Seren heard Alesan’s footsteps on the snow just beyond the forge, and turned to wave at the boy as he passed. But instead of continuing on past her down to Quicksilver Mine, he dashed up the steps to greet her and Rustleif.

“There’s a new Dwemer thing up at Iron Breaker Mine,” Alesan gasped, his pot of soup sloshing about more than usual in his excitement. “The Dragonborn brought it out, Beitild said you should come see!”

Seren’s stoic husband raised an eyebrow. “The Dragonborn found Dwemer equipment?”

Alesan nodded. “He said he went down into caves bigger than anything we’d ever seen. Full of ores and Dwemer stuff and the scary blind elves. And the Dwemer thing he brought out looks like a metal lady. He said it’s for mining, but it might know things about making Dwemer armor, so Beitild said come get you before I go and feed her ‘worthless husband.’” The orphan grinned. “And Beitild said you’d give me a septim, too.”

Seren knew a lie when she heard one, but Rustlief was always a soft heart about the boy. He tucked a gold piece into Alesan’s palm, snug under the cooling pot of soup, and ruffled his short black hair. “Thanks–you’d better run along before Leigelf catches you dawdling.” Alesan dashed off, yelling his thanks and spilling more than a few drops of the soup.

“A Dwemer metal lady, eh?” Seren said. “Think it’s worth more than melting down for scrap?”

Rustleif shrugged. “If it can mine, Beitild will set it to work until it rusts.”