Count Only The Happy Hours

Part 1: III

"She was probably right. I always thought it was easier to learn by doing the wrong thing first." There was a pause, and Nerevar laughed. "Obviously you don't think the same, Seht."

"I'd rather have all the information I can, first," he said. "Then I can be certain about what I'm doing."

"A much wiser way of going about things." Nerevar nodded down to the spider. "What about this?"

"What about this?"

"Do you think it'll work against the Nords?"

There was a long pause. "You...want to know what I think?" Sil finally asked, voice hushed. He even lifted his head.

"Of course. Every opinion's important, and I'm curious what you think with all the information you have so far."

A long silence drew on between them. Nerevar, patient as he was, simply sat and sipped at his drink as Sil thought.

"I..." Sil stopped, clearly uncertain.

"Go on," Nerevar encouraged. "It's not like there's a wrong answer here."

"I...I think there's a way to make these better." A quiet ting rang out as he tapped the metal spider. "For fighting. Dumac said they primarily run repairs, but one that's the size he said the actual spiders are have to be pretty heavy. If they could jump ..." Another pause, and a wave from Nerevar for him to finish his thought. "If they could jump , then they could act as another offensive and repair the other amin...animunculi." He carefully ran his fingertip over the spider's back. "I wonder if you could make other animals, too. Like...kagouti or something."

"Well, next time Alandro and I go down to the Dwemer cities, I'll bring you along. I'm sure they'll be over the moons to see someone as interested in their creations as you are." A pleasant silence followed, but even through the gap in the fabric, Vivec could see a wave of concern hit Nerevar. "And...how's everything else?"

"What do you mean?"

"Being here, with us. Are you...doing okay?"

Sil was very quiet for a very long time. Vivec was sure to stay put; he wanted to know, too, even though he could never bring himself to ask as bluntly as Neht.

"Yes, I'm okay with you," he said. "There's not too much time to think."

"Sometimes that's a good thing, you know," Nerevar said with a wry smile. He was quiet for a moment. "You know, we'll be heading off to a city soon."

"Yes, I heard."

"Lots of House mer in cities. If...if you think you'd like it better there, I'm sure we can get you set up with a family."

A very, very long silence followed, and Vivec's nails dug into his thigh as he waited to hear Sil's response. Of course, if they could find a House willing to take him in, that'd be safer. He could grow up a little safer, a little more stable. Maybe he wouldn't spend his life feeling like an outsider, or wandering away to become Nordic target practice, or falling into crime, or being conscripted, or...

"I..." Vivec held his breath as Sil spoke, and he knew Nerevar was doing the same. "I..." Another long silence; Vivec felt as if he were about to burst. "I think...I could help you. Even though I'm young." There was something very hesitant in Sil's pose as he followed up with, "Can I stay?"

"Of course you can stay," Nerevar said emphatically, so emphatically that it covered up Vivec's audible sigh of relief. "And I think you're right. Seems to me like you're taking to that Dwemer machinery like a netch to the air. And like I said, I'd be more than glad to take you down with us the next time we visit Dumac." He drained his cup, then stretched his back as he stood up. "Today, though, we should start packing up if we want to get moving soon. Afraid you'll have to get used to hopping around places like this, Seht."

"I don't mind. I like traveling." There was a quiet scrape of metal against wood, as though the spider was being scooped up.

" Excellent , then you should have a fine time. Don't tell anyone, but it took Voryn ages to stop complaining about being on the move. He still doesn't like it, but he's used to it now, at least." He laughed to himself as they started walking out of the tent.

As they came out, Vivec busied himself with looking toward the sea, as if admiring the early morning sunlight on it and certainly not eavesdropping. He looked up in well-acted surprise. "And here I thought I was the only one awake this early!"

Neither Nerevar nor Sil looked convinced, but both were too polite to say anything about it. Nerevar clapped a hand on Sil's thin shoulder with a warm smile. "You know what, Vehk, Sil here's agreed to be our master mechanic."

Sil's eyes went wide, and he quickly shook his head. "I-I...I mean, not yet. If you need me to, I can...I suppose I can..." He trailed off as Nerevar laughed.

"I'm just teasing, Seht, I'm not about to put that sort of pressure on you," he assured before looking back to Vivec. "But he is staying."

"Well, I'm very, very glad to hear that," Vivec said, resting his cheek in his hand as he grinned up at them. "That gives me plenty of time to finally teach you to appreciate wordcraft."

Sil, to the best of his ability, tried to scoff as he made his way back to their tent. But, as he walked by cradling the metal spider in his hands, Vivec swore he saw a full smile on his face.