that fighting worse.

Still, in a way, it wasn't a bad idea. Vilkas laughed at himself for thinking such nonsense. He then turned his attention back to his map and eyed it, looking for his brother's potential location. Normally, Farkas wouldn't be hard to find, but seeing as the man had been missing for nearly a month now, so now there were nearly endless possibilities. He was worried about Farkas for sure, but worrying wasn't going to help find him.

Lurch walked over and set a plate of food next to Vilkas, who thanked him. "You know, " Lurch drawled, looking at the map. "Rorikstead might be a good place to check first, actually. "

"And why's that?"

"It's a small farming village and the locals may have seen something."

Vilkas nodded. "To Rorikstead then."

"What's Vilkas like?" Farkas turned to look at Fark, who was helping him work in the garden. "Pardon?" Fark chuckled and smiled fondly. "Vilkas. Your twin. What's he like?" Farkas smiled sadly. What was Vilkas like? "Well," he began. "He and I are a lot alike. Except, he's hot-headed and has earned the ranking of 'the smart one'." Fark snorted and helped the Companion lift a few logs into the cart. "And what are you?"

"The dumb one. My friends call me ice-brain."

Fark raised an eyebrow in question. "You seem pretty smart to me." he stated, crossing his arms. Farkas just shrugged. "I'm blunt and don't use big words." he explained. "Plus I'm strong and not very quick to register things in my mind. But, contrary to my fighting style and behavior, I'm better suited as a thief. I use light armor better than heavy and I'm damn good at sneaking. I can also haggle pretty well, and talk anyone into anything I want... Should I choose."

Fark smiled widely. Farkas was blunt and did seem dimwitted, but it was very clear that the man was highly intelligent. Farkas was also a hard worker. It seemed all Farkas ever did in his life was work. Fark wondered if that were true, so he asked. Farkas sat down, back against the house, and nodded. "Yeah. When Vilkas and I were kids, out father left to fight in the Great War, he never came back though." He sighed and leaned his head, closing his eyes. He pictured his father's smiling face as he spoke. "Vilkas and I were sort of on our own from then on. Sure we had our mentor, Kodlak, but our father did teach us something important before he left.

"You see, Vilkas and I wished on stars and prayed to Talos a lot as kids and our father would always tell us, 'Boys, wishing and praying can only take you so far. You have to work hard to get to what you want.' We learned that at an early age and it stuck with us."

Fark listened intently to the younger's story, drinking in every word. He found himself glad that someone else in this world knew the meaning of hard work. Too many people had it easy, and anyone who didn't, didn't work to get what they wanted. They all expected some sort of handout. It made him happy to know at least two souls knew what it was like to have to work.

Farkas cried out suddenly and fell over. Fark hurried to the younger man's side. "Damn it all, boy." he scolded. "You reopened your stitches. Come on." He lifted Farkas up and carried him into the house. "I swear you'll be the death of me." Farkas chuckled despite the pain he was in. "Sorry." he mumbled, allowing himself to be set on the bed.

Maralith made quick work restitching the wound on Farkas and smacked his hand in a motherly fashion. "What did I say about straining yourself?" she demanded. "Not to do it." Farkas mumbled, rubbing his now stinging hand. He hadn't meant to strain himself. He hadn't even felt any pain until he'd relaxed. Oh well, he just hoped Vilkas was okay.

Vilkas growled angrily at the barman in Rorikstead and grabbed the front of the man's shirt. "Tell me what you know, or I snap your damn neck." he snarled, fed up with the man trying to haggle money out of him for information. The barman whimpered and quickly complied. "Alright alright! There was a guy here that matches your description! He bought some mead and drank a lot of it. He got drunk and left the building."

"Where did he go?!"

"I don't know!"

Vilkas snarled and threw the man backwards before storming off back to his table, where Lurch and Cicero were sitting and grinning. Lurch handed Vilkas a letter. "Apparently, it be urgent." he said, taking a swig of mead. Vilkas rolled his eyes, but took the letter and opened it.

Vilkas,

We know you're out looking for your brother. Let us give you some advice. Stop. He's now on the watch list for us and if you continue your search, you'll end up dead, just like he will.

,The Silver Hand.

Vilkas swore under his breath and tore up the note. If the Silver Hand thought he'd stop looking for Farkas just like that, they were dead wrong. (Pun fully intended.) Vilkas loved his brother more than anything and he'd not give up the search. He'd not gotten word from Aela about Farkas, so he could only assume Farkas was hurt somewhere. Hopefully he was somewhere safe. But he'd not give up looking for his brother just because some damned cut throats told him to. No, he'd find his brother, if it was the last thing he'd do.