Nora spent the next couple of weeks learning everything she could from all the instructors. Tolfdir was pulling double duty as Archmage and Master of Alteration. The Dragonborn absorbed lessons in magic like they were fine wine, taking them all in and making them hers.

 

Alteration gave her Entomb, letting her place a victim in the ground temporarily and releasing them unharmed. Fabricate Object let her make various things temporarily, including bridges. While Tumble Magnet allowed her to project a globe of force that pulled enemies into it. Still not sure of Conjuration, she chose a pair of spells, Oathbound Guardian, one that gave her followers a boost to their protection, and Expel Daedra, which would give her the power to send the mighty summoned creatures back to their plane of Oblivion.

 

Faralda worked with Nora overtime, giving her the entire range of Wall spells, Flames, Frost and Storms. With those Nora could raise walls of elemental power between herself and enemies, surely useful in a number of situations. Added to those were Bombardment, Shock Nova and Sleet Storm, adding another elemental spell from each subschool of the discipline to her arsenal. From Illusion she picked Mind Control, letting her force a weak opponent to fight for her, and Seidstone, a spell that let her produce an object that would project the images of nearby dead. From Restoration she got Healing Blossom, a preparation spell that automatically healed her when her health got too low, and Nature's Balance, which would let her switch out her health with a target. Good for both harming an enemy or helping an ally in trouble.

 

She would have loved to get some of the master spells, but those were barred to her until she was ready to take the Master's Quests from each school. When she asked Faralda about that the master mage laughed.

 

“You've already come along faster than any student in the history of the College. Don't worry, my little mage. You are on the verge of being ready for the Master's Quest in four of the five schools.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Well, you haven't progressed as far in Conjuration as in the others. I understand why, but there are some master spells in the school you will find useful.”

 

“I don't like dealing with the dead,” said Nora emphatically, crossing her arms over her chest.

 

“Like I said, I understand. But one of the spells allows you to banish people and things to Oblivion, permanently. That might prove useful in your fights.”

 

Nora still wasn't sure about that. There were too many spells in Conjuration dealing with calling up evil creatures. Sure, she had some, and she wouldn't try to forget them. Calling up Golden Saints and other Daedra. But to deal with what amounted to necromancy, raising dead bodies or calling on the spirits of the deceased, was more than she could stomach.

 

The Dragonborn had come to this world not sure about the forces of magic. Now she was a super fan, wanting to gather all the power she could. One day Tolfdir took her aside for a talk in the archmage's quarters.

 

“You are progressing swiftly, Nora,” said the old mage, keeping his eyes averted from her, then obviously catching a glimpse of her form. Nora realized that the man was no longer under the compulsion of the Eye, and other memories were coming to the fore. Including his involuntary rape of a student.

 

“But you may be progressing too quickly. You are growing in power, but has your wisdom caught up?”

 

“I think so,” said Nora, insulted at being basically called immature.

 

“But the powers..”

 

“Archmage Tolfdir. I used nuclear weapons on my world. Weapons such as Gatling lasers that were like unleashing a hundred fire bolts a second. I know how to use power. And remember, I wasn't the one who was seduced by the Eye of Magnus.”

 

“True,” said the embarrassed mage, again looking away from her.

 

What in the hell is going on? thought Nora. She wondered if something else was on the man's mind, and she had a suspicion as to what it was.

 

“Are you still beating yourself up over what happened in Saarthal, Master Tolfdir?”

 

“Well...”

 

“You don't need to do that. We were both trapped in that situation. No fault for either of us.”

 

“But,” said the old man, his pleading eyes finally looking into hers. “I can't forget how you looked. How you felt. That an old man like myself could make love to a beautiful woman like yourself. And it was forced on you. You had to be disgusted laying with me.”

 

Nora decided to take matters into her own hands. She stood up and started to undo the hasps and belt of her robes, all the while looking Tolfdir in the eyes.

 

“What are you doing?” asked Tolfdir in a hushed voice.

 

“Proving to you that you didn't disgust me,” she said, pulling the robe over her head, then kicking off her boots. She pulled off the cloth covering that substituted for a bra on this world, then pulled her panties off, until she as standing naked in front of the man.

 

“So beautiful,” said the mage, his eyes locked on her.

 

“Not too thin? Not too muscular?”

 

“No,” he said, licking his lips. “Perfect.”

 

“Don't you think you should get undressed as well? It is not like a gentleman to let a lady get naked in front of him without reciprocating.”

 

“I...”

 

“Look. We're going to go into the chamber next to this one, get on that bed, and then we are going to fuck until we can't fuck any more. Understand? So get out of those clothes before I rip them off you, and you have to explain to your housekeeper what happened to your robes.”

 

“If you're sure,” said the mage, but Nora could see the lust in his eyes. He pulled off his robe, pulled down his small clothes, and stood there as naked as she was.

 

Tolfdir had the older body she remembered. Still fit and firm in most places, a little bit of a pooch on his stomach. He was already half hard, a respectable penis starting to rise. Not the best Nora had ever seen, but not the worst either, and she felt herself getting wet at the thought of what she was about to do.

 

Nora took Tolfdir by the hand and led him to the bed, then pushed him down on it. She climbed up and moved her face to his crouch, licking and kissing his cock as it continued to firm up, Soon it was standing at full attention, but she continued to work on it, hearing the gasps of the man as she slid her lips up and down the shaft while her left hand played with his balls.

 

“I'm about to cum,” said the mage in a soft voice.

 

Can't have that, thought, Nora, moving up his body, kissing the entire way, until she touched her lips to his. Reaching down to grab his cock, she was about to maneuver herself on top of him, when he shifted away.

 

“I want to return the favor,” he said, as he gently shifted her onto her back, then kissed his way down, lingering for a couple of minutes on an erect nipple while his hand played with her other breast. Shivers of pleasure radiated from her breasts and she gasped again. He then moved down to her navel, running his tongue around the indentation, then further down until he found her clitoris.

 

Nora sucked in a breath as the man worked on her clitoris and labia with mouth and tongue. She had to admit, the man knew what he was doing, and within minutes she was gasping out her passion as an orgasm hit her. He kept working at her genitals until she had another, then moved up and kissed her on the lips, letting her taste herself. Now he maneuvered over her, pressing her legs apart. She opened them gladly, reaching up and pulling him in. His cock touched her entrance, teasing her for a moment, then slid into the first inch of her hot wet tunnel. She grunted, letting herself relax her vaginal muscles, and he slid another couple of inches in, then some more, until he was fully in her.

 

Nora loved the feeling of being filled. She could spend an hour just like this, enjoying the feel of a cock in her pussy. Tolfdir had other thoughts, and started to slowly move in and out while his mouth met hers. He started getting into a rhythm, and soon he was hitting all the right places. Nora gasped, then cried out, riding the waves of pleasure, building up to another orgasm, until it hit, her back arched, and she cried out in her passion.

 

Tolfdir kept riding her, giving her all that he had. Nora wondered if he only had one cum in him. At his age that was not unusual. Older men could cum more than once in a day, but normally only after several hours of rest in between. She wanted the man to get the most enjoyment he could out of her, and opened her pussy up, relaxing the muscles, so he would get just a little bit of wet friction. She came again, this one more powerful than the others, and when she was coming down noticed that Tolfdir was starting to grunt. Reading the signs she clamped down on his cock, giving him all the tight wet friction she could manage. She knew she was tighter than most, wetter than most, hotter than most. She had the kind of pussy that men loved to come in, and she gave the old mage her best. And Tolfdir grunted loudly and gave her everything he had, blasting a copious amount of cum into her pussy.

 

They lay in each other's arms for several minutes, Tolfdir's cock softening in her tunnel, then finally slipping out. He smiled down at her and kissed her, then rolled off.

 

“Feel better? “asked a smiling Nora, basking in the afterglow. “I sure do.”

 

“That was wonderful. Even better than Saarthal. I haven't really done anything like that since my wife died.”

 

“Because we were both willing participants,” said a breathless Nora. “Both here to make sure that the other was satisfied.”

 

“And you really were?”

 

“Look at my nipples, at the flush on my chest. And you heard how I came. Of course I'm satisfied.”

 

“I know you're not looking for a full-time lover,” said Tolfdir sadly. “I would love to have you fulfill that role for me, but we both know it's not going to happen. But I would like a return engagement, sometime.”

 

“Definitely,” said Nora, kissing the man on his forehead. “And now that you know what you're missing, go find yourself another full-time lover.”

 

Tolfdir rolled over, soon asleep, and Nora smiled down on him as she cleaned herself up, then gathered her clothes to get dressed. It really wasn't a mercy fuck, though there had been elements of that in it. Tolfdir was an experienced lover, better than most she had fucked. And now he had no reason to think that she was disgusted at the thought of him touching her.

 

Nora later met with J'Zargo, wanting to get the elephant in the room out of the way with him before they hit the road, her plan for three or four days later.

 

“No, friend Nora. That will not be a problem for this cat. Mate all you want. Khajiit, most of them, only mate when the females are in heat, and then only with the one they are bonded to.”

 

That sounded sensible to Nora, though she was sure that she wouldn't like only wanting sex when she was in heat. She enjoyed being a member of a species that could enjoy pleasure at any time, in any place.

 

“Are all Khajiit like that?”

 

“Most, but not all. There are deviants among our people who will have sex with anything willing, or even unwilling, if it suits them. But not J'Zargo. Don't you worry.”

 

That was a relief. They could continue their sexual games on the road and not have to worry about the females turning down the Khajiit. Maybe some of them wouldn't reject him. She wasn't sure what she would do. She had never had sex with a ghoul, but Khajiit were not ugly in that way. That they hairy as hell might be a problem, but she could possibly get around that. With J'Zargo she wouldn't have that worry, and she resolved to make sure they got around some females of his species so he could take care of any needs if he desired.

 

“Did you have sex with the old man?” asked Faralda when Nora approached her that evening.

 

“I think that is between me and Tolfdir.”

 

“I don't disapprove,” said the smiling Altmer.  “It's about time the old man got some. I've thought of offering myself, but I was afraid he was an old prude and I would ruin our working relationship.”

 

“Well, he's definitely no prude,” said a smiling Nora, recalling her session with the old man. “He was very good. Not the absolute best, but very good. In fact, he asked for a return engagement, and I intend to offer him one before I hit the road again.”

 

“Well good for him,” said Faralda with a laugh. “He got some from one of the most desirable women in Skyrim, and she's coming back for more.”

 

“I don't think...”

 

“That you're that desirable. Oh please. You have a classically beautiful face, gorgeous hair black as a raven's wing, and eyes that people fall into. You have the body of a warrior angel, a voice that drives men to desire, and a sexual scent that pushes all the right buttons. You could have any man in this frozen kingdom, and most of the women.”

 

“Well, are you going to offer yourself to him?”

 

“I think I will, after you have taken your fill,” said the smiling elf. “I want a man every once in a while, but I don't believe in sleeping with students.” Faralda burst out laughing. “Well, you were the exception, my dear. But most of the men here are just too self-centered for my tastes. The typical Nord, most of them. Stick the cock in, move it enough to cum, and expect you to be eternally grateful. The Bosmer aren't much better. At least Aren was a Dunmer, and they take almost as much pride in their sexual prowess as Altmer men.”

 

“You and Aren?”

 

“Of course. As I said before, Skyrim is cold and sometimes a girl needs something alive in her. And Aren was happy to oblige.”

 

“I'm so sorry that your lover died,” said Nora, looking into the eyes of the elf.

 

“We weren't really lovers,” said the elf, shaking her head. “More like convenient partners. But yes, it was a tragedy. But at least you came out the other side of the ordeal alive.”

 

Finally the day came when Nora decided to leave. She had had her return engagement with Tolfdir the day before, then spent the night with Faralda, covering all of her sexual bases. And then she was in her armor and winter clothing, the horses loaded up, the party ready to go.

 

“Are we going to mount up?” asked J'Zargo.

 

“Not yet. We have some miles to go yet,” said Nora, smiling at the Khajiit.

 

“Miles to go. Are we to walk the horses?” asked the Khajiit, frowning.

 

“Make sure you're touching one of my people, and gather some of the reins in your hand,” said Nora. She didn't know if that was necessary, but she didn't want to leave anyone behind. Once they got to their first destination she would experiment, but now was the time to move.

 

Nora visualized the location she wanted to teleport to, a point a few miles south of the Whistling Mine, then cast the spell. The world faded out, then back in, and they were at the spot she had visualized.

 

“What happened?” asked a wide eyed J'Zargo.

 

“Teleportation spell. Courtesy of the Psijic order. And, here we go again.” The world faded out, then back in and they were at another point fifteen miles from where they had been. Over the next hour Nora cast teleport after teleport, moving the party the two hundred sixty odd miles from Winterhold to Valkyrja in seventeen jumps taking just over an hour. Nora was exhausted when they stopped, and she stumbled up the stairs and into the castle while her people took care of the horses.

 

The staff cook put a home-cooked meal in front of her along with some wine. Nora ate the double portion, thanking the cook for her care, then walked slowly to the master's chamber, falling into bed in her full armor and drifting off to a deep sleep.

 

“Feel better,” asked Eldawyn as Nora came back to the world.

 

Nora checked her implant, surprised to see that it was only a little after four in the afternoon. “Much.”

 

“Then I would like to teach you some more about enchanting, and the smith said she was willing to train you in some of her art.”

 

Nora would have preferred to just rest, but she definitely wanted to know how to make and repair armor, and as Eldawyn had told her before, being able to enchant on the fly was a good thing.

The smith was hard at work constructing something out of a tight mesh red chain-mail like the guards wore. Nora walked over to talk with her.

 

“I have a Khajiit battle mage I would like some heavy armor for. The best protection you can give him. What do you have?”

 

“Well, I don't have enough of the materials for ebony or glacial, like your Housecarls have. So, let me see. How about some dragon bone armor, if you have some of the bones.”

 

“We've got about a dozen bones among our baggage,” said Elesia, looking at the smith. “As well as a bunch of scales.”

 

“Very good. So let me get the measurements for your Khajiit, give me two days, and I'll have it for you. Only three thousand Septims for labor.”

 

“Aren't you my vassal or something?” asked Nora, wondering why it would cost anything.

 

“No, Thane. I'm a contractor, hired by the same people who hired the guards. And I charge for my services. The idea is that you don't have to go elsewhere for your smithing services, and anything I produce here will be at least as good as what you could get somewhere else.”

 

“Okay, make the armor.” She looked over at Eldawyn. “Go ahead and see what kind of enchantments J'Zargo wants and give him the works.”

 

“I wonder how much I should charge for that?” asked the serious faced Altmer, who broke out in a laugh at the look Nora gave her.

 

“I will pay for your services if you want,” she finally said. “It's only fair.”

 

“I make enough from my share of the loot,” said the laughing elf. “And I get to make and enchant jewelry on the side. So never mind the pay. But I do want you to make some trinkets with the forge while we are here. Iron daggers, some simple jewelry. Then you can enchant them and we can sell them in Whiterun.”

 

“And what is that you are making there?” asked Nora, looking at the interesting red chainmail.

 

“A suit of chain of my own design,” said the smith proudly, turning the red armor over. “It is stronger than any other chain I have ever heard of. And lighter, while making almost no noise, even before you enchant it.”

 

“Any way to add plates to it?”

 

“No. The hauberk and chausers are single pieces. But you could always strap some over it. Also, I can make boots and gauntlets of the same material. And a hood if you'd like. Red or black.”

 

Nora liked the idea of black, which would blend in better in most surroundings than a red that shouted out here I am. Both would stand out against the snow of the north, so there was no advantage to either one up there.

 

“Can I take a piece and test it out?”

 

“Be my guest. Take that panel over there and have at it.”

 

There were targets in the room for archery practice, as well as for swinging swords. Nora placed the panel over one of the targets, took what looked like a very powerful black bow down from a wall rack, then pulled some arrows out of a barrel. She sighted in on the armor, then loosed. The arrow struck and partially penetrated the armor, much to her disappointment.

 

“I don't think it's better than what I already have,” said Nora, holding up the panel with the arrow sticking in it. The arrow didn't push all the way through, and to be fair, the wound it would have inflicted would have been very shallow. Still, it had not performed as advertise.

 

“And you used the Valkyrja Black Bow,” said the scowling armorer. “And the Valkyrja Nightingale arrows as well. No wonder you got penetration. That combination would be sending an arrow completely through your ebony chain.”

 

Nora doubted that, but decided to give the smith another chance. She got her own bow from upstairs, along with the ebony arrows she normally used. She sent a couple of shafts into the panel, and was surprised to see them bounce away with no penetration.

 

“Can you fix my ebony chain if I put some holes in it?”

 

“I could. But once you see the difference I doubt if you will want it.”

 

Nora placed her ebony chain over the target, arranging it carefully, then picked up the Black Bow and matching arrows again. She sent a shaft into the chain, eyes widening as the arrow sank into the mail. She put another one through, then aimed one at the ebony plate. At least the arrow bounced from that, though it left a suitable dent in the metal.

 

“What's it made out of?” she asked the smith.

 

“Leather, hardened steel and void salts,” answered the woman.

 

“Void salts,” exclaimed Eldawyn. “What do you do, take down Storm Atronachs?”

 

“No, I pay a warrior mage team. The mage summons the creature, then the warrior kills it. And then the mage heals the warrior. Not the safest profession, but they do well with it. Charge five hundred gold a measure. It takes two measures for the hauberk, and one each for the boot and glove sets. And I infuse the steel chain into the leather with magic. Doesn't keep you any warmer than standard chain, but it repels water like a duck's feathers, and keeps the links from clanking together.”

 

“How much?”

 

“For a full set, twenty thousand gold. For the hauberk alone, twelve thousand.”

 

“And without the hood.” Nora was sure the hood would also resist penetration, but she wanted her people to have protection against bashing as well, and only a hard helm would do that.

 

“Eighteen thousand.”

 

“I know you don't like armor,” said Nora, looking over at her Altmer friend, “but the leather I got you definitely helped keep you alive. Would you wear this.” She was waiting for the refusal, and then the argument until she either gave up or Eldawyn gave in.

 

“If it makes you feel better, darling, then yes.”

 

Nora was shocked, but she was going to go with the assent while she had it.

 

“Four sets in black,” she told the smith, whose eyes grew wide. “One hood for my mage friend here, who I don't think wants a helmet.” Eldawyn shook her head, and Nora was happy enough that her friend was going to take the arrow protection.

 

“Now, what do you have for light armor helmets.” Her people wearing heavy armor already had helmets of the same material, and J'Zargo would have a barbaric looking helmet of dragon bone.

 

“Well, the best against penetration and solid blows would be glass. Malachite, really, though it's commonly called glass. Really tough, really light. And I add more padding than most smiths, so the force of a blow to the head is absorbed. Green or red?”

 

“How much?”

 

“Three thousand each,” said the smith, shrugging her shoulders. “I have three each of the green and red on hand, and can fit them to your people with the padding, so no need to cut them.”

 

Nora did the math in her head and whistled. Eighty-six thousand was quite the sum, but she wanted her people protected. Mourning unnecessary deaths was also quite expensive, and she preferred to avoid those.

 

“Okay, will these do?” she asked, pulling out a number of flawless gems from her belt pouch. Five diamonds, a half dozen rubies and seven sapphires, all of the best quality.

 

The smith looked the gems over closely, smiling. “A little more than I'm asking for, but I can throw in a couple of good quality shields as well.”

 

“Good enough. Now, does anyone on your staff do leather work?” Nora thought it about time she introduced some of the concepts of Commonwealth outfitting to Skyrim.

 

*     *     *

 

“Of course, my Lady,” said the guard captain, Solveig, her pretty face smiling back at Nora. “And it is so nice of you to offer your home to the unfortunate children of this land. I will have a pair of warriors seek out the child you mentioned in Windhelm, Sophie, and bring her here to safety. Then we'll go after the little boy, Blaise, in the stables in Solitude. It will bring joy to all to have children living here.”

 

“I'll go ahead and talk to Lucia in Whiterun,” said Nora, nodding and thinking of that orphan. “After I see the Jarl and Farengar.”

 

She had a few days to kill before heading off to Solitude, where she had several missions. First she would find the page of Conjuration, in a cave just outside of Whiterun. After that finding the lost page of Alteration outside of Solitude, then to Delphine who had asked to meet her a week from today. Delphine had no idea how fast Nora could travel, and Nora had no doubt she would get there in plenty of time. After doing whatever it was that Delphine wanted, probably something to do with the Thalmor, she would work her way down to Falkreath to get the Destruction pages, looking for the wild shrine of that school while there. Afterwards she would head to Windhelm, in whose vicinity the last two pages were located.

 

Balgruuf called for another feast to welcome her back home, and Nora had no way to decline. Besides, she liked the Jarl, and wanted to fill him in on everything that had happened.

 

“I'm going to Solitude in a couple of days, but I would appreciate it if you didn't inform Elisif.”

 

“Elisif will be hurt if you go through her Hold and don't stop in to say hello,” cautioned Balgruuf.

 

“And I do intend to stop in, but only after I take care of some secret business outside of town.”

 

“I understand. And best you tell me no more.”

 

Farengar was very excited to see her, gushing about all the orders he had gotten, then gushing more over her progress at the College.

 

“You should be proud,” he said. “Fastest advancement in the history of the College.”

 

“How long did it take you to reach Master?”

 

“Oh, I never made it that far. I'm an expert, but probably less advanced than you are.”

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

“Don't be. Not everyone has the talent to achieve master. Expert is difficult enough for most mages. And I found a good position with Jarl Balgruuf. I have everything I need, and the time to do my research.”

 

Nora thought about that for a moment. Just like academics on old Earth, mages here came in two flavors. Practitioners and researchers. Nora was a practitioner through and through. Maybe someday, after the current crisis was over, she might look into research. But with all the problems of this world she didn't see her ever having the time. Farengar was a pure researcher, having truly little time for using magic outside the palace.

 

“I'm thinking about the threshing machine next,” said Farengar, pointing to a diagram he had drawn. “Since its powered by the wheels turning, and only needs a couple of horses, I think we will be able to get superstitious farmers to accept it.”

 

“Good idea. And what about our next steam project.”

 

“This,” said Farengar, flipping the thresher plan away, revealing a set of gears that would turn a shaft. “Almost an exact duplicate from that book you gave me, so I take little credit for it. But if we could build a test vessel, run it in and out of the harbor at Solitude, maybe make some runs to High Rock, I think we would be flooded with orders.”

 

Nora agreed with that sentiment. A steam powered ship could move faster than most sailing vessels, though a clipper ship could move as fast. But it didn't have to depend on wind, always the wild card with sailing ships.

 

“Go with both of those. And have we made any money yet?”

 

“Quite a bit, but I've plowed it back into the company for the startup costs of the other projects.”

 

“Good. While I want to make money, it's more important to build a diversified manufacturing base. Good work.”

 

Nora found Lucia in the plaza built around the Gildergreen, where she normally spent her days. The child looked just as forlorn as ever, begging for the few coins that would fill her stomach.

 

“And how are you doing today, Lucia?” asked Nora, kneeling to get on the child's level.

 

“Okay, I guess. I get some food every day, but I'm still so hungry.”

 

“Would you like to come live with me?”

 

The child's face lit up with hope.

 

“Really,” she squealed. “You have a home for me?”

 

“I have a nice new home just outside of Whiterun. Your own bed, lots of room to run, and soon you could have a brother and sister to play with.”

 

“You mean it? You wouldn't mind?”

 

“Not at all, daughter.”

 

The child threw herself into Nora's arms, giving the Dragonborn a tight hug with her little arms. The child was sobbing, and Nora felt a tear in her own eye. She also felt good, fulfilled. It wasn't saving the world from being unmade, but it was changing a young life, saving Lucia's world. They walked back to the castle hand in hand, Lucia chatting about her dreams, which now seemed possible.

 

Since they had a couple of days to kill, and Nora could only take so much team training on top of smithing and enchanting, she decided to show her new house off. She had invitations sent out to the who's who of Whiterun, as well as some of her favorite merchants and shopkeepers. The guest list topped fifty, and she ordered plenty of food and drink, as well as hiring Mikael to play for the party. She even invited Nazeem, mostly because she wanted to rub the Redguard's nose in the fact that one didn't have to live in the Cloud District to be considered important. She knew it was a petty motivation, but she really didn't care.

 

Just before the party she had all of her people suit up so she could look them over. The new chainmail fit everyone perfectly, and Nora felt that her own was easy to move in. Quieter as well. Eldawyn, working with her, had added double enchantments to all the pieces. And the new leather strappings, reminiscent of the web gear of the United States Military, were fitted and adjusted. Straps over shoulder, attached to the belt that would hold weapons and pouches, a fanny pack on the back giving them more storage space when backpacks were left behind, the gear was as utilitarian as it got. And there were clasps on the front and rear shoulder straps that accepted hardened plates to protect the vital thorax from piercing damage. Satisfied with the new gear, Nora dismissed everyone to get ready for the party.

 

An hour later the guests started to arrive. Lucia was there with Nora to greet them on entry. The child was freshly scrubbed and wearing a new gown, a wide smile on her face, especially when Nora introduced her as the Dragonborn's daughter. Within a half an hour the castle was filled with conversation, laughter, the sound of clinking glasses. The large dining room wasn't big enough for all the guests, so Nora introduced another concept. Trays of food and small plates on all the tables, so the guests could eat while conversing, filling their stomachs over the length of the gathering.

 

Other Holds might have distanced the nobility from the common folk. Not Whiterun under Balgruuf. The Thanes and lesser nobles mixed easily and readily with the commoners, especially the entrepreneurs who were the financial muscle of the Hold. Arcadia, Hulda, the owners of Warmaidens, all were having a good time. And then there was Nazeem, the Redguard.

 

“Look at all these women,” said the man in a loud voice, talking with Belathor and Jon Battle-Born.  Kodlak, standing with Farkas and Aela, glared at the man, but Nazeem was oblivious. “And red. It reminds one of a high-priced bordello, yes.”

 

Belathor laughed loudly, but the Battle-Born boy looked embarrassed. Obviously, this was not how one talked about their host at a party.

 

“Of course, everyone knows Thane Nora is a whore. Spreading her legs for every cock in the Hold. And those little whores she runs around with?” The man made tisking noises as he shook his head.

 

Nora felt her face heat up, and she tried to hold down her rage. Insulting her house was one thing. Even her. She had a thick skin. But to label her followers as whores was too much. So she walked over to the trio, a false smile pasted on her face.

 

“Enjoying yourself, Nazeem?”

 

“Why, yes,” said the Redguard, shuffling his feet. “I was just telling these gentlemen...”

 

“That my castle reminded you of a whore house. Why is that? Not getting any at home? Or is your wife tired of getting fucked by a micro-penis, and wants a real man? Well, you won't find any pussy here. Not for you. But some of the girls at the Bannered Mare might be convinced to lay with you, for the right price.”

 

“Why, you...”

 

“You what? Whore? Yes, I enjoy sex, and who I sleep with is my own business. But I have not taken money for it in quite some time. I really don't mind if you insult me. Or my house. It is, after all, a structure of wood and stone, and therefor devoid of feelings. But I will not stand for you insulting the brave women who stand with me in battle. They sweat, bleed, and in some cases die for me. You are not worth the merest body hair on those women, or the least drop of sweat.”

 

“I don't have to..”

 

“Stand for this? Well, yes. Yes you do. Unless you want to challenge me,” said Nora in a chilling voice, eyes narrowing. “Or you can walk out of here like the coward you are.”

 

Nazeem was shaking now. He looked like he was on the verge of collapse. Then he turned around and stormed to the entrance of the castle, leaving.

 

The room erupted with clapping and cheers, and Nora thought the man was not well liked. Balgruuf approached her soon after.

 

“Thane Nora. I can't blame you for your actions. The man is a bore, but a very well connected one. The only reason I put up with him is his business connections with Hammerfell, connections which benefit my Hold. Still, it would have been better if you had confronted him in private.”

 

“I know, Jarl Balgruuf. But to hear him insult followers of mine, when two have given their lives for me and now reside in Sovngarde. That was just too much. I really don't care what he thinks of me and my sex life, but...”

 

“No problem there, Nora,” said Balgruuf, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. “There are high born ladies in Skyrim who would make you look like a celibate saint. And what you do is your business. But remember, honorless men like Nazeem will attack you in any way they can. The man is very well connected in his homeland, and it wouldn't surprise me if he sought revenge for you embarrassing him in public. Be careful.”

 

The rest of the evening passed relatively uneventfully. Nora had a conversation with Arcadia, telling the alchemist what she wanted, if not the reason for it. Arcadia seemed to think it possible, and asked Nora to come by her shop the next day. Finally the guests started excusing themselves. Vilkas, Farkas and Aela stuck around, and Nora wondered if there was something they wanted. They did, and soon she and the companions were naked on the bed of the master's chamber, making Nora feel like the whore she was at heart. And loving every moment of it.