157 A Change of Plans V

After sorting out the new information I get up and stretch the kinks out of my back before leaving my tent.

Everyone else has already started their tasks for the day, and the kids are off at morning lessons.

"I'll just grab some bread and soup." I decide, walking over to the campfire area to scrounge up some leftover breakfast.

After eating my fill, I go to gather everyone I'll need for the next couple of missions.

First up is Inigo, who is gathering firewood with Lydia.

*Chop, chop, chop, crack.*

"Timber!" Inigo shouts as the small tree he had been chopping on finally gives way and falls towards the ground where Lydia is standing.

"Lydia look-" I start to say in a panic before I see her bury her great axe into the side of the falling tree, knocking it to her side and embedding it halfway through its trunk.

"Dang it... I didn't cut all the way through again!" Lydia shouts to Inigo, who is resting on the fresh stump.

"Do not worry, my love! I'm sure you will get it next time. Oh, I did not see you there, my friend. Is there something I can help you with?" Inigo asks nonchalantly.

"I...You know what, I'm not even gonna ask. Do you think you'll be free to come with me for the next couple of days? I'm heading to Riften to handle some business." I tell Inigo, giving him a pointed look.

"I see... Lydia, my love! I will be leaving with Silvantus for a few days! You will have to continue your training without me." Inigo shouts to Lydia, who then rushes over to us, embracing Inigo tightly.

"Be safe, my kitty! I will miss you!" Lydia exclaims.

"I will-" Inigo starts to say before Lydia's lips lock against his forcibly silencing him as she kisses him and holds him even tighter against her.

After several seconds I think she almost has him crushed in her grasp when I notice Inigo's tail start to trill just like M'rissi's when I... I'm just gonna leave before things go from PG-13 to XXX.

"Meet me by the main road when you're done!" I shout quickly, turning around to give them their privacy.

Next, I go to find M'rissi, who is over by the lake with a fishing pole in her hands.

"Hey, Kitten-..." I start to call out when she turns around and gives me a death glare.

"Silence! Do not scare her fishies away!" M'rissi whisper shouts at me before returning to staring at the lake.

I carefully make my way over to her side before joining her in her water-watching.

"I just wanted to-" I try and ask.

"Ssshhh!" But M'rissi quickly shushes me into being silent for a couple of minutes.

"How much-" I start asking before being silenced once more.

It's only when I turn to leave that I hear M'rissi shout.

"She gots you, you sneaky fishie! You won't escape her this time!" M'rissi shouts as I see her fighting desperately with a monster of a fish.

"Whoa?!" I shout as I go in to help pull in this sucker since I see the pole slipping from M'rissi's grasp.

We go back and forth with the fish for a solid 5 minutes before it's tired out, and we can reel in the biggest slaughter fish I've ever seen.

This sucker must've been 20 lbs at least. All the while, M'rissi is dancing around as if she'd won the lottery.

"She is victorious! You may praise her impressive deeds, Fluffy!" M'rissi says haughtily as she prances around, leaving me holding the fish.

I roll my eyes at her antics before rubbing her head and finally asking her what I tried to early.

"Congratulations Kitten. But I actually came over to let you know I've got some business in Riften, and I was hoping you'd tag along." I ask her.

"She would love to go... But... Her fishies..." M'rissi whines with wide, teary eyes.

I give her a light chop on the head before telling her, "Stop being so dramatic. You can eat your trophy on the road."

"Ouch! Fluffy is a bully! Give her her fishie!" M'rissi pouts before lunging at the fish I'm holding.

"Nope, I think I'll just hold on to it for now. So if you want it, you'll just have to come with me." I taunt her before throwing the fish into my bag and shifting it into my inventory space.

"Grrr... Stupid Fluffy! Hmph!" M'rissi growls before stomping off towards the house.

"Where are you going, Kitten?" I ask her.

"To pack her stuff!" M'rissi shouts back before leaving earshot, making me smile at her attitude.

"Okay, I guess that just leaves Gringar." I say as I head over to the makeshift training grounds.

In the stamped-down dirt circle we've been using to train, I see Gringar shouting at Kasia and Erik.

"Is that all you got maggots! My clan's wise woman could do more pushups than you! And she's been dead for ten years!" Gringar shouts as Erik and Kasia struggle to complete their assigned pushes while I notice everyone else in the training has been doing laps around the training area.

"I see you're taking it easy on them like I asked." I say sarcastically.

"Ah, Blüdtoth, I'm just giving them a little light exercise. Is there something you need?" Gringar asks, giving me a sideways glance before focusing back on training.

"Yes, I plan to go to Largashbur soon, and I'd like you to come with me to make sure I don't make a fool of myself." I tell him.

"It'd be my pleasure! Recruits! Starting tomorrow, you will no longer be doing morning training with me!" Gringar shouts, prompting everyone to stop their exercises and cheer.

"I know you'll miss me dearly, but don't worry... You'll be training with Korst in Helgen, every morning until I return." Gringar says with a familiar devilish smile, making me wonder if all orcs are secretly sadists or just the two of us.

(Author's Note: Good news everyone! I finally got a computer that can run extremely modded Skyrim and I'll be able to record my own content regarding mods I'm interested in incorporating in the story. No longer shall I have to sift through YouTube reviews and playthroughs for the dialogues I need! Tis a glorious day! So have an extra chapter as a thank you to those who have been commenting and binge reading the story so far!)

P.S. Taking mod suggestions!