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The pride rocked and reeled, trying to find a new equilibrium after the power change. Nothing was certain, and everyone tried to find their place. There was a fair amount of opportunistic behaviour, odd rumours and general mayhem. Bifrost loved it.

He was also incredibly busy. His song about the epic fight was more or less finished and his fellow bards had liked it when he sang it to them. He would have to make some modifications based on their suggestions, but he should be able to sing it at the next sending off or homecoming.

But right now he had other things on his mind. He was looking for one of the freeborn lionesses. He had managed to snap up the scoop of the year, and he was sure she'd be delighted by the gossip potential. And even better, he had talked to one of the Lawspeaker's and actually had facts to back up this scandalous story.

"Did you hear about Kazul," he hollered as soon as he was within hearing distance. He sincerely hoped that she hadn't. Bifrost liked being first with the latest, "What a way to go..."

Bifrost wasn't mistaken when he figured Valena would like this. She loved gossip, especially when it concerned scandalous behaviour that came back to bite someone in the rear. And the former Warlord's family had certainly been a scandal magnet lately. He was almost sad to see them go... But he had faith in his fellow Stormborn. Someone else would soon step up and do something incredibly stupid, or scandalous, or both.

"What a gruesome fate, though," Bifrost interjected, "Dying in childbirth... I saw the den actually. Blood everywhere!"

Most of it had dried and just looked like dark stains, but it must have been impressive when it was fresh. He was a bit disappointed that he hadn't managed to see when they carried her away, but then it seemed no one had.

"Some say she threw herself from a cliff when she realised she wouldn't survive," he said. It wasn't a rumour he had heard from someone else, but it was perfectly plausible after all. And he was saying it right now, so it was the truth that 'some' said it. "Or it might have been the cubs that made her crack. They must have been stillborn, or it could be that she realised the new Warlord would never let them live. Ohhh... What if she killed them herself?!"

"Terrible," Bifrost agreed, but his whole demeanor suggested that he was delighted. "Infanticide followed by suicide. I should really write a ballad about it. You know... to warn the good freeborn lionesses of the pride."

He managed to look as if he'd be doing the entire pride a big favor by lending his talent to such a worthy cause. A worthy, juicy, scandalous cause. Bifrost was unable to keep up his noble facial expression for more than a few heartbeats, and it was soon replaced by pure delight at the drama bomb Kazul had left in her wake.

"Tuomas confirmed it," he said to Valena, "Well, not the suicide part... but everyone knows he liked her, so of course he would say she died in childbirth even if she took her own life. He'd want to protect what was left of her reputation."

Bifrost had nearly convinced himself that this was what must have happened. In his mind he wasn't coming up with lies, he was just being creative with what little he knew. Sometimes he even forgot what parts of a rumor or story he'd heard from other people, and what parts he had planted himself.

"It would, wouldn't it," he said, and in his mind he had already started to compose his epic masterpiece. He had to make it catchy enough to stick, and he was trying to figure out if alliteration or rhyming would do the trick better when another thought entered his mind.

"Perhaps I shouldn't mention names," he said, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "Everyone would still know, of course. But it would seem more tasteful if I changed a few facts. What do you think?"

It would also mean he could exaggerate other parts as much as his black little heart desired. If someone claimed slander against the dead he could always play dumb and tell them it was a completely made up story. Artistic license made everything better.

His ears perked up at Valena's next claim. Most had assumed that the cubs were Ru's, but since Kazul wouldn't tell it could be anyone! Captain Ruzanski knocking up the Warlords daughter was scandalous, but he couldn't help wondering if there was an even more juicy option. Oh, he would have given his whiskers to see those cubs...

"Alas, we'll never know for sure about his preferences," he said, "I don't think anyone could complete the mission he was sent out on... A piece of the sky.. Really?"

"I wonder what he was thinking," Bifrost said and shook his head. "Or what kind of n** he was on... Gods and sea monsters..."

It was fairly safe to ask these questions now, with Aesir out of the picture. Bifrost was far from respectful, but he didn't have a death wish. You simply did not question the ruling Warlords sanity openly. A moderate amount of mocking was usually okay, as long as the bard in question was careful about it. However, until he knew where Njal drew the line he'd have to stick to safer targets.

"I can't believe Ru actually got some followers," he mused, "Well, I suppose the thralls had nothing to lose. But reavers? Heh... If what you heard is true they might just be in it for a piece of Ruzanski."

Bifrost grinned at the memory of that particular drama-bomb. The odd part was that they decided to live in the forest and not the main pride. People had probably gotten over it quicker if Aesir had just taken her in as a saltwife and raised all the cubs together.

"I wonder if they still lurk in the forest," he said, "But what reason would they have to stay now?"

But not even the thought of odd forest dwellers skulking around could distract him completely to the epic story he had already started to compose in his head. How much to change and how much to keep? The names had to change, obviously. The lioness... He could call her Slampa. Not subtle at all, but it'd probably score him some points with the reavers.

"You know I'll come to you first Valena," he said. "I trust you to tell me if it's any good."

He sometimes tested songs and stories on thralls, but it wasn't always obvious if they liked something or if they were just trying to kiss a**.

"I should be going," he said, eager to continue composing. He wasn't good company when he was occupied with new songs. "Don't die in bed!"