Escape From Grelod

by TheGnerdyGoblin

When Kor was just eight years old, his life was turned upside down in a single night. He lost his home, his town, and his beloved Papa. Alone, he was sent to an orphanage in Riften, where he was thrust into an unfamiliar world. But amidst the uncertainty...and the cruelties..., Kor found a lifeline in Aphid, a boy who would become his best friend, his big brother, his home.

6. First Dose

It was just seven days later, when Kor would behold a real dose Grelod's wrath - a wrath, at least, far more ferocious than the stinging slaps she had handed out on his first night.

And yet, everything had been going surprisingly well since that night. Well, perhaps not perfectly, but well enough for a boy who had lost everything. The warmth and safety Aphid provided had even coaxed a hearty laugh from Kor during playtime. A laugh Kor had never thought he'd do again ever since losing his home. But the atmosphere of that week had been the closest to normalcy that Kor's soul needed.

Grelod herself had seemed relaxed, ever since her meeting with the Jarl. Aphid had confirmed that she had received the money, and it showed.

In the market, she had let Aphid persuade her to buy fabrics for the children's clothes. Aphid was skilled with a needle and thread, and had eased Grelod's coin concern further by assuring her he could stretch two outfits for the price of one. He even managed to convince her to buy new books for their schooling and bedtime stories with the extra coin. And so, she had been uncharacteristically indulgent all week, not just with coin, but also with not raising a hand or her voice in anger, aside from stern words aimed at mostly Bark.

Kor had begun to hope that the anger he had faced on his first night was a rarity. Unfortunately, he was about to discover just how wrong he was…

It was about an hour after breakfast when it happened.

The kids were in the main room doing their general morning cleaning routine, while Aphid sat at the dining table, working on a dress for Eydis.

He had just finished taking her measurements a moment ago, a task she didn't make easy for him, as she kept spinning and hopping about, insisting he was trying to tickle her.

Admittedly, he actually did get her a couple times, just to make her honest, but she did make the process take a few irksome minutes longer than necessary.

Not that Aphid seemed irked at all, but his relieved sigh to be done with it spoke of the ordeal enough.

With the measurements done, he sat down at the table to choose which fabrics he wanted for the dress, and with what pattern he had crafted up to use, while also thumbing around in Grelod's sewing box for all the rest of necessary supplies he'd need for this hand craft.

Grelod was in the utility room behind him, sorting the pots and pans and reorganizing the shelving-- a task that she would have normally delegated to Aphid at any other time, but she left him to his tailoring.

Aphid could hear, just ever so faintly, a hum emitting from her. He at first thought she had been repeatedly trying to clear her throat, but he eventually realized there was a musical rhythm to it.

What constituted as musical for her anyway, but it was a very unexpected pleasantness.

But that jolliness abruptly came to an end, when the old woman accidentally knocked a pot down while moving a tray. The pot bounced and clanged about, but there was an extra clanging sound within it, rattling erratically as the pot bounced and rolled to a stop.

Aphid had turned to the initial fall, but it was the rattling that paled him. The memory of what was within hit him.

The children's eyes darted towards the commotion, but their gaze quickly settled on Aphid, whose reaction was more telling than the noise itself. The older boy's face had drained of color, his eyes wide with dread. He slowly turned back to face the table, his eyes fixed on the wooden surface, as if seeking solace in its solidity. Aware of the children's scrutiny, however, Aphid tried to blank his face, while his mind raced with a desperate strategy to mitigate the impending storm. How could he explain, placate, and protect…?

His thoughts rattled as erratically as the sound that started this. He desperately tried to think of something quick, but he was abruptly interrupted by a brutal force.

With a swift and merciless motion, Grelod slammed Aphid's head down onto the table. The side of his face collided with the wood, the force of the blow leaving him dazed, disoriented. The sound of the impact – a loud, sharp WHAM! – echoed through the room, the whole orphanage.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Grelod demanded, her voice piercing the air as sharp as the object in her hand.

The knife she brandished directly before his face gleamed intensely, but Aphid's blurry gaze was drawn more to the children cowering behind the beds, their eyes wide with terror. He had to keep this from spilling over, but how--

With a vicious yank, Grelod hauled him upright by his hair, having not liked his lack of reply and perceived ignoring of her. She stabbed the knife into the table and her hand connected with Aphid's cheek in a series of brutal slaps. The sound of each impact as terrible as it looked, and certainly gaining his full attention now.

"WHAT IS THIS!" She demanded of him again.

Aphid's response, "A...A knife, Miss Grelod," was met with a snarl of disgust. He knew immediately that his words had been misinterpreted. The relaxed week had left him unprepared for Grelod's sudden onslaught, and his reflexes seemed dulled.

Grelod's reaction was indeed instantaneous. Aphid felt a searing pain as she slapped him directly across the mouth.

"Don't you dare smart off to me, boy!" she bellowed, the words echoing off the walls. "What is it doing out here, Aphid?!"

"I'm—I'm sorry!" Aphid tried to apologize, a droplet of blood dripping from his lip, "I forgot—"

Aphid's apology was cut short as Grelod yanked him to his feet by his hair, his body crashing against the wall as Grelod pinned him against it. Her face was a twisted in fury, her eyes blazing. "You forgot?!" she roared, her hand striking his arm with a stinging blow. "You forgot?!"

Grelod's frenzy of slaps and scolds continued unabated, her hands repeatedly striking Aphid's chest, arm, leg, and head. Her words continued with this physical punctuation, "We shouldn't even be leaving the forks out after what that damn brat pulled! You forget that too?! And then you go and leave this…this…thing out! How could you be so careless! How could you be so stupid! You answer me right now, Aph—"

Her slapping scolds stopped abruptly as she raised her hand to strike again, only to realize with a jolt of surprise that she clutched the knife. The knife she had yanked from the table when she was scolding him, having not even realized she had done so, and now it sheened menacingly in her hand. The point poised to stab, but Aphid's terrified reaction – a genuine, heart-stopping gasp of fear – gave her pause.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Grelod's gaze locked onto the knife, her mind still trying to process how it had gotten there. Aphid's eyes, wide with terror, a look rare upon his face, fixed on the blade, his body tensed for the strike that never came. The air was heavy with tension, the only sounds the ragged breathing of the two in the stand off and the sniffles of the children. The pause was awkward and felt prolonged in its realization.

Grelod's gaze shifted to Aphid, her arm still outstretched, the knife hovering in mid-air. The only movement was the slow, deliberate lowering of her arm. Her expression betrayed no hint of remorse, but a deep look within her eyes and her sluggish actions may have.

Aphid might have seen it, if not for his attention being elsewhere. His gentle words to the frightened children broke the silence entirely, and Grelod's eyes snapped back to her usual cold sternness.

"Aphid," she spoke with a commanding tone, "Turn around." She stepped back, the knife clattering onto the table as she unbuckled her belt. The leather slid through the loops of her dress coat, and Aphid's stomach sank.

"Hands on the wall," she ordered. She was just going to whip him and be done with it.

Aphid was only hesitant for a moment, before lowering his head and complying. "Yes, ma'am," he said quietly.

But just as Grelod raised the belt to strike, she paused. A thought crossed her mind, and her eyes narrowed. "Why was it hidden?" she asked.

Aphid looked over his shoulder, sensing the suspicion in her tone. "Ma'am?"

Grelod's eyes locked onto his. "Why was the knife hidden in that pot?"

"It wasn't hidden, Miss Grelod," Aphid explained, feeling a knot forming anew in his stomach, "I mean, not exactly. I used it for dicing apples, and when you came for breakfast, I stashed it away so you wouldn't—"

Grelod's voice cut him off, disbelief lacing her tone. "Likely story." Her eyes swept the room, settling on the children peeking out from behind the beds. "Who's been in that pantry?" she demanded, her voice rising. "Who took the knife?"

Aphid spun around off that wall in a heartbeat. "None of them, ma'am! I'm the only one—"

Grelod's finger immediately jabbed into his chest. "Who's been there with you?" she insisted, her gaze shifting to the children. "Those little ducklings follow you everywhere. Who took the knife? …Bark?"

Bark squeaked in fright, and all he could manage to say was a high pitched "NO!"

Aphid hopped in front of Grelod and tried again to defuse this situation.

"No, Miss Grelod! He didn't," he said, "None of them did. They don't even know where they are stashed within the pantry. I took the knife. I do it all the time! I know you know I do it! I did it this morning too! I just forgot about THAT one!"

"Then why'd you hide it, hm?"

"I—Because you still—I wasn't think--"

"Uh huh."

"Miss Grelod, it really was me!"

She stared at him for moment.

Maybe debating on knocking him out the way or maybe conceding to his insistence, but it wouldn't be known, as Jaren's little peep piped up.

"Kor was in there," the little voice outed.

"Jaren!" Aphid spat.

"He was," Jaren tattled, "Yesterday—"

"Jaren! Quiet—"

Grelod suddenly pushed Aphid aside and started towards Kor, who looked utterly ignorant as to what he should do. His frantic glances darted around the room, his body language screaming indecision - should he flee or hide? He subtle twitching back and forth indicating he was deciding on diving under his bed or jumping over Aphid's to run. Instead, he merely backed himself against the wall, cornered.

Grelod was closing in, her belt at the ready.

Aphid sprang into action, grabbing Grelod's arm to halt her progress. But his words were lost as Grelod whirled around, her belt cracking across his side with a loud report. "DON'T YOU DARE GRAB ME!" she roared.

Aphid's words spilled quickly, "Ow! Ma'am, please listen. Kor only went in there because I knocked a cheese wheel onto my face and he wanted to make sure I was--" But Grelod's grip on his hair cut him off, her face inches from his own.

"Enough!" she spat, "Impede me again, and you'll be cutting yourself a switch."

The challenge stained the air for a tense moment, before Aphid's downcast silence was all the confirmation Grelod needed.

But as she turned back to Kor, Aphid quickly found his voice to protest her again. However, he was obviously mindful not to touch her. Kor's terrified face peeked out from under the bed that he had finally decided to dive under. With a swift yank, Grelod pulled him out by his ankle, her movements eerily fluid.

"Get out here, you spotted yellow rat," she growled. In one swift motion, she sat down on Kor's bed, the boy draped over her lap like a rag doll.

"Miss Grelod--!" Aphid called again, but Grelod again cut it off.

"I said enough, damn it!" she demanded, pinning the already sobbing Kor in place, "You're still getting yours, Aphid, don't you worry about that. You all are--"

"All—Why??" Aphid brazenly questioned her, "They didn't do anything! None of them did!"

Grelod's glare could burn through his skull.

"To remind you guttersnipes to mind what I say," she gritted through clenched teeth, "That when I say something is off limits, it's off limits!"

"Miss Grelod--," Aphid began to intercept, worried she was going to emphasize her points by striking Kor, but surprisingly, she hadn't done so yet. Not even when she paused to tell him, "Quit your whining, boy. I haven't so much as tapped you yet."

She did, however, point that belt towards Aphid.

"You ungrateful gangly runt," she seethed, "I let one thing slide, and you turn it into an avalanche."

Aphid's initial response was laced with incredulity.

"Me!?" he said, but he quickly tempered his tone so not to sound sarcastic or impertinent, "Miss Grelod, ma'am. Respectfully, I'm not the one that… I didn't… snowball this--"

"YOU," Grelod snapped back, "left a knife out, or let one of these little cut purses sneak it out from under your nose. You want to be the one to cradle one of them in your arms, desperately trying to tell them, as the color fades from their skin and the life from their eyes, that they'll be alright as they bleed out from a gut wound from playing swords?"

Aphid's face drained of color at the thought, but despite it, he replied, "They're smarter than that, Miss Grelod. Kor's even helped me dice vegetables—"

"Children are dumb, Aphid," Grelod retorted, "And no. No, it's not their fault. We lowly creatures are just born ignorant. And we're hard to learn. But children must learn, if they are to not die fast and ignorant. And trust me, children can find a way to die in a blink of an eye. So we gotta teach 'em quick. And the only thing I see them learn quickly from, is pain. Whether that be surviving a gut wound, or just simply never forgetting what was said during a thorough hiding— I said stop that whining, boy. Save your breath for the wailing you're about to do."

"Miss Grelod, please," Aphid calmly pleaded, "I'm the dumb kid…"

At least it appeared calm to anyone but Grelod. She could always see what was behind his eyes. Something she usually used against him.

But for whatever reason, this time, she relented.

Grelod suddenly pushed Kor off her lap, sending him tumbling onto his hands and knees. Fortunately, he avoided a harder fall onto his stomach and chin, and his backside was spared. Aphid instinctively reached out to comfort Kor, but Grelod swiftly intervened, slapping Aphid's hand with her belt, not relenting entirely it seems.

She stood up, nudging Kor away with light kicks to his rump. He needed no further encouragement to scurry off, and he hastened to Bark's side, seeking refuge beside his peer. Kor had obviously avoided Jaren, despite his bed being closest. There was no way he wanted to be near the little tattler right now, or perhaps Kor simply wanted to be nearer someone his own size. Either way, it was Bark he chose to hunker with.

As Kor glanced back, he felt he was abandoning Aphid to Grelod's wrath, but Kor was too afraid…

Grelod grasped Aphid's arm, steered him toward his bed, and shoved him forward. Aphid nearly stumbled, but he seemed to know what was coming and positioned himself over the side of the bed.

Grelod raised her belt, and Kor fast hid his face in the side of Bark's bed, wincing at the sound of the leather cracking down on Aphid. The blows repeated, over and over and over…

Kor darted a glance at Bark, who sat with his eyes clenched shut and hands covering his ears. Kor considered doing the same but noticed something, or lack of something--– Aphid remained silent, not a peep escaping his lips.

Kor mustered the courage to glance. The sight of Aphid's tense form, his head down and face hidden, made Kor's stomach churn with icy dread. Aphid remained silent, his grip on the bed cover the only betrayal of his distress.

The whipping continued, seemingly striking Aphid not only on his bottom, but anywhere the belt happened to fall. Kor nearly found his bravery to shout for Grelod to stop, but she finally relented on her own, exerting an extra bit of force on the final lashes. She threaded her belt back through her loops and headed toward the dining area, her departure abrupt but unquestioned. As she vanished into the foyer, she called back, "I'm heading out. Clean up this mess. Watch the brats." The front door slammed shut, punctuating Aphid's flat reply, "…yes, ma'am."

The room held still, no one daring to move. Then, Aphid slowly turned up, his face worn but steady. He sat up on the edge of the bed, his movements cautious, and Kor rushed to his side. Aphid startled slightly, but immediately cradled Kor's chin, wiping away the little boy's tears and offering comfort.

"Oh, honey," Aphid soothed, "Are you alright, polka dots? That was quite scary. I'm sorry—" he began, but Kor interrupted.

"A-Are you alright?" he asked, trembling.

Aphid's smile was reassuring and he chuckled, "Oh, sweet kid, I'm fine. I ain't got much behind to whoop, so there ain't much to hurt, eh?"

Kor didn't quite look convinced, and his gaze remained worriedly fixed on Aphid's face. Aphid's cheeks were a deep, painful red, with welts in the shape of Grelod's bony fingers clearly visible on one side. His lips were swollen, and dried blood clung to the corner of his mouth.

Kor's tears doubled as he took in the sight, prompting Aphid to gently cup the boy's face in his hands. He softly wiped away the waterfall with his thumbs, his touch comforting.

"I know, baby brother," Aphid soothed, "It's scary. I'm sorry you had to see that, see me like this. But I'm most sorry you were almost dragged into it…all of you." Aphid's expression suddenly turned stern, his eyes darting to the side. "Jaren, though, we'll have us a mighty long talk soon, you hear?" Despite the warning, his tone softened right after, ensuring the little tattletale was okay. "Are you alright, little peep?" he asked, then addressed the room, "Is everyone alright?"

Kor responded by slipping through Aphid's hands and embracing him tightly. Aphid felt Eydis jump onto the bed behind him, hugging his back.

Jaren remained were he was, likely anticipating how much trouble he was in, while Bark stormed towards Aphid, his frustration increasing with each step. As soon as he was close enough, Bark punched Aphid's bicep.

"Ay-- Bark! What's wrong with you?" Aphid asked, but Bark blamed him.

"You almost got us all belted, Aphid!" he said.

Aphid's stern expression softened, and he nodded, agreeing with the accusation. "I'm sorry, little pup. It was my fault."

But Eydis jumped to his defense, pointing at Jaren, "No, it wasn't! Jaren tattled!"

And Bark countered, "Aphid started it! Jaren just made it worse!"

He threw a pillow at Jaren, knocking him down.

Aphid began to scold, but Bark turned his anger back on him. "She was doing fine until you messed it up, Aphid!"

Kor jumped to Aphid's defense now, "He stopped her! He got hurt, not us!"

But Bark insisted, "He caused it, Kor!"

Bark promptly spun around and stormed off, saying, "So good! I really hope it hurt!"

Kor's eyes widened and he shouted after him, "That's just mean, Bark!" but Aphid gently tugged him back.

"He's just a little rightfully mad at me, polka dots," the big brother peacekept, "No arguing now. I understand and can take his anger, but just at me, Bark, okay?"

Bark snapped back, "Whatever!" and slammed his nightstand drawer shut, before slapping a tankard off the top that clanged loudly as it hit the floor.

Aphid sighed, "Bark…"

He didn't want to deal with the kids' drama so soon after the outburst with Grelod.

"Hey, why don't you and Kor set up the ring toss outside?" Aphid suggested. "We could use some fun and fresh air."

Bark replied sarcastically, "Oh, wow, one ring and one peg. I don't know how I'd manage without help."

Aphid teased, "Well, one of you can carry the ring, and the other can carry the peg." He playfully blew his tongue out at him, which Bark ignored.

"Eydis can supervise," Aphid added, nudging her as well. "Go on, it's a lot of work. Don't forget to do our stretches too."

Bark realized, "Oh, I see what you're doing. You're just trying to push us three outside, so you can finally light into Jaren. Jaren! He's finally about to whoop your little blabbin' butt!"

"No I'm not, Bark," Aphid immediately shot down, "And I mean, really? Goodness. Have I ever whooped any of you?"

"Yeah, me!" Bark immediately shot back, and shot back as if the older brother had completely forgot about some unforgettable event.

"That. Was. One. Swaaaat."

"It's. the. Same. Thiiiiing—"

"Get on!" Aphid stood, clapped, and shooed, "The three of ya. Git on out of here now. Go on. Get the ring toss and git."

Eydis and Kor giggled as they scurried off from this feigned anger, but Bark still had a bone to pick.

"Brace yourself, Jaren," he said, "He probably won't hit you. Instead, he'll probably just hit you."

"Quit yer pickin'! Git!" Aphid ordered.

He spat it playfully, but his accent thickening could also be indicating his thinning patience, which was certainly worn as much as his hide in that moment.

Thankfully, Bark scurried along with the other two, after grabbing all the two pieces of ring toss equipment, and went out the yard door.

Aphid only shouted after them one more time, instructing that the door remain open, but then set his attention on that tattletale.

"Jaren. Now I need your little tail to listen to me and listen to me good…"

As Aphid had that sit down with Jaren inside, Bark Eydis, and Kor set up that--quite overly simple--game outside.

Bark stomped the peg down half way in the ground at the farthest end of the yard, while Kor looked over that worn wooden ring.

It looked like it had once been in a decent shape, perhaps long… long ago, and possibly part of a set. The remnants of what must have been light blue paint clung on in splotches, boldly fighting the forces so not to be chipped out of existence. There were hints of two red lines on one side, probably marking its size or number within whatever set it used to belong to.

Kor remembered the game of horseshoes he played at home. It was like ring toss, but this looked quite a good deal simpler.

Especially the one and only rule Eydis rang in his ear, about the one and only task for such a lonely ring.

"You gotta ring the peg!" she chirped, and Bark sarcastically answered.

"Nooo really, Eydis?" he said, "I bet he thought it was to catch in our teeth like a dog."

"Shut up, Bark!" she snipped back – a stern call of her name came from inside from Aphid, but was ignored – "I bet he hasn't played it!" she huffed.

Bark sarcastically quipped again.

"Probably not this one."

Kor answered them both, before the quips and snips turned too hostile, as he's already come to learn how fast these two could get at each other's throats.

"Not this one, no," Kor said, "Not ring toss. We played horseshoes."

"Horseshoes?" the cousins both replied in unison.

"What in damn Oblivion is that?" Bark added, which prompted a stern shout of his name from inside as well, but was, too, ignored.

"It's like ring toss," Kor explained, "I guess. Except more rules? And more pieces. And it's played with horseshoes."

Before Bark could sarcastically quip that obvious remark, Eydis chimed in with more questions.

"Horses have shoes?" she asked, confused, "Oh, is that what those things are? The black thing on their feet?"

"Their hooves??" Bark asked, dumbfounded by her observation, "He's talking about the metal thing on the bottom of their hooves. Are you really that du—"

"Yeah, the metal thing," Kor intercepted, "It's under their foot and shaped like this."

He shaped his hand like a 'U' for Eydis to see.

"You toss it at the peg."

Eydis only seemed more confused.

"You toss the horse's feet at it?"

"No," Kor chuckled, "just the shoe."

"How does it go over the peg if it's not a ring?" the girl questioned on.

Bark sighed.

"Don't bother explaining to her," he advised Kor, "She'll never get it."

"Don't call me dumb, Bark!" Eydis stomped.

"Did I say that?" Bark taunted, "I just said you wouldn't get it—"

"Aphid!" Eydis hollered, "Bark's calling me stupid!"

"No I didn't, you liar!" Bark hollered back at her, "And why you tattling?! He's already getting on to one of you for it!"

"Play nice!" Aphid's voice was heard, his exasperation a little more evident, "We'll be out in a moment, alright? But until then, play nice! All of you!"

"Yes, sir!" Kor answered, the only one of the three to not completely ignore the big brother's calls.

"Why are you even answering?" Bark remarked to that, "You haven't done nothing."

"I'm just being respectful," Kor said, "I don't want to be in trouble…or be a trouble…"

Bark seemed to think there was a coded message there.

"You calling me trouble?" Bark he asked suspiciously, tilting his head.

"What-no," Kor replied, "I didn't mean it like—I just meant—"

Kor tried to clarify. "Just meant—" but he struggled to express his thoughts, his mind still reeling from the earlier chaos. He wanted to ask why the kids were at each other's throats despite Grelod's looming presence and why they were so bratty with Aphid, who always tried to be nice.

But all that came out was, "You're mean," which made Bark's head jerk back as if he'd been hit.

Bark repeated, "Mean?!"

For a moment, he seemed genuinely wounded before his anger took over. "You just met with Grelod's belt and I'm the mean one?!"

Kor tried to clarify again, but Bark cut him off, his impulsiveness getting the better of him. "That's it. Everyone thinks I'm bad. I'll show you mean then!"

Just as Bark lunged at Kor, Aphid had darted out and intercepted them, kneeling between the two boys with his arms outstretched. Bark connected with one of Aphid's hands upon his lunge, but, thankfully, not too hard.

"Ah-ah, nope!" Aphid spat firmly, his patience worn thin. "None of that! I done told ya about the arguing. Do you two want to sit facing the wall while the rest of us play?"

Kor immediately lowered his head and apologized, "I'm sorry, Aphid! I didn't mean to argue!"

Bark's voice spoke at the same time, "He called me mean!"

Aphid stood, taking a deep breath to calm himself, not wanting his temper to boil over. It was already bubbling from today's events.

"Well," he sighed, "Whatever you were about to do, Bark, wouldn't have convinced Kor otherwise, would it?"

Kor tried to explain, "I didn't mean to call him mean. I was trying to say—" but Bark interrupted, "Everyone thinks I'm just trouble, so why try being anything else?"

Aphid raised his hands to calm the boys and corral the word rush before it became a garbled stampede. "Shh, shh. Simmer down. Come on. Sit over here."

Bark protested, thinking it was a time-out, but Aphid reassured him, "No, pup. Just a calm conversation. Come on, y'all. Eydis, Jaren. All of us."

He led the kids to a slab of rock under the windows, which peeked into the foyer and sat straight across from the door leading back to the center room. "Sit," he said to the four of them. Bark, Kor, and Jaren fit on the rock, while Eydis sat beside it, idly twirling and rolling the ring piece to their game.

Aphid stood before them, arms folded, and weight on one hip. "Now," he spoke, "Listen to me, kids…"

Their anticipation read that they still felt a scold coming, so Aphid unfolded his arms and sat on his knees to not seem so towering and stern. He really wasn't trying to make them feel boxed in and on edge.

But Mara's mercy…

Even he had to admit there were times they made it hard to find a balance between discipline and… Well, no.

It wasn't hard to make the choice NOT to be her. He was in a bit of ill temper because of her, yes, but he always made the decision—and always was his point to make the decision—not to take it out on the littler ones.

"I just want y'all to hear me, alright?" he said calmly, though his eye twitched. Whether from aggravation or the welt laid too close to it wasn't discernable. "I know we've had a rough dip this morning, but let's not keep digging it deeper with being mad and mean at each other—"

"I wasn't being mean!" Bark snapped.

"Bark, now, don't interrupt me yet," Aphid addressed, "Just listen, alright?"

Aphid noticed Kor raising his hand slightly and looking nervous.

"Yes, Kor?" the older boy answered the silent beckon. "Can I…," Kor seemed to be carefully thinking his words, "...Can I explain what I meant to say? To Bark earlier?"

Aphid was familiar with children trying to cover their tracks or amend their words to avoid trouble, but he hadn't seen Kor do this before, given it's only been a week since they met, but he believed Kor was genuine in his insistence that he was misunderstood.

And even if Kor's words were meant as Bark perceived them, they weren't entirely untrue - Bark could be bitey. Aphid didn't understand why the remark had upset Bark so much.

"Alright, Kor, go ahead," Aphid allowed him to explain himself.

Kor looked to Bark.

"I didn't mean to say that you're mean," the blond said to the brunette, "I just wonder why you…why you act mean."

"What?" Bark asked in confusion, "That just means the same thing!"

"No, no," Aphid intercepted, "It makes sense. I get what he means."

Bark clearly did not, with the irritation quickly spreading across every fiber of his being.

"What he's saying is," Aphid explained more clearly, "He doesn't think you're a mean person, Bark, but that you ACT mean. You know, like how some people pretend they're tougher than they really are?"

Still, Bark did not look much like he understood.

In fact, he certainly didn't with his remark, "I am tough."

"Listen," Aphid tried again, "Just listen. You know how Fjora seems all hard and brooding and uncaring and stand-offish?"

"Mean?" Bark summarized.

"…Yeah," Aphid half nodded, "Well, she's not. She's just … afraid—DON'T…tell her I said any of this."

"Afraid?"

"Yes, like…," the big brother thought about his words and explanation carefully, "…afraid to let anyone know that she's NOT those things. Because to her, mean means tough."

"No, I mean," Bark said, "Are you afraid of her?"

Aphid shut his eyes.

"Okay," he sighed, "You're not gonna get it. That's alri—"

Eydis suddenly muttered in on that.

"Who never gets it now?" she slyly uttered.

"Shut it, Eydis!" Bark snipped, and the girl taunted with a blow of her tongue.

"AY!" Aphid snapped, his voice giving all the kids a jump.

"…Hey…," he said lighter, realizing his anger, but he continued sternly, "Enough. Please, just hear me on this…"

He cleared the crack from his voice that the authoritative boom gave.

"We are all we have here," he said, "We're the only family we have left at this moment. Bark and Eydis, though? You two are a little bit luckier than we three. You are cousins. You come from the same family. Have memories you can share with each other—"

"Of what?" Bark countered, "Our family killing each other??"

Aphid grimaced.

"Okay, that's a fair point," he said, "I'm sorry, pup. Button nose… But my first point still stands. We are all we have right now. We need to be nicer to each other—"

Bark interrupted again.

"Because Grelod doesn't act mean, she is mean?"

Aphid did a slow nod and then nodded fully.

"…Yes," he said, "Yeah. Exactly. She's mean enough for all of us, so let's counter that with not being mean to each other? Does that sound doable? Good?"

Bark twisted his lips to one side before letting out a tiny blow.

"Okay, fine," he said, "…I wasn't being mean though…"

Before Aphid could even groan in aggravation, Jaren peeped up with a tattle.

"Eydis whispered he's dumb," the Redguard outed.

"I did not!" the girl lied, "Kor did!"

Kor's eyes widened in disbelief, and he glanced at her before looking to Aphid, ready to defend himself, but Aphid's exhausted smile and chuckle stopped him. "You guys, just start on your stretches," Aphid said, standing up and stretching himself. "I'll be right back, I need to clean up inside. Then we'll play ring toss."

Kor offered to help, but Aphid declined, ruffling Kor's hair. "Nah, sweetheart. I got it. Go play, but be nice, alright?"

The other kids were already running around, with Bark playing keep away with the ring. Kor nodded, "yes, sir", looking a bit hesitant. He sighed and began doing the usual morning stretches instead of joining the chaos, while Aphid gave him one more ruffle and walked away.

As soon as Aphid was back inside, and stepped back into the dining area, out of the kids' sight, he vigorously rubbed his face, trying to ease the painful sensation. "Mmmrgh," he growled under his breath, his cheeks still smarting from the earlier encounter. On his face, and his behind. And the stray welts upon his back. And the prints she had left every where that boney hand had struck. He brought his hands back to his face, the marks felt like they were on fire, and his lip throbbed intensely.

Aphid ran his hands through his hair, tugging at it in frustration. But before he brought himself to yank any of it out, he flung his hands down in one more pained growl.

"Alright, had your moment," he whispered to himself, taking a deep breath. "Clean up."

But as he began to clear the table, he realized something was missing - the very item that had caused all the trouble in the first place.

He scanned the table and floor twice, then checked the foyer, center room, and dining area again, but it was nowhere to be seen. Aphid whirled as he wondered if Grelod had picked it up on her way out.

She must have… right?