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

[Acadian]

Heck, I should just quote the whole opening segment. I absolutely reveled in Maxical’s ruminations. She was at her lovable, bewildered, swirling uncertain very best here. A most perfect example of why I love our kit.

In fact this whole episode was right up there among your very best.

“Blank your mind!” Uriel ordered.'
By Mara, Uriel, you know not what you ask! You may as well ask a big bear not to crap in the woods. Even worse, because asking Maxical to blank her mind will absolutely guarantee a wild flood of racing thoughts! Give her a book and tell her to read it or something! Her idea of singing a song was brilliant, but predictably doomed to failure.

Maxical the fat little worm!

“I didn’t forget it, just hoped you may have.” To my shock Uriel gave a brief smile.'
Brief smile? Heck, this gave me a big grin!

“I get that a lot, if true I must be everyone’s bad karma coming to bite them.”

And we come full circle in this episode. We both open and close with consideration given to getting Maxical ‘Gils'd’.

What a delightful episode this was!

This post has been edited by Acadian: May 21 2012, 12:21 AM

[King Coin]

why did the Arcane only teach that they had fangs and carried disease?
Because that’s what most people need to know about them!

Maxical singing! Don’t stop, you had him stunned!

Maxical’s running errands now? Is it safe for her to do so until she's met with Gils somewhere? She's going to mess this up somehow.

[ghastley]

Some singers can break glass with a sustained pitch. It's probably a good thing that Maxical can't, with the two "birds" outside the window!

Looking forward to all the extra complications that I'm sure are coming!

[Grits]

The first several paragraphs where Maxical is thinking that she is inadequate made me want to give her a hug. Until the Gils part where she was imagining the antics that would surround their hot session at the palace. That made me laugh.

“Blank your mind!” Uriel ordered.

Oh, that can’t be good! Maxical’s idea to sing was pure genius. How funny that she then had to debate which was the best song!

I gaped at him. “Sire! I don’t…I’ve read about women that do that in one of Casta Scribonia’s novels, but I’ve never…”

OMG, I was laughing so much that I almost forgot to worry about Maxical wafting her virgin blood around while she’s on those errands. And uh oh, complicated instructions and prostitutes might be a bad combination.

Now there’s also the possibility of Gils popping up somewhere if Uriel commands him to get busy with his wife and the orders manage to reach him. And then will it really be Gils? I love it!

[McBadgere]

Ah!, alas the Septim still does not suspect... ...*Sigh*...*Goes back to waiting*... ...

Brilliant stuff...Loved the songs...The last one was really nice...

Laughed at the response to the left hand/right hand thing... ...

I hope she has a better memory than me... ...I'd have absolutely no chance with that one... ...

Amazing stuff...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

[Darkness Eternal]

"Vampires were complex masters of subterfuge…why did the Arcane only teach that they had fangs and carried disease?"
Because the Arcane is limited to the mundane and the natural?

So, singing albino khajiits? She can play instruments and sing, very talented! And I thought Uriel wouldn't need someone with brains, considering he was pretty smart

[Darkness Eternal]

And yes, I watched the video too where Maxical was at the inn playing the lute(?)....shirtless...

[mALX]

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@ Acadian - LOVED your comments on this chapter, you had me rolling! Thank you so much Acadian !!

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@ King Coin - Lol, well she is going in daylight hours, hopefully the sunlight will protect her, lol. Thank you so much KC !!!

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@ Ghastley - ROFL !!! Now why didn't I think of that? ROFL!! Thank you so much, Ghastley !!

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@ Grits - Gils is probably the only person Malan could NOT impersonate without Maxical knowing instantly something was up - the moonsugar wouldn't come to her tongue, lol. It is killing me not to include my original Eyja in this story, but the war made it impossible. The first Eyja took on the Dark Brotherhood - it was the most fun write of my life, lol. Thank you so much Grits !!!

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@ McBadgere - ROFL !! Thank you so much McB !!!

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@ Darkness Eternal - I nearly choked to death laughing at your comment, I had completely forgotten about that vid - Maxical as the 'Topless Troubadour' ROFL !!! That must happen in the future as she goes downhill after the "Champion of Cyrodiil" role wears thin, ROFL !!! Thank you so much DE !!!!

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[mALX]

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Chapter 145: The Facts of Life



Uriel grabbed my arm none too gently. “This situation has become dangerous, not just your own safety but the security of the Palace is at risk. The ancients have become bold now, it is imperative you lose that which is drawing them.”

“I’m not against it, Sire…but does it have to be here at the Palace? I dreamed my first time would be romantic. Why can’t I just meet Gils at the Bloodworks instead of him coming here?”

“You think the Bloodworks would be more romantic than this Palace?”

“Infinitely.”

“That place you described as so filthy it called your name?”

“There are not vampire birds looking down at you through the glass ceiling, nor eight Khajiit in the next room with super hearing. Ocato isn’t shrieking, assassins aren‘t skulking about…not to mention an Emperor whose hearing is remarkably acute. I want privacy.”

“I see. Maxical, right now the Bloodworks is a highly active military base. It has been taken over by my Imperial Army as well as the Blades. The privacy you seek will not be found there. My runner can check the inns to see if any have a room available, but you must return here before nightfall.”

“Okay, but not Luther Broads. They have fleas in the beds, and Luther has peepholes drilled into all the rooms. They don’t even have a public bath, either…”

“I suppose you want dinner and a bottle of fine wine provided?”

“Brandy, please. I’ll write down the brand label…oh, were you being sarcastic?”

Uriel took the half scribbled note on the brandy from me and crumpled it. “You may take a bottle of brandy from my cabinet with you if you would like.”

“And some scented soap as well?”






***


Uriel exhaled loudly. “Mayhap the Smithy can shred a rose pathway leading to the room or shape horseshoes into a heart to place over the headboard between armor repairs.”

Was he baiting me again? “With my luck, one of the horseshoes would come loose and knock Gils in the head…” Uriel cut me off, his face reddened in anger.

“Enough! The time has come to put away childish notions of romance, Maxical. You are compromising the security of this throne, we are at war and the timing is critical. I will attempt to get Gils released and find a more suitable spot, but if unable you will have to forgo the childish dreams and seize the day.”

“S…seize the day? I don’t understand…”

“There is a tremendous battle ongoing at the Arena both day and night, nothing like you have seen here. We have been driving the vampires through the sewers during the daylight hours and sealing each sewer off to trap them directly beneath the Arena. If Gils is working the sewers they may not be able to get hold of him for days. Regardless you are putting this Palace at risk.”

“What? I don’t understand, what are you saying?“

“How much clearer must I say it? Whether Gils or any one of the seven hundred Legion below floors, you must rid yourself of that which is drawing danger to this Palace. Either you resolve this immediately or orders will be given Ocato…”

“OCATO!”

“If necessary. This matter is crucial to my security and must be resolved without further delay. With luck young Gils will be released so no extreme measures will be necessary. You are dismissed to rest, I want those errands run at daybreak.” Uriel waved me out.






***


How Uriel expected me to sleep after that, I don‘t know. I couldn’t face Nissy and the sisters, not now. I did understand Uriel’s point, especially after Malan and Jak fighting on the dome and trying to get in.

Understanding was one thing, but doing what he suggested…no. I couldn’t just bed some stranger. Maybe I’d have to give up my dream of it being perfect and romantic, but it had to be with Gils…it had to.

Without knowing why, I found myself running to Evangeline…literally running. I shot through the gauntlet of traps almost setting them off, heard the sisters guarding it mewl but ignored them. My eyes were blurred so badly with tears I could barely see where I was going, but Evangeline caught me just outside Ocato’s door. Her arms were surprisingly strong when she wrapped them around me and pulled me to a stop.

“Shhh…Maxical, what is wrong? Oh my dear, come to my room and tell me what is going on.”

She pushed a fancy leather pram out of the way and stripped off my armor before bundling me onto her bed and wrapping a thick quilt around me.

“Let me warm some milk for you dearest. Now you tell me what has you so upset.” Evangeline alternated coddling me with some sage wisdom.

“Uriel is right about the danger, Maxical. It will be no time at all before they breach the Palace. The city is filled with ancient vampires and your scent is going out like a beacon calling them in. With assassins plotting attacks and traitors in his midst, he can’t be worried about vampires staging a siege on the Palace.”

“I know, Evangeline. But according to Uriel, I’m to hop on Puny Ancus like a hungry leopard while he sleeps.”

“Bwaahaa! You‘d catch a load of yellow ticks in your fur if you did. Maxical, if Uriel can’t get your man here, you’ll have to do your duty for the security of the throne.”






***


”Evangeline, is there any way you know of that girls can lose that without being with a man?”

“Well, I’ve heard in Skyrim that the women attach leather straps to Horker tusks and tie them down onto another woman…”

I gaped at her. “Those giant beasts? That is the grossest thing I ever heard of! Won’t the Horker crush the other woman? And what is she even there for? Are Horkers tame? Just never mind, I don’t want to know any more about it.”

“But I… that‘s not what I meant…”

“Forget it, Evangeline. I’d do it with a strange man before a giant beast, not to mention some innocent woman getting mauled in the process. Isn‘t there some other way you know of?”

“Well, I’ve heard some girls lose it riding horses…”

“That’s disgusting! That’s just plain sick!”

“Maxical…never mind. Just drink this warm milk, I’ve mixed a little restorative in it.”

“It’s bad enough I have to give up the romance, but I can’t stand the thought of being with a stranger, Evangeline.”

“Well, there is Arch Mage Traven. You and he are close, and he is quite a handsome man.”

“He is, but he’s kind of more like a father figure to me.”

“Chef likes you.”

“No, he’s nice and everything, but…no.”

“Sir Damien…”

“NO! Although had I not stopped him he was seconds away from taking it from me by accident yesterday.”

“By accident? Do tell.” Evangeline’s eyes lit up, she loves to hear gossip

“The sisters seem to be quite taken with him, so much that they are teaming up to bed him. They invited him while in my room, I’m guessing he assumed it to be theirs. When he showed up I had snuffed the candles and was sleeping. He climbed on like he was mounting a horse and was almost at the finish line before I knew what was happening.”

“Now see how quick it could be over for you?”

“Not that finish line, Evangeline. I was talking about mine. I kneed him at least three times, and despite that…if you had heard how long he dallied with those women in the next room you may have erected a monument to him.”

“Maybe he uses that ‘Stallion Potion’ the alchemy shops have been shipping in from Skyrim lately.”

“Or maybe he is the stallion making the potions to sell.”

“Bwaahaa! Now see? You‘ve got your humor back. Are you feeling a little better?”

“No. Evangeline, can it be here in your room? I don’t want to be in my room where everyone can hear.”

“Of course you can, and I’ll make it nice and romantic for you here.”

“Thank you, Evangeline.”









******* Uriel Septim


“Where have you been for the last eight hours, Foxy? You took no leave of me, and left my protection in the singular hands of Maxical. It has become a state of emergency the way she is drawing vampires in, they will breach this Palace in no time if something isn‘t done.”

“I nearly captured Malan, but he escaped at the last minute…” Uriel cut him off.

“Since when do you take it upon yourself to leave my side in wartime? Your duty is here at my defense, not joining in the battle. We had vampires fighting on the dome, trying to pry the windows!”

“I apologize, Sire. When I saw him escaping the trap I followed him, may have found another nest of his. They tried to enter the dome?”

Uriel nodded briefly. “Write the location in your report. It is crucial Maxical act immediately. I’ve given her orders to that effect. If she can’t find the gumption to breed her husband then I’ll appoint someone to do the job. She endangers the security of this Palace, not to mention her own safety.”

“Is she against it?”

“No, just shows no initiative to solve this problem on her own. My hope is that her reticence was due to not knowing where young Gils has been stationed. We’ll see, I informed her where to find him. This is one task she should be able to handle without assistance, instead she tried to place the burden of it onto the throne. I gave her the ultimatum, now to sit back and see if she runs with it.”

“Did she take the bait?”

“She gave no indication of doing so. She’s been overly coddled, still sits back and waits to be hand fed. This is important to her as well, not just the security of the Palace. If she shows no initiative for this task then she‘ll be useless to me. I believe she thinks only to be an additional sword by my side, what need has the throne of that?”

“To be fair, you ordered her not to use any more Khajiit measures; that you wanted things done your way from now on.”

Uriel‘s brows raised in surprise. “Did she tell you that? It had no effect at the time, Foxy. She hung an effigy and dressed bodies in robes immediately afterward.”

“She may feel chastised that in doing so it endangered you. If you don’t mind my asking, what threat did you use to…goad her?”

Uriel’s brows fluttered between raised and lowered briefly. Maxical had been told not to discuss any of this with anyone, obviously she had discussed it with Foxy…but when could she have? Had Foxy stopped in her room on the way to his chambers?

“Ocato.”

“HA! If that doesn‘t motivate her to act, nothing will.”






***


“Based on what she’s shown so far in obeying my orders, I forbade her from going to the Arena before giving her a mission that will send her out alone. Follow in chameleon. Ensure her safety from any vampires of course, otherwise stay hidden. I want to see if she acts. If she returns straight from her assignment she‘ll have earned my disappointment.”

“Perhaps she should know of Captain Renault’s…interest.”

“Enraging her may be just what she needs, according to her dossier she thinks better when angered. I haven’t seen that yet, and I‘ve seen plenty of her temper. You‘ll have to follow closely if you tell her that, we don‘t know how disciplined she is yet. This can’t end in a murder.”

“If it comes to that, I’ll step in. A few stumbling blocks after baiting her may help as well, see how she overcomes them.” Damien suggested.

“Do it. I want her followed, and a detailed report on how she handles herself. Make sure to keep a close watch on her at that Arena, they are driving vampires out during daylight hours there and she could be at serious risk. If my Imperial Army or Blades act on her I want you to stay out of it. They are disciplined soldiers, she may take a beating but won‘t be killed.”

“She may give them a beating.”

“Ha! We‘ll see.”


*

[Athynae]

YAY!Caught up again...

What in Oblivion??? Uriel tells her not to discuss it but he did...I know M-Damien knows anyway but, well phooey...
I'm worried that something worse than just embarassment is going to happen...Uriel needs to have another dream or something before Max is harmed irreparably.

I will go back to pacing like a nervous parent while I wait for more. Great stuff mALX!

[Darkness Eternal]

"This situation has become dangerous, not just your own safety but the security of the Palace is at risk. The ancients have become bold now, it is imperative you lose that which is drawing them.”
*Rubs hands*. Oh yes, this is going to get better! So, the Imperial Palace is now a militarized fort rather than a..palace. Interesting.


"There is a tremendous battle ongoing at the Arena both day and night, nothing like you have seen here. We have been driving the vampires through the sewers during the daylight hours and sealing each sewer off to trap them directly beneath the Arena."
For some reason this makes me imagine the horror zombie movies where crazy zombies are running off trying to get through and people are holding them back. Also reminds me of 30 Days of Night somehow! And vampires trying to enter the dome too! Haha New Black Horse courier: "Pandemico Vampirico"

Poor Maxical! She's stressed in this chapter, obviously since she can't even see where she is running off too! Good chapter, I like seeing more of Uriel Septim! Never thought much about him in Oblivion, just an old guy that is royalty who sounds like Patrick Stewart. But this story definetly gives him more credit and more personality.

[King Coin]

“You think the Bloodworks would be more romantic than this Palace?”
I’m with the emperor. Whaaat??

OCATO?? Uriel’s playing dirty now, with a threat like that. Even if Maxical is being childish.

Horker tusks! Horses! I am dying here!

I can’t wait for the next chapter! With the enemy as an escort, what’s going to happen? I’m glad Maxical knows enough to not trust Foxy should he reveal himself or try something.

[ghastley]

Only Maxical would assume the horker tusks were still attached to the horker! My mind is still trying to picture it as she sees it!

Uriel's getting so close to unmasking the fake Foxy, it's excruciating. So I guess you'll keep that going for a few more installments.

[Acadian]

‘Was he baiting me again?’
Ya think?!?

‘She pushed a fancy leather pram out of the way and stripped off my armor before bundling me onto her bed and wrapping a thick quilt around me.’
I suspect that pram contained the coddled and sleeping Alix the Mouse!

“I know, Evangeline. But according to Uriel, I’m to hop on Puny Ancus like a hungry leopard while he sleeps.”

Horkers and horses and 700 soldiers, oh my!

“Enraging her may be just what she needs, according to her dossier she thinks better when angered. I haven’t seen that yet, and I‘ve seen plenty of her temper.”

Sir Damalan Ancientfox made another small booboo that Uriel seemed to cue on. . . .

[McBadgere]

That's just funny that is... ...

“You think the Bloodworks would be more romantic than this Palace?”

“Infinitely.”

...Actually, the whole first section had me in stitches...Brilliant stuff... ...

And the reaction to the horker tusk...And the Horse thing...So brilliantly done...

The idea of her basically being told to "Lie back and think of Tamriel" with Ocato was hillarious...

Grr...The Not-Damien...Oh, this teasing is getting painful mALX!!... ...And not in a good way... ...

Aaaamywho...

Amazing stuff...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

[Grits]

Maxical scribbling down her brandy order to give to the emperor had me rolling from the beginning. Poor Maxical! This is a very serious situation for her! I can’t imagine she dreamed that her first time would be with a horker tusk, either with the rest of the horker or with Captain Renault attached.

“No. Evangeline, can it be here in your room? I don’t want to be in my room where everyone can hear.”

“Of course you can, and I’ll make it nice and romantic for you here.”

With a “restorative” in the warm milk and possibly a pampered, obnoxious mouse in the fancy pram, I have some worries about this!!

More clues for Uriel, but I don't know if they'll point him in the right direction. I love it!!

[mALX]

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@ Athynae - Thank you so much Athynae !! ROFL !! I think Uriel trusts his own judgement better than Maxical's, lol. Loved what you said about nervous parent, that was sweet! Thanks again, Athynae !!

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@ Darkness Eternal - Thank you so much for those kind words, DE !!! It means a lot when the portrayal of Uriel comes through well, I don't have a good history of writing male characters, lol. Thanks again DE !!!

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@ King Coin - ROFL !!! Thank you so much, KC !!! Skyrim has added many touches in my story, but all of them originated from Helga's Bunk House, lol. You ROCK !!

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@ Ghastley - ROFL !! I don't think even I could picture what Maxical is in her mind, ROFL !! That is the hard part of writing in these installment chapters - it takes numerous chapters to write just one day, lol. Thank you so much Ghastley !!!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian !!! I know it has been a long time since the chapter came out, but Sir Damien (Malan, actually) - predicted Evangeline would start pushing that mouse around in a pram - you nailed it !! Lol. Thanks again Acadian !!

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@ McBadgere - Urk, I hope it isn't too aggravating !! It has actually only been a couple days, it has just covered numerous chapters. Sorry about that, and thank you so much McB !!!!

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits !!! I was worried about you all week with you being AWOL, hope you are well and NOT in pain !!! You ROCK !!!


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[mALX]

*


Chapter 146: Horkers and Trout



I woke up with a start, something didn’t feel right. Evangeline was gone, not just from the bed, but from her suite.

The loud harsh whispers of Khajiit were coming from outside Evangeline’s gapped door and echoing into the room through it. Khajiit don’t have the ability to whisper quietly.

What I heard was a replay of my conversation with Evangeline, repeated almost word for word in Khajiit. My blood was already boiling before I heard Sir Damien’s deep voice rumbling on a laugh. I flew out of bed and jerked the door wide open, livid.

“Why are my personal conversations behind closed doors being repeated to this…this…ARGH!“

The sister’s eyes flickered defensively, but there was a feeling of remoteness in them. For the second time since we’d met I suddenly felt like an outsider, an intruder in their midst. Without saying a word, she returned to her post. I rounded on Sir Damien next.

“I want an explanation why my private conversations are being carried to you, Sir Damien.”

“At Uriel’s request. He thought you were upset when you left his chambers. I asked the Khajiit and they said you ran to Evangeline in tears. Naturally they listened at the door.”

“ARGH! I won’t be spied on and have my every word repeated!” I clenched my fists in frustration.

There could be no more poignant example of what would happen if I tried to mate in this Palace. I had no more privacy in Evangeline’s room than my own. The sisters would listen at the door and tell everything to anyone that would listen.

My first time would not be in this Palace, regardless of Uriel’s orders I was going to the Bloodworks and find Gils. If we couldn’t safely go to our spot on the Rumare, then I’d just as soon be locked in the bathing room at the Bloodworks than here.

Sir Damien hadn’t moved, I glared up at him. “Well? You found what you needed to know, what now?”

If Uriel could see Sir Damien’s eyes now, he’d have to agree the man was in the deep throws of Skooma addiction. They were on fire, glittering through the slits of the mask with a fierce look that made me feel like a rabbit with a leopard closing in on it. As I gaped at him, he swiped drool from his mouth onto the his sleeve of his greatcloak.

His odd stare made me long for my sword…and armor, dear gods I was undressed! No wonder he was staring!

“You look like you’re dressed to go out, don’t let me hold you back.” I took a quick step back and slammed the door shut, sliding the bolt immediately.






***




Dagoth-Malan as Sir Damien:


http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS...a20Ys0B6rwb-QpA





“Wait, there is something important I need to tell you. Let me in, this will only take a moment.”

“I don’t desire drooling Skooma addicts in my bedchamber, Sir Damien. Speak through the door if you must.”

“You won‘t want others hearing this, the information is private.”

“As was my conversation with Evangeline. You may as well shout it from atop the dome as whisper it in my ear.”

“I was just obeying orders, Maxical. This information is about Gils, surely you don‘t want me calling it through a door.”

The air felt like it suffocated in my lungs. “Gils? Is he…okay?” My hand reached automatically for the bolt, but I froze before sliding it back.

“Aren’t you going to open the door?“

“I am undressed, Sir Damien. Tell me through the door, is he okay?”

“Uriel sent me to retrieve Gils, I have just come from there…please, this is something you will not want to hear through a door.”

“Was he alive?”

“…Well, yes…but…”

“Was he injured?”

“No, but he’s not coming. He wasn‘t alone, Maxical.”

“Of course he wasn’t alone, there is a whole military base set up there.”

“That’s not what I meant. He is not alone, he is refusing to leave the Bloodworks.”

“He is not alone in refusing? How many others were you sent to get?”

“I was only sent for Gils.”

“You aren‘t making much sense, Sir Damien. Perhaps you should wait till you‘re sober to deliver messages. You really should get help for that Skooma problem.”

“I am NOT on Skooma, ARGH!”

“Then why were you trying to get the others to come?”

“I WASN’T! Gils was ordered to come to the Palace immediately. He was not alone when I found him. He refused to come.”

“Of course he refused, no one in their right mind would expect him to cross at night with thousands of vampires in a frenzy. That‘s all you need tell me, Uriel can pass any further information. Good night, Sir Damien.”






***


As soon as day broke I hurried out to do those chores for Uriel, but froze in the Palace Entryway. They were hanging another list of the dead, nailing it to the outside of the door. With a sinking in my stomach I read over the names there, making sure no one I knew was among them. Since Uriel had been sealing the humans up at night there were very few names added to the list, none of them familiar to me.

A line-up began forming on the sidewalk out front, women looking for husbands or son’s names. Fathis‘s name would never be on that list, since Malan stole his identification papers to impersonate him.

Only those identified by documentation found on the bodies or by another that knew them were listed. I don’t know how or why, but it was a relief not to see his name on there in print. As long as Fathis’s name stayed off that list I could live in a state of mental denial that eased the grief Uriel would not allow me to feel.

Just as I stepped back to allow others to read the older woman beside me at the door began keening and crumpled to the ground, her knees buckling beneath her. She was nearly trampled by the line of women surging forward.

The guards hadn’t placed any ashes outside for the grievers yet. I had to squeeze back in to keep from the door pushing against her, and grabbed the nearest guard.

“Where are the ashes for the grieving?”

He pointed to a bucket of ashes. “Tell her to come in for his belongings, no bodies are being released. Can’t hold funerals with the war on, and the remains are needed. Ocato is going to burn the corpses at the end of the war and each name on the list will get a posthumous award and stipend for their service to the Empire.”

“Dear gods!” For the first time I wondered if Fathis’s body was in one of those stacks dotting the districts. The idea of someone I knew being among those rotting bloated corpses being used by the mages nightly had never occurred to me before. Dear gods, I hoped never to see it if he is out there. I would fall on my own sword beside it if I was to see Fathis in that condition.

From high up in Uriel’s dome they were just faceless and nameless blurs that may contain Hannibal…not real people. The sudden realization that Fathis’s body could be being used beyond his death filled me with rage, and a hatred I’ve never known in my life for the vampire that caused this war...Malan.






***


The stench of decomposing flesh permeated the air as soon as I stepped away from the Palace, curdling my already queasy stomach. I kept my eyes averted from the stacks of bodies and sought only one sight, Hannibal’s filthy blue robe. It almost caused me to break into a headlong run to him again, but at the last minute I remembered Uriel may be watching and ground to a walk.

Hannibal agreed readily to bring the tomes and was positively unseemly in his eagerness to bring his bloodletting equipment.

“Hannibal, I have a need to see you in your capacity as a physician other than the bloodletting Uriel wants done...and a desperate need to talk to you about something dire. Please, Hannibal…can you come stay at the Palace a while? If naught else you can have my bed and I‘ll sleep on the floor.”

It was truth, I needed him desperately. Just some part of my life from before this war began, something to cling to and feel that when this all ended things may go back to being normal once again.

Hannibal’s curiosity could be counted on to send him hot-footed to pack if I told him nothing more. He looked owlishly intrigued.

“Are you ill? You don’t look your usual self, what is wrong?“

“I can’t tell you here, just pack whatever you need to stay and to treat medically. Oh, and I need some scrolls for duplicating, can you bring some please?”

“If it will keep me from having to crawl under another corpse I will stay indefinitely. I’ll have to go back to the Arcane for a bath and those items, but I’ll come straight away.“

It struck me that Hannibal might know some professional medical ways to end my virginity without breeding, things that Evangeline obviously didn‘t.

“Hannibal, on a completely different subject…er…is there a way a girl might lose her virginity without being with a man? You know, like…er…any other way it can be done?”

“There have been some cases where girls have lost it riding a horse.”

I gaped at him. “Not you too! Hannibal, that is just plain gross! It’s disgusting! I thought as a physician you might know some medical way. And don’t bother telling me about Horkers either, EW! Just never mind. I’d rather leap on Puny Ancus like a hungry leopard.”

“Puny Ancus? What? Maxical, you misunderstood! Never mind, we‘ll talk about it when I get to the Palace.”






***


As Uriel instructed, I sought out the Publican at the Tiber Septim Hotel. Augusta Calidia eyed the large bill I slid towards her greedily.

“Is there a…uh…prostitute here that goes by the name, Eyja?”

“Up these stairs here, third door on the left.”

My early visit woke Eyja, her sleepy eyes gave that away, although she was fully dressed. Whatever I was expecting Eyja to be, she was nothing like…well, except she was a Nord, and I had expected that by her name. She was beautiful, clean and dressed in fine clothing.

Her eyes alternated between supreme intelligence and a sleepy look that was more than a bit sultry. I handed her the wrong note, never asked for her code and couldn’t have remembered the right one had she given it.

“Uh, he said I should just leave after handing you the note.”

She held up her hand to stop me, glanced over the note quickly and then back up at me.

“Did you read it?”

“No, of course not!”

“Don’t you think you should know what a note says if you are going to carry it for someone?”

“But wouldn’t it be wrong to breach someone’s trust and open their personal correspondence?”

“Here, take a look.” Eyja handed the note to me.






***


My dear, Eyja -

It has been too long since I’ve had the pleasure of your services, and I find myself in desperate straits without them. Forsake the others that clamour at your door and come to me immediately.

Remember to bring your boots, you know how much I love to see you in them. The more you bring, the better…and I hope you’ll stay and keep me company for some time. This can be your war effort, helping this old shut-in play “Find the Trout.”

Wear what you know I like, and come packed to stay a while.

Your best lover, Justin

PS: The cat will join our fun, but she‘ll need some lessons from you first!




I gasped, fuming that I had carried something like that. What had Uriel meant by the cat joining in their fun? He was going to see my temper when next we met.

Eyja took it back. “Next time, don’t let someone hand you a note and carry it till you know what it is you are carrying.”

“You mean this was a joke on me?”

“How would I know? You didn’t tell me who it was from.”

“Oh. I was supposed to show you this first.” I handed Eyja the missive with Uriel’s code on it.

She glanced at it as if she already knew what it would say, then tossed it into the fireplace and pushed it around with a poker till it was naught but ashes.

“So, the old man wants to play some ‘Hide the Trout‘, huh?”

“Ew, that is disgusting! Wait, didn’t it say ’Find the Trout’?”

“Yeah, well when they’re old you gotta find it first before you can hide it.”

“EW! That’s the last thing I needed to hear today. Urk, gaaaah.”


*

This post has been edited by mALX: May 28 2012, 08:44 PM

[ghastley]

Another very Maxical chapter, she can get almost anything wrong!

But "Justin" did this one - Forsake the others that clamber at your door and come to me immediately. I think he meant to write clamor (although I'd spell it clamour, 'cos I'm foreign that way.)

She's getting so close to deciding that Damien really isn't Damien that it's amost painful. I'm sure she won't know who he really is even then.

[Acadian]

Hannibal – and more talk of horses, horkers and hungry leopards! Poor Maxical.

’I handed her the wrong note, never asked for her code and couldn’t have remembered the right one had she given it.’
Isn’t this just normal operating procedure for our confused kitty?

Oh noes! Uriel wants Maxical to lose her virginity to a trout! And insult to injury, he going to make her find it first!!

I just knew that somehow you'd bring Eyja back to us (from Maxical 1.0).

Yup, this whole episode was pure Maxical all right.