Oh? For a second I thought she was knocked out, then I remembered Maxical broke her jaw then everything else followed after. I had to go back and reread many of the scenes. Herp.

Yeah, I know not all vamps can morph into creatures. I read about Malan in the dramatis personae in the start of the first page , and the message you sent me about him sometime ago. And yay, more baths scenes!

Oh, we're doing cameos!? Sweet!

Gils attacked by Orcs, or at least Baurus said. I liked seeing Maxical lose her tempory for a quick moment.



This part was awesome .



And this part as well had some pretty good foreshadowing on Uriel's demise and the Blade's incompetence(yeah yeah, I know they tried, but c'mon!). Maxical is also toughening up a bit as Ghastley said, especially in maturity and her fine points about the Blades. We got to see some leadership qualities and also promise of executions at the end! Good read, loved it! Let us see some good ol boat kickery soon with Malan and Maxical!

Also, what about the necro's?

“Eyja, did Gils come last night?”
Egads! This should have certainly brought Foxy around for a comment.

“So you think we should divert the Emperor’s resources to search for a man whose only descriptors are a charming but hideous Elf that made Renault tweet like a bird? And do it to clear the name of a traitor to the throne?”
Oh. Well, if you put it that way. . .

When Baurus was describing the ‘elf’, I envisioned that it was Malan. When you revealed it was Sneakers, I got a tiny bit sick. You know, remembering his brown teeth and all.

Oh, this episode was wonderful! I knew somehow Malan was behind much of this, including Gils’ downfall, but it never occurred to me that he magically augmented Renault’s faulty character to such lofty levels of incompetence. That explains much and really shows the stunning reach that Malan has!

It was Malan (is Malan), Maxical is guessing wrong (as usual). Sneakers is locked in Malan's jail with Foxy and Fathis.

I just figured anyone that knows Maxical would know she was wrong, since Baurus so obviously described Malan, lol. Urk.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 24 2012, 01:37 AM

Whew! I should have trusted my first instinct! That makes perfect sense! Thanks for popping in to clarify for me!

This post has been edited by Acadian: Aug 24 2012, 01:29 AM

“...You mean me? Oh geez, it will look like I asked him to! Do you think they’re going to kill her?”
That’s really creepy, knowing that she did, but her memories being tampered so she doesn’t.

she jumps on Baurus for trespassing, and yet she’s doing the same thing! I guess a good offence is the best defense! I suspected Renault was ‘under the influence.’ Maxical had her drug off and killed. Arrgh, Maxical’s not thinking straight still, no surprise since she let Malan do some redecorating.

Whew! I always liked Baurus, so it’s good that the chapter didn’t end with Maxical and him angry at each other.

“Man, no wonder the Imperial Army nicknamed you ‘The Carving Khajiit’, you cut deep.”

“Huh?”

“They were all calling you that after the Emperor spoke this morning because you showed up and heads rolled.”

“HA! That’s better than ‘Ape Woman‘. Wait till they see me doing the executions.”

I really liked the nickname, mALX. I know it's not a key aspect of the story (but the things I comment on seldom are). It kind of enriches the story through giving Maxical more roots within the world. I do apologize for not commenting on something more major, but I felt that this should definitely be noted.

Oh my gosh, I love to see Eyja being sweet to Maxical, even though I also love it when she brays like a mule.


Sadly, no. You still have that little enticing blood problem, Maxical!!

Wow, Baurus sounds like a decent guy. I like that his honor would demand he side against the cheaters. OK, now I see why Renault was acting so nuts. Malan! (I had to read through a couple of times to get it, but the appearing out of nowhere made the lightbulb come on!)


Oh no, Maxical is going to go through all of that grief all over again!


Oh no again! Baurus and Maxical had an excellent fight! I love her words to him about the duty of being Uriel’s Dragonguard. She spoke beautifully without even any swearing! I wish Uriel could have seen her just then.

I'm relieved that the air is clear between Maxical and Baurus. At least for now!

This post has been edited by Grits: Aug 25 2012, 08:06 PM

Excellent stuff!!...

I like Baurus...He's cool... ...

An excellent lesson in Blades history and their duties...

Loved it!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

*

@ Hazmick - Thank you so much Hazmick! It is so great to see you on here again! Maxical as Empress - poor Uriel !!! Lol. Thank you so much Hazmick!

*
@ Ghastley - Uriel Septim and Akatosh are shaping Maxical up as quickly as possible. Now that Akatosh is taking direct action with Maxical she will improve much quicker. Unfortunately, she still jumps to the wrong conclusions. Baurus said "Elf" - but he was talking about Malan. Maxical guessed wrong, as is usual for her, lol. Thank you so much Ghastley!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - Thank you so very much Darkness! Maxical losing her temper with Baurus was tough, he is one of my favorite characters in the game, lol. Her reputation for having a terrible temper and cutting people's heads off continues, lol. Ah, and you caught the necromancer hint! WOO HOO, that was a sharp catch! Awesome, Darkness! Thanks again!

*
@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! You quoted my favorite line in that chapter, lol. And you called it two chapters before it happened too! Malan was behind Gils' death. He ordered it in the beginning of the war, then took matters into his own hands when things didn't progress quickly enough. Seems his army isn't as competant as they are powerful, lol. Thanks again Acadian!

*
@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC! Baurus is one of my favorites too, he and Maxical will form a strong friendship. He is not slated for being "skewered" as Destri used to call it, lol. Thanks again, KC - and my deepest sympathy for you and your family in what you are going through.

*
@ Zalphon - That nickname actually comes from the former head of the TVA, who as soon as he was hired in began a shakedown that ended in a series of firings. Marvin Runyon (the former Postmaster General) was given the nickname "Carvin' Marvin" because when he showed up at TVA, heads rolled. He also was the first to institute random drug testing in East Tennessee followed by instant firings for anyone who didn't pass the test. Some smart person began making T-Shirts that read: "I pissed, I passed!" and selling them to employees of the TVA. Thank you so much Zalphon!

*
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! I must have really screwed up that section where Baurus was describing Malan and Maxical jumped to the wrong conclusion on who it was, lol. I am sorry to everyone who had trouble with that section, I'll try to find some way to fix it. Baurus said "Elf" which threw Maxical off, lol.

Maxical's mind was its usual muddled self till she got mad, and she does think better when her temper is up - clear and concise. Akatosh is going to help her with keeping that side of her available more often, lol. Thank you so very much again, Grits!

*
@ McBadgere - Thank you so much McB! I appreciate that a lot, and I did research their history for that section, lol. I like Baurus too, he and Maxical are destined to be good friends! Thanks again, McB!


*

*


Chapter 167: Uriel Plays Cat And Mouse With Malan


Gils’ pack was wedged tightly in the safe along with his bow, quiver, and sheathed sword. A note was pinned to the outside of the pack.

“Hey, did you write this note and pin it on the pack? This isn’t Gils’ handwriting.” I showed the note to Baurus.


Maxical -

Take this pack to the Palace. Do not open it till two full days have passed since the war‘s end has been declared.


“I didn’t write that, his pack and weapons weren’t even in this office when I stuck his books in the safe. But someone put the books in his pack, see the squared shape? Look inside.”

“No, the note says not to open it. Gils is very private about his pack, even since our marriage. But who could have written this note? Gils doesn‘t write like that at all.”

“That’s his personal weapons? No way he’s out there without them!”

“I ordered enchanted weapons for the troops, maybe he got one and left these behind. Say Baurus, I want to be alone in here for a minute. Would you mind going on ahead?“

Baurus pulled the door shut behind him. I waited till I saw him pass the window before laying back down on Gils‘ mat and breathing in deeply his scent…dear gods I missed him.

Before leaving I braided the clumps of my hair into a heart shape and left it on his pillow with a note that I was at the Palace. I glanced around quickly one last time before taking Gils’ pack and weapons and was hurrying back down the mezzanine toward the Bloodworks when something grabbed my arm.

“GAAAAH!”






***


“SHHH!”

“Eyja?”

“It’s me. Man, you reamed Baurus a new one!”

“Dear gods, were you eavesdropping?”

“Yeah, I thought my ear would poke a hole through the door when the shouting started. I only did it for you, making sure Malan hadn’t cornered you again.”

“How altruistic you make invading my privacy sound.”

“BWAAHAA!” She jabbed me in the rib with her elbow. “Come on, you ready to go now?”

We stopped in the storage room of the Bloodworks for my pack. Before leaving I started rolling up my mat, then stopped. It was sopping wet! Had I wet the bed? Wait, I didn’t sleep on this mat. Who had wet it?

A sickening feeling welled up in my stomach as I stared down at the wet mat. What happened here? Why couldn’t I remember? I had a horrible feeling that there was something I should be remembering about last night…about this mat.

Why hadn’t I slept on it? That weird dream I had, so vivid that I could remember every second of it…but not why I was over there with Malan instead of here. Did Malan pee on my mat? I leaned over the mat and sniffed, expecting the smell of urine. That wasn’t what it smelled like, the odor was faint but gross enough that my stomach heaved.

I backed away from the mat, then hurried to the wall and hefted my pack along with Gils‘ weapons and Malan’s cloak. “Come on, Eyja. I want to get back to the Palace and lay down. I feel sick.”






***


Eyja and I crossed into the Palace district, she was walking at a hurried pace. I found my feet dragging. Inside me was a sinking feeling in my stomach, like I may be ill. I had a terrible sensation that there was something dire I should be remembering but wasn’t.

Every time I glanced at Gils’ pack it came over me like a wave of nausea. Why couldn’t I remember last night? Where was Gils? Why did every thought of him feel severed and juggled, out of order? I slowed to a stop by a bench in the Greenway and sank down onto it.

The note said to wait two days past the war’s end to open Gils’ pack. Why? Part of me felt impelled to open it now, but something in me dreaded it. There was a twisting knot in my stomach. That feeling of being ill had something to do with Gils, that much I was sure of.

Eyja had reached halfway to the Palace before she turned and noticed I’d stopped. She hurried back and plunked down beside me on the bench, feeling my forehead with her hand like S’Jirra used to when she thought I was ailing.

“What is wrong, Maxical? Something doesn’t feel right about you since you got up this morning. Are you sick?”

“I…I think so. Something feels terrible inside me. Eyja, did Gils ever come last night?”

Eyja stood up, staring at me oddly. “Maxical, are you having problems with your memory? I’m getting worried.”

“Maybe. Since I woke up this morning it feels like I‘m forgetting something important, something dire. I think it has to do with Gils. Baurus said the Orc attacked Gils, but he was lying. Gils couldn’t have been attacked or Azura‘s seal would have burned me alive and Azura would appear to guide me to Gils’ aid. She hasn’t come...but something just doesn’t feel right.”

“Come on, I think we need you to see Traven right away. You’re either in shock or took too hard a blow to the head in that fight.”









******* Uriel Septim


Uriel paused in the doorway of his chambers. His silent entrance had gone unnoticed by Sir Damien, who was kneeling and bent over the carpet where Maxical had bled so heavily protecting him from Nisaba. Maxical had been right in thinking it would reveal Malan in his disguise.

“Carpet munching, Foxy? You were supposed to await me in the Council Room. Why are you on the floor of my chambers instead?“

Sir Damien leaped up quickly. “Sire, you are safe! I worried the Mythic Dawn had taken you in my absence, there is quite a bit of blood on your carpet. I…”

Sir Damien broke off, his mouth gaped and his eyes bulged in a stunned look behind the slits of the full face mask. “Where did you get that sword?”

“Nice, isn’t it? Maxical gave me that for my birthday.” Uriel pulled it from the sheath to show the blade, using it to point at the bloodstain as he continued.

“That is her blood on the carpet, she lost it in my defense when Nisaba attacked. Evangeline just gave me this pair of slippers lined with rabbit fur as I was passing her chambers.” Uriel pulled one soft doeskin slipper off to show the fur within as he continued.

“They are overly warm, but enchanted to be completely soundless. I was able to surprise you while making no attempt to be silent. I still await my gift from you.” Uriel hinted brazenly, raising his eyebrows when Foxy shook his head.

“It completely slipped my mind with this war on, Sire. But that sword, where could she have found or even afforded such as that? It is an Akaviri artifact!”

“She is having me deduct an unspecified amount from her salary and donate to the Lost Children’s fund. Maxical pilfered this sword from the same man she slept beside last night. Malan.”

“She told you she slept with Malan?” Genuine shock was evident in Foxy’s voice.

Uriel‘s eyebrows raised in feigned surprise. “Of course she did, to hide it would have appeared treasonous.”

“Did she worm any secrets out of him?”

Uriel’s suspicion that Malan fed information to Maxical hoping it would be passed to himself was as much as confirmed by Foxy’s question. It must be something Malan hopes will avail him in seizing the Palace. Uriel stalled Foxy while he glimpsed over his notes to determine how they would benefit Malan.

“Stay, aren’t you curious as to whether the deed was completed?”






***


“Well? Was it?”

“Oddly no, nor did he take her blood. According to Maxical, he was unable to mate so she merely cuddled in his warmth.”

“As we’re on the subject of her mating, you should know that Maxical’s husband Gils and Captain Renault both deserted last night. They fled together, he has abandoned his marriage to Maxical.”

Uriel paused, watching Foxy‘s face carefully. Could this be true? Eyja did say the whole barracks witnessed Renault leaving in the night.

Sir Damien prompted him again. “No secrets were let fall?”

“Malan didn’t make it as far as he has by dumping secrets without provocation. Nothing he said would be to his detriment.”

“If he talked at all it is a good sign.” Foxy reached for the notes in Uriel’s hand and skimmed them. “Maxical must have established a rapport with him. We can use her to gather information from him, feed her false information to pass to him.”

Uriel cocked one eyebrow. “Use a naïve virgin to garner information from an ancient, a con of Malan‘s magnitude? I won’t risk the throne for Malan’s mind games, nor believe his words to be anything but an attempt to set us up for him to take over.”

“You believe all his information is false? What of this grave of girls that Seridur killed?”

“That will be true. Malan probably thinks his crimes seem lesser in comparison because he didn’t kill his victims.”

“You don’t agree?”

“No. Malan knew Seridur was killing young girls and did nothing to stop it. An anonymous report could have saved them. Malan is guilty of being coconspirator in their deaths, I‘m adding those charges to his warrant.”

Foxy gave the list a bleak glance, then looked up suddenly. “Wait! Malan said Maxical is under his protection, that they were bonded centuries ago? He’s saying she is his chosen!”

“A lie, she is Hassildor’s accepted chosen. He still had no bloodlust when he saw Maxical just yesterday morning. Two ancients can‘t have the same chosen.”

“Hassildor and Maxical squabbled and name-called like children yesterday, as they have every time they‘ve met. He probably swore his rights to her away, possibly unknowingly to Malan in one of his disguises.”

“I’ve sent for Hassildor, we’ll ask.”






***


Foxy‘s eyes narrowed under the mask slits. “You already sent for him?”

Uriel nodded. Foxy hesitated, then almost shrugged before he spoke.

“We don’t need him. Malan and Hassildor were both made from the same batch of blood cocktail, they are true ’split-aparts’ and share but one nature. The nature gives only one chosen between them. The first to ask gets the hunt instinct. If he accepts her, he loses the bloodlust instantly. Malan would have to poach her, although she is actually his own chosen.”

“What happens then?”

“May the best man win.”

“Maxical starts wars just trying to get bedded. Well maybe Hassildor will get some gumption and take down his maker finally.” Uriel scanned the files in front of him.

“Why is there nothing about this in their files?”

“This information has come out only recently, I’ve not had time to inform you.” He pointed to an item on Uriel’s notes. “Aha, the location of the Orc’s lair! That tunnel access to the Palace needs to be investigated.”

“Don’t you recognize Malan’s diversionary tactics by now? He wants us deploying manpower into tunnels to dissipate my protection, and I‘m sure he hopes in doing so we’ll release the Orc in here. The Orc kills me and Malan gets to the throne without waiting for Dagon.”

“He didn’t realize what a worthy opponent he dealt with.” Foxy chewed his lip, scanning the notes. “He admits having his lair set up in the Palace? Invisible vapor that can’t be detected? He could have the Palace filled and we’d never know it! He could be in your chambers, hearing all your plans against him!”

Uriel leaned back in his chair watching Foxy‘s eyes widen through the slits of his mask as he answered.

“There was a vampire line in Wayrest that turned to vapor, Malan used their blood in his cocktail. They are extinct now, all combusted by a simple fire spell. They can‘t be detected, but they can be destroyed easily if someone casts fire spells indiscriminately. Let Malan hear this if he listens then. Incidental damages are Maxical’s specialty. She can single-handedly clear this Palace of them with her exploding fire spell, just as she cleared out the entire sewer system blowing doors out all the way through. It is why Akatosh chose her as his Champion. He will keep me safe from it, and glory in the death of enemies that dared breach the Palace He guards.”


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 27 2012, 11:22 PM

Poor Uriel. He thinks he's finally got a one-up on Malan, but I doubt it. Malan's always three steps ahead

An alternate chapter title I’d like to suggest: “Uriel Plays Alix and Sweetroll with Malan”

Before leaving I braided the clumps of my hair into a heart shape and left it on his pillow with a note that I was at the Palace.
Awww… When she send Baurus out of the room, I wondered if she was going to go through the pack anyways. The mat was… awful, knowing what happened to Gils on it. Could she get infected from touching that mat?

Uriel demanding birthday gifts from not-Foxy!

Uriel’s playing a dangerous game. Loved him talking away with not-Foxy knowing full well who it actually it.

another brilliant chapter mALX I sort of feel sorry for Malan, the poor guy has gone from being feared by everyone as a mysterious vampire lord to being well and truly played by an old man and a Khajiit! Then there's the problem of Maxical's memory malfunction to deal with, phew, it's all kicking off.

I'm now expecting to find that Malan is impersonating Uriel, and Damien is Foxy again. Eyja is really Agronak in disguise, and Maxical is really Alix the mouse (or is that the other way round?)

No wait, Phintias was really Agonak when he stomped Seridur, and Ocato is really a Khajiit to be named later.

And the Akaviri katana is really a warhammer on a diet.

Oh man, more impersonations? Sir Damien Foxy, why aren't you in Uriel's room? Because your Malan! I think. . But . . .does Uriel have an edge on him as he believes or . . .nah! Malan is old as hell, he won't be so stupid! But even oldest of men fall under the heel of their hubris. There will be plotting and there will be treachery, I forsee it!


Bahaha, but he's no werewolf! Of course, we find out that the smell isn't really vampire piss.


Nits: Gils’ pack was wedged tightly in the safe along with his bow and quiver, and his sheathed sword was behind the pack. A note was pinned to the outside of the pack.

I am not sure if it is wise to use the same word in such proximity. :shrug:

By having the memory of Gils’ death wiped clean by Malan, Maxical is doomed to suffer that heartbreak all over again. Poor thing - my heart aches for her.

“Maxical starts wars just trying to get bedded.”

And Uriel really shows why he’s the Emperor. I so enjoyed his last paragraph! I imagine Sir DaMalan did not.

This is one of those beautiful moments where things just come together! I love the image of Uriel watching Malan without him knowing it. It's such a reversal.


It was great fun to see Uriel in his element and Malan having to react to a surprise. I was rolling at the “Where’s my present?” from the Emperor! How awkward for the faux Foxy.


I love it! The last paragraph was pure awesome. That was fun to see, but I’m sure Malan has more tricks up his sleeve. Or as Acadian called him, Sir DaMalan!!

It’s hard to think of Maxical collapsed on a park bench and about to have her world shattered again. I’m glad Eyja’s with her.

Oooh yes!!... ...

I don't care if Malan really is three steps ahead...Right now, that was a beautiful chapter...*Sighs contentedly*... ...

Bless Maxical though...She's really having a hard time with the memory loss isn't she?... ...

Brilliant chapter...

Loved it!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

*

@ Zalphon - Thank you so much Zalphon! Uriel’s got it going on, in a battle of wits they may be tied. Uriel studies his enemies and knows them well, but beating Malan in combat is another story.

*
@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC! You know, I never thought of Maxical getting infected from the mat, and you’re right because vampirism is bloodborn and transferred through bodily fluids! It won’t happen in the story, but that was quick thinking on your part! I loved your enjoyment of Uriel hounding faux-Foxy for presents, lol. Thanks again, KC!

*
@ Hazmick - Thank you so much Hazmick! Malan still has the upper hand, don’t worry, lol. Thanks again Hazmick!

*
@ Ghastley - Lol, even I got confused after reading your comment! Don’t worry, Malan’s impersonation days as Sir Damien are about over. Thank you so much, Ghastley!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - Fixed that nit, you were right. Thank you so much for pointing that out, I so appreciate that! Malan may get tagged by Uriel, but he’ll come up with a new plot in no time, lol. Thanks so very much Darkness!

*
@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! Uriel said a few things to tick off Malan, knowing he couldn’t reveal it, lol. (like adding Seridur’s murders onto his charges). But you are right, placing Maxical as the one that could take him down and reminding him that Akatosh protects his Palace did put a big bee in Malan’s bonnet, lol. Thank you so much again, Acadian!

*
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! I appreciated so much what you said about Uriel being proactive and in his element. He may be 87, but I pictured he’d have his own inner cunning to tap after ruling for 65 years. Thank you so very much again, Grits!

*
@ McBadgere - Like you, I very much love Uriel Septim in the game - and not just because he is Jean-Luc Picard, lol. He will never take a beating in my story, you can be sure of that. Thank you so much McB!


*

*


Chapter 168: Carrying Souls For The Damned



******* Uriel Septim


Sir Damien poured himself a glass of wine, speaking between sips. Uriel ground his teeth, frustrated he’d missed noticing this till now. Foxy did not partake of alcohol.

“We have a big problem now that Gils has abandoned Maxical. Her blood is still drawing vampires. Malan‘s threat won‘t make this easy.”

“I won’t risk any of my Legion on the chance Malan is bluffing.”

“They couldn’t succeed anyway, no mortal can mate with her. Azura’s seal will cause her to attack anyone but Gils who touches her. Ancient vampires are her only option, their aura blocks the seal.”

“She mentioned that earlier, there must be some way around that.“

“Only by the drinking of vampire juices, which your own law made illegal in Cyrodiil.”

“Laws are made in peacetime to maintain, we are at war. We’ll do what we must to protect the security of this Palace, and she places it at risk. Hassildor has been summoned, Traven can obtain a sample from him.“

“If Malan has his lair set up in this Palace, Hassildor won’t be able to enter. Vampires protect their lairs against other ancients by an invisible barrier…”

Uriel cut him off. “If they are split-aparts sharing one nature, the barrier should be no impediment to Hassildor. It is certainly a way to test that information.”

“Split-apart or not, Hassildor entering his lair is a declaration of war.”

“This Palace is not his lair, he’s a usurper!” Uriel grappled with his temper trying to forcibly rein it in before continuing. “Malan won’t kill his only hope for immortality. It is time for Hassildor to begin earning his Diplomatic Immunity.”

Eyja interrupted, bursting through the door. “Where is Hannibal? Something is wrong with Maxical.”

“Shock. She must have learned that Gils defected with Renault last night.” Uriel signaled Damien. “Traven is in the Battlemages Quarters.”









************ Maxical


My legs begged to crumple beneath me, but I fought collapsing for fear Uriel would shake me again. Gils left me for Renault? Didn’t Eyja say Malan’s army dragged her out? But wait, she told Uriel that Renault walked out…and that’s what everyone in the barracks saw. Had she lied to me?

Eyja shoved me into a chair and pulled Uriel to the opposite side of the room, whispering in his ear the whole way. Snatches of “Gils,” “Malan,” “memory,“ and “Azura’s seal” wafted back to me, but that was all I could catch of her end of the conversation. Eyja was a very adept whisperer.

Uriel glanced over at me with an oddly compassionate look as Eyja talked, then suddenly everything seemed to be moving in slowed motion. There was a loud rushing sound, like the roaring the void made that night Akatosh was warning Uriel. Wait, didn’t I hear that last night? But…when?

Malan’s cloak started sliding off my lap to the floor, and somewhere in my mind a vision flashed.

Fathis’s wedding ring tumbling down onto Malan’s cloak when I sat up this morning.

Fathis’s ring, my protection. I took it off with Malan so he could heal me from the fight…but from something else, too. What?

I twisted Fathis’s ring on my finger, my eyes catching Uriel’s again.

“Sire…I think I’ve allowed Malan access to my mind, let him erase memories that were too painful to bear. I have complete vulnerability to magic, and twice he‘s had my wedding ring from Fathis off when he was with me; yesterday and last night. That ring completely protects me from magic. But I don‘t know what memories I‘ve asked him to erase, or what else he may have done while there.”

The sound of the void receded.






***


My eyes opened to see a bright light with Eyja behind it. “Talk to me, Maxical. Tell me something about last night.” She moved the light out of my eyes and closed her hand to dispel the magic making it.

“The enchantment on your ring hasn’t been tampered with; but it does no good if you remove it with ancient vampires, the very enemy Fathis made it to protect you from. Put it on immediately, and don‘t remove it again.” Hannibal handed me the ring, giving a more than approvingly eye at Eyja...he was like a starving puppy looking in a meat store window.

“Malan had you under mind control, Maxical. Hannibal is right, don’t you ever again remove that ring for any reason. You never know who Malan is impersonating, you can‘t trust anyone anymore.” Eyja sounded nothing like the playgirl she had appeared to be till now. She kneeled down and took my hand.

“Maxical, I lost a sister that was so much like you it was uncanny. The pain is great, but you can’t run from it. Face it, because hiding from it weakens you.”

“I don’t know if I can, Eyja. There’s too much to face, it’s all happening at once. I can’t endure it, not and be there for Uriel.”

“Was yesterday the first time Malan accessed your mind?”

“No. The first time was when I was seven years old at the orphanage, he erased memories of my mother’s death. Somehow he knew I’d had nightmares of it. Yesterday when I found the place where Fathis died, Malan just suddenly appeared. I was beyond fear, the pain was beyond bearing. I begged him to take it away. He slid my ring off and sang old country songs. I remember realizing the songs were carrying spells, but not caring as long as the pain stopped.”

Uriel held up his hand. “Didn’t he sing that ‘Jack be nimble’ song both times at the orphanage? And Nissy and the Khajiit women sang it as well?”

“Yes, Sire. But this time he sang songs from Morrowind, Daggerfall, and Vvardenfell.”

“Why change the song he uses to carry spells? And songs from his homeland?” Uriel glanced from Hannibal to Eyja.

Hannibal began digging through one of his tomes like he was possessed with finding something. Eyja answered.

“Maybe he’s establishing himself as Malan again, giving up whatever impersonation he’s hidden behind these decades when Foxy sought him but he couldn’t be found.”






***


“Sire, every time I’ve needed solace he just appears from nowhere, as if he knows or senses it. There’s a strong feeling of comfort that comes from him, even with my ring blocking spells I feel it. Maybe it’s a post hypnotic suggestion he implanted in me when I was seven, or some natural connection between us; but it is there. I feel it strongly within me when he is near. Sort of like we shared a close bond in a past life or something.“

Uriel slammed his fist down on the desk. “That proves it. Malan and Hassildor are split-aparts, they share one nature due to using the same cocktail mixture divided in two.”

“Huh? I don’t understand…”

Hannibal looked up from his tome, intrigued. “I’ve wondered if that would occur. The implications if they sought their chosen at the same time would be phenomenal, can you imagine those two in battle against each other?”

Uriel gave Hannibal an enigmatic look. “You may get to see that Traven.”

“Oh…OH!” Hannibal’s expression when he glanced over at me was like he expected to see me squawk and lay an egg or something.

“What did I do?” I felt put on the spot and didn’t know why.

Eyja took my hand. “Nothing, Maxical dear. If it was post hypnotic suggestion, it is gone now. Finish what you were saying.”

“Last night Malan was healing me. His healing magic was more powerful than the healing fount at the Bloodworks. Sire, that fount is like a god healing you. Malan’s magic was stronger. He healed me exactly like Hannibal does, not one single errant or lingering touch. I eventually relaxed under the professionalism of his healing and fell asleep.”

Hannibal broke in. “What could account for his magic being that strong?”

“What accounts for mine in destruction? Maybe he has the same disorder I have, but with him the healing is the powerful one.”

“How coincidental would that be.” Hannibal grabbed up a sheath of notes and started digging through them. “That would explain his original turn into the medical field before all this began.”






***


Only the scratching of quills filled the silence as they busied themselves furiously scribbling notes. I leaned back and shut my eyes, trying to remember why Malan was singing to me last night. What painful memory was he taking from me? Eyja asked.

“I don’t know, Eyja. Everything about last night is a blur. I had a really weird dream about him, then woke up in his greatcloak.”

Eyja looked over at Uriel with an odd expression. “I cleared the mind control from her, I don’t understand.”

Uriel signaled Hannibal. “Give Maxical a full medical exam in her room, and check for head wounds.”

“She took numerous blows to her head, but there was nothing wrong with her mind till after she slept with Malan.” Eyja insisted.

Uriel stopped me as I was leaving his chambers. “Maxical, are you calling Malan to you?”

“I couldn’t be, he just…appears.”

“She did! She was screaming his name last night, she just isn’t remembering.” Eyja and Uriel exchanged glances.

“I feel like I’m home with my parents, all these meaningful glances around me. You may as well signal like flagmen on bridges. What’s going on?”

“We’ll talk amongst ourselves, and when we decide what it is we’ll tell you. And don’t eavesdrop!” Eyja flagged us out.






***


“Nothing of what you told me is to be mentioned to her before I find the cause of this memory loss. I’ll petition Akatosh tonight. We must know if…” Uriel’s voice was muffled by Hannibal’s hand as he tugged my ear from the wall.

“What are you doing?”

“Eavesdropping, I always do. It‘s the only way to learn anything around here.”

“Well stop it.”

For the first time since I’d known him, I was relieved when Hannibal started packing his medical bag to leave. My eyes burned from his light spells in them, and I was sore from all the poking…but stronger than that was a feeling of anticipation inside me, like I was waiting for something…no, someone. As if I knew he’d be there.

A hand slipped into mine and without even looking to see who it was, I knew. I tugged the hand toward me and felt him climbing over me, wrapping the warmth of himself around me.

“Amiela, my Lass. You’re almost back. I’ll keep you safe forever this time, you‘ll see. Remember my promise to you? We‘re almost there.”

“I knew you’d come back for me.” I heard myself whisper as I rolled over to face him, moving into his arms and feeling the strength of them...so familiar. The feel of his lips against mine felt strangely like coming home from a long journey. And then we were kissing with a hunger of centuries parted.

I sat up with a jerk in the bed, still feeling the heat of that kiss. What was going on? Was this one of those dreams Evangeline was talking about? It had to be…but why wouldn’t I dream of myself? Who was Amiela?

“HANNIBAL!” I screamed it.

The door flung open. Eyja was the first in, then Hannibal. Uriel stopped in the doorway. In the corridor behind him was Sir Damien, his eyes glowing fire.

“Hannibal, check me and see if I’m still intact. I feel…funny. Shut the door, I don‘t want Sir Damien seeing. Eyja, I need you to find out who someone named Amiela is. It’ll be a century or more ago, in connection with Malan or whoever he was impersonating then. I think he is trying to use me to bring back his first chosen.”

“Necromancy?” Hannibal gasped, standing up quickly and staring at me with startled eyes. I waved him back down to my nether regions.

“Just hurry up and check me, Hannibal. I want Uriel back in here. I just remembered something Malan said last night that I need to tell him.”

“That name sounds familiar, I’ve seen it in one of our files. I don’t think it was connected to Malan, though.” Eyja hunched over with her chin in her hand, scanning her memory.

“Still intact. You’ve probably just had an erotic dream, Maxical.”

“Ew, isn’t that a dirty word? And why would I dream of Malan with another woman I never heard of before? I‘m sure it was his first chosen.”


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 31 2012, 10:36 PM