A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Adventures, The Truth Behind The Oblivion Crisis Options

[mALX]

*



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.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Jul 28 2016, 08:19 PM

[Winter Wolf]

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.

Fathis may have galloped his horse straight into the gates of the city but for the guard on duty’s glare and shout.

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.

This post has been edited by Winter Wolf: Apr 25 2010, 08:25 AM

[Acadian]

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!

[Olen]

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...

[minque]

Great update mALXie!

He was just in time to see a girl fighting in a tight one piece Battle Raiment with a very short skirt.

“What is that she is wearing?” Fathis asked the man next to him.

“All the girls wear those. Gives us men something to think about.” The man said, then spat a huge green wad of something near Fathis’s foot.

made me laugh! So right on spot!

MOOOOORE Kitty sweetness....pretty please!

[Zalphon]

Nice work, mALX!

[mALX]

@ Winter Wolf - Oh I loved KOTN, (and the main questline!) You are in for some fun! Thank you Wolf!

***

@ 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!

***

@ Olen - Thank you so much! Anytime I can get a compliment from someone who writes as well as you do - Woo Hoo !!! Thank you!

***

@ Minque - Thank you so much Minque! You always pick out my favorite lines to quote! You ROCK!

***

@ Zalphon - Thank you so much Zalphon, I am so tickled to be back on the same forum with you again!

[mALX]

*


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.


***

This post has been edited by mALX: Apr 27 2010, 02:43 PM

[D.Foxy]

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!!!

[Acadian]

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!

[Winter Wolf]

New Damien 'Foxy' Reynard and Maxical stories ??!!!!?!!! Yippee.

Now that IS something I will stick around for.

Great writing mALX.

[mALX]

@ 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!

[mALX]

*


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.”


****

This post has been edited by mALX: Apr 29 2010, 10:45 PM

[Olen]

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.

Magic Conduction Disorders

That made me laugh.

“I peeped at the drawings in this tome when you confined me up here for my ill deeds

Classic

[D.Foxy]

i HAVE TO RUN NOW...bUT wILL pOST mORE WHAN EYE FEENEESH LAFFINK....OH MY STREAMING EYES....

[Acadian]

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’m wired wrong?”

I loved this!

[treydog]

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.

[mALX]

@ 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??????

[mALX]

*


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.






*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 2 2016, 06:39 AM

[Olen]

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