Garin sighed as he watched his daughter with a tired smile. He was getting old and Vosker's worries did not help the old healer get the rest he needed, but if it kept the peace in the village. Wisemen and women were something between a local priest and a healer. They healed the sick of mind and heart as well as the body and often helped sort out disputes along with the headman or jarl. The latter being a more prestigious leader found on the coast. "I did say caution is always warranted." Agreed Garin as he watched Gwendolyn eat the morning stew. "And If you were a wiseman I made a mistake naming you a woman's name." He teased in his soft reedy voice. "But no, my daughter, your temperament just solves problems another way. Though, rather than going to tend to Lutter why not go out to the edge of the forest and see if we can find any herbs? The young hunters are restless and despite the warnings insist on hunting. Whatever it is that attacked Luther I doubt is a true danger. Most likely the fool came across a half-starved fox or a young wolf who overreacted." He eyed the bundles hanging from the rafters of the small building. The wooden logs and stones forming a study structure, if perhaps one low of light. He would love to have more, but openings would let in the cold during the winter and that was the last thing anyone wanted to do up North. 

"We need more yarrow and nettles. I had to take a package of both over to Ryska. Her brood is causing her headaches and I hope I'm not right but she could well be suspecting another child." Rubbing his forehead Garin felt his age. Ryska's brood was already large and unruly and Frenn, the proprietor of the mead hall, did not need another mouth. His hearth had already been packed with his son's family. Ryska's return had only brought five years of problems. "If I dared, I would give the woman some herb to loose the babe and prevent more. Frenn does not need eight children running about his hearth and Ryska does nothing to control her sons. Those boys will find a bad end by the coast." There was uncharacteristic bitterness in Gwendolyn's father's voice, but it was not unexpected. Garin had been the one along with Gwendolyn to fix the hurts on other children caused by the rough housing of Ryska's older children. The healer had even spoken to Ryska though it did no good and only ended in sour feelings between the large woman and the wiry man.

It was as if that thought had summoned Dallen to the door as Arn knocked. The son of the mead hall's keeper was harried-looking. Brown eyes were tired and his beard was untrimmed, as Frenn- his father- was one for appearances where his son was concerned, it was telling of the state of Frenn's hearth. "Arn," The man's voice was slightly annoyed, but as he stepped out the sounds of raised female voices within were apparent. Yvenna and Ryska were most likely having a 'discussion' as the villagers of Norn liked to talk of the raging fights between the women that stopped just short of blows. "I'd offer you a seat inside, but no man will want to be caught within that." His father, for better or worse, was caught in the middle of it at the moment and the loud voice of Frenn trying to put the discussion to an end was drowned out by one woman or the other. Moving aside a barrel, Dallen pulled out a chilled pitcher of bram and poured some into a small cup kept on his person. "But I will offer you ale. I suppose you are looking for a trade?" He offered, trying desperately to draw the topic away from the sounds of something being thrown against the wall of the tavern. 

At the main door, Mira could hear the start of a shouting match that seemed to grow in intensity. Three children, two brown-haired and eyed boyed like much of the village and one girl with the blonde hair and blue eyes that were more common along the coast. The oldest was tall, and looked rather annoyed as he sat on the stoop, watching the younger two stacking stones and playing some childish game that he was far too old for in his young mind. Near by a young man was propped up against the wall, looking unconscious and smelling of stale ale as the morning mist began to burn off. Looking up, the oldest boy's eye's widen as he shuffled to the side looking quickly away though he was very aware of the woman. The young blonde girl was the exact opposite as she stared at Mira with wide eyes. "Gunnar, is she a crow woman come to take Ryska away?" There was almost a note of hope and the large boy looked bugged eyed at the tiny blonde girl.

"Seyja! Don't say such things!" His voice was a harsh whisper as he pointed towards the smallest child who looked rather saddened by the girl's words.

Seyja only rolled her blue eyes as if it was all so very simple. "Well I don't see why she shouldn't be! Then Grandda can start tellin' Wersk and Skal and Durin what to do without Aunt Ryska making a wail. She sounds like she's dying so of course, she'd attract a crow woman." The large Gunnar looked about ready to give a sharp reply to his sister, but he thought better of it. The drunk Lutter laying against the building groaned and gripped his head, staggering to his feet. Unaware of whatever was going on around him as he staggered away.

"You take just about anyone you can get! Nevermind you've a husband and a fine place to sleep! While I, his blood, am to sleep upon the floor by a cold hearth!" The shout range clear as the smaller boy pushed into the mead hall and it's dim interior. The fire from the night before having burnt low from what Mira could see of the shadows.

The nasal voice of the first woman was not without reply as the door slowly closed. "Then perhaps you ought to put yourself in line to find a second man to provide for you and your clutch! There was enough for us, but when you showed up with four children and your vast-" The door shut before any more could be heard in detail. The two children looked rather interested in what was being said, but were dubious about getting near the door with Mira right there.