-Ch. 7-

The smell of bacon practically lifted Ozgar from his rented bed to the Inn's bar. Jonna stood there, smiling eagerly before a half finished plate of her own, as well as a delicious looking spread set for Oz.

"Good morning, love!" She greeted, pouring hot coffee into a mug for him as he sat.

"Good morning." Oz greeted happily. He was content as he ate his breakfast, even with Lurburk occasionally strumming off key in the background.

"So, you're going to Ustengrav, yeah? That creepy barrow?" Jonna shuddered. "Oooo. Gives me shivers just thinking about it."

Oz chuckled with his mouthful, shaking his head as he finished his bite. "Actually, I'm going to keep helping Idgrod with the fire investigation." He said proudly.

Jonna smirked. "Oh, is that so?"

"What's that look for?"

"Oh, nothing." She giggled as she cleared the bar.

A few millers and miners had shuffled in by now, and Jonna was going to tend to them.

"But you're obviously sweet on her." She whispered to the half-orc with a wink.

Oz bit his lip and sat at the bar alone for a moment, before standing and making way to Highmoon Hall. Morthal was much balmier in the morning sun. Oz was thankful he didn't wear any armor, but he still removed his robe on his short walk.

Idgrod was waiting for him outside of High Moon Hall. She sat on the steps of the Longhouse, sunning herself, occasionally calling after her younger brother. "Joric," She called, smiling at Oz as he approached. "Come meet our new friend, Ozagar Gro…" She bit her lip and smiled as she struggled to recall and pronounce Oz's surname.

Oz smiled at her and the young boy. "Nice to meet you, Joric."

Joric looked up at the orc, not wide-eyed, but in quiet awe. "You're different, aren't you?" He asked, but he knew the answer. "Not like anyone else. Not in Morthal, not in Skyrim."

"Joric!" Idgrod awkwardly giggled. She stood, and positioned herself slightly in front of her younger brother. "I'm sorry, Ozgar." She continued to uncomfortably smile. "Please don't mind Joric. He's not mad -"

"It's ok." Oz said warmly. He looked past Idgrod for a moment and addressed Joric directly. "You're right, Joric. I'm not like everyone in Skyrim. But it's been good so far." Oz said with a playful wink.

Joric smiled. "Mother says we're different too." Joric said proudly before running inside the longhouse.

Idgrod smiled warmly at her brother as he scampered inside. Slowly, she turned to give that smile to her new acquaintance. "That was sweet." She said, rising to her feet. She slowly wrapped her arm around Oz. "Now, let's see if there's anything to this Alva theory."

The Jarl's daughter led Oz to Alva's house. The pair's bare skin touched, having dressed for the last days of Last Seed heat. It would have been an almost romantic stroll, if not for the morbid nature of their mission. Still, Oz's heart raced as they walked.

"Are you feeling better from last night?" Oz asked quietly.

Idgrod turned away bashfully. "Yes, thank you. I'm sorry you had to see that." Idgrod said wistfully as she recalled breaking down at the chaos beseeching her hold. She and Oz had found Helgi's burial, the same time as Laelette. Idgrod thought of Laelette's glowing red eyes as she lunged at them, bearing long, sharp fangs.

She turned back to Oz, thinking how he bravely intervened. Afterwards, as Idgrod broke down, he touched her shoulder, how he allowed her to bury her face in his chest and weep.

"I appreciate all your help last night." She said quietly.

"Anytime." He smiled back.

As the two came upon Alva's house, Idgrod first tried jiggling the handle, to no avail. She turned to Oz. "I don't suppose you know how to pick locks?"

Oz smirked and cracked his knuckles. "I'm a world trotting adventurer, of course I can pick a lock." He said, a bit over confidently. Luckily, it only took him three broken picks to crack the lock. Idgrod had been keeping watch, so he hoped she hadn't noticed the failures.

"See, what did I tell you?" He whispered with a grin.

Idgrod rolled her eyes, and slowly and quietly snuck into the home.

The two peered around the house, checking every nook they could for some clue as to Alva's mysterious involvement in all the recent tragedy. When they finally exhausted the first floor, Idgrod stared eerily down the stairs to Alva's cellar.

"It's gotta be down there." She said with a sigh. She gestured to her galant companion to lead the way.

Oz slowly nodded, suddenly regretting his lack of armor. "Of course." He said, failing his facade of confidence. He drew his axe and slowly crept down the stairs. Idrgod followed a few steps behind, checking back over her shoulder every few steps.

The door to the dark, dank basement creaked open. Oz quickly shot a magelight, illuminating the mostly empty room. The light hung above the only object in the room, an open coffin.

Oz crept forward, his axe hand ready. Idgrod stayed back, partially covered by the door.

"Oh thank Stendarr." Oz exhaled as he peered inside the coffin. Empty, except for a small leatherbound journal. He handed it to Idgrod, who was likewise breathing air of relief.

The Jarl's daughter thumbed through the journal as the two ascended the stairs. "Oh my." She whispered. "This proves everything! Hroggar and Laelette were both -"

"What in Oblivion?" A disgruntled voice said, opening his unlocked door. Hroggar, coming to check on his vampire mistress. "You're not supposed to be here!" He said, swinging his axe at the two like a mad man.

Oz quickly stepped between the shrieking Idgrod and Hroggar.

"FUS RO!" Oz shouted in the dragon tongue. His voice cracked and echoed throughout the house, and sent Hroggar stumbling backwards to the ground. "WULD," he followed, quickly closing the gap between Hroggar, and cracking the Nord's jaw with an audible Thwack!

As Hroggar fell to the ground, unconscious, Oz turned back to Idgrod, who trembled at the top of the stairs. She stared at the scene, her eyes darting between Oz and Hroggar. Her heart was racing from fear, relief, and excitement.

"Come on." Ozgar's voice brought the Jarl's daughter back to reality. He led her out of Alva's house back towards Highmoon Hall.

The two caught their breath inside the Hall. Idgrod looked Oz up and down with a furrowed brow.

The half-orc awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "You're probably wondering -"

"Are you the fucking dragonborn?!" She yelled, swatting Oz about the chest.