The outside air seemed fresher this morning, even Kor could agree. The morning sun had barely began to peek above the city wall, but it wasn't an uncomfortable crisp air without its warmth. Aphid remarked to Kor, about the warmer weather to come, warning him that the summer months could sometimes make the canal a bit pungent. Kor didn't know what that meant, but he assumed it was probably another thing he wasn't going to quite like about this place.

And yet again, his thoughts tried to pull away to the realization of being here, and being here that long…

But suddenly, he collided, with a force not his own, into the railing of the plank bridge they were crossing. It immediately took his mind off his thoughts at least, but now he was rattled with what in Oblivion just happened.

"Barakväll!" Aphid's stern voice snapped, and every child's attention drew to the towering scolding boy.

"I—I--," Bark stammered, "I s-swear I d-didn't mean to!"

"I just saw you do it!" Aphid scolded, "With my own eyes!"

He let go of Jaren, who had been holding his hand, and began stomping forward to the Nord boys. Bark quickly took a few steps back as Aphid advanced, but the older boy first checked on Kor.

"You okay, polka dots?" Aphid asked, kneeling down and gently looking the boy over. Kor was rattled, but thankfully the collision didn't knock a knot in him.

"I'm okay," he quietly replied.

Aphid helped Kor to his feet, offering a reassuring smile before turning a stern gaze on Bark. The older brother stood tall, his eyes flashing with authority. "Come here, Bark," he commanded, snapping his fingers and pointing to the spot beside him.

Bark hesitated, his green eyes darting between Aphid and Kor. "Why do I have to—"

"Right here, Bark," Aphid repeated firmly. "Apologize to Kor, face to face."

Bark's expression turned sulky, but he approached, his eyes fixed on the bridge's wooden planks. Aphid gestured for him to meet Kor's gaze, his hand waving insistently until Bark reluctantly complied.

"Sorry," Bark mumbled, his voice barely heard.

Kor began to respond, "It's okay…" but Aphid cut him off with a raised hand. "No, Kor. You're free to forgive him, of course, but what Bark did was not okay. He needs to understand that."

Aphid's grip on the bridge railing tightened, and he gave it a slight shake, demonstrating its wobbly state. "This city is old and rickety, Bark. This rail could have gave way, easy, and taken Kor with it."

Bark's concern flickered briefly before his defiant nature took over. "He would've just fallen in the water—"

Aphid's stern gaze cut him off, and even Kor felt a chill run down his spine. The look in Aphid's eyes was enough to silence Bark, and Kor's mind raced back to the conversations he had heard earlier. Was Aphid going to swat Bark? Kor hoped not; he didn't want to witness it.

Aphid grasped Bark's arm, and the simultaneous gasps from both younger boys revealed their shared fear. But instead of the expected punishment, Aphid guided Bark towards the railing. "And what if," he said, pointing down at the boardwalks lining the canal, "he had hit the decking instead?"

Bark's eyes widened as understanding dawned on him, and he gazed down at the hard surface below.

The green eyed boy was about to say something, but Aphid spoke again.

"I had a similar experience, falling into the canal a long time ago," he said, sharing a personal story.

Bark's eyes widened in surprise. "You did?"

Aphid nodded, and the other children leaned in, intrigued. "Grelod and I were returning from the market when a thief tried to mug her. I tried to snatch her purse right back, but he shoved me off the boardwalk, right over there, and I fell hard, tumbling down the steps and right into the water. Or so I was told, I was out the moment my head hit the steps."

The children gasped in unison, their eyes wide with excitement. "What?!" Bark exclaimed, while Eydis asked, her voice laced with curiosity, "Did he kill you?"

Aphid chuckled, amused by her silly question. "Nearly," he nodded, "I was in pretty bad shape for weeks."

Eydis pressed on, her curiosity piqued. "Who saved you?"

"Grelod did," Aphid replied, "She fished me out and squeezed the water right out me."

Bark's skepticism was evident, and he snorted, "No way, she'd rather have her purse back!"

Aphid chuckled.

"Mister Balimund can vouch for her," he said, "The fastest he's ever seen her move, he told me. And I was conscious for all the mending she did for me afterward. She got me back right."

"Was she nice?" Bark asked, "Or did she just smack all your bones back in place?"

Aphid laughed again and shrugged.

"She wasn't mean," he said.

"…that must have been the scariest part," Bark remarked.

Aphid gave one more small chuckle and nod, before returning to his stern demeanor, clearing his throat and looking firm again.

"What was scary," he said, "was what a tumble in this city can do, you see—"

But Bark already interrupted him.

"So that's why you hit me," he stated, as if a realization had struck him.

"Wha--?"

"When I pushed Eydis. It reminded you of your tumble."

"Well, yes and no," Aphid half shrugged, "I…swatted you, because you shouldn't have done something so mean and reckless, and because, yes, I did know first hand just how dangerous that was. And I know Grelod's son--something mean!...about those…steps."

None of the kids seemed to have caught on that he nearly slipped something there, especially since Bark couldn't control his own slip of tongue.

"…it's the same thing," he mumbled, remarking of the swat.

"Baaark," Aphid sighed in frustration, "Do you realize what you could have done? At the very least, do you? To Eydis that day and to Kor just moments ago?"

Bark seemed to be biting the inside of his bottom lip with a frustration of his own.

"Do you?" Aphid insisted.

Bark's face scrunched up in what seemed like an adamant refusal to answer, but it was really an attempt to keep a burst of tears at bay.

"I d-didn't mean to!" he started to lose that stronghold, and Aphid immediately softened in an attempt to spare him.

"Oh, little pup, I know," he said, "I know you didn't."

His softer demeanor, and that use of endearment for the boy, however, didn't help Bark hold the tears at bay.

Bark spun around in an attempt to hide the spillway, and hoped the other children were not wise to it—though they probably were—but Aphid certainly knew what was going on.

The older boy sighed and spoke gently while he opened up his arms.

"Come here, baby brother," he said.

Bark stood where he was for a moment, barely daring a glance Aphid's way, but then slid as inconspicuously as he could into Aphid's arms, being sure to keep his face turned away from the other children.

"I know you don't mean to hurt anyone," Aphid consoled, "but that's what happens when you don't think before acting."

Bark sniffled, his voice muffled. "And b-because I'm strong."

Aphid chuckled. "Yes, you're stronger than the others, but that's all the more reason to think before you act. Can you try to do that for me?"

Bark's voice was quiet, unsure. "I don't know how...I just...it just happens."

"You gotta try, little pup," Aphid said, "When you feel that urge to do something that you at least know in the back of your head you probably shouldn't do, ask yourself if it's worth the risk. Remember the fork incident?"

Bark shook his head, his face still hidden. "Nooo, I don't want to think about that."

Aphid's tone turned serious. "You're going to have to, Bark. Actions have consequences, and sometimes they're big ones. I want to help you, pup, but you at least have to meet me halfway on trying."

"You're not gonna," Bark lifted his head and looked up at Aphid worriedly, "d-do what she did, a-are you? If I can't try?"

"There is no can't, you can always try. But, no, honey," the big brother assured, "That's not what I'm getting at. Although, I'm not too sure that I ain't gonna have to start giving you a few swats to really get your attention—"

"NO!" Bark pushed Aphid away, unaware of nearly shoving him through the rail, "It's the same thing as her!"

Aphid, thankfully, didn't break through that surprisingly sturdy, wobbly rail. Thankfully as well, he didn't lose his temper, although there was a low growl of what had to have been, "I oughta bust your tail."

But his temper remained in check.

"It is NOT the sa--," he began to say but quickly composed himself to a light scold, "Look, I was…mostly joking, Bark. All I'm trying to get through to you is that there are consequences to your actions, hon. It could be anything from hurt feelings, a scraped knee, a broken bone, or …something someone can't come back from."

"What do you mea—"

"What if Kor had fallen through," Aphid reiterated from earlier, "and hit that decking? Cracked his skull…broke his neck?"

"I don't want to think--!!"

"Think about it."

Bark scrunched his face up again, a whiny growl threatening to erupt and possibly more tears, but he swallowed it down and finally looked to Kor.

Kor had stayed put the whole time, standing solemnly in place, staring at the boards of the bridge and waiting for this little spat to end. He had been drifting In and out of attention; his mind still in a whirlwind and a lull all at once, from everything his poor self had been racked with within a week.

He did startle when Aphid had hit the railing a moment ago, and the older boy's returning sternness had him slightly fidgety, but he had remained quiet and in place. Just wanting this tense air to blow over.

When Bark looked to Kor, Kor met his gaze in return, and Kor could see a genuine remorsefulness in his eyes.

"I'm…sorry, Kor," Bark apologized.

Kor, because somewhere in that current whirling and lull within him was relieved to see a good kid within that green eyed scamp, gave the faintest of a smile and began to say "It's ok" again, but stopped short and glanced at Aphid.

"I…," Kor looked back at Bark and said instead, "I forgive you."

Bark spun towards Aphid at that and spoke with his usual impatience.

"There, see! He forgives me!" Bark spat, "It's done. Can we please just go to the market now??"

Aphid's expression and shoulders sagged in exasperation. He doubted if anything he said was sinking in. But instead of scolding again, he sighed and nodded, his tone tinged with impatience. "Okay, yes. But Bark, for your sake and everyone else's, I hope you were listening." Aphid added, looking at the others, "Please? That goes for all of you."

Eydis and Jaren nodded weakly, while Kor responded quietly but respectfully, "…yes, sir."

Aphid smiled slightly at Kor's respectful tone. He never expected respect from the kids, but it was honestly kind of cute. It reminded him of his little sister and the first time he had to be firm with her. He missed that freckle face so dearly. Shaking off the memory, he said, "You don't have to call me 'sir', Kor. I'm not that much older than you."

But Kor repeated, "…yes, sir…", his eyes fixed on the ground, his grip on his elbow tightening. Aphid knelt down and placed a gentle hand on Kor's arm, concern etched on his face. "Are you sure you're okay, little brother? You're not hurt?"

Kor shook his head, whispering, "I just want to go home…"

Aphid smiled and hugged him gently, whispering back, "I know, sweetie…I know." He offered Kor his hand. "C'mon, let's get some of that candy."

Kor took Aphid's hand, but his expression remained unchanged at the mention of candy. But the other kids perked up, Jaren quickly grabbing Aphid's other hand and requesting peppermints.

"We'll see, little peep," Aphid replied as they entered the open market. "You know how Grelod hates the smell of it."

Bark, walking ahead, spun around and suggested, "Let's find some peppermint column for her!"

Aphid corrected him, "Cologne, Bark. And no, we won't be getting any."

Eydis chimed in, "It'd be perfume, because she's a lady!"

Bark argued, "She's not a lady!" while continuing to walk backwards.

Aphid warned, "Bark, watch where you're going…and no perfume either."

Jaren piped up, "Toilet water?"

Eydis responded with disgust, "Ew, what?"

But Bark enthusiastically agreed, "Yeah, toss that on her!"

Aphid firmly halted the group, "Barakväll, stop walking backwards. And toilet water is just another name for perfume."

Bark stopped, curious, and asked, "Really? That's gross!"

Aphid explained, "It's an old Bretic term, I think."

Bark's curiosity turned to surprise, "Bretic? Like Bretons? How does Jaren know it then?"

Aphid replied, "How do I? I'm a Nord, like you. Jaren and I read books, Bark. You should try it sometime…by the way, you're two days late on your math work."

Bark's eyes widened momentarily before he forced a laugh, "Haha, jeez, Bretons are gross."

He began walking backwards again, but before Aphid could warn him to turn around, Bark bumped into a Breton woman, causing her to fall onto her hip.

"Ow! Excuse me!" the woman snapped, her sarcasm obvious. "This city is the rudest I've ever visited, and I've been to Bravil!"

Aphid quickly released Jaren and Kor's hands and rushed to assist the woman. "I'm so sorry, ma'am! It's my fault. I should have kept a closer eye on him." He offered his hand to help her up. "Are you hurt?"

The woman's voice rose In indignation. "Am I alright?! You children bruised my hip! Where are your parents? I demand they return the favor!"

Aphid apologized again, "Ma'am, we're truly sorry. We didn't mean to harm you—"

Just then, a sonorous female voice interrupted, deadpanning, "Wooooow, Bretons are gross…"

Fjora, the guard from yesterday, appeared out of nowhere, standing beside the children in civilian clothes. Kor recognized her voice, but barely recognized her without her uniform.

She was dressed in a relaxed outfit that contrasted from the formidable guard uniform of the day before. A faded greyish-white tunic with a worn decorative neckline hung loosely on her frame, paired with dark blue linen pants, tucked into scuffed leather boots. Without the bulk of her armor, her slender yet athletic build was evident, her arms toned with lean muscle, visible even in their crossed position. Kor hadn't seen her hair yesterday, hidden as it was beneath her helmet, but now it cascaded down her back in waves, thick and luscious, and as dark brown as her eyes. Two braids framed her face, merging into a single braid at the back, a stylish touch that seemed to be the only soft feature she cared to present.

"A child bumps into you," Fjora continued speaking, "and you demand a whole gaggle of them to be beaten? Despite receiving a sincere apology in a city known for its lack of civility? You're fortunate they're not a gang of pint-sized thieves, creating an opportunity to—"

Fjora's gaze narrowed as she noticed the Breton woman attempting to pocket something while pretending to adjust her shawl and blouse. With a swift motion, Fjora grasped the woman's hand, revealing the stolen pouch.

"Do exactly this. Stealing from children, too? Disgusting," Fjora said, her deadpan tone slightly shifted to scorn.

"This coin pouch belongs to me," the Breton woman protested, but Fjora's grip only tightened.

"Nah," Fjora said, her eyes glinting with recognition. "I've had my knuckles nearly shattered for trying to pilfer coins long ago, from this very same pouch."

The Breton woman struggled to free herself, but Fjora's grip held firm. "I may be off duty," Fjora shrugged, "but I'll still have you sent to the Jarl. They're cracking down on thievery, I hear, and I'm sure they'd love to make an example of you. Maybe take a finger… or the whole hand."

The Breton woman's eyes widened as she finally seemed to recognized Fjora, possibly from chases in uniform, her expression turning from defiance to alarm. "Oh shit, it's you…"

Fjora's smile was subtle. "It's me. You're not going anywhere until the Jarl has a word with you."

The Breton woman pleaded, "They got their coin back. No harm done. Just let me go. No need to work on your day off…"

Fjora waited until the woman pulled against her grip, then released her, sending the thief tumbling to the ground once more.

"Ow! You bitc—"

"Either swim the canal," Fjora cut her off with her advisement, "or slink back in the Ratway. Either way, I best not see you anywhere in the top side of city the rest of the day."

The Breton looked ready to slew whatever sort of words she had on the tip of her tongue, but wisely decided to swallow it and scramble off to the lower docks.

Fjora turned her attention towards Aphid, who actually looked a little embarrassed as he accepted back the coin pouch back.

"Thank you, Fjora…," he said, "You're a skin saver--Ai, no!!"

Fjora had suddenly latched a hold on Aphid and yanked him into a headlock, and at that, she began thumping him mercilessly on top of his head.

"You're smarter than that, Aphid!" Fjora scolded, "How could you almost let that tramp pickpocket you! You know better!"

"Ay-ay! I know! I'm sorry!" Aphid responded, pained and struggling to unlock himself and block those thumps at the same time.

"Don't be sorry to me," Fjora replied, still relentlessly thumping the boy's scalp, "It'll be your sorry hide peeled off for losing her--"

"I know, I know, I know!" Aphid desperately spat, elbowing her upon the side, "C'mon, Fjora, let up! Not in front of the new kid, at least, please!"

"Aw. Embarrassed, are we?"

"No!" Aphid insisted, sounding much like a little brother in an odd change of roles, but then he whispered more seriously to the woman, "…he's sensitive."

"Aren't they all…," she replied, "Grelod's too strict. You're too lax. Ya gotta knock 'em around a little, Aphid. Toughen 'em up some, so her beatings won't feel as--"

"Fjora…," Aphid's tone seemed a little stressed, almost pleading.

Fjora sighed and finally let Aphid go, but not before giving him quite the flick on the ear.

"Aow!" Aphid yelped, cupping a hand over the afflicted area, "Always with the ear flick, c'mon…"

He suddenly found her finger at ready to thump him on the tip of his nose instead.

"Rather this?" she said, and he quickly recoiled with his hands covering the entirety of his lower face.

"No, mm-mm," Aphid muffled, and the corners of Fjora's mouth twitched with a grin. She straightened up and surveyed the group.

"So where is the hag?" she asked, "She finally giving you free reign again?"

"Yeah," Aphid replied, dropping his hands, "She also needed to speak with the Jarl."

"Oh Gods, not about me, is she?" Fjora asked.

"What? No. About funds. Why you?" Aphid questioned.

Fjora shrugged.

"I 'unno," she half hummed and said, "Maybe she didn't like how I delivered the precious cargo yesterday or my lip. I maaay have threatened her a little. So, funds? Like for the orphanage…ooor fines?"

"For the orphanage," Aphid clarified and then pointed as if he made a confirmation, "I knew that was you I heard at the door! I was in the yard. I thought I heard y'all arguing, too, but I was busy trying to peek in a window to see the new kid… Grelod has fines?"

"Not that it matters," Fjora shrugged, "We know she's untouchable."

Aphid nodded, but Bark suddenly chimed in happily.

"Is she gonna get arrested?!" he asked.

Fjora responded before Aphid could.

"No," the woman replied, "I just said she's untouchable. Maybe because they don't want to go through the hassle of finding anyone else to watch you needy runts, or maybe they actually fear her too—Gods, Aphid, you remember when I actually tried to arrest her way back when. When she was really tearing your hide right there in the mark—et!"

Aphid had actually backhanded her in the gut. He didn't mean to so hard, but he was quickly trying to cut her off from what she was saying.

"Mm. Mm-mm!" he shook his head and hummed from his throat.

It wasn't a memory he wanted to recall anyway, not at all, but he was trying to keep the worst of Grelod off the new kid's mind for as long as possible.

Fjora shrugged. She figured it was that or Aphid was still embarrassed of that day.

Her attention pulled to the kids again, Kor in particular, and she noted his dour demeanor.

"Damn, he looks worse than when I left him at the doorstep," she remarked.

Aphid spoke quiet in an attempt for the kids not to hear.

"Yeah, he had a particularly rough first night."

Bark, again, who never seems to listen when being spoken directly to, of course heard the conversation that didn't pertain to him.

"Yeah! Grelod whooped him!"

"Barakvä—"

"Wow," Fjora seemed genuinely surprised and looked to the dejected Kor, "On the first night? Here I thought you looked like a sweet kid. How'd you go and break that hag's one good rule?"

Kor looked about ready to burst into tears again, and Aphid looked utterly done with all of them continually upsetting the poor child, but before Aphid could say anything to anyone, Kor suddenly bolted away.

"And away he goes…," Fjora deadpanned, "You really need to leash these kids, Aph—"

"Kor!! No, no, no, wait!!" Aphid hollered, beginning to chase after him.

The older boy quickly halted though, to call back to the other three children.

"Stay by Fjora. DO NOT move from—"

Fjora, however, did NOT want to be saddled with babysitting.

"Oh Shor's shit stained slacks, no!" she snipped and bounded off after Kor herself, pushing Aphid aside as she barreled passed him.

Aphid lost his footing and fell to his knees.

He looked frantically between her bounding away and the unsupervised children. He had no choice but to relinquish the capture to her.

"Don't scare him, Fjora! Please!" Aphid called out, but he was not giving up the chase either, as he motioned the other kids to follow.

"Come on. Stay with me. Do.Not.Stray."

Kor had ran through and past the market, seeming like he was heading for the entrance gate to the city far ahead, the one he came in through yesterday. But once he was beyond the inn, across the bridge, and heading to what seemed to be towards the gate, he suddenly rerouted and darted back towards the direction he came. Though now he clung to the far side, staying near the line of homes.

The canal now separating them prevented Fjora and Aphid from capturing him, but they soon rerouted too, Fjora catching up with years of practice chases.

Kor made it to the little courtyard of the Temple of Mara, but with Fjora right on his heels, he only made it to the closed doors at the top of the steps before being snatched by the woman.

"Come here, kid," she grunted, tucking the struggling Kor under her arm, "Thought I was free from chasing you yesterday—"

"Let me gooo!" Kor cried.

"Uh, no?" she replied, "Hey—"

Kor had, against his sweet nature, began hitting and kicking her in an attempt to break free.

"Kid," Fjora warned, "Don't fight me. I'll win…Kid."

Her warning had no effect on his struggling, so she suddenly held him upside down by his ankle, temporarily disabling him with simple confusion.

Once the realization settled on him, he kicked at her arm with his free leg, though it seemed he was trying to at least not kick too hard. He just wanted free; he didn't want to actually hurt her.

But she responded with threat just the same.

Holding her knuckles to his gut, she then reeled back a closed fist and warned, "Here comes my win, kid."

"Fjora! Stop!" Aphid shouted, finally appearing upon the steps just below them, "Set him down!"

Fjora dropped her reeled arm, but she still held the boy upside down in her other hand.

"Aphid, you know I'm joking," she replied.

He nodded but motioned to Kor.

"He doesn't," the tall boy said, "Please, set him down."

Fjora sighed, flipped Kor right side up, and set him on his feet, though she took a hold of the back of his shirt.

Aphid glanced back at the other three children to be sure they had obeyed staying with him, before kneeling upon the step before Kor and addressing him.

"Little brother," he said, "I understand, and am so sorry, that you are so scared right now. I know you are feeling things you've never felt before and they're all awful…but…"

Aphid made his voice sterner. He didn't want it to be too so, but he knew he had to be a little firm on this.

"Kor Bjergsen, you CAN NOT run off like that," he scolded. The poor boy immediately broke down before Aphid could say anything more.

"I-I'm s-orryyy," Kor sobbed, collapsing into Aphid's arms. Fjora had immediately released his shirt upon those sobs. She certainly wanted no part in the tears.

"I-I just…want t-to… f-ind…my Papaaa," Kor tried to explain through his sobs.

"What?" Aphid gently asked, "Sweetheart, what do you mean--"

Fjora cut in, motioning to the temple they stood at.

"Think he means pray to," she said, "He was eyeing this place yesterday when I was escorting him."

Aphid noted what she said, and comforted the sobbing boy from his hysterics.

"I'm s-orry! I'm s-sorry!" Kor cried, perhaps scared there'd be consequences.

"Shh, shh," Aphid softly shushed and patted, "Hey. Hey, now. Simmer on down, polka dots. I understand. I'm not mad at you, okay? And I'm not going to punish you, alright? I understand what's going on, I do."

Kor quieted, and his trembling lessened to Aphid's comfort and words, but Aphid knew he needed to at least be a little firmer than he was being about all this.

"But do not run off again," the big brother warned, but softened yet again when he felt the shaking renew. It was hard to be firm to a child in such a state.

"When you feel you need to run," he said, gentler, "you run to me, okay? You can run to me. And you can cry to me, and you can tell me anything you need to tell me, alright?"

Kor held a little closer, pressing his cheek on Aphid's shoulder.

"…yes, sir," he answered, feeling Aphid rest his head atop his as a returning gesture.

It took a moment for the boy to stifle his sniffles, but Aphid patiently waited, comforting Kor.

The other three children thankfully made no fun of Kor's sniveling, merely sitting themselves upon a step and mingling with each other. Fjora, however, seemed quite awkwardly out-of-place, but she stood by regardless, even if her attention drifted anywhere but them.

Kor's trembling finally lulled and his breathing steadied. He stood back and swiped at the wet streaks staining his face, a task Aphid took over for him.

"Alright now…," the motherly brother said as he finished drying those tears with his thumbs, "Would you like to go pray in the temple, Kor?"

Kor nodded, but Bark suddenly leapt to attention.

"What about the market?!" he exclaimed, "Aphid, we finally get to go in town again! I don't want to spend it cooped up in some other building!"

Aphid looked at him with a little amusement. "Impatient," he said, "is the boy that held us up first, trying to ram poor Kor off the bridge. And then held us up again by running us into that thief—"

"YOU'RE the one that held us up!" Bark argued, "What with the nagging me and trying to get pickpocketed!"

Aphid's amusement wiped clean off with that, but the temple doors pulling open grabbed his attention from searing down at Bark.

Maramal, the temple's head priest, poked his head out to see what the commotion he had been hearing was. "Oh!" the religiously garbed Redguard seemed a bit surprised at his findings, "Um, hello, young ones."

He began to look towards Fjora, the oldest present amongst this rabble of children, but she seemed to be very deliberately avoiding his attention. She had at first turned his way at the sound of the doors opening, but quickly spun right back around, as if putting her attention back to the children, though she said nothing to anyone.

Aphid could see a hint of agitation on her face, but couldn't be certain whom it was for. The priest or the patience draining kids. Maramal spoke again and with recognition this time of the rabble, especially of Aphid.

"Where's your grandmother?" he asked the boy. Aphid made a baffled expression, before replying, "Headmistress, sir?"

Maramal made quite a strange expression himself in response, and nearly seemed as if he was going to cover his mouth, but he nodded and waved his hand like a dismiss of his previous question.

"Oh, yes, sorry," he said, "I'm late waking today, body and mind, heh. Um, so, what's brought you children to our step? Where is Grelod? Has she taken ill? Has Elgrim been sent for—"

"She's fine, sir," Aphid explained, "She's on an errand. May we, um, …come in? For prayers? Please?"

Maramal seemed, for a slight moment, to be trying to read those words for any possible hidden context, possibly wanting to be certain whether he was harboring run aways or not. But then he smiled and fully opened the doors.

"Oh my, of course, my children," he said, "Of course. Come in. Come in. And, Fjora? My, it's been quite a long time. Have you come to pra—"

"No," Fjora said flatly and began descending the steps.

"Fjora, wait," Aphid spoke out to her, "Can you do us a fav—"

"No."

"Fjora, pleas—"

"No."

"Pleaaaaaaaaa—"

"Nooooooooo--fine. What is it?"

She turned to see that damn grateful smile of Aphid's and hear his damn request.

"Can you keep an eye out towards the keep?" he asked, "And let me know if Grelod starts coming towards the market?"

Fjora stared for a moment before giving an aggravated sigh and nodding.

"Fine, sure," she said with that apparent agitation, "Save your arse for a THIRD time today, why not? It's not even ten in the mornin' yet. I am nicest damn piece of shit in the city, because it ain't like you pitiful lot can ever pay me back for all this sorry hide saving I do for nothi--"

"Thanks, big sis," Aphid said, unfazed by her ranting, and he began gathering up his kids to head in the temple.

"Whatever," Fjora huffed back, "You're welcome…Skinny runt."

She posted guard at the stone entryway in the temple yard, while Aphid and the children went inside with Maramal.

"Welcome, children, welcome," Maramal greeted them happily again, eagerly leading them further in, "Mara smiles upon such special guests in her home."

Bark squinted his eyes beyond the man, towards the far end of the great room, ahead of the pews and behind the podium.

"That's Mara?" he asked of the grand golden statue, illuminated by the candles upon its pedestal.

"A representation of, yes," Maramal answered.

"She's not smiling," Bark observed, nothing the artistic take of the sculpture, "She's crying!"

Maramal chuckled at the innocence at least.

"Tears of compassion, I suppose," he responded.

"Aphid, what does compassion mean again?" Bark asked.

"Sympathy."

"…"

"Pity, Bark."

"She's pitiful? Like, pathetic?"

"No, Bark. She has pity for the—"

"For the pathetic!"

"Bark..."

Maramal clapped his hands together. "How about a sermon?" he asked.

"A fish?" Bark spoke again, and his bewildering reply this time brought a laugh out of Aphid.

"No, Bark," he chuckled, "You're thinking of a salmon."

Eydis and Jaren giggled at that, even Kor had a tiny smile, but Bark looked a little miffed.

Aphid turned his attention back towards Maramal, who looked both humored and a little awkward—probably a good deal rusty with visitors, especially child visitors.

"Is Mister Briehl in, sir?" Aphid asked.

"Oh!" Maramal lightly clapped again, "Yes! Of course he is! Brother Briehl! We have visitors! To pray!"

There was a clatter from somewhere else in the temple, and a voice could be heard, not quite deciphered, but while the clattering and muffling and shuffling was echoing from elsewhere, Aphid turned to three of his kids.

"Bark, Eydis, Jaren," he addressed them, "Why don't you three sit upon a pew with Mister Briehl, and he'll learn ya a bit of basics about Mara—" he looked to Maramal with a whisper – "They don't know much about her," he explained and put his attention once more back on the kids.

"You three keep your tails seated for Mister Briehl and NO disrespect, do you hear me? None."

The children lazily agreed.

"Heard what I said," Aphid emphasized, "You will not act up in a place of worship. I mean it."

"Okaaaay!" Bark and Eydis both drew out in unison, which earned all three of the kids a snap of Aphid's fingers and a firm point for them to place those tails in a pew.

Aphid turned to Kor, kneeling before him. "Would you like me with you? Or Mister Maramal? Or would you prefer to be by yourself?"

Kor seemed a little nervous, fiddling with the front end of his shirt, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"I've never been in a temple before," he said shyly, "Papa would say prays at the dinner table and bedtime. I always … just sat by him and listened."

Maramal knelt down to the boy too.

"That's perfectly alright, my child," he said, "Even just listening to prayer is far more beneficial than one might think. I can certainly help lead you, but I bet you can recall many of your Papa's words yourself. Is there a particular prayer you are thinking of offering?"

Kor looked a bit shier.

"…Can I pray to my Papa?" he asked.

Maramal was quiet for a moment, simply staring, but then his smile widened and he nodded.

"I don't see why not," he said, "Would you still like me to lead you?"

Kor nodded and Maramal offered him his hand.

"Come. Come with me then," he said, warm and kindly, but Kor shied away again and looked to Aphid instead.

"Can Aphid come too?" he asked.

Maramal took no offense to the child's request, nor to his taking of Aphid's hand instead of his.

Aphid had an ever present aura of love and compassion. Maramal sensed it the very first time he met the boy years ago, and he was very relieved to see it still present, untainted by this wretched city and that wretched crone…

Maramal led them to the shining statue, then instructed Briehl, a Nord man who finally emerged from a back room, stew broth staining his robes, to sit with the three children and share some teachings of Mara. Briehl nodded, but with a hint of hesitancy. Maramal smiled, assuming it was due to inexperience with preaching to children.

However, Briehl whispered to Maramal, "That Nord boy was the one who knocked over the fish barrel in the market that day, soaking my robes."

Aphid overheard and immediately locked eyes with Bark, who scrambled over the pew and hid behind it.

Briehl waved it off, "It was an accident, I'm sure."

But Aphid was skeptical, "Oh, I'm sure...not sure how I didn't see it, though. Did he even apologize?"

Briehl hesitated, "Um, actually... I don't remember... He probably did...Consider it under the bridge, with the fishies and their barrel. Now, how about I take a seat with you three over there and tell you a little something about—" He motioned to the statue— "our lovely lady here."

"She looks—" Bark began to probably say an unnecessary remark, but Aphid's stern eye very quickly snubbed it. Bark apparently did know when not to push it, especially after seeing Aphid's brief lip curl, the tell-tale sign of his loss of patience.

Briehl joined the three kids and began his little sermon, while Aphid and Maramal put their attentions back on Kor.

He was patiently standing, eyes fixated on the floor, a hand cupped over the opposite elbow, and a slight rocking upon his heels. This was apparently his tell-tale sign of anxiousness.

Aphid knelt down beside Kor and gently took his hand.

"Are you ready to get started, little brother?" he asked.

Kor nodded.

The big brother patted his hand assuredly and guided the boy to kneel beside him, as they both sat upon their knees before the statue.

Maramal did the same on the other side of Kor and softly began speaking him through the opening prayer.

After leading the boy through the offering of submittance to Mara, he allowed Kor to seek out his father, assuring him he could do so aloud or within his heart. It would be heard.

Kor seemed apprehensive.

"Would you like to be alone now?" Aphid asked.

Kor only stared down at his own knees, before sneaking a very quick glance towards Maramal, and then he tugged at Aphid's arm for him to lean down and hear a whisper.

Aphid listened and then leaned back up with a small smile. He gave Maramal a nod and the man read it without needing to have heard any of the words. He politely took his leave, as Kor took a hold of Aphid's hand, closed his eyes, and quietly focused on a prayer in his heart.

After a couple minutes, Kor opened his eyes, looked up upon the statue and then looked around.

And gloomily he shifted his eyes back upon his knees…

Before Aphid could say anything to him, Kor shut his eyes and seemed to go back into prayer. He was whispering, but so low, Aphid couldn't make it out even being beside him. After another minute, Kor looked up again.

"Kor—"

But again, Kor went into prayer.

He whispers were a little louder this time, but only enough for Aphid to catch a few words here and there. "Papa" "please" "need" "show".

Aphid, of course, knew exactly what Kor was hoping for. And he knew, despite ghosts certainly existing in this world, you didn't always see the ones you hoped to see. And then sometimes…the ones you hoped to see, materialize as a memory you wished to forget.

Aphid quickly blinked such memories in his eyes away, away from the horrid ghostly image of his … torn …baby sister…

He focused back on Kor, who was staring down, dejected again.

Aphid spoke softly, "Kor..." and tears immediately welled up in the boy's eyes. Before Aphid could continue, Kor sniffled and curled up into a fetal position, partially laying on Aphid's knees. Aphid welcomed him with a gentle hand on his back.

"Little brother, it's alright," he consoled. "Just because you can't see him doesn't mean he's not here. He's with you, Kor. I promise. You'll feel his heart beating in yours. I sincerely promise that."

Kor's voice trembled, "I just want to hear his voice."

Aphid's tone was comforting and reassuring. "You will," he said, and Kor slightly turned his head to look up at him. "Maybe not directly from the heavens, but perhaps it could be. I hear my Mama sometimes, clear as a bell...usually when I'm doing something I shouldn't be," Aphid admitted with a chuckle. "I can hear her, 'Aphid Jordsvar!' So clearly sometimes that I'll tuck my tail to the wall to avoid that swat she used to give me." He added quickly, "Only when I did something dangerous or rude, mind you..."

Kor turned his head back down towards Aphid's knees. "When I was doing something I shouldn't, Papa always seemed to pop up out of nowhere..."

Aphid chuckled. "Parents have a way of knowing, don't they? Like they have some sort of scrying magic. They just knew we were up to something before we even knew ourselves."

Kor nodded, "Papa would say... 'Don't you dare, baby bear!' And even though he meant business...he'd always crack up at me startling."

Aphid smiled, imagining the tender moment. "That's adorable."

Kor curled up tighter, his small hand gripping Aphid's pant leg. "I want more than anything to hear it again...even if it means I'm in trouble."

Aphid leaned over, wrapping Kor in a warm hug. He knew that sometimes, there were no words to ease the pain, but he was there to hold Kor through it.

"You will hear him again," he found himself saying after a moment, and saying it with a sure confidence in his heart, "You will. Maybe not right here, right now, but you will. He wouldn't snub his little cub."

There seemed to be a jolt through Kor.

Little cub…

He said little cub!

Maybe only because Kor did say "baby bear"…

Or maybe…

It was a sign.

Kor sat up and wrapped his little arms around Aphid's arm. Aphid didn't mind it at all and reached his free arm across to return the gesture with a gentle hand on Kor's shoulder.

Kor snuggled his face further into Aphid's arm, and he could hear the older boy saying a quiet prayer to both Kyne and Mara, and then even a prayer to Kor's father.

Kor, truly, felt a sense of peace in this moment.

And then…he felt something he did not want to believe he was imagining.

A warm hand upon his back. One that felt like…Papa's hand.

Kor dared not look back, despite his soul desperately wanting to. He was afraid he'd spin around to dive into his Papa's arms, and find nothing instead.

But he savored that warm touch and imagined his Papa was there. He had to be.

When he thought he could brave looking back, Aphid's prayer concluded.

And the warm hand was gone…

But it was enough.

At least, it had to be, as Fjora flung the temple doors open.

"Aphid, are y'all about done?" she asked.

Aphid whipped his head around, as did everyone else from that flinging of doors.

"Is Grelod coming?" Aphid responded as he and Kor stood up.

Fjora folded her arms and put her weight to one hip.

"No," she said impatiently, "but I don't feel like wasting half my day off babysitting you runts. I already waste my life babysitting this whole damn city. Besides, I need to piss."

"Charming," Maramal could be heard murmuring from where he sat with Briehl and the three kids. Briehl actually chuckled, before trying to hide it behind his hand. Bark leapt up from the pew, disregarding the chuckling he too could have given to Fjora's rudeness, and he simply asked as patiently as he could—still sticking not pushing any more buttons today—"Can we go to the market now, Aphid?"

Aphid sighed and looked to Kor.

"Do you need any more time here?" he asked.

Kor seemed to think for a moment, and he looked upon Mara's statue.

"…No," he finally answered, "I…I think I'm okay."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Kor took Aphid's hand in his, looked towards the opened doors, and then back up at Aphid with a little smile.

"I'm ready," he said, his tone brave.

Aphid smiled back and nodded, but before he could start walking, Kor suddenly hugged him.

"Thank you," Kor said, holding tightly to the big brother.

Aphid returned that hug.

"Of course," he replied.

"Aphid," Fjora sounded impatient again, even stomping her foot a couple times, "I'm going before I go."

"Okay, okaaaay," Aphid answered, much like Bark would do to him.

The big brother—who apparently could play little brother to someone—found his maturity again and began rounding up the kids, "Let's get to the market, guys. Thank you very much, Mister Maramal, Mister Briehl!"

Finally, they found themselves down at the town stalls. The sun had risen fully upon the damp city, but Kor now saw the misty air and dew coated wood and stone in a more comfortable light, not as dank as before.

The sounds of life continuing around him didn't seem so mocking now, at least for now, and he found himself looking upon the other children with a readiness to interact with them.

Even Fjora didn't seem so intimidating, when she finally concluded her bodily business and returned to the kids.

Despite having said she didn't want to waste her day on them, she certainly stuck close by and even playfully continued her pestering of Aphid as he shopped.

Kor even found himself in a game of tag with the other three smaller kids, as they ran and looped through the market under the watchful eye of the big brother—and bigger sister.

The grouching grumbles of other shoppers and the stall vendors didn't fall upon Kor's ears. He was content with losing himself for while. He still felt a heaviness, of course, but looking at the good that was having a big brother to look to…

It felt just a bit lighter.

He felt, with a much better certainty, that things could indeed be okay enough.

He wasn't scared now.

…but he would be terrified a week later.

When Grelod found the knife that Aphid had so hastily stashed at breakfast.