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Posted by: mALX Mar 22 2010, 02:43 AM

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This story covers the daily events in the two years leading up to the Oblivion Crisis. It begins following the life of a semi-typical Khajiit girl who inadvertently finds herself the pawn of a powerful necromancer just as factions and forces begin moving into position.

When motivations are revealed it drives out the secrets of forgotten pasts, and another Khajiit girl whose life was an intertwined mirror of her own till both were altered irrevocably by the same necromancer in whose power they both found themselves.

The diverse paths their lives took merge once again in an explosive revelation that leaves one wondering how much of her skills and personality were ever her own; the other in a desperate struggle to keep control of her life, keep from being used against the Emperor as the crisis that will change Cyrodiil and the rule of Tamriel forever begins.

Maxical

Fate is an invincible enemy in a battle you�ll never leave unscathed. It stalks you as prey and strikes regardless of shields or armor. The gods and other realms can find entertainment in manipulating your path on a whim; or ancient vampires dabble with your life, alter your mind without you even knowing it. Sometimes you don�t find out till it is too late.

I�d like to blame the gods for where I found myself, but the truth is that somewhere between the void and the Dreamsleeve lies fate; a place where time and space meet; where even the blackness of the void doesn�t reach, and the gods make wagers on the outcome of lives caught in the �tween.

Wedged into that fold are damned souls, souls that have been marked for paths they can�t change, to destinies they can�t escape. Ancient vampire's eyes see them as beacons, follow them as scents, control their minds without their ever knowing.

They are targets for revenge of an enemy they don't even know exists, pawns in a game they didn't even know was being played; whose contestants their worst nightmares couldn�t envision.


That�s where I found myself fifteen years after the game started. That was the day I found out that everything I�d ever known about myself had always been�her. Amiela.

Amiela was a 137 years old demon of a vampire that thrived on destruction and usurped whatever she could from others. She died a century before I was born, but the wars being fought over her didn�t end with her death. Her soul was marked�and inside me.

For me, fate was my parents bringing me through the heavy forested area of the Gold Road just outside Skingrad at the same time the second worst necromancer of our time was in a battle for the soul of Amiela. And there I was, a convenient hiding spot.

That was the day my parents died. All I ever knew of them was where they died and what killed them. I was twenty years old before I even learned my mother's name. I was twenty years old before I remembered Nisaba. Nissy.









Nissy�s beginning didn�t just match mine, it was mine; though neither of us knew it before we�d both turned twenty years old. That was the year our paths crossed again and we learned the only scraps of our histories anyone was ever able to recover. That's when we learned our destinies were intertwined long before our lives began.

Nissy and I were born within a month of each other in the year 412, both born in the 'no-man's' land of wild mountain passes between Vvardenfell and Cyrodiil. Our parents were traveling together and we were born en route, but our histories began long before that.

From early childhood our parents were owned by Hlormaren, a Dunmer Stronghold on the Bitter Coast of Vvardenfell. Before that they were housed in the same children's slave pen on the mainland. Maybe our histories began long before that, but that was the furthest back any information went that we were able to find.

Nissy�s mother died giving birth to her. Her father dropped her off at the Imperial Legion Orphanage for the un-adoptable when she was two. Three years later a Legionnaire dropped me off there when my parents were killed in a minotaur attack.

Fate once again found Nissy and me four years later in the middle of the night, right there in our room at that orphanage. We were both nine years old when our destinies were wrenched into the hands of the worst necromancer Tamriel has known since the King of Worms. Both of us have been in his power in one way or another since. Dagoth-Malan.

That was eleven years ago, eleven years that Nissy waited for me to keep a promise to save her...eleven years that all my memories of her were stolen by Dagoth-Malan so I couldn�t keep that vow. Until fate brought us together again when we both turned twenty.

Nissy and me, we were both in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fate.













The earliest memory of my lifetime begins and ends in the Legion headquarters in the Imperial City. I�ve never been able to remember a single moment of my life before finding myself in that office.

It was a coming awake. A dark void of nothingness, and then in a blink my eyes were open and there I stood in that office with no idea where I was or how I got there.

An odd putrid odor I couldn't name seemed to be clinging inside my nostrils and roiling my stomach, even the pungent stench of sweat emanating from the large man behind the desk was a welcome relief in comparison.

There was an odd feeling of having forgotten something important that niggled irritatingly, a barb that probed against my mind to remember, but there was nothing to answer its incessant prodding. Nothing. It was like a journey through a maze with only dead ends at every turn. I didn't know where I had come from, where I belonged, or who I belonged to.

At first I barely understood what they were saying; strange sounding words spoken so harshly and rapidly that it was impossible to grasp even one to decipher. They couldn�t understand me at all when I spoke.

Somewhere deep inside me in a place as unconnected to me as the lost memories of my life before that office there was the oddest sensation; a stirring, as if that part of me was just now waking. Suddenly their words were striking a chord of recognition It almost felt as if I could speak their tongue, but when my mouth opened the words still came out in the only language I knew.









The large sweaty man behind the desk pointed at me. "What is that?"

"Don't know, only that it's the get of some beasts killed by a minotaur up on the big curve of the Gold Road in County Skingrad. Couldn't tell what they were either. The mother was a bloody mess; but the male...fur black as coal soot, and the same flattened face as that one's." He indicated my face, then added, "Too big for a cat, never seen anything like him. Both bore slave tattoos so they can't be from Cyrodiil. No travel papers or identification on either body."

The large sweating man's chair groaned loudly as he leaned over and gave me an intrusive and extended eyeing. "That ain't no Khajiit, not with that white coloring. That face gives me the creeps, you said the male looked the same? This one must be an albino then. No telling what you'll find in those other Provinces, all barbarians." He spat a large wad of brown cud into the urn beside him.

"The male had been looted; they even took his clothes, naked as a jaybird he was. Found this in the brush near the female's body." He held out a blood spattered travel pack. "When I moved her body this silver dagger was underneath her, and this gold locket fell off her neck. Chain was broken, likely in the attack."

The rotund man tossed him a cloth to wrap the items in, then pointed at me. "How old do you think it is?"

"Too small to be very old. Can't be much more than a couple years. It walks well enough, though. And mark it as female, it squatted to relieve itself on the way here."

"Two year old female." The large man wrote something down.

"And a bad tempered one at that. She scratched me up good trying to get her on the horse." That was met with raucous laughter from the men gathered.

"It's that red hair!" Someone called.

The mocking laughter and insulting treatment I understood without the help of that strange place within me that seemed to know this language. I didn't know anything about myself or how I got here, I was confused and up till that moment terrified. But at that moment I learned that I had a temper. I could feel it building inside me like a fire about to go out of control.

In my rage I nearly missed that their odd contortions and rudimentary gestures to communicate were attempts to get my name. My name. That would be important to find out who I was.

�Ma'Thjizzrini Qa.� A girls voice squealed from behind me. I turned to see a Khajiit girl in the doorway staring at me wide eyed.

"Ma'Thjizzrini Qa!" She started running toward me, but one of the armored men grabbed her and pushed her back out the door.

As soon as she said it I knew that was my name, it struck a familiar chord immediately. I repeated it, imitating their miming gestures by pointing to my chest. �Ma'Thjizzrini Qa.�

"Name, Maxical." The rotund man wrote something down, then stamped his seal on the document.









They said I was found beside my parents, was there when they were killed. I didn't remember any of it. It felt like they talked abstractly about strangers. The greatest shock for me that day and so many days since was that I didn't even know my mother's name; wasn't able to bring an image of her to my mind, or even a glimpse of a moment with her or the sound of her voice. It was like she disappeared into the void, taking every remembrance of her.

That day in the Legion office though, that I will never forget. The smell of pipe smoke and tobacco, male sweat and steel; those odors bring back the memory of that day as if it was still alive within me, still happening to me.

It has stayed fresh in my mind all these years; but not because I wanted to remember it. It was that haunting memory that was just out of grasp beyond it, the sheer number of times I�d come to that stopping point in my memory and tried to force beyond it to find something, anything of who I was; of my life before that Legion office. Of my mother.

That day, those men staring at me as if I were an insect as they tried to determine what I was, what I was saying...what to do with me. All through it my mind burned with trying to figure out who I was and how I got there. I'll never forget that day.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 22 2010, 03:17 AM

What a wonderful introduction! Lots of info packaged delightfully! Yay mALX!

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 22 2010, 03:54 AM

Maxical!

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 22 2010, 06:12 AM

Oh, yipppeee!!! The world's most adorable khajiit is here.

Who will not try to love that gorgeous face (with low cut fringe and youthful complexion)??
Dont answer that question, time will tell!!

I am so happy to see Maxical rise from the ashes, reborn onto the Chorrol forum. This is a great reworking of a massive volume of labor that has become your pride and joy over the last six months.
Awesome!!!!

It is the uniqueness of your character that makes the tale so engaging, and carries us along on an amazing journey. Onwards, I say!!!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 22 2010, 06:26 AM

Ma'Thjizzrini Qa indeed, Maxical. . . welcome to Chorrol! I am sure you will make plenty of new friends here.

Posted by: treydog Mar 22 2010, 05:35 PM

Strains of Also Sprach Zarathustra play. "Chorrol, we have a kitty."

OK, fine, so I am shamelessly mixing space movies. Don't care, because the Khajiit has landed!

Besides the fact that I am beyond thrilled to see Maxical here, I find this introduction brilliant and sad and exciting. We learn enough to care for the albino kit- deeply- and we are left plenty of mystery for later revelation. Welcome, Maxical!

Posted by: mALX Mar 22 2010, 06:25 PM

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@ Acadian - Sheeeees Baaaaack! Thank you so much Acadian! You ROCK !!
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@ Zalphon - Thank you Zalphon! She had to come, it was inevitable. You can blame Winter Wolf, who hinted me into it, lol.
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@ Winter Wolf - Thank you very much Wolf, and I want you to know it was your hints that brought her here!!! I wasn't going to do it, but you got me missing her too badly, lol. Thank you Wolf !!!! You ROCK !!!!
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@ Destri Melarg - Thank you so much Destri! I just hope she can keep her old friends, but if she makes new ones - so much the better! Thanks again Destri!
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@ Treydog - (Houston, we have a problem?) - are you equating Maxical to trouble? ROFL !!! Thank you so very much Treydog!!!!




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Chapter 1: The Imperial Orphanage For The Un-adoptable



I learned later that the Legion had listed me as �Two year old female, albino beast of unknown race.�

The Legion made their regulated period of attempts to find an adoptive home for me before I was transferred to the orphanage in the Imperial City Prison Compound. That�s where orphans considered �un-adoptable� were sent.

All the beast races end there, or any human too old to be considered cute. I wasn�t cute, and that �unknown albino beast� stamp on my papers would have scared off anyone who might have thought I was. They could have placed a mudcrab before I would have found a home with that label.

There was a certain look they'd get on their faces before slamming the door, a look I'll never forget. You don't have to understand the language to know rejection when you see it.

The Legion may not have known what race I was, but their attempts to place me are how I discovered that (despite the lack of a kingly snout or thick rug of fur) I was Khajiit. I spoke their language, and understood them instantly. Those were the worst rejections, maybe because I did understand what they were saying.

It was from them I learned that to superstitious Khajiit an albino is considered a jinx. My white fur frightened them. Even walking down the street Khajiit would cross to the other side, chanting �Vaba� under their breath to ward my ill spirit off them. Translated literally it means, �It is;� but when spoken by itself it means �Bad omen.�

I've never known why I looked different than other Khajiit, but growing up I hated being different. I remember as a child rubbing dirt into my fur in an attempt to look like them, to look normal.

Back then it was devastating to know I was hated by what should have been my own people. Looking back now, maybe they were right; because bad luck seems to have touched a lot of lives connected to mine.

Years later while eavesdropping I learned that Ma'Thjizzrini Qa roughly translated means "What the hell did we do to deserve this child." From that point on, I was glad that for all intents and purposes my name was legally changed on the day of my parent's death. I never used my given name again, and only those closest to me know it.

I�m not going to say that didn�t hurt at the time, it did. Eventually anger carried me through that kind of pain; but below the surface, deep inside me the scars remain of that time. Then you eavesdrop at the wrong time and learn the meaning of your given name.

Maybe it distorted my perspective, but sometimes when you hear that kind of label you begin to believe it is true. You either live up to it or get angry. I did both.
















The Imperial Orphanage For The Un-adoptable. The name alone strips everything from you, disintegrates hope that your life will ever be any different than it is right now walking through those gates. A chill of fear shivered over me as the gate thud shut and the bars clanged across behind me.

In front of me were cold gray stone walls lined with barred windows. In several were grimy bleak faces peering out. Prisoners. On my left the upper windows weren't barred. No curtains hung, but children were peering out as I was led in. Their expressions were the same bleak hopelessness as the prisoner's, and their faces were just as grimy.

Those gates sealed out all hope of having a life, a family; I could see that in both the children's and prisoner's eyes, and feel it looking at those high sheer walls. They blocked any view that might fuel dreams of a different life.

In this place the orphans were labeled and sentenced just like the prisoners, they shared an identity with them. The apathy and resignation was tangible from both. They'd stopped caring because nothing they did good or bad mattered once those gates sealed shut; they were here till their sentence ended. For us orphans that was when we turned eighteen.

Most ended returning here on the prison side of the compound for stealing food to survive, unable to find work with no skill training. For some the crime was a means to get back here to the only place they understood...the only people that understood them.

What I learned rapidly about being an orphan here at the Compound, they are tightly bound to each other as a family once you are accepted into their fold. They take care of their own. There was a regular swiping of food that was carried out in midnight stealth missions to any of our orphans that ended up on the prison side.

Getting accepted by the Compound orphans was nearly impossible when I first arrived. Not speaking Cyrodiilic didn't help. There was a hierarchy, and beasts were at the bottom of it. Beasts that were also freakishly different than the rest of their race rated even lower than that. Friends didn't come easily at first.

The exception to that was the Khajiit girl that came into the Legion office that day, Nisaba. She very quickly became my dearest friend. Nissy spoke in my tongue, Ta'agra; and was the only one there who understood me when I first arrived. Somewhere deep inside me the Cyrodiilic resonated familiarly, and with Nissy's help I learned to speak it quickly.






***


Nissy either had an amazing memory or was great at making up stories. Although she'd only been a little over two years old at the time, Nissy remembered her own father dropping her off at the orphanage. She said it was a day she would never forget, and planned to search for her father when she was released from the orphanage. She never said what she'd do when she found him.

Nissy also said she remembered me; that we'd been raised like sisters by my mother because her mother had died birthing her. She only had scanty and limited glimpses of memories of my mother, but remembered she and I had shared a straw bed on the floor of a cave; and remembered us playing and tumbling with each other in the grass outside the cave entrance while my mother washed clothes and dishes in the nearby river.

I didn't remember Nissy, or any of the glimpses of memories she shared. She may have been making it up. A lot of us in the orphanage played that game, so badly wanting a family to claim as theirs, one that wouldn't drop you off here and walk away. l did, wanted it so desperately that I clung to Nissy's imagined memories.

"Tell me everything you can remember about my mother, what was she like?"

"Ma'Thjizzrini Qa, how can you have forgotten?"

"I don't know, Nissy. I don't remember anything, not even what my mother looks like."

"Well, all I remember is that she had yellow eyes, and long hair the color of strawberries and wheat."

"What color is that?"

"I don't know, you'll know it if you see it. She cried the day Papa took me away to bring me here, so did you."

I struggled to believe it, wanted badly to believe it. Something to say I did have a life before that Legion office. What convinced me more than anything was that she had recognized me, knew my name that day in the Legion office. I don't look like any other Khajiit on Nirn. I prodded her to tell me everything she could about it.

"Why did he take you away?"

"There was a row, your father and mine were yelling about something. Then my father took me away and brought me here."

"What were they fighting about?"

"I don't know. Papa said your father's soul was as black as his fur." Nissy's face puckered with the memory.

"My father was a black Khajiit?"

"He was black as the night, I can't believe you don't remember him, Ma'Thjizzrini Qa."

I had a sudden memory of the men in that Legion office saying something about a man with fur as black as coal. That moment was the first time I realized that it really was my parents they'd been discussing that day.

The shield of abstractness was shattered, taking with it any lingering belief that by some horrible mistake I'd been in the company of two strangers that day; the hope that my real parents would come for me soon. That was the moment I realized that I was really an orphan. Inside myself it felt like that front gate to the Compound thudding shut again.







***


Knowing my parents were really dead made me that much more desperate to learn all I could of them.

"Tell me about my father."

"He was huge, much bigger than Papa. I remember being scared of him, thought he was a giant. He never smiled, and had a way of looking at everyone that made my insides feel like we'd better obey him."

"What was his name?"

"Uncle S'Van...Uncle S'Vandera...I can't remember."

"What about my mother, what was her name?"

Nissy shrugged. "Maman is all I know. We both called her that."

Nissy and I did become as close as sisters after that. Even after she'd told me every memory she had of that time I continued to hound her to keep repeating it, and absorbed everything she said in hopes it would jog my own memories. It never did.

It was many months before my Cyrodiilic was understandable enough that the other orphans were beginning to talk to me, months of belief in Nissy's stories before they were shattered.

"You idiot, can't you count to two?" One of the older Altmer girls held up her hand with two fingers sticking up. "You see my fingers? This is how old you are. Nissy has been at the Compound three years, since before you were even born. She couldn't have known you on the outside, she is lying to you."

"But she knew things they said in that office."

"Everyone here does. We all know about a minotaur killing your parents, and your temper."

"How?"

"Eavesdropping, idiot. Nothing is secret in this place."

I was crushed. Maybe I should have known all along it couldn't be true. I never told Nissy I knew it was a lie, but never asked her about my parents again after that.

It was hard to be mad at Nissy for those stories when they gave me the thing I wanted more than anything on Nirn, to know I existed before that day in the Legion office. I wanted to believe it all as badly as she wanted a family to cling to. We both needed each other. I couldn't have endured living at the orphanage without her.



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Posted by: mALX Mar 22 2010, 07:26 PM

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Chapter 2: The Compound



Being housed in the same compound with the Legion headquarters meant there was very little we were allowed to do. The boredom would have been excruciating if the prisoners hadn't been more than willing to teach us how to get around restrictions.

If there was nothing else an orphan learned at the Compound, they learned to pick locks and sneak past the hundreds of guards stationed there. Eavesdropping was a big part of our lives, especially in the dorm areas where the guards lived. What we overheard in there was usually forbidden knowledge, which made it much more interesting even if I didn't understand what it meant.

New orphans were tested by dares to pull pranks on the Legion. Tell-tales and chickens were shunned and ostracized. For me to be accepted, I had to take those dares that no one else would. I invariably got caught, usually through clumsiness or because I'm accident prone and left a trail of damage. I stayed in trouble, but it was the way I finally became accepted into their tight-knit family and began making friends there.

At that time the Elder Council was meeting in the east wing of the Compound. Very few dared pull pranks in the Elder Council chambers. I had to, being at the bottom rung of the hierarchy. I actually learned a lot eavesdropping there. The lawyers coached the prisoner in how to act and what to say to help argue their defense.

The first prank in the Elder Chambers was simply tying the lawyer's shoe laces together so they tripped when they rose from their bench. I crept in on my belly, sliding under the benches to the front.

It was easily done. I would never have been caught had I not stayed to see what would happen. I had my legs switched with a sapling branch for it, but when I limped back to our floor crying the others cheered and wanted to hear every detail of the mission. Someone had swiped a sack of sweetrolls from the kitchen and let me have the first pick. After that I never backed down from a dare.

The lawyers found frogs in their satchels and mice in their pockets. A shipment of alcohol for Commander Phillida came up short by several bottles. One of the boys handed me the missing bottles and dared me to fill it in the Council Chambers water pitchers, but didn't say which ones. I ran out of alcohol before getting to the Elder's table. All the defendants were falling down drunk by the time they were called up for their cases to be heard.

I'd started running from the whippings, making them catch me first. With all the guards around the Compound it never took long, but the others began cheering me on. My legs stayed raw from the whippings, but I took them without ever naming accomplices. I even took whippings for three pranks I hadn't pulled, although I was along to watch on all three. That earned my acceptance into the close-knit family structure of the orphans at the Compound.

The boys tarred the guard's dorm floor, and flooded the solitary confinement cell so when they opened it to put a prisoner in the Jailer would get drenched. The boys also strung a bucket of water over the door to the Elder Chambers so the Elders got doused entering.

I took the punishment for them because the older boys were whipped much worse than a girl my size and age would be. Some of the boys had stripe scars on their backs from whippings they'd gotten.






***


The prisoners began thinking up pranks for us. One of their ideas was to put the spike sticks they used to control unruly prisoners in the Elder Council chairs. The spike sticks are hollow needles with a tiny bit of potion in them. They combine calming and paralysis. The Chambers sessions had to be cancelled that day.

A Dunmer on the row marked for death suggested that raw goats stomachs made a loud poop sound when you sat on them. The boys swiped some from the kitchen and helped me to put them in the Elder Council and Judge's seats. We slit the cloth of the seat and pulled the wadding out, then slid the stomachs in below the cloth cover.

I wasn't the only one that hid in the Council Chambers to see the pompous Elders in their stiff robes loudly farting as they sat down. They were in a rage.

That was the last session of the Elder Council to meet at the Compound. The entire Council moved to the Palace immediately after that incident. Prisoners that had hearings scheduled were moved to the Palace prison. The dares for pranks went back to targeting the Legion.

Commander Phillida became involved in my punishments when he and Hieronymus Lex woke up to find beards made of smeared bootblacking on their faces and a good sized hunk of hair missing from the top of their heads. By then I was already immediately the first suspect called in whenever any prank was pulled. His punishments were much more severe. Worse, his face would redden with rage, it was frightening. I only accepted two more dares against him.

The first was the live slaughterfish that Commander Phillida found swimming in his bath when he stepped into it. The second, on Saturalia Commander Phillida's expensive private wine collection disappeared. Each prisoner got a bottle of it as a Saturalia present.

What ended being one of my last pranks at the Compound was a mass bedwetting; dipping the Legion's hands in warm water while they slept. We all participated. The night shift dorms should have been empty at that hour, I was just slipping through to access the unguarded door below it. I was well into the room before I realized Hieronymus Lex was sleeping in there. His arms were wrapped around someone I recognized as a young guard of the South Watch.

I carefully positioned the warm water below his dangling hand and raised the bowl, submerging the hand. The sound of his bladder releasing was immediately followed by a yelp from his companion.

"WHAT THE HELL? You just pissed on me!"

Smothered giggles burst from the corridor, followed by running feet as the orphans that had heard scurried away before getting caught. I ran, but not before I caught the look of hatred on Lex's face. He'd seen me.
















Those first years at the orphanage it felt like a battlegrounds was taking place within me; like fragments of magic bounced off each other and acted as catalysts on everything they touched. It left me feeling jittery and nervous, and was the cause of a lot of my accidents, or at least I thought it was.

Whenever I was at my weakest, I could feel it gaining in strength inside me. Sometimes it felt so strong that I was afraid I might combust spontaneously. Those times it overwhelmed, I could feel a severing of something inside me, a disconnect of...myself. It was as if I watched myself from the void while my body moved and talked without my control.

Realizing my parents had really died, and later learning Nissy had lied to me about them; those weakened everything in me. In those moments somewhere deep inside me it felt like something foreign was winning a battle against me. Even when that place lay dormant I could still feel it there, knew it was still there inside me.

Maybe everyone had this inside them, I didn't know if this was normal or not...but I never heard anyone else discussing anything even remotely similar, so was afraid to talk about it to the others.

There were already plenty enough things others could point to about me that were considered odd, or freakishly different. I wasn't going to chance losing the friendships and closeness of the others by mentioning it. I tentatively brought it up to the house mother.

"Parasites." She pronounced, and doused me with a potion that made me very ill at my stomach. I clammed up about it after that.

Through the next four years, I guess I became accustomed to it. Then something happened that changed everything.


















The orphans weren't allowed out when the Legion practiced with their swords on the lawns of the quad that housed the orphanage, but I'd found myself drawn to watch them with an intensity.

Deep inside me that unconnected place that usually warred for control suddenly came alive; but instead of a battle it felt like it melded in until it was fully a part of me. From that moment on it felt like we had become one.

I'd picked up a stick laying under the tree I was hiding behind to watch the practice; was pretending it was a sword, waving it in a rudimentary imitation of the training moves.

Suddenly it felt like my body belonged to someone else. I began moving with grace and agility, kicking my shoes off to feel the cool grass and clay against my feet and battling the tree with the stick as if it were an enemy attacking.

The stick snapped off after I'd tried to thrust. Behind me I heard a handclapping. I spun to see Leland and another of the older guards applauding. I held up the broken stick, the 'hilt' of it still in my hand.

"My sword broke."

"Can't fight with broken equipment." Leland winked and elbowed his friend. "Think we should let her try a real sword?"

"Can I? Please?"

"Go ahead and teach the beast, Leland. Lay you five Septims she cuts you."






***


Leland drew his training shortsword out, and I felt a shiver go down my spine at the sound of the metal leaving the sheath. I could barely hear Leland's instructions on how to hold it for the rush of excitement within me as I reached for it.

He placed it in my hand and instantly it felt like an extension of me that had been missing. The metal hilt warmed to the touch of my hand as if welcoming me back. The sword in my hand felt as familiar as breathing, or the sound of my own voice. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, my heart was pounding. I'd never felt so whole as I did in that moment, not since that day in the Legion office.

Leland was instructing, but I couldn't hear his words. Instead I was hearing the blade itself; the singing sounds it made, the changes in vibration and tone with each different movement.

Something deep within me reverberated hearing it, as if I'd known it for centuries and knew in advance every sound it was going to make. The other guard gave Leland his sword to use for the sparring, and with my eyes still closed I found myself visualizing the position of his blade, knew when it was sweeping or thrusting by the sound it made. It was more than familiar to me, it felt as if I'd been sparring with blades for lifetimes upon lifetimes. I knew this.

Sometimes it felt like I watched us from another realm, like seeing a beautiful dance; dodging and blocking, or stepping forward to meet Leland for a parry of blades, the embracing of our swords before the dance separated us again. I felt like a completely different person with a sword in my hand.

"Geelaw, Leland! That beast is a natural!" The other guard's voice sounded awed.

Leland offered to train me after the guard's practice ended every day. I'd always arrive early and watch them, letting the aromas linger in my nostrils; old leather and glycerin soap, steel, the sweetness of male sweat so intense and distinct. I'd kick my shoes off, just feeling the cool grass and clay beneath my feet. It felt like an ages old ritual, honing my senses before a big battle. I absorbed everything he taught, but inside me it seemed like an echo of what was already there.

Maybe it was just another thing they could point out that was freakish about me (and they did), but I didn't care if I was different about this.





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Posted by: mALX Mar 23 2010, 01:06 PM

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Chapter 3: Alix Lencolia



Alix Lencolia was the BladeMaster that trained and tested the Legion on their advanced Blade skills. I'd always watched him from our dorm window because we weren't allowed outside when he was on the grounds. I had to sneak out to spar with Leland that day.

Alix was teaching in the next quad. When his blade instruction ended he came over, hailing Leland before approaching me.

�I almost got stabbed watching you instead of what I should have been." He hesitated.

The fear hit me that he would turn me in to Phillida. "Please, I'm not supposed to be out here."

"Did I see you practicing with your eyes closed?� Alix rested his hand on his sword hilt in an intriguing way. I nodded, trying to imitate his stance.

�I always do.�

�How do you do it?�

"I don't know, it comes from somewhere in here." I thumped my fist on my chest. "Do you want me to show you?"

He nodded, and I pointed at his shod feet. "You'll have to take your boots and socks off first so you can feel it." He pulled his boots off and set them a ways back.

"You have to feel everything like you are a part of it, first the grass on your feet. No, you have to close your eyes. Okay, now smell the air. Tell me when you're ready." I waited for his signal.

"Okay. Now keep your eyes closed and stand perfectly still. You have to be very quiet." I drew my sword from my sheath very slowly, savoring the sound of it.

His eyes popped open. �I�ve never heard it like this before!�

"Your eyes have to be shut to hear, just listen to it. Close your eyes again and listen for the sounds. First I'll do a sweep, then a thrust." I closed my eyes. Alix stopped me.

"Hold up."

I don't think Alix trusted he wouldn't be stabbed since my eyes were shut. He asked if I would spar with him instead and let him watch me.

"Would I! Er...I mean yes, I would like that very much!"

He started off with all the moves Leland used, then did some I didn't recognize. I stopped him and opened my eyes.

�Wait, what was that you just did? And that move before it? I�ve never done those in training, what are they?�

�Those are moves only the Masters know.�

�Will you teach them to me?�

�Not today, but I promise I will.�






***


In my excitement I'd almost done a little jig and sang out a "YIPEE!" song, but lurched to a stop after a couple convulsions. "Oops. I'm not allowed to sing and dance. Commander Phillida calls the healers. Once he thought prisoners were being tortured."

Alix barked out a choking laugh and then strangled it into a cough.

"It's okay to laugh, it doesn't bother me."

He sat down on the grass, indicating I should join him. That signaled my practice with him was over. I plunked down in front of him, watching his expressions closely. I caught his eyes encompassing my ragged clothes and tried to brush some dirt from them. It immediately smudged. His glance flickered at the prison side of the Compound before he spoke.

�Is your father stationed here with the Legion?� It was the first time he had spoken to me as if I were a child.

�I don�t have parents, I live in the orphanage over there.� I pointed.

�They have an orphanage in the prison compound? I didn�t know about it.�

�We aren�t allowed out when people are around. This is where they place the un-adoptable children.�

�Why are the children un-adoptable?� His voice softened in a way only a Breton's can.

�Beast races like me aren't desired. Some are just too old, people always want a baby. Once a child is old enough to get into trouble, no one wants them.�

Alix plucked a blade of grass and wet it with his tongue. He held it tightly on his mouth and blew on it, making a strange sort of whistle sound using the blade of grass. I was thoroughly intrigued, and plucked a blade myself. I tried to imitate him, but only heard the sound of my own breath blowing. Before I could ask how he did it, he distracted me with a question.

�Do you get into trouble a lot?�

I choked. �Oh�er...cough, cough. Only a very little.� The mock discreet voice didn't work any better than covering the lie with a fake cough. His eyes reflected he saw right through them, but to my relief they lit with amusement.
























I was practicing my letters and a shadow fell across the parchment. I looked up to see Commander Phillida standing in front of me with his mouth open as if he'd hesitated mid action to decide how to phrase what he was going to say.

"What did I do?" My mind flew to the bedwetting prank I'd pulled on Hieronymus Lex. A full two days had passed since then, and I hadn't been called down for punishment yet. I tried to school a 'mournful but innocent' look on my face, not really sure how to do either. I'd overheard the lawyers instructing the prisoners to make that face when I was eavesdropping in the Elder Council Chambers.

A scowl came across his face and his mouth clamped shut. After an internal struggle that was visibly seen fluctuating across his face in ripplings of tensed muscles, he shook his head. �We'll discuss that on your return."

Whatever he had been about to say, he'd changed his mind about confronting me right now. That wasn't like him, especially when it was obvious I had a punishment coming. Something was up. I gave up trying to make the face, but kept it in memory in case that was what had turned the tide in my favor.

He cleared his throat. "Pack your things. You are going for a home visit, and I expect you to make a good impression. Is that understood?�

A what? "Huh? What is a home visit?"

"Alix Lencolia has applied to adopt you. You may never have another chance like this, so I suggest you use your time with him wisely."

"Huh? I thought we were unadoptables." What was he talking about? Was I hearing right?

Commander Phillida let out his breath in a gust before answering. "You will spend one weekend with him. This is a trial, to give him an opportunity to consider more carefully after seeing how you behave. It is an opportunity for you, Maxical. A home and family instead of this orphanage. I expect you to make the best impression you can so he does not change his mind about wanting you as his daughter."

"His daughter? I don't understand." What did he mean, I'd be his daughter? I heard Phillida's teeth grinding in response.

"He's talking about placing you with that man you play swords with, Ma'Thjizzrini Qa." Nissy whispered in Ta'agra.

I gaped at Commander Phillida. "You mean I'd live with him? At his house?" I felt a warm spark of excitement. Living with Alix, practicing Blade all the time? I couldn't imagine anything better than that!

"The best advice I can give you would be to talk to your house mother and a few of the older residents in your dorm here. If you learn nothing else, remember this. I order you to be on your best behavior!" He pointed his finger at me for emphasis. We heard his feet stomping the whole way down the steps.










***


"I don't understand, isn't this a good thing? Why is he so mad about it?"

"Couldn't you tell? He's afraid you'll mess up and the adoption won't go through."

I sank down on the bed feeling a knot forming in my stomach. For the first time since coming here I had hope dangling within grasps reach. This place took your caring about anything away, now suddenly it was back. I wanted this adoption to go through so badly it scared me to even think about it not happening, but all the will in the world couldn't make me any smarter or less clumsy. Could I even hope to get through a whole weekend without some disaster happening? Would Alix forgive a few mess-ups?

"So am I." I barely whispered it, but Nissy heard.

"Ma'Thjizzrini Qa, if you'd just behave he'll have to want you. He likes playing swords with you."

Nissy's eyes were huger than normal. She understood without need of words everything going through my mind, I could read that in them; but behind it she looked sad and scared. I suddenly realized that mournful sounded like the expression she had right now.

"What is it, Nissy?"

"Ma'Thjizzrini Qa, will you ask him to adopt me too?"

"Can I? Will it get me into trouble? I mean, could it make Alix change his mind about wanting me?"

Nissy looked even sadder if that was possible. She half nodded, half shrugged. "Knowing there are two of us might scare him off. Especially if...you know. If you mess up somehow. These people want perfect children. Listen, don't spring it on him right away. Talk about me, but wait till you're sure he still wants you before you ask about me."

"Do you think I should suggest he choose you instead? You'll behave, and then you can work on him to accept me."

"Only if he rejects you first. He wants you because of the swords."

"Let's swear on it. Whichever of us he picks will plead for the other." I spat on my hand and raised it facing her. She did the same and we clasped the slimy hands and kissed each other's cheeks to seal the vow.

" I want this badly, Nissy. I'll try to behave, but you know sometimes things happen that I don't mean to do."






***





Our room packed up quickly with older orphans that had been through these home visits themselves, then been rejected at the end of the weekend. They were full of truthful advice. This was no time to paint a rosy picture, that was clear by the number of them that had been rejected, some more than once. That hope that felt so close I could grasp it a little while ago may as well have slid back into the void it came from.

"You'll be back. He only wants you because you both like swords, but once he sees how you behave he'll be dumping you back off here like yesterdays garbage."

"How do you know about it already? I just found out!"

"Everybody knows. We've already been taking bets on it. Listen to me, Maxical. Getting doors slammed in your face is nothing compared to someone getting to know you and deciding they don't want you. These home visits are like a test, they'll be comparing you to a dream they have of some perfect child. If you don't make them love you in one weekend, you come back here a failure."

"A test? I hate tests! Can't we just skip this home visit?"

"No, it's the law. They have to let him see what he's getting himself into. Phillida wants rid of you badly, if there was a way to get around this home visit he'd already have done it. You think he hates you now, see how much worse it gets if you're rejected after this home visit."

"He isn't the only one you'll have to be worrying about, either. You can play swords with him, but what about his wife?"

"His wife?" I blanched, turning even whiter if that was possible.

"Maybe she likes swords too." Nissy's voice was hopeful. I shot her a grateful glance.






***


"Even the guards are taking bets you'll mess this adoption up. So far Leland and Pilus are the only two betting on you making it. Pilus said he just likes to bet longshots, hoping one will come in and make him wealthy."

"They're all betting on me failing?"

"Yup. Most of the boys dorm bet in the guard's pool. I'm taking all the girl's action. You can't bet against yourself because you could throw your chances, but if you want to bet to win I'll take it. By the way, did you know Lex is gone now?"

"Gone! What do you mean?"

"Lex has removed himself to the South Watch Tower and refuses to return as long as you're here. What'd you do to him?"

"You know, the bedwetting incident."

"Everyone got caught in that, what's so special about him?"

My face flushed. "He was in bed with that young guard from the South Watch and peed on him."

She spun around to a tall Altmer girl. "I called it, you need to pay up!"

"Lex gets more jobs than he gets paid for, it seems." The Altmer girl said, digging in her pocket for the coin.

Nissy and I stared dumbfounded while the rest of the room laughed.

"Huh?"

"Never mind, it's forbidden knowledge. Listen, Phillida was in a tirade over Lex leaving, and just got another bill for repairs you've cost him. You'd better hope that adoption goes through." She stood up to leave, but snatched the sweetroll from my nightstand first. She took a large bite of it and then held it up to me. I waved her to take the bitten roll.

"I can't help being clumsy."

"You'd better find a way, I'm betting on you to win."

The girl taking the bets shook her head no. "Liar."

When they were gone I turned to Nissy; too scared to cry, but could feel the tears burning like acid in my eyes. "I'm never going to make it, am I?"

"We'll run away together if you don't. We've always got each other, Maxical. Just remember your promise to me if they keep you."

"I'll never forget you, Nissy. Never."


*

Posted by: D.Foxy Mar 23 2010, 05:23 PM

Oh heck. Here I am in, and I have a nit to pick.

Poetic, and beautiful, mALX. And even rather close to the truth. But IRL, it's slightly different - master swordsmen 'feel' instictively the attack of their enemy, NOT from the sound of the blade through the air, but from the touch of the blade against their own as they parry or block.

I have seen this IRL with my masters, one of whom actually showed me that he could parry my two wooden swords with his own twinset...after the first touch he closed his eyes, and still parried and blocked me easily for about two minutes before he casually flicked a strike straight through my defense.

In fencing terms this is called 'having the touch'. You find this in some martial arts disciplines, too - in fact Jet Kune Do specifically trains for this.

But apart from that...DELIGHTFUL BEGINNING!!!

Posted by: mALX Mar 23 2010, 09:17 PM

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Chapter 4: The Home Visit


Two guards escorted me for my probationary visitation, I probably looked like a prisoner to the people we passed...and felt like one. I was nervous...terrified, actually. I was terrified of failing, returning to the orphanage rejected by Alix. Terrified of seeing the look of rejection on his face, of knowing it would be the end of our practices together. I'd lose everything.

This would be nothing like seeing Alix at the blade practice. Everything about this felt wrong; unnatural...formal and stiff. Then there was the tension about meeting Alix�s wife. Probably a Breton like him. I didn�t imagine Alix wanting to bring a beast home and adopt it going over well with her.

All the orphans that had been through this themselves warned me off getting attached; and how much worse the rejection felt when someone that had gotten to know them slammed the door on them. They'd all been through the Legion trying to place them too, but called this the ultimate rejection. I could see it in their eyes while they talked; humiliation and the kind of pain that cuts deep and doesn't go away.

Several advised me to deliberately blow it, take the pressure off. I wasn't sure if it was because they had bet on me to fail, but to be honest a part of me wanted to follow their advice. As they said, at least then I'd hold the power over whether I was rejected, it wouldn't come as a knife in the dark after trying my hardest.

I hadn't slept and had barely eaten in days, dreading this trial visit. I wished we could have gone on just the way we were; that Alix never applied to adopt me. I've never felt so much pressure, was physically ill from it.

My only firm plan was to watch Alix, gauge what he was thinking. I'd decided to run away straight from his home if I thought he didn't want me, never return to the orphanage and face them knowing Alix had rejected me. Maybe they'd assume he'd gone through with adopting me.






***


The guards stopped at an Inn, I thought for a meal. My stomach was in knots, I had no desire to eat. As they were lifting me down from the horse, the door of the Inn opened and Alix came out. It turned out he lives there.

It felt completely different than meeting him at the quad for blade practice. I felt shy and awkward, nauseated and slightly faint. I had a strong urge to burst out crying and didn't know why or if I could stop it. I just stood staring at the ground, fighting to keep from bawling or vomiting. One or the other felt imminent.

�It feels strange for only a short while, then they will leave and we will practice. Will that make you feel more comfortable?�

Alix's voice, but speaking in my own native tongue broke through my intense focus on my shoes, startling me into looking up. I breathed in relief and nodded, somehow comforted by hearing Ta'agra coming from Alix.

When Alix introduced me to his wife it was a welcome shock that brought an instant easing of the tension in my stomach. She was Khajiit.

Not even Alix could have made me feel more welcome than S'Jirra did. She chattered incessantly as she took me up to my room, mostly about how long they had prayed for a child. She said I would fit into their family just perfectly. I hoped they would still feel that way after they saw how I behaved.

S'Jirra had taken a lot of care in setting up one of the guest rooms for me, and proudly showed me every alteration she'd made to turn it into a room that would suit a little girl about to turn seven.

A princess could have stayed in it and not complained. Pink ruffled curtains tied back with ribbon hung in the window and off an arched thing on top of the bed. I pointed to it, wide-eyed.

"What's that?"

"That's a canopy, dear. Alix added these tall posts to the bed, but it looked too severe for a little girl. I made him get right back out there and build the canopy. This will be your room from now on."

A doll made of rags rested on the pillow. I grabbed it up and hugged to my chest.

S'Jirra beamed. "I made that for you."






***


A silver dagger lay angled on the dresser along with a travel pack that wasn't made like the Cyrodiil packs. There was an odd pattern of discolored brown spots that looked like someone had recently tried to scrub off, the leather was still wet. It struck a chord of recognition in my memory and made a sickening knot form in my stomach. Those spots had been red when I'd seen them. This was the same pack I'd seen that day in the Legion office where all my memories stop.

"How did you get this?" When I looked up S'Jirra was watching me, her eyes looking like she may cry any second.

"That pack and dagger belonged to your mother, dear. Commander Phillida gave them to Alix yesterday."

"My mother's?" I sunk down on the bed in shock, fingering the pack carefully. How could I remember a pack, but not my own mother?

S'Jirra picked up a gold locket on a chain from the dresser and sat down beside me on the bed. "This was hers too. The locket opens up, see? You can put something you treasure inside it." She clasped the locket around my neck for me, then held me gently.

I cried, but the tears and ache inside me were for not having any memory of my mother. I fell asleep cradled in her arms, clutching my mother's pack and the ragdoll.

When I woke S'Jirra was still there holding me. The pressure and worry I'd felt all week was gone. Everything felt right here, like I belonged already. I had no doubt Phillida was pushing this adoption through if he'd already given my mother's things to them. Everyone had warned me not to get attached, but...there was no way not to.






***


Alix kept his promise and took me out to practice, teaching me several new moves while S'Jirra watched from the porch. He said that everything he knew of blades came from here, pointing to his head. He said with me it all came from my heart, and that was a gift.

The weekend flew by. I talked a lot about Nissy, but never mentioned adopting her too. I won�t lie and say I behaved the whole weekend, though I did try to. Some things got broken, and I did some things wrong, mostly pranks. Most weren�t deliberate.

I'd discovered you could access the roof from the hill behind the Inn if you ran and then leaped. S�Jirra has hundreds of Jumbo potatoes around that she uses to make the best potato bread I've ever tasted. It was only natural for me to play with the potatoes on the roof because they would roll down it and drop off.

A Legionnaire was riding up for the luncheon just as a potato was rolling down, it was too late to stop it. The potato hit the ground behind the horse and rolled quickly under a bush. The horse went into a frenzy, dumping the mounted and taking off at a dead run. The Legionnaire didn�t see me and blamed Alix, cursing him. I thought I was going to see a fight for a minute.

While on the roof I found a birds nest with baby birds in it. I brought it in to show S�Jirra, and an angry mother bird flew in behind me and disrupted the lunch crowd.

The worst thing I did was truly an accident. A Forester that frequents the Inn was trying to teach me archery with an old training bow Alix found in the basement. The arrows went everywhere but where I was aiming. I accidentally stuck the Forester with an arrow. That was the end of my archery lessons. He finally accepted my apology, but I didn't get the feeling he forgave me for it.

It was the last day of my probationary visitation when I tried to slide down the steps on a serving tray and crashed into Abhuki, knocking her down. She was carrying a platter of orders that flew out of her hands. Several things got broken and the orders had to be re-filled. Abhuki owns the Inn.

�It�ll be a miracle from the Gods if we ever see another customer. These past two days have cost more than the entire year before.� Abhuki grumbled.

Somehow between S'Jirra's doting fondness and Phillida giving them my mother's possessions in advance I'd forgotten that Alix and S�Jirra could still change their minds about wanting to adopt me. With a sickening twisting of my stomach it suddenly struck me forcibly, the realization that they could. That they might.

That realization, the fear; I know it showed on my face, I could see reflections of their reactions to it building in their eyes. I'd planned to gauge their thoughts, but here was the moment for me to do it and I couldn't. My mind was frozen in the fear that I'd lost everything. No amount of being sorry would take back what I'd done, what I'd cost them.






***


My mind was churning a flood of images, the universal rejection on all those faces as they slammed their doors closed to me. I couldn't stand seeing that same look on Alix and S'Jirra's faces, not from them.

My breathing constricted in my chest with a choking sound. I ran, blindly pushing through the door and out the gate.

At Alix's practice field I ground to a helpless stop, not knowing where else to go. A thick forest ringed the clearing of the Inn, with only a rutted dirt trail winding through the brush leading to it. The dark woods terrified me, Abhuki said it was filled with wild beasts. My mother's dagger lay on the dresser in my room, I'd have no defense if animals attacked me. I turned first one way then the other, not knowing what to do.

The sound of the creaking front door was followed by a footfall I recognized as Alix's. My arms and legs felt rigid with fear that if I turned and looked he'd be carrying my things. I couldn't bear hearing Alix say he'd changed his mind, wished he'd sent S�Jirra...no. I couldn't take her not wanting me either.

Alix's hand touched my shoulder, but I couldn�t turn to face him and kept my face averted. My heart was pounding in my chest and it hurt to breathe. His hand slid down my arm and turned my shaking hand palm up. I expected my mother�s pack, or the dagger. Instead Alix placed his silver longsword in my hand.

The sword warmed in my hand, comforted. An old friend that is beside you when everyone else is gone. A tear slid down my cheek in spite of my effort to hold it back, and then Alix spoke.

�There is nothing you could ever do that would cause us to stop loving you, or wanting you to be our daughter. You need never be afraid again. You are as much a part of us as that sword is a part of you. That is my silver longsword, I�ve had it since I was your age. I am pledging it to you as a vow that I mean this from the heart. You need never doubt our love again.�

�I can�t behave, no matter how hard I try.� My voice was raw.

�Then I guess our lives will be that much more exciting for you being with us."

The air released from my chest in a rush, breaking the hold I had on my control. Alix lifted me up and held me tightly while I cried.

Alix said he believed some children just had more spirit than others, like some horses were more spirited than others. He didn't believe in breaking a child�s spirit by punishing them for ill deeds. I told him I hoped they were on good terms with the Gods then, and he laughed.

Almost five years in an orphanage that even its name tells you there is no hope that you'll ever have a home and family, ever be loved. It was over. I thanked all the gods whose names I could remember for Alix and S'Jirra, they couldn't have picked a better home for me. Alix and S'Jirra doted on me, even after they saw how I behaved.

I had to leave the dagger there when they took me back to the compound at the end of my probationary visitation. Alix said Commander Phillida wouldn�t sleep nights if he knew I was armed. He lay the dagger on my dresser and said it would be there waiting for me to come home. They escorted me back and then went immediately to start the adoption proceedings. I'd forgotten to ask them about adopting Nissy.



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Posted by: mALX Mar 23 2010, 10:22 PM

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@ Acadian - I liked it better too, I was trying to stay away from it being overly ooky. Not sure if I accomplished that, but it is still less than the first, lol. Thank you so much Acadian!
***
@ Olen - Thank you very much! I am trying to revamp the original, it is just too long, and there were some parts that on re-read months later just seemed...sappy. So I am attempting to cut them out and slim down the size some, lol. Thank you Olen!
***
@ Destri Melarg - I have been putting a lot of Alix into the latest chapters due to him having no role for so long - and now there is Barbas, who mysteriously likes Alix for something other than a meal, lol. I'll have to wait a bit to post them and re-read them to see if they will fly, lol. Thank you so very much Destri!
***
@ Winter Wolf - Lol, I can get a screenie of her on the roof easily enough, I wonder...maybe using the duplication glitch to roll potatoes down and quick jump back for a screenshot, lol. I'll see what I can do. Couldn't have the story without the dagger, lol. Thank you so much Wolf !!!!!











*

Chapter 5: The Day Of Fathis Aren



The fourth good thing that came out of my time at the orphanage was a matter of perfect timing, although I didn't consider it a good thing at the time.

Being a ward of the state you are sometimes given the opportunity for a benefactor to pay for schooling. Fathis Aren comes annually to choose one orphan to receive a year paid tuition at the Arcane University, the school of magic. It is a real opportunity for a needy child who would not else get the chance, at least that is what we were told.

Eavesdropping netted me much more information than that. I was sneaking through the Legion dorms to pull a prank, but midway in several guards entered through the opposite door. I dove under a bed and froze, not able to leave without being seen. What I overheard; I really didn't know what it meant, but guessed it must be forbidden knowledge. My eyes nearly popped from my head listening.

"What [censored] bee got into Phillida's butt?"

"It's that [censored] rich Court Mage from Castle Bravil, Fathis Aren. He comes early tomorrow. Phillida always gets like this when a big purse comes."

"Aren? Isn't he that Dunmer that always looks like he's ate bad meat?"

�That's him. His expression is perpetual boredom, as if he'll die of ennui at any given moment if his age doesn�t get him first.� He made his voice airy and drawled his words mockingly.

�He isn�t bored, he just thinks he's better than the working class.�

�True there.� A deep voice grunted.

�He is bored. Court life will drag the life out of you.� An older voice sounded.

�All the women he gets? He sure ain't bored!� A younger man scoffed.

�Pilus is right, he can�t be bored. Fathis gets it more than Uriel Septim, women come looking for him. If you ask me, he donates to the orphans because he fathered over half of them. The rest are Uriel�s so he considers it his patriotic duty to care for them.� Raucous laughter followed that.

�He�s a womanizer all right. He could repopulate Cyrodiil single-handed if the need arose. I've heard stories..."

"Married women hound him, I know that for a fact.� Someone interrupted.

�Get out of here!� Something was thrown and hit the wall with a thud.

�He�s not exaggerating, I�ve heard them. You forget I used to work the gates. You hear and see everything there.� The older voice said.

�That's truth, I worked them for a while myself. You wouldn�t believe some of the things I heard.� Another piped in.

�I worked mounted for five years; you can't take a step in Cyrodiil without tripping over one of Uriel�s bastards, and there's always two of Fathis�s right behind them.� The older voice said. A roar of loud laughter and jeering followed.

"How many of your own did you trip over Leland?" Someone called out. I took advantage of the noise to slip out.






***


The paperwork was still in the process of being completed for Alix and S�Jirra to adopt me; so I was there the day Fathis Aren came.

Only the beautiful human children were put on display when rich people showed up with their gold pouches opened, beast races were kept out of sight. My window overlooked the row of immaculate children being lined up for Fathis to interview, so my room quickly filled with children wanting to watch.

The magic arts didn't interest me anyway, and my future was already secured with my adoption in the works. The idea of climbing out the window and dropping into the line with the others was merely for a prank, to shock the rich Court Mage when he saw a cat within the ranks of Imperial children.

When I climbed out on the ledge though, it frightened what must have been all of Tamriel�s pigeon population into flight at once. They circled back to defend their roosting spot and chaos followed.

Some of them made a bee-line for the window I had opened, frightening the other children that had been banned from attending Fathis Aren�s arrival. They barreled down the steps and burst screaming out the door.

An air attack of no small proportions began on the row of immaculate children; they were shrieking as they dodged the pigeon attacks.

Some windows were broken in the melee that ensued, and the office of Commander Phillida was compromised. He charged out of his office followed by several Imperial Guards with the flock of angry birds in hot pursuit. Fathis Aren arrived just in time to see the pandemonium.

Commander Phillida was bellowing curses while he and two guards were chasing me across the quad. I glanced back to see if they were gaining on me and was mesmerized by the enormous glob of pigeon poop splashed across Phillida�s brow that looked like it might drip down into his open mouth. Not wanting to miss the moment it did, I continued to run forward while craning my head behind to watch.

At the last second before crashing into him, I glanced forward to see a Dunmer watching the scene with a look of unholy amusement on his face. I leaped onto his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging tightly.

�Save me!� I gasped in Ta'agra as Phillida and the Imperial Guards came roaring up.






***


My motto is �when in doubt, fake a faint� so I did, letting my head loll back and my arms droop down limply.

�Little minx. It rather looks like they need saving from you.� Fathis said quietly, and in perfect Ta'agra.

I stiffened, opening one eye to see if I'd heard right. He was watching my face and caught me. His slanted red eyes were laughing. I quickly veiled my eyes again, letting the long lashes close down with just a slit left open to watch the action.

When they saw it was Fathis Aren, Phillida and the guards ground to a halt, trying to act dignified. That is hard to do with angry red faces covered in pigeon poop.

�Sir, we apologize for this disruption. I can�t imagine what you must be thinking, I assure you�� Phillida broke off, pulling a hankie out and wiping the bird droppings from his face.

�Am I to assume by this greeting that you were not expecting my arrival today?� Fathis asked, his voice inscrutable.

�No sir, I mean yes sir. We expected you. That is, you were expected. We have some candidates over here, if you would like to�Guards! Get Maxical and take her and the others back inside so Fathis can meet the children we have selected for his�that is the children that show promise.�

Commander Phillida pointed to the once immaculate children, who were now a mess. Their hair and clothing was askew and covered in bird droppings, as was the lawn around them.

�I have never asked for a selection, you were to show me all. Have I been wrong in assuming you followed my instructions, and that the determination of promise would be left up to me?� Fathis sounded stern. If fiery red eyes can look cold, his did.

�No sir. Well, to be honest sir, we were under the�that is to say we thought you only meant the human children.� Phillida corrected himself.

�I never said that.� Fathis sounded angry.






***


While still trying to give the appearance of being blacked out, I had buried my face in Fathis�s neck and was sniffing loudly. He was scented! I had never smelled a man wearing scent before.

The guards were trying to pull me out of Fathis�s arms and I clung tighter around his neck, giving up my fake blackout.

�Is this child to be punished?� Fathis�s voice indicated no preference in the matter, but the guards stopped tugging at me.

�Yes sir!�Er, what would you have us do sir?� Phillida hemmed and hawed.

�When they said you were a womanizer, was it because you wear scent like a woman?� I asked in Ta'agra. Fathis nearly choked.

�Where did you hear that?� He asked, speaking in Ta'agra.

�I hear talk. They said you could repopulate Cyrodiil single-handedly if the need arose. Is that true? What does it mean?� I leaned closer and sniffed him some more.

Fathis did choke. �I don't want to know anything more you have overheard. You should never repeat what you hear eavesdropping, which I'm sure you did to have heard that.� He sounded stern, but his red eyes looked amused.

�But if I don�t know what something means, how can I know not to repeat it? Is it something�shocking?� I tried to sound innocent, but was intrigued. Was it forbidden knowledge? I was determined to learn what it meant now.

�You are too young to be overhearing these things. That should be a lesson not to eavesdrop.� Fathis was struggling to sound stern. There was laughter behind it, and his eyes held the same.






***


�I didna' set out to eavesdrop. I was sneaking through the men�s dorms while they slept.�

�What were you doing in the men�s dorms then?�

�If you dip their hands in warm water while they sleep, their bladders loose in their beds. It's boring here, there's nothing to do. If I can�t stand it another second, sometimes I pull pranks.�

Fathis barked a laugh, but then got serious. �I understand boredom very well. But you must never go in those dorms at night again. Men can be dangerous, you could be harmed. Give me your word you'll not sneak into the dorms again. Do I have it then? And no crossed fingers behind my neck, I felt that.�

�Do I have to spit on my hand?�

�I hope you won�t. I may drop you quickly if I see spit.�

I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck and sniffed him some more. �You sure smell good Fathis Aren. When I'm grown, I want to marry a man who smells just like you.�

�You, my girl, are a little minx!� Fathis said. �Remember what I said, never go in there again.�

Khajiit read people through their eyes, I found Fathis to be not what I expected at all. He gave orders that I not be punished.






***


The guard Pilus popped his head in the door. �You have a visitor, Maxical.�

I was surprised to see Fathis Aren below. �Fathis!� I ran toward him with a smile, then looked around. �Where's Alix? They said I had a visitor.�

�I�m the visitor.� Fathis said, smiling. �You looked glad to see me, come. Take a turn in the yard with me, I have something to talk to you about.�

�Am I in trouble for those things I said? I didn�t know what they meant�then.� I flushed red as a tomato. I'd found out what they meant since.

�Nae, you're in no trouble. I came to tell you about a plan for your future. I'm giving a full scholarship for you to attend the Arcane University.�

�But I�m getting adopted, I don�t need to know anything now.� The fear hit me that the adoption had fallen through.

�I talked to Alix and S�Jirra before coming here. They are thrilled for you to have this opportunity. You'll have five years before your studies begin, but I'll be visiting to bring you elementary spell lessons to practice at home."

I wasn't thrilled to have the opportunity, but breathed relief that I had five years to talk Alix and S'Jirra out of it. I nodded, trying not to show my lack of enthusiasm. Fathis touched my cheek, leaving a hint of his scent behind. I rubbed the back of my hand against my cheek and sniffed it, waving goodbye with my other hand.

Fathis no sooner walked out when Alix walked in. Now that I was sure they'd be adopting me, I had to ask about Nissy. I hemmed and hawed, not knowing how to start.

"Er...remember my best friend Nissy I told you about? She's been crying a lot because I'm leaving, I'm her only close friend here." It wasn't a lie, she had cried; worried they wouldn't take her too. "Er...would you like to meet her?"

Alix nodded. I took his hand and led him up to our room. It was empty. I glanced under each bed, surprised; then peeked into the schrank. Nissy wasn't there.

"I don't understand, she was just here. But you'll really like her. We're like sisters, except she's really well behaved. She'll be so lonely when I'm gone..."

Alix understood, he nodded. "I'll have to ask S'Jirra first, you know that."

"She'll say yes, right? She prayed and prayed for a child...right?"

Alix scooped me up into his arms and squeezed me tight. "Yes, she sure did."









***


The next morning a guard pounded on my door. "They're here for you."

I grabbed my mother's pack off the bed, glancing around the room. I couldn't shake the feeling there was something I was forgetting.

S'Jirra hugged me first. "Where's your friend Nissy? I'd like to meet her. Alix is talking to Audens Avidius right now about adopting her."

I stared blankly at her. "Who?"

"Your friend Nissy, the one you've been telling us about."

Somewhere deep inside me that sickening feeling of not remembering something important was like an incessant needle pricking at me, but my mind kept coming up blank.

"I don't know who you mean, are you adopting someone I know?"

S'Jirra looked stunned and confused. Alix walked up then, shaking his head and giving S'Jirra an odd look.

"Avidius said they've never had anyone named Nisaba here. He looked through the files right in front of me. He said they've had no other Khajiit in the four years Maxical has been here."



*




******* Me And Fathis Aren







*

Posted by: Acadian Mar 23 2010, 11:11 PM

I like this even better than the original. Very well done, mALX!

Posted by: Olen Mar 24 2010, 12:47 AM

I've not read the much spoken of original but this is great.

Thanks for sharing

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 24 2010, 07:56 AM

I agree with Acadian, but I must admit that every time I see �Alix� I think of someone(thing) else.

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 25 2010, 06:18 AM

Who else could think like this except for mALX??!!!?

Great chapter there. I love the reworking you have done!!
Maxical is a adorable rogue right from the very start. Rolling jumbo potatoes down the roof of the inn. That is crazy!! Would make a great screenpic though.

Ah, the silver dagger. Cool.

Posted by: mALX Mar 25 2010, 02:16 PM

*

@ Zalphon - Thank you Zalphon! It is great to have you reading Maxical again!
***
@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so much Wolf - I was going to drop this chapter, but Hauty made a special request for it so it stayed, lol.
***
@ Hauteecole Rider - Thank you very much Hauty! And I posted the pics of Jarol, lol. I almost left this chapter out, I'm glad I didn't now. It was one of my favorites of the earlier chapters too!
***
@ Foxy - Thank you very much Foxy! And you are right, I added some to it, lol. I am cutting out a lot of what I bring here, but the Foxy episodes will all stay intact!
***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! You are greatly appreciated!
***
@ Remko - Yeah! Thank you very much Remko! I appreciate you - especially for bringing "The Contract" over - that means a lot to me, and when I begged, bugged, and slobbered for you to do it, I really didn't think you would! I am glad it is not holed away here like it was at the BGSF, others really should see it!
***
@ Destri Melarg - Thank you so much Destri! I wanted to limit it to 2000 words, but could have come up with plenty more. That chapter was inspired by my older son. I was called daily by the school - no exaggeration.

Friday-Faced = A dismal countenance; melancholy-looking; dejected.


***

Yeah! Foxy!!! See what happens when I don't have your expertise? You are a needed addition to this forum! I planned all kinds of errors in my fights just to draw you in to comment! Yeah !!!!!!! Thank you Foxy! You ROCK !!



*******************

Chapter 6: School Years


S�Jirra tugged at Alix�s arm, leaning in close to whisper in his ear. Khajiit are incapable of whispering quietly, I clearly overheard S'Jirra�s 'imaginary friend'. Were they buying me one? What was it?

Leaving the orphanage felt like a purging, it was freeing as if I�d been there as a prisoner. Leaving it this way; to a family and love, that felt like a miracle I hadn�t even dared pray for.

Alix was pointing out the sights as we walked, but I barely saw them. My mind dwelled heavily on those names they'd asked me about, Nissy and Nisaba. They were a barb stabbing something in me, as if I should know them but didn't. It brought a sick feeling in my stomach for some reason.

They couldn't have been orphans at the compound, I'd know them...wouldn't I? I strained to remember any of my friends from the orphanage but couldn't think of a single name, not even an image of a face. We'd just left there not half an hour ago, why couldn't I remember them?

My room I remembered in explicit detail; where each bed was situated, even the patterns of the quilted covers on each of the beds. Everything but the girls that had filled those other beds.

There were clear glimpses of the guards stationed there, I remembered their names well. Everything except those I would have cared about most, my friends. Their memories were erased as cleanly as my mother's, or my life before that Legion office.

My friends had become faceless and nameless, their voices muted indistinguishable echoes of sound. It was like chapters in a book whose pages blew free from their binding once the moments were passed.

Once settled in my room, all thoughts of the orphanage and who I might have known there were long from my mind. I'd never have believed my life could be this happy...perfect. The next five years flew by in a blink.







***


I thought the matter of going to the Arcane would have been dropped after I went to live with Alix and S�Jirra. It wasn't. Not long after my twelfth birthday they started making preparations for me to go. I cried and pleaded, but it did no good. I promised everything I could think of, including good behavior which I am sure they knew was a promise I couldn�t keep.

My first letters home were spent begging for Alix to come get me and bring me home. I finally realized they wouldn�t give in, and tried to make the best of it. It turned out that I actually loved school and made some very close friends there.

Whether the Arcane loved me was another story. Alix and Fathis got daily mailings from the Arcane about my behavior, but truthfully I only got into major trouble a few times.


**************************************************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

You may be getting a letter from Raminus Polus, but there is no proof I was involved.

Raminus Polus is upset by something that occurred. It seems someone entered the upstairs Mage Apprentice quarters and dipped their hands in warm water while they slept. Raminus is just mad because he was sleeping in there and suffered some embarrassment.

He doesn�t feel comfortable sleeping anymore, and has been spotted pacing in the public areas at night. He sleeps in the mornings while we are in class.


Love, M

**********************************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

If you get a letter from Irlav Jarol, please do not worry that I will be expelled no matter what he says. We all have boot blacking, I�m not the only one that had a tin of it, and any one of us could have used ours up. Alix, it does eventually wear out of skin, does it not? Everything is fine here other than that.



Love, M

**********************************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

If you get a letter from Raminus Polus, he is just being spiteful. Not everyone can get the hang of conjuration their first semester. No one was hurt badly.

Speaking of hurt though, several of my classmates have had to be healed. My professor says I can cast destruction spells with the pros but my aim is so bad that I should apply to fight with the enemies for my allies protection.

I was forced to drop out of Archery class, please don�t tell Forester, it may bring up some bad memories.

Love, M

***********************************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

First off, I am not writing because I have gotten into trouble. Other than the watermelon incident in which no one could prove was me because - well never mind. Irlav Jarol just always blames everything that happens on me.

For your own peace of mind, it may be best if you just tear up any letters from the school that aren�t from me.

Love, M.


*************************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

You may be receiving a letter from Arch Mage Traven and possibly the Imperial Legion, but you can ignore them now. I was in trouble, but Fathis Aren fixed everything. He paid off the guard with a large check and made a huge donation to the Arcane University.

We were just borrowing the horse, not stealing it. The horse wasn�t hurt, and the guard said he will press no charges since Fathis paid him so well.

I had to clean up the manure in Arch Mage Traven�s bedroom, so I�ve already been punished. Oh, and Fathis replaced the Arch Mage's blanket with one much nicer, since the horse chewed up the old one.

Fathis was not mad at all, he did that thing with his lips that you do Alix, when you don�t want someone to know you are smiling. Alix, it was just an experiment, not a prank, I promise.

Arch Mage Traven said he has begun praying to Akatosh for me to graduate. He said I have high spirits. He never stays mad long if everyone would just stop bringing things to his attention.


Love, M

************************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

You may be receiving a letter from Arch Mage Traven and Irlav Jarol. I already wrote Fathis and asked him to pay for the windows in the Arch Mage�s tower. I was not aiming at the windows so was able to honestly tell him that it was an accident.

Irlav Jarol has at least a dozen robes just like that one. How he thinks I can get his robe down from there, I don�t know. I offered to blast it down with a spell and Arch Mage Traven turned as white as me and forbade me do it.

My best friend Delphine Jend asked me to come visit her in Bravil after I graduate. She said she would help me get on with the Mages Guild there. I�d be close to Fathis, but I really don�t want to work there. I found out there is an Arena here where people get paid to fight with swords! That�s what I want to do.

Delphine has a velvet dress that is almost as nice as Fathis�s clothing. I hope I can have a dress like that some day. (HINT, HINT, Alix?)

Arch Mage Traven said I have wicked imps in my eyes, but he was not terribly mad when he said it.


Love, M

*************************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

I may be expelled. You may be receiving a letter from Arch Mage Traven. He is very upset with me. I wrote Fathis and asked him if he could pay for the damages to the grounds. It really was an accident, and that�s the truth this time. Fathis said he will pay for them to lay a nice lawn and garden there. I may have talked them out of expelling me since I only lack five or so semesters from graduation.

Arch Mage Traven is going over my grades to see if I can graduate earlier than the six years. He said he had brown hair when I came and now it is all gray, but that�s not true, his hair is the same color it was when I came.

I really didn�t mean to do it.

Love, M

**********************************

Dear Alix and S�Jirra -

Good news! I am graduating early!

Arch Mage Traven said he needed a long vacation after I graduate. I invited him to the Faregyl, but he declined. He said he'd rather visit the planes of Oblivion to get some peace. His eyes twinkled when he said it, he was just joking.

My best friend Delphine will be getting an award for one of her spells, the Arcane is very excited about it. It is called �Enemies Explode.� She is giving me a copy as a graduation present. Delphine said not to worry about me blowing up anything like I did here, she thinks it's fixed now. I can�t wait for you to meet her. I sent Fathis his invitation already, I hope he'll come.

We have another holiday coming up in two weeks, they're supposed to fix the damages I caused while the students are away. Will Alix be coming to escort me?

Love, M


***************************************************************
***************************************************************








******* Arch Mage Traven


�Fathis, I believe you encourage that child in her mischief by laughing each time.� Arch Mage Traven said in his sternest voice.

�Oh Traven, she is unspoiled. Would you have me read her a lecture? I won�t you know.�

�I would use the term spoiled rather. She is turning this campus upside down.� Traven�s voice reflected his exasperation.

�Irlav Jarol brings it on himself. She is a child with high spirits, that is all. That energy will naturally find a more suitable outlet as she matures. This campus could use some life thrown into it. A morgue has more life in it than Jarol has. The man is positively Fredas-faced. He needs to be retired, or not be in a position to incite the young children.� Fathis signed his name with a flourish on another large donation to the Arcane University.

As he handed it over Fathis added, �Traven, did you never think of hanging your professor�s robes from the towers?�

While Arch Mage Traven was reaching his hand for the donation, his mind was going back in time to a particular professor whose robes had hung from a certain spire �I never tried to blast them up there using a spell, nor broke windows in the process.�

Fathis leaned over and shook Arch Mage Traven�s hand. �For a second there, I saw a flash of wicked imps in your eyes Traven. Let the child grow as she will. The world will smother that life out of her soon enough and I can stand the Septims for any inconvenience.�

Arch Mage Traven shook his head, leaning back in his chair as he watched Fathis exit. His mind traveled once again to that professor. Fathis did have a point, Irlav put him strongly in mind of the man.









******* Maxical


If it hadn't been for Fathis I'd have been pushed out of the Arcane within the first month. Fathis's influence carried a lot of weight, but more often than not his open banque account was what kept me out of trouble; though I didn't learn that till years later.

Very early on I'd started turning to Fathis immediately when problems arose, and only told Alix and S'Jirra about the trouble after Fathis had fixed everything. I thought if they never learned of trouble till it was over, they would never regret having adopted me.

Through the past six years Fathis always came immediately when a messenger was sent, and never once berated me for getting into trouble. Just like he did that first day of meeting him at the orphanage, he'd step in like a shield that no ill will could penetrate. No matter how bad the situation, as soon as Fathis got there he quickly made all right again; as if it never was...usually better than it was before. I felt protected in a way I'd never known.

Fathis had a large rectangular leather-bound book he would pull out from the folds of a thick velvet satchel that hung at his waist. As a child I thought it held powerful magic, because every time he brought it out people's expressions changed from angry rage to smiles and fawning. I learned later it was Fathis's cheque book.

After realizing Fathis was expending gold to right those situations, I always turned to him first because I knew Alix and S'Jirra could never afford to pay the damages. I grew to trust and rely on Fathis for everything.

Fathis visited regularly, bringing me to Castle Bravil and the Palace on Public Days and staying frequently at the Faregyl when I was on vacations, but it was in our letters that a very close friendship developed between us.

There was a turning point in the last two years where the communication between us just seemed to open up in those letters. I told Fathis things I've never discussed with anyone, not even Alix and S'Jirra.

It was Fathis's letters back to me that made me feel closest to him. In them I could almost hear his voice saying the words, and they revealed aspects of him few knew. Certainly no women had seen these other sides of Fathis; although plenty of women saw a side of him I never have, being his ward.

That is the truth. Fathis's reputation with women was the cause of a lot of gossipy tongues wagging over him having a young girl as his ward; but the truth was that for all his womanizing with every other female on Nirn, he treated his guardianship of me as a sacred trust.


*

Posted by: Fiach Mar 25 2010, 05:59 PM

wow I think I read this on an other site a few weeks back

you're extremly talented Malx, I can't wait for what happens next ^^,

Posted by: mALX Mar 25 2010, 06:35 PM

*

Chapter 7








Hold for Edit = Maxical learning about debt she ran up against Alix and S'Jirra - Delphine shows her legal way to claim debt onto herself.









*

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 25 2010, 07:12 PM

Classic Maxical!

I like this better than the original version. Much tighter, and a better introduction of Fathis Aren. This makes him more sympathetic, so let's see how well it holds up later on.

You had me laughing at the comments in the guard room! And the mental picture of red-faced Adamus Phillidia with pigeon poo on his mug!

Posted by: Acadian Mar 25 2010, 08:54 PM

Yes, your writing skill has improved greatly since the first time around. You are able to convey what you want more effectively now. Nice job mALX.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 26 2010, 01:18 AM

HEY!!!


WHAT!!?

*Destri puts in a request to adopt one-hundred Cyrodiilic pigeons*

Posted by: D.Foxy Mar 26 2010, 12:29 PM

*marches back to screen with paper towels*

*wipes spit and snot off screen*

*sits down again and imagines mALX tied hand and foot under the legs of a camel with a stomachache*

All right, you minx. You have done it again. My screen is attracting flies from all the spit I have had to clean off it...AGAIN...

I hate you.

I hate you.

AND I WANT MORE POSTS LIKE THIS DO YOU HEAR???!!!???

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 26 2010, 04:28 PM

That's our Maxical, no doubt about it!!

The way you write humor is second to none. Even through words alone I can sense that Maxical is straight faced and innocent with her expression while carnage is occuring around her. I love it!!

The 'when in doubt, fake a faint' is priceless. So Maxical. And so womanly.

Posted by: mALX Mar 28 2010, 03:18 PM

*


@ Hauty - Thank you so much Hauty! I am trying to tighten it up, cut the ook out and streamline it so I can get it over here sometime this year, lol. The other forum is so dead it's not funny, I have new chapters up on the story over there and no one is reading them. If it wasn't for Acadian I would be spamming my own thread just to post chapters, lol. I have been considering cutting out updating till I can get it all over here, but my Mom won't let me. My email box would be over-run with threats, lol.
***
@ Acadian - That means a lot to hear Acadian, thank you so very much - and you are greatly appreciated for sticking with Maxical (and me!) I know you have needed some down time to relax, so it means that much more to me that you did take the time to read !! If I don't remember to add it, here is a hug emoticon for you!
***
@ - ROFL !!! Destri, I knew that policy of Adamus Phillida would get your goat, lol. I actually pictured your reaction while writing it! - but I pictured that is exactly how they would do it if they were trying to mild money out of benefactors. Thank you Destri, You ROCK !!!
***
@ Foxy - ROFL !!! I spewed just reading your comment!!! You just don't know how good it is to have you and your sense of humor (raunchy) here!!! You have been missed since we moved over here! You ROCK any forum you get on! And Thank You, Thank You for coming! (and reading Maxical!)
***
@ Winter Wolf - I can't thank you enough for your kind words Wolf! It means a lot to me to hear you say that, the comedy is my favorite part of the story, and as you know I have a bit of a warped humor, lol. It means a whole lot that you have come to know Maxical so well too, you are Awesome !!!


***





*

Chapter 8: The Vow, The Blue Show, And Graduation Begins



In six years I'd always come alone when Fathis was on campus. The fact that I'd dragged Delphine in with me hadn't escaped Fathis's notice. His glance flickered toward Delphine in a wary way that reminded me strongly of prey smelling a trap. I felt sick at that thought. I guess that was pretty much what it was, a trap that would leave him with nothing after all he'd done for me. I couldn't do that to him. Wouldn't do that to him. If he released me, I'd pay the debt myself, but at least Alix and S'Jirra would be off the hook.

Delphine was whispering in Arch Mage Traven's ear. I turned back to Fathis and forced the words out that would probably end our friendship forever.

"Fathis, all these years I've asked you for help, I never understood about the debt I was building against my parents. I just thought...I mean, I didn't know you were a gentleman. NO! I knew that. What I mean is, I didn't know you were helping me out of duty, I thought you just liked me a lot."

"What else is there?" He answered in the traditional Dunmer response.

Fathis looked perplexed as he brushed my cheek gently with one finger. I got the feeling he was dreading this moment as much as I was, but he didn't know the worst of what was coming yet.

"I just learned of it, Abhuki told me. Honestly Fathis, I never knew I was doing that to them. It made my stomach feel like it was tied in a knot. They'll pay everything they make for the rest of their lives and never clear the debt, Fathis. I did that to them, and never knew. It isn't right I caused the burden and they pay it. I wish I'd known, I wouldn't have turned to you every time."

Fathis didn't like talking about debts owed him, I could see that in his eyes. I made myself finish, watching his eyes for the shock I knew was coming.

"This past year I've thought a lot about what will happen when I graduate, when your guardianship of me ends. Fathis, you've always been there for me, I almost can't remember a time you weren't there to rescue me when I was in trouble. I've felt protected in a way I could never have imagined. I don't know how to be on Nirn without you in my life, you're my best friend. I've been dreading that changing, losing the closeness between us when you are released as my guardian. Now I don't know if the friendship was part of your duty too."

A tender look flickered briefly in Fathis�s eyes before he answered. "What is it then, Ma'Thjizzrini Qa?"

He still wasn't getting where I was going with this, so I showed him the law in the tome, then pounded my fist on my chest and raised my palm so it faced him. I didn't have to look to know Delphine and Arch Mage Traven had come rapidly forward.

"The debt is mine, I made it and I'll pay it. I'm vowing myself to you before these two witnesses, Fathis. Unless you release me from it or I die of old age first, whenever you are ready to settle down what I have to offer is yours. If you say no, Alix and S'Jirra will be freed from their obligation; but I'll still honor the debt on my own because I don't want you to have nothing for all the help you've given me. I can't give as much as they could, but whatever I earn will be yours if you choose not to accept me." I caught his eye and held it, wanting to make sure he saw I was serious in my vow.






***


Inside I felt the corrosive acid of apology for doing this to him, and a sickening dread that I may lose him forever once he released me from my vow. He saw it, had to see how much he meant to me and know I'd never have done this if not for the debt. It was over. I was promised to Fathis, at least till he released me.

When Fathis left he caressed my cheek as he always did. I hurried to the window and watched as Fathis made his way across the quad toward the gates. He was stopped briefly by the same odd potion seller I used to see frequently at the Faregyl. The man appeared to be gripping Fathis by the arm, clutching his hand as if begging.

Students weren't allowed to purchase from outsiders, but that peddler regularly wandered the Arcane public area. He always greeted me as an old friend, as if I should remember him of all the peddlers that frequented the Faregyl. I actually did remember him, for an uglier man could probably not be found in Cyrodiil.

It wasn't till after Fathis was gone that Delphine punched me in the side and pointed out to me that he hadn't released me. I caught the twinkling of surprised amusement in Arch Mage Traven's eyes and asked him what that meant. He knew Fathis well.

"Does that mean he's actually considering it?"

"It means you've caught him by surprise and he's too much a diplomat to act till he has weighed the situation out carefully."

"Oh."

The peddler was still outside when Delphine and I left the tower. He called to me. "There you are, Lass. Fathis Aren tells me he'll be gone on an extended tour of the other provinces. In his stead, if you have need I'm but a thought away."

Everything inside me cringed, even realizing he was lying. I knew better than to believe Fathis would palm me off on a virtual stranger no matter how mad I'd made him; but that he might leave Cyrodiil had never occurred to me. I didn't think I'd ever see Fathis again. I didn't see him again till the day I graduated.






***


The month before graduation passed in a blur of hurried testing to bring my grades high enough that Arch Mage Traven could graduate me early. As long as they tested me on paper in a classroom I could pass with rank on everything. In field spell testing I very nearly caused more damage to the Arcane, this time without Fathis here to make everything right.

In the end the only discipline the Arcane couldn't pass me on was Restoration. Arch Mage Traven gave me till the end of the year to come back and prove I could reach apprentice in healing, and the process of graduating me early went forward as planned.

The only difference was that I wouldn't be graduating with the Battlemages, my diploma would only be a general one. Part of me felt like a failure, but at the same time I was proud of having come this far. I never thought I'd make it, and wouldn't have without Fathis. It was depressing to think he wouldn't be here to see it, worse that it was my fault if he didn't.

Preparations for the graduation ceremony had already begun before the final week of exams. An amazing display of flowers and plants seemed to appear overnight, precise rows of chairs were being set up in a semicircle and a platform stage was erected with steps leading up on both sides.

The number of visitors to the Arcane increased daily. Some toured the facilities, talking loudly while we tried to concentrate on our tests. It was nearly impossible to focus on the final exams with all the bustle of activity below the window I sat next to. Through it all I watched for Fathis to come, but he never did.






***


It felt like I could sleep for days when the last exam was completed. I tiptoed past Delphine's sleeping form and stretched out on my bed as quietly as possible. I couldn't believe it was over, I'd be graduated in less than a week. That was the last thought I can remember before dropping into an exhausted sleep. Delphine's shriek jarred me awake.

"Huhwah?"

"Your face! What's wrong with your face?" Delphine dragged me out of bed and over to the looking glass. She pointed at my forehead.

"What happened to your face?"

There was a radiant splash of azure displaying prominently across my nose and forehead in stunning contrast to my white fur. I'd never seen a blue show before, but instinctively knew what it was.

For Khajiit the blue show means we have reached our sexual maturity, even more telling than the swelling of breasts. It is what drives us to find our mate. For Khajiit girls it is a point of pride, something to be celebrated.

I was the only Khajiit at the Arcane, so mine went virtually unnoticed; except for some rude remarks when I spiked my bangs so people would see it.

"What happened to you? Spill some paint?"

Arch Mage Traven noticed it, though. He promptly ran to his tomes to find out how I got it at seventeen years old. He couldn't find a single incidence of it happening so young. Biologically it never comes before age 20.

Since I had no memory of my life before that Legion office, I'd always accepted I was the age they posted on their documents. For the first time I began to wonder if they'd guessed my age wrong.







***


The crowds gathered on the lawn for the graduation ceremonies were so dense it was almost impossible to distinguish one face among them, but as I was scanning the crowd for Alix and S'Jirra the sight of velvet thick enough to be traveling royalty caught my eye. When the Mage turned around I nearly stumbled and fell from shock. Fathis was here!

My breathing felt ragged, and for a minute I was afraid I would cry. Instead I felt a warm glow of relief flooding inside me. He had come back. Whether it was to release me or not, he was here. I tried to twist my head to watch him, although we were instructed to keep our faces forward. As Raminus Polus walked by he clamped his hand on the top of my head and twisted it back to the front.

Delphine Jend clamped her hand on her own head and twisted it toward me. I snickered.

Raminus scowled and whispered, �This is a solemn occasion, there will be none of your hijinks.� Delphine waited till he passed and then did an extremely accurate imitation of him into my ear. I snorted and Raminus spun around glaring. He has never forgiven me for the bed-wetting incident.

Delphine had to go up first for her award on the �Enemies Explode� spell. She had already graduated last year, but had come here to work on a spell that would make her famous.

I tried to keep my head forward and just turn my eyes to scan the crowds again. Where were Alix and S�Jirra? Fathis was settling in the front row reserved for important personages. I'd never seen such thick velvet, he looked like a king in that robe. He saw me looking and smiled at me, just like he used to before I did that to him.

For the first time since that day I wondered if his being here, that smile...did he mean to accept my promise? The thought made my knees feel like jelly. I gave a hesitant smile back and raised my hand in an imitation of Uriel Septim's royal wave to the crowds.

Behind me I heard the slow hiss of Raminus� exhaled breath and turned my eyes to the front again.

When it was my turn to go onto the stage my foot caught in my robe and I stumbled on the step up. I caught myself so I didn�t actually fall. Raminus glared darts at me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Fathis's smile widen and felt my heart start beating again for the first time since I'd bearded him with that stupid vow. My friend was back, just as he was before. The relief was tremendous.

I made the rest of the walk to the platform with no mishaps. Raminus gave me my graduation robes and began to read off my accomplishments. When he read the part where I had mastered in Conjuration I braved Raminus's wrath by turning to see if Fathis had heard.

He smiled at me, and I could read in his eyes he was proud of me for it. There was no surprise in his eyes though, Arch Mage Traven must have told him already. I hoped that look of pride meant that was all he told him. I never wanted Fathis to know about the Daedra incidents, or the problems I was still having with Conjuration.

Conjuration was excruciating. I hated it. Fathis loves it above all the other disciplines, and I knew it meant very much to him that I do well in it. He had done so much for me, so I forced myself to keep plugging away at it.

These past years at the Arcane seem to have flown by. I suddenly understood why a lot of the students stay and just hang around campus after graduation. It's like a piece of you will be left behind if you walk out those gates for good. I wanted to capture this moment in my memory and never forget it, standing up here taking my diploma.



*

Posted by: mALX Mar 30 2010, 04:30 AM

*

Chapter 9: Graduation And The Golden Armor




Fathis was proud of me, I'd read that in his eyes. Maybe for the first time in my life I was proud of myself. He did a wonderful thing for me, funding my education here at the Arcane. I couldn't remember ever even thanking him for it. I tried to throw him a look of gratitude while it was fresh on my mind.

Raminus Polus paused in his recitation, hissing under his breath, "Eyes front." I turned my head back slowly, scanning the audience for S�Jirra and Alix. Raminus�s breath exhaled loudly.

He was nearing the classes I didn't do well in, I wished he'd just stop now. I never understood why they'd drag up a student's failures to shame them with at their graduation.

"Expert in the Daedric Deities, Novice in the Divine Deities." A rumble from the crowd followed the pronouncement. Without looking, I felt the censure of eyes on me.

Actually, I learned so much about the Daedric Lords from Arch Mage Traven; who enjoyed debating the Acceptable Blasphemes with me while I was restricted to his quarters for punishment. It was harder to learn about the Divines because I invariably fell asleep in that class, being it was the first class of the day.

Raminus's voice droned on. "Apprentice rank achieved in Enchanting and Alchemy. Novice in Restoration Arts; Speechcraft; Block; Archery; and Calculations. No certification for Battlemage will be issued at this time."

That was humiliating. I already knew I'd only earned a general diploma, but did they have to announce it to all Nirn? Almost six years at the Arcane, and my only real skill is still in Blades.

The truth was that I could have studied magic for another six years and still get no better at it. Achieving Master only means you can cast the highest level spells, but you still have to be able to aim them. That was my problem. I couldn't hit a target to save my life, not even when the target was myself.

Not just that. My magic was unstable and volatile. My conjures spawned hostile Daedra no matter what I cast, and anytime I cast fire there was a good chance something would explode. When it didn't, my fireballs curved around in wild arcs that always hit at least one student.

The same thing happened in Archery class, the arrows would fly every direction but where I was aiming, it was like they were honed in on finding a student. Arch Mage Traven said because of me he had become an expert in healing injuries that involved arrow wounds.







***


When I stepped down off the stage Arch Mage Traven came and clasped my hand. He indicated Fathis with a conspiratorial twinkle in his eyes. "I very nearly had an apoplexy when Fathis woke me this morning. I was afraid we'd seen the last of him after you bearded him with that vow."

"I had the same fear."

He handed me a list of trainers in Restoration. "See that you follow up on your training immediately, I expect to hear you've at least earned your apprentice in Restoration before the year ends."

"Can't I come here for that?"

Arch Mage Traven's face paled visibly. Maybe I'd better give him a break from me before re-approaching him on it. I gave him a warm and heartfelt hug, then moved out of the way so he could greet the next student stepping down off the stage.

Fathis was working his way through the crowd toward me, his arms filled with several packages. That was a good sign. A warm glow of joy spread through me. The last months without him had been a hellish nightmare of regretting bearding him with that vow, and dreading a lifetime of never seeing him again.

I turned away quickly and raked my fingers through my bangs, spiking them to gap the middle of my forehead so he would see my blue show. Fathis would know what it stood for.

Fathis chucked me gently under my chin, turning me to face him and looking into my eyes. Whatever he originally meant me to read there was replaced by shock when the full impact of my blue show met his eyes. He was startled by it, but recovered quickly. Fathis is too much a diplomat to gape.

I was torn between feeling a sudden shyness and wanting to hug him for returning to me. Instead I took his hand and rubbed the back of it on my cheek; the same as I always had since I was a child, to leave his scent with me.

"That peddler you talked to as you were leaving here last said you were leaving Cyrodiil. I was afraid I'd never see you again."

"The man with the cowl by the gate? Nae, Ma'Thjizzrini Qa; you must have misunderstood. He was a messenger sent with an emergency message from Skingrad Castle. I went there straightaway when I left here."







***


�You�ve done well Ma'Thjizzrini Qa. You have really grown up and made me very proud of you. I've brought you a few presents for your graduation, and an early birthday present. You won't be 18 for a while yet, but I couldn�t wait to give it to you.�

I fought blushing and hope I smiled. I wanted to thank him for everything like the adult he said I was becoming, but instead I blurted out, �Presents?�

Fathis�s face lit up in a smile, obviously pleased by my response. �I see you have grown into a typical woman.�

I was eyeing the large packages curiously, trying to see a store mark to hint what might be inside when a �tap-tap� sound made me look up. Delphine was in the window above me; her fingers circled around her eyes like two spy glasses and pretending her eyes were popping out of her head at all the presents from Fathis.

Fathis pulled an official looking parchment and folded map out of his pocket. "First, your graduation presents. This is the deed to a tower built specifically for a Mage. It is a bit isolated, quite far up in the Jerall Mountains; actually almost on the Skyrim border."

"A...tower?" I tried to keep my expression from showing the horrified shock I was feeling. Why would Fathis give me an isolated tower? If he was accepting my promise, wouldn�t I live with him? And if he wasn�t, why would I leave the Faregyl? The only consolation was that at least this verified that Arch Mage Traven hadn�t told him how badly I'd done with my magic.

�One of your very own. It is quite modern as compared to my tower, and I�ve furnished it much better than my own as well. You will find quite a few surprises in there that should delight you. Magic items, many you won't find even here at the Arcane.� He unfolded the deed to show my name listed as owner.

"Fathis, I can't accept...this is too much...er...I mean, uh...thank you, but...huh? Why is it signed with only an 'X'?" I pointed to the name listed as seller.

"A guest of Skingrad Castle offered it, but preferred to remain anonymous. Count Skingrad acted as proxy, in fact approached me about the tower. His acquaintance had suggested it to him as a most appropriate gift for one who had worked so hard to master the many disciplines of magic. Worry not, this is frequently done and is perfectly legitimate. I have used proxies myself when dealing with a party I am not closely acquainted with.�

"You talked about me graduating to someone not acquainted enough to sell property to you?"

That wasn't like Fathis, discussing anything about his private life with a stranger...or giving me a tower. Even I knew how inappropriate a gift like property was to give a minor, especially since his guardianship of me ended today.

There was no doubt his change in treatment of me had to do with that horrid vow I'd sprung on him. For the millionth time I wished I could take it back, even now when there could be no clearer indication that my promise to him had been accepted. That tower felt like a symbol marking the end of the wonderful dynamic that had always been between us.






***


More tapping. Delphine was pointing at the packages and giving a signal to hurry up. Then she mimed ripping a box open and looking overly surprised. I put my hand up and shook my head at her, and know she caught my bleak look by the change in her expression. She immediately stopped her playfulness, leaning forward and watching us with the intensity of a condor spotting prey.

"I've circled the location of your new tower, but it can be seen from quite a distance once you are in the Jeralls."

Fathis had unfolded the map and bent over it, his head close to mine as he traced the route up into the mountains with his finger. The scent he always wore wafted from him, filling my nostrils as I breathed in deeply to capture it. Something about the familiarity of it gave me hope that this awkwardness between us would pass and the old friendship rekindle.

"And here is your key.� He dropped the key into my hands and reached for the largest of the packages. "And now for your Birthday present. This golden armor comes from another land, a place called Shivering Isles. You can�t find another like it in all Cyrodiil."

Armor was exactly the type of gift Fathis had always given me before, maybe all really would be right between us once again. My eyes lit with excitement as I untied the ribbon and pulled the lid off the box. When I lifted the tissue covering, I heard myself gasp in shock.

The breastplate of the cuirass had molded breasts that formed to points, and a heart shape cutout above them that would bare the real breasts almost entirely. The midriff was cut out, entirely exposed; and the skirting for it was angled and cut short enough on one side to reveal one's privates. Fathis couldn't expect me to wear this, he was staring at it almost as stunned as I was.

"Er...did you go to this Shivering Isles place and see this modeled?"

"Nae, it was ordered through a contact of the Castle Skingrad guest. This is my first time actually seeing it." Fathis lifted it out, turning it around to view the back while I struggled to bite back saying what I was thinking.

Again with the stranger? Fathis never let someone else order gifts for him, what kind of influence did this guest have over him? Fathis was staring at a large flourished 'M' engraved on the center of the back.

"Er...what does that letter stand for?" I could barely choke out the words.

"You don't recognize your own hand? Your letters to me have all been signed with that 'M'. I believe it was the Count's guest that suggested I had Hans Black-Nail receive the shipment and engrave it exactly as you write it."

"Hans saw one of my private letters to you?" I couldn't keep the shock from my voice. The Fathis I'd always known would never allow our private correspondence to be seen by another.

It wasn't just that. The very idea of engraving the armor with my signature was one of those sickeningly romantic gestures Fathis was never prone to. I'd have given anything to have the old Fathis back, giving me a nice set of plain leathers with no engraving on them just like he'd always done before.






***


I had the sickening sensation of a racehorse being driven to the finish line under whip. It was my fault, I was reaping exactly what I'd asked for. I'd put a price on myself. There was no way to back out now without paying off the entire amount owed him.

Before Fathis's gifts I'd been feeling like an adult for the first time in my life, graduating the University and the guardianship ending. Suddenly I had an overwhelming feeling that way too much had changed between us, way too fast.

I wasn't ready for anything to change between Fathis and I from the way it had always been, just wanted our friendship. I needed time to feel ready for the next step.

Fathis's voice seeped into my thoughts and I suddenly realized he'd been talking steadily since mentioning that etched 'M'. I hadn't heard a word he'd said.

"I'm glad this is settled between us."

�Huh? Oh...er...yes. The armor is beautiful Fathis, thank you so much. And the...uh...tower. I don't mean for the presents, but for everything. You know what I mean to say.� I stammered out, glancing up into his eyes so he could see I was truly grateful to him.

"Nae, don�t thank me with words. You thank me by doing well for yourself. Keep making me as proud as you have today. And now I have to go."

"You...you're leaving? Have you seen Alix and S'Jirra? I have to find them."

"They are not here."

�Not here?� I squeaked, looking around in case he'd missed seeing them. "Why wouldn't they come?"

"There was much that needed to be said between us, Ma'Thjizzrini Qa. I came in their stead."

"But..."

Fathis brushed his hand on my cheek, just as he always had when leaving. I felt a huge relief that he hadn't tried to kiss me or something.

It wasn't till I was watching Fathis make his way through the crowds and out the gate that I realized no one was escorting me home. I'd be walking all that way alone. I'd never traveled anywhere without Alix escorting me before. I felt very alone suddenly, even in this crowd of people.



*

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 30 2010, 04:59 AM

Malx, the other writers' cry when they see your masterpieces. We aspire to be as good as you

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 30 2010, 06:00 AM

Thanks mALX!! I really miss the 'Love M' letters. Now there is a whole bunch to read to my heart's content.
Yippeee!!

Fantastic stuff!! Dipping hands in water, the upstairs horse, destruction magic, archery, crazy stuff there.

And even the wicked imps are back!!

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 30 2010, 06:10 AM

This is one of my favorites! Still makes me laugh!

Where's the screenie of Irlav Jarol?

Posted by: D.Foxy Mar 30 2010, 07:29 AM

I read it. I knew it. I have rolled in the floor for it.
And STILL when I read it again...my gravity...just blew it.
You minx. You imp. You royally rambuctious 'remoseful' recidivist -
You really CAN'T stop making us scream, you prankser most wicked!
For I though I had been cured when I read this the first time
But now I read it again, I see you've compounded the crime
Howling and Snorting and making noises truly BABOON
Giggling and snerking and yelling and swelling like a BALOON
Stamping my feet and waving my hands and something else like a wand
*No, don't ask WHAT it was. All I can say that it was - a gland *
Dancing like a Loon and making noises louder than a band
So that the world is saying "There goes one CWAYZEE man"...
And if only that world knew, that it's ALL BECAUSE OF YOU
That it's YOU my insanity BREWS and makes loose my SCREWS!!!

Posted by: Acadian Mar 30 2010, 03:35 PM

Congratulations mALX.

This is even more wonderful than the first time through. Yes, Maxical at her best!

Posted by: Remko Mar 30 2010, 04:14 PM

I couldn't imagine you could improve upon the original but the first 3 chapters were simply brilliant.... So I am going to read it again

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 31 2010, 01:19 AM

The Maxical we all know and love is back! Her letters home are still the most sure-fire cure for depression that I know of. It is a shame that she is going to graduate before we see what kind of mischief she could have gotten into using illusion spells. Irlav Jarol should count his blessings.

Shouldn�t this be Fredas-faced?

Posted by: mALX Mar 31 2010, 05:37 AM

*

Chapter 10:







Hold for Edit = Maxical's walk home alone in the dark; attack; and fighting for life.







*

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 31 2010, 05:51 AM

Well, gee, I wonder what's Irlav Jarol got to be dejected about?

Is it because Skaleel is complaining to him about being stuck in a dusty, moldy ruin (Vahtacen)?

Or is it because she is stuck in a dusty, moldy ruin? With a young, clueless male Imperial (Denel)?

Or because his book Magic from the Sky didn't sell as well as he hoped?

Or because he's stuck with Maxical in his class?

Posted by: mALX Mar 31 2010, 05:53 AM

*

Chapter 11: The Golden Armor



******* Fathis Aren


Fathis Aren stepped out of the Main Ingredient and immediately encountered the aroma of steaks being grilled that was billowing out of the chimney at the Merchants Inn restaurant. A delicate breeze twirled the scent in a dance under the noses of the pedestrians, Fathis noticed several lifting their noses to the air to catch a better whiff of it. His stomach rumbled its response.

He still had an appointment with Varnado at the Best Defense to discuss the armors he had seen on his recent trip to the Shivering Isles, and had to walk right past the door of the Merchants Inn for the meeting. He found his head turned of its own volition towards that door as he passed and forced himself to look ahead again. Maybe Varnado would be willing to close up a little early if Fathis offered to treat his meal. After all, it was a business discussion for Varnado.

With that in mind Fathis stepped into the doorway of the Best Defense and hailed Varnado, but the words died on his lips as soon as he set foot in the shop. There, hanging on display was the golden armor he had given Maxical at her graduation! He couldn't be right! Surely it was a different armor, but no. There was the M he had engraved in the armor! The satchel of alchemy ingredients in Fathis's hand dropped to the floor. With what can only be described as a restrained growl, Fathis asked Varnado where he had that armor from.

Varnado stepped from behind the counter and started over to Fathis calling, "A Khajiit brought that in a couple weeks ago, nice, isn't it? Are you interested in..." Varnado blanched, his speech coming to a grinding halt as he stepped back from Fathis Aren.

Without another word, Fathis turned on his heel and stormed out of the shop, slamming the door behind him and leaving the satchel filled with Alchemy ingredients on the floor.

Fathis was in a towering rage when he left the shop, all thoughts of hunger burned away by the hot rage that was filling him. As he strode through the Imperial City to the stables people were glancing up at him then hurrying out of his way.

He leapt on his horse's back in one jump. Without bothering to undo the fence, Fathis put his horse at the gate and squeezed his thighs with such force that the horse did not balk, but leapt cleanly over the fence.

Fathis pushed his horse into a full gallop and kept that pace for the full trip to the Faregyl Inn.









******* Maxical


It was an ugly scene. I would never pawn anything Fathis gave me, but that is exactly what he thought I had done. The one who robbed me was a Khajiit, he must have pawned it. Fathis assuming the worst of me; that hurt. Fathis being mad at me; that hurt badly. In all the years I'd known him, and all the things I had done and gold I had cost him, that was the first time he was ever angry with me.

Sometimes when your Speechcraft is low like mine, you just can't explain yourself right to an angry Dunmer. I looked into his eyes and tried to plead with him to let me explain, but about that time S'Jirra stepped up to him like a raging mother bear. He left angry.

On top of that incident, S'Jirra and Alix discovered a rather large key amongst my things. Fathis had given me the key to a Wizards tower he bought up in the Jerall Mountains in case I wanted to use it or live up there. He said I could have it, it was all set up for a mage. That was part of the presents from him at my graduation.

Alix and S'Jirra added that key together with Fathis coming in a rage. Then somehow my blue show got thrown into the conjecture, I guess because I hadn't had it the last time they saw me. They calculated all this and came up with a scenario that hadn't happened ... yet. And with Fathis mad at me it didn't look likely to happen any time soon.

I'm not going to say they raged at me, because they didn't. But they were ... concerned. In spite of the fact that I had the show to prove I was mature, at seventeen they felt I was too young to start acting like a woman.

I proved to them how mature I was by running away. I didn't go far, and it wouldn't be hard for Alix to figure out where I was if he remembered what I had written him in my letters from the Arcane. I went to the Imperial City Arena. I cried the whole way there.



***

While passing through the Market District on my way I hunted down my armor, it was hanging on display at the Best Defense.

"How much for the gold armor?" I asked the man who introduced himself as Maro Rufus.

"Better ask Varnado," Maro stated, then followed me over to Varnado's counter. He stepped behind the counter and elbowed Varnado. "She's wanting to know about that gold armor." Maro said, not taking his eyes off me.

Varnado instantly looked over at me, then both of them were leering like they had an inside joke.

"How much for the armor?" I repeated. They just kept leering and elbowing each other. My red-haired temper started flaring, and this seemed to amuse them further.

Finally Varnado quoted a price that made my heart drop. There was no way I could come up with that kind of money, no wonder Fathis had been angry when he thought I had sold his armor, it had cost him a small fortune!

As I was leaving the shop disheartened, I looked back to see them elbowing each other and laughing. I looked down to see if my armor was undone or something, and found it had mud splashes from the walk here. Maybe I should clean up before going to ask for work at the Arena.

Before I was halfway down the street I looked back to see Varnado and Maro standing outside the shop pointing at me and jabbing each other, laughing. I stopped and checked my armor again to see if something was showing that shouldn't be. My eyes fell on the white of my hand.

"Oh, it's because I'm an albino; those bastards."

As I was walking to the Arena I passed a storefront window and caught a glimpse of myself. My hair was bedraggled and my eyes were swollen and a puffy red from crying. I had splotches of mud everywhere.

I hurried down to the Lake Rumare and bathed in it, scrubbing my armor. I had no comb, so I ran my fingers repeatedly through my hair to train it into some semblance of order. I splashed water on my face, but doubt it helped much.



***

The Arena was filthy; I shouldn't have bothered cleaning up. Blood smeared the walls; the place reeked of death, blood, sweat, and something else really disgusting. Everyone was pretty rude to me, but surprisingly I was given a chance to be a combatant by Owyn, the Blademaster.





**

Posted by: mALX Mar 31 2010, 07:55 AM

*

Chapter 12:





Hold for Edit - Maxical's first Arena fight.

Posted by: Remko Mar 31 2010, 11:26 AM

So much deeper than the first time you wrote it. I couldn't help snickering over the antics in the arcana university... LMAO!
The bond she feels with Fathis is far better described although it feels a bit like the Stockholm Syndrome lol.

Posted by: D.Foxy Mar 31 2010, 11:34 AM

Hwut he said. This truly IS much better than the last time, because it is a writing style more mature, more subtle - and yet it still packs a delightful frission of humour!

KUDOS once AGAIN!!!

And you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, and you are tactful and not annoying, AND YOU ARE TACTFUL AND NOT ANNOYING....



...gaasp, gasp, gasp, GACK...aRRRRRRGH....

Posted by: Olen Mar 31 2010, 12:05 PM

Nice couple of updates. You develop the characters well, the side characters which can be hard with the first person PoV.

And I love the style, so easy to read and just fun. And now she's graduated and free to wreak havok on the world... well... I can't wait.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 31 2010, 02:06 PM

As friend Remko said, so much deeper this time. This is mALX and Maxical at their very best. I love your character development here. Since I am not a fan of slapstick, I quite enjoyed the more subtle humor that wove through this chapter. Just masterfully done!

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 31 2010, 02:25 PM

Loved the graduation day! I agree with the others - much better than the first time.

This resonated with me:

At my last graduation I was praying God, please don't let me trip on my way up to get my diploma!

Love the foreshadowing! That really sets up for the romantic comedy that follows!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 31 2010, 04:48 PM

I was enthralled all the way through this chapter. I must have missed the explanation of the blue show the last time through. I have heard you use the term, but I only knew what it meant in the context of the scene you were writing it in. It is nice to have a concrete definition now.

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 31 2010, 05:33 PM

*wolf spins in dizzy circles of happiness*

I really love the new reworks that you have brought to Chorrol. Simply magnificent.
Being able to get my daily fix of Maxical here has restored the order to my world that I thought I had lost since the other site crashed. Yippee!!

There is no doubt about this!

Posted by: Rachel the Breton Apr 1 2010, 03:18 AM

mALX, your story has always been great...but I'm very much enjoying rereading this! Great job!

Posted by: mALX Apr 2 2010, 04:24 AM

@ Remko - Thank you so much Remko, I like it much better too. I am cutting out a lot as I redo it. A whole lot, lol.
***
@ Foxy - Thank you very much Foxy, that means a lot coming from you! You are always appreciated!
***
@ Olen - Thank you very much Olen! I see Maxical's reputation for trouble goes before her, lol. I did way too much developing of other characters in the original, so I am slimming this way down and breezing over any character that won't be important to the plot. I am pretty pleased so far with the updated chapters, just hope I can keep doing as well on the edits. (I sometimes get slap-happy with that delete key, lol).
***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! I agree, the original was too, too - I think this one has cut a lot of that out but kept the right amount of everything it needed. I tried to edit some today and deleted way more than I wanted to, and wasn't happy with what I put back in...grr, lol. You are greatly appreciated Acadian!
***
@ Hauty - Thank you so much Hauty! I do want you to know that the letters chapter was kept because you requested it, lol. This one - I wanted to make sure the Raminus parts got in there because he is about to show back up in the current chapters over at the BGSF.

The tripping...is there anyone that hasn't feared that? I tripped in every single public ceremony I was ever in from baptism to the grave. (I am a ghost writer), lol.
***
@ Destri - Thank you so very much Destri! I did a better job explaining the blue show this time, and with the cleaner write it was easier to see, lol.

For anyone who is wondering (Hauty and Acadian already know) - The vanilla Khajiit when you pale all the color out of them to make them white have a patch of blue over their nose that you cannot get rid of. The PC Maxical has the same thing, but her bangs cover it. I felt this needed some kind of explanation. I mean, she is albino but has a large blue patch on her forhead.

I used to raise parakeets and budgies - the male and female look pretty much alike till they reach their sexual maturity, then the male gets a bright blue show across the top of his beak (his cere) - so I thought, why not Khajiit females, lol? It certainly added to the story as far as Fathis is concerned, lol.

I know in the animal kingdom that the males usually have all the plumage, and this has always bothered me. I think the females should have plumage to attract the males to them instead of the other way around. I thought it was a pretty good addition to the story, so kept it in, lol.
***
@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so much Wolf! You ROCK !!! You have inspired so many things in this story just by your readership!
***
@ Rachel - Thank you very much Rachel! It is soooo good to see you back up and posting !!!!!

Posted by: mALX Apr 2 2010, 06:18 AM

*

Chapter 13: The Rank Match










*** Edit here = Arena Dialogue

















***

One day the Yellow team sent in three combatants at once to fight me. Owyn tried to stop it but there was nothing in the books that forbid it. I was surrounded quickly and realized I was outmatched this time. I made the mistake of backing myself up against the wall and immediately they swarmed in like a disturbed hive of hornets. I had one in front of me and one on either side. I was going to go down, and fast. I was afraid for the first time since I joined the Arena.

Khajiit have an evil eye that frightens anyone that sees it. It is kind of like a spell. It was my only option to get out of the situation. The man in front of me got the full force of it when I cast it. He ran yelling for me not to kill him, and I followed as fast as my feet could carry me. He left a trail of pee as he ran from me. The crowd was laughing, so I pointed out his trail of urine with my sword making my mouth into a big O as I chased the man. They roared.

I was trying to stab him in the liver as he ran away from me, and finally managed to pierce him. He didn't die, but it injured him pretty badly. I think I took out a kidney.

The other two men didn't know what happened, and it took them a few seconds to come after me. It was enough time for me to chase down "I P Freely" and take him out from behind.

At least it was a little more evenly matched now, if you could call it that. These men were both good fighters, and quite a bit taller than me. They had more strength too. I started using the moves Alix taught me and combined it with a whole lot of running away to avoid fighting two at once.

The crowd was in a mood to laugh. I didn't know if I was leaving the Arena today, no one ever does when they walk in. But if I was going down, I wanted to be remembered. I started making my tail do funny things like I used to get in trouble for at the Arcane.

I would face my tail to the crowd and make it look like a question mark, as if saying "What are they going to do next?" I was facing the combatants, so they couldn't figure out why the crowd was laughing so hard.

The thing about the crowds at the Arena, they just want to be entertained. It doesn't matter if you make them laugh, cry, or scream. If you make them feel anything they will love you. They started calling my name ... my name. I was outmatched, and the Yellow team couldn't figure out why the crowd was cheering for me instead of them.


***


******* The Fights:
















******* About to kick someone's face in:










*

Posted by: D.Foxy Apr 2 2010, 06:51 AM

The other two men didn�t know what happened, and it took them a few seconds to come after me. It was enough time for me to chase down �I P Freely� and take him out from behind.


(Sigh)

There goes my screen .... AGAIN ...

Posted by: Acadian Apr 2 2010, 07:27 PM

This was delightfully Maxical. Right down to an albino Khajiit trying to wear a mask to disguise herself. . . or waving her tail at the crowd.

The story continues to be richer than the original without losing anything. Very well done again mALX!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 2 2010, 09:40 PM

I agree with Acadian, your skill is apparent in every scene of this chapter. The image of Maxical chasing �I.P. Freely� around the Arena will get me through the weekend!

I must confess, however, that I miss the detailed depiction of the robbery that results in Maxical losing her armor. Your description of that scene and of Maxical sleeping under the old bridge was what made me fall in love with her in the first place. Given how important this event is to her relationship with Fathis, it seems wrong for it to occur off-stage.

Posted by: Winter Wolf Apr 3 2010, 12:18 AM

Ah, the golden armor, yes a very sad state of affairs there. Our poor Khajiit never does quite get over it.

My heart broke when Maro and his brother made fun of Maxical. Who do those fools think they are?? Our characters save the world and they are nothing but shop keepers!!

Later she did manage to clean herself up a bit but then walked straight into the bloodworks. That is not fair! I hope depression doesn't set in. Give Maxical a hug from me.

Posted by: mALX Apr 3 2010, 06:59 AM

@ Foxy - Thank you very much Foxy! Now that is what I like to hear!
***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! I like it better myself, lol.
***
@ Destri - Thank you very much Destri, and I edited it back in for you, it is in chapter 5, I believe.
***
@ Winter Wolf - You ROCK! Thank you so much Wolf! You have Maxical's thanks and a hug back!

Posted by: mALX Apr 3 2010, 07:26 AM

*

Chapter 14: The Rank Match II





If I had any plan at all it was to wear the two men down by making them chase me. If I could catch one alone we would clash and break apart (because I ran like a banshee when I saw the second man nearing). Once I got far enough away I would stand still long enough to swivel my ears or do something with my tail, trying to get the crowds screaming for me.

This was the first time I really had to fight for my life, and I was not prepared for it. Knowing the right moves doesn't mean you win, it just increases your chances. You still need to learn to actually fight, and all that sparring I did was just a game, no one was really trying to hurt me. This was the real thing, and I was scared. The only thing keeping me from wallowing on the floor of that Arena and crying like a child was the crowd up there screaming my name. My name.

It is a powerful force that pushes you beyond yourself and your own capacity and capabilities; you are suddenly there only for them. Owyn made us repeat it daily in our training, "you live for that crowd out there, you die for that crowd out there." Suddenly I knew what he meant by that. I had shouted it out with the others so many times in training sessions, but this was the first time I really understood what it meant.

I was trying to see where the man with the blade was, I could see Mr. Sledgehammer easily. Where did the other go? I put my tail straight up and scratched my own head with it. The crowd went wild over that. They were roaring and it looked like some may tumble over the balcony railing.

The man with the heavy sledgehammer was tiring from chasing me, I could see it. I thought I spotted the other man behind one of the large pillars. I had managed to pierce him with my longsword as I ran by him. They could call me hit and run, or stop and pop - that was the fighting technique I was using. Dart in and strike and run like wind the heck out of there. Either by my youth or being a Khajiit I was faster than the men, had more stamina.

I made a question mark with my tail and then pointed my tail at the man with the sledgehammer. The crowd started stomping their feet in unison and chanting my name. Everyone was standing up. I gave the Arena signal for finishing him and then put my tail in a question mark again. They screamed and pressed themselves against the balcony railing, everyone was pounding their feet till it sounded like thunder rumbling.

I still couldn't see the one with the sword. I was saving him for last because one on one I can look good against an opponent with swords. I charged the man with the sledgehammer, making my tale twirl as I ran toward him. I wanted it to look like I was being propelled toward him by my tail.

I had picked the wrong pillar as the one the bladesman was behind, or he moved while I clowned with the crowds. He darted out and caught me with his sword in a thrust that felt like it went all the way through me.

It felt like an icicle pierced me, the steel was cold inside me. A second later the pain came, but for that blessed second I didn't feel anything but the cold of the blade. The crowd gasped and screamed.

He was too close to me for my longsword to be of much use unless I used the hilt in his face, but he was too tall and I wasn't strong enough for a move like that to be effective. Alix taught me to always carry a dagger if I was going to use a longsword. I yanked the dagger out and for the first time did what turned out to be my signature move. I gouged it into his crotch and twisted it, then shoved him back to get his sword out of me so I could run, Mr. Sledgehammer had arrived on the scene and was raising that huge thing. I wanted out before it started falling, but didn't make it. I felt his hammer glance off my left shoulder with a crunching sound. It barely missed my head, the smell of steel clung in my nostrils.

Oh dear gods, oh dear gods that hurt. I screamed in pain as I ran, and then tried to turn it into a battle cry. The crowd was silent, and it is hard to fight off pain and injury without them backing you. I swirled my tail to get them cheering again, but it was the hardest thing to do when I felt like I wanted to drop to the Arena floor instead and writhe from the pain. They started screaming again. I needed that to get through this fight. Thank goodness they were on my side.

The man whose crotch I gored was struggling to get up from his knees. I had run the perimeter of the Arena to get away from the lug with the sledgehammer, crying the whole way from the pain and alternately pressing my hand over the hole in my stomach, afraid my entrails would start coming out.

When I was behind the man I had gored I darted towards him and raised my sword. With a full sweep and as strong a follow-through as I could muster with that shoulder crushed I beheaded him. The man never knew what hit him. His head rolled, and I almost lost my stomach seeing it. It was my life or his, it was my life or his.

The action of moving that shoulder made me scream, and I tried to turn it into words so it would sound like a battle cry, but the only ones that came out were extreme curses from the pain. I guess Owyn was right that we needed to come up with our own battle cry for these moments. The gash in my side suddenly wasn't that painful compared to the shoulder.

A steady trickle of blood was pulsing from that piercing in my side and I could feel air hitting my back. His sword had to have gone through me. Tears were rolling down my cheeks from the pain and I was not playing with my tail anymore. I felt like I may vomit. I wasn't sure if it wouldn't be blood that came up, we don't ever eat before a match.

I had to get through that giant with the hammer so I could get to the healing fount, I couldn't stand much more. A roaring sound filled my ears and my vision was edged in darkness. I circled him with my sword raised high to trick him, and it worked. He raised his hammer up to block and I swept his ankle with the blade and then ran. After that it was a lot easier. He couldn't walk on that leg at all, his ankle was shattered. Still, he had a huge hammer and I just had a sword. The hammer was two handed, if I could just take out one arm...

Standing as far away as I could on the opposite side of the Arena from him was a good place to rest, and I needed it desperately. I tried to heal myself but wasn't making much progress. My breathing was ragged and labored.

The crowds were too quiet, I needed them to charge me up for the finish or may not be able to do it. I gave the Arena signal to finish him and tried to make a question mark with my tail but couldn't. The crowd started calling my name again, but they could tell that I was spent. The frenzied atmosphere had become hesitant. If they lost faith I would not make it. I need you now more than ever.

Bent over and propping my hands on my knees got my tail up into the air pretty well just by the position, so I did that and made it snake dance a bit. It was taking all my strength, but I needed their support to get me through this.

They roared and started calling my name and stomping their feet again. That was what I needed to give me the strength to go over and finish the big guy. My shoulder was the worst for pain, but blood loss from my side had me feeling weak. I clutched the hilt of my sword tightly. Weakness can make you drop it, and that would be considered giving up in the Arena.

Needing to conserve what little strength I had left, I didn't run up to him. I walked up and stood facing him, my breath coming in heaving gasps. Finally, gathering my strength up I raised my sword again as if I was going to trick him and sweep his other ankle. He fell for it, this time he raised his hammer to aim it low and block my sword. He obviously thought I was stupid enough to try the same thing twice. I held off long enough so his arms would be stressed holding the heavy hammer up in that position. I could see his arm muscles straining. I deliberately looked at his ankle then feinted with the blade before swinging it fully. He fell for it, his arms stretched out long and low as he swung with the hammer and I swept his arm, severing it just above the wrist. With a quick motion I thrust the blade into his abdomen while he was still roaring. He still held the hammer in his other hand, but the head of it lay on the ground. If he had dropped it I would have won by default.

His teammate's error had been to thrust through me, burying his sword. That is a mistake amateurs make. Alix taught me better than that. I didn't run mine through the big guy. Instead I shoved it into his liver and swept it across to sever the main artery and disembowel him. In one quick motion I drew back slightly and rammed it upwards to pop his lung. I heard the soft hiss of air escaping the lung and the blood that poured out of his wound was filled with bubbles. A spurt of blood ran out of his mouth. He was done then, even if it took a few minutes for him to actually die of blood loss.

I didn't have the strength to sweep his head and take it off, and I doubted my blade was in good enough shape to do it either. I just stood there and waited for the Arena announcer to declare him killed. It didn't take long. He toppled face first into the dirty Arena floor.

While I waited for the Arena Announcer to give me the okay to leave the Arena I played with the crowd a bit, bowing and flagging my tail. Dear gods please hurry announcer! I didn't know if I would last long enough for him to call it. It seemed an eternity before he finally called, "Contestant from the Blue team, leave the Arena." I staggered across to the chute, dear gods please let me make it to the fount. Stumbling down the chute the blackness was hedging into my vision, taking over and the roaring in my ears was deafening. I bumped into the healing fount unseeing and fell across it.

Owyn ran up and activated the fount and was checking me over. He wedged the sword out of my hand and worked over me while I slid into unconsciousness.

***





******* After Blow From Hammer:







******* Wounded:













*

Posted by: Winter Wolf Apr 3 2010, 10:15 AM

Wow, the rollercoaster ride is moving at 100 miles per hour!!

What started out as a fun filled journey quickly headed into a tightly woven battle for Maxical's life. Your life-like detail during the final battle scene was amazing. Foxy will be proud, that is for sure!!

I made a question mark with my tail and then pointed my tail at the man with the sledgehammer. The crowd started stomping their feet in unison and chanting my name. Everyone was standing up. I gave the Arena signal for finishing him and then put my tail in a question mark again. They screamed and pressed themselves against the balcony railing, everyone was pounding their feet.
This is insane.That is why I love it so much!!

Posted by: D.Foxy Apr 3 2010, 12:27 PM

In the eastern disciplines of the arts of war, both armed and unarmed, they have a saying

"The Student has surpassed the Master".

In fighting technique you're not quite there yet, mALX, but in WRITING... well, let me put it this woy. You're not staring at my boat, I'm staring at yours ... disappearing way into the distance.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 3 2010, 01:51 PM

Riveting is the word I want. Once I started reading this chapter, it flew by. Wonderful!

Posted by: Zalphon Apr 3 2010, 07:13 PM

I can't help, but agree with Acadian.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 3 2010, 07:34 PM

I went back and read chapter five, and I encourage everyone else to do so. After reading it seeing that golden armor on display in The Best Defense is simply heartbreaking.

The Arena battle was magnificent. Maxical�s running commentary and attention to detail cast a spell that doesn�t let up until she slumps over the healing font, as spent as her grateful readers.

Posted by: minque Apr 4 2010, 07:02 PM

OMG..I've spent the last 45 minutes to read through this purely amazing story...and I'm speechless (and that's not normal for me )...

I'm a cat lover and reading about this pretty Kitty is a sheer joy. i think I mentioned it somewhere, but you'e a professional mALX, you must be!

Now this will either inspire me to take up my writing again or....make me realise that I never can come up with anything remotely like this one!

Anyway i am so impressed and I will try to learn from you (and all the other magnificent writers that dear treydoggie encouraged to come here)

YES I will learn and I will continue writing, but most of all i will follow this story about the sweet, funny, adorable Maxical

Hmmmm amazing...

Posted by: mALX Apr 5 2010, 04:03 PM

@ Winter Wolf - That means tons coming from you Wolf, Thank You so very much!
***
@ Foxy - I fixed some nits I had with the fight itself, and it sounds much better to me now. Thank you very much Foxy, You ROCK!
***
@ Acadian - Now coming from you that is huge! Thank you so much Acadian, you are greatly appreciated!
***
@ Zalphon - Thank you so much Zalphon, and it is so great to be on the same forum with you again!
***
@ Destri Melarg - I have redone the fight a bit, (chapter seven) - I wasn't happy with it but feel much better about it now - Thank You so much Destri, coming from you any kind words mean the world!!!
***
@ Minque - Thank you so much Minque! I really got into your story, and see some similarities in our character's backgrounds; I was immediately drawn to Serene because of them too! I appreciate so much your kind words!
***
@ EVERYONE - I redid the fight above so that I was much happier with it, if anyone has extra time on their hands to re-read I would love to hear what they think of the changes. I certainly understand if you don't, this year has been a really busy one!

Posted by: mALX Apr 5 2010, 04:06 PM

*

Chapter 15: The Bloodworks





The sound of the healing fount being activated woke me. I was laying on my back across the top of it and Owyn was leaning over me working on my shoulder and side. The infusion of magicka and healing spells bathed me in their aura, washing away the pain and exhaustion. I had heard it go off several times, I must have been in bad shape at the end of the match. Owyn was a master healer and could be compared to Arch Mage Traven for his healing ability. If he could only learn to be silent while he healed you.

"You did it! You got the crowds behind you! People will be coming to see you fight now, I'm moving all your fights to the weekends from now on. That thing you did with your tail, you had 'em eating out of your hand out there! Now you listen to me, Maxical. I didn't think I'd see you come out of there tonight. Don't get cocky now and stop your training. It could have gone either way tonight, you know that as well as I do. You made mistakes that could have cost your life. You need to train harder than ever now." Owyn was babbling. I closed my eyes again and let him work on me, hoping he would think I was passed out and stop jabbering.

Owyn was right, I had been cocky going into this match. Till today I had been fighting against people that really were raw recruits. Today I had been seriously challenged and really didn't think I was going to come out of that Arena.

All my dreams of being a warrior came down to this match. Was I going to learn from it and improve; or take the fear it had instilled in me and run away, quit the Arena. Owyn was right that I needed to train harder, but training is never against someone who wants to actually see you dead. How smug one can get when they do well in a practice; but it is all a game, play acting. There is nothing serious in that practice room.

What I faced today in that Arena was what the raw recruits I fought before now must have felt when they went up against me. But I was still playacting even then. The thought that I was killing them, actual death ... it never occurred to me even as I left the Arena a victor and cleaned their blood from my sword. Today was the first day that reality set in.

And yet ... the crowd today. It is an addiction that begins in your soul the first time they chant your name. You need them, live for their response, crave their voices calling your name. It feeds a hunger inside you that you never knew existed till that first time, that first experience of having them there for you. Now I know what "You live for that crowd out there" means; but what about the end of that? What about the other half of that saying Owyn has pounded into our heads, "You die for that crowd out there." What about that part of it? Am I willing to die for them? I know I almost did today, but am I willing to go back in and take that chance again? I know several that have, for I had to wipe their blood from my sword. But that was before it was almost my blood on someone else's sword, and them leaving the Arena the victor.

My usual buoyant spirits were subdued by the fight today. I had to make a decision on if I wanted to continue or not. I wished I could talk to Alix, wished I hadn't runaway from home. There was only one other person I could ask for advice on this, my friend Agronak. When Owyn got me wrapped up like a mummy I hobbled over and signaled him to let him know I'd be waiting for him when he got done practicing.

My mat is behind Ysabel Andronicus, she is the Battle Matron here. She handles the Grand Championship fights, and is Agronak's trainer and manager since he is the Grand Champion. At night she manages the women that sleep in the Bloodworks on an unofficial basis. We sleep where she tells us to. She can't stand having women in the Bloodworks, and the feeling is mutual. None of us can stand her.

She is insanely jealous over Owyn. Now, we all love Owyn, but no one is fighting for a place on his mat including Andronicus. She just doesn't want to see anyone else with him. They have a history that none of us can stomach picturing. We are all just glad it never came to fruition, if any of us had to see the two of them kiss we would all go out and throw ourselves on the next sword.

I guess because I was the youngest female in there she had pointed at me my first day in the Bloodworks and then pointed to the mat behind her. "That is where you sleep." She commanded.

It didn't matter to me when she is sleeping, but awake she has a very coarse and strident voice. Today she was doing a lot of loud hollering, her brash voice edged against my nerves. I needed a quiet place to think. I signaled Agronak again and pointed to the other end of the room down by the fount. There were a few mats in a dark corner there and it was quieter. Only one mat was occupied by a man pleasuring himself. I slumped down on the mat furthest from him.

There is a saying, "If you haven't seen it in the Bloodworks, it don't exist." It's the truth. Of course we all have to undress and change in front of each other, but there is much more that goes on pretty much out in the open down here. It took me a while to get used to it, my eyes stayed bugged out of my head constantly at first.

My first day in the Bloodworks was the first time I had actually ever seen what a man looked like naked. My first reaction, (which thankfully I kept to myself) had been "GAAAH!" But I was trying to sound mature and worldly, so I held that in. Instead I pointed to his member and said, "What is that?" and then looked down at my own self wondering if it was something that would grow on me now that I had the blue show.

"It's my sword." He said, and began walking over to me. I think he was about to show me something when Andronicus stepped up and dragged me into the corner to finish changing. My head was turned back as she dragged me away because the appendage had begun changing in shape and size.

Andronicus explained a whole lot of things to me in a very coarse way that surprisingly made things a lot clearer in my mind about everything than the Arcane ever did with their lectures on biology. Suddenly a whole lot of the dirty jokes I had told made a lot more sense. I now knew how babies were made as well.

I didn't sleep well my first night, my mind kept drumming up images of all I had seen that day. In the middle of the night I suddenly thought of Fathis. I sat up so quickly that the movement woke Andronicus.

"What is it?" She hissed.

"Fathis Aren." I whispered.

Andronicus sat up right away. "What about him?"

I swear butter could have melted in her mouth how sweet and interested she sounded suddenly. Her eyes were agog.

"I just realized what those men were saying about Fathis Aren all those years ago."

Andronicus insisted on hearing everything. She listened as if devouring every word till I told her that I was promised to Fathis.

"You can forget about that. Fathis Aren is a proud man, and would not sully himself with any of the beast species nor a fighter from the Arena, not even for a night's pleasure." Andronicus spat.

Some instinct told me she had been interested in Fathis Aren and had not prevailed. I wondered if her feelings for Fathis had been the reason she turned down Owyn's marriage proposal.

Still, what she said cut deeply. Fathis was a very proud man, I knew this about him. I just always thought his feelings for me overcame the fact that I was of the beast species. She had to be correct, though. At the end of every fight I always scanned the crowds to see if Fathis was there, he never was. I think that night was the first time I realized that I had lost any chance I had with Fathis when I lost his golden armor. And now here I was in the Arena, and Andronicus as much as said that Fathis turned her down because she was a fighter in the Arena. I lay back down feeling like someone had punched me in the stomach.

Eventually you become inured to the things that go on in the Bloodworks. After a while it becomes no big deal to see anything. I stopped gaping at everything that went on there and my eyes went back into my head. I doubt there is much that could surprise me or shock me now.




***

Agronak woke me. "I know what is bothering you, I can see by your bandages . You had your first tough match, didn't you?"

I nodded, pulling myself up till I was seated with my back leaned on the filthy wall behind me. Agronak sat next to me on the mat, his huge bulk eating up the remaining space.

"You know, that is a decision you have to make yourself. I can tell you why I chose to stay in after my first tough fight, but I'm not you. That is something you have to find inside yourself that keeps you fighting, or not find and decide to leave the Arena." Agronak said, taking my hand. "I heard you had the crowd eating out of your hand out there today." I leaned my head on his massive arm and listened to him talk about his first bad fight.

Agronak is my best friend here. He is the first Orc I've ever known. I was drawn to watch him practice just like all the other Pit Dogs who buzz around him like a mosquito. Agronak has moves even Alix doesn't know, and he performs them with such grace and precision that you are left dumbstruck watching him. It is deceptive too, that grace. It masks the power he is capable of and has lured many a dead man to think they could beat him in the Arena. I've tried to imitate him, just like everyone has.

His Arena persona is 'The Gray Prince' which I thought was odd because Agronak is a blue Orc. He doesn't take teasing from anyone about that, which is something you learn by the mistake of doing it. I was awestruck by him just like everyone else, and sought to start up a conversation with him hoping he may show me some of his moves. My idea of a conversation starter was to ask him why he didn't call himself 'The Blue Prince'. He took one look at me and laughed.

"When you become champion you should choose the title 'The Mouthy Marauder'". He said with a toothy grin.

"No sense warning them in advance." I spouted back. That started our friendship.

Everyone was surprised I had been able to tease Agronak and live to tell about it, but I know why. It is because we are both the wrong color for our race, that is what really bonded us as friends. We had both been ostracized by our own race and treated like freaks by others.

Agronak overcame it by pushing himself to a good education and by making Grand Champion. He was well respected now, but it hadn't always been that way. He shared things with me he had never shared with another because we had that bond. Things like that have a tendency to draw you together.


***



******* Owyn:







******* The Blue team Gladiator










*

Posted by: D.Foxy Apr 5 2010, 04:48 PM

Holy SHIPS, mALX.

You just keep getting better and better.

For those of you who don't fully understand, take a look at her first attempt to write about Maxical in the Arena. EVEN THEN if was pretty freaking good...


..but now, it's even better. We have a gritty, sand-in-the-feet realism of life raw and naked in the Bloodworks: an almost perfect slice-by-slash depiction of a duel to the death: psychological insights into the nature of crowds and crowdpleasers, and the parasatic, symbiotic relationship between them: and in addition to all this, we have - to use a Buddhist metaphor - Maxical, the "lotus in the mud" - she who is in the raw and ugly world of death, and yet not of it - who glides through the story and draws us all in...


...ah, I babble. Yes, I am not ashamed to do so. Who else? Who else but mALX could have done this, and not being content to do this once, do this TWICE, and better the second time around?


Thank you for gracing us with this, mALX. And when you become a best selling millionaress, remember us, your first fan club, 'kay?

Posted by: minque Apr 5 2010, 04:55 PM

As I've said! You're a PRO!!!

Adorable sweet Maxi....but what about Fathis? I'm curious...and a bit worried!

Posted by: Olen Apr 5 2010, 08:00 PM

That last update was brilliant. It's that simple, you vision of the bloodworks fits so well with how it might be, none of this slightly grotty but more or less ok stuff from the game. You capture how different and desensitised people who live with that amount of death would become and paint a gritty picture of it. It also work well to show a change in Maxical.

Excellent stuff.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 6 2010, 03:36 AM

Very nicely done mALX! I was impressed to see that Maxical realized she had been cocky during her most recent fight and addressed the hazards of that. There was a lot that you brilliantly put in this - wonderful.

Posted by: Winter Wolf Apr 6 2010, 07:10 AM

Incredible mALX. I have always been in awe of your ability to write 2000 words of non-stop humor into a chapter. Very few can do that. In this chapter, however; you have done the same non-stop transition into thoughts and reflection. Wow!! The whole thing flowed so smoothly and you kept Maxical's thoughts seeping down to us throughout. Simply incredible!!

I�m moving all your fights to Saturday nights from now on.
I would prefer to see the word Loredas here instead, but unfortunately the word 'Saturday' looks very different and you were probably worried that the impact of the meaning would be lost. If that is the case I understand.

Eventually you become inured to the things that go on in the Bloodworks. After a while it becomes no big deal to see anything. I stopped gaping at everything that went on there and my eyes went back into my head. I doubt there is much that could surprise me or shock me now.
Awesome part of the chapter here mALX. Very realistic. Bravo!!

Thank you for gracing us with this, mALX. And when you become a best selling millionaress, remember us, your first fan club, 'kay?
No chance of this. When mALX is sunning herself down at the Bahamas (aboard her 300 ft yacht, of course) we are the last people that she will think about.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 6 2010, 08:35 AM

I echo everything that has already been said. With everything that she has already been through, sometimes it�s easy to lose track of just how young Maxical still is. Thank you for rendering her combination of world-weariness and naivete so expertly.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 6 2010, 04:00 PM

A lot to smile, chuckle and laugh out loud about in this chapter:

These thoughts about Andronicus and Owyn that made me laugh out loud, in the way of parents and what they do when the kids aren't around:

Another laugh-out-loud moment:


Agronak is one of my favorite characters in the Arena storyline. This assessment of his character rings very true:


Well done, friend!

Posted by: mALX Apr 7 2010, 07:36 PM

@ Foxy - Thank you so much Foxy, to hear those words from you means tons to me!!!! You are always appreciated!!
***
@ Minque - Thank you very much Minque! I appreciate your kind words so much, and was tickled to read about Serene. I hope to find time to finish the thread soon in case you will be adding to it, but I was struck by the similar backgrounds our main characters share - Cool !!!! Fathis should re-enter the story soon, in more ways than one, lol.
***
@ Olen - Thank you so much Olen! I actually took the atmosphere and goings on in the Bloodworks from the Jockey room at Hialeah Park in Florida (horse racing). I thought there would probably be a similar atmosphere in the Bloodworks due to what had been essentially a man's world for a long time suddenly being invaded by women, lol.
***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! Oh yes, that fight definately took her down a few pegs, lol. You are greatly appreciated Acadian!
***
@ Winter Wolf - Thank you very much Wolf! I took your advice and changed the wording, and you are right about my reasons for doing it. I wasn't happy with the Saturday either, but didn't push my brain hard enough to come up with a solution till you said that. I think it works much better now, I changed it to "Weekends." You ROCK Wolf!!!!
***
@ Destri - Thank you so very much Destri!!! Maxical was pretty sheltered and so is somewhat immature for her seventeen years. Her curiousity has a tendency to get her into situations, or she may say the wrong things sometimes. Because of that, I really wanted to make sure her naivete was remembered, I am glad that came across. You are so appreciated Destri! Thank you!
***
@ Hauty - I was so hoping someone would pick up on these lines, Thank You so much Hauty!!!!! I cut one line out of there for word count that was another one children think behind their parents backs, lol. (When Andronicus explains the facts of life to her I had Maxical thinking to herself that maybe it was something Alix and S'Jirra needed to hear since they wanted a baby so badly - "I was pretty sure they didn't know about this...")

On the reaction to her first sighting of a man naked - I admit that one was my own first reaction, ROFL!

I like Agronak so well, and after my first game have never done his quest again until I did this story and my game glitched. You are so appreciated Hauty!!!

Posted by: mALX Apr 7 2010, 07:37 PM

*

Chapter 16: The Gray Prince





Agronak explained, the Gray was the wrong color on purpose, it was a joke on himself being the wrong color. The Prince part was accurate, he was the son of a Lord. It surprised me to find out that he was of mixed race.

Something about that really struck home with me. My face shows none of the standard Khajiit features, and my fur is fine and sleek, almost like a skin. Most Khajiit have coarse thick fur. It wasn't the first time I had wondered whether I was the product of a mixed union.

For Agronak it had helped him to know there was a reason behind his odd appearance, and within myself I knew that it would be so much easier to accept it if I knew my appearance was due to a racial mixture rather than just a deformity of nature or a freak accident of genetics.





***

Agronak and I spent every minute together if we weren't in a bout or training. We usually ate together and sat and talked till 'lights out' when he would head across to his bed in the Yellow team Bloodworks. We knew gossip buzzed around both Bloodworks about us, but we were just friends, the thought never crossed either of our minds for anything other than that.

He mostly ignored the gossip unless he thought someone had cast a slur against me. I think how the gossip started in earnest was the fact that we held hands a lot. It was just an affection between friends and meant nothing to us, but obviously meant quite a bit to others. That and Agronak appeared to like my singing. Anyone who has ever heard a cat sing; well no explanation would be necessary.





***

"What the hell is that horrible noise? Is someone injured?" Owyn came flying out of the back room.

I stopped singing and dancing and looked around. "I didn't hear anything Owyn."

Was that the first time I realized my singing was not a pleasant experience for the listener? No. I could fill a book with the clues before that.

Adamus Phillida thought someone was torturing the prisoners. Irlav Jarol went into an apoplectic fit and had to be healed. Fathis would laugh himself into stitches. Alix said he loved my singing, but mysteriously always had something to do outside when I started. Arch Mage Traven said he was sure it could be used in battle as a form of psychological warfare, I could infiltrate and bring them to their knees with my voice and aim.

It never bothered nor stopped me from enjoying singing. I won't even begin to mention my dancing, but suffice it to say that on more than one occasion someone called for healers thinking I was having some form of walking seizure.





***

Owyn came charging up. "The Black Horse Courier is here. Agronak, you go talk to them while I prep Maxical."

Agronak squeezed my hand before getting up. I watched his carriage and facial expressions change from Agronak to The Gray Prince. Owyn's training is very strict on representing our public persona, how we answer questions and handle the public when we go out. It is especially important with reporters, because they know how to ask questions that can trip you up and get you to reveal something you shouldn't. The Bloodworks was closed to outsiders, especially the press. All interviews were held in the garden area outside.

"You remember everything I told you? They will probably ask..." Owyn began going over the drill. Before I went outside for the interview Owyn gave me a gate pass to give Hassiri and reminded me to tell him my fights were moved to the weekends now.

Hassiri from The Black Horse Courier always watches the promotion in rank matches and interviews the victor. A lot of odd things are pulled for rank matches, like how the Yellow team sent three men out to fight just me. They are the most interesting to watch other than the Championship fights. That last fight had been a rank match, I was promoted to Warrior at the end of it but was too injured to stand in the ring for my belt or be interviewed, Owyn was busy working on my injuries and so had sent Agronak up to the Arena to get the belt and talk to the press.

Owyn had always been with me for the interviews before, I was surprised and a little nervous to be handling it on my own. He had pegged exactly what most of the questions would be, though. Hassiri started off asking about my injuries. I gave the scripted answers Owyn had briefed me with, smiling and looking in his eyes as we are trained to. Then he started asking questions I had not been briefed for.

"Can you show me some of those fancy tail moves you made in the Arena?"

"I can do better than that, why don't you use this gate pass and come see me fight when I get off injured status. They've been moved to the weekends from now on. You may see me do something with my tail I haven't thought of yet." (smile)

"Moved to the weekend already? That is pretty good for a Warrior rank. Did you think it was a dirty way to do business when they pitted you against three that outranked you?"

Owyn had not schooled me for that one. "The Yellow team lost three good men in that match, Owyn thought they were just doing housecleaning." (smile)

"You did a couple moves out there I hadn't seen done in the Arena before, I'm referring to the beheading and goring, are these specialized moves, and where did you receive your training?"

I was getting in over my head, he was asking questions I hadn't been schooled to answer.

"You'd be surprised what moves you can think up when skewered on a man's longsword. My Arena training comes from Owyn and my Blade training from Alix Lencolia. The tail tricks come from Azura." (smile)

"Will you be making any of them your signature move?"

"Right now my signature is staying alive out there, but so far I haven't seen any other tails in the Arena." (smile) Oh thank goodness, here comes Owyn. If the interviews last too long he knows they are asking questions he hasn't schooled us on.

"There has been a lot of talk about you and The Gray Prince, can you confirm for the readers what your relationship is?"

"Oh, we are not related. He is an Orc and I am a Khajiit. But we are friends, all of us Arena fighters are friends. There is no Blue or Yellow teams in those Bloodworks, but one family unit until we get into that Arena. Out in the Arena there are no friendships, no family. Any thoughts you have in that Arena other than the fight will get you killed." (smile) Come on Owyn, hurry up!

Owyn signaled me and I thanked Hassiri for the interview while Owyn slipped him two more gate passes and gave him a run down on my injuries and the upcoming fights for the article. I hurried back inside hoping I had answered correctly.

The debriefing with Owyn went well, surprisingly. I told him what had been asked and what I could recall of my responses.

"You did better than expected under the circumstances." Owyn was beaming because as he walked up he had heard me quoting his training in my last response. "That was quick thinking. You did well."

I heaved a sigh of relief. "Owyn, Hassiri said those three men outranked me. Is that true?"

"They were ringers, couldn't you tell?"

"I never thought about it." I really hadn't.

"You've got the Yellow team scrambling to find fighters to pit against you. They are trying to get rid of you. You're good with that sword Maxical."

I flushed, Owyn does not give out praise easily. Then again, he may be throwing me a bone hoping I won't give up. And being good with a sword almost didn't save me in that last match. I still needed to think about it.




***

That there was gossip about Agronak and I within the Bloodworks I knew, but I thought it was odd to be questioned about it by Hassiri. That had stunned me a bit, how could silly gossip from our Bloodworks have reached the ears and imagination of the press?

It is true Agronak was protective of me, mostly without realizing it. When you are an enormous Orc with a reputation for merciless slaughter in the Arena it doesn't take much for someone to back off and feel threatened. With Agronak all it usually took was a glance.





***

When the Black Horse Courier arrived the next day I was startled to hear the sound of some liquid being spewed and Owyn roaring. "MAXICAL! GET YOUR [CENSORED] IN HERE!"

I hurried in and was shocked to see Owyn's face a bright red color. My eyes fell to the coffee drenched edition of the Black Horse Courier in his hand. The floor was dotted with sprays of it. Had he called me in here to clean up his spill? My eye caught sight of a towel on the cabinet. Glancing up at his steaming face I snatched the towel and quickly started cleaning the coffee off the floor with it.

"DID YOU SAY THESE THINGS TO THE PRESS?" Owyn bellowed.

"But ... you said I did well in the debriefing; did I say something wrong?"

Owyn's hands were shaking as he pointed at a place in the paper. "Housecleaning?"

"But; I heard you say that..."

"That is not something you repeat to the press!"

I saw him scanning down the page and his eyes suddenly started from his head. Uh Oh. "I didn't know Owyn; er ... I think I may have received a head injury in the fight."

Owyn's hand was shaking and he was pointing at a place on the paper. His mouth kept opening and closing like a fish, but no sound came out ... at first. Then it was just a roar like a raging minotaur. I glanced at the page where his finger was.

"But; I was skewered on his longsword, I don't understand..."

Andronicus hurried over and pointed to my mat behind her chair. "Git, NOW!"

I was confined to my mat so Owyn could get over being mad at me. The worst part of it was, I would not have made him mad on purpose for anything.


***




******* Agronak:










*

Posted by: Winter Wolf Apr 7 2010, 08:03 PM

Even when Maxical is trying to be a good kitty it still goes against her. She is too honest for her own good.

�There has been a lot of talk about you and The Gray Prince, can you confirm for the readers what your relationship is?�
�Oh, we are not related.
Magnificent come back there!! I love it.

His mouth kept opening and closing like a fish, but no sound came out
Damn those non-talking fish!! They must be coming from the water around Bravil.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 7 2010, 08:07 PM

Oh, too many to quote here! I loved it all!

But the part about Maxical's singing and dancing rings so true. Those who have ever witnessed a pet cat in heat will agree that it is the most obscene display in the animal kingdom.

Just a nit based on experience: when I get panicked calls at 2 am about a young female cat crying in pain, they're not having seizures, they're having trouble walking! Think Madonna writhing on the floor doing "Like a Prayer" at some awards show back in the '80's. Scandalous! I usually tell them to bring the kitty in so I can make sure it's what I think it is (otherwise if it's not, we've got some bad juju going!).

Posted by: Acadian Apr 7 2010, 08:27 PM

Yes indeed! This was great fun to read. It all flowed very naturally. I really like how you incorporated the BHC into this one. I didn't realize Maxical was such an entertaining singer and dancer! Well done (again), mALX!

Posted by: mALX Apr 7 2010, 09:47 PM

@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so much Wolf! ... Hey, aren't you up in the middle of the night? I never saw you up at this hour before, lol. You ROCK Wolf!!!
***
@ Hauty - ARGH! My poor Maxical was not rolling around on the floor in heat, ROFL !!!! I hope that image doesn't stick in anyone's mind, ROFL !!! You had me in stitches with this! I fixed it to "walking seizure" hope that clarifies the image in your mind, you must have had an influx of cats lately in your practice, ROFL !!!!

I was trying to drum up an image more along the lines of of Elaine in Seinfeld dancing, ROFL !!! (with the thumbs, lol.) It was described as "A dry heave set to music"

Thank you so much Hauty, you made my day with your descriptions, lol.
***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! I have been trying to add a little something to the original each time for anyone who is re-reading her story so they don't get bored, lol. You ROCK!!!!

Posted by: D.Foxy Apr 8 2010, 03:07 AM

Arch Mage Traven said he was sure it could be used in battle as a form of psychological warfare, I could infiltrate and bring them to their knees with my voice and aim.

It never bothered nor stopped me from enjoying singing. I won�t even begin to mention my dancing, but suffice it to say that on more than one occasion someone called for healers thinking I was having some form of walking seizure.

PRICELESS!!!


You�d be surprised what moves you can think up when skewered on a man�s longsword.


I SCREAMSNORTED so hard at that one....and the, lo and behold...


Owyn�s hand was shaking and he was pointing at a place on the paper. His mouth kept opening and closing like a fish, but no sound came out�at first. Then it was just a roar like a raging minotaur. I glanced at the page where his finger was.

�But�I was skewered on his longsword, I don�t understand��


I suppose Owyn completely forgot that the *real* editor of the Black Horse Courier was a certain finger-in-many-pies D.Foxy...the DREADED master of swords, bawds, spears, fears, bows, beaus, poisons, poissons, martial arts, marital british boat ... AND innuendo..


Didn't he remember that before the name change, that newspaper used to be known as the the "Black FOX Courier"???


Tsk, tsk, Owyn. Punk'd by DFoxy again!!!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 8 2010, 09:04 AM

Using the interview with the Black Horse Courier as a narrative hook is just brilliant!

Hilarious!

Posted by: mALX Apr 10 2010, 07:38 PM

@ Foxy - I remembered Damien Reynard pointing at the Black Horse Courier in "The Debriefing" when I wrote that, your overly excellent idea of having him point to a place on the page! - couldn't resist using it and seeing if anyone else was reminded of that! Thank you so much Foxy, I even laugh at your antics months later, lol. You are always hugely appreciated!
***
@ Destri - I have been trying to make this rewrite add something to the original for those that have read it before (so they aren't bored reading it again, lol) - while trying to slim it down but keep Maxical intact, lol. Feels like a juggling act - so if I have cut something you want in the story, or added something that sucks, please don't be afraid to TELL ME !!!! ROFL !!!! I'd rather know while it is fresh and I haven't deleted the hard copy, lol. Thank you Destri, you are Awesome!

Posted by: mALX Apr 10 2010, 07:43 PM

I wanted everyone to see this, one of Maxical's readers sent me this to the BGSF - For those that have been keeping up with the story over there Maxical has been very ill - She said she drew a healing amulet on her to help her get well - I cried like a baby! Thank you so much Ariel, YOU ROCK !!!!!!!








*

Posted by: D.Foxy Apr 10 2010, 07:44 PM

I STILL demand to know what "wee wee on my Tee Pee" means!!!

Posted by: mALX Apr 10 2010, 07:54 PM

Oh, is that what I sent you!!!! I couldn't figure it out by your cryptic PM, ROFL !!! It had to do with some comment you made on the date I sent that, so check the date and roll back in your posts to see what you said that brought that up - ROFL !!!! It may have been the Chocolate pudding comment, but I can't remember right now. I will dig around and see if I can figure it out, but it was something you said that triggered it.


As far as the poem goes, SOMEONE used to say that to any men that came in our house and happened to need to use the bathroom while there. - Yes, his humor was as twisted as mine, ROFL !!!

Posted by: minque Apr 11 2010, 10:09 PM

Hilarious, my cat sings and ...well, no comments really

What can I possibly say that has not been said already? I just adore this Kitty-cat, she's funny and smart and you describe her so well.

I see this as one of my "feel-good-stories"

Thank you so much for posting it here!

Posted by: treydog Apr 13 2010, 08:51 PM

I am caught up again at last. I wanted to take the time to savor this reading and enjoy every "Maxical moment" of it.

Your editing has taken an already brilliant story to new heights. And you have preserved all the best parts- the humor, the sadness, the crossed wires of communication....

The Arena fight was one of the best I have seen. And the "letters home" section had me fighting to keep from bursting out laughing.

Posted by: mALX Apr 16 2010, 07:55 PM

@ Minque - Thank You so much! Maxical really has my heart, I have played her on the 360 since 2006 and since 2009 on the PC. She is so much fun to RP when gaming that I started doing her story last fall. You are so appreciated!

***

@ Treydog - Thank you so very much Treydog! It really means a lot to hear that the edits came out as I hoped they would. I was scared of editing out a part that meant something to a reader - like Destri over the attack when she lost the golden armor.

You ROCK Treydog!! And I know how busy you have been, so really appreciate it when you take the time to read my stuff, lol !!

Posted by: mALX Apr 18 2010, 07:11 AM

*

Chapter 17: Repercussions Of The Interview





Haki the Bold poured himself a steaming cup of coffee and sat down at his breakfast table. After selecting an orange and a sweet roll he raised the piping hot coffee to his lips while perusing the latest copy of the Black Horse Courier.

SPEW was followed by a deafening CRASH, then a stream of curses shouted loud enough that a passing guard ran in from the street.









******* Maxical


I had just finished using the bathroom by the main entrance and was about to start heading back to my mat where I was being confined till Owyn got over the urge to kill me for the things I said in that interview.

CRASH! The door of the Bloodworks slammed against the wall and stomping footsteps followed. If I hadn't just used the urn I may have lost control of my bladder at the sight of the huge angry Nord. His face and even his shiny pate glowed bright red, and if eyes could emit steam - his were. It was Blademaster Haki of the Yellow team, and he was livid about something.

"It's Haki the Bald! Someone get Owyn, it's Haki the Bald!" I yelled, scurrying back to my mat behind Andronicus.

This made him even angrier, if that was possible. He charged after me roaring.

Agronak stopped practicing and came right behind him, sword still in hand.

Owyn stepped towards Haki and shouted "Hey!"

"That fur-licking tramp called me bald!"

Agronak stepped up to him. "Take that back!"

Andronicus pushed Agronak back and Owyn gave him the Arena signal to step off. Agronak did, but didn't go far. He stood just feet away glowering at Haki and breathing loudly through his mouth like a minotaur.

"I'll handle this." Owyn growled in Agronak's direction, then turned to Haki. "You don't come in here threatening my fighters. So what if she called you bald? If you're trying to keep it secret you should wear a hat."

"She was making fun of my name!"

"You got a problem with anything my fighters do, you bring it to me. She was just calling it like she saw it. Have you lost your mind coming in here threatening like this?"

A verbal battle of major proportions ensued. They didn't physically fight each other, but it looked like they may any second. Their faces were both beet red and sweat began dripping off their brows and down their necks. They got their mouths fractions of an inch away from the other's face shouting at the top of their lungs. Spit flew and they were shaking as if holding themselves back from fighting was straining them. Their chests bumped repeatedly against each other. It was much more frightening than if they had just drawn weapons and dueled it out.

Then it got down to me saying Haki had been "housecleaning" in the interview. Owyn may have raked me over the coals for saying that to the press, but when Haki demanded an answer Owyn got right up in his face almost spitting in his eye.

"Hell yeah I told her to say that to the press! You were housecleaning, those men came straight out of prison and you know it!"

"So what? I broke no rules. You got a problem with it?"

"Yeah I got a problem, you're in my Bloodworks. Unless you're here to learn how to train a real fighter then I suggest you leave before Pork Chop smells you. He'll do some housecleaning of his own if he gets wind of you in here."


All the fighters had stopped practicing and were hovering in the vicinity of the doorway to the backroom so they could watch the fight. I had started to go over and apologize to Haki, but Andronicus stuck her arm across to stop me then pointed me back to my mat.

I was pretty sure Owyn would kill me after Haki stormed out, but to my surprise Owyn was strutting around like a banty rooster that had just routed a fox from the henhouse.

Andronicus gave me a very blunt and coarse description of exactly how what I said to the press could be misconstrued and went on to point out that all of Cyrodiil was going to be reading that over their breakfast table. I had a very red face when I apologized to Owyn.

Owyn pounded me on the back. "It's a good thing you are on medical leave for those injuries. Some will think you are trash over this like Haki did, not all though. I'm hoping most will think you were being deliberately funny like you do with your tail in the matches. That is what we want them to think. Either way this will all blown over by the time you get back fighting. Something else will happen and everyone will be talking about that and forget about this interview. It always works that way, no one stays front page news long. I don't want you to open your mouth to the press again though. I don't care what the circumstance is, you do not speak to the press again till I give you permission, is that understood?"

He laughed at me for calling the Yellow team Blademaster 'Haki the Bald' to his face. It turns out that is something they tell new Pit Dogs to see how stupid they are. I guess I should have won a prize for stupidity, having made it to Warrior rank without learning his correct name.

I remembered recently seeing his name printed in the paper and pointing it out to several other fighters that they had spelled Haki's name wrong. How they must have laughed at me behind my back. Humiliation isn't adequate to describe what it feels like to know you have been the subject of private jokes without your knowledge.


That edition of the Courier sold out and had to go into another printing. I took a lot of ribbing over it. Several men asked if I needed help thinking up a move and offering their longsword as a skewer.

Agronak tried to put a stop to it by glaring at everyone and telling them that their 'daggers' would be hanging off his sword if they didn't shut up. He was perpetuating the problem by doing that, but there wasn't any nice way to get that across to him.

Owyn and Andronicus stayed out of it till the Champion from the Yellow team started in on me. She had been practicing in our Bloodworks regularly since well before I came to the Arena. Owyn always said he thought Haki sent her over to spy.

She had always been overly rude to me right from the start. All the Pit Dogs are picked on by the experienced fighters, that is just an initiation we have to go through. It usually tapers off as we gain in rank, but she had never let up on it with me. Owyn and Andronicus don't step in on stuff like that, we are supposed to learn to handle it on our own. That was why it was such a surprise to me when Owyn jumped all over her this time.

She wasn't five foot from Owyn when she said I needed to go to the Yellow team Bloodworks and do some housecleaning. Owyn got right up in her face and shouted at her to get back to her own Bloodworks, that she was no longer welcome here. She stormed out.









******* Varnado


Varnado looked up irritated when the loud Nord slammed into The Feed Bag. Her voice carried above the crowds long before she plopped herself down at the table behind him with a group he recognized as fighters from the Arena. He was considering moving to another table when something she said in that brassy voice caught his attention.

"That white fur-ball knew exactly what she was saying in that interview. How can you still think she is innocent after reading those things she said? I'm telling you she has Owyn eating out of the palm of her hand and that blue Orc tries to fight anyone that looks at her! He would have stabbed Haki this morning if Owyn hadn't stopped him. Owyn and Haki got into a huge fight too, they almost killed each other over her. She is trash, just pure trash. She's sleeping with them all, they wouldn't be fighting over her like this if she wasn't. Owyn threw me out today over her."

"If she was sleeping with Owyn, Andronicus would have killed her by now. You're off there."

"You idiot, they don't do it in front of her. Use your head."

"Nothing happens in the Bloodworks that don't get around, if she was sleeping with Owyn we would have heard about it."

"You're hearing about it right now, you numskull!"

"She isn't sleeping with everyone down there, that Blue team Gladiator has been trying to tap her since she started the Arena. He said he'd lay his winnings that she's never been touched. Said she had never even seen a man's sword when she first came to the Bloodworks."

"Key words there, when she first came. Do you really think she could have lived there this long and stayed pure? Get real."




***

Varnado watched the Nord and her teammates as they filed out of the restaurant. There was some confusion at the doorway as a group of guards were entering at the same time, shortly followed by all three Verus brothers that ran the 'Three Brothers Trade Goods'. Varnado hailed them over to his table.

"Sit with me, I've got to tell you what I just heard."

Cicero, Sergius, and Tertullian Verus all pulled up chairs and Varnado signaled the proprietor Delos Fandas over.

"Give me another stout Delos." Varnado said, waiting till Delos took the others orders before beginning.

"Did you see the interview with the white Khajiit in the Courier today? Let me tell you what I just overheard about her. She is the same one that got Fathis Aren steaming mad over that Golden Armor we've got hanging on display."

"I read it; that Fathis Aren is one cold character. Looks down on the working class, I doubt he would have anything to do with a fighter in the Arena." Sergius said, imitating Fathis by looking down his nose at Varnado.

"Delos, bring us a copy of the Courier if you've got one."

Delos handed him the paper as he lay the frothy stein of ale down.

"Read that." Varnado pushed the paper in front of Cicero. Tertullian leaned over and read it too. Loud guffaws followed, and they began elbowing each other and making jokes.

Sergius reached over and took the paper from them, scanning it quickly. "This is that white Khajiit we saw fighting? The one with the tail?" Sergius asked, still scanning the article with the interview.

"All Khajiit have tails." Tertullian said with a snort.

Sergius lowered the paper and gave him a look. "You know what I mean, the one that made us laugh by doing tail tricks. Remember? She is the one that cut that guys head off, and when it rolled her face turned green."

"That was my favorite part of the fight." Cicero said, becoming animated. "That and when she gored that guys crotch and twisted the dagger. I hurt just watching that, but couldn't take my eyes away. I hope she makes that one her signature."

"I worry about you sometimes Cicero." Sergius said shaking his head.

"Well you should hear what has been going on down in the Bloodworks with that same white Khajiit." Varnado brought the conversation back under his control before they got off on fight techniques. He hesitated till all eyes were on him.

"Here, let me pick up your tab for that ale." Tertullian said, pulling the tab over in front of him.


When he reached the part about Haki fighting over her two of the guards stepped up to the table.

"I can verify that. I heard shouting coming from Haki's house this morning and ran in. He was in a burning rage and holding the copy of the Courier in his hands." One guard said.

"I had to write a report on him crashing into the Blue team Bloodworks this morning. He busted their door latch." The other guard said. "Here, let me buy you another stout, what else did you hear?"

Urbul gro-Orkulg from the Slash 'N Smash came in and hailed Varnado. When he found out what the conversation was about he joined in, grabbing Varnado's tab for dinner and ordering him another ale.

"I know the Gray Prince is hitting that fur."

"How do you know?" Several asked in unison.

"He's an Orc." Urbul said with a grin.

"Let's move to a bigger table." Varnado said, tucking his Septim pouch in his pocket.






*

Posted by: Olen Apr 18 2010, 04:31 PM

The begingings of the rumour are nicely done, you show it spreading and developing well. It enhances the story's slightly darker edge too which is what makes this so good, it has lots of humour but enough grit to it as well. And they're well balanced with neither damageing the other.

I can see her not getting on so well with the press once they get wind of it...

The man's a master

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 18 2010, 06:44 PM

So it'll all blow over by the time Maxical returns to the Arena? Owyn, are you certain? Really certain?

Posted by: minque Apr 18 2010, 11:09 PM

hehe...priceless!!

Another one:


Oh how humorous...I just love it!

Maxical....YOU ROCK!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 19 2010, 01:21 AM

There is an image that will haunt me for the rest of my life!

Between Maxical and Shivani it�s a wonder that Cyrodiil still stands.

Beyond brilliant!

Posted by: Acadian Apr 19 2010, 04:19 PM

Oh my, that was entertaining indeed! Fun and games in the Bloodworks. You do a nice job of 'showing' who Maxical's friends are (especially Owyn and Agronak) as well as her enemies by their actions. Well done.

Posted by: mALX Apr 21 2010, 11:31 PM

*



Chapter 11a: Bringing Fathis Up To Date




** This section on Fathis is a backflash of what was going on with him from around the time Maxical ran away from home and leading up to the current events. It was out of order since the edit; moving here to get time framing right. Sorry everyone This really needs a rewrite. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do with it yet, may delete it.







Fathis had not been sleeping well since Ma'Thjizzrini Qa joined the Arena. Not hearing from her anymore after years of correspondence caused Fathis to wonder if she took that argument over the armor, the way he stormed out...could it be she thought they were over?

He trudged down to the Castle dining room for breakfast after another night of tossing and turning. He loaded his plate up with several meats and sat down to a hearty breakfast and a bit of news. Putting a large forkful of steak into his mouth he picked up the Black Horse Courier and began to read. GAAAAAK! Fathis heaved out of his chair, knocking it over with a crash. He was clawing at his throat and gasping.

Gellius Terentius leaped up and whacked Fathis on the back hard, causing the piece of meat to fly out of his mouth and bounce off Count Regulus Terentius.

"Good gods man! Watch what you are about!" The Count carefully blotted the meat juice off him with his linen napkin.

Fathis face continued to turn purple, but it was from anger at what he had read in the Courier.

"I'm at my breakfast man! If you are passing this life I request you do it somewhere other than my breakfast table! Gellius, have the staff come get Fathis. And send a healer to him. He appears to be succumbing to a heart ailment." The Count said disgustedly, turning back to his breakfast and picking up the now crumpled edition of the Courier.

Fathis waved Gellius back down and stormed out. He strode immediately out to the stables and demanded they saddle up his horse. Steam appeared to be rising off his head.

He rode at breakneck speed to the Imperial City and stomped the whole way to the Arena. The board out front showed Ma'Thjizzrini Qa was off the schedule for her injuries. She must have gone home then.

Fathis hurried to the Faregyl only to find she wasn't there either. His temper rose each time he thought about Ma'Thjizzrini Qa being 'skewered on a man's sword' and these delays in confronting her were not helping. He galloped back to the Imperial City, his mind a turmoil the whole way.

Why did she not go home? Surely she wouldn't lay around in that filthy Bloodworks when she didn't have to! Had one of the young bucks from the Arena set her up somewhere in some hovel? Well he would find her if he had to go house to house through the Imperial City!





***

Fathis decided to begin his search by crashing into the shacks on the waterfront first. As he started across the bridge he saw the waterfront was crawling with Legion guards. Swinging around he hurried back up to the gate.

"What's going on down there?" He asked the guard.

"They're going house to house searching for the Gray Fox." He eyed Fathis up and down. "You don't need to be going down there dressed up like that, not unless you plan to be knocked over the head and robbed."

"Good gods, is it that bad down there? I was looking for that white Khajiit, the one that fights in the Arena. Have you seen her go down there? I am to escort her home."

"I've seen her down there every now and then with the Gray Prince. He has a house down there. She's not down there now though."

The rage that filled Fathis was so great that the guard's eyes widened and he took a step back from him.

"Here now, I'll have no trouble on my watch!" He called as Fathis stormed away.

By the time Fathis left the Imperial City the next day he had heard about Haki and Owyn as well.







*

Posted by: mALX Apr 21 2010, 11:33 PM

*


Chapter 11: Bad Things Come In Threes



Owyn was right, eventually bigger news hit the paper and everyone quit talking about that interview. The first was that Claudius Arcadia's daughter was brutally murdered in the act of a rape right there in the Imperial City. She was a little younger than me. It was horrible to think of what she had to endure the last minutes of her life, and frightening to know someone was out harming girls like that.

Then Agronak's mother died. He came into our Bloodworks broken and made the announcement to the room. He looked over at me as he spoke, his expression helpless and clearly he was needing his friend instead of the roomful.

"This morning at a little after three my mother lost her fight with..." Agronak began, but was unable to finish.

We all gathered around him to give him words of comfort. She had been very ill for a long time, long before I met him. I had gone with him to visit her several times and knew her time was near. Even though this was the expected conclusion it was none the less devastating to Agronak.

Andronicus gave up her chair and we all helped Agronak to it. Owyn made him take a small sip of brandy, even though Agronak does not drink alcohol.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" I asked him quietly. I really didn't know what to do.

"Yes, I really need your help if you can Maxical. I need to make arrangements for her funeral and the disbursement of her personal items. I guess I'll need to make a statement to the press. I really need your help to get through this, I don't even know where to begin." He was shattered.

I didn't know either. I looked over at Andronicus and she nodded. She knew what to do. Surprisingly, or maybe not, Andronicus was used to handling these things. Agronak gave her carte blanche with his bank account and she was a model of efficiency ordering the funeral arrangements and gathering the press. She wrote out a list of tasks that I could do for her to get everything done quickly. She spoke to the press on behalf of Agronak and fielded the questions the press threw at him afterward. He had to do very little speaking.

The funeral was arranged in record time and the Courier was given the details so they could print them on the Special Edition with the announcement of her passing. They were given a pass to sit up front with the fighters and family as quite a crowd was expected. Andronicus knows how to milk PR from any situation for her fighters.


Ocato himself could not have a bigger funeral than Andronicus set up for Agronak's mother. It rained, but that did not keep what seemed like all Tamriel from attending. People were squeezed together tightly all across the lawns and the streets were clogged. People hung out of the windows of nearby buildings and climbed up in the trees to see. Crowds spilled out into the other districts so the guards tied the city gates open for them. The Gray Prince was obviously the draw, for while she lay sick none of these had bothered to make her acquaintance.

Owyn looked surprisingly handsome in a very ornate armor I had never seen before. Haki the Bold was dressed to the nines and with a very somber expression. He and Owyn acted like a harsh word had never been spoken between them, clasping each other in grief. That is for the PR image, we strive to look like a close knit family.

Andronicus was wearing a new dress and she had me fix her hair and do her makeup for her. The fighters from both Bloodworks came in spotlessly clean battle raiment, all the metalwork polished to a high sheen and brand new skirting.

Hassiri, Urjabhi and Ra'jiradh from the Black Horse Courier all came dressed in suits and sat up front with the fighters. High Chancellor Ocato had been sent a special invitation to stand with the fighters, he is an Arena buff, surprisingly. He showed up in a fancy red uniform on a gorgeous black horse and gave a speech. I didn't see him because Andronicus had me fetch her some water from one of the houses. I caught her later dabbing it under her eyes to imitate tears. She is a master of staging for any event.

Agronak was resplendent in his Grand Champion raiment, but was very emotionally wrought by it all. He clung to my hand through the entire proceeding and wept openly. It was heartbreaking.




***

Agronak was very depressed, but driven. "I need to go through my mother's personal items and find her important papers. I will be selling a lot of her things, but ... I can't face digging through her things by myself. Would you mind helping me with this?" He knew I would, the asking was just a formality.

Agronak had bought his mother a tiny house on the waterfront so she would be close to him. It was just a short walk from the Arena. He started off picking up a few items and putting them in the crate, but after a while I noticed he was sitting on the bed with a faraway and lost look on his face.

"Do you want to wait and do this another time?" I asked, gently touching his hand.

"No, It's not that. She was my last tie. I don't even know who my father was, only that he was a Lord. I have no one now ... to claim my body when I die. I'll be damned if I'll be put in the pit like trash."

Agronak never cursed, so it said a lot for how strongly he felt about this. I understand the feeling of having lost all ties, and about the pit. I wouldn't want to be put in there either.

The pit is under a grate in the center of the Arena. Fighters without families to claim their body are stripped and rolled into the pit immediately after their fight, right in front of the crowds. When the Arena closes for the night they light the pit on fire and incinerate the bodies. It is the worst smell in the world when they light it, but I have seen people sitting in the stands watching. I always wonder if it is family or friends that couldn't afford the cost of a funeral.

Before stepping foot in that Arena every single time you fight you have to sign legal forms and releases. The Battlemaster and one neutral party have to witness your signature on the papers. Andronicus acts as witness for Owyn's fighters and he does the same for her's.

The first is the 'Designated Claim' form, who will claim your body in the event you die. If you have family coming for you your body is taken to a holding area and stripped of the Arena equipment.

Then you have to sign the 'Incineration at the Discretion of the Arena' form. If your designated claimer does not show in what the Arena deems a reasonable period they have the right to dispose of you in the pit before you stink up the place.

If you don't have a person as a designated claim, you have to sign a waiver for the waiting period so they can just dump you in the pit right away.

At the end of each day the Battlemaster has to send a report to the Chancellor with the list of everyone that was incinerated along with their signed waivers or agreements.

The fear of being disposed of in that pit was foremost on Agronak's mind. He was desperate to find something in his mother's personal papers that would give a clue to any family.

"Agronak, there is no one in Tamriel that can beat you, I doubt you need to worry. But I overheard Owyn telling that Gladiator about something called a 'Power of Attorney' where you can designate a person as a pseudo relative, someone who would act on your behalf as a relative would. You can be released from it later if you find a relative or marry. I am sure Andronicus would do it for you, or if you wanted me to I would do it for you."

"Would you? You have no idea what a relief that would be on my mind. I'll talk to Andronicus about it right away. That Gladiator ... are you talking about Gils? The Dunmer?"

I nodded.

"Is he bothering you? You tell me if he is. He's been getting on my nerves sniffing around you like a dog with a steak dinner. I put a flea in his ear the other day about it."

"He doesn't bother me Agronak. It is just a conquest thing with him. Don't upset your friendship with him over this." I couldn't stand it if I was the cause of a rift between the two friends.

"As long as you are on that mat behind Andronicus I don't care; but if she ever moves you out from behind her, I wouldn't like the idea of you continuing to stay in the Bloodworks."

"I don't have much choice about that. Anyway, I doubt she will move me."

We filled two crates with clothing and bedding and Agronak handed me her jewelry box to carry. He found the deed to the house and brought it as we made our first trip to the Market District.

Jensine's bought the crated items, then Agronak had me wait outside the Red Diamond Jewelers while he took the deed to the Office of Imperial Commerce.

I saw Hassiri from the Black Horse Courier heading up the street toward me and was getting nervous that he would spot me. It was a huge relief when Agronak came around the corner and we were able to duck into the Red Diamond Jewelry together so he could sell the jewelry items.

Just before we stepped back out of the shop Agronak caught my arm and turned me around, slipping a rolled parchment into my hand.

"I want you to have my mother's house. It isn't much, just a shack; but it's somewhere you can go if Andronicus moves you. If that happens, I want you out of that Bloodworks. You know I will end up killing someone if one of those clowns touches you. Consider it your duty to take it so I don't go to prison."

"Agronak, I can't take that, it is yours!"

"No it's not, I had the deed put in your name. Maxical, you know me. I'll never live outside the Bloodworks, it's my home and always has been. You've been thinking about getting out of the Arena lately anyway."

"Agronak, this is too much! I can't take it!"

"It'd mean a lot to me to see you there, to know you had a place of your own. I have something else too, as long as you're already griping. I bought this ring for my mother with my winnings when I made Grand Champion. I couldn't bring myself to sell it. My mother asked me to pick something nice out of her jewelry when she was gone and give it to you, and I chose this. I want you to put a health enchantment on it to help you heal out there in the Arena. That is your main weakness."

"Agronak, what a dear you are, but I can't take that! Any old brass ring will do for the Arena, that is way too nice to fight in." We had stepped through the doorway as we were speaking, then stood outside the door.

"Let me know when your done griping so I can put it on your finger." He gave his lopsided grin. "You are the only one that ever came and visited with Mom. That meant a lot to her and me both. This is from both of us."

"How sweet you are Agronak." There is no arguing with an Orc that has his mind made up. I stuck my hand out and he slid it on, it was a beautiful ring.

"Thank you Agronak." I hugged him and then took his hand as we turned to leave.

"I see I should be wishing you happy. You didn't have to die of old age, did you?"

My head jerked around. Fathis was standing in the midway gawking at us, his face purple with rage.

"Fathis!" I let go of Agronak's hand.

Suddenly Hassiri was in my face, his pad in hand. "Let me be the first to officially congratulate you two. Would you mind giving a..."

"Fathis, please! Please, it's not what you think! Fathis!"

Fathis stormed away. Hassiri's eyes were lit with intrigue.

I looked up at Agronak. "I've got to go after him." I said, then left Agronak to talk to the press while I ran after Fathis.



*

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 22 2010, 12:54 AM

Weeeeell.

I don't know whether to :, , , or !

I stand behind my original opinion of Fathis. He can be such a

Posted by: Acadian Apr 22 2010, 02:28 AM

Nicely done mALX!

If there is a misunderstanding, Maxical will find herself in the middle of it, won't she!?!

I love this! In the land of the Nine Divines, to be dressed to the Nines is so cool! I think it is wonderful that this phrase has equally effective meaning in or out of TES lore (just for diff reasons) and that you chose to use it!

Posted by: mALX Apr 22 2010, 06:10 PM

@ Hauty - I hope all that is good, I know the ROFL is, lol. I slid some below the surface jokes in there, so I hope one of those laughing emoticons is one of these! You and Wolf are usually the ones that catch my undercurrents first, lol. Thank you so much Hauty!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you very much Acadian! I liked that too. I had to make the story a little different for those having to drudge through it again - a reward for their loyalty, lol.

***

@ Everyone - since this is a re-write, if anyone wants to see something I have left out, or liked the original better than my re-write PLEASE tell me so I can fix it. (like Destri did with the attack where she loses her golden armor) I want it to be all good. Since I am changing some things around and adding new, I am torn on whether I am hurting the story with the changes or helping it.


****** For anyone that is still keeping up with the original story updates, the BGSF does NOT send notices anymore for stories you are tracking as of March 25, 2010. If you are interested in keeping up with the new chapters I can PM you if you let me know you want me to do that. There was a new chapter posted yesterday.


*

Posted by: minque Apr 23 2010, 12:04 AM

mALXie....I'm so pleased you post Maxie's story here! I will most certainly follow this version...This last update was touching, without being too mushy...Really very professionally written.


Hmm ever thought of making a living on writing, huh?

Posted by: mALX Apr 23 2010, 05:15 AM

@ Minque - Thank you so much Minque! You ROCK!!!


*

Hold for edit



*


Everyone - in trying to edit a couple chapters here the encoding issue caused some of the comment thanks I had written out to disappear. They showed on one encoding, but not on the other. When I tried to fix it, they were gone.

Really hate these encoding problems.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 23 2010, 02:32 PM

This is better written the second time around, tighter and more effective.

one nit:

I think the word you want is elusive.

Posted by: Winter Wolf Apr 24 2010, 12:56 AM

This little woofy is sitting here with a big smile upon his face.

Oh mALX, this is lovely. You have nailed the male POV so well it makes my heart sing.
The way you write Fathis is soooo right!!

Go girl.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 24 2010, 02:42 AM

It's very clear where Fathis stands and of course Maxical is right in the middle of the misunderstanding!

Posted by: mALX Apr 25 2010, 05:55 AM

@ Hauty - Thank You, thank you! I fixed that, I appreciate your help a LOT! I have some scenes coming up in a few chapters that are straight out of your PM over at...the other place - I think you will appreciate the details in it, I used almost all of what you gave me - can't wait to show it to you! Thank you again Hauty!

***

@ Winter Wolf - Yeah! You are back! I read your chapter, and can see the hard work you put into it, so I know why you were gone so long! Poor Maxical was missing you badly! Thank you so much Wolf, coming from you that means tons!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! I really appreciate so much that you are still reading her current story updates and these changes too, that means a LOT !!!

Posted by: mALX Apr 25 2010, 05:59 AM

*



Chapter 13: Of Fathis And Orc Diapers




******* Fathis's POV



Fathis was unable to sleep after what he had witnessed outside the Jewelers. Could he just stand by and let the Orc have her? When he was angry, maybe. But in the quiet of the night when his mind should be resting he found that any plan would be better than sitting back and allowing her to slip through his fingers like time that you can never get back. The muted sound of the Castle guards patrolling the corridors had suddenly become a deafening racket that kept him from sleep.

On the spur of the moment Fathis concocted a plan to snatch her away in the night. If she gave indication she did not want to leave with him then he would literally carry her from that Arena. Whether to his castle where the Chaplain could perform a hurried ceremony, or up to the tower in the Jeralls where he could hide her from that Orc and rekindle the love between them...it mattered not which. He was getting her out of that Bloodworks and away from that Orc for good.

Fathis rode helter-skelter back to the Imperial City. When he was walking up to the Arena the door opened and several men spilled out. Fathis darted into the bushes and waited. His plan may or may not be a good one, but it didn't involve fighting off ten stout men before he even saw Maxical. Kidnapping would be hard to do with shattered arms and legs, but he would be damned if he just stood by and let the Orc have her.

Fathis loitered by the bush out front of the Bloodworks trying to appear inconspicuous. He had just started to leave the cover of it when the door of the Bloodworks opened again and he had to hurriedly dart back behind it. It was that Orc and a Dunmer, they seemed to be arguing.

"You almost woke up Andronicus raising your voice like that. The last thing I need is her poking her nose into this, she may talk and that's the last thing I want." Agronak pushed the Dunmer out the door in front of him.

"What the hell is going on Aggie? What are you talking about you gave her the house and bought her a ring? How you gonna get that house back when it's all over? When are you planning to give me my tag, I'm getting tired of waiting."

"Not this time Gils. I like her."

"That's bull crap! You can't change the rules now, what the hell has gotten into you?"

"I told you, I like her. Game's off."

"That's a bunch of bull Aggie, you can't just arbitrarily change everything on a whim, we're partners. I'm not letting you change the rules just like that, we have to agree first. I wouldn't have stepped back from the start for you if I'd known you would pull this crap."

"Do it and I'll kill you."

"How are you planning to keep her? You want everything to get out?"

"She don't have any ideas like that, naive as a newborn baby. That or it's the boyfriend thing. She ain't made the first move trying to find out. If it comes to that I'll give you the tag."

"What are you going to do about that boyfriend of hers?"

"Get rid of him."


They had gotten out of earshot by then, but the large Orc's last words gave Fathis a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and a chill went down his back. He was pretty sure if the Orc caught him down here his body would be found floating in the Rumare.



Maxical wasn't in the Bloodworks, it was empty except a passed out Andronicus. Fathis's lip curled at the stench of the place, how did Maxical stand it down here? Well the Orc was out with his Dunmer friend and not Maxical. Fathis decided to wait for her return.

It was quite some time later that the Dunmer returned with a group of fighters and Owyn. The Orc was not amongst them. It was late at night now, and the thought suddenly struck Fathis that Maxical was spending the night at the Orc's house on the waterfront.

A cursory glance through the crowds at the Merchants Inn and Feed Bag gave him the information that she was not in either place and a rage surged through him bringing him at almost a full charge down to the waterfront.



Not knowing which house was the Orc's, Fathis began by creeping around the shacks, putting his ear to the doors and outer walls. As he was coming around the corner of one house he spotted a group of people standing in front of one man with a torch.

"What are these idiots doing out here in the middle of the night?" Fathis wondered, straightening up and pretending he was inspecting the foundation of the shack nearest him.

He couldn't very well keep creeping around with all those people staring at him, nor start crashing into the hovels either. Fathis decided his best move may be to get a room at the Merchants Inn. The thought also occurred that she was only at the Arena in the first place to get her golden armor back. If he bought it back for her and gave it to her maybe she would come back to him without any further problems. He would head over to the Best Defense first thing the next morning.













******* Maxical

Fathis was in a rage and wouldn't hear a word I said. I stood watching him gallop away, my eyes swollen and raw from crying. A slow ache climbed from my stomach to my throat and hovered, making it hard to breathe. Not wanting to chance running into Hassiri, I cut down the hill to the Waterfront District and used the key Agronak gave me to wait in his mother's house. It wasn't long before Agronak showed up.

"It doesn't look like you got it straightened out with Fathis, I'm sorry Maxical. I should have waited till we were private to give you that."

"What am I going to do Agronak? He won't even speak to me anymore." My voice sounded dull to my own ears.

It was then, right there with Agronak holding me while I cried that the decision to keep fighting in the Arena was made. Fathis was gone. I had lost him, and without him I just didn't care what happened to me anymore. I can't say I wasn't a little mad at Agronak for his timing, not only because of Fathis, but Hassiri as well. I didn't even ask what Agronak told him, every time that scene played through my mind it was only Fathis's reaction that mattered.

Eventually I got up and began helping box up his mothers things again. We were filling a second crate when I came across a very old looking journal and when I picked it up a key fell out.

"Look at this Agronak. It must be your mother's diary." I handed it to him with the key.

"I've never seen this before." Agronak said, leafing through it.

A very old looking parchment fell from it as he was flipping pages. I picked it up and glanced at it as I handed it to him.

"It's a map! Do you think it is to a hidden treasure? That's what it always is in plays."

He gave a cursory look at the map and then sat down on the bed and began pouring over the diary. Every now and then he would shout something out. "It's talking about me as a baby! She says I wouldn't eat vegetables! Should I read you the part where she discusses my diaper habits?" He grinned.

"EW!" I laughed at him. I went back to boxing up items, glancing up each time he called something out so I could see the expression on his face. I wondered if my mother ever kept a journal and what she would have written about me.


*

Posted by: Winter Wolf Apr 25 2010, 08:22 AM

Fantastic writing mALX !!

Poor old Fathis, he cannot seem to take a trick, can he?? He is like a dog spinning in circles as he tries to chase his tail. I loved it! The blue show, the scheming hussy, his mind has lost the plot.

This was perfect. Woman do have this sort of influence over us men. Just ask Foxy !!!

Where have I been?? 14 hour runs on Halo 3 and MW2. Oh well, back to Oblivion with my new character. I am determined to finish KOTN and the MQ. At last.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 25 2010, 04:59 PM

Orc and Khajiit kitty litter habits indeed! I think it is wonderful that Agronak gave his mother's house in the Waterfront to Maxical! I wonder how much more Agronak will learn from his mothers diary?

I liked the appearance of his pompousness, the Count of Bravil!

Posted by: Olen Apr 25 2010, 06:04 PM

Well written as ever. You've balanced the second person section with Fathis against Maxical's first person perspective well, so well in fact I didn't notice until I was looking back through.

And I too look forward to seeing what might be discovered in that diary...

Posted by: minque Apr 25 2010, 08:11 PM

Great update mALXie!

made me laugh! So right on spot!

MOOOOORE Kitty sweetness....pretty please!

Posted by: Zalphon Apr 25 2010, 08:50 PM

Nice work, mALX!

Posted by: mALX Apr 27 2010, 02:12 PM

@ Winter Wolf - Oh I loved KOTN, (and the main questline!) You are in for some fun! Thank you Wolf!

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@ Acadian - Writing the Count of Bravil I was free typing, amazingly he came out just like he does in the game, lol. If I am not mistaken Alexander killed him off in his Cyrodiil fanfic - to my cheers and hoots, lol. And he can be killed in game I think as well, but I have never tried it yet. Thank you so much Acadian!

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@ Olen - Thank you so much! Anytime I can get a compliment from someone who writes as well as you do - Woo Hoo !!! Thank you!

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@ Minque - Thank you so much Minque! You always pick out my favorite lines to quote! You ROCK!

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@ Zalphon - Thank you so much Zalphon, I am so tickled to be back on the same forum with you again!

Posted by: mALX Apr 27 2010, 02:30 PM

*


Chapter 14: The Secret And The Suicide


�Listen to this passage in the back of the journal!� Agronak said, the excitement in his voice caused me to stop boxing items and look up at him.

�I know my time is near, the illness grows stronger and I weaker with each passing day. Agronak needs to know of his father, yet I can�t bring myself to tell him. One day he will seek his heritage and proof of his noble lineage, yet I pray he does not. I have kept this key to the Royal chamber in Crowhaven all these years, for there lies all he will require to prove his bloodlines. It is my wish that he never seek the answers there.�

He looked up, his eyes shining with excitement. �Here, you read it! I can�t believe it, I was asking my mother about proof of my birth the last time I talked with her, the same night she passed away!�

The page retained the imprint of the embedded key as if it had been in there a long time. I looked at the dates on the final entries and was stunned, they had been written back when Agronak must have been a small child! But she had just died�I glanced up at Agronak.

�How long has your mother been ill?�

�As long as I can remember.� Agronak said distractedly. He was looking at the map in earnest now, spreading it out across the top of the dresser so the candlelight would make it easier to see the tiny print. �It said Crowhaven, right? I can�t find it on here.�

I read through the last passage and got a chill. She did not sound encouraging. And why was it written so long ago, but talking about dying as if it was imminent? I got a very bad feeling.

�Yeah, Crowhaven.� I said quietly.

While Agronak was distracted I slid toward the bed and began searching, reaching down behind it. It didn�t take long to find the empty poison bottle on the floor between the bed and the wall. I slid it into my sleeve and moved over to the box of items he was throwing out. Agronak didn�t need to know she had killed herself, he was suffering enough.

Agronak had asked her about the proof the same night she took her life. From that passage it didn�t sound like it was something she wanted him to follow up on. But I knew Agronak well enough to know he was going to. Something that was very important to him was being able to prove he was of royal blood. He felt it would go a long way toward easing what he had suffered growing up because of his different appearance.





***

It was late when I got back to the Bloodworks. Andronicus had passed out drunk, the bottle still in her hands and spilling on her mat which was already soaked from urine, as were her pants. She must have been too drunk to get up. Her mouth hung open and slackened, loud snores blowing breath that reeked of alcohol into my face as I pulled the bottle from her hand and set it up on the cupboard. A strong body odor wafted up from her nether regions when I bent to get the bottle, nearly causing me to gag.

The smell of Andronicus was overwhelming in the corner where my mat lay, and I doubted I could sleep with the racket of her snores. I tiptoed down to the mats by the fount and stretched out on one near a wall.

My dreams were a confused jumble of Fathis, Agronak and his mother, Hassiri, and more Fathis. Somewhere in a pleasant dream of Fathis holding me came the realization that I needed to fight back against my own exhaustion and wake up. And there it was again. Someone�s hand had pushed my tail to one side and they were pushing against me. This was not a dream.

My claws unsheathed and I tried to move, only to find his arm was now holding me tightly pressed against him with a grip of steel. I raked the arm that was holding me with my claws, shredding deep gashes into the skin. With a yowl I was released and ran to behind Andronicus, knocking down all the candles as I ran. An inky blackness settled as the candles guttered out on the stone floor. Being a Khajiit I can see in the dark. That was not a Khajiit that attacked me, I would have the advantage now.

Andronicus was still passed out, and I wasn�t sure if the man would follow and feel safe continuing his attack since she was so inebriated. I gauged the distance to Owyn�s mat, if worse came to worse I would wake him.

Claws extended and trembling I pressed myself against the wall at the foot of Andronicus�s bed so I could move easily to Owyn if I had to, and so I could see if the man felt his way over to my usual mat. I forced my breathing down to slow shallow breaths so I wouldn�t miss a sound or make one that would give away my location to him.

I heard the sound of cursing and someone fiddling with the healing fount, but it was always locked down after the last fight. Stumbling footsteps were nearing the doorway down by Owyn�s mat, dear gods was he coming for me then?

I held my breath till I thought I would burst, then suddenly a slight movement sounded to the right of me. I jumped a mile and bit my tongue to keep from screaming. Darting down toward Owyn I cast chameleon on myself and my night eye again. I spun around, but there was no one there�but Andronicus. She had changed positions�oh no. She was still laying down but her position looked like she thought she was sitting on the urn. Oh dear. Andronicus was wetting her bed again, I only hoped she wasn�t filling her pants as well.

The man never came after me, and eventually I forced myself into the corner onto my mat. The stench from Andronicus was overwhelming. It felt like forever before I finally drifted off, and it seemed I had just fallen asleep when someone was shaking me. �Wake up Maxical!� was being hissed into my ear. I forced my eyes open and blinked a few times. It was Agronak�what was he doing here in the middle of the night? I rubbed my eyes, but he was still there.

�Agronak?�

�Maxical, the board was up when I got back in. Those fights they postponed for my mother�s funeral have been rescheduled. I can�t go to Crowhaven now�er, but you aren�t on the schedule because of your injured status. Will you go and get the proofs for me? Do this for me and I�ll teach you that spin you�ve been dying to learn, and how to cream a guy with your shield arm. Please say you�ll do this for me.�

I pulled myself up, glancing around. Andronicus was sprawled on her mat. �What time is it? Agronak, it can�t be four in the morning yet! If you wake up Andronicus there will be hell to pay. You know I will help you, but I can�t leave without Owyn�s say-so. How did you get in here?�

�Gils opened the door for me. He said something woke him up and he was going out for a pint of the stout. Thanks for being such a good friend Maxical. Boy, I don�t know how you can sleep with that stench!� He laid a wet kiss on my cheek and slid back over to his Bloodworks.

If Gils had been woken up by something, he may have seen who else was up at that time of the morning. I didn�t tell Agronak about the attack, he would just insist I move to the house right away. I won�t say it is rare that Andronicus gets that drunk, but it certainly isn�t all the time.

I thought about Agronak�s mother not wanting him to go to Crowhaven and felt it probably would be the best solution if I went in his stead since I was a neutral party. He was my friend, I had to do it.





***

Gils still hadn�t returned by the next morning for me to ask if he had seen anyone. As soon as Owyn got up I approached him.

�What the hell happened in here? It�s pitch black, I can�t see the urn to go! Where the hell are all the candles?� Owyn was roaring.

Oops. I quickly ran and set them back in the sconces, then lit a torch and set all the candles back alight. Some of them were broken where I had whacked them and were in various shapes dripping waxy places on the floor instead of into the sconces.

�Owyn, I need to talk to you.�

�I�m peeing right now, do you think it can wait a minute?� He sounded irritated.

�Oh, I�m sorry.� I turned my back and waited.

�Do you think you can step down there so I can have gas without you up my butt to smell it?� Owyn was already starting to holler, and I hadn�t even asked him yet. This was not boding well for me.

�Oh, I�m sorry Owyn.� I scurried to the other end of the room and waited for him to finish.

He glared over at me when he was done, as if I had ruined his enjoyment in peeing or something. I hesitated, he was already in a bad mood now.

�Well come on, I don�t want you following me around the rest of the day waiting for a good time to ask.� Owyn was working himself up into a bad mood rapidly.

�Er, Agronak asked if I would make a trip to Anvil and pick up his inheritance for him since I am on injury status and he has fights scheduled. Do I have your permission to go?�

Owyn got mad of course, I definitely expected that after this morning.

�You just got back into training again, now you�re going to take off? You won�t be in any shape to fight out there when you get back.� He was bellowing.

�Er, Andronicus is ill this morning, I have been making sure no one wakes her.�

Owyn glanced over at her for an extended minute, but when he turned back to me he was quieter.

�What about your training? You�re getting out of shape, soft.�

�Owyn, I was meaning to talk to you about that anyway. I get a lot out of your fitness training, but not the fight training. In the Arena nothing is staged like when we train. And no one is really trying to kill me in training either. I�m not really getting prepared for what happens out in the Arena.�

�What are you saying?�

�I�m saying I need to train against someone who is really trying to kill me so I can learn to fight. Right now I just know a bunch of fancy moves, but I can�t fight.�

�You mean you want to train in the trenches?�

�Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.�

�You won�t be gone long will you? Those crowds are fickle, They�ll love you today but won�t know you tomorrow if they don�t see you.�

�I know Owyn. I�m just going to Anvil and back. I can run the trip to make up for the �two-a-days� I�ll be missing. Maybe bandits will attack me so I can get some real fight training in.�

�All right, you can go. If you�re serious about going in the trenches we will start when you get back from your trip. I�ll be going with you till I see how you do. This will be on top of your practices though, not instead of them.�

�I understand. Thank you Owyn. Oh, and Agronak said he will train me for the spin and force block when I get back too.�

Owyn grunted at me, that means he�s pleased. He had a gleam in his eye after I mentioned Agronak was going to teach me those moves.


***

Posted by: D.Foxy Apr 27 2010, 03:48 PM

The Bloodworks are now the Stinkworks. I do like reality, mALX, but did you have to be so STINKY...

Pee-Yew!!!




You know...I just love the way you have rewritten the story so that everything old is new again. I think we really MUST rewrite the Maxical-Foxy parts to match the new mood!!! PM me!!!

Posted by: Acadian Apr 27 2010, 05:30 PM

Very nice build up and lead in to Agronak's quest. You make it fit right in to everything very nicely. There are enough little changes here to make this all very new and fresh. Wonderfully done mALX! I must confess a weakness for the stories you do that are told from Maxical's perspective - and this one certainly did that!

Posted by: Winter Wolf Apr 28 2010, 12:53 PM

New Damien 'Foxy' Reynard and Maxical stories ??!!!!?!!! Yippee.

Now that IS something I will stick around for.

Great writing mALX.

Posted by: mALX Apr 29 2010, 09:47 PM

@ Foxy - I can't believe the person that turned me from eating chocolate pudding by their gross comparison is offended, but if you are serious I will tone it down - let me know something. And yes, as you know the Foxy chapters are coming soon!!!! Thank you very much Foxy!!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! I have Maxical's POV up on both sites now, lol. She is back on the current story at the other forum too!

***

@ Winter Wolf - I am glad to hear it! I may have to injure Foxy so he has time to co-write, lol. Just kidding. Thank you so much Wolf!

Posted by: mALX Apr 29 2010, 10:16 PM

*


Chapter 15: Doctors, Lawyers, and Thieves



Agronak was grateful for my help and went to the bank to get funds to send with me. I was working out when he returned, an odd look on his face.

�What�s wrong Agronak?�

�It�s my bank account. I couldn�t draw funds for you. They said the funeral wiped it out, there is hardly anything left!�

�Did you have a lot in there before?�

�Yes! I get plenty each fight and have almost no expenses. See this beginning balance here? That should be a lot higher than that.� He showed me the statement the bank had written out for him. �These are from the funeral.�

�Wow, no wonder people let their relatives get burned in the pit. That is a lot, it was a huge event though. I wonder what a regular funeral costs?�

�I wonder if it did cost that much.�

�What do you mean?�

�I mean Andronicus had access to my bank account.�

�Surely you don�t suspect her of wrongdoing, she thinks the world of you.�

�I asked my banker about the low beginning balance, and to look into all the funds drawn off the account for the funeral. He is going to get back with me.�

�Well, don�t worry about me, I won�t be able to eat much on my trip anyway. Owyn told me to run there and back and keep up with my 'two-a-days' so I don�t lose any training. You know I won�t be able to eat doing that. I�m going in the trenches when I get back, so I have to get back into shape.�

�That�s a smart idea, but you need that ring enchanted before going in the trench.� Agronak gave me a stubborn look.

�I�ll go right now.� I learned Orc like to be in charge from Agronak. That look meant I�d be nagged till I did, so I may as well just get it done.





***

Irlav Jarol tottered away when he saw me enter the campus. Then I bumped into Raminus Polus as he was exiting the Arch Mage�s tower. He glared. �What are you doing here?�

�I�m back for post grads.� I said with a grin. His face turned white and he stormed away, slamming the door behind him.

I was still laughing when the transporter stopped up in Hannibal Traven�s quarters. He was very surprised to see me, but smiled and warmly welcomed me.

�I have a ring I need enchanted with health for the Arena. That is really all I need, but I better confess now that I told Raminus Polus I was here for post grads.�

Hannibal let out a little bark of laughter, quickly subdued. �I don�t imagine Raminus took that well.�

�He turned as white as me.� I said, handing him the ring.

He smiled almost slyly at me when he took the ring to enchant it.

�What a beautiful diamond, and is that an ebony band? This is such a nice ring to wear in the Arena. So is this the engagement ring from the Gray Prince, hmm?�

�What? Has Fathis been here?�

�No, I haven�t seen him. I understand his upset though, with the history you two share.�

�He is very upset. He won�t even speak to me. But if you haven�t talked to him, how did you know about that, or about the ring?�

�I read it in the Courier.� Hannibal indicated the copy on his desk.

�What? I leaned over his desk and snatched up the Courier. �Oh dear gods no! Owyn is going to kill me!�

�I take it you got in trouble for your last interview?�

I nodded. �I sure did.�

�I knew you, so didn�t think anything of it, but some might.�

�It was explained to me in explicit detail afterwards, and I do mean explicit.�

Hannibal finished the enchantment and was standing in front of me so I glanced up. He was watching my face carefully. Before I could wonder what that was about he tweaked the paper out of my hand and lay it back on the desk.

�Read that in a minute, I need your attention right now. This has the highest enchantment I could give you. It will give your health and magicka a boost and help you feel less fatigued. When you need to rally, you slide it off and back on again like this. Did you feel the difference? Remember, you still have to heal, it just buys you some extra time. Here is the order of operations: ring first, heal second, play with your tail third. Always do it at the end of the match to get you to the fount. Now let�s see how Owyn did with your shoulder and side.�

�How did you know about that?�

�I�ve gone to all your fights.�

�You have? Isn�t it hard for you as a healer to watch all those injuries?�

�I saw much worse than that when you were a pupil here.� He said and winked.

I ignored that. �Do you really come to my fights?�

�Yes I do. I was your physician too long not to be effected seeing you injured. Owyn did an excellent job though.� He manipulated my shoulder while he talked.

�He is almost as good as you when it comes to healing.� I said, trying not to stiffen my shoulder.

�I trained him personally, did you know that?�

�You trained Owyn? I didn�t know that.�

�He was one of my best pupils. Speaking of which, why did you never get that restoration training after graduation?�

�I hoped you would train me. No one knows healing like you do, and I am not�bright. I may be harder to teach than others.�

�You were doing a terrible job trying to heal during that last fight, why were you sticking your fingers into your leg that way?�

�My aim, remember? Would you train me?�

�Ah yes, your aim. We will need to work on that as well. Of course I will do it, but it has to be on nights or weekends. When can you start coming?�

�All my fights have been moved to the weekends now, so it will have to be in the evenings during the week. I have to go to Anvil and may be gone a few weeks, and as soon as I get back I start training in the trenches.�

�Moved to the weekends already? That�s great! Maxical, if you are going into the trenches it is imperative you get this training. Don�t put it off. Let me know as soon as you can start. Here, I want you to take this.� He opened his jewelry box and pulled a ring out.

�This will give you a more powerful restoration spell. It can�t help you if you don�t aim right though. Watch my hand. See that huge amount of power? Okay, now watch what happens when I stick it in my leg.�

�It was just a tiny bolt.�

�Exactly. Doing that is almost like doing nothing. Now stretch your hand out. Don�t cast, lets see what you�ve got. Are you trying? That is really low. Put this ring on and try again. How odd! Your magicka is high you should be able to do better than that. I want you here to train every chance you get, day or night. I�ll make the time.� Hannibal pulled a book from his shelf called �Magic Conduction Disorders.�

�What is that?�

�What you may have. As I recall there is nothing wrong with your destruction.�

�I�m wired wrong?�

�Possibly.� He glanced up from the text. �Want to try my latest concoction? Tell me what you think of this.� He said, handing me a pinkish drink.

�Mmmm! This is really good! It�s fizzy like that ginger drink you made when we had upset stomachs, but sweet�is it strawberry?�

�You guessed it!�

�I love it! You make the most interesting things with alchemy, I wish they taught stuff like this in class.�

He sat down in front of me. �So�tell me about this engagement, or are you trying to keep it a secret?�

�There is no engagement, Agronak is just a friend. We hold hands sometimes, but that is it. I am saving myself for Fathis, not that it is doing me any good. He hasn�t spoken to me since the graduation except in anger.�

�What is going on there?�

I told him about being attacked and losing the golden armor. He immediately examined the scar on my head.

�This isn�t healed properly, why didn�t you come to me right away for healing?�

�It happened just four hours after I left here graduation day. I was afraid you may not want to see me again yet.�

�Don�t be silly! I admit I was relieved when you graduated, but spirited or not I have always liked you. You know that. Don�t ever let a serious injury like this go again. Did you heal it yourself?�

�I had to. I was laying in the road all night, and in the Rumare all the next day. I�ve never seen so much blood.�

�Where was your escort?�

�I didn�t have one. Fathis came to the graduation in my parent�s stead. He left after the ceremony and said he would see me in a couple weeks.�

�He didn�t escort you?�

�No. I guess he thought I could take care of myself.�

Hannibal didn�t say anything, but scowled. �I can make a potion that may heal that better.�

While he was grinding ingredients I scanned the article again.

�Arch Mage Traven��

�You can call me Hannibal if you like, you are not my student anymore.�

�Hannibal, have I done something to cause Fathis not to trust me? I am not very bright and sometimes do things without knowing they can cause a problem.�

Hannibal leaned back and looked at me as if deciding what to say. �Maxical, you know Fathis has always been sought out by women, many of them married and always for one purpose only. As long as you were a girl he trusted your virtue. But you are a woman now. It may take him a while to realize that woman or not, you will never be one of that type. Fathis may worry you have succumbed to the freedom that goes on in that Bloodworks. Have you had any problems in there?�

�A little. Andronicus makes me sleep behind her so no one bothers me usually. Between her and Agronak it is a wonder if anyone gets near me.�

�But you have had incidents?�

�Once or twice when Andronicus was drunk.�

�Are you referring to Ysabel Andronicus? She had a terrible crush on Fathis, chased him around, literally stalked him. Surprisingly he rejected her advances, I always wondered why.�

�Her hygiene, probably. Fathis is fastidious about cleanliness. She turned down Owyn�s marriage proposal because of Fathis a long time ago and still drools if you mention him. She told me that Fathis wouldn�t touch Arena trash even for a momentary pleasure. I wondered if me being there has something to do with his change of attitude towards me.�

�It isn�t that Maxical. Fathis is my friend, has been since we were boys in school. In all that time I have never seen him act like this. He is jealous, plain and simple. He may not be the best candidate for a husband because of his past, but he does love you.�

�He doesn�t remember that when he�s angry, and he�s been in a rage every time I�ve seen him since graduation. I can�t prove I�m pure if he won�t let me close to him.�

�You must admit Agronak being glued to your side feeds that anger in Fathis. What is Agronak�s interest in you?�

�None like that, not in thought or even an undercurrent.�

�Interesting.�

�What do you mean?�

�A scientific theory about the mixed union with Orc being asexual.�

�GROSS!�

Hannibal laughed and went back to mixing his ingredients.

Something inside me froze. �What about Khajiit mixes?�

Hannibal caught the look on my face. He pulled a book off one of his shelves and handed it to me. �There is no research on Khajiit, but that details what to look for.�

�I peeped at the drawings in this tome when you confined me up here for my ill deeds.�

He rolled his eyes. �When you and Fathis finally get together if you have problems come see me.�


****

Posted by: Olen Apr 29 2010, 11:35 PM

Good update

The plot thickens with Agronak's bank account. Makes me wonder how things will go down when Maxical fin'ds his heritage...

I enjoyed the part in the uni too, it helped highlight how Maxical has developed. And I liked the slightly more in depth discussion on healing, it always seemed a bit to simply in game and this fleshed it out nicely.

That made me laugh.


Classic

Posted by: D.Foxy Apr 30 2010, 03:18 AM

i HAVE TO RUN NOW...bUT wILL pOST mORE WHAN EYE FEENEESH LAFFINK....OH MY STREAMING EYES....

Posted by: Acadian Apr 30 2010, 04:02 PM

This was nicely done. Very 'show not tell' covering plenty of ground via conversation.

It seems perhaps you are rendering Fathis a tad more favorably and multidimensionally than in your previous version, and I think it is becoming.

I loved this!

Posted by: treydog Apr 30 2010, 10:44 PM

I cannot believe I have gone so long without commenting- no excuse, sir! Some of these, I have mentioned before, but I wanted to take the opportunity to add a little more detail.

The "letters home" were absolute masterpieces.

"When I told him I'd much rather come back to the Arcane for my post grads in Restoration his face turned white as my fur."

You have really tightened things up in a number of places. One that springs to mind is how Maxical recalls the confrontation with Fathis over the loss of the armor. It rings true that she does not say much about it- first, because it is often hard to remember every moment of stressful situations; second, because she would perhaps feel the less said the better.

The Arena (Chapter 7) was definitely a rollercoaster, as Winter Wolf said. The humor absolutely set me up for the devastating fight. It was all I could do to keep from cheering and groaning- would have been hard to explain to the other cubicle dwellers here at work....

The moving, gritty description of the Bloodworks in Chapter 8 is writing at its finest. It reminds me of why Mrs. Treydog and I liked The Wire so much- in the midst of the terrible things, there are still moments of humanity. Maxical's youthful goodness shines like a beacon in a dark place.

The Black Horse interview- and Maxical's clueless responses (one reminded me of Forrest Gump- "No sir, we are not related...."). Priceless.

"It's Haki the Bald!" I think I did myself an injury holding in the laughter.

The gossip session was perfectly drawn- an absolute schematic of how a rumor grows into something that "everybody knows."

The section from Fathis POV is brilliant. I still do not much like him- but you do paint him a bit more sympathetically. More to the point, you portray him realistically. Just excellent writing throughout.

Posted by: mALX May 2 2010, 02:19 AM

@ Olen - Thank you very much! You picked out some of my favorite parts, lol.

***

@ Foxy - Thank you so much Foxy, I sure hope you are feeling better!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you Acadian - I am trying to fix some things about him since I have a bad reputation for skewering the males in my story, lol. Thank you so much Acadian!

***

@ Treydog - It always means so much when you stop in, thank you Treydog! I did the recall and brushed over some points to cut some of the drama from the original, thinking it would shorten the story some...then really started getting into the Arena story, so...BLEAH! Lol.

Oh, after you said that I went back and watched Forest Gump - you are right! I love that scene!

Thank you so much Treydog, your words mean tons to me! Er...I hope you won't mind me bringing Mrs. Treydog over here????? PLEASE??????

Posted by: mALX May 2 2010, 02:20 AM

*


Chapter 16: The Friendship And The Friendship


I walked blithely into the Bloodworks, forgetting I may be in trouble. Andronicus staggered off the urn and into me, she was drunk again.

As soon as Owyn saw me he started shaking. He turned around, snatching a much shredded copy of the Black Horse Courier off the armor cupboard behind him.

I felt like I may shrink into the floor, but when it didn't happen I wished it would, and quickly.

"Arena love triangle? Is this your version of laying low from the press? Arena and Castle Bravil connection? If you two wanted to get engaged we hold a formal press conference and announce it with your managers present. You don't go out on the street corners and make scenes right under the nose of the press! What? What are you holding your hand up for? This isn't a schoolroom!"

By now a crowd of fighters was gathering around the outer door, listening.

"Er...Agronak and I aren't engaged, he just gave me a friendship ring."

"Is that it on your hand?"

I looked down at the over 200 Septim diamond ring glittering on my hand. "Er...yes?"

"And what about this?" Owyn's shaking finger pointed to a place on the page. l"A house? He gave you a house too? I suppose it was just a 'friendship' house!"

"Uh...Uh; Yes?"

"You're telling me the man up and gives you a house and expensive ring out of friendship, and can't find anywhere better to do it than IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE OF THE BLACK HORSE COURIER?" Owyn was bellowing, but then lowered his voice and got up in my face. "Are you hooking in my Bloodworks?"

"Hooking?" I looked over at Andronicus confused. She looked bleary-eyed.

"She's not doing that Owyn, she's too stupid. What love triangle?" Andronicus slurred, standing up swaying.

"Fathis Aren challenged Agronak over her in front of the press!"

"What? Give me that paper! YOU LITTLE TRAMP! Fathis don't want you, you're nothing but Arena trash!" She charged over, shoving by me and snatching the paper from Owyn.

"I know." I said, and started crying.

"Oh geez, here we go!" Owyn said. "Listen Maxical, men don't give gifts like this unless you're giving them something in return. 'Fess up!"

"Well, Agronak wouldn't fit my armor, I guess I could give him my sword. That's all I have..."

Hooting and laughter came from the outer room.

"You idiot!" Owyn looked like he may pitch his glass of water over me.

"I told you she was too stupid Owyn! YOU! Get on your mat." Andronicus put her pointing finger in my face.

"She's a virgin Owyn!" She whispered at the top of her lungs. I heard her at the other end of the room.

"What did I tell you! You each owe me fifty Septims, now pay up!" came Gils voice from the other room.

"If she's that dumb, she could have lost it and not know!" Owyn snorted. Raucous laughter came from the other room.

"She hasn't, I've watched over her nights and Agronak won't let anyone near her days."

"Well who's keeping Agronak off her!" Owyn demanded, it was not a question.

Andronicus leaned in and whispered loudly. "He's not interested in girls, he's never made a move on me all these years."

An "Eeeeewwww" sound came from the next room.

"He bought her a diamond ring and a house, if that's not interested I don't know what is!"

Andronicus's head spun around to me, her mouth opening as if in slow motion. What she would have said is unknown, for right then there was a huge crashing sound followed by pounding footsteps.





***

Guards had kicked the door in and were swarming into the Bloodworks. Because of our reputation for violence in the Arena they came in prepared for a us to violently resist arrest.

Hieronymus Lex strode in last and stood in the middle of the room, unrolling a parchment and reading from it. "By the order of High Chancellor Ocato I hereby make the following arrests: Ysabel Andronicus for the crimes of Grand Theft, Embezzlement, Misappropriation of Funds. Owyn for the crime of Conspiracy to commit fraud. Maxical for the crime of Conspiracy to commit fraud." He gave me a hard glance when he read my name, as if he had always expected me to end in a life of crime.

Owyn resisted arrest, roaring and cursing. Andronicus wet herself while swaying into the two guards that were attempting to remove her. She could barely walk, but the guards refused to carry her so she was nearly dragged. I was in shock and went along meekly. As the door slammed behind the last guard all pandemonium could be heard breaking loose inside the Bloodworks. We were met out front by guards holding a badly beaten Haki, who was also resisting arrest.

Hassiri from the Courier was standing there bug-eyed and scribbling like a banshee on his pad.

The guards had beaten Owyn and Haki so badly that healers were required as soon as we arrived at the Imperial Palace holding area to await a hearing on the charges. I was put in a holding cell with Andronicus, who was a mess. I was grateful she was not vomiting in there with me, but she released enough other fluids to make it very uncomfortable to be confined with her.






*

Posted by: Olen May 2 2010, 10:34 AM

Oooh, there's more to Agronak than meets the eye then, you have my interest well and truely piqued, it's quite a drama this is building into, and as evey Maxical moves through it like a nieve bull in a china shop.

You paint Andronicus as such a lovely woman

Posted by: Acadian May 2 2010, 05:49 PM

Well done mALX! Plenty of twists and turns here. I like the depth you are giving to Fathis. Agronak? Oh my! What an unexpected mystery! WooHoo!

You really are going to town with this newer version! I'm half expecting the Emperor to walk into Maxical's cell. . . . (not, lol).

Nicely written and loads of fun to read!

Posted by: treydog May 2 2010, 07:47 PM

Oh-- I thought you realized that the "paintings" are all gifts freely given to enhance your wonderful story? That is- they belong to you, to do with as you will. As to cameo appearances of Mrs. Treydog, Artist to the Stars- we would be honored.

Posted by: mALX May 3 2010, 03:27 PM

@ Olen - He has been portrayed as a little toooooo too good in the game, it was unbelievable, lol. I hate to step on toes because everyone likes him...but...lol. Thank you so much Olen!

***
@ Acadian - ROFL - that would cut the story really short, lol. Oh, but I couldn't stand to not take on the DB with Eyja, or cut out Foxy or Janus, lol. Thank you so much Acadian! You are so appreciated!

***

@ Treydog - Thank you so very much Treydog! I would really like Mrs. Treydog to make an appearance at the Best Defense and paint that Golden Armor...then WHO would buy that portrait? Hmmmm! Let's see, Treydog is a smithy at the palace when he first makes an appearance...hmmmmm.

Both you and Mrs. Treydog are so appreciated! Thank you both!

***




************************





Chapter 17: Fathis, Gossip, And The Golden Armor


Maro Rufus saw the door opening and hurried over to jab Varnado in the ribs. After years of not getting along they found themselves suddenly as tight as brothers over the situation that had arisen over their acquisition of the Golden Armor.

At first just their celebrity in the Market District, the armor was better than any currency for a meal or drink. The amusement it afforded was a compelling reason to keep it as well. But the biggest draw of all was that it gave them power over Fathis Aren. They agreed on something for the first time in years, they would not sell that armor.

Fathis Aren stepped in, and walked up to the counter. Varnado and Maro grinned like cats with canaries in their mouths. "May we help you?" they asked in unison.

"That gold armor, I wish to purchase it." Fathis Aren said.

Maro jabbed Varnado, and they looked at each other with unmasked amusement. "I think we have another party interested in that particular armor." Maro said, jabbing Varnado again.

"Who!" Fathis demanded.

Maro and Varnado exchanged glances of unholy glee. "Did you write down HER name?" Maro asked, putting too much emphasis on the "HER."

Fathis face had taken on a distinctly purple hue.

As they stared at him, the purple shade deepened till his appearance was that of a ripe plum with hair. They both stared fascinated at this metamorphosis till Fathis�s temper seemed to hit a breaking point.

"I want that armor!" he demanded. "What is with you two, you are acting like you have lost all your senses!"

Maro jabbed Varnado again, and they both tried to stiffen up and act businesslike, but their laughing eyes and twisting mouths gave this little credence.

"I told you, I have another interested buyer, I would have to find out if SHE is willing to give up HER claim to it." Varnado said, following Maro's lead in over-emphasizing the pronouns.

With a sound like an explosion escaping his taut lips, Fathis Aren stormed out of the shop, slamming the door as he left. The windows rattled noisily from the impact.

Varnado doubled over, and Maro clutched his stomach and staggered in circles laughing. They would dine well tonight on this tidbit.





***


Varnado and Maro had developed somewhat of a celebrity status among the other merchants and guards since their acquisition of the golden armor. Almost since the first day Fathis had stormed out of the Best Defense on finding the armor there people had been talking. As each new actor was added to the play that was stretching out before them the discussions took on a whole new life, as did the armor itself.

With Fathis it was his hauteur that was to blame. He gave the impression of conceit, looking down his nose at them. He continuously gave to charities as if to make a show of his wealth before those with less. It rankled that he thought himself their better.

To suddenly see Fathis losing that rigid control he seemed to have was an instant hit among them. To Varnado and Maro they found themselves suddenly in a position of power over him as long as they held that armor.

The subsequent entrance into the shop of the white Khajiit, in a rumpled state and obvious emotional agitation and her connection to the armor had an overwhelming effect. Fathis with one of the beast species? It was unheard of. Speculation over the connection was rampant in the Market District and became the main topic of conversation in the guards barracks.

The Khajiit joined the Arena with little notice till suddenly she was seen everywhere with the Gray Prince and then an explosion seemed to occur. Fathis, who barely came to the Imperial City monthly before was suddenly found to be there constantly, haunting the streets nights seeking her�stalking her. His sudden eccentric behavior was exaggerated and inspected carefully in each conversation, tales were told in the most descriptive way possible to garner the most free ale from them.

�That Fathis Aren near trampled me with his horse, I swear on Akatosh that he was putting his horse at the city wall to jump!� One guard declared, tipping up his free pint.

Mounted road patrols had seen him riding at breakneck speeds between the Imperial City and Bravil at all hours of the day and night. Gate guards noticed his purple face as he stormed in or out. He was seen lurking behind buildings, skulking in bushes, every curse that fell from his lips was repeated with gusto and emphasis.

�He nearly run up the back of my horse down at the Old Bridge. I saw him squeeze his legs on that horse like he was going to try and jump over us! I barely got my horse to the side and he blew by me, curses floating back on the wind created by him!�

The conjecture of how the armor came into the picture no one knew, but any one of the scenarios dreamed up by the gossipers could have been made into a play even before the Gray Prince was thrown into it. After he entered the mix, the Golden Armor took on a whole new depth of mystery and intrigue.

Varnado began keeping his ears perked when the Pit Dogs hung out in the Feed Bag, gathering any tidbit he could. The Gray Prince was meeting the Khajiit daily inside the Bloodworks, he brought her treats and held her hand, he sat on her bed and talked well into the night. None of the bloods dared go near her, the Orc was very jealous of her.

Varnado made the mistake of trying to join in their conversation then, but the Pit Dogs closed ranks against him. They clammed up and Varnado felt threatened after he voiced some of his own gossip about the Khajiit. The Arena fighters are a clannish bunch and the Khajiit was one of their own. Merchants and guards were outsiders. Varnado was relieved to make his escape that night and lock himself in at his shop. After that he merely listened when they came in and never tried to draw their notice to him again.

The shopkeepers, however were all ears. Within short order, Maro and Varnado had spread their version of the Orc and that white Khajiit into the gossip at their respective haunts.

�She lives in the Bloodworks. Need they have said more?� Maro said later, wiping the white foam mustache from a free ale onto his sleeve.

Then came the interview where the Khajiit obviously described the Orc. �I guess we know whose sword she has been skewered with.�

Every detail of each action of all the players in the little scenario was dissected and pored over. Amongst those that knew how to use these tidbits it was as good as currency when presented with embellished details, accompanying stories, and especially innuendo.

The Arena matches that featured the white Khajiit were packed with the gossipers hoping to see some drama unfold before their very eyes. They were not disappointed. Fathis was seen in all his travel filth walking in to the Arena Box Seat section, then at the sight of Alix Lencolia had sneaked back out like a thief in the night.

The funeral had been attended by all, where they were treated to the site of the Gray Prince clutching the Khajiit�s hand and Fathis storming out before the funeral had even begun.

On several occasions Fathis was seen skulking around the door to the Bloodworks, even pounding on it. The imminent expectation was at first just the kidnapping of the young Khajiit, but as the gossip spread the possible murder of the Gray Prince in his sleep was added to that conjecture.

Everyone fully expected to hear of the death of either Fathis or the Gray Prince the day Fathis was witnessed sneaking into the Bloodworks. Early the next morning when Fathis was seen entering the Best Defense the word spread that he had killed the Gray Prince and buried his body under one of the houses in the Waterfront District.

Fathis drastic change in appearance also fed the gossipers. A lifetime of reputation for being immaculate and fastidious in his dress, his perfumed and rotund appearance gave way to the rumpled dusty attire hanging off his suddenly overly-thin frame. �Pining away for that Khajiit he is!�

Fathis had always been controlled publicly, but lately had been seen grabbing his sword hilt at the sight of the Orc on several occasions, including the day he challenged the Orc over the marriage proposal.

�Fathis�s eyes lit on the Gray Prince, fire burning out of them! Then he reaches down and grabs the hilt O� his sword just like this here!�

On numerous occasions Fathis had left the Arena forfeiting his Box Office and bets. Just as many times he abandoned his paid room and wine at the Merchants Inn and was seen galloping away, sometimes leaping his horse over the rails of the corral.

�What you gonna do with that there wine now? Fathis has left the building! How �bout sellin� it to us at half price?�

�The stables said they are going to start leaving the gate open for him, he nearly impaled himself leaping over it yesterday.�

�That will give the Orc the lead for sure!�

The story of Fathis creeping about the Waterfront District in the middle of the night lost nothing in the telling, nor did the tale of him lurking behind bushes at the entrance to the Bloodworks in the middle of the night.

�He looked up and seen us, then went right back to inspecting the foundation of the house! Just like it wasn�t three in the morning!�

�What would he want with a house on the Waterfront anyway?�

�He don�t! I seen him earlier hiding in the bushes outside the Bloodworks! Then when all was quiet he sneaked in, creeping like any assassin. He is looking for a place to bury that Gray Prince when he does away with him!�





***

The interest in the Golden Armor grew to the point that what had begun as a trickle of gossipers became crowds of tourists drawn to the Imperial City solely to stand and gawk at it. The gossip broke the bounds of the city via letters to relatives and eventually the Black Horse Courier, which began running a blurb each time the price was raised on the armor.

A prominent display was set up along the back wall of the shop between the two counters that consisted of a raised platform and a crimson velvet rope that blocked viewers from getting close enough to touch the armor. It was polished to a high sheen and hung on a tall manikin so it appeared to be descending from the skies as it caught the light from windows on either side and flashed dancing light as far away as the entry to the store.

Entering the store one was immediately struck by the magnificent sight and it was not unusual to see people step in and stop right there starry-eyed, blocking the doorway.

Varnado found a beautifully decorated wooden plaque and purchased it, burning the words �The Golden Armor� on it.

�What about a price?� Maro asked.

�We aren�t selling it.� Varnado said, blowing across the wood to cool it.

�But wouldn�t it be better to put a very high price on it so people think it�s worth their time to come see it?� Maro suggested.

Varnado scribbled an amount on a piece of paper and slid it under Maro�s hand. Maro crossed it out and scribbled another that made Varnado�s eyes pop. He picked up his iron and burned the astronomical figure into the wood below the words.

�Put that sign right here in the center at the base of the Manikin.� Maro instructed.

The shop was filled with people daily that came in just to stare at the armor. People hung out in the shop hoping to be a witness the next time Fathis or the Khajiit came in to buy it. Even the Imperial guards were seen lingering in the shop. Then it became a draw for collectors wanting to add it to their collections.

They began adding 100,000 Septims each time someone was able to meet the purchase price. Pretty soon the rumor went around that it was for sale to the highest bidder and that the price burned on the plaque was the current high bid.

Maro and Varnado made a pact with each other not to sell the armor. The higher they raised the price the fewer came with the ability to pay that ridiculous amount. Fathis Aren was one that could. Anyone of enough wealth that enquired was told that the armor was being held for a certain customer and SHE would have to release them from holding it before they could contract with anyone else.

The Market District had come alive suddenly. With the influx of tourist trade stores were cleaned up and better displays hung in the windows. The streets were filled with people wanting to ogle the armor or catch a glimpse of the white Khajiit, the great Orc, or the infamous Fathis doing something eccentric.


*






*

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 3 2010, 04:00 PM

This is one of my favorite parts of Maxical's fiction - the rumor mongering and the display of the golden armor, along with Fathis's obsessive behavior.

Wonder if that's why he's so gaunt in my game? And so sour-tempered to boot? Hmm, it does explain a lot!

Posted by: Olen May 3 2010, 06:23 PM

Your description of the rumour mill is very good, and of people making a living off it. That part was brilliant, it shows Fathis's decline from moderatly influential mage to wreak well. It's also a refreshing use of points of view to give a fuller angle on the story.

Good piece.

Posted by: Acadian May 3 2010, 08:54 PM

A fun read mALX! The whole Imperial City in an uproar.

Posted by: Zalphon May 4 2010, 12:41 AM

I do enjoy the tail of my furry friend. Get it? Tail!

Posted by: mALX May 6 2010, 04:18 AM

@ Hauty - I loved it the first time, so just copied it over to save myself some writing. Then I got looking at it after it posted and didn't like it suddenly. About 5 hours after posting I edited it and now I am much happier with this chapter. I always loved that storyline part too, just wasn't happy with my writing in it, lol. Thank you so much Hauty, you are always appreciated!!!

***

@ Olen - Thank you so much Olen! I appreciate your take on it a lot!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you Acadian, lol. Maxical doesn't have to actually be involved in anything for trouble to follow her around, lol. You ROCK!

***

@ Zalphon - Thank you Zalphon, and I love your new story !!!!





********************************








Chapter 18: Secrets Of The Past And The Tail In Jail


Abhuki plopped the Black Horse Courier down in front of Alix then slid his breakfast down next to it. �I never did much thinking when I was skewered on a man�s sword, but I still ended up with better�n an Orc.�

�Too much information over my breakfast Abhuki.� Alix said, picking up the paper. SPEW! �S�Jirra, come here! Have you seen this?�

�Not yet, I don�t touch the paper till you have seen it.�

�Listen to what our daughter told the press! Er, better put your coffee down first, I don�t want to be wearing it.�

�Let me just read it.� S�Jirra said, grabbing the paper and scanning it. �Well she didn�t mean it like that. You know her.�

�I know. But who else knows her like that?� Alix wiped the coffee he had spat off the table before Abhuki saw it.

�Fathis will take this wrong I�ll bet.� S�Jirra mused aloud.

�You should see him S�Jirra. He has lost so much weight he looks like the wind would blow him over. The last few times I�ve caught sight of him he had road dust poofing from his clothing when he walked or sat. I could see the saddle marks on him still. He has been un-bathed and wearing the same clothes he was in days before. I don�t think he may survive being in love with Maxical. His mind hasn�t survived it, I heard he was caught sneaking around the Waterfront district acting like he was inspecting property at three in the morning. Fathis is losing it S�Jirra, loving Maxical has pushed him around the bend!�

S�Jirra tried to picture the fastidious Fathis in dirty clothing and unwashed, mooning around the Waterfront inspecting property at three in the morning and the image caused her to go off in a peal of laughter.

Alix grinned and began giving detailed descriptions of the particular odor that Fathis now sported to replace his scented bathwater, giving names to the smell and mimicking the vendors in the Market District.

�A powerful fragrance to give strength to the weaker man, we call this scent �Oh-no a scamp� it goes well for those of you who work nights as a housing inspector in seedy neighborhoods.�

S�Jirra joined in with �And for the man who can�t find the woman he loves, we have �Musk of Dunmer� - let her find you!�

Abhuki chimed in �Nothing smells worse than a Dunmer that hasn�t bathed, unless it�s an Orc. - What? Why are you laughing?�


*


The Black Horse Courier arrived late, Alix was already irritated when the horse finally pulled up and the rider handed him the stack of papers for the Inn.

�What took so long?� Alix grumbled.

�They were sold out before I could get out of the city, I had to wait while they ran another printing. It�s over the engagement of your daughter and the Grand Champion.�

Alix got a sinking feeling. He stomped in and slammed the stack down on the counter in front of Abhuki, grabbing one to read.

�What is it Alix?� S�Jirra asked.

�That damned Orc.� Alix almost spat.

�You mean the gossip is true?� S�Jirra grabbed one of the papers and scanned it. �Oh no! What are you going to do about it?�

�What can I do? She has run away. If I show up throwing my weight around she will think I am spying on her and not letting her make her own decisions.� Alix�s frustration with the situation was evident in his voice.

�Well you can�t let her go through with this! You better get down there and find some way to stop it! Do you think we could be wrong?�

�No. Read this part here. After Maxical chased after Fathis the Grand Champion looked coyly at Hassiri and very deliberately says �No comment.� You know exactly what he is doing. Things have obviously not changed�although it does say down here that he gave her a house. Now that is strange.� Alix looked up at S�Jirra. �Do you think he is up to something or serious?�

�Does it matter?�

�No. I�m heading over there and see what I can do.� Alix started pulling on his boots.

�It says she ran after Fathis, so no matter what his plans are, hers are still where they were when she left here.� S�Jirra continued reading the article.

Alix stopped putting on his boots. �Do you think I should go or let Fathis handle it?�

�Both. I wish Fathis would stop by here and you two go together. Just in case you get arrested or something.�

�Fathis won�t come here. Forester says Fathis was eyeing the house like he was afraid you�d come out with a rolling pin in your hand. You must have jumped all over him�scared him to death�he�s��

�All right Alix, unless you want to see what I did you will quit!� S�Jirra pushed him toward the door. �According to the gossip Fathis may gallop past you on the road and you can catch him. Tell him what�s up and the two of you go together. And be sure to invite him here, I�ll apologize and fatten him back up with potato bread.�









******* Maxical (continued from Chapter 16)


A well dressed man was coming down the polished tile corridor with ease and confidence. Even from this distance I could see his pure white hair was styled with elegance. I guessed him to be a lawyer.

My stomach was knotted between fear and anger at my false incarceration. I would know if I had done something wrong. Over all this I was stunned when I found out Agronak was the arresting party. I stood at the entrance to the holding cell looking out so saw the man approaching down the curved corridor long before he arrived.

�Are you Maxical?� His face was inscrutable. I nodded.

�Guards. She is the one.�

I was shackled and brought out of the cell to the sound of Andronicus sobbing and screaming �Don�t leave me in here!�





***

With a guard on either side and shackled I was led into a chamber room. I have never been so humiliated. Agronak was already in there, arguing with a man in a suit that sat next to him, probably the lawyer representing him. His eyes caught mine, a desperate look in them.

The Elders all sat on one side of the round table, separate from both me and Agronak by a large gap in the chair set-up. One glance into their faces was enough to know the separation was intentional, none of them would rub elbows with an Orc or a Khajiit outside the confines of this hearing room, and even in here they crowded together to keep their skins from the taint of us. The disdain on their faces mirrored the expression of those who rejected me as a child. Agronak was safe from their prejudice being the plaintiff, but it was clear they despised him too.

After a short call to order they began firing questions at me. I had to state the order of events that led to me being the one that picked up certain items that were purchased for the funeral using Agronak�s account. My anger was growing with the Elder Councilor�s sneering and patronizing voices and attitudes. It was obvious I presumed to be guilty, a �sneaky Khajiit�.

�I was given a list of tasks and did it. The items were parceled in brown paper and crates when I arrived to retrieve them, I did not open or inspect them and have no idea what was inside. The list was on me when I was arrested, in the small pocket of the greaves. I have done nothing wrong and respectfully protest this arrest.�

Agronak and his lawyer whispered back and forth and then the lawyer next to me stood up and requested he be allowed to accompany a guard and watch him search my things. The list was found and the questioning resumed.

�Can you tell us who wrote this list?�

�Andronicus did, it was for the funeral of Agronak�s mother.�

Agronak�s lawyer arose. �My client requests charges be dropped against this person as she was following the orders of her superior and had no knowledge of the contents of items she picked up.�

An argument broke out then. because he and Agronak were the ones bringing the charges against me. I looked over at Agronak, he looked miserable.

�Motion denied.�

I was asked whether I had witnessed the new skirting and hardware of all our Battle Raiment, Owyn�s new armor, Andronicus�s new dress, and Haki�s new suit that were all worn at the funeral.

�Did I witness them? Everyone in Cyrodiil did. They were beautiful, it was the most touching send off I�ve ever seen. Agronak would have been humiliated if we had all shown up in the filthy worn out raiment we wear to fight in, especially with all of Cyrodiil there for the funeral. We were all there to represent Agronak and honor his mother, how would it look if we came in filthy shreds?�

�Then you knew these items were ordered using the plaintiffs funds.�

�Not till they arrived and we were given the task of changing out the skirting.�

�By your own testimony you are proving your complicity with the one who misappropriated this man�s funds.� An Elder leaned forward, his robe crackling with stiffness at the movement.

�Allegedly misappropriated. No wrongdoing has been proven. Agronak gave Andronicus carte blanche with his account to make all the arrangements for the funeral. He gave her no instructions nor limits and did it in front of a room full of witnesses. Andronicus did what she knows best, she made a beautiful public display that the people of Cyrodiil will remember for a long time to come, and she did it for Agronak at his request. She miraculously managed to do it in two days time including the PR releases. The Arena closed for the funeral to honor Agronak, which means a huge loss of Box Office receipts as it was held on a weekend. Everything you have asked me about was purchased for that funeral and has not been used for anything since, so I don�t understand what Andronicus has done wrong, nor Owyn, Haki, or myself. I do not understand what any of us were arrested for.�

The man in the suit next to me stood up �I�d like to have formality of this hearing dropped since the defendant is not represented by counsel.�

�So granted.�

I glanced curiously at the obvious lawyer sitting by my side. I thought he was my counsel.

�May I speak freely then?� I asked, and waited for the agreement. I looked over at Agronak. �What is this really about Agronak? What is going on here?�

�She robbed me, Maxical. How could she do that? She�s my manager. My mother�s funeral��

�Agronak, you cannot press charges over what she purchased for your mother�s funeral. You know that funeral was the most ceremonial event Cyrodiil has seen in ages, you surely didn�t expect something of that magnitude to not cost a fortune. You should have given her a limit and told her not to exceed it if you had concerns, but you did not do that. Now what is this really about?�

�She did a straight transfer of funds directly to her own bank account as well, that is flat out theft.�

�You mean she charged you a fee for acting as a coordinator setting this all up for you?�

�She�s my manager, it is her job to do it.�

�No, Agronak my friend. No it is not. Her only duty is to manage your fights and PR. Anything you ask her to do outside that contracted duty is extraneous and you should expect to be charged separately for it. Nothing is free Agronak. She worked her butt off for two days getting that funeral arranged for you, handled all the press, and she gave up her share of Box Office receipts the day of the funeral. She deserves at least three full days pay for that, as well as a bonus for pulling it off so quickly and doing such a marvelous job with it. I have never seen such a beautiful ceremony - why Ocato himself attended it!�


*

Posted by: Winter Wolf May 6 2010, 09:56 AM

Your writing is picture card perfect mALX. Such a joy to read. Awesome !!

Ha. Ha. This brought a smile to my face. Bravo.

My new character is heading to the Priory of the Nine at the moment. I took a moment to pass by Faregyl Inn. Everytime I see that place I now think of Maxical. What have you done to my thinking mALX?? You have ruined me forever, the old landscape of Oblivion is forever changed by the crazy stories I read here. Lol.

I enjoyed the poem you gave Destri. Boy was I shocked at the quick response by him. Wow, and I thought Eyja had a way of influencing people.

Posted by: Acadian May 6 2010, 01:40 PM

This line of the story has become so deliciously unpredictable that I am on the edge of my seat. I see the Mistress of Plotweaving is not content to merely republish her story, but to infuse it with new twists and turns and. . . well, just loads of wonderful extra goodness.

I loved this!

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 6 2010, 04:57 PM

Well, well, I don't remember this from the first time around!

You really are rewriting this story, aren't you? At this point, I'm enjoying the twists and turns a little too much.

I did see a couple of typos:

Misappropriated is incorrectly capitalized in this context.

And a very common mixup:

Council refers to a group of people who confer on matters of importance: The Council of Elders, the Mages Council. In this context, I think you mean counsel, a person that gives advice or acts as a lawyer. How common is this mixup? Raminus Polus, in-game, refers to himself as the council to the Council of Mages, when it should be spelled counsel to the Council of Mages! If you have subtitles turned off, you'd never know the difference. Ah, English the patchwork language!

Anyway, Maxical in the end seems surprisingly intelligent! Where did she grow a brain (or common sense, for that matter?)???

Posted by: D.Foxy May 6 2010, 05:31 PM

Man...it's like reading a whole new story!!!

BTW since i'm too busy to backtrack, are you updating the new sextions (oops) sections into your already punbliss work on the Other Forum as well as on Fanfic??

Posted by: mALX May 7 2010, 04:36 PM

@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so much Wolf! Lol, Eyja. I wonder how you will feel when you see her next, (?) lol. She has some really good scenes with Lucien coming up soon in the current chapters at that other forum. - er...ARGH! New character? What about Aradroth? Who is this new character, and will they be in Aradroth's story?

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian. This came out of the woodwork. I knew I was cutting some future chapters out, so thought I could do just a tad more with the Arena to make up for that. Well, it has taken over. I was trying to make the Maxical saga shorter, but with this storyline stretching out it is not going so well, lol. ARGH!

***

@ Hauty - THANK YOU!!!! I needed that, and I have fixed it. You are def appreciated, I should have known that!

On Maxical's part, I wasn't sure if anyone noticed on her letters when she was twelve years old that she would say things like, "There was no proof I was involved," stuff like that - she would defend herself even then.

- She has an innate cunning in spite of being dumb, which shows up in battle or when she is angry - this hearing is a battle to her, and she is def angry in it.

- Andronicus taught her a lot, which will come out soon.

***

@ Foxy - Yeah! You are back! Thank you so much Foxy, you ROCK!!! (the answer is YES, and I will give more details below)



TO EVERYONE:

I am still writing updates for the original story and posting them on the BGSF forum:


http://forums.bethsoft.com/index.php?/topic/1080421-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-vi/page__st__120



And on the FanFiction.net site:


http://www.fanfiction.net/~malx



If anyone is still keeping up with the original (Acadian is, Thank You Acadian!) I just posted a new chapter two days ago on both links above.

Posted by: minque May 7 2010, 10:46 PM

Oooooo two chapters up since last I was here...my my what a writer you are mALXie! I notced you on fanfic.net, must remember to add you as favourite author there!

What strikes me is the intelligent writing style of yours...it's stunning my dear...I'm impressed, very impressed

Looking forward to learn more about my fav-Kitty!

Posted by: mALX May 7 2010, 11:43 PM

@ Minque - Thank you very much Minque!!! I appreciate you a lot! Are you on the FanFic? I will have to figure out how to search on there and add you as a fave too! Thank you so much!




*****************************







Chapter 19: The Orc In Court


�The bank investigated and discovered Andronicus has been skimming off the top for years. She hasn�t been depositing the full amount I should get.� Agronak�s lip pouted out between the tusks.

�All the managers take their percentage directly off the top so if you die in the Arena they aren�t left unpaid or having to dun grieving relatives.�

�But she was taking more than her contracted fee.�

�You don�t have a contract, haven�t had one since two years after becoming Grand Champion. Andronicus is a Free Agent. Look at the clause above your signature on the last contract you signed. It states right on it that if it lapses and you continue using her services she becomes a Free Agent.�

�I didn�t keep that, it was expired so I threw it away.� Agronak gave me an inscrutable look.

�I have a copy of that contract.� The lawyer next to me rifled it out of a leather satchel and handed it to the Elders. They passed it amongst them and then back to him.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught Agronak�s brows draw down into a scowl when the lawyer pulled the contract out. It was just for a split second, then it was gone. Was it a trick of the light? It gave me an odd feeling.

�The only reason I let it lapse is because she kept increasing her percentage every year. She was gouging me. I thought Free Agent meant�free.�

Agronak actually looked victimized, which is pretty hard to do when you�re a giant Orc with a reputation for vicious slaughter. I was incredulous, even I am not that dumb.

�Free? You thought she would work for nothing?� I gaped at Agronak. �Free Agent just means without a contract, she gets paid per-fight at the going rate. No one works for free Agronak.�

�She can�t charge more than our last contract!� Agronak was getting angry, something I had never seen before.

�Yes, she can. Without a contract she is free to charge the current rate. When you negotiate a contract you talk her down below that. Her fee is whatever Haki gets plus an additional percentage because she does much more PR for you. Haki gets raises every year, so obviously her rate would increase.�

I learned that from months of hearing Andronicus moaning about Agronak squeezing every Septim. Until now I had never seen this side of Agronak, and always wondered if Andronicus was just a chronic griper.

�Haki gets raises every year?�

�They all do because the cost of living goes up each year. They are also supposed to get at least one bonus a year when you re-sign with them, more if they do a great job for you.�

�She doesn�t need anything for cost of living, she lives free in the Bloodworks. And she should feel grateful if I re-sign, not get a bonus for it. Bonuses can�t be mandatory, they are like gifts. Besides, she never needed to do PR for me, I earned my fame in the Arena.�

A hot anger rose in me. �Earnings aren�t based on where someone lives, and anytime you need proof of the great job Andronicus has done for you just step out in public. People who have never been to the Arena or seen you fight know you. You have better PR than the Emperor, they never had to tie back the city gates for him like they did at your mother�s funeral!�

Agronak stared at the table in front of him, obviously angry. �She can�t even get another fighter that will let her represent them! She is lucky to get me!�

�She can only represent you because it would be a conflict of her interest if she had another fighter and they made Champion. She can�t represent two fighters in the same fight.�

How could he not know that? That was basic knowledge, he couldn�t be dumber than me. It had to be an act, but why?

�Agronak, you know that I dislike Andronicus, but she has given you brilliant representation and she is no thief. She believes in you. You expected her to work gratis as your agent and for your mother�s funeral in spite of the fact that she lost her share of the Box Office over it. I�m sorry to say this because you are my friend, but that is unconscionable. Those new skirts and armor were crated till you could pick them up. No one has used them, nor robbed you.�

Agronak glanced over at me his eyes were cold and inscrutable. I felt a shiver go down my back. Something just didn�t feel right about that look. I was angry and upset, was I reading him wrong? I had to be, for on second glance he looked�himself. I must be over-wrought from all this. I spoke more gently, apologetic.

�I�m sorry Agronak, you are my best friend, but if you want my opinion you are still reeling from the loss of your mother. I think the lawyer that pushed you to this action acted unscrupulously and was precipitous because he was over-eager to have his name connected with your fame. In my mind he owes us an apology for the embarrassment of our public arrest.�

The Elders expressions had not changed. I was still a guilty Khajiit, but now I was mouthy too.

The lawyer next to me was scribbling on a pad, not looking up, then suddenly he stopped writing and gracefully and soundlessly stood.

�I am asking that all charges be dropped pending a full accounting of the raises and payments for services Ysabel Andronicus should have received since Agronak gro-Malog became the Grand Champion. I respectfully request a subpoena of all banking records that show deposits made by the Arena into the account of Agronak gro-Malog for comparison. I request these arrests be expunged from all records. As the defendant stated, this action was precipitous. I move that any further proceedings in this matter be handled by the attorneys, that we waste no more of the Council�s valuable time.�

Agronak sent me a worried glance.

I held my hand up in the Arena sign for step back and regroup. Agronak nodded, then spoke.

�I just asked my bank to look into it. Next thing I know the bank�s lawyer filed these charges. Everything happened so fast.�

I looked curiously at Agronak. As he spoke his expression was confused, but his voice sounded defeated; the two were separate and opposite.

I was upset by the arrest, the prejudice of the Elders. Agronak probably was feeling the same tension I was in here. That would explain�but no, he lied. His signature was on the arrest form, not a lawyer�s. What was going on?

Suspicion can hone your instincts. I had always trusted and relied on them. But Agronak was my friend, it is hard to believe he would ever do anything against me, why would he? Maybe I was the one that needed to step back and regroup.





***

The Elders dismissed for a break. When the Council resumed only the lawyers would return to argue it out before the Elders. Then they would be excluded while the Council made its ruling.

Agronak tried to come talk to me but his lawyer stopped him. I was escorted away by the lawyer that sat next to me and two guards.

�You did very well in there.� The lawyer said as we were making our way down to the lower floor. He hesitated, then turned to me. �You had an odd expression at the end of the hearing, would you mind explaining why?�

�Oh, I am sure it was nothing. I am probably just over-wrought.�

�What was probably nothing?� He opened a door into a small room and indicated I go ahead of him into it. �Have a seat.�

There was a round table and two chairs barely squeezed into the tiny room. I looked at him before taking the seat that would put my back to the farthest wall. Khajiit can usually read people through their eyes, his revealed nothing but his aura was of a decent man. The guards stayed outside the room but I heard a key turn in the lock.

�Go ahead.� He said, pulling out a blank parchment.

�I don�t know if you will understand. Khajiit read people through their eyes, facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, and the aura they emit. It is an instinct born in us and is rarely wrong. It just seemed that several times in there Agronak�s reactions and facial expressions seemed at odds with things he was saying.�

I described several examples; the lie about who filed charges, Agronak�s anger, his scowling over the contract being produced, the inscrutable expressions.

�And pretending he didn�t know Andronicus could not represent anyone while holding his book. He had to know that. Why pretend not to?�

While I was talking he was taking notes on what I was saying, sometimes asking me to describe in more detail either expressions Agronak had made or what was happening in the hearing at the time.

�Andronicus said he was intimidating in negotiations, but Agronak looked victimized in there as if Andronicus had put the screws to him. It was clear by his own testimony that he was tighter than a mud crab with his Septims.�

�Very clear. Now what happened at the end?�

�His words and expression showed confusion, but his voice held defeat�an error in judgment maybe?�

�A backfired plan?�

�Yes, that is exactly what I felt. I am sure my instincts are off, we are close friends. I must be misreading things.�

�Close friends don�t have you arrested, and I noticed several of these discrepancies myself. Always trust your innate senses. Owyn did well to have you brought in first. He was sure he would lose his temper, and Andronicus was not in any shape.�





***

He finished writing on the pad and then looked up at me as if deciding whether to say something.

�You knew a lot about the contracts and seemed to understand the clauses. How did you learn all that in just the few months you have been at the Arena?�

�Andronicus taught me. I bunk with her at the Bloodworks for protection. She talks almost constantly, complains even in her sleep. But if you listen you can learn a lot from her. She taught me how the financial end works, how the contracts work and what they mean, how to work the press to get the right PR.

�Was she training you to assist her?�

�Not that I know of, I think she just likes to talk and gripe a lot.�

He wrote something on his pad. �Go on.�

�Well, when we were arrested I was locked in the holding cell with her for hours before you came, and she talked the whole time about what possible things Agronak was trying to pull with these charges and how it should be countered. She discussed that clause and where to find it on the contract.

�She is a whiz with the contracts, much better than either Owyn or Haki.� He said as if thinking aloud.

�Sir, she would not steal, I would stake everything I own that she is innocent.�

�You said you dislike her, yet defended her in the hearing and now. Why?�

�Where do I begin�she is offensive in at least a thousand ways; loud, brash, coarse, her odor, she is dirtier than beggars on the streets, her teeth, she drinks till she can�t find the�� I was counting them off on my fingers when he stopped me.

�No, I meant why did you defend her.�

�Oh. Well, I was forced into bunking with her so she could protect me from the men. Being in close quarters over an extended period I have seen a lot that others may not. She is brilliant and talented. She has integrity, she is near genius with her PR abilities. She is blatantly honest and would go hungry before she would steal a Septim. She has an enormous heart and is dedicated to those she loves, of which Agronak is one. This has hurt her deeply. She is no thief.�

�A thin line between love and hate?�

�It gets to be quite a thick line when she is un-bathed, but you are right. I do care about her. Sometimes you can love what is inside even if you don�t like the outer person.�



*

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 8 2010, 12:37 AM

I apologize in advance for the book-length size of this post. I wanted to sit down and try to get caught up with your story and I find that in doing so there are just too many things that I want to comment on. It�s your own fault really.

Chapter 11: Bad things Come in Threes

I swear mALX, there are times when Maxical reminds me so much of Lucy Ricardo that it�s scary. I keep waiting for Ricky to show up and tell her that she has some �splaining to do!

And I for one love this version of the story. Your writing is far more refined. Whereas before it seemed that you were discovering your character along with your reader, now it seems like you know exactly who this character is, and where you want her to take us.

Chapter 12: In the Mind of Fathis Aren

My first thought when I read the chapter heading was . . . uh oh!

This is a magnificent paragraph! Imagery, emotion, and action mingle seamlessly with one another to provide a classic example of jealousy. If I might make a suggestion, I would substitute �unsatisfying� for �unsatisfactory�. �Unsatisfactory� is a temporary condition and seems to suggest that Fathis might find satisfaction in another�s touch, but we know from the preceding paragraphs that this isn�t the case.

Chapter 13: Of Fathis and Orc Diapers

First of all, GREAT chapter heading!



I think you mean �of spouse� here, �as spouse implies that Maxical is already someone�s wife.



SPEW! Ha ha ha ha ha! Is it any wonder that the citizens of Bravil hold the Count in such esteem?

Chapter 14: The Secret And The Suicide

Ahh, intrigue! Agronak�s mother speaks of her imminent death, and then years later poisons herself? You have taken what is generally a straight forward quest in the game and wrapped it up in a mystery that adds new depth to the character of the Gray Prince.

I am beginning to wonder if you are going to deal with Agronak�s demise in a similar fashion as you did in the last version. I have to say that part of me hopes you find a way to keep him around; I�ve grown quite fond of the Orc.

As a side note: Thanks a lot, mALX! Now I can�t look at chocolate pudding again!

Chapter 15: Doctors, Lawyers, and Thieves

It�s interesting, I find myself comparing this version of Traven with the version on the other site and I have to say that I like this version better. In the other story there didn�t seem to be the incentive for him to want to help Maxical that there seems to be here. Reading their interaction I can almost feel the affection that he has for her, even with all the headaches (or perhaps because of all the headaches).

The missing money in Agronak�s bank account makes one wonder how many of Andronicus� benders are being financed by the Gray Prince.

Chapter 16: The Friendship And The Friendship



And more raucous laughter from my side of the keyboard!

Given the frequency in which Andronicus tends to soil herself it makes one wonder how she came to be a �battle matron� in the first place. *voice dripping with sarcasm* I can�t imagine why Fathis never chose to get with her!

WHAT!!!!!! Just read the part where Fathis overhears Agronak and Gils. What in the Nine Divines is going on here?! You had me at the point that I was really starting to like Agronak, now I don�t know anymore. Talk about cliff hangers, ARGGHHH!!!!!

Chapter 17: Fathis, Gossip, And The Golden Armor

I am in full agreement with everything already said about this chapter. It seems that the merchants in the Imperial City have quite the grapevine, doesn�t it?

I have to confess that as much as I enjoyed this chapter my mind is still racing and my concentration is broken over the fate of Maxical and the details behind this �tag� of Agronak�s.

Chapter 18 Secrets Of The Past And The Tail In Jail





You already know how I feel about a courtroom setting as a kind of battlefield. I am actually giddy over the potential situations that can be explored putting Maxical on trial! I hope you take your time with this, because at some point Irlav Jarol must be called in to give damning testimony!

I�m not sure about the word �lawyer�, it kind of clunks in this chapter for me. I don�t think that there is anything strictly wrong with it, I just think that �advocate� or �arbiter� might work better given the setting.

Postscript: Now I see that you have posted yet again! I will attempt to read your latest update over the weekend. Right now I need to wipe the tears from my eyes from laughing so hard!

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 8 2010, 12:41 AM

Now this sounds more like the cunning kitty who happens to be very observant of the people around her!

Well done! Did I ever mention that I love courtroom dramas?

Posted by: Acadian May 8 2010, 03:23 AM

Not so Maxical! You are not dumb. You are just sometimes awkward. And maybe a touch naive.

Another fun read! So, it seems Agronak is not as good as we may have thought and Andronicus not as bad. Veerry interesting!

Posted by: Winter Wolf May 8 2010, 04:33 AM

Destri hit the nail on the head. Your writing is far more refined. Whereas before it seemed that you were discovering your character along with your reader, now it seems like you know exactly who this character is, and where you want her to take us.

That is exactly how I feel about your writing also. In the old days I would spin in crazy circles as I tried futilely to bite the end of my tail, now I just collapse in shock at the maturity and command of the english language that you use. A shame really, kind of makes it hard to read the computer screen from the floor.

See here? The writing you use is absolutely perfect. Thoughts, action and dialogue flow seemlessly into one and it makes it a delight to read. Wow!!

As for my new character, will they make the Aradroth story you ask? Hell Yeah !!
The new build is to complete MQ and KOTN, something I havent done in 4 years of playing Oblivion. Hopeless I am. I keep getting sidetracked by dungeon diving. "Hey look, there is another one, I haven't been there!"

Posted by: D.Foxy May 8 2010, 04:45 AM

Stand aside Perry Mason, here comes the Berry Sundae.

Posted by: Olen May 8 2010, 01:16 PM

Great chapter! Looks like she's a bit brighter than Agronak thought and things are unravelling for him now. I'm still interested to see who else in involved and how this finishes up though and the story still has a firm grip.

I liked the way you described the characters in the last chapter, they all seem so natural and flowing and their reactions all fit. Even with the change in Agronak nothing sits out of place, like it was already there and we just hadn't seen it. Great characterisation.

Awsome chapter. More?

Posted by: minque May 9 2010, 11:30 PM

Exciting! I, too, like courtroom dramas! I liked the way Maxi sort of protected Andronicus, that was very sweet of her. But then again....Maxi is a very sweet sympathetic kitty

meow!!!

Posted by: mALX May 10 2010, 04:48 AM

@ Destri - Yeah!!! You're back! Thank you so much Destri! I fixed the nits you mentioned. Regarding the chocolate pudding you have to lay the blame at FOXY'S DOOR!!!!!!

I was picturing the last Seinfeld episode when everyone he ever met comes and says all the horrible things he did when you said that about Irlav Jarol coming, then Raminus Polus, Adamus Phillida, Hieronymus Lex .... among others, read the next chapter!!!! It is so wonderful to have you back!!! Thank you Destri!

***

@ Hauty - Thank you so much Hauty, it is really hard to make her 17 again when I have been writing her at 21 on the other forum, lol. I edited that last chapter before putting it out to tone down Maxical's responses better. I apologize, and thank you for the heads-up on that.

***

@ Acadian - Yes! Now that's what I'm talking about! Thank you very much Acadian, you ROCK!!!

***

@ Winter Wolf - Wolf, to hear you say that means TONS! Thank you so much! Those two questlines are my faves, I love them!

***

@ Foxy - Thank you Foxy! BTW, I am getting the blame for your chocolate pudding, lol. EW! I'll warn you now not to be drinking when you read chapter 21. You may leave a berry sundae yourself after reading it.

***

@ Olen - Thank you very much Olen! Yes! You caught the underthread! Yeah! Winter Wolf and Hauty usually nail any sub-plot immediately, it is exciting to write for them because of it! Thank you Olen!!!

***

@ Minque - Thank you so much Minque! Maxical def cares about Andronicus, just doesn't like the smell, lol. You ROCK!

Posted by: mALX May 10 2010, 04:50 AM

*


Chapter 20: Our Past Catches Up To Us All


I hesitated, but finally my curiosity got the best of me. �May I ask you something?�

He nodded his assent.

�I thought you were my counsel in there�er, who are you then?�

�My name is Jack Thompson. I am the lawyer for the Arena. I don�t represent individuals in these type hearings, only the integrity of the running of the Arena. It looks bad when people claim they have been robbed by those the Arena has employed to represent them.�

�I don�t know if you are a hero or anti-hero, but you are certainly famous. I heard of your stand against violence long before I came to the Arena. It seems a paradox that you represent the Arena.�

�Not really. If you have a vicious dog, do you let it run loose or control it?�

�Oh that is smart! I never would have thought of it that way.�

�I must say it has been an unexpected pleasure to meet you Maxical.�

�I can�t say it is a pleasure under these circumstances but they were not of your making.� I shook his hand, my shackles jingling with the movement. �Unexpected?�

�Your reputation for extreme language and violence�I didn�t expect you to be this tiny, nor to do so well in there combating these charges. Do you not recognize my name from the citations you get after your matches?�

�Oh, for the extreme and unnecessary violence in the beheading and goring? That was you?�

He nodded briefly. �Don�t forget the citation for disemboweling your opponent.�

�I never got one for that.�

�I sent it with the others.�

�I am absolutely serious. I did not receive one for that�oh.�

�Yes?�

�Owyn tacked a citation on the wall that day, that could be it. I am too short to read it where he hung it.�

�Tacked it on the wall?�

�For our training.�

�You mean to train you what not to do?�

�Er�not exactly.�

�What do you mean?�

�Have you had anatomy in your schooling sir?�

�Yes.�

�Good, that will make this easier to explain. When a sword is thrust into your abdomen it takes almost a full minute before the pain hits. If you can kill the opponent in that time, he dies a relatively painless death. What I do is not a disembowelment, but an artery cut, there is a difference. I put my sword right here and sweep to the right because it severs a major artery so they will bleed to death quickly. The blood filling in the abdomen is what pushes the intestines out which gives the appearance of a disembowelment. It is not technically a disembowelment, they are two very different moves.�

�But a person will not always bleed to death that quickly in battle, the blood has been thickened and gelled.�

�True, so to make sure their death is painless and while they are still in shock I draw back a hair and do a full thrust up through the left lung. If I am able I follow through and pierce the heart as well for an instant death. It is less cruel that way, and is a move I can do even while weakened from injuries.�

�So Owyn has been training the move to the fighters while a citation existed on it?�

�No sir. Your citation said we could not do a disembowelment. This is called an artery cut, and is not disemboweling. The motion for a disembowelment is like this.� I stood up and turned to the side, empty handed I demonstrated the action. �Now watch the difference when I make the artery cut.� Still empty handed I demonstrated how my artery cut was performed. �The fact that some intestines escape while doing this is totally incidental.�

I sat back down and looked seriously at him. �Sir, I agree with you, a disembowelment can be a cruel death. I would never do that to anyone deliberately. My main goal is to survive first and do no unnecessary harm second. If I can kill my opponent with the least amount of suffering then I feel I have accomplished both.�

�I�ve heard that said before! Who did you say trained you in Blade? I have your application for the Arena here, but you can just tell me and save me from searching.�

�Alix Lencolia sir.�

�Ah yes! Alix Lencolia taught you that phrase, did he not?�

�Yes sir.�

�Did he also teach you how to argue your case?�

�No sir, I gave him a few pointers.�

Jack gave a spontaneous laugh and for a second his deep blue eyes flashed humorously. It was accompanied by a small but pleasant smile.

�Do you have an excuse for the goring?�

�Er�the goring isn�t deliberate. Due to my size it is usually what is easiest reached when my survival instincts kick in. I have never done it unless I was in over my head and didn�t feel I would make it out of the fight.�

�And you didn�t feel you were going to make it out of the Arena last match, did you?�

�No sir. That is why I was making my tail move for the crowds to scream. The sound of them calling me was the only thing that gave me the strength to finish the fight and make it to the healing fount. I am unable to heal myself, Arch Mage Traven thinks I may have a disorder causing it.�

�Do you know how many times Owyn had to use the fount on you that fight?�

�I counted sixteen, but I was passed out quite a while.�

�It was thirty-seven times. You are right, you almost didn�t make it.�

�Sir, I will try to refrain from any more beheadings. To be honest it made me quite ill to see.�

�For a minute I thought you were going to argue that one as well.�

�Technically when done that way it is quick and painless. But it made me quite sick to my stomach and I really hated it.�

�So I can leave the citation standing?�

�Yes sir. What about the others?�

�I�ll send a retraction to Owyn and expunge the citation on the disembowelment, you have proven your case that it is not what you did. I will take the goring into consideration and let you know my answer.�

�Thank you sir. When you are the smaller and weaker combatant like I usually am, you need some advantages.�






***

Jack Thompson hesitated as if choosing his words carefully.

�You seemed familiar with many proper procedures in the hearing, have you been in Council Chambers before?�

�Plenty sir, but not for anything I�ve done. I was in the Orphanage at the Imperial Compound back when the Council Chambers were housed there. Out of boredom I used to sneak into the hearing room and listen to the cases.�

�A white Khajiit? Oh my.�

�Oh dear.�

�Are you the one that tied the lawyers shoe laces together so they fell down when they stood?�

�Before I answer, were you ever a victim of that prank?�

�Frogs in my satchel? A mouse in my pocket? The goats stomach that made gaseous noise when the judge sat on it? Putting alcohol in the court water pitchers so all the defendants got drunk? The bucket of water that doused everyone as they entered the building? The odd haircuts on Adamus Phillida and Hieronymus Lex?�

�Er�.�

�The slaughterfish incident? The needle on the judge�s chair? Phillida and Lex with boot blacking beards? The pigeon incident? The flood? The mass bedwetting among the Legion? Are you the one that caused Hieronymus Lex to vacate and refuse to return till you were gone? The tarring incident? Taking Phillida�s expensive private wine collection and giving a bottle each to all the prisoners?�

�Er�but they say that if you get it out of your system as a child you grow into a responsible adult.�

�Where did you go when you left the orphanage?�

�I was adopted, and I went to the Arcane University.

�Hannibal Traven is an old friend of mine. Did you�� The expression on his face changed suddenly from scanning back through his memory to one of fleeting surprise before the mask fell again, sealing off any indications that revealed what he was thinking.

�Oh dear.� I knew what was coming.

�Oh my. Do I need to ask? The horse in his bedroom? Breaking all the windows in his tower? Blowing up the grounds? Turning Daedra loose on the campus?�

�Well, I am grateful your expression never made it as far as dawning horror. I want you to know Hannibal and I have become friends since I graduated, although he does admit relief I am no longer a student there.�

�I can well imagine. I do remember Hannibal saying you showed a remarkable innate ability to defend yourself in those situations. For someone with no formal training you did extremely well in the hearing today.�

�Sir, I hope this doesn�t effect how you feel about me, I give you my word of honor I am innocent of these charges.�

�Let us hope you have gotten it all out of your system. I have visions of the Arena crumbling suddenly. I do believe you are innocent of these charges though, all of you.� He looked serious when he said that and looked me directly in the eyes.





***

Jack stood up and rapped on the door. The scraping of the key in the lock came quickly, the guards must be desiring their meal. It was late morning when they had escorted me to the hearing room and they had stood like statues by the door in case I made a break for it or became violent or something.

A glance out the windows as we passed gave me a sudden shock. I knew it had to be late in the day now, but still I was surprised to see the sun laying halfway below the tree-line on the other side of the Rumare. Was it that late in the day? Would I be spending the night here?

The sound of our feet echoed in the corridor as we followed the curved walkway to the lower levels, the boots of the guards rhythmically in unison�hurrying so they could get to their meal.

There were no more windows then and the corridor seemed unnaturally dark compared to those we had just passed through, why was the sound of their boots so loud? They were going too fast and I felt my feet beginning to drag trying to slow them down. It was hard to breath suddenly, couldn�t they feel it? Like the oxygen was sucked from the air.

They were all talking as if they didn�t notice the heavy dampness that felt like it would suffocate me any second. Stories of the treatment of beast species in prisons at night came unbidden to my mind, tales of torture chambers that were found in the lower levels of even some of the castles.

Somehow I thought since I was innocent I would not be returned to that cell, that it would come out in the hearing and I would be released. Yet here I was, going down into the bowels of the palace. A place where those Elders who hated Khajiit lived.

�What is it? You don�t look well, is something upsetting you?� Jack had eschewed his mask-like expression and had a look of concern on his face.

�The Elders live here, and they hate Khajiit. I�ve heard of how beast species are tortured in chambers at night in the prisons, even in the castles. I thought my innocence would come out in the hearing, but the Elders didn�t hear a word I said. All they saw was Khajiit, and I was guilty already in their minds.�

�I felt that as well. They are not fans of Orc either, but he was the plaintiff.�

�Jack, I know you don�t represent me in there, but if you can find any loophole, anything. Please? I�I�m afraid.�

�I�ll do whatever I can, but I can�t make any promises.�

Jack gave a slight wave of his hand as the guards reached my cell. I raised my hand in the Arena salute. The emotionless mask that kept his thoughts from being read had dropped back over his face and I wondered if he really would help me. Maybe like the guards he had only getting home to his dinner on his mind. I prayed to Akatosh that Jack would get me out of here before I found out personally if they had a torture chamber.


*

Posted by: Winter Wolf May 10 2010, 06:49 AM

Wow....


A neat touch. Go Maxical !!:lol:

Jack Thompson?
Maxical is putting her hopes on a man in a Hawaiian shirt.

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 10 2010, 10:05 AM

Chapter 19: The Orc In Court

There it is in black and white, proof positive that Maxical is anything but dumb!


classic!

Chapter 20: Our Past Catches Up To Us All

Jack Thompson for the defense . . . now that is funny!

When Thompson is listing the various (and numerous) offenses committed by Maxical I had this vision of the movie Beverly Hills Cop and the late great Stephen Elliott as Police Chief Hubbard asking Lt. Bogomil:


I am all too curious to see what you have planned for us in the infamous Chapter 21!

Posted by: Acadian May 10 2010, 02:46 PM

This was a lovely clever way of highlighting some things about how Maxical feels about the Arena as well as reviewing some of her prankish history! Well done mALX!

Posted by: Olen May 10 2010, 04:13 PM

The history section made me laugh. And more courtroom drama, this is brilliant, I'm enjoying seeing this side of Maxical and want to read more.

Classic, this made me laugh out loud.


Clearly she hasn't read http://www.imperial-library.info/dfbooks/b025_legalbasic.shtml from daggerfall to know that the Tamriel legal system works on guilty until proven innocent.

Excellent, I'm loving this.

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 10 2010, 06:10 PM

Enjoyed the recitation of Maxical's pranks in the orphanage! Boy, she really picked on Phillida and Lex! Well, Lex really needs it!

The kitty is a sponge! She remembers everything she sees and hears, just like a real cat!

Posted by: Remko May 12 2010, 11:34 AM

Finally found the time to re-read your excellent story and I am amazed.... You've really gone to town with this re-write. Agranok a con-man???? hmmm.....

Posted by: mALX May 12 2010, 07:57 PM

@ Winter Wolf - I had barely brushed on the trouble she got into at the orphanage, so thought I would give a hint at some details, lol. I took down Jack's picture because after you said that I noticed that and some phone lines, lol. It was either him or the head of the house Indoril in Morrowind. Thank you so much Wolf !!!!

***

@ Destri - I dumbed it down after Hauty noticed it was not jiving with her normal self, but had to leave that sentence in. She was still ready to give him the benefit of the doubt even at the end of all that, which was very Maxical. I know I have seen that...or am I thinking of "Switching Places?" I just can't remember the scene, lol. Chapter 21 is on its way! Thank you so much Destri!!!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! A lot of that courtroom and lawyer discussion were done in free-typing, so I was surprised myself by some things that came out in that scene, lol. You ROCK!

***

@ Olen - Thank you very much Olen! Lol, I dug through that page and was going to have her facing X days and X Septims, but decided to cut it out. I was actually trying to cut the story down and make it shorter, instead it has taken on a new life with this Arena. I barely touched on the Arena in the original, and wanted to expand it just a little - now it is growing out of proportion and I can't seem to contain it anymore, lol. Thank you Olen! You are very appreciated!

***

@ Hauty - Thank you very much Hauty!!! I have a scene coming up in a few chapters where I am going to use that PM on cats you sent me back (last year?). My cat is the same way. If I woke up at 1 AM and gave him a kitty treat he would wake me up at 1 AM the following night demanding a kitty treat. Thank you Hauty!!!!

***

@ Remko - Thank you Remko! Uh Oh, I hope it doesn't offend anyone, lol. He is actually portrayed as too good in game, and I made him too good in the original story. I kind of wanted to address that this time. Thank you so much Remko, and PLEASE finish your Oblivion story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have left a lot of readers hanging on it!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: mALX May 12 2010, 08:00 PM

*


Chapter 21: What I Learned In Prison


Andronicus flew to the front of the cell as we approached, she was in a terrible state till she saw Jack Thompson. Then a transformation took place that I would have given anything not to have witnessed. I watched her attempts at archness and flirtation with humiliation and was grateful to see humor flash in Jack�s eyes. He must be used to having to deal with her, or her type.

The cell door clanked loudly behind me and the guards hurried off. Jack went back the direction we had just come from.

�How did it go up there?�

�I used everything you told me Andronicus. You were right about Agronak, I have never seen anything like it! I believe he would crawl through Oblivion on his knees if he thought he saw a Septim there. It�s really odd though, I got the feeling he is up to something. He was acting like he didn�t know basic Arena knowledge, stuff even I know.�

�I started to tell you before they busted in and arrested us. He is up to something. Buying that expensive ring for you��

�Oh he didn�t buy that, at least not recently. It was in his mothers things. He said he bought it with his winnings when he became Grand Champion and gave it to his mother. She wished me to have something when she passed and that is what he chose.

�Well he is either lying to you or to the Courier.�

�What?�

�I grabbed this out of Owyn�s hands right before they burst through the door. Since I had peed all over myself they just threw me in the cell without stripping me down. I still had it in my hand. It comes in handy to have a loose bladder every now and then.�

�If you say so.�

�Look, it is a little tattered, but read the article.�

�I scanned it at the Arcane.�

�Quit running your mouth and look! Down here where Hassiri interviewed Ris Fralmoton. Read what Ris told them.�

�Who is Ris Fralmoton?�

�Just read it.�

I didn�t scan the article this time, but really sat down and read it. �Why did Agronak give no comment? That is as much as confirming it is true! Hassiri says he gave him a coy smile, Hassiri has to be making that part up in his own mind, to make the story more interesting.�

�Hassiri does not do that. If he wrote it, it happened. You should know that.�

�It says Ris Fralmoton owns the Red Diamond Jewelers? Who is he? I thought Hamlof was the owner, that�s who Agronak dealt with. I never heard of this other man.�

�Ris owns the store, he and Hamlof are partners. Ris had to be there, or Hassiri wouldn�t have been able to interview him. Are you sure Hamlof was the only one there?�

�Hamlof was alone. I didn�t look upstairs, of course�� The words died in my throat as I remembered that day.

�Agronak said nature was calling and asked Hamlof if he could step upstairs and use his urn. He was up there a little while, long enough that I wondered if he was leaving one of his enormous gross Orc piles up there like he does in the Bloodworks. I can�t even stand walking in that end of the room after he has used the urn.�

�He was up there talking to Ris is what he was doing. Ris said he sold him the ring that same day, and witnessed him give you the deed to the house right afterward. Read it, he even describes the ring he sold him. Anyone reading that can see that ring on your finger and know it is the same one Agronak bought.�

Fathis. Fathis would read this and see the ring and know it was the same one.

I couldn�t say anything about Fathis aloud if I wanted peace to abound between Andronicus and I. She would go from friend to foe at the mention of his name.

�Why would Agronak lie to me about the ring?�

�Because you wouldn�t take it if you thought it was just bought for you.�

�Of course not! That would look like��

�Now you�re thinking.�

I remembered Fathis�s face that day, that was exactly what it had looked like to him. And if I had told Fathis that it was just a behest I would have looked like a liar to him when he read the Courier. Oh dear gods I am glad he refused to listen to me that day! He would have thought me a liar! Oh dear gods! Why would Agronak do that?

�Andronicus, why would he want to give me a ring in the first place? We are just friends. And how did you know he was pulling something?�

�He did this before, a long time ago. I can�t remember what story he gave the girl to get her to take the ring, but it was the same. Right in front of the Jewelers and across from the Courier office. Ris sold him the ring then too. She liked a boy there at the Arena and Agronak set her up to look like she was choosing him over that boy. There was a big fight and that young boy knocked out both Gils and Agronak with his bare fists right there in the Bloodworks.�

�He knocked out Agronak? How?�

�I shouldn�t tell you this, but I doubt I�ll be his manager anymore after this. Agronak has a glass jaw.�

�You are kidding me! Agronak?�

�I think it is because he is a mixed race. His jaw is totally different than other Orc. Everyone knows there is no sense clopping an Orc in the jaw, they are like rock. Because of that no one has ever done it to Agronak, thinking it will be the same with him. But his jaw is delicate as a babies. This guy found out about it somehow.�

�Why did the boy knock out Gils?�

�Why else? Gils hasn�t changed a bit since the day he joined the Arena. He was hitting on everything that walked then just like he does now. Gils and Agronak got in some terrible rows over that girl, shouting and threatening each other. I guess Gils was wanting to take a whack at her and Agronak was interested. Just like they have been doing lately over you. Must be something about Khajiit that drives men crazy.�

�Was she Khajiit?�

�Yeah, I don�t get what the big draw is. So you have fur, so what?�

�With Gils all you have to do is look halfway female and be new to the Arena. You could be a female mud crab or slaughter fish, he just wants to try out something new.�

�BWAAAHAAA!�

�But Andronicus, Agronak couldn�t be interested in her, just like he can�t be interested in me or you. I don�t understand why he would fight with Gils even. His [censored] don�t work.�

�Did you try him?�

�EW! NO! It�s because he is an Orc mix, they can�t you know. I learned that at the Arcane.�

�You�re lying!�

�No, there are even books written about it, research has been done. They can�t� period. Not even with themselves.�

�BWAAAHAAA! His jaw is crap, now his [censored] is broke! I wonder what else don�t work on him?�

�Does anything else matter?�

�BWAAAHAAA!�

�School children have rhymes they say about it, here is one��Mix an Orc with any blood, but their get will be a dud�.�

�BWAAAHAAAA!�

�Breed an Orc with anyone, but their kids will have no fun.�

�BWAAAAHA�All right now, stop!�

�His jaw is crap, his [censored] is broke, now the women get no poke.�

�BWAAHA�Quit! I mean it, damn you! Ah, crap! �You made me wet myself with your stupid rhymes!�

�Don�t mix Orc you stupid jerk, if you do their [censored] won�t work!�

�BWAAHAA! You [censored], I told you to quit! Ah hell, it�s too late now. SHRIEK! BWAAAHAGA..CA..CA�SHRIEK! BWAAAHAAAG..CA..CA!�

�Are you okay Andronicus? Are you choking? Should I hit your back for you?�

She was dancing in circles; trying to point at her back and catch her breath, all while trailing a stream of puddles. Tears were streaming down her face. When she caught her breath she couldn�t stop laughing. I pounded her back for her and knocked her down, I guess it was a little too hard since she didn�t have her balance. I picked her back up again.

�I�m going to kill you! When I say stop, I mean it! Now shut up for a second and let me catch my breath!�BWAAAHAAAA! Oh, my stomach hurts�BWAAAHAAA! Shut up Maxical!�oh, my stomach!�BWAAAAHAAA.�

I could have come up with a million more, but I was afraid Andronicus would choke to death. I learned at the Arcane that I had a gift of being able to come up with dirty limericks at the drop of a hat.

�I think you�re the cause of half my bladder problems, you [censored]!�

�Sorry Andronicus, I was holding back all the good ones �cause I know you�re a lightweight.�

�Like what?�

�Oooh nooo, I won�t tell you any more. You will just cuss me again, and who knows what else you may release.�

�Come on, just one more but make it a good one.�

�His jaw don�t work so he can�t suck, his [censored] don�t work so he can�t [censored].�

�SHRIEK! BWAAAHAGA..CA..CA�SHRIEK! BWAAAHAAAG..CA..CA! SHRIEK! BWAAAHAGA..CA..CA�SHRIEK! BWAAAHAAAG..CA..CA!�

�Are you okay Andronicus? Are you choking? Should I hit your back for you again?�

�I�m going to kill you! Shut up! BWAAAAAHAAAA! Let me catch my breath!�BWAAAHAAAA! Oh, my stomach hurts�BWAAAHAAA! Shut up Maxical!�oh, my stomach!�BWAAAAHAAA.�

The guard walked up and pounded his rod against the bars of the cell door. �Shut up in there!�

�BWAAAHAAAHAAA!�

�Shut up I say!�

�Sir, she is having a seizure. Send for the healers please, if you don�t mind.�

�BWAAAHAAAHAAA!�seizure�BWAAAAHAAAA�healers�BWAAAHAA!�

�Hurry please!� I hoped I could get Andronicus to quit laughing before he arrived.

The guard scurried away. In some unbelievably bad timed twist of fate the healer was already down in the dungeons for another prisoner.

�This woman appears to be hysterical, this is no seizure. What kind of a game are you pulling here?�

�None sir. She may have become hysterical from fear.�

�BWAAAHAAA�fear�BUUUWAAAHAAA�

�Can�t you give her something to calm her down, the guard is threatening violence to her if she doesn�t quiet.�

�BWAAAAHAAA! �Violence�.Stop it, CA CA! �You�re killing me! BUWAAAHAA�

�This better be the last time I am called to this cell!� He cast a spell on Andronicus from the door of the cell.�

�Buwa�buwa�oooooh that feels really good. Aaahhh� SNORE KA SNORE KA�

�She can�t help the snoring sir, please tell the guards it is not her fault.�





***

I felt alone and afraid after Andronicus was knocked out. I thought hard about Agronak doing that to me, it had to be deliberate if he did it before. I had thought he was just dumb like me�what could all this mean? Was it connected to the arrest?

When Andronicus finally awoke a couple hours later I was really afraid to make her laugh again.

�Andronicus, did that boy that hit Agronak die in the Arena? I mean, why isn�t he the Grand Champion?�

�He was supposed to be. He was Owyn�s Champion. He beat the Yellow team Champion and used the winnings to buy the girls contract off Owyn so she could leave. He grabbed that girl and left before making the challenge and hasn�t been back since.�

�He quit the Arena?�

�They both did.�

�I can�t imagine Agronak as a Pit Dog.�

�He wasn�t for long. Agronak worked his way up quick, quicker than I�ve ever seen anyone do. Gils was almost as good as Agronak, but he moved really slow, he never wanted to be the same level as Agronak so he would never have to fight him. Once Gils made Gladiator you could barely push him into the Arena for a bout.�

�Why?�

�Why do you think? If he makes Champion he will have to fight his best friend. And he would make Champion if he was out there, he is good.�

�You are kidding! The only time I�ve ever seen him make a fist since I�ve been here is�you know.�

�BWAAAHAAAA!�

�Don�t start laughing again, that guard was wanting to hurt you. Andronicus I am scared, will you stay awake and talk to me? I�ve heard they come in the night and take beast species to torture chambers. If they come for me, I want you to tell Jack what happened.�

�It�s no lie, we got an Argonian from the Leyawiin jail that was in such bad shape we couldn�t sign him. And Skingrad, prisoners don�t come out of there alive. If they try to take you I will kill them with my bare hands!�

�Don�t do that Andronicus. That guard was already wanting to come in and beat you with that rod of his, and you are an Imperial. I don�t want you hurt on my account.�


*

Posted by: Olen May 12 2010, 08:48 PM

Dirty rhymes about orc knob, hilarious part really good job.

And now talk of people leaving the arena... might give Maxical ideas, assuming there are no mad women and/or vampires in the Imperial City Jail.

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 12 2010, 09:18 PM

And is an Imperial "rod" any better than an Orc "rod?"

DARNNIT MAXICAL! All these dirty limericks! I feel another one coming on . . .

Oh *@$&*! I'm leaving!

And somebody get Andronicus some Detrol and Depends!

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 12 2010, 11:35 PM

What's more useless than [censored] on a nun?
A [censored] on an Orc, if his father wasn't one!

Oh Dammit!!! It is catching!!!!

Wait for me hautee!!

*Destri leaves before another comes to mind*

Posted by: Zalphon May 13 2010, 01:38 AM

Agronak as a pit dog!? Brilliance!

Posted by: Acadian May 13 2010, 01:44 AM

Nice job mALX. More of the dark side of Agronak is revealed. Quite a complex web.

Posted by: D.Foxy May 13 2010, 02:58 AM

A lot of dirty rhymes are coming
All because of this naughty minx
And, to keep anticipation running
I'm posting it later (leering wink)

So all you girls and guys who read
Wait her for the Maestro's deed
Anticipation rise to fever pitch
Yes, I assure you, it will be rich!

Posted by: D.Foxy May 13 2010, 05:16 PM

The Ballad of the White Khajit

Chorus:

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

In pearly morn, of early morn, with entry like no other
Arena saw a Khajit small - and gave a collective shudder!
She had a tail, that without fail, would swing you like a rudder
A smile to please, the sexy tease, she made all hearts a-flutter!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

Inside the ring, she did her thing, n' slayed the m*therf*ckers,
But off the ground, in the compound, the men went all-out nutters!
For the Coochie neat, had Poosie sweet, that oozed a sexy scent
The smell it gave, all hell it made, for men's horny intent!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

Before inside, the men did hide, in corners dark and deep
But when she came, her sexy frame, would make their pricks out leap!
And they would bound, and come around, and ogle at her a.s.s,
That's quite a feat, from this Young Meek, Little Khajit Lass!!!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

She had a way, of words to say, that came out really lewd
While all the time, she said the crime, was with their thinking crude!
A Virgin bright, in furry white, that was our Khajit Babe -
Which man would make, her Hymen break, was all the Guesser's Rage!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

Then suddenly, all men could see, a big grey angry Orc
A Champion strong, with sword all long, eyes like a blazing hawk!
He'd fight and win, and add to sin, for he befriended her -
Then all and one, would shout and run, he was hitting her fur!!!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

This cat in white, brain not so bright, knew once a Wizard Mage,
Who loved her more, but had a flaw - a real big jealous rage!
Crazy Fathis' Zany antics became talk of the town
Y'all know why - when rumours fly, you can't keep gossip down!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

Now Fathis loved, the girl above, with love like ne'er before
It is so strange - this Horny Mage , would have girls by the score!
But when he saw, the Kitty before, and after her blue showed
His horny mind, could not decline, visions of sexual mode!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

Tho' Mage he was, his fleshly sword, rose up at every time
When he saw her, within white fur, in heat and dusty clime
N' all over town, he was the clown, rampaging all around
To scream and speak, with words so bleak, of her letting him down!

Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe
Y'know you got the White Fur that every dickie craves
Hey! Hey! Cutie Khajit Hoochie Coochie Babe!

So there it is...to share it with, dear reader laughing hard
You'll see the light, when more I write, my bawdy calling card!
For chapters more, and by the score, our mALX will write each week
Then I will write - without respite - poetry to make you leak!!!

Posted by: ureniashtram May 14 2010, 11:46 AM

Hey, finally caught up with your story and .... (gasps).... .... Oh, my goodness, graciousness, eating Jollibee brings me happiness... WTH!!!!1one1

A naughty Khajiit saying lewd rhymes.. A certain Fox ( ) telling us The Ballad of The White Khajiit.. Why, this is gonna make Sheogorath even more crazy!

Anyway, this chapter reveals some 'interesting' stuff about the characters. And it isn't about Agronakies ( can't resist, ) intention!

Posted by: Remko May 14 2010, 11:58 AM

Poor Andronicus
limericks are always five sentences btw. those were just rhymes

Posted by: D.Foxy May 14 2010, 12:10 PM

Remko, remko, remko!!!

Clearly you have never studied poetic forms...

My light-hearted parody is not a limerick. It is a BALLAD. Ballads have a certain poetic form, as carefully crafted as a limerick.

Those of you who study poetry may have noticed that my Ballad has four lines in each stanza (a quatrain), and each line has (with a few exceptions) three feet of 4/4/6 syllables. Fourteen syllables is the classic definition of the ballad, although most 17-18th Century ballads used two alternating lines of eight and six syllables.

In addition my ballad has two internal rhymes in addition to the rhyme at the end of each line, which makes it a complex ballad, but also gives it a galloping rhythm ( Try yelling it and banging a beer mug at each rhyme. You'll see the rhythm soon enough!)

THAT is a ballad very close to the classical ballad: but since this is a parody, I have included a repeating chorus to make it more like a beer pub song.

Posted by: Remko May 14 2010, 03:04 PM

D.Foxy; I wasnt referring to your poem but to Maxical's dirty rhymes in the story.

Posted by: mALX May 15 2010, 04:30 AM

@ Olen - ROFL!!!! Knob, I need to remember that one, can I use it? Thank you very much Olen!

***

@ Hauty - ROFL!!! Detrol...I just looked it up...SPEW!!! Thank you so much Hauty!

***

@ Destri - SPEW!!!! I almost asked if I could use it, but for the nun part, lol. Thank you ver much Destri!!!!

***

@ Zalphon - Argh, I was sure you would have come up with a good limerick too! Thank you Zalphon!!!

***

@ Acadian - Wait till you see the chapter I wrote yesterday! Agronak exposed! EW! Thank you so much Acadian !!!

***

@ Foxy - I love the ballad !!!!! Thank you so much Foxy, you really got her whole story into it!!! You ROCK !!!!

***

@ Ureniashtram - Yeah! You stayed! I am so glad! I just got caught up on your story today, my favorite chapter so far was the modern day Cyrodiil, I loved it! Thank you very much Ureniashtram!!

***

@ Remko - Oh, you are right! like:



There was an Orc in the Arena
whose [censored] was blue and greena
when asked if it worked
he gave it a jerk
and said [censored] [censored] someone call FEMA !!!!



The notes on racial phylogeny
say an Orc mix produces misogyny
though he'll have something dangling
it won't do no wrangling
nor anything else it oughta be




Woo Hoo! Thank you Remko, you have given me a new chapter, ROFL!! (just kidding) Thank you so much Remko !!!

***

Posted by: mALX May 15 2010, 04:32 AM

*


Chapter 22: The Day Of The Trial



�Your message felt more like a summons, how did you know I would be at the Merchants Inn?� Fathis asked, the smile fading from his face when he saw Hannibal�s expression.

�Fathis, if you had been here an hour ago I would have decked you and not been able to stop myself.�

�You�ve been going to the Arena again, haven�t you. You always pick up these cant expressions when you hang out there.�

�I just treated an old head wound on Maxical that by some miracle she survived, I don�t know how. She was beaten with a sledge hammer and robbed. It happened Graduation Day Fathis, remember how you stood in her parent�s stead that day? Didn�t you think in doing that it was your responsibility, your duty to see she made it home safely? It was late afternoon when you left, did it even occur to you that she would be walking home alone in the dark? She lay in the road all night, then crawled into the Rumare and lay in it all day with a crushed skull.�

�What? Dear gods, she mastered in Destruction and Conjuration! Traven I never thought anything could come against her that she couldn�t beat�it never occurred to me!� Guilt overrode the shock and constricted Fathis�s stomach.

�She is a child Fathis. She was alone and frightened in the dark on one of the worst stretches of road in Cyrodiil. Abandoned by the one who gave word to her parents he would protect her as they would.�

She had suffered due to his neglect. She could have been lost forever. The image of her face as he ranted at her for selling the armor�she had looked unwell. She tried to tell him something then but he hadn�t listened to her in his rage.

�Dear gods, I ranted at her for selling that armor.� Fathis barely whispered, looking away.

�I know, she told me. The Khajiit that nearly killed her stole that golden armor from her and pawned it. You should have known better, this is the same child you have known these years, the blue show hasn�t changed her.�

�You know I care for her. Had I thought��

�Are you capable of marriage Fathis? It requires you think beyond yourself. There is no place for suspicion and temper in a relationship. The women you�ve known before can�t be a guideline for how you think Maxical will act. I warned her I doubted your ability as husband because of your past.�

�I can�t see her go to another, Traven. But you are right, I don�t have a history of finding good women.�

�You found exactly what you sought, your only interest was in turning Cyrodiil into your own private brothel. Marriage requires you bring something to it other than your [censored] and your Septims. The child is devoted to you.�

�Now that is wrong Traven. I have not touched her, not a kiss or even held her hand as she has done with that Orc.�

�What?�

�It�s the truth.�

�Fathis�I think I need a glass of wine after that statement. When do you plan to declare your intentions to her? And here, read this chapter on why you need have no qualms about that Orc.�

��Good gods, so he�can�t?�

�Maxical said he doesn�t even give off the aura of a man.�

�Then why does he�oh! He wants a beard so no one knows he can�t?�

�Exactly. Now what is your reticence in letting Maxical know she is the one?�

�She is not even legal age Traven. She is only months off of being my ward. It doesn�t feel right, not now. I want to declare in the way of the Royals, the whole ceremonial announcement of engagement to let the men know she is taken. Then wait a few years before marriage. And the marriage has to come first before I touch her.�

�You might be sitting on an empty urn if that is your plan. You can�t just say �she�s mine, don�t touch� then back off and leave her alone. Not everyone will consider your engagement as a barrier. And loneliness can cause her to bond with someone else, just as she did the Orc, someone who can perform.�

�Sitting on an empty urn Traven? I don�t even want to know what that is supposed to mean. Of course I plan to court her.�

�I hope so. You seem to be going about this all wrong Fathis, if you ask me. Young girls like romance, love, passion. Your itinerary sounds dry, stale, lifeless. Most certainly not romantic or passionate.�

�Since when are you an expert on women? I can�t just mount her like a stud in the stable, I want people to know my intentions with her are marriage, not just the bedroom.�

�I hear over 150 girls Maxical�s age chattering daily, that makes me an expert. And your goal should be to impress Maxical, not �people�. Fathis, she is young. You need to sweep her off her feet and elope to Anvil. Spend a few weeks on the beaches there. She knows you love her, but all that formality is going to leave her wondering if you desire her. I hope to hell you weren�t thinking of honeymooning in Castle Bravil with Count Regulus Terentius. I�m not sure which would be worse, seeing Irlav Jarol�s face or your Count�s during a romantic holiday.�

�Traven you really need to quit hanging around that Arena. Your language�besides, I think Maxical would like being at the Castle.�

�I think she would tear it down to the ground by the third day. And how does the Count feel about a Khajiit living in his Royal quarters? You may want to build the two of you a home somewhere else�and don�t even suggest your tower.�

�You may be right about that, I gave Maxical a tower much nicer than mine, she said she�d die in the streets before living in a tower like that.�

�I�ve spent every day of the last almost six years with her, I could have told you that. Give her fun and excitement, I swear I am getting bored just listening to your plans for the two of you. And I�m your age, just think how it will sound to a young girl.�

�Well thank you Traven.�

�You would have reason to thank me if you were listening to a word I said. You know how to have sex with a woman, but not how to have a relationship. You know how to inspire a momentary fling, but your version of romance is as inspiring as a prison sentence.�

�Are you quite done? I have some things to do��

�I give up on that, just don�t say you weren�t warned when some young blood makes her heart pound and she takes off to Anvil with him. Here, read this book, �The Khajiit Mystique� and see if you pick up any pointers since you won�t listen to me. That will tell you everything you need to know about enticing a Khajiit, their sexuality, sensuality, their cycles. They are monogamous to whoever starts them into womanhood you know.�

�Really? No wonder male Khajiit smile so much, they have no worries.�

�Don�t leave yet, I want you to read something else.�

��Dear gods, what does this mean?�

�It is another reason it was such a miracle Maxical survived that attack. She can�t heal herself, someone has to be around to do it for her. I�m researching alternative healing methods that she may be able to use. I�ve sent for Alix.�





******* Alix

�What�s the mail doing coming this early?� Alix watched through the window as the rider leaped off the steaming horse. �S�Jirra, go get the mail, will you?�

S�Jirra peered down from her perch on the ladder where she was stretching to dust the wall hangings. Alix took another sip of coffee as he continued to watch out the window.

�S�Jirra, hurry your feet. They are almost at the door.�

Glancing down at her dampened dusting towel S�Jirra descended the ladder, twirling it tightly as she stepped onto the wooden floor of the dining room. With a flick of her wrist she snapped the towel, popping the end of it across Alix�s butt with a loud CRACK.

Alix turned around, his eyes lit with mischief. �Got you to come down now, didn�t I? Come here, let Abhuki get the mail. Let�s you and I go dust upstairs a while, hmm?� He pulled her to him. �You owe me big time for the welt you just put on my butt, let me think of some way you can pay off that debt.�

�You�re lying Alix, you didn�t get a welt from that. It didn�t even hurt you or you would have said OW.�

�I�ll show you the welt, but I�m not baring my butt in the dining room, come upstairs and you can see it.�

�You�re just tricking me into going upstairs Alix, I�m not stupid.�

�Okay; I�ll drop my drawers right here so you can see the welt, and Abhuki will walk in and see my business.�

�Alix�Alix! What are you doing! Okay, I�ll go upstairs with you!�

�Ha ha ha, you are so easy!� Alix laughed, then ran up the stairs with S�Jirra close behind, snapping the towel at his butt the whole way. Each time it hit Alix jumped and yelled, �OW!�

�Alix, it is something from the Arcane! Hannibal Traven wants you to come right away!� Abhuki yelled from the door before they had rounded the landing on the stairwell.

�Does it mention Maxical? Let me see that.� Alix turned around, buckling his pants back up.

�It has to be about her, what else could it be?� S�Jirra pushed by him and grabbed the missive. �I don�t like the sound of this Alix, there are no pleasantries at all. It sounds�dire.�

�Get me my boots S�Jirra. I�ll be home when I get here.� Alix left his breakfast untouched and started loading his pack.

He took off at a run. By the time he made it to the Imperial City the streets were buzzing with news of Maxical�s arrest. Should he go to the Palace and try to get Maxical out or see Hannibal first?

With relief he caught sight of Fathis and grabbed him by the shoulder. �What�s going on Fathis?�

�I�m trying to get hold of a lawyer friend of mine. They said she conspired to rob that Orc she�s befriended.�

�Fathis, two things. Maxical would not steal, and the Orc isn�t capable of doing anything you are worried about.�

�I know, Traven just told me�er�have you talked to him yet about Maxical?� Fathis looked hesitant to be the one to tell him.

�What is it Fathis?�

�I would rather Traven tell you while I get that lawyer so Maxical isn�t left in there any longer than need be. Traven is still at the Arcane.�

�You�re right. Will you stay in town please? There are some other things I know about that Orc that I think you need to be aware of. I may need your help later if you don�t mind. I plan to take care of a few�er�things while I am here.�

�Yes of course, I�ll be at the Merchants Inn. I have a huge suite, you are more than welcome to bunk down in there if you like.�

�I accept, and thank you.�





******* Jack Thompson

Jack tapped his thumb against the table in annoyance. The Elders had not returned, if it was much longer they would call it a night.

That last vision of a frightened child looking to him for help was such a paradox to the confident young woman that held her own in that hearing, or described the best ways to pierce someone with her sword. What was bothering him about this? Something was nagging at him.

He pressed his thumb hard into his temple and reviewed everything he had on Maxical. She was the impish orphan that tormented their hearings at the prison, one of the reasons they had been moved to the Palace.

The same little demon that nearly destroyed the Arcane while there�Jack sat up and stopped pressing his thumb into his temple. That was it, the Arcane. Hannibal complained about her constantly, but said the cost of the damage was all absorbed by Fathis Aren, another of Jack�s school chums. Maxical was Fathis�s ward, he had met her at the orphanage the same day as the pigeon incident.



*

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 15 2010, 06:04 AM

Yeah, Hannibal the Cannibal! That's telling that s'wit Fathis off!

!!!!
That just made me spew! I think I just woke everyone up, too.

I had to Google Jack Thompson. mALX, you are genius!

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 15 2010, 08:49 AM

It�s about time that someone took Fathis to task for his continued treatment of Maxical. The idea that the �someone� would turn out to be Hannibal Traven is a surprise that could only have come from you, mALX.

HA!!! Tell that to my ex!!!

Posted by: Olen May 15 2010, 10:44 AM

Hmm things begin to straighten themselves out. Great piece, I won't spam your thread with all the parts which made me laugh.

But I have to put up some:

Brialliant.

Classic... This is great and just keeps getting better.

Posted by: Remko May 15 2010, 04:27 PM

I really love your rewrite. Imo it's more mature but hasn't lost anything on the funny dpt. Awesome!

Posted by: Acadian May 15 2010, 06:07 PM

I thought your interaction between Fathis and Hannibal was very good. Similarly, the interaction between Alix and S'Jirra was quite cute and seemed very natural.

It is truely a pleasure to see your passion for Maxical in your writing.

Nice job, mALX!

I had to google Jack Thompson as well.

Posted by: minque May 15 2010, 10:15 PM

mALXie, mALXie....like someone already said....you're a pure genius! Like the cat-lover i am I particularly love this kitty-sweetness!

yes yes I've visited Maxical's myspace....awesome! I'd honestly like Serene to meet her, gotta think seriously about that!


S.G.M

Posted by: mALX May 17 2010, 12:38 AM

@ Everyone - I wrote out all the responses to these and before I could post them our electricity flickered and I lost it all. ARGH!!!! So I will not be as eloquent this time, lol.

@ Hauty - I googled him too. I needed a lawyer connected with Elder Scrolls and did not want to use the head of House Indoril, lol. Jack earned the right by defending Oblivion against the M rating, even though he lost. At least now we know where he is working since his disbarment. I just hope if he ever sees my fanfic he approves of what I did with him, I promise not to skewer him as I have a habit of doing with some characters in my stories, lol. Thank you so much Hauty!!!!!

***

@ Destri - I thought Hannibal would do it better and with less drama than the original with Alix, but you know...I don't see Alix not saying anything. It would be out of character for him, so I am still going to have to tackle that down the road. Not sure when or how.

RE: EX's - aren't they all like that? I think that is why they become X'd in the first place. Suspicion is such a waste of time, too. I mean, if the spouse is going to cheat, being suspicious won't stop them. (fail)

Thank you so very much Destri!!!!

***

@ Olen - ROFL!!! Fathis is a mess, lol. Thank you so much Olen, you ROCK!!!

***

@ Remko - Thank you so much Remko, I really appreciate the feedback on that!!! I have been thinking if I can find a place to tie it to the current story I may edit the old chapters and insert these, lol. I do like them better myself. Thank you!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian!!! I re-did those dialogues right before posting because it was a lot of telling. Turning it to dialogue just made that chapter for me. Don't feel bad, I googled Jack myself, lol. You ROCK!!!

***

@ Minque - Thank you so very much Minque!!! I have done a lot of crossovers in the original story, so would def be willing - especially since I think our characters have a lot in common !!! As some of Maxical's long time readers know, Foxy has several characters coming into the story when she leaves the Arena, Treydog and his wife Mrs. Treydog, she meets Acadian's Buffy, SubRosa's Teresa, Zalphon's Zalphon, etc. I like the idea of Tamriel being one big place where people can run into each other and become friends!!! Thank you again Minque!!!!!

Posted by: mALX May 17 2010, 03:17 AM

*


Chapter 23: Jack Thompson


Jack drummed his thumb on the Courier in a rapid beat. Maxical�s arrest came one day after Fathis challenged Agronak, and Maxical left him to run after Fathis. She swore the ring was a behest, but Agronak�s actions with the press were designed to give the impression it was an engagement. Jack believed Maxical. Why did the Orc do that? Was his ego that big?

Agronak thought Maxical was dumb, that was obvious. He expected her to be frightened, crying. He would be a hero to her by insisting the charges be dropped. But instead she had been angry, cunning, and came in well primed for the fight by Andronicus.

None of this would get Maxical out tonight. Scanning back through the years to that prison finally brought the elusive memory Jack sought, and the answer he needed. Fathis met Maxical the day of the pigeon incident, not ten full years ago. She was just a tiny spot of white fur then! She was a minor! She was adopted out of there�the Blademaster that trained recruits for the Legion adopted her�Alix Lencolia, the one she said trained her in Blade. She must be a runaway.

Jack leaped up from the chair. The sun had sunk below the trees, the Elders would not be back. He hurried to Ocato�s chambers and caught him just as he was leaving for the day.

�A Khajiit you say?� Ocato sneered. �That case was continued till tomorrow.�

�Don�t make the mistake of assuming because she is a Khajiit she is not connected Ocato. This minor child is the ward of Fathis Aren of Castle Bravil. She is closely connected with Arch Mage Traven of the Arcane University, and her father is Alix Lencolia, Blademaster for the Imperial Legion. You cannot even begin to imagine the pressure that will come to bear on this Council should she be left sitting overnight in jail. I will disturb Uriel Septim in his chambers before I let that happen.�

Four very angry Elders called the hearing back into session.





***

�Fathis, I just got your messages.� Jack hesitated in the door when he noticed Fathis had company.

�Come in Jack, I�ve tried to reach you all day. You know Alix Lencolia��

�Alix, you are just the man I was going to ask Fathis how to find. I�d like to speak with you about your daughter if you don�t mind.� Jack shook Alix�s hand and duffed Fathis on the arm. �Fathis, I owe you one.�

�How is she?� Fathis and Alix asked in unison.

�Here, come in and make yourself comfortable.� Fathis said, handing Jack a bottle of sparkling water and a stemmed glass. He indicated a comfortable chair with a tray of fruits and cheeses on the table in front of it.

Jack lowered his athletic frame into the chair and began digging in his satchel for a Parental Release form as he answered.

�The charges have been dropped and her record expunged. She will be released within hours. I didn�t know how to get hold of you Alix, so she is being escorted to the Arcane till I could get your signature on this. Until this incident we had no idea she was a minor. She fudged her age and had herself listed as an orphan on her application. After the hearing some of her history came out. That jogged my memory of her at the orphanage, I realized then she must be underage and remembered that she had been adopted.� Jack pushed the release form in front of Alix, then pulled a quill and inkpot from his satchel and lay them beside it, uncorking the ink.

�What a relief!� Alix blew air noisily as if the tension was flowing out of him with the sound. He glanced over the release form and signed it.

Jack scooped it up quickly and inwardly gave his own sigh of relief.

�Why was she arrested in the first place?� Fathis asked, looking directly into Jack�s eyes.

Alix leaned forward and watched Jack�s expression.

�I believe Agronak was miffed because she chased after you, Fathis; and did it right in front of the press. He seems to have an ego the size of Cyrodiil.�

Alix had suddenly become catlike in his movements. Too smooth, his eyes hooded. Jack shook his head. He didn�t blame the man, but Alix and Fathis together could not weigh in as heavy as the Orc. Where would it all end?

�I hope you both realize it would be a conflict for me to represent you. I won�t defend Agronak either. The Arena is my client, not the Orc.�

�But you could refer someone?� Fathis asked.

�Don�t shop lawyers before committing a crime, that gives the appearance of premeditation. If in the heat of passion you attack someone and are arrested, I have a card here, someone I trust.� Jack pulled a business card from his satchel and handed it to Fathis.





***

�Was Maxical scared in the hearing?� Alix was watching Jack intently.

�No, she was angry. She was excellent in there.�

�Good, she thinks better when she�s angry.� Alix said, his eyes lighting up.

�Can you tell us anything?� Fathis asked, looking just as interested.

Jack�s description included discovering Maxical was the same child that had caused the hearings at the prison to be moved to the Palace, detailing incidents to the delight of both Alix and Fathis.

�I never heard any of this. Phillida was afraid I would back out of adopting her.� Alix said quietly. �He couldn�t wait to push her out the door, even sent her mother�s behest on the pre-adoption visit. Oh you should have seen her, so afraid I would change my mind if she showed any of that spirit of hers. It was enough to break your heart. We already loved her, nothing they told us would have changed that. We couldn�t wait for the mail to run for the letters from the Arcane when she was there.�

�I hadn�t heard these stories either Jack. But your knowledge of her activities at the Arcane is sadly lacking. Alix and I can fill you in on much more than that. Why don�t I order dinner sent up here for you, I�m sure you are hungry.�

�I�ll have a vegetable platter, thank you Fathis.�

When Fathis left the room Jack smiled over at Alix. �She has your knack of arguing. She argued the case with the Orc, I didn�t even speak. Afterward she still had enough gumption to argue her citations with me. I asked her if you taught her to argue and she said no, that she showed you a thing or two.�

Alix laughed. �She did.�

�You will be happy to know that Ysabel Andronicus has been guarding over virtue like a mother hen.�

Fathis returned just in time to hear that. �Not��

�Yes, the very same. She has taken a liking to the child and has seen no harm comes to her. Maxical likes her too, er�except the hygiene problems.�

Alix looked curious. �How do you know Andronicus, Fathis?�

�She used to stalk me.�

SPEW! �Excuse me.� Alix said, wiping up the spray. �Well the Blue team runs a tight ship, I wasn�t that worried about Maxical in there. The Orc is incapable of harming her, and she is smart enough to stay close to Owyn and Andronicus.�

�I was ready to kill that Orc till I found out his attentions to her were more in the nature of a beard than a beau.�

�I beg your pardon?� Jack struggled to keep the surprise from showing in his expression.

�Hannibal Traven told me about the Orc�s little problem.� Fathis said.

�I already knew about it these twenty years or more.� Alix said.

�You mean�the Orc?�

�Exactly. It seems I was jealous for nothing, literally.� Fathis drawled out the word literally.

�I find this conversation very informative, and am really grateful I had no beverage in my mouth at the time of that little disclosure.� Jack said, a rare gleam twinkling in his eye.

That explained why the Orc was livid over her chasing after Fathis. More than his huge ego, he was protecting that little secret from public knowledge.

�Fathis, the Orc told Maxical that ring was a behest from his mother. I believe her. What little I know of her is enough to swear she would not have taken the ring if she knew the Orc just bought it. He set her up, probably to cover his secret.� Jack said, leaning forward and watching both Fathis and Alix�s face. Neither looked surprised.

�This is not the first time he has pulled that little trick. He did it to Maxical�s mother S'Jirra twenty years ago.� Alix said quietly.

Jack sat bolt upright in his seat. �Go on.�





***

�Fathis, I will see what I can do about that golden armor for you. Blank cheque?�

Fathis nodded. �Of course. Say Jack, are you planning on going to that music festival in the Arboretum? Hannibal and Alix are meeting me here and we are going together. You are more than welcome to join us.�

�It will be my pleasure to attend with you, appreciate the invitation. I am looking forward to another invitation as well Fathis. When can I expect an invitation to the wedding�or am I mistaken?�

�You are not mistaken.�

�I never thought to ever see this day, Fathis! Congratulations!�

�It is�complicated at this time. She doesn�t know exactly. She knew, but thinks I called it off.�

�Well you should remedy that. I must say Fathis, I like this new side to you.� Jack barely recognized his staid friend in the animated man before him.





***

A knock on the door interrupted Jack�s breakfast the following morning, the messenger handed him a missive from the prison and hurried off. A brief scan of the contents dispelled any relief the signed parental release had given him. The guards escorting Maxical had lost her somehow. It didn�t take much imagination to realize she would return to the Bloodworks�without the presence of either Owyn or Andronicus. Gils could be trusted under those circumstances, but Owyn had a Bloodworks full of prisoners that arrived just before his arrest.

Jack hurriedly dressed and left his breakfast untouched. As soon as he reached his office he sent the runner down to the Bloodworks to find out if Owyn had returned yet and if Maxical was there and safe.

A strange sound began echoing around in the Arena. Jack went to his observation deck and looked down in time to see his runner stumble out of the Blue team chute and fall to his knees. He leaned back his head and shrieked, the sound so high pitched that had Jack not seen the person emitting the sound he would have sworn it was a girl screaming.

The runner stumbled forward trying to rise from the Arena floor but could not seem to stand. He began vomiting and was crawling through it as he continued to try and get as far away from that chute as possible. Was that blood all over him?

Jack smothered the impulse to vault off the balcony in order to save time. Instead he broke into a fast run, ignoring the office runner�s cries for help as he shot across the center of the Arena to the Blue team chute.

When he pulled back the door it was like stepping back in time to his service with the Imperial Army. The vision of every battlefield he had been on echoed through his mind as his eyes tried to take in what lay before him. Mutilated bodies everywhere and enough blood to have repainted the Arena red with it.


*

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 17 2010, 05:57 AM

Ooooh, this is beginning to sound an awful lot like my first pre-arrest scenario for Julian (which I discarded as it just didn't fit her nature in the game)!

Another good chapter!

Posted by: D.Foxy May 17 2010, 05:59 AM

W.H.A.T!!!!



After all this brilliant rewriting, I have just one question...


HOW ON EARTH are you going to marry up this emerging new storyline with your old one???!!!???

Posted by: Olen May 17 2010, 09:01 AM

I can only agree with le renard, What?! I might even go so far as WHAT!!!!11!1!

That's quite a cliffy you have there, what's happened, how? I need to know. More.

Good part otherwise too, I liked you're filling in of the back story and things coming together. It was fun to read and moved things forward well. I'm really into this story now and like the characters and whats happening.

As if one major hook wasn't enough.

More?

Posted by: Remko May 17 2010, 11:14 AM

Oooohh.... a mystery. I have a sneaky suspicion about the massacre in the Bloodworks
So, are you gonna use that hook (Agronak conning Maxical's mother) in your other story?

Posted by: Acadian May 17 2010, 02:33 PM

Like Remko said, 'Ooooh a mystery!'

I don't have any suspicions or clues though. Nope, not a one. I sure had fun reading this though.

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 18 2010, 01:35 AM

Just when it appears that the worst is over for Maxical! Unlike Remko I have no suspicions or ideas of what�s going to happen next! You MUST hurry and update this, the suspense is killing me!!!

I withdraw every supportive comment that I have ever made about Agronak. Maxical�s mother? Seriously? What was Shivani thinking? To be fair, I guess I must acknowledge that Shivani and Maxical are not individual characters as much as they are forces of nature . . . like hurricanes. They move through Cyrodiil leaving trails of destruction, dead fish, and pigeon droppings. Yet at the center of the storm they remain calmly oblivious to the carnage that they have wrought.

Posted by: mALX May 19 2010, 04:20 AM

@ Hauty - ooh, that sounds interesting! Thank you so much Hauty!!!!

***

@ Foxy - Er...I thought Damien Reynard would do it!!!! Lol. I know what you mean, this is now past thread one. Chapter 24 on the original was The Mission...

Thank you so very much Foxy!!! - PS: I loved that gift you made for Rumple!!

***

@ Olen - Thank you so much!! Woo Hoo, you know Foxy's Reynard? Damien (Foxy) Reynard is on his way if Maxical can ever get the H out of the Arena, lol.

***

@ Remko - There is a twist coming up on that massacre, I may as well admit it, lol. If I can tie this story into the original somewhere I will def be moving the whole thing over and replacing the original with it. Thank you so much Remko!!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! It has def taken on a life of its own. I considered taking her straight to Janus via Foxy (bypassing the Thieves Guild), but I hate to lose S'Krivva from the story. I don't know about anyone else, but I loved S'Krivva's role in it.

***

@ Destri - Thank you very much Destri!!! Er...well. I may need to edit the story to make it more clear. I was worried at the time I did it that it may be a bit ambiguous for those that are up on Maxical's history, and I should have written it differently at the time, this is my fault. I will go back and edit that, I am sorry everyone, I think Foxy & Remko thought the same thing.


@ EVERYONE: I apologize for leaving a wrong impression with that, the mother that Alix referred to is S'Jirra (because at this point in the story no one knows who Maxical's real mother is yet) I apologize to everyone who's mind I inadvertantly blew with that. I am fixing it, and I am so sorry. It was S'Jirra.

Posted by: mALX May 19 2010, 04:23 AM

*


Chapter 24: The Escape


�The reason they joined separate teams at the Arena was over that girl. They planned to join together. When she joined the Blue team, Agronak marched over and joined the Yellow team thinking Gils would come with him. Instead Gils joined the Blue. Agronak was livid and fought with Gils several times over it. He even threatened to kill Gils in the Blue Bloodworks one day and Owyn banned him for a while.� Andronicus explained.

�Did she like Gils?�

�Yeah, till she met that young boy. Agronak went nuts after that, tried to ruin her. That�s when he pulled that ring trick on her.�

�Agronak was mad? Why? I could understand Gils being upset, but Agronak?�

�Weird, huh? That night Agronak came in the Bloodworks, he was still banned and it was after night lockdown. There was a big fight between him, Gils, and the kid. The boy was the only one standing at the end. Owyn woke and lit a torch just in time to see the kid knock out Agronak.�

�Owyn had to light a torch?�

�He said it was dark as pitch in there, maybe the candles got knocked down in the fight.�

I got a creepy feeling suddenly. The candles�someone tried the Khajiit that night. They�ll climb on you while you sleep in there unless you have someone protecting you. Andronicus may reek, but I wouldn�t be intact without her. I shivered.

�What?�

�Agronak in there? Why? Who�s the kid that knocked him out?�

�Nobody knows why he was there. Owyn can tell you the boy�s name. Only unranked fighter I know is Gils because he has always brought me bottles, even back then. Back then he brought me something else too.�

�Oh dear gods shut up Andronicus! I don�t want to hear another word!�

�Hey, I wasn�t always like you see now. I was beautiful then. Gils let me ride��

�LALALALALA! I�ve got my hands over my ears and can�t hear you Andronicus! LALALALALA!�

�Don�t knock it. You can�t find better�n a Dunmer in the sack.�

�Andronicus, unless you want me to vomit you will shut up this second!�





***

Andronicus was winding down, her voice sounding sleepy. In the dim light I could see her form stretched out on the mat. She would be asleep soon and I would be alone and scared. I couldn�t cast my night eye, prison cells deaden your magic so mages can�t escape. The scratching sound I kept hearing had to be a rat seeking scraps. It wouldn�t find any in this cell, Andronicus had wolfed down both my meal and hers. I would starve before eating the swill here, I swear it had maggots in it.

Dried feces clung to the lip of the ewer, and I was already dancing and holding myself from the need to go. The cell wall was covered in a dark slimy film, the thought of touching it to balance and hover over the ewer nearly made me gag. I could not bring myself to just wet my pants like Andronicus did.

There was a drain in the center of the cell that had clumps of gross looking matter dried around the mouth of it, that would have to do. I carefully pulled the sackcloth pants off so they didn�t touch the floor and held them in my hands rather than lay them on the mat.

Remaining fully standing, I spread my feet wide and balanced over the drain. The relief was tremendous, I was sure I would have burst if I had held it much longer.

As if I had rung a dinner bell footsteps sounded in the corridor as soon as I started peeing. I tried to stop the flow but it would not be held back at that point. I was in that position when the guards stopped in front of the cell.

My first thought was they were taking me to the torture chamber. Andronicus was snoring. Oh dear gods. A trembling started in my legs and my stomach was crowding my throat.

�That�s what that ewer is for, cat. No wonder they call you beasts, using the floor.�

�Even a cat won�t sit on dried feces, you should clean them if you want them used. Besides, this is a drain, not the floor.� I spoke loud trying to wake Andronicus up. It didn�t work.

�Well you can save it till you get outside, we�re releasing you.�

�If I could stop it, I would have before you came up.� I spoke louder.

Andronicus snorted and half sat up, looking around.

�Wha? What�s going on here?� She pulled herself up and then noticed the two guards in the door. �What�r you staring at? Never seen a cat pee before? You got nothing better to do than stare at us?�

They hooted and taunted through the cell door till I finished. Before I could put my pants back on they opened the cell door. Oh dear gods, this was it then? I scooted to the back of the cell.

�What do you think you�re doing? Leave her alone!� Andronicus moved faster than I have ever seen her, leaping between me and the guard.

They pushed her back. �Out of the way! We�re taking her out.�

�You get your hands off her! I�m her guardian, she goes nowhere without me!� Andronicus sounded like a bear growling.

�You ain�t been released. Now step back before I make you.�

�Andronicus!� I got between them. �I couldn�t stand you hurt on my account, I�ll go with them.�

Andronicus set up a loud wail. I hesitated. Should I un-sheath my claws or would that be taken as aggression? I eyed the two burly guards.

�Well come on cat!�

�Andronicus, if you get out and I am not there, get hold of Jack Thompson and tell him about this midnight release.�

�Don�t take her! You leave her alone! Nothing better happen to her! Maaaaxicaaaal!�

Andronicus�s yowls echoed off the stone walls the whole way down the corridor, it hurt my ears and I couldn�t concentrate on how to save myself. The comparison to it and the shrill tongue of banshees that herald your death was made in my mind and clung there, would it be the last sound I heard? Still, it meant a lot that she cared enough to do it. Andronicus acts tough, but inside she is anything but.

It was almost a relief when the heavy metal door sealed the sound off, muting it to silence as we exited that level. They brought me to a chest that held my personal items and the shackles were removed. I felt the magicka flowing down into my arms, the shackles were enchanted to deaden magic too. I turned around, suspicious. How often are prisoners released in the middle of the night? Were they going to try and say I escaped and cut me down from behind?

I had to change in front of them. I turned my back quickly to load a chameleon spell but kept glancing behind me to make sure they weren�t going to attack me. I forced myself to put on the ring from Agronak just in case they did, but I was going straight to the Arcane and ask Hannibal to make me a new one.

As soon as I had the last item of my own on I turned and bugged my eyes, looking behind them as if seeing something and yelled, �NO!� When the guards turned to look I cast the chameleon and ran as fast as I could.

I had lost track of time in that cell, it was pitch dark outside and I had no idea what time it was. Hassiri was standing on the steps near the door. I wasn�t quiet running by him, I glanced back and saw him looking around when the guards came out the door. Their voices trailed behind me, �Where�d she go?� and �She was here a minute ago!� echoed off the buildings as I darted down the alley.





***

Afraid they would search for me at the Arena, I ran straight to the Arcane. The streets were empty other than gate guards and an occasional patrol. Thinking they would be looking for an escaped prisoner I kept the chameleon on till I was in Hannibal�s quarters. He awoke, sitting up and looking around before I realized and dispelled it.

�Maxical! I said to come any time for healing training, I didn�t mean the middle of the night particularly, but�I guess it is okay.�

�I escaped from prison Hannibal. They torture beast species at night in prisons. They came and took me from my cell just now, I had to run.�

�Did you harm any Legion to get away?�

�No, I pretended I saw something behind them and cast chameleon. Hannibal, Agronak told me that ring was a behest from his mother when he gave it to me, but in that Courier it said he just bought it. He set me up to look like a liar and his intended with that article.�

�I thought you knew that. You read that while you were here.�

�I never read the interview with Ris, I didn�t know it was connected, I never heard of him before. And Agronak said �no comment�, I missed that too. The ring is described in detail, Fathis will know it was bought for me by another man. I can�t wear it now. Can you make me another ring? I don�t have one to give you, but any old brass ring will do. I�m sorry Hannibal.�

�I understand.� He opened his jewelry box and dug around. �Drat! Look, this is the only ring I have unchanted.� He held up the exact same ring.

�Oh no, that won�t help me.�

�Hmmm. If you were to give identical rings out to hundreds of people to come see your next fight, people would think Agronak couldn�t comment because it was a promotion. They would know you weren�t engaged then, Fathis included.�

�That is a great idea! Do you mind?�

�Not at all, but I see an angry Orc on the horizon.�

�He will see an angry Khajiit next time he sees me. He lied to me, tricked me to make me look like a liar in front of Fathis. Add to that having me arrested as a thief. The two things Fathis cannot abide. Andronicus said Agronak has done this before to another girl.�

�I pity the Orc if he has your temper up.� He winked at me, then got serious. �You really need that ring, though. I�ll make you a stronger one, should I slip it on your finger in front of the press?�

I grinned at his baiting. �Are you trying to give Hassiri a heart attack? I owe him a big story though, I slipped past him tonight and he knew it.�

�Why don�t you give the rings out at the music festival. Some of your fellow classmates will be playing there, remember the boys that sang at the graduation? They have quite an act going. Magic and music combined. They are very talented, I am hoping they take the prize. They could get you up on stage and say something about your return to the Arena, and you could distribute the rings. Sort of a dual promotion between you and the band. I�ll be at the Merchants with them. You should stop in and see us. I am sure they will remember you. Come early the day of the festival, their act isn�t till later in the day.�

�Oh they were good! That is a really good idea Hannibal. I would have the crowds in place and all I would need to do would be to give Hassiri a heads-up. Say, on that boxful of rings�could you put some really low fun enchantment on them?�

�Like what?�

�Like when you slide it on it makes you laugh briefly or something like that. My persona is making people laugh.�

�That is a really good idea. A little euphoric burst. I can do that. Meanwhile read this chapter, this is about the disorder you have. The handwritten list is alternative healing methods I will be researching.�


*

Posted by: D.Foxy May 19 2010, 06:50 AM

Back then he brought me something else too.�

�Oh dear gods shut up Andronicus! I don�t want to hear another word!�

�Hey, I wasn�t always like you see now. I was beautiful then. Gils let me ride��

�LALALALALA! I�ve got my hands over my ears and can�t hear you Andronicus! LALALALALA!�

�Don�t knock it. You can�t find better�n a Dunmer in the sack.�

�Andronicus, unless you want me to vomit you will shut up this second!�


*FOXY expired in front of, on top of, beside, and behind his computer*

Posted by: ureniashtram May 19 2010, 07:14 AM

OMG, mALX! A Dunmer and Andronicus? I.. I feel something fierce inside me. I think it's the dreaded 'Cuss-Catius Dementia'!

Doctor: You have approximately two hours before you.. y'know. Any last words, buddy?

Me: Yeah.. (sobs).. It's..

It's good as always, mALX! You sure do know how to make your readers crave for more! Keep 'em coming!

becomes becomes

Posted by: Acadian May 19 2010, 02:43 PM

You certainly bring the uckiness of the prison to life. It was cute when Maxical covered her ears and started 'singing' so she couldn't hear Andronicus.

I like how you addressed disabling imprisoned mages - I have often thought the same thing - some sort of silence aura or enchantment or such.

Nicely done mALX!

Posted by: MyCat May 20 2010, 05:00 AM

I'm liking this version better than the original. It flows better. And I did like the original.

See, you and Acadian made me sign up for yet another site!

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 20 2010, 10:00 PM

You have an amazing knack for creating sympathy in even the least sympathetic figures. Andronicus is crude, abrasive, and her lack of personal hygiene borders on the legendary. Yet for all of that she is loyal, kind, and fiercely protective of those placed in her charge. My only question is: Was Gils a replacement for Fathis? Or was he the one that sparked her infatuation? (after all, �You can�t find better�n a Dunmer in the sack.�)

Posted by: mALX May 21 2010, 05:45 AM

@ Foxy - ROFL !!! Thank you so much Foxy! You ROCK!!

***

@ Ureniashtram - ROFL!! - I love it! Thank you so very much!!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! I was driven to detail the uckiness, just couldn't stop myself, lol. I remember someone wanting me to explain why Traven couldn't escape a prison cell in the original, so thought I would take care of that little item right now, lol.

***

@ MyCat - Yeah!!! You have come over!!! I appreciate your kind words so much on both here and the original story. I am actually supposed to be trying to connect this story somehow with the original, but have been unable to stop writing the Arena (so have bypassed the DB and Mission with Foxy in the original !!!! ARGH!!!! ) Not sure how I am going to do it now, unless I revamp a few other things. I am trying to get it worked out, if I can't then this is just a side story of Maxical's Arena Adventures and I will start another thread with her adventures as an assassin, lol. So glad you are here, and you are greatly appreciated!!

***

@ Destri - Thank you so much Destri!!! Er, I think she was infatuated with Fathis before Gils came to the Arena. Dunmer have a reputation for hyper sexuality (although not sensuality) - so I figured they must become pretty adept as they age, and they age slowly.

I kind of wanted to make that contrast in there, Fathis has the reputation, wealth, title, (and looks better than Gils, although he is older than him), etc. - Gils is just a poor Gladiator at the Arena, aging faster than he should be for his age - but both have the same reputation with women - (and neither of them have any trouble getting a partner at any given time).

Posted by: mALX May 21 2010, 07:29 AM

*


Chapter 25: The Fuel And The Fire



“Is it like a blocked channel? Can’t you just splice one channel into the other somehow and make it work?” I looked up at Hannibal from the text that detailed my disorder.

“Interesting concept.”

“What is this part about vampires?”

“Some ancient vampires use alternative healing methods. I know one and have made an appointment to talk to him about you.”

“Subject A/JH? I read about him when you confined me up here for my ill deeds.”

Hannibal caught the gleam of mischief in my eyes. “Wicked girl.”

“I didn’t tell anyone, not even Delphine, but the rest of my time here I thought of you as a super hero leading a double life. Mild mannered Dean of the University by day, but at night…tada…he becomes the super research scientist delving through the dark underworld of vampirism to find a cure for the dreaded disease. I even pictured you donning a long white cloak that had magical properties so you could fly out of danger.”

Hannibal was in stitches laughing.

“The advantage of not being your student anymore, I get to see the imps dance in your eyes now.“ I smiled, taking the new ring from him and sliding it on my finger. “Oh, that is much more powerful!”

“Yes, I exceeded limits on it because of your disorder. You will need that extra boost. Now this is the ring I enchanted to give away. Watch this little trick, you will love it!”

He lifted a huge scroll and tapped the ring with it, then tossed the ring on the ground. The ring bounced and then began trembling. Suddenly it was spewing rings like a flower unfolding in fast motion, or maybe a fountain. There were hundreds of them!

“GAAAH! I love it!”

“Get that small crate over there, let’s get these picked up.” Hannibal’s help consisted of sitting in his chair sipping wine and pointing out rings to me. “Look over there, a whole stack you missed under that chair.”

“You’ll be stepping on rings for a year.” I laughed. “Thank you Hannibal. You may have saved me with Fathis.” I gave him a hug and hurried out, balancing the crate awkwardly.





***


As I cut across to the Arena I saw Hassiri from the Courier. No guards were about so I dispelled the chameleon. He hesitated then came up to me, obviously miffed I avoided interviewing with him when I left the jail. He had his pad raised, meaning what I said would be on the record. I reached over and pulled his arm down.

“Would you mind speaking to me off the record for a second Hassiri? I just wanted to apologize to you. Khajiit don’t fare well in prisons, the torture chambers for beasts like me. When they took me from my cell in the middle of the night I was sure that was going to happen, so I went invisible and escaped. I am so sorry, and feel terrible for your time wasted. I want to make it up to you. There is the possibility of an advance story as well, but I am promising you an exclusive. What I’m going to show you is the exclusive, and has to remain top secret until we give you the signal. I want you to be the first to see these, I’ll be passing them out the first day of the music festival. Here, take one for each of your brothers too.”

“This is that ring! The one the Gray Prince gave you! You have a whole crate of them?”

“Yes, it is a promotion we are doing for my return to the Arena and also the debut of a musical group from the Arcane. Possibly why Agronak didn’t feel comfortable commenting, although I’m unsure of his motives. I could not stay to talk to you that day, Fathis saw Agronak give me the ring and misunderstood, I had to catch him. You probably have already figured out that I am promised to Fathis.”

“I had heard something along those lines. Will you give me the exclusive on that when you go public with it?”

“Definitely for the announcement, and you and your brothers will have front row seats reserved for you at the ceremony as well.”

“Thank you.” He relaxed, the irritation abated. “Now tell me about this box of rings.”

“We don’t have all the details worked out yet on this promotion, something like giving a ring to whoever vows to make their wager on me my return match. Agronak picked up a ring from Ris and gave it to me to use as a template. I took it down to the Arcane and had all these made up. They are enchanted, try it on.”

“Tee-hee-hee! That feels good!” He slid it back off. “That is a real ebony band and a real diamond! Do you know how much these are worth?”

“They were over 200 Septims before the enchantment. With it they will be well over 800. Because of their value this can‘t come out beforehand, we could be vulnerable to a robbery. I'd like you to cover the promotion at the festival when we distribute these, if you would.”

“This is some promotion! How can the Blue team afford it?”

"The Arcane is donating it as a dual promotion. Arch Mage Hannibal Traven has been following my progress in the Arena and supervising my injured status. It is to mark my return to the Arena. The second reason is that they are promoting the debut of a group of mages from the Arcane for the music festival. They combine music and magic.”

“Is that the advance story you mentioned?”

“Arch Mage Traven would love the publicity for his mages, I believe he may give you an advance story and an interview with them. I owe you a big one for bypassing you tonight, I know that. I’ll give you the details on the ring promotion as soon as I can. I just want you to know how sorry I am that I had to do that to you.”

“It is the truth about the torture chambers. You were right to be afraid. I have never seen anyone released at night before myself. If it was me in there and they came in the night, I would have run too.”

“Thank you for understanding. Here, take a few extra rings in case you want to give one to someone. I’ll be giving you several passes for my return match as well. I’d be proud to have you and your brothers in my cheering section. Now, if you would like an interview we can get back on the record.” I pushed his pad back up.

Andronicus had taught me a lot since my last botched interview.






******* Hassiri



Hassiri hurried to the office after talking with Maxical. “Stop the presses! We are going to go at that story from another angle.”





******* Agronak


* After The Hearing, thinking back on the past weeks

Maxical’s expression when she was led into the hearing in shackles was Agronak’s first clue he had made a huge mistake. Instead of being terrified or crying she had a cold simmering anger. She couldn’t know…unless Gils told her.

Then the Elders refused to let him drop the charges. At the end of the hearing it was clear things had gone beyond his control. Maxical had not shed one tear, nor even looked like she held any back. Not once had she radiated fear or discomfort at the proceedings, instead she seemed to be controlling them. Nothing had gone as planned.

The door to the Yellow team Bloodworks fell open, the latch shattered. The Pits that usually swarmed him like gnats looked down and turned away. Some of the ranked fighters made comments under their breath. Horski made several loud derogatory comments in her brashy Nordish brogue.

Only one person could be blamed for why everything was going so wrong now…Gils. He had been up to his tricks, putting the pressure on Agronak. Gils was locked in that Bloodworks nightly with her, using that time to further his game with Maxical. History was repeating itself. Agronak’s spy network of Pits had been bringing him plenty of information for weeks. Gils had started bathing at the same time she did, romping and joking with her.

Gils had been getting Andronicus drunk every night, keeping her passed out. Agronak didn’t need the spies for that information. Her smell and the urine soaked mattress proved that. Gils was forcing the game on.


* Before the death of Agronak's mother


Maxical was dumb as a stump, and what she lacked Gils had in abundance. He was smart and tricky, slimy as an eel when he wanted something. Agronak knew he had to get Maxical away from Gils. And that is when the pressure started. That pressure was the catalyst that drove Agronak’s actions when everything started going downhill. It’s what caused everything to go wrong. Gils.

It had all come to a head one night, that was the turning point when Agronak knew he had to act. Agronak had spotted Gils at the Feed Bag and dragged him outside. “What do you think you’re doing Gils? Don’t play me and think to live.” Agronak loomed his huge frame over Gils.

“What makes you think I’ve been playing you? Maybe your Pit Dog spies are lying to you. Did you ever consider they say what you want to hear because you only pay them if they confirm your suspicions?”

“Don’t play your tricks on me Gils, I know them all. I know you well enough to know it‘s the truth.” Agronak slammed the flat of his hand against Gils chest. “Leave her alone Gils. This is my game, now step off!”

“You’re changing the rules Aggie. What gives you the right to threaten me?”

“You think this is a threat? It’s not. Drop it Gils, while you can.”

“What’s the deal Aggie? You breaking your promise to me?”

“I’ll tell you what the [censored] deal is, that [censored] is too dumb to figure out something is supposed to be happening that isn‘t. She’s got Fathis Aren of all people chasing us, making scenes that draw the press. I look like a god coming out on top over a man with his reputation with women. My Box Office is higher than it ever has been. Now back off. You can have anyone, I need this one. Back off or you‘ll regret it.”

“Why get rid of Fathis if he helps you?”

“Because if I have to plaster a sweet smile on my face while she drones on and on about Fathis much more I will strangle someone. Fathis isn‘t needed anymore.”

“What’ll you do, the ring trick? Ris leaves in five days. But, since you say she is so dumb, you could probably give her Hamlof’s crap and she wouldn’t know.” Gils eyes pierced into Agronak’s.

“She wouldn’t know [censored], but Hassiri and Fathis would. It has to be done right.”

“Let me ask you something Aggie…these Pit spies are telling you all this is going on…has she told you anything is? You say she’s dumb, but if it was really going on and she didn’t tell you, wouldn’t that mean you’re being played? You are throwing the gauntlet down here, so shouldn’t you think about that?”

Agronak pinned Gils hard against the wall behind him, crushing him against it with his massive hand in Gils‘ chest. “She doesn’t have the brains to pull one over on me, and neither do you.”

“Well I’m relieved you aren’t spouting love and poetry.”

“Shut up mother [censored].”

“What about me?”

“Here, take twenty Septims and go down to Luther Broads, I don’t give a [censored] what you do.”

“Shove those Septims up your [censored] Aggie.” Gils fist shot out like lightning and knocked the sack into the street. “I’m holding you to your promise. You say you know my tricks, well I know yours too.”

“You going to tell her? Don’t dare do it Gils. You don’t want to see what will happen if you push me too far.”

“I don’t take well to threats Aggie.”

“You won‘t live Gils.”

“You forget who you’re talking to.” Gils pushed off the wall and brushed by Agronak.

The sack had broken when Gils hit it. Agronak was picking the Septims up off the road when the thought suddenly occurred to him that Gils had never actually denied it. He ran after him but was too late. The door to the Bloodworks slammed shut before he could reach it. Agronak punched the door. He had to get Maxical out of that Bloodworks and fast.


*

Posted by: D.Foxy May 21 2010, 11:36 AM

And just when I thunk she had climbed off the cliff
She hangs me off another, and does it with a riff!

Posted by: Acadian May 21 2010, 04:55 PM

My head is spinning.

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 21 2010, 05:39 PM

I echo Acadian!

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 21 2010, 07:09 PM

Subject A/JH is a deft bit of foreshadowing. The strands of two threads are starting to be drawn together!

I can�t wait to see Aggie�s (great nickname) reaction when he gets wind of Maxical�s �ring promotion�. �Dumb as a stump� seems to be a description of Agronak, not Maxical!

Posted by: minque May 21 2010, 10:26 PM

Ohhh a lot of kitty-sweetness! How I love her, she's just , just...soo special! The scenes from the prison-cell..woah, very well described, so vivid I could just see it.

Sorry for not having commented for a while but RL you know....gah

Posted by: Olen May 23 2010, 04:40 PM

Awesome, you've really built this up into a frenzy, I can't wait to see it pay off.

Awesome description and even better pacing and plotting. I can't wait for more!

Posted by: ureniashtram May 24 2010, 05:57 AM

{ A dumbmer (get it? hehe ) lifts a gigantic scroll, taps his laptop, threw it at a Nord and patiently waits. A few minutes later a rumbling, tumbling sound occured. He didn't see it coming. Now, the whole of Phillipines is buried under the bedrock of the sea, thanks to a certain Ashtram and his legion of laptops. }

Two weeks later a Japanese rescue team recovered a corpse with a letter.

It's contents was:

I feel my blooding flowing freely due to my stubborness. I.. I should have listen to Damaren. Anyway, my last words, I hope it leaves it's mark on history, is:

Good job, mALX! That chapter literally blew the roof. If you can see a mushroom cloud rising from the East, that's where my house was.

Lolz!

Another: becomes becomes becomes

Posted by: mALX May 25 2010, 05:17 PM

@ Foxy - I thunk I saw junk in your trunk! Thank you Foxy!

***

@ Acadian - Hauty may have helped everyone out, she suggested I put subtitles over Agronak's sections since they are mostly flashbacks, lol. Sorry everyone. Thank you Acadian!

***

@ Hauty - Thank you so much Hauty! I think everyone will thank you for the great idea of putting subtitles over Agronak's flashbacks so people get an idea of timing - I'm sorry about that, I have to make his role a flashback or it will give away the plot before its time - and I am not very good at doing that. I may need to revamp some but I'm just not up to it right now, too busy! You ROCK Hauty!!!

***

@ Destri - Yeah! You caught that! (both) - the A/JH wasn't supposed to come out till she went to Crowhaven, but I couldn't stand waiting, lol. Thank you so much Destri, and I hope to see my fave avatar soon!

***

@ Minque - Thank you so much Minque!! I didn't want to hold back on the description of that cell, or the difference between Andronicus and Maxical's reactions within it.

***

@ Olen - Thank you very much Olen! My problem in this has been trying to manuever Agronak's plot so not too much shows but enough that the reader can get a taste that he has something coming - my brain can think it up but not put it down in words cohesively. ARGH!

***

@ Ureniashtram - Thank you so much!!! And you're right, the roof is about to come off on it!

Posted by: mALX May 25 2010, 05:20 PM

*


Chapter 26: Rumble In The Bloodworks


It was still dark when I reached the Arena. I scurried up to Owyn�s office and locked the rings inside his safe, locking the office door behind me when I left. Entering the Bloodworks seemed strange, the door latch had been shattered by the guards when they busted in. The door just pushed open with an eerie creak. There was a sense of something not right in the air as I walked down the steps. The outer room was milling with Pit Dogs, the ones Owyn had rounded up from the prison just days before. It was a relief to see Gils standing there in the middle of the room. I called to him.

Gils turned at the sound of my voice, his face showed something was not right.

�What is it Gils?�

He looked back at the room then back at me. �Where is Owyn?�

�Has he not been released?�

�You�re the first one that has come back.� Gils face looked very tense, a muscle in his jaw was rippling.

I dropped my pack next to my mat and hurried back to the bathing pool, wanting to wash the memories of that filthy prison cell off me. I scrubbed myself almost raw, listening to the sounds coming from the outer room of the Bloodworks. Were they fighting in there? It sounded like shouting.

Something didn�t feel right, and instinctively I put my armor back on and hurried out into the main room. A strong tension filled the air. The door swung shut behind me with a loud bang and suddenly it felt like something snapped. The new Pit Dogs Owyn had picked up from the prison were milling, restless�glances at me that didn�t look right. An undercurrent mirrored from one to the next like lightning cutting a jagged path through them. I could sense the force of it. It was a feeling of danger, tangible implications of thought and intent. Palpable. Where was Gils?

Dormant instincts for self preservation welled up in me, pushing my feet to the corner so no one could flank me. I kicked my shoes off as I moved and my claws unsheathed and extended of their own volition. I was trembling, my eyes widened and my ears pinned to my head. I felt my hackles rising, the fur spiking out stiffly as the blood in my veins thickened and gelled. My tail slapped the walls behind me in a rapid beat.

They surged as a unit, a mob communicating through impulses that could be sensed emanating from them. I saw a very battered Gils charging through them to stand in front of me, trying to push them back. Several had begun taking their pants off. I felt rather than heard a sound rising up from deep within me that could only be the battle cry of my leopard ancestry.

�Look, she�s got her claws out. What are you gonna� do with those claws, cat?� One of them sneered. He was naked and coming closer.

�Decapitate you, one head or the other.� I hissed. Everyone hooted. He stepped back some, but then someone pushed him towards me from behind. I shoved him back off, but this time he came back of his own accord. I raised my arm like I was going to swat him and as he looked up at it I kicked, claws extended into his crotch area.

His scream was horrible, it echoed above the raucous taunting of the others and bounced off the stone walls. The others quieted down some and started milling, as if unsure of what to do next.

�Leave me alone and no one gets hurt.� I growled it, trying to sound commanding but I was visibly shaking.

Gils was shoving as many back as he could but more would come. Then he started swinging at them. The tension in the air changed suddenly to an unbridled rage and they began attacking Gils, who had remained in front of me trying to block their attack. I cast my �Eye of Khajiit� and the front line of them nearly climbed over the others to get away.

While we had that break I moved to the side of Gils. He was hurt already. I slid Agronak�s ring off and grabbed his hand while we had a second to breathe. I slid it on Gils� finger and then pumped it once before the mob started attacking again. He moved beside me so he couldn�t be flanked anymore.

It felt like the waves of attacks would never stop, and that was the last break we got till it was over. I kicked one in the head, digging my claws in and shredding a large chunk out of his scalp. Blood spurted wildly from his head. He reeled around screaming and leaving trails of it everywhere he went.

Head wounds bleed very heavily even when they are just superficial injuries. They are great for psychological warfare, terrorizing both the bleeder and their comrades with the sheer volume of blood flow. Khajiit claws are razor sharp, and can tear a scalp with ease.

�Pump that ring Gils! Pump it!� I yelled it, but I couldn�t tell if he could hear me.

Gils� fist was like lightning. He was throwing knock-out punches at anyone he could reach. Two more swarmed in. I shredded one�s scalp and face but the other I missed and only lightly clawed his abdomen. He snarled and charged in. Using the wall behind me as leverage I shot my foot out in a twisting kick. My claws caught on his manhood and tore it nearly off.

Another charged and Gils� fist smashed his eye socket hard enough that the bones could be heard crushing.

There was a turning point then, half the mob got into a blood lust rage and the rest backed off scared. Gils and I fought bare handed. It is against the rules to pull a weapon on another within the Bloodworks itself. If you are attacked you are only allowed to defend yourself using hand to hand. Some of the attackers broke that rule, pulling weapons on us. Gils and I were both cut up pretty badly. When a weapon was dropped we tried to kick it behind us so another couldn�t pick it up.

Seventeen lay severely wounded at the end. I don�t know how many of those Gils brought down with his fist because the ones whose scalps I tore bled all over so every one of the wounded was covered in blood. It looked like a war had taken place in the Bloodworks, wounded laying everywhere.

The key to the healing fount was with Owyn at the prison. With my claws I was able to keep the fight at a distance, but Gils just had his fists, and had taken the brunt of the damage between the two of us. He was flagging badly. I grabbed his hand and slid my ring on his finger several times to rally him, then pulled him with me to my pack.

�Cover me.� I said, digging down for my healing potion and scrolls. I used Hannibal�s trick to multiply the potion, hitting the enchanted scrolls against the bottle of potion. It causes magic without a spell to cling to the bottle. Then if you gently drop the bottle the magic bounces between the floor and bottle and poof, you have several bottles. I gave them to Gils till he said he was good. Then I started drinking them. I kept making them and dividing them after that, and we tucked them in our pockets for emergencies. The emergency came soon.

Some of the prisoners that gave up had escaped out the broken door but a few found us in the inner area and started the attack again. Some of the wounded ones got back up and attacked as well, but they were weak from their wounds or blood loss. Gils and I had both drank enough healing potion to rally us for the fight. Gils had just knocked one out when we heard the door flapping against the stone wall. Someone was coming slowly. We backed into the corner and I split the last few bottles of healing potion with Gils quickly. He drank one and pocketed the other two. I did the same.





***

Owyn�s face loomed around the corner looking stunned.

�Owyn!� I squealed and ran to him, hugging him nearly to death.

�What in the hell happened in here?� He asked, for once not bellowing. His voice sounding like he may be going into shock.

�It was self defense Owyn, and we only used hand to hand, we didn�t break any rules.� I called out, nervous.

�Hand to hand�you tore that guys [censored] almost clean off!� Owyn was walking around looking at the wounded.

�It got caught in my claws when I was doing the decapitation on him. I�m sorry Owyn, but they attacked me, I had to defend myself. Gils risked his life protecting me, he only used his fists too. The prisoners used swords on us though, and some escaped.�

Gils stepped forward. �If there is any blame to be laid I�ll take it. I should have got her out of here as soon as she stepped in the door. You should have seen her when they attacked Owyn. She was like a wildcat, ripping and shredding anyone that came close to her. Then she made some healing potions somehow and got us both healed because the fount was locked up. We were in bad shape from the ones that used weapons against us.�

Owyn set up a triage where he determined who needed healing most. The whole time he worked on the attackers he was notating their injuries in his logbook. Gils helped pull men to the fount for Owyn and also helped me clean up the bloody mess.

The chute door slammed and I looked up to see Jack Thompson had come in down the chute and was looking stunned. This was awfully early for him to be here, I wondered if it was over my escaping. I gave him an apologetic look and quickly went to work cleaning the blood while he talked to Owyn.





******* Jack Thompson

It was a relief to see Maxical alive, although she and Gils were both wounded.

�Owyn, have you got everything under control down here? I need to see you as soon as you get finished here.�

Owyn had nodded briefly, continuing to work on a boy that appeared to have lost his appendage. Jack glanced over at Maxical, then at the wounded. There were clawed heads and crotches stretched out as far as the eye could see. It didn�t take a genius to figure out what had occurred.

�Owyn. I have to know if she was harmed in the attack.�

�Hell no she wasn�t! She and Gils did all this fighting them off! I didn�t get out till this morning.�

�Just the two of them?�

�Yep.�

�I want all the prisoners sent back that were here. I won�t tolerate this kind of thing in the Bloodworks.�

�Some of them escaped. Should I continue healing these? Some of these won�t make it if I don�t.�

�Yes, go ahead. I'll contact the prison to come get them.�

�Say Jack, they kicked in the door last night, can you requisition me a good stout door that can�t be kicked in? And I want a new latch with a different key lock just in case that Agronak had himself one made. He was in the Bloodworks the other night after lockdown. I�m banning him from my Bloodworks, Haki can do what he wants.�

�You got it Owyn. I�ll have a rush put on it.�

Jack caught my eye before leaving and flashed me the Arena sign for victory.


*

Posted by: D.Foxy May 25 2010, 05:27 PM

*speechless*

Posted by: Acadian May 25 2010, 06:50 PM

You really emphaisized the Khajiit in Maxical here. Claws, fur, hackles all of it. Very exciting.

Posted by: MyCat May 26 2010, 05:07 AM

"Owyn had nodded briefly, continuing to work on a boy that appeared to have lost his appendage"
Ouch! Maxical doesn't just kick (another word for donkey) she kicks other parts!

OT: I made a Morrowind mod in 2006 that got away from me like this, what was supposed to be a simple tale of kidnapped wood elves somehow grew into an X rated pot boiler.

Posted by: Zalphon May 26 2010, 01:34 PM

I really enjoyed the description, Maxical. Also, cool spell

Posted by: Remko May 26 2010, 04:29 PM

Wow.... a whirlwind of fur, claws and fists..... Poor attackers

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 26 2010, 05:24 PM

You should stop selling yourself short as a writer, mALX. Details like this (especially the tail) are why people hang on Maxical�s every word!

Somehow it seems strange that Gils would extend himself so much to save Maxical. Is his motive fear of what Agronak might do to him? Or is there something else going on?

Posted by: mALX May 27 2010, 03:12 PM

@ Foxy - Thank you so much Foxy! Er...Foxy? Is that good or bad? You ROCK !!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you very much Acadian! I got my tips on that from Hauty!! Of all the chapters for her to miss! ARGH! Lol.

***
@ MyCat - Thank you so much MyCat!!! There is another Oblivion story on this site that has me in hysterics every time I read it, there is at least one crotch kick per chapter - the two chapters of the character's meeting with Lucien Lachance had me spraying drinks for days!

WOO HOO !!! X rated pot boilers! Yeah! I got the "Basic Instincts" on my Oblivion game and thought it was just a fun way to strip NPC's temporarily - till one day in the Skingrad Mages Guild when I accidentally hit Druja with it. Then I got Stoker, who is supposed to love your character - Maxical folds her arms and turns away every time she sees him. He balls his fists up and turns away from her every time she walks in the room. - they hate eachother! I have had the mod over 6 months and they have not grown any closer, so I stuck him in the cellar with Eyja the Skingrad maid. He's all friendly to her, lol. (if they are having relations I have not caught them at it yet, but he is supposed to at some point).

Thank you so much MyCat! It is great to see you over here!!!

***

@ Zalphon - Happy Birthday Zalphon!!! Thank you so much! Oh, that is a higher power all Khajiit come with, but it can only be used once a day.

***

@ Remko - Thank you so much Remko! Maxical will go down fighting, lol.

***

@ Destri - Thank you so very much Destri!! That paragraph you quoted was the first thing written, I wrote the chapter around it. Hauty sent me a PM over at the BGSF that gave me every cat scenario and the actions the cat would be expected to display, I saved it and refer back to it a lot - that paragraph came from her knowledge and what I've seen on my own front porch with my feral colony of cats I tend, lol.

Gils is a caretaker type. (in my story) - Owyn's right hand man due to his longevity in the Bloodworks. He probably would have done that for anyone, but he does have a weakness where Khajiit are concerned.

Posted by: mALX May 27 2010, 03:17 PM

*


Chapter 27: The Aftermath


When it was over Owyn was staring at the logbook of injuries with a dazed look on his face. �If this happened in the Arena it would be the special event of the century! A cage match! The Arena would be filled to capacity! A bare hands meet, I can have the cage built for it. You two against a cage full of Pit Dogs�the box office draw would be sensational! Maxical, what did you call that move?� Owyn jabbered excitedly.

I glanced over at Gils, but he looked noncommittal. �Decapitation. Cutting the heads off one end or the other.�

�Do you realize what a draw this will be?� Owyn actually laughed. �Look at this! Gils, this is a list of the damage you did, it�s incredible! One guy lost his eye and half his face from your fist! Maxical, this is your list. Astounding that you two did this, just the two of you.�

Owyn pulled out his playbook of moves for us to use out in the Arena. �Both of you, I want a debriefing of moves you used. Gils, if you can think up names for your moves like Maxical did that is even better. I don�t want you to mention any of this to anyone, do you hear me? This is top secret! I don�t want Haki beating me to it. No one but the three of us are to know about this. You two are going to have to start training together to coordinate your moves, and I don�t want it done out here where someone could see you and start talking. From now on you'll train in with Pork Chop.�

I tried to give Gils a meaningful look but he seemed to be going along with Owyn's idea.

�When I was in the orphanage I heard some of the older Legion talking about something they used to do in a cage called a �Rumble�. They would start each match by yelling�� I started and Owyn joined in.

�Let�s get ready to rumble!� Owyn�s eyes were lit up remembering it. �We�ll have to get permission from the Arena first, releases.�

I crossed my fingers that Jack would refuse it.





***

Owyn told Gils and me to brainstorm ideas to get the crowds behind us again once the arrests became public. Every time one of us thought of something he wrote it down.

�That band in the stands does nothing during the matches. I think we should have a certain song that is played each time any Blue team member sets foot in that chute and is heading up to the Arena. You will have to draw up a contract so the band is bound legally and can�t do the same for the Yellow team. You know, a song that makes everyone want to get up out of their seats.�

Owyn hooted. �That�s a great idea Maxical! But you can�t come out dancing, I�ve seen you dance before. What about�� He went on to list off some songs Gils and I had never heard of before. When we told him that he started singing them.

"You think you mixed silver, blue diamonds, and yellow grass!"
The King laughed, "Look up, Faer, up to the ceiling glass.
The light falling makes the ingredients you choose
Quite different hues."
"What do you get," asked the floating voice, bold,
"Of a potion of red diamonds, blue grass, and gold?"


I looked over at Gils, he rolled his eyes. �What is that song you were singing the other day during practice? I liked that one.� I poked Gils to sing something so Owyn would quit singing those old songs.

�Which one do you mean?�

�The one that said �fight, fight, fight� in it. I can�t show you, I�m banned from singing in the Bloodworks.�

�Yeah, well that was by massive request.� Gils said, then quickly dodged the tail hit I aimed at him. Gils sang a good rendition of his song for Owyn, he has an excellent singing voice.


�I'm not a slave to the gods
That doesn't exist
But I'm not a slave to a world
That doesn't give a [censored]

And when we were good
You just closed you eyes
So when we are bad
We'll scar your minds

Fight, fight, fight, fight�


I looked over at Owyn. �What do you think?�

�That is so modern, what about�

Now I know thou jest.
My boon Mate Darfang wouldst not fail.
There be no finer Bladesman.
If thou chargest him, he wouldst not fall."


Owyn started, but Gils and I both cut him off.

�We want something modern.� We both said in unison.

�Do that other one Gils, the one I love best.�

Gils sang again.


�New blood joins this earth
and quikly he's subdued
through constant pain disgrace
the young boy learns their rules

with time the child draws in
this whipping boy done wrong
deprived of all his thoughts
the young man struggles on and on he's known
a vow unto his own
that never from this day
his will they'll take away�


�What about that Owyn? Those old songs will only draw in a dying audience. We want to get the younger crowd in, a new generation of fight fans. And if we get a song with a good beat and lyrics people will be singing it every where they go, that is free advertising.� I looked over at Gils for support.

Gils sat up. �Salomon Geonette might write us our own song. But she�s right, it has to be something powerful and upbeat.�

�Those songs are classics. They aren�t affected by time.� Owyn declared.

�You gotta have modern music Owyn. Think about it. It could start off with an extended kettle drum roll to build the crowds into a frenzy�� Gils was tapping his hands on the metal table to mimic the sound.

�Yeah, something that sounds like thunder rolling in. We could call ourselves Blue Thunder.� I added.

�Exactly, make their hearts race. We'll run up the chute to the sound, then as we actually appear at the head of that chute it will be climatic!�

Owyn and I both stared at Gils for a moment.

�Keep your mind on the music Gils!� Owyn ordered. �We�re going to need every bit of this when Hassiri�s article hits the streets. We�ll have to get the crowds back behind us again.� Owyn said, then looked over at me while Gils was insisting he had been talking strictly about music.

�How did you get out?�

�I�escaped. They took me from my cell in the middle of the night. I was afraid they meant to hurt me.�

�How the hell did you escape?� Owyn asked, staring at me with his eyes bugging.

�I disappeared.� I proved it by going chameleon, then dispelled it.

�And you were stupid enough to come where they would look for you?�

�I didn�t have anywhere else to go.�

Gils� stared hard at me but didn�t say anything.

�I�ll bet that is why Jack demanded I see him right away.� Owyn said, glaring at me.

�They torture beasts in prisons Owyn. I had to escape.�

Gils distracted Owyn. �What was that thing you did tonight that made them all run like that? I was fighting two at once and suddenly everyone was running away like Dagon was after them.�

�That was my �Eye of Khajiit�.�

�Is that what you did in your last fight that made the man wet his pants?� Gils asked.

�Yeah. It has that effect sometimes. We will have to work out a signal between us so when I am going to use it you look away. It effects anyone it hits and doesn�t know who is friend or foe. You make up a signal that you will remember and I will learn it. And no tricks this time.�

Gils had taught me false signals that almost got me banned from the Arena when I was a Pit Dog.

Gils gave a wicked laugh, then looked up with excitement. �Hey, on the billboards they could do caricatures of the moves where they exaggerate my fist or Maxical�s claws, and have the name of the move above it so the crowd could scream the moves when they see them, or chant for them. They could put a different billboard in each window. Make one for her �Eye of Khajiit� that shows Pits running away with terrified faces. For the �Decapitation� they could show her claw oversized with trails behind it and a head flying. My fist one could show a guy�s eye flying, half his head gone or something.� Gils grabbed one of Owyn�s parchments and started drawing what he was describing.

�Maybe we could ask some of the storefronts in the Market District to allow us to hang some advertisements for the cage match in their front windows. Or post them on the city gates between Districts. We may have to lay out a few Septims in bribes for it though. And definitely invite Hassiri and his brothers, we need the press back on our side.� I watched Gils drawing the caricatures. �You draw really well Gils!�

Owyn picked them up as he finished. �Gils these are great! What an idea! I want you both to work out names for any move that will get the crowds attention. Gils, can you do these billboard sized?�

�I can do them better than that if they are bigger.�

�Would you do the billboards for the cage match? These are much better than the ones that snotty artist has been doing for the Arena billboards, and I�ll give you a bonus if you do. Can you draw a cage in the background? I want to bring these with me when I talk to Jack.�

�Better not bring him the drawing of the decapitation, I promised him I would try not to do it anymore. I didn�t promise anything on the goring though.�

�Well, we have to be upfront with him, we want him on our side.� Owyn looked hard at me. �Can you decapitate someone using just your claws?�

�No, of course not. It is just psychological warfare in melee. Even superficial head wounds bleed profusely, so I just claw their head and it bleeds so heavily everyone thinks someone has been decapitated. They are more hesitant to attack then and gives me the advantage.�

�Good answer. I�ll take these with me when I talk to Jack.�

Before going to talk to Jack Owyn called an emergency meeting. I hovered close to Gils when the ones I had clawed came waddling in with their bandaged crotches and heads.

�All right everybody, listen up. I am going to be scheduling your fights in a three day rotation instead of five. That means three-a-days training and mandatory curfew. We have to make up for the revenue lost from the recent problems. I don�t tolerate attacks like these on my fighters��





***

Owyn told Gils and me to get some rest while he went to talk to Jack. We went in the bathing room and locked the door, not knowing how long Owyn would be gone. I picked a clean mat in the corner of the back wall and Gils pulled another mat in front of mine so someone would have to step on him to get to me.

He stretched out on his mat facing away from me, probably so I would feel at ease with his close proximity. I was exhausted but sleep wouldn�t come, and my fidgeting must have been disturbing Gils.

�You want me to sing for you?�

�Would you? You know which one.�

Gils voice echoed strangely in the bathing room, but still it relaxed me enough that I drifted off. When I finally did though, the images I had been fighting were released to haunt me; visions of the men�s faces as they were attacking, what could have happened to me if Gils hadn�t charged through the mob the way he did. The thought of Claudius Arcadia�s daughter and what she went through.

I heard Gils� voice calling me quietly, �Maxical, wake up. You�re having a bad dream.�

I woke up sweating and my face was drenched from crying in my sleep. I tried to sit up and found I was shaking too badly. �Gils?�

�What?�

�Thank you for saving me today. When I felt there was no hope I looked up and saw you charging through them all�I don�t know what I would have done if you hadn�t been there.�

�Shh, don�t think about that anymore. The fear will take you over if you do.�

�I think it already has.�

�What is it then? Talk to me.�

��The look� on their faces and�Claudius Arcadia�s daughter.�

�You think he was among them?�

�I don�t think it matters, the result would have been the same if you hadn�t helped me.�


*

Posted by: D.Foxy May 27 2010, 03:24 PM

It is clear that SOMEONE has been watching way, waaaaaaay too much World Wrestling Entertainment and UFC.



My god...Dearest and most Beloved Red Riter, this story has NOT 'taken on a life of its own'. Since you are a cat, it's taken on NINE lives of its own!!!

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 27 2010, 05:16 PM

No, I haven't missed anything!

Sometimes I just can't think of any constructive comments.

Oh, and how you described Maxical's reaction to the attack is spot on!

Posted by: Acadian May 27 2010, 05:35 PM

I'm with Owyn; I like the older fashion stuff better too.

Gils seems like not a bad sort. I liked your reference to the daughter of Claudius Arcadia and the fate she suffered. I can understand why that would haunt Maxical.

I don't understand who 'he' is in this context. Can you 'splain for this old, slow paladin?

Posted by: mALX May 27 2010, 05:53 PM

@ Foxy - Oh dear. Oh no. Should I start deleting chapters instead of posting them? - ARGH !!!! - I can always have it turned down of course...

***

@ Hauty - Thank you so much Hauty! I used your PM at the BGSF for those details, I saved it to refer back to. There is more coming up that I got directly from it - stuff I knew nothing about till you sent me that. You ROCK!!!!

Oh, if you have a criticism, please post it! I'm running blind here without guidence, and you see where it is taking me!!!!! I'm like a loose horse here, someone grab the reins - quick !!! Lol.

I was thinking about doing what you did except dividing it up by Themes. This could be the Arena questline (if I can ever figure out how to edit the title) and the next could be "The Inept Assassin" or something.

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian !! Gils is not a bad guy at all, but he does have at least one major flaw.

Maxical was remembering the rape on Claudius Arcadia's daughter.

Gils asked, do you think HE was among them (the rap - ist)

Maxical said, it doesn't matter, the result would have been the same if you hadn't helped me - in other words ( she would have been rap - ed and murdered if Gils had not been there to help her).

Posted by: Olen May 27 2010, 06:21 PM

As with Haute I haven't missed anything and just couldn't think of anything useful to say.

Her reaction is well handled and she is showing quite an ability in advertising... she should set up her own agency and get paid far more

I'm not quite sure about Gils, he seems alright but I still don't trust him, good building of tension there.

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 28 2010, 01:53 AM

Ah, I was beginning to wonder if Owyn would see the financial benefits to be gained by restaging that fight in the Arena.

Your song lyrics were an absolute pleasure to read. Are they all original?

Posted by: mALX May 30 2010, 04:05 AM

@ Olen - Thank you so much Olen! I can see it now, a promotion where she dumps live turkeys off the top of a tower (not knowing they can't fly) ; or she could bring a live bull to the Market District to advertise "No Bull, Thoronir has the best prices in town" and the bull stampede the streets - or breeds that statue of a horse...

I may just do that later on Olen, thanks for the idea!!!

***

@ Destri - Thank you, Thank you so very much for that PM critique!!!! I made the changes you suggested, I hope it reads better now!!!! You ROCK !!!!!





********************








Chapter 28: Secrets In The Bloodworks


�Gils�I know Owyn gets a percentage of the Box Office receipts and he could get pretty rich off that cage match. But why do you want to do it? I mean, you almost got killed today.�

�I noticed you didn�t look too excited when Owyn was talking about it. Maxical, you face death every time you step out in that Arena, and for a lot less income than you can make on a special event like this. Owyn told you before you signed the contract your first day that someone dies every match. You live for the crowd or die for it.�

�I thought that was just a motto.�

�That�s how they keep stocked with Pits, na�ve kids thinking it�s all a bunch of sword play or the one with the biggest hammer wins. It�s all skill and odds out there.�

�You mean like gambling?�

�Exactly. Every time you step out there you are gambling that your skills are higher than your opponent�s. Either way, there is always one loser that won�t be going home that night. Owyn�s training increases the probability in your favor, but you never know when Haki is going to slide a ringer in there.�

�That�s what he did my last fight.�

�He has done it on several of your fights, that�s just the first time you realized it. Maxical, you know why I�ve stalled my career, because I won�t fight Aggie. But I�ve earned as much in these special events as the Yellow Gladiator has and he has to fight every five days. You do a few of these and you will have your golden armor.�

�It pays that well?�

�Look at your contract under the clause for special events. You get a small percentage of the Box Office for the event as a bonus. I got five percent last time, but there has been a cost of living increase since then. My take will be higher than yours because of my rank. And Owyn is right, it will be standing room only for an event like this. We could all come out of this one well off.�

I watched Gils spinning Agronak�s ring on his finger.

�What about in here today? You weren�t paid, and could have easily walked away but you didn�t�you faced death without a thought.�

�I saw the look on your face and knew I needed to do something, even if we both went down.�

�That�s the stuff heroes are made of.�

�Ach. You�ll give me a big head. Listen, you can trust me for now. I won�t be trying you in here.�

�Is this a truce?�

�Just temporary. I can�t protect you and try at the same time, you know. I�ll warn you when the games begin again.�

�Deal.�

�Isn�t this the ring Aggie gave you? Did you enchant it?�

�Hannibal did. I don�t want the ring anymore. Agronak lied, he said it was a behest from his mother, then told the press he bought it. Andronicus thinks he did it deliberately to ruin me with Fathis.�

�Will you sell it to me? It really helped me rally today. How does it work?�

�You can have it, you earned it saving my life. Give me your hand�feel that power when I slide it? When you are fighting and get injured, slide it just like I am doing. Feel that?�

�I feel it, like a boost of power! I can use this with the ladies and go forever, just slide the ring��

�EW! GROSS! Don�t tell me about it!�

�Er�now how do I work this again?�

I reached for his hand then caught the mischief in his eyes. �Hey, you said truce!�

�I thought you were wanting the truce broken, giving me expensive jewelry and playing with my hands that way. Look what hand you�ve put it on too, is it marriage you�re wanting from me then?� Gils gave a wicked laugh and started singing �From Rags To Riches�.

I unsheathed just the middle claw on one hand and held it up to him.

�What do you call that?�

�The Khajiit Proctologist.�

�Now that sounds more like you. You�ll be okay.�

�Thanks Gils, I do feel a little better.�





***

The shadows in my corner gave way to the dim light slanting down from the windows cut into the high stone walls of the bathing room. The form of Gils was illuminated by it, he had turned towards me in his sleep. His face was lined by age and exhaustion, something I never noticed before. Normally his eyes draw my notice, filled with mischief or seduction depending on his mood. Would Fathis look the same in his sleep? Both are Dunmer�I tried but couldn�t remember seeing anything but Fathis�s eyes in all the times we spoke�I would have to make an effort to check his face for wrinkles next time I saw him.

I was counting the lines on Gils� face but kept losing track of which I had already counted. Had he stayed awake to guard after I went back to sleep? Worry lines? No, they were from age. How old could he be? I made a mental note to ask Andronicus next time I saw her.

The sound of a key turning in the lock made me jump. It was followed by Owyn popping his head in and signaling me to come out. Oh dear, he was scowling.

I stumbled on the pile of Gils� clothes trying to climb over him and the ring I had given him tumbled out and rolled loudly on the stone floor. I caught it and tucked it back into the pocket of his pants.

Owyn led me to his office, talking the whole way.

�You�ve got to take over Andronicus�s duties around here.�

�What duties?�

�You keep that Bloodworks clean, and that includes the bathing pool.�

�Andronicus has been cleaning?�

�Just do it! Listen, if you see Agronak ask him to drop charges against her.�

�I�ll try for her sake, but I�m a little mad at him right now. Agronak told me that ring was a behest or I wouldn�t have taken it. Why would he buy a ring and lie to me about it? He is only a friend, could never be more than that anyway, even without his�problem. And Andronicus said he�s done this before with another girl.�

�What problem?�

�You know, he�s an Orc mix. They are incapable of�anything. Their privates don�t work for that kind of thing.�

�Where�d you hear that?�

�The Arcane. There has been a lot of research, it�s in the textbooks. It�s true too, Agronak doesn�t even give off any male aura to women. Gils does, and you do.�

Owyn had stopped walking. �So that�s the secret Gils has been covering for him all this time. Are you sure about this?�

�Ask Hannibal, it is scientific fact. Andronicus knows about it, remember she tried to tell you before the arrest. But why would he do this to me, I�m just his friend?�

�Because he couldn�t find anyone else dumb enough to take a ring in front of the Courier offices. You�ve been walking around holding his hand, letting everyone think you two have been [censored].� Owyn made a circle with his thumb and finger on one hand and ran a finger from his other hand through it in a graphic display to emphasize his words as he continued.

�Were you helping him cover it up? Boy are you stupid! Ruin your reputation to help that big Orc keep his secrets?�

�But�I�ve always held hands with my friends. Delphine and I held hands in school, it means nothing�Owyn why are you looking like that?�

�You listen to me, don�t you come down in my Bloodworks holding hands with girls unless you want to send Gils into an apoplexy. You ain�t in school anymore Maxical. You hold hands it means you�re [censored].� Owyn displayed his graphic gestures again for emphasis.

�You mean�I�ve been walking around�everyone thinks�Oh no! Fathis!�

�You idiot, what did you think you were telling everyone by doing that?�

�Oh my gods! Owyn I didn�t know! Fathis must think�oh dear gods!�

�So the big Orc can�t do [censored], and all these girls he�s dated have just been a front, huh? So that�s their game. Gils takes over�they�re tag teaming them.�

�What�s that?�

�Never mind, you just stay away from Gils. He�ll charm your pants off you and once he does he�s on to the next one. Don�t be stupid and believe him when he turns it on you.�

�Andronicus already warned me. She told me about Agronak�s glass jaw too.�

Owyn stopped walking again. �What?�

�She said that is how some Champion knocked him out twenty years ago. I knew he had a useless [censored], but didn�t know his jaw was glass.� I rhymed.

Owyn was too stunned to laugh. �So that�s why Gils paid�� Owyn suddenly stopped talking and was staring at me as if he was in shock.

�What? Why are you looking at me like that?�

�I just figured something out.� His expression looked calculating and he was staring hard at me. He shook his head. �So Gils has to know because he paid that Champion off to keep him from fighting Agronak. The kid knew�Andronicus couldn�t tell me because she holds his book��

�Held. She said she is dropping him, so she doesn�t care who knows now. She said Agronak did all this before with another girl, that it was deliberate. I just thought he was dumb like me. He�s my friend, why would he want to ruin me?�

�Because he ain�t right in the head. Gils said it was because he just lost his father back then, and he did get better till just here recently. Now he�s lost his mother, so it looks like he�s going downhill again. The father was the same way, died from a long illness that none of the healers could cure.�

�Er�she didn�t die from it Owyn. I didn�t tell Agronak because I didn�t want to upset him, but I found an empty bottle of poison in her bed when I was helping him clean up. And there was something weird in her journal too. She talked about dying as if it was going to happen any day, but it was written back when Agronak was young. Then she wrote the information on where to go get his proof of heritage.�

�Poison! I thought she looked awfully green!�

�Well, she is an Orc.�

�There�s a difference though, a good healer can see it. You say the whole bottle was empty? What size bottle?�

I nodded, and showed him with my hands the size of the bottle. �I guess she committed suicide.�

�She couldn�t have! No one can empty a bottle that size, you�d get too ill before you even got half that down!�

�Well it wasn�t spilled into the bedding. I pulled the old sheets off myself, that�s how I found the bottle. Agronak was with her that night she died, he was asking her about the proof of his heritage. He wants to prove he is really the son of a Lord. From what she said in the journal she prayed he�d never find out for some reason.�

�There�s something weird about his background. I don�t know what his other half is, but it ain�t human.�

�You think it was like�a Daedric Lord? I wonder which one? Oh! It would have to be Malacath! The shrine is right in that same area too! I can�t imagine his sweet mother making love to a Daedric Lord!�

Owyn wasn�t paying attention to me, he seemed lost in thought. Then suddenly he grabbed hold of my arm, startling me into shutting up.

�Listen Maxical. That Orc is crazy. You need to stay away from him from now on. I�m going to Jack and change his ban to a legal one so they can arrest him if he comes even near the door. I don�t want him around our Bloodworks period.�

�Better tell Gils, Agronak said Gils is the one that let him in after lockdown the other night. Should I sleep near you till Andronicus gets back?�

�Not unless you want her to kill you. Gils will protect you, he can be trusted when he�s needed. Don�t be stupid and think that�ll apply after she gets back though.�


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