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| Ubergard stepped into the room reporting on what she had found but was brought up short when she saw Helfer.

"Helfer?!"

Shyly, the Khajiit stepped forward, nodding to the giantess. "Yes. It is I, Helfer. Kitty loaned me this dress for our dancing tonight. Is it not beautiful?"

"You are beautiful, Helfer." Ubergard stated, hugging her closely in an uncharacteristically emotional display for the normally stoic Argonian. | | | Helfer's eyes grew bright before she closed them while in Ubergard's embrace, but then she laughed and begged to be set back down again. "Please Ubergard! Your sharp armor might pierce the fabric!"

Ubergard did as she was bidden, but gave Helfer a nuzzle under her chin before she let yer go.

"Well," Mikael said sarcastically, "If you two can separate for a minute or two, maybe we could go down and get something to eat?" | | | "Food would be welcome indeed!" Helfer said, still standing close to the Argonian.

"Absolutely!" agreed Kitty, "But Helfer, we should put different clothes on first. We want to impress when we go down to dance. Mikael, did you get our clothes washed?"

"Yes, they're right over there by the bookshelf."

"Ok, let's put these back on for now Helfer."

A few minutes later found the four seated at a table in the tavern below, having finished their meal and were now relaxing and listening to the local bard.

"That is Lisette," Mikael was explaining to Helfer.

"She sings very well, to my ears. Do you know her well?" Helfer asked.

At this question, Kitty listened closely. She was coming to recognized little quirks in his mannerisms and in particular was watching to see if he revealed some past intimacy with this 'Lisette' as he had done with some others. Yet his response seemed somewhat cooler than the ever-so-slightly warmer tones that he used when talking about his old lovers. | | | Mikael's face turned dark. "Oh yes. We know each other well," he said quietly. "I can't say we are friends exactly, but we respect each other. Rivals is probably the better term."

"But she agreed to let you play and us dance tonight?" Kitty asked.

But before he could reply, Helfer asked a question of her own. "Why would she have to agree? This isn't her tavern. Only the owner need agree, right? She just works here and should do whatever the owner requests, no?"

Mikael sighed and leaned forward as he began to explain. "Bards are a special case. Well, at least those of us who have reached our level. When we agree to work for a tavern or inn, we have certain privileges accorded to us for our knowledge of the craft. We are, in effect, the masters of the entertainment."

"But what if the owner disagrees? Surely he has the right to kick you out if he wants to?" Kitty asked. | | | "Oh, certainly he does." Mikael answered. "But he wouldn't do that for two reasons. One is that it wouldn't be worth losing a good bard for a petty dispute. Those of use trained at the College are not common, and those skilled at Lisette's level are even less common. But there's another reason that it's in their interest not to argue with the wishes of the bard too much... He may never get a bard to work for him again. We may have our own internal disputes, but once word gets around among the bard community that a tavern has treated it's bard improperly, it will be a long time before another bard enters that tavern!" | | | "I see! So it was Lisette you had to get permission from for us to dance here tonight," Kitty concluded.

"Yes. And we don't see eye-to-eye on often. But we do have mutual respect for each others talent. She was willing enough. I think she also wants to see what you can do with your dance."

"So why don't you two get along then?"

"I opposed her inclusion as a bard. Actually, I opposed her entering the College at all."

"And why would you do this?" Helfer asked. | | | "You will think less of me, but I opposed her because she was female."

"What? Only because she is female?" Kitty asked incredulously.

"It... was a different time back then. It's clear now that I was in the wrong, and I've told her so many times since then. But yes. I was of the opinion that only males should be allowed to become a bard.

She fought against that opinion of mine and won. So much so that it's hard to believe it was ever an issue. But it was and she has a long memory."

Ubergard then joined the conversation, "You don't strike me as sexist, Mikael." | | | "I don't think I am. I didn't think I was even then, though in hindsight..." he trailed off before continuing, "It was my opinion that the bawdy and lewd activities in a drunken tavern were no place for a talented female like Lisette. Her abilities would be better served at some Lord or Royal entertainments and not the low raucous atmosphere of a common barroom."

"I can see you meant well, but that attitude is clearly sexist too. You can't protect all the females of the world from the world you know," Kitty said.

"Oh, I know that now. I know a_lot_ more now than I did back then. But I was young and idealistic and I thought, as many thought at the time, that it was our role to protect females. I've since become much wiser. Though I think Lisette doesn't believe that I have done so." | | | "And I would love to see you protect me!" Ubergard laughed.

"Somehow I can't picture you as a dainty lady living in high society. No, it's females like you, Ubergard, who prove how silly that male-centered attitude was. Silly in retrospect. But it was prevalent at the time and we males who strove to uphold it thought we were doing good."

Helfer then rose from the table and changed the subject. "So, friend bard, when do we perform?"

"As a matter of fact.... right away! Why don't you and Kitty go back up and put your dresses on. I'll take over for Lisette with some normal songs and introduce you when you come down?"

"That's a good plan. Ubergard, I'll return shortly. We shall meet after our performance." | | | The facial expressions available to the bony Argonian frame were somewhat limited in their capacity, yet if an Argonian can be said to leer, Ubergard did so then. "Indeed, I look forward to our next meeting, Helfer! Perhaps you can give me a private performance as well later?"

Helfer laughed as she and Kitty rose to return to their rooms. "Certainly!"

"What do you think now, Kitty?" Helfer asked her as they were getting out of their clothes later. "Do you still think Ubergard is not attracted to me?"

"Oh, she's attracted to you without a doubt! I'll say no more on the subject. It's really not an area I have much experience in anyway, and I'd probably just mess it up. Your relationship with Ubergard is just that - your relationship. I'll butt out." | |