Mountain Lullaby

[Lira Kros]

​

Arms cradling a stack of dishes, Lira walked the dim hallway towards the kitchen. She'd already made several trips to and fro, but this was likely the last. Each trip back to the throne room had given her a chance to see [member="Jor Kvall"], it was a good reason to drag her feet and make her chore of clearing the table last longer than it should have.

Pushing the kitchen door open with the toe of her boot, she slid inside and set the dishes into the sink. She stared down at the plates, bowls and cutlery waiting to be washed... but, she decided to save it for the morning. Pulling off her apron, she set it down on the counter top and stood for a moment with hands on her hips. Lira's thoughts drifted back to their dinner and the conversations that had taken place around their table.

She'd been called Jor's riduur. It was a word that carried with it a certain amount of weight, it was a word that made her think. More than that, it made Lira's heart flutter.

The young woman sighed, and ran a hand through her golden locks. She felt a bit silly, her cheeks colored with a bright blush at the thought of Alor Kvall. No doubt, the two had begun to know each other better, spending time together every day for the last few weeks. There were soft glances, smiles, and even the occasion tender touch. But, their displays of affection had stopped there. Secretly, Lira longed for more... she wondered if Jor did too.

She walked back out and appeared in the doorway of the throne room. Her lips parted to speak, but said nothing. The hour was quite late. Normally, she would have bid the Alor a good night and walked alone to her quarters. This night, however, she lingered there in the doorway, looking at him with an inviting smile.

“I'm not very tired yet,” She said, moving to stand by the hearth. “Perhaps I need a bedtime story, do you know any?” Lira asked, smile growing wide.

 

[Jor Kvall]

Riduur was the Mandalorian word for spouse or partner, but it was peculiar how a word could carry such variation in meaning between tribes, even with such a narrow definition. Some clans used the term much more liberally; a riduur could be nothing more than a casual relationship, or an offhand gesture of affection, or in rare cases, simply the last person to share one's bed. The Kvall and Kros bloodlines were not amongst these clans. A riduur was a mate for life, a label that implied a sacred pair-bonding. Jor hadn't even thought of himself and [member="Lira Kros"] in those terms yet, until Vilaz Munin made that assumption at the dinner table hours earlier.

It was a stark reminder to Jor that his betrothed had only been on Krownest for a little under a month. In fact, her stay was still technically temporary until Jor informed her father that he would formally accept her. Strange that it felt like Lira had arrived only yesterday, yet he felt remarkably close to her after the time they had spent together. The two would exchange momentary glances while Lira cleared the dinner table; the girl would quickly steal back to the kitchen while Jor turned his gaze back to his scouts who were giving their news of the day. Finally, Jor found himself alone in Heorot's great hall, nothing remaining of their lavish dinner except a half-empty glass of tihaar at his place, which he still nursed offhandedly. Footsteps from the hall announced Lira's presence before she arrived, and Jor sat up in his seat, tugging his cloak closer as his eyes found her.

He opened his mouth to speak, but was not prepared for what she said next. Blinking, a pause followed before Jor stood up from his seat. His experience with women was enough to understand the suggestiveness of her comment.

"I'm not tired either," Jor said, crossing the room and closing the gap between them.

He made for the hallway, and motioned for Lira to follow him with an arm at her back, moving towards her quarters.

"I could read from Deeds of the Kvall," He said over his shoulder to her with a smile as they traversed the stone hallway, referring to the legendary account of his clan. "Or I could recount one of our fairy tales from Kalevala. What would you like?"

 

[Lira Kros]

Lira stood holding her breath, without even realizing it. Her words had obviously caught [member="Jor Kvall"] by surprise. Lashes fluttered, she blinked as well, wondering silently if she ought to have just said a simple goodnight instead. However, she found a grin forming on her lips as Alor Kvall approached and then ushered her towards the hallway.

Glancing sidelong at him as they walked, she took a moment to consider the two options that had been presented. “Hmm,” She breathed out, tugging her cloak around her as they went.

“Both are very good options,” Lira said as they reached her door, she paused outside and turned to face Jor. “But, I should like to hear of the Deeds of the Kvall. These things I should know, if I'm to stay here. Come in.”

With that, she pushed the door open, leading the way into the modest room. Just like the stone corridors, there was soft flickering light. It was warm enough for Lira to remove the cloak from her shoulders, she set it gently over the back of a chair. A small fire still burned in the hearth, but she added another log for good measure. While the room was sparsely decorated, there were signs that Lira had made herself at home – skeins of woolen yarn and a half-made sweater on the small table, a couple of dresses hanging by the wall, and a feminine chest plate of beskar nearby.

The young Mandalorian woman was comfortable enough in Jor's presence to make herself more comfortable by removing her boots, and the over-dress that covered her layers of softer fabric. Lira climbed up onto the bed, and had a seat, reclining comfortably against the headboard.

She gave the spot next to her a pat, offering a place for the Alor to sit. Lira smiled, waiting patiently for him to begin his tale.

 

[Jor Kvall]

Jor was happy to fetch his family's ancestral tome when [member="Lira Kros"] expressed interest in it. He had to go fetch a copy of the holobook - one of the oldest in existence - from a library bookshelf down the hall, but Lira's door was still open to him when he returned only a few moments later. The suggestiveness of her offer was not lost on Jor. Still, he went inside.

If Lira was going to remove her shoes, then Jor would also. Not only that, but there was little reason to wear his armor anymore, either. His breastplate was hefted over his head and it, along with his shoes, were placed neatly by the door to Lira's quarters against the wall, leaving Kvall barefoot and in his under-tunic. His feet breathed against the chilly stone floor, and he watched as his betrothed patted the spot next to her in her bed. Suppressing a pang of excitement, Jor crossed over to her and sat next to her with a smile.

"Deeds of the Kvall is the legendary history of my family," He said to her, bringing the holobook up to his lap and flicking it on, crimson light sparking to life. "It's many thousands of years old. If you're sure you want to hear it, then I will read it to you."

He offered an easy grin. The book was a legendary history, to be sure, a mix of both fact and fiction designed not only to convey bloodlines and events but also to titillate the reader's imagination.

"I suppose I'll start at the beginning," Jor said, thumbing through the holographic pages with an easy touch. "The origins of the Kvall."

Looking to Lira once more, Jor focused his eyes on the text before him and began to read.

"Once there was a Mandalorian named Lyus. A famed warrior as any there was before him, his deeds preceded his presence wherever he traveled. Tall and fair of features, his skills in warfare were matched most of all by his pureness of heart. Lyus traveled Mandalore in search of fair fame and honor, for he was never afraid to accept any challenge or deny himself any deed. On his first night he came across a simple farm-hut tended to by an old man and his wife. They offered him simple shelter and rough-hewn bread to eat. Lyus slept between old man and old woman that night on their bed of hay and then departed. Nine months later, old woman gave birth to Lyus' offspring. He was strong, swarthy, and dull, fit to toil in the fields for long hours, and ugly. They named him Slave, and thus he begat all the slaves on Mandalore.

Then on his journeys, Lyus stopped the next night at a finely-furnished farmhouse tended to by a farmer and his wife. The farmer and his wife bestowed Lyus with good meat, vegetables, and fine tihaar for dinner, and that evening he slept between them in their bed. Nine months later a son was born to the farmer's wife from Lyus' seed. He was strong and red-haired, and quick with his wits, and a dependable warrior. He was named Mav, and Mav begat all the freemen on Mandalore.

Lyus traveled again on his journeys, and eventually came to a great mansion inhabited by the great war-father and war-mother. He was given shelter and fed the finest meats on Mandalore and the most splendid tihaar, along with gi dumpling soup. Lyus slept between the great war-father and war-mother in their lavish quarters that night, and nine months later a son was born to war-mother. He was a beautiful baby with golden sun locks and bright eyes, and war-mother named him Alor. From this man came all the Alors of Mandalore."

Jor turned to Lira, shrugging. "It's all quite old, as you can see."

 

[Lira Kros]

Lira watched as Jor entered her room, her eyes lingered on him as the heavy breastplate was shed and placed by her door, with his boots to keep it company. Though the two had spent quite a lot of time together, she had not seem him without his armor, up until now. It wasn't long before he joined her on the bed, the holobook of Deeds open in his lap.

“Yes, please.” Lira gave a nod and a smile as he offered to read, and she lifted the blanket that was draped over the end of her bed and drew it up over their legs.

As the tale began, spoken in a soothingly deep tone, Lira found herself scooting closer to Jor's side. Under the blanket, her feet slid next to his. The young woman listened closely to the words that [member="Jor Kvall"] read aloud, smiling quietly as he did so. For a moment, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back slightly. Lira wondered if there was a hidden book of Kros history hidden somewhere in her old village. Talos himself had never put much stock in such stories, but he did delight in spinning yarns around a fire, especially ones that detailed his glory in battle, gambling, and drinking.

Lira moved even closer, comfortable enough to place her head against the Alor's shoulder. She had to admit that this was quite nice, the extra warmth at her side was very welcome. The nights here on Heorot were cold, and they were very lonely, too.

“Yes, quite old.” She agreed, glancing to the side at Jor. “It is good for us to know the history, where we came from.”

She paused, momentarily distracted by the blue of Jor's eyes. He had the same golden locks and bright eyes, just like Alor from his story. It was fitting that he should hold such a role, Lira mused. And she found herself drawn to him, the pull had always been there, but it was much stronger now. Leaning in, Lira let her lips brush ever slightly against his, a test and an invitation.

 

[Jor Kvall]

Jor found himself sinking further into Lira's bed as he read aloud the Deeds of the Kvall. Lira's blanket was pulled up around both of them, and he could feel her toes dancing beneath the blanket near his. He suppressed a small sigh as he continued reading from the tome. His soul unraveled amidst the warmth of Lira's body next to him and her scent in the air. For the first time since he had departed his father's household to join the Seven Day War, in what would eventually turn into years of toil and hardship, Jor did not feel the pang of loneliness.

Heorot's halls felt like home, despite Jor never having lived in his ancestral abode until recently. [member="Lira Kros"] was to thank for that, he reckoned. Strange it was, how the mind worked; attaching sentimental value to things and places based upon events that seemed insignificant at the time. Jor already felt that way about Heorot, and about Lira. She had become his companion, and these halls had become their home.

"Yes," He said, in agreement with her. "Our history," she said, which he affirmed, which was not a stretch of the truth. Clans Kros and Kvall had evolved in close proximity to one another for millenia. "You are blood of my blood. The history belongs to you too-"

Jor was interrupted, suddenly finding Lira's lips against his. He was unprepared, his eyes still open while she kissed him. He should have expected as much would happen, he thought, after being invited into a woman's bed. Lira clearly had designs about their relationship. But Jor did, too. And though his eyes were still open to greet her gaze that shimmered off the holobook's light in the dusky room, Jor made it clear that her advance was not unwelcome. He made one of his own in return, saying nothing, but placing his hand behind her neck and drawing her into another, deeper kiss, this time closing his eyes.

 

[Lira Kros]

With the inviting warmth of [member="Jor Kvall"] at her side, and the woolen blanket spread across them, Lira basked in the feeling. She saw the blue of the Alor's eyes for but a moment, but her own fell softly closed as their lips met. Lira felt hesitation on Jor's part, perhaps she should not have interrupted... But when she felt his hand slip to the back of her neck, she let him draw her into another kiss, deeper than the last.

Lira's arms wrapped gently around his neck. And when the kiss broke, she lingered close. Her heart was swift, but the beat was strong. As tempted as she was to lose herself in another kiss, she needed to catch her breath. It was clear now that their feelings were mutual when it came to attraction.

“I've been wanting to do that...” She whispered, smiling.

Her hand moved to caress his jawline, and Lira looked deep into his eyes. She still remembered their first meeting on Kalevala, how she stared at the cloaked Alor Kvall, standing tall and strong in the rain. Lira hadn't known then that she would grow so close to Jor in such a short amount of time, that she would think of him as a companion... and more.

Biting her bottom lip, she pondered her next move. Still wearing a few layers, Lira shrugged off the outer-layer of her dress, leaving her in a slip made of thin linen. The amber hue of the fire danced across her bare neck and shoulders, bathing them in soft light. She said nothing, but tugged on Jor's tunic... a dare, if ever there was one.

 

[Jor Kvall]

That kiss was long overdue. Only now did Jor allow himself to realize that he had gone nearly a month living with [member="Lira Kros"] while banishing all thoughts of physical contact with her. It was not that he didn't desire to, but such actions would do no good if Lira was only a temporary visitor to Heorot. It seemed that was no longer the case.

Lira responded, and Jor said nothing, only nuzzling his cheek between her neck and collarbone, indicating that the feeling was mutual. His lips moved across her neck gently, while her scent filled his nostrils. A warmth surrounded them as the two were cocooned by blankets in Lira's bed, and Jor thought he could feel her heart beating against his chest. The drum of lifeblood danced excitedly to the same beat as his own. Jor turned upwards, found Lira's gaze with his.

"I will accept your father's offer," Jor said to her in a low whisper. A month together, and the real business between them had yet to be discussed - until now. "Be my riduur."

He then took Lira's dare at face value, his tunic coming off after another tug from Lira. Bare-chested, save for his sun medallion, he pressed himself against his betrothed, and then followed with an action of his own, peeling her slip off her shoulders to expose more of her skin to the dance of flames.

 

[Lira Kros]

Lira met Jor's eyes, momentarily taking in their icy hue. Her heart pounded, but grew warm as she gazed at [member="Jor Kvall"]. The subject of her father's offer had not been mentioned since they left Dread Hope Rock. But, when he gave her whispered words, agreeing to the proposal of Talos Kros, a smile appeared on her lips. Lira would be happy to make Heorot her home, and happier still to remain by Jor's side.

“As you wish,” She said, her tone soft. “My Alor.”

And when Jor's tunic came off, she couldn't stop the wide grin that formed. Lira liked the way the firelight illuminated his strong, muscular form. She did not protest as the Alor's fingertips brushed against her shoulders, letting the straps of her slip free. A shiver ran down her spine, and she drew a deep breath.

The details of their formal engagement could be handled in the morning.

For now, she only wished to enjoy this time with her betrothed. There was fire in her eyes when she looked up, a hint of Lira's warrior spirit. Lira bit her bottom lip. Then, she pulled Jor against her until their lips met once more... and they became lost between the sheets of her bed.

 

[Jor Kvall]

There was a sudden electronic pinging sound, like a pin falling on the bedroom's cold stone floor, one after another. Jor opened his eyes.

What was that noise? Groaning free from the weight of sleep, Jor turned to his side and saw Lira's datapad glowing next to the nightstand. Then he remembered where he was. Leaning up, he saw through blurred vision the datapad advertising the time; 6:00 AM. Jor sighed and fell back onto his pillow - or rather, Lira's.

Turning to his other side, he saw the bare shoulders of [member="Lira Kros"] peeking out from warm blankets, her light hair disheveled. Jor instinctively moved closer to her, pressing himself against her back, able to feel her nude form beneath the blankets. The datapad continued to ping on the nightstand behind him, alerting them to the time Lira usually awoke to make breakfast for Jor before his journey down the mountain. Finally, he summoned the energy to reach over and swipe the holographic screen off, settling back against Lira's side comfortably.

"They're going to start wondering where we are if we don't show ourselves soon," Jor mumbled against the back of Lira's neck as he wrapped his arm around her. Last night's whirlwind of events had left him slightly deprived of sleep, but his heart was heavy with attachment. He didn't want to move.

 

[Lira Kros]

The persistent chirping of her datapad didn't even register, Lira slept through the sound – quite a rare occurrence. However, the extra warmth provided by Jor beside her kept Lira in quite a deep, comfortable slumber. Well, that coupled with the fatigue brought on by the bedtime activities they had engaged in the night before. Only when she felt [member="Jor Kvall"] against her back did she begin to stir, but her eyes remained closed, unwilling to open just yet.

She let out a soft groan upon hearing the ringing datapad. But, thankfully, Jor was able to silence it. Lira felt his lips move against the back of her neck, her lips curled into a smile. As his arm wrapped around her, she let her palm come to rest atop the back of his hand.

“Let them wonder,” She replied in a sleepy tone as she sank further into Jor's embrace.

Though she'd grown close to the Alor during her stay here in Heorot, it seemed that their bond had truly formed during the night. This new level of closeness gave her an immense feeling of safety and security, she felt quite at home wrapped in his arms. A content sigh escaped, and Lira shifted slightly to see Jor over her shoulder.

“I should like to stay like this all day,” She grinned, “Unless you have other plans?”

Deep down, she knew that another cold day on Krownest awaited. There were things to do, and chores to see to...

 

[Jor Kvall]

Staying wrapped in Lira's blankets, his arms in turn wrapped around her, sounded like an enticing proposition. His body still pressed against hers, Jor let out a relaxed sigh as his nose drank in the smell of her hair, while a hand beneath the blankets ran up and down the skin of her thigh. For the moment, he didn't answer, but his silence indicated that he agreed with [member="Lira Kros"]. It took a few more moments for reality to set in, and Jor fell back to his own pillow, wiping his eyes free of the bindings of sleep.

"They'll be expecting me in town in a few hours," He related, and stretched while laying next to her. Then, Jor turned his head to face her. "You should come with me today. If you are to be my riduur, you should see what I do."

Whatever intangible feeling of chemical closeness they lacked from their brief time together, seemed to have been more than made up for last night. Jor felt a strong bond with Lira as if he had known her for years, unlike anything he had felt for any woman before. He spoke without thinking - could she even get her daily duties done if she followed him down the mountain? But Jor's statement was motivated by his subconscious; perhaps it was simply butterflies from the first time they shared each other's bodies, but he didn't want to part with her.

"Maybe you can even find some new ingredients for your soup tonight."

 

[Lira Kros]

Wrapped comfortably in Jor's embrace, Lira couldn't help but smile. And his touch along her thigh only made the smile grow. But, their time together in bed was not meant to last much longer. When [member="Jor Kvall"] returned to his side, Lira rolled onto her back and fixed him in a sidelong glance.

“I would like that,” Lira said, not even thinking about the mountain of dishes that waited for her in the kitchen. “I have been meaning to join you one of these days.”

Since her arrival, she'd kept herself quite busy with her domestic duties. After all, preparing meals did take up a large portion of her day. But, even without her in the kitchen this morning, the other clan members would still have a selection of things to eat. They could do without her for one day, surely.

Lira leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Jor's cheek, and then followed it with another on his lips. She drew in a deep breath, taking in his scent as she did so. The pull was strong, it took a measure of restraint in order to part her lips from his at the end of their kiss.

Moving to the edge of the bed, she let the blankets fall away from her slim form, putting her nude back on display. Lira began to gather clothing for the day, and slipped into her undergarments. Opening her wardrobe, she pushed the selection of dresses aside, opting today for a sweater and a pair of thermal-lined trousers.

“We should go, if we are to make it down the mountain today.” She said, grinning. “... Do we need to go out to the hall separately? Or does it matter now?” Lira asked, eye lashes fluttering slightly.

 

[Jor Kvall]

Jor welcomed her kiss. He smiled as her lips touched his cheek, and then embraced her lips with his own. His eyes followed [member="Lira Kros"] as she crossed the room to dress herself; he sat up in her bed and brushed the blankets away. His wardrobe wasn't on hand, but the undergarments he had worn last night would do fine again. All that was needed was his armor. It took a fair bit of restraint to pull himself from Lira's bed and dress himself, but Jor summoned the willpower to do so, and not pull Lira back onto her bedsheets again.

"Why not go out at the same time?" Jor suggested, pulling his shirt on again. "The others will understand."

Smiling, he moved toward Lira and gave her a modest kiss on the cheek before going back to the doorway, where he remained for a second.

"Oh - dress warm, but not too warm. The hike is long and you'll be peeling layers off if you do."

 

[Lira Kros]

As they dressed, Lira's gaze flickered to Alor Kvall, watching as his strong back was clad in a shirt once more. She might have liked to continue watching, but she merely smiled and returned her attention to her own clothing.

“Very well,” She said, with a nod.

She was fairly certain that most of the other clan members knew that the two of them would end up together at some point – it hadn't been a question of if... but when. Dressed in her sweater and trousers, she added a light vest and scarf to the ensemble before pulling on her cloak. Lira hoped it would keep her warm enough, and also keep her from overheating, once their walk began.

Lira joined Jor Kvall in the doorway, and then gave him a warm smile. “Ready.” She said, turning the corner and beginning to move down the dark corridor. No doubt, she could already hear some voices echoing out in the hall, eyes would be upon them as the entered.

“I will stop by the kitchen and grab a few things for us to take,” She grinned, “There's some pastries and hand-pies left over from last night. The rest of the clan can fend for themselves this morning, they'll survive, right?” She asked, adding a light chuckle to the end of her words.

 

[Jor Kvall]

"They'll survive," Jor said over his shoulder to [member="Lira Kros"], smiling.

The journey into the great hall of Heorot had been less eventul than the two had imagined. Jor held Lira's hand in his, and their outfits suggested that they would be journeying down the mountain together. There were no words from Jor's brothers, but that was to be expected. The Kvall were people of few words; if one but looked closely enough, their eyes would speak more than their mouths. Right now, the eyes of Jor's brothers were on his and Lira's hands. That was all they needed to know to understand. Lira would become a Kvall, a sister-in-law, and a riduur.

Jor always thought the journey down the great mountain was harder than the journey back up. There was something about the steep inclines and rocky chasms that made it harder on the feet and knees, and oftentimes he reached back to help Lira, to ensure she wouldn't fall on any slippery boulders or treacherous turns. By contrast, his legs had become well used to the walk back up. It still made him sweat, especially in his armor, but his legs didn't burn like they used to when he first arrived here on Krownest with his family. Nevertheless, the journey down had given Jor and Lira over an hour to talk between huffed breaths, and sometimes not say anything at all, and instead peer into the endless frigid mountain horizon. Heorot village was coming into view, however, just as Jor reached back to find a hand-pie in Lira's knapsack. The journey had whetted his appetite.

"Not too tired, are you?" He said to his newfound lover, before taking a bite. "You can shop in the town if you like, or stay by my side. I have to make a judgment today." He was of course referring to legal matters which required the Alor's attention, and sometimes his weapons.

 

[Lira Kros]

The journey out into the Krownest cold was surprisingly invigorating. Lira took in each breath of fresh air, and felt more awake, the fog of morning finally lifted. She had enjoyed walking with [member="Jor Kvall"], following in his path down the mountain. And each time he reached back to offer his hand, she accepted with a grateful smile.

Heorot village rose on the horizon, the sight of the snow-capped town made Lira curious. She was interested to see how the Kvall lived here. After Jor reached into her knapsack, she did the same, retrieving a sweet bun.

“Not at all,” She answered with a grin, and brought the bun up for a delicate bite. Lira had to think for a moment, the idea of spending some time shopping was rather appealing. But, the thought of spending more time at her Alor's side was even better. “Hmm, I will accompany you today – I'd like to see your judgment.”

This would be a glimpse into how Jor spent his time, and how he completed his duties as Alor. True, she had seen once – but the situation on Dread Hope Rock had left her too stunned to truly take him in. As the path widened to allow them to walk side by side, she stepped in stride and gently took hold of his arm.

“Tell me,” She began, glancing up at him. “Are there many disputes to put to rest here in the village?” Lira's lips curled into a grin. “Should I expect any more proposals of marriage today?” Her brown eyes narrowed. “I am willing to fight to stay by your side.” She laughed softly.

 

[Jor Kvall]

Soon enough, as expected, snow began to fall from the sky and melt against the cheeks of the two lovers.

"Nothing like that," Jor laughed at [member="Lira Kros"]. She wouldn't have to worry about anyone else propositioning him for marriage, even if it were technically his right as Alor to take another wife, if he wished. "I'm quite content with what I have now."

He delicately touched the small of her back, then wrapped his arm around her hip to place his hand near her navel. Soon they would be married, and soon after that her belly would bear his child, Jor thought to himself. Though experience had taught him that nothing in life was ever certain, or easy, Jor still allowed himself to hope. Lira's spritely step down White Mountain and enthusiastic attitude had only endeared her more to him.

"There are a few disputes every now and then, all mostly minor which my retainers handle on their own. I only step in during major disputes, such as a killing, when the people feel they require my judgment."

As the pair came to town, they headed for the easily spotted crowd that was gathering near the mead hall. One person in particular stood out from the rest, being guarded on both sides by a pair of armed Mandalorians. The crowd became perceptibly quieter as Jor approached, followed by Lira in tow. Today's matter was not a killing or theft, but still something that required the Alor's attention.

"Is this the accused?" Jor motioned toward the guarded man.

"Yes, Alor," One guard answered. "This man Halfdan, has besmirched Mandalore's honor by buying all of the hydroponic recyclers in Heorot and then selling them at a higher price."

"Accused," Jor turned to the man flanked by guards, "What say you in your defense? Are you guilty of this offense?"

"I was merely doing business," Halfdan answered. "You cannot fault a man for capitalizing on the market!"

"His prices are unfair!" Someone from the crowd shouted. "We want our money back!"

"What about me? He bought all of my recyclers," Another man from the faceless mob shouted. "I must be compensated, or I'm left with nothing!"

Jor turned back to Lira and gave a barely perceptible shrug. Now she could see what his job really entailed. Being an Alor was more than simply leading men into combat, as he had begrudgingly learned in his first days. The glorious, the mundane, the trivial, Jor had to be involved in all of it, for better or worse.

 

[Lira Kros]

Lira's cheeks went rosy. The Alor's words were the cause, but it could easily have been blamed on the chill in the air. Grinning, Lira let [member="Jor Kvall"] pull her close, his arm wrapped around her. Though she would not admit it, she liked being held close to his side. She would treasure this time they had together.

“Ah, I see.” She said in response to his explanation, brows still held slightly aloft.

The village grew closer with each step, and it wasn't long before they strode through. Lira took in the town, it seemed quite a hardy place with people to match. Each they passed seemed weathered and strong, the kind of folk that knew hard work and long days. Her eyes wandered, noting the way some of the people seemed to straighten up in the presence of their Alor.

She followed Jor into the mead hall, and settled off to the side. Her eyes then lingered on Jor's armored form. A fond smile found her lips as she watched him interact with the villagers. And when he turned towards her briefly, the smile grew warmer.

Even if today's matter was not life and death, it seemed very important to the villagers that it was settled just the same. Crossing her arms, she stood to continue listening. She did want the villagers to have some sort of settlement, and she secretly hoped that it would be delivered quickly. If there was still time, perhaps she would be able to see more of the village before they had to return home.

Home.

The thought caught Lira off guard, but pleasantly so.

 

[Jor Kvall]

Jor's gaze shifted from [member="Lira Kros"] back to the feuding parties. The Alor was calm and composed, as the case was rather cut-and-dry, now that the accused had all but admitted what he had done.

"Those who bought hydrostatic recyclers from Halfdan will return them to their original owners," He said after the pause. "And for the buyers' compensation, I order you, Halfdan, to return all the money to each who purchased from you."

"But that will be nearly all my money-" The man protested.

"And all ill-gotten gains," Jor cut him off, "Are destined to disappear. Money can be earned back, but if you plot to deceive your brothers and sisters of Mandalore again, next time you will be banished. This is my ruling in this matter."

Jor stepped away from the crowd and towards Lira, leaving his retainers to hash out the details of the transactions. His mind had already forgotten the matter; instead his attention was diverted solely to her, her shapely features hidden behind plain wool and warm clothes.

"And do you approve of my ruling?" He asked her and her alone.