Lex and the Thief, Might as well post this one as well... Options

[Ornamental Nonsense]

Chapter 6:

Mandila peered out from around the corner and beamed with delight.

"Here he comes," she warned while ducking back behind the wall. She and Methredhel were standing at the end of the harbor, hiding behind the last building where stone walkway gave way to a grassy slope, and trying to time their trap with the utmost perfection.

"You know his routine from top to bottom," Methredhel teased Mandila, who was too busy enjoying herself to rise to the goading.

"Shhh! He's almost there." Lex would usually stop by the edge of the harbor to watch the countryside for a few moments before returning to his office, and today was no exception. Mandila had been waiting for this, expecting him to arrive sometime before the sun was at its highest. Then he would check in at the barracks and head to the Market District for lunch, but unlike other days, he'd have something extra to distract him this evening.

His footsteps drew nearer, and Mandila nodded to Methredhel. They would begin as soon as the captain's boots stilled, for they knew that his sharp ears would easily overhear the bait that they were about to set. Sure, he didn't have elfin ears, but he seemed to pickup on more conversations than Mandila ever did. Then again, that might have something to do with their levels of concentration...oh well. The anticipation of how he would respond to this trap almost made Mandila giggle, but she didn't, for it would definitely ruin the nature of their plot.

Now, she mouthed to Methredhel, who was also forcing herself not to grin.

"Mandila," the other thief began, "You know how important this is. I told him that you'd be there." Oh, this was going to be excellent, and both of them knew it. Methredhel even gave Mandila a wicked wink.

"But isn't there another time?" Mandila asked with an adopted, consternated voice.

"No. It has to be tonight, sister. And if you don't go, you know who you'll have to answer to. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and you can't mess it up!"

"Fine," Mandila sighed. "I'll do it. I suppose I haven't been very active lately."

"Good. So you know what you have to do?" At this point Mandila had to pinch herself to keep a straight face, but she managed to do so.

"Yeah. I remember the trick that you showed me. But where am I meeting him again?"

"The Feed Bag, 10 o'clock sharp."

"Okay. I'll be there, but I wouldn't go if Armand wasn't insisting on it." Methredhel snorted and leaned in a little closer to Mandila with a conspiring smirk...

"Oh, we both know that you secretly want to be there, sister." Mandila rolled her eyes and motioned for Methredhel to leave. Thanks, she mouthed, and the older Bosmer simply shook her head as if she couldn't believe what her fellow thief was planning to do. "Enjoy your evening," she said, "but not too much."

"Have a good day," Mandila said in parting, but she didn't move. She remained in her position, listening for signs of Lex, who she gathered was still there due to the lack of noise. She counted the seconds away before the sound of metal boots reached her ears, signaling his departure. His pace was calm and even, but Mandila knew that the captain was digesting everything that he had overheard—maybe even planning how to handle it. Now it was time to wait and see if he took the challenge, which she was sure that he would. He had found a lockpick on her after all, and since he wanted to catch her red-handed, this would be an irresistible opportunity for him. Of course, there was always the chance that he'd send someone else to spy on her, but it wasn't likely. Lex liked to personally handle people who'd caused him trouble, and Mandila fell into that category with no small amount of pride.

When the footsteps faded, she popped out of hiding and lackadaisically strolled along the harbor, her hands tucked into her pockets. She tried not to look at him, but it was inevitable, and so she didn't fight the urge for long. He stood with two other guards near The Bloated Float, his mouth moving, but his eyes continually shifting towards her. She smiled, and her feet moved toward him of their own accord as her excitement about spending an entire evening with him mounted—or something like that. It wasn't like they'd actually be interacting, but he would be there, and she'd be there. Maybe she'd finally get to see him in civilian clothing, for he couldn't possibly spy in a captain's armor.

"Sir, no one that I know has ever seen this Grey Fox," one of the guards was saying. Mandila was getting closer now, and she could easily overhear the conversation from her place in the background.

"I have already gone over the evidence," Lex stated. "And we have been through this several times. If you will not respect my directions as your superior, you can either transfer to another captain or resign."

"My apologies, sir," the guard immediately answered. "I simply have a hard time believing it."

"Most of the men do," the other guard added, making Lex's eyes harden into icy pools of determination. Gods, but did the other guards always undermine his work? Mandila had suspected as much since she'd heard several laugh at the Grey Fox, but surely someone saw that Lex was actually correct in his hunches. Then again, perhaps he stood alone in his quest, and if that were true, Mandila realized that to constantly act when others mocked must be beyond frustrating. Maybe that was part of the reason that he was so harsh in dealing out punishment. His life could not be easy, even if he had more money than anyone on the waterfront.

"I don't care whether you believe it or not," Lex ground out. "But you will follow orders to the best of your abilities."

"I'm not saying that I won't, sir," one guard began. "Forgive my brashness. I..." For some unknown reason, Mandila felt annoyed by the constant questioning of Lex that she was witnessing. Everyone on the waterfront knew how dangerous and accurate the captain's obsession was, and Mandila certainly knew how dedicated Lex was to that obsession, so why did he catch so much dirt from people? He helped anyone who needed it, yet no one appreciated it. No one appreciated how unique he was. But I do. Mandila didn't even realize that she had walked into the middle of the guards until she spoke.

"How would you know if the Grey Fox exists or not?" she threw at the men, her voice tight with annoyance. "And if you lived here or bothered to open your eyes, you'd know the truth." What the hell? Mandila wanted to cover her mouth and run and hide, but there she was, standing in front of these two guards with her hands on her hips. The three men were stunned into silence, and she felt Lex staring at her from the side, probably speculating over her unexpected outburst.

This is awkward...and I'm officially dead.

"Um," Mandila said, smiling uncomfortably. "That's what you get for being thickheaded." Why, oh why did her mouth have to run away from her? This was the dumbest thing that she had ever done in the history of her life. Lex was the enemy, so she shouldn't be defending him, especially if it included confirming his mission. As a member of the Thieves' Guild, her comment would make Armand tie a stone to her ankle and toss her into the harbor. Gods, but she was so idiotic sometimes. Still, as she glanced at Lex, something about his face looked softer, kinder, and it made her happy that she had spoken.

"We'll be going, sir," a guard stated.

"Very well," Lex agreed, and the others returned to patrol, leaving Mandila and Lex alone. The captain almost looked tired, his blue eyes losing their edge, and his posture less rigid. "I don't need you to defend me, citizen," he told her.

"I know," she replied. "Good day, sir." She gave a small, forced smile, and then returned to walking. Long after she could no longer see him, she knew that he was focused on her, and she kept imagining how aged he had looked when he'd dismissed her. His face bore no lines or wrinkles, but she could see where they would form from the seriousness with which he treated life. It seemed that his drive was a burden to himself as well as the poor, and she decided that there was something about the captain worth compassion. He never seemed like a man to need such a thing, but the way that he had looked at her...Yes, Lex was human like everyone else, and the incident would stay with both the thief and the captain for hours as they awaited evening.

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

Mandila couldn't wait. The anticipation was almost killing her, and there was still an hour left before she departed. She spent that time brushing her hair and changing, wanting to look mildly nice since she was going out for the evening. It was rare that she bothered fixing her appearance, but she did have something tucked away for special occasions, and this definitely counted as special in her mind. With a bounce in her step, she pulled on a deep blue skirt with flowers embroidered along the hemline, and to match the feminine look, she tied a green sash around her waist. The fabric was smooth and of much higher quality than what most waterfront people could afford, for it had been the only gift that she'd ever received from her father. He had been a merchant with money, and this was all that she had left of him from the one day that she'd known him.

"Bygones are bygones," Mandila accepted, glad that the man had bothered with even the smallest of gestures. She brushed the morose topic aside as she finished her outfit with a billowing, white top that exposed an ample amount of cream-colored shoulder, and then she exited her home. She meandered into the city and down streets and alleys, killing time as she awaited the appointed hour. She would be alone tonight, but that didn't matter. The only thing that could possibly go wrong was if Lex didn't show up, because then she'd need to go looking for him. There was no guarantee that he'd come inside The Feed Bag, for he might wait outside with a plan to trail her afterwards.

Mandila frowned as she reached her destination and stepped into the warming atmosphere of the establishment. Numerous lanterns glowed about the wooden tables that dotted the floor before a countertop where the publican stood. The smell of fresh bread wafted out from the kitchen while mugs clinked together and people chatted. There was a decent crowd this evening, and Mandila briefly greeted a few people as she made her way toward a deserted table against the wall. From here she could keep a lookout on the entire room, and she liked how the stairs were at the far side of the floor, meaning that no one unexpected could join the crowd. It was a natural instinct to keep herself in a safe position, although if Methredhel had been here, she was sure that they'd end the night by dancing on the countertop. That had happened before, and the publican had allowed it since it attracted customers.

Good times, Mandila smiled. But tonight had the potential to top that event.

"Hey, Mandila!" the publican shouted with a wave. "What would you like, sweetheart?"

"Whatever's cheapest," she answered with a laugh. "Two of them!" Soon she was nursing a bottle of some dreadful, cheap ale, but she didn't care. It burned down her throat, and all she could think about was Lex. He hadn't shown up, and she was supposed to be meeting her mysterious contact in about ten minutes. Just as she was losing hope, the door swung open, and in walked a man with a red tunic and tan breeches. A cloak trailed over his back, and the hood was halfway over his face as he ordered something from the owner.

His hand lifted to exchange coins, and Mandila could only stare. Maybe it was the way that he walked, but she knew that it was Lex. His controlled movements and quick location of a lonesome bench were straight to business, and although he chose a table that did not afford Mandila an easy view of him, she thought that she caught a glint of familiar eyes when he took off the hood. If she wasn't expecting him, she probably wouldn't have noticed him in his regular garb and location across the room, where the lantern light was dimmer. He looked so damned ordinary, and he slipped right into the crowd, even as he kept his distant from it.

"Nice of you to show, captain," Mandila commented beneath her breath, leaning forward as she grabbed her second bottle of ale. She took a sip and fought back a gag. "What is this?!" she demanded, shouting across the room, which sent several men and women into fits of laughter.

"My special recipe," the publican joked.

"It's vile!" Mandila chuckled as she took another long sip. The alcohol swam in her belly, warming her, but she wasn't intoxicated. She was only settling into the environment, and she was not one for getting drunk since she hated throwing up. So she was a mild drinker, but she could still feel a light buzz affecting her body as she watched Lex drinking a deep, red liquid. It looked like wine, and she tried not to make her awareness of him obvious as he proceeded to scan the room. She looked away as his attention seemed to flicker in her direction, but it was difficult to tell where he was looking given his shadowy location.

I wonder what he thinks about my outfit.

"How about another one, Mandila?" the publican asked.

"I'd rather die," she laughed, pushing her bottles aside. Such a foul concoction had never before been seen, and she'd had enough for her tolerance. So she settled her elbows on the tabletop and pretended to be waiting for someone, looking around every once in an while, and playing with her hair. She ordered some bread, snacked a little, appeared to get impatient and loudly asked the publican if anyone had come in looking for her. The acting was exactly what was needed to keep Lex interested, and as one hour turned into two, Mandila herself was starting to tire of the game. How could Lex sit there and look so comfortable? The man had barely changed position since his arrival.

"Akatosh have mercy," she announced, wondering how she would keep herself and Lex here for another few hours. "I need another one!" Amid laughter she tackled her third drink, and it slowed her reaction time. When she next looked at Lex, he was staring directly at her, and their eyes met across the room. Now there was no denying that she knew of his presence, and considering how much she had ingested, she didn't particularly care. With a broad smile that naturally came to her upon meeting his gaze, she stood and began walking across the room, Lex's attention never leaving her as she did so. The game was up, but she still had to keep him here rather than letting him leave now that he'd been found out.

"Fancy meeting you here, captain," she greeted, setting her drink down at his table. "Would you like some company?" Before Lex could answer, she sat herself down beside him, and now she was with him in the opposite corner of the room, backs to the wall, side-by-side, watching a room from which they were detached.

"Your company never arrived," Lex stated.

"No," Mandila agreed. "But it's no sore loss. I didn't want to spend an evening with that guy anyway. And," she smirked, "You're much better company, but you never believe me." Lex snorted as he took another sip of wine, and Mandila loved how the lighting exposed his best features. Perhaps it was the atmosphere and alcohol, but he looked more relaxed here, and she could have stared at him all night. "I didn't know that you come here," she said, trying to start a conversation.

"I usually don't," came the short reply, and he finished his glass. "Be careful on the streets at night, citizen," he advised, his body beginning to rise from the bench.

No.

Mandila's hand shot out, and she laid it on his shoulder. She couldn't let him leave this early, and she didn't want him to go either. They'd barely spoken a word to one another, and she didn't think that she'd get the captain into a bar again. Ever.

"Please," she said. "Tonight has been a real disappointment, and having a drink with someone is the only way to salvage it."

"I am on duty tomorrow," Lex answered, and Mandila giggled.

"You're always on duty," she argued. "It's only one drink, and it would make me happy. Who knows? Perhaps my late company will show up before we're done. I can't leave yet, but I don't want to be bored." Lex slowly retook his seat and waved to the publican, who approached with a surprised expression at seeing him with the Bosmer.

"Yes, sir?" he asked.

"Another glass."

"And more minotaur spittle for me," Mandila added. "If I can survive this, I can survive anything," she told Lex as she took another swallow. "Would you like to try some?" Lex arched his eyebrows and took the bottle from her with a frown. He sniffed the air directly above the drink and cringed.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Afraid that the elf is trying to poison you?" Mandila teased, knowing that the alcohol was making her looser with her speech. She was less inhibited than usual, and while part of her knew how very bad that could be with Lex here, the desire to touch the lips that were currently fastened to her bottle made her eyes widen in distraction. Methredhel had dared her to kiss those lips, and tonight was well-suited for that sort of thing. Gods, but Lex was having a drink with her. Maybe he was only doing it in hopes that her nonexistent contact would arrive, but still, could life get any better than this?

"It's dreadful," Lex complained, setting the bottle down while he cleared his throat. "I can't believe that you're drinking that."

"There's an upside," Mandila countered.

"Oh?"

"It's dirt cheap." Lex smiled, and Mandila's jaw nearly dropped off of her face. Now she had seen everything, and never had she wanted to attack his lips like she wanted to now. With her intense staring, Lex must have noticed her expression, and he rolled his shoulder in a gesture that should not have been as fascinating as it was.

"You never saw a thing," Lex said with a dry sense of humor.

"Of course not," and Mandila smiled back at him. "I won't tell a soul that Captain Serious smiled." She thought that his eased features might again indulge in a smile when his face returned to its usual, sober nature as the publican arrived with a glass of wine and another bottle of cheap ale.

"Take that back," Lex said, motioning to the bottle in the man's hand. "And bring her a glass of Tamika's." The publican did as told, and Mandila found herself sipping on a very rich and filling red wine. "It's the best that they have here," Lex explained while Mandila ran a tongue over her lips to savor every little drop. "You've never had wine before, have you?" he asked, sounding amused.

"I have, but nothing like this. Cheap wine is about as good as cheap ale, if you know what I mean. Thank you." Lex continued drinking, and Mandila tilted her head to get a better view of his face. He was so handsome, and was she actually leaning in closer to him, or was it her imagination? She admitted that she had now definitely drank more than intended, for social convention wasn't preventing her from openly staring at him in the least. In fact, she was certain that her features were set in that fascinated, contemplative expression that betrayed her interest to everyone on the harbor—everyone except Lex. But then again, she could tell that he was carefully examining her as he drank his wine. Unlike her, he was far from being affected by his drinking.

"Why are you watching me drink?" he asked.

"I like watching you," Mandila conceded to the horror of her rational self.

"And the way that I hold my glass is interesting?" he challenged. "I hardly think that's worth your time."

"You're always worth the time," and with that, Mandila lapsed into a serious expression, her hands itching to touch his face. "You don't have any idea...the way you walk and talk, how nothing can touch you...you never give up. You..." She seemed to catch herself, and shook her head as if that would help clear her thoughts. "I'm sorry if I bothered you today. I didn't mean to stick my nose in your business."

"Yes, you did," Lex corrected her. Damn. Well, she did make it obvious, didn't she?

*********

Lex's head was still ringing with the shock of her words. It had to be the alcohol in her that was talking, for there was no way that this elf that targeted him at every turn was so genuinely adoring of him. But the way that she was gazing at him made it seem like he was the most important thing in her world—as if he were the most interesting person alive. "You've had too much to drink," he told her, but maybe that could work to his advantage.

"Yes," she agreed. "So ignore me—not that I want you to."

"You should drink less next time."

"I know...and you should wear clothing like this more often. The armor is nice, but you look so formal in armor—not like now." She reached out to touch his tunic, and Lex caught her hand, feeling the smoothness of her palm and the way that she seemed to willfully slip it into his grasp.

"Who were you waiting for?" he questioned, and her eyes shifted to the tabletop.

"You," she replied, and Lex's eyes narrowed.

"You had no idea that I would be here," he reasoned. "So who were you really waiting for?"

"I was hoping that you'd come," Mandila smiled. "So the other person doesn't matter. He was...well, Methredhel wanted me to meet him. She thinks that I need to get out more—romantically that is—and she has this cousin who she thinks would be perfect...oh, it doesn't matter! He's not here, and I wanted to meet you, not him." The more she spoke, the more Lex suspected that something was going on, but he couldn't prove it, and Mandila was being very careful to watch her words, even in her tipsy state. "You can let go," she told him, and Lex released her hand. She kept staring at it with a frown once the limb was returned to her lap.

"Why did you defend me today?" Lex asked, knowing that he wouldn't discover what she was hiding by putting pressure on her.

"You don't deserve to be laughed at," Mandila sighed. "The Grey Fox does exist." Lex's investigative instincts kicked into overdrive as he leaned closer to Mandila, speaking into her ear so that others couldn't hear. The girl looked nervous now, and well she should.

*****

Lex's breath sent goosebumps across her skin, and his lips were so close now that Mandila could almost hear Methredhel taunting her from the back of her mind.

"How do you know he exists?" Lex asked. "Have you seen him?"

"I can't tell you that, captain," she replied. She turned her head so that she was facing him, their noses barely separated by six inches, and she was looking right into his piercing eyes.

"You can tell me," he promised. "I'm an officer of the law. I'm bound to do what's right."

"Only in your own eyes," she told him. "I..." Mandila couldn't resist any longer, and before she knew it, her lips were on his. She felt him stiffen in surprise as she leaned against his hard chest, hands resting on the bench and one of his thighs to support herself as she nearly fell into him. His lips were as soft as she had imagined, and as she worked her mouth against his, she realized how very wrong this was. People could be watching. Someone would tell Armand.

Armand can go to Oblivion. Her mouth moved some more, even as Lex's lips were fixed into a straight line.

"Sorry," she said as two strong arms gripped her shoulders and pushed her back. Lex stared at her with an unreadable expression as he supported her still leaning body. She would have noticed how serious he had grown except that she was too busy staring at his lips and wanting to touch them again. Against her will a blush rose to her cheeks, and she pulled away from him. "I should go home," she stated, rising from her seat so quickly that she almost lost her balance.

"This discussion isn't over," Lex told her. "I'll find you once you're sober."

"I'm sure you will," she said, and then, with more uncertainty: "Sir, I didn't mean..."

"It's all right, Mandila," he told her, and his face again softened. "You're obviously not thinking properly right now. Go home."

"Thank you, sir." With that, Mandila left The Feed Bag and made her way down the darkened streets, wondering why she had dared to hope that Lex would respond to her kiss. Of course he wouldn't. He was Lex! Still, she was disappointed, and the comments that she had let slip were bothering her. Alcohol plus her deadened mood were a bad combination, and the more she thought about it, the more she wished that she could go back there and demand that Lex give her a decent kiss. His lips had been so smooth, and if he'd only given it a chance...

"Goodnight, captain," she said into the night as she reached her front door. Tomorrow she would feel better, and then she'd laugh about this. She had won her bet after all, and that was worth something. Too bad she hadn't gotten what she wanted most, and the fact that she wanted it most confused her inebriated mind. She fell asleep, thinking of kisses and blue eyes, not knowing that someone had followed her home, both to make sure that she didn't land herself in trouble, and to see if she exposed any evidence against the Thieves' Guild. When she didn't, the captain left her be, a shadow among the night that would have done a thief proud.

This post has been edited by Ornamental Nonsense: Aug 5 2010, 07:23 PM

[haute ecole rider]

Let's get the obligatory nit-picking out of the way:

He looked so damned ordinary, and he slipped right into the crowd, even as he kept his distant from it.

It should read 'his distance', or drop the 'his' altogether - 'he kept distant from it.'

And you've switched POV again:

"I like watching you," Mandila conceded to the horror of her rational self.

"And the way that I hold my glass is interesting?" he challenged. "I hardly think that's worth your time."

"You're always worth the time," and with that, Mandila lapsed into a serious expression, her hands itching to touch his face. "You don't have any idea...the way you walk and talk, how nothing can touch you...you never give up. You..." She seemed to catch herself, and shook her head as if that would help clear her thoughts. "I'm sorry if I bothered you today. I didn't mean to stick my nose in your business."

"Yes, you did," Lex corrected her, his head still ringing with the shock of her words. It had to be the alcohol in her that was talking, for there was no way that this elf that targeted him at every turn was so genuinely adoring of him. But the way that she was gazing at him made it seem like he was the most important thing in her world—as if he were the most interesting person alive. "You've had too much to drink," he told her, but maybe that could work to his advantage.

and again:

"Why did you defend me today?" Lex asked, knowing that he wouldn't discover what she was hiding by putting pressure on her.

"You don't deserve to be laughed at," Mandila sighed. "The Grey Fox does exist." Lex's investigative instincts kicked into overdrive as he leaned closer to Mandila, speaking into her ear so that others couldn't hear. His breath sent goosebumps across her skin, and his lips were so close now that she could almost hear Methredhel taunting her from the back of her mind.

Now on to the fun stuff:

I laughed at the girls setting the bait for Lex in the beginning. Fortunately Lex wasn't around to hear me!

And is that Mandila a load of hormones or what? So that's what one glass of bad ale does to her (minotaur spittle, indeed! ), let alone three. And a glass of wine on top of that? Girl, didn't anyone ever tell you to never mix your drinks! I really enjoyed Mandila letting go of her inhibitions and nearly giving the game away. And she finally gets her kiss! Too bad it wasn't quite what she imagined.

[Ornamental Nonsense]

I meant to split the section to show Lex's POV, but forgot to break the paragraphs and put markers. All fixed now, or so I hope. I'm not sure if it still disrupts the flow of the story or not...

[Acadian]

I'm with Rider. Hormones + booze = Oh my!

My opinion of Lex just skyrocketed. The man obviously has fine taste in wine. Yes, Tamika's is the best in Cyrodiil. I also see that he knows how a gentlemen handles a lady who has had just a touch too much to drink. I'm beginning to see why Mandilla likes him.

A fun read.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Aug 5 2010, 08:21 PM

[SubRosa]

You know, it just occurred to me that the movie version should have Ellen Page (of Juno and Whip It), playing Mandila. I'm not sure about Lex yet though.

I love Mandila's little trap. More so though, I love how she could not help but to butt into Lex's conversation with the two Watchmen (Nite Owl and Rorsarch?).

This is awkward...and I'm officially dead.
Well put!

Yes, Lex was human like everyone else
I think the elves might disagree on the 'everyone else' part! But yes, Mandila is quite right. He is, and you have done a wonderful job of demonstrating just that. You give him a depth that he is sorely lacking in the game.

Finally, your description of liquid panty remover on Mandila was wonderful! Teresa is going to have to start plying women with the same stuff!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Aug 6 2010, 05:08 PM

[Destri Melarg]

So her job is to keep Lex distracted while the Thieves Guild goes about the business of being thieves, and she chooses to do so by confirming the existence of the Grey Fox? She probably could have gone another way with that!

What a captivating chapter this was! I fell into it from Mandila and Methredhel’s initial conversation and didn’t resurface until Mandila retired to her house and her (presumably) impending hangover. Nice work.

[Ornamental Nonsense]

@ Melarg: Mandila isn't always the most thoughtful person. She'll pay for more than just the drinking when reason kicks back in.

@ SubRosa: Just so long as Teresa doesn't try drinking the stuff! And I too can see Ellen Page playing Mandila. I haven't the foggiest idea concerning Lex though. When I think of amazing blue eyes, I think of Paul Newman, but I don't know if I can picture him as Lex (and I'm referring to a young Newman, of course).

@Acadian: of course there are things to like about Lex. I'm glad that I've successfully made him more human and likable in your eyes.

[mALX]

I am enjoying this writing tremendously!!! (In spite of the fact that I know Lex is bisexual in the game). You have a real knack for building characters!

[Ornamental Nonsense]

Chapter 7:

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Make it stop," Mandila grumbled into her pillow. Her face was firmly planted in the soft ball of fabric beneath her, and even the feather that was poking her in the cheek couldn't make her stir. Her head was killing her, and whoever was knocking at her door had better stop before she gave them a piece of her mind. "I am trying to sleep!" she yelled when the noise persisted, and then Mandila heard the soft click of someone tinkering with the door's lock. The nerve of some people!

"Mandila, come on!" she heard Methredhel complain. "It's already mid-morning." With a groan, Mandila sat up just as her front door swung open. Of course the lock was no match for her friend, but still, was breaking and entering really necessary? She sighed as she watched Methredhel flounce into the room with a wide grin, and the older thief's delighted expression just begged for an update.

"You look terrible." Thanks. Light falling through the roof's shoddily fitted planks, Mandila winced as she shifted into a shadier spot on the bed, her head still pounding.

"I drank a little too much last night," she explained. Then she grabbed a brush from beneath her bed and began the process of untangling her hair as Methredhel made herself at home. The older thief plopped down on the only chair in the small abode, and it was a rather rickety one at that. One day someone was going to sit down and break the flimsy construct.

"Someone got dressed up for the evening," Methredhel noted, and Mandila looked down to see that she had slept in her skirt, blouse, and sash, all of which were now wrinkled. At least she hadn't thrown up on them. In fact, she was quite proud of herself on that account. "So how did it go?"

"Good right up until the last drink that I forced down," Mandila managed to smile. "I like Tamika's, but I shouldn't have had a full glass after the ale--if you can call what I drank ale."

"Tamika's?" Methredhel questioned. "You usually don't spend so much on drinking."

"I didn't," Mandila replied with a teasing grin.

"Oh, you had a man last night then."

"Lex bought me some." The sudden lapse of silence that followed Mandila's statement could only be attributed to shock, for there sat Methredhel, her eyes as large as iron shields, and her mouth hanging open. The expression was as priceless as Mandila had hoped, and so she decided to bask in the glory of her comment while waiting for the older thief to recompose herself.

"You drank with Lex?" Methredhel gasped. "And he treated you to a drink? How did that happen?" Mandila crossed arms over her chest and gave her friend a devious smile.

"When my company didn't arrive, I joined him, and we had a nice little time sitting by our lonesome selves. I think that we both enjoyed it." There was no need to bring up her slip about the Grey Fox, for some things were going to remain private for her own wellbeing.

"Ooooh," Methredhel cooed, her eyes eager for juicy tidbits. "I don't suppose that you got the kiss that I proposed, did you?" The comment was meant as a joke, and Mandila knew as much, for Methredhel probably didn't believe that she'd actually shared an evening with the captain, but here came the truth. Mandila smirked. "You did! You actually got Lex to pucker up?!"

"Not so loud! And, well, he didn't kiss back," Mandila clarified. "But he didn't stop me right away either. How's that for getting the captain to loosen up?"

"I can't believe this," Methredhel marveled, rubbing her temples. "I need some proof before I believe this. No lockpicks until you have proof."

"Under one condition," Mandila added. "Armand hears nothing about this, okay? He's already unhappy with me talking to Lex. If he finds out that I kissed him, he won't understand that it was just a joke between the two of us."

"And it was just a joke, right?" Methredhel challenged. Mandila frowned and stood up much faster than she should have, for the sudden movement made her reach for the bed post to steady herself.

"Of course it was only a joke." Sort of. Not really. Gods, I'd love to kiss him again. "Come on," she continued. "I'll get you your proof." She led the way to the harbor with Methredhel at her side, both looking for Captain Lex. He was as easy to find as ever, and as Mandila approached him, Methredhel lagged behind. For his part, Lex was eyeing Mandila like he wanted to speak with her but was not particularly pleased about it. He even looked ready to ignore her, but Mandila would have none of that.

"Good morning," she greeted him, determined to prevent him from acting as if last night had never happened. And he did seem rather intent on that as he turned his blank face on her. Then again, perhaps it wasn't acting. Perhaps it had meant nothing to him. "I had a good time last night," Mandila beamed.

"You remember everything?" Lex asked, and she nodded. "Then let's get several things straight." He stepped closer with a stern face that was anything but comforting, but Mandila didn't budge at this unexpected, harsh tone. "We have a conversation to finish, and if you don't visit my office, I will find a convenient time to visit you at home." Mandila was fixated by the possibility of him seeking her out, but then she scolded herself. Why did these ridiculous thoughts need to plague her anyway? If she was honest with herself, she understood very well that she was falling for this man, but she didn't want that to happen. There were unseen rules defining their lives, and what was the point of falling for someone who wouldn't fall back?

"I wouldn't mind discussing it over another drink," Mandila offered. "I won't drink too much this time. I usually stop at two glasses, you know. Last night I wasn't thinking straight." You seem to have that effect on me. She remembered the kiss and fought the blush that she felt rising in her cheeks. She wondered what Lex thought about her bold actions.

"I wasn't in uniform last night," Lex stated, his face as cold as his tone. "But I am on duty now, and I can arrest you for making unwanted advances. You will not make a public display." Unwanted. The word slapped Mandila across the face, and her expression fell. Oh, the hurt that her face was probably broadcasting could not be good. She didn't want this man to know the extent of the hold that he had over her, but she couldn't help it. The gleam vanished from her eyes, and she felt her dancing spirit retracting in upon itself.

"I won't bother you with displays again then, sir," she apologized, and her mind whispered that a handsome captain like Lex probably had access to very beautiful and wealthy women. She was just a poor, possible thief in his eyes anyway, so she couldn't expect more than dismissal.

"Citizen," Lex began, his tone softer than before, but still distant. "I have work to do, but if you ever need assistance, you know where to find me. Do you know where my office is?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'll expect you within the next several days then." He walked off, and Methredhel bounced over to give her sister a hug and concede that Mandila had won the bet. Twenty lockpicks landed in her hand, and Mandila accepted them, but all she could think about was how she was just a bit of mud on the captain's boots. That's how he had just treated her, and after she'd thought that maybe their friendly streak had meant...it meant nothing. She could keep teasing him, but that's all it would ever be: two people who baited one another. And how stupid she'd been to create tension between herself and Armand for that man! To stretch her boundaries for a delusion!

Mandila selected a lockpick and moved toward the tunnel that led into the Imperial City from the harbor. She had a job tonight, and she wanted to scope out the neighborhood ahead of time. This was the kind of thing that should have been occupying her time and energy, not some guard! She would reaffirm her loyalty to the guild tonight, before Armand had another chance to question her.

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

He was following her. She could tell by the way that his back always seemed turned toward her—how he always seemed to be going in the opposite direction but was there every time that she scanned her surroundings. Mandila frowned from where she stood by a cart in the market district, the cart's fruits stacked in tempting piles, and her body hidden by the ever-shouting merchant who was selling them. The guard several stalls down was talking to someone, but she knew that he was after her, and she also knew that Lex had probably set him on her. Standing amid the loud chatter and bright awnings of the weekly farmer's market, she watched him from the corner of her eyes, her view constantly obstructed by shoppers of all shapes and sizes.

What had suddenly made Lex suspicious enough to have her followed? Last night's slip about the Grey Fox might have done it, but then again, he'd know about the massive theft that had occurred while he'd been with her by now. Of course that would make her look bad, but she had played her part well, and he hadn't accused her of anything today. Gods, but she wanted to see him smile again, and at her, no one else. She shook her head and pocketed an apple when no one was looking. Not only was she forced to admit that she liked Lex, but that she would feel jealous if she saw him with another woman as well. She had no idea when her fascination had progressed this far, but she blamed it on him for having started to talk back to her, and for playing that trick on her after the swimming incident. If he had just ignored her attentions like he always had, everything would be fine right now.

It was early afternoon now, and Lex would soon arrive for lunch. She didn't want to see him, but she couldn't bring herself to move fast enough to avoid him either. She didn't leave until she saw him marching down the street in her direction, and she didn't miss the quick nod that passed between him and the guard that was following her. Well, if Lex wanted to give her a hard time, she'd show him how difficult it was to catch a thief of her caliber.

"Oh the games we play," she murmured to herself as she gave him one last glance. Perhaps she couldn't be angry with him for speaking with or challenging her. No, that would be unfair, and she wouldn't want to lose what little she had shared with him either. Did she sound like a bleeding heart? She hoped not, but she couldn't help but feel that her life would be a little more boring without the captain, as if the obstacles that he presented added to her routine and had even become incorporated into it. He helped make her day, but she'd rather dunk her head in sewer water than say such a sappy comment aloud.

Now it was time to lose her friend back there.

Mandila took a sharp turn around the row of houses leading toward the Arena. Once out of sight, she sprinted, rounded the next corner, and jogged toward Green Emperor Way where she could access any part of the city. She knew that the guard would be close behind her by now, and so she located a large tombstone and crouched behind it, waiting for him to pass her. It didn't take long for him to show, the man panting from running in armor on such a warm afternoon, and Mandila bit back a chuckle as he started to curse. With a little precaution, she would give him the slip for the rest of the day, and that's exactly what she did.

The day disappeared, and night was well underway as Mandila perched on a stonewall not far from her destination. The poor guard had given up after several fruitless hours of searching for her, and she loved how she'd only ever been a matter of feet from him. It gave her great satisfaction to know that he was no match for her, but she supposed that sneaking around in armor was difficult. Now she was posed to strike, for in a few minutes, the owner of a nearby house would leave for her evening stroll. That left Mandila about an hour long window to plunder, and plunder she would, but there was only one object that she was interested in: a dagger.

According to rumor, it would look ordinary enough, but it was enchanted to kill with a single stroke. Now that would be worth money, and Mandila needed the gold to buy herself some clothing. Her current shoes were cracking, and besides one or two decent outfits, she was beginning to look as poor as she felt, and she didn't want to look like a beggar. That was the last thing that she wanted to be, for the homeless were treated with disdain for the most part, and to feel like a beggar meant degradation, which Mandila would never allow herself to wallow in. Even a lowly thief had her pride, and after witnessing her mother's decline, she never wanted to return to such a lifestyle. She had finally found a way to support herself in the Thieves' Guild, and for that she would be forever grateful.

Here we go. The lady, who was a Dunmer, had just locked the door behind her and was walking toward the gardens. Now it was time to act.

Mandila checked her surroundings and saw that, as expected, no guards were afoot. They'd be changing the watch right about now, and most patrols had been stopped for the night. With a smile, she crept toward her target's home and began fiddling with the lock. It was a complicated one, but the click of success had never been sweeter to her ears or more timely, for she could hear the guards approaching as the last pin was pushed into place. By the time that the armored men were within eyesight, Mandila was safely inside of the house, the door shut behind her.

The building was blanketed in pure darkness, and Mandila had to pause and give her eyes time to adjust as she crouched by what she assumed to be a table. The room began to take shape as her elfin eyes dilated to a degree that a human's couldn't, and objects obtained dim outlines, making it clear enough that the house's floor plan matched the generic spread of a lower-class, Imperial home. The main floor had one large room designed for entertaining and food preparation, which was divided by furniture placement. At the rear sat a staircase that led down into the cellar, and running parallel above that were the steps that led upward toward the bedroom.

Mandila imagined that the knife was upstairs in the lady's room, and so she tiptoed in that direction. She climbed the steps with her back against the cool, stone wall, and soon a second lock was picked, which allowed her to enter the master bedroom. Like downstairs, the place was devoid of light and sound, but she paused and took her time anyway. One foot entered the room, and she could have sworn that a cool rush of air swept across the nape of her neck, but her mind was probably just playing tricks on her. After all, sometimes she got a bit jittery during thefts.

The chest. And she proceeded to sneak toward a large, wooden trunk and test the lock. To her disappointment, it only held clothing, as did the closet, and the box beside the bed was filled with worthless trinkets. Getting annoyed, and running out of time, Mandila was about to settle for taking a few necklaces when a glint of purple from a nearby shelf caught her eye. She wanted to hit herself for having not looked in such an obvious place before, for there lay the dagger, slender and elegant in its Elven design, and its surface pulsing with magic. Any thief would have been elated at such a find, but for a fleeting second, cold breath blew down the neck of Mandila's shirt.

What in the name of Nocturne...?

Mandila spun as the cold air left a trail of goosebumps down her back, and with a sick jump of her stomach, she scanned the room to confirm that she was alone. There was probably just a draft somewhere, for nothing in this place moved except for her, which meant that her imagination was getting the best of her. She stayed alert as her hand reached for the dagger, but her senses kept tripping with a concern that ate at her mind. Something didn't feel right, as if someone was spying on her shadowy movements. It was the same sensation that she felt whenever a guard passed behind her back.

Fingers wrapped around the dagger's handle, and she gently lifted it from its resting place. It was light in her hands, and cool to the touch, but she didn't feel the familiar sense of triumph as she held it. The air seemed to thicken around her, and now she definitely knew that something wasn't right. Gods, but her skin was prickling in fright, and something was moving in the shadows, coming closer, its breath disturbing the otherwise total silence of the bedroom.

Mandila did what her instincts dictated, and that was throwing the dagger at whatever was coming after her. When the weapon sailed through thin air to harmlessly glance off of the opposite wall, she really knew that she was in trouble.

It's a spirit. And she was horrified by the supernatural. Perhaps the dagger had been placed under a protective enchantment, and as she saw a blue ball of light forming before her, her feet ran for the door. There was a crackling sound, and a bright flash of light that chased her out of the room and onto the landing outside. She nearly fell down the stairs in her hurry to avoid whatever spell was being hurled at her, and as the wrath chased her, the faint light of is ethereal form cast taunting shadows across the main room.

Damned dark elves and their ancestral spirits!

Mandila skidded toward the front door, no longer caring if a guard saw her exiting the premises, and gripped the handle with shaking hands. Some things were worse than trespassing fees, and she could think of a few as another beam of light flared into being. She knew that a ball of energy was flying at her back as her hands began pulling on the door, for the spell's brightness cast her shadow against the wall with increasing sharpness, and heat began flowing over her.

Faster.

The door began swinging inward, but the thief wasn't fast enough. Searing pain fanned across her back, causing her to gasp as she stumbled outside. It was as though embers were being pounded into her skin, and she was sure that she was bleeding, even if her numbed mind didn't yet realize it. She slammed the door shut and never looked back as she ran on pure adrenaline, and even then, the pain begged her body to collapse. She was unaccustomed to heavy injuries, and as she ran, she realized that her head was growing lighter, which scared her with the possibility of passing out and bleeding to death on the street. Sure, she'd been lucky that no one had seen her attempted theft, but dying in a gutter didn't seem much better.

Her vision began to blacken, and in a desperate attempt to remain upright, she reached out a hand for the wall beside her. Her legs buckled, and she slid to the ground where she gasped and coughed up blood as she lost all sense of her bearings.

Footsteps.

Someone was coming, but at a slow pace. Metal boots. Torchlight. A guard then. Damn.

Mandila slowly rose to her feet and continued walking, all the while trying to stay ahead of the torchlight as she fumbled her away along the wall. She had to get back to the waterfront, and then Armand could patch her up. He would watch over her while she healed, and so she tried to move faster as the light behind her drew closer. Where was she now? Oh, the Temple District.

"Citizen," someone hailed her, and she almost died from panic when she realized that it was Lex. Of all the people to find her, why did it have to be him? The torchlight was getting closer by the second, drawing even with her as she paused from exhaustion. "Drunk again?" the captain began to mock. "You're lucky that..." His words trailed off, and although Mandila didn't look up, she assumed that he was examining her injured back. She hid behind her hair, the brown locks hanging about her pained face as she stood half-hunched, for she didn't want the captain to see the thin trickle of blood that was running down her chin and filling her mouth with copper.

"What happened?" Lex demanded. "These are serious wounds." His voice was stern, but no longer annoyed, and he was stepping closer.

"I had an accident," Mandila lied as she spat blood onto the street. "Got a little too close to a fire. You know me. I don't look before I leap." Oh, but talking through the pain and dizziness was difficult.

"Come with me," Lex ordered, his tone dropping to a gentler level. "I'll escort you to the Temple." Where you'll ask a million questions about my accident, Mandila thought. And then my injury will be reported, and the lady might connect me to the theft.

"I'll be fine," Mandila said. "I just need to get home. I'm sure that you have other things to do..." A strong hand gripped her chin and turned her face upward so that Mandila found herself staring into the captain's face. Torchlight fell across her features, exposing a bloody trail along her mouth, and she was surprised when Lex ran his thumb across the rivulet to wipe it from her face. He looked as he always did, but there was a touch of concern there also.

"No smart comments. No attempts to annoy me," he mused. "You're not fine, and I have never let anyone die on my watch." Mandila tried to smile, but the action was cut short by a grimace of pain. She doubled over, but Lex caught her falling form, and supported her much lighter body. She leaned against his breastplate, unable to stand on her own, and felt his hands on her arms as he righted her. For a single moment she felt his forehead brush against hers, and it was strange how such a detail stood out when she felt like crumbling to the pavement to never rise again.

"I'm not going to the Temple," she reiterated. "Take me home."

"Citizen, I'm honor-bound to protect your well-being, and you are going to the Temple. Then we are going to file a report, because there is no way in Oblivion that these wounds were caused by a mere accident." Of course he was going to be stubborn, and Mandila really wasn't in the mood to argue with him right now. Perhaps...

"I have a healing potion at home," she lied. "I'd rather do that than the Temple." She wanted to stay leaning against Lex, but if she looked that weak, he'd never let her go directly home. He cares, she thought, the idea warming her, even if he was only doing his job. She straightened with his hands still gripping her shoulders, and wanted to think that perhaps there was more to this than just his job. Maybe he was fond of her, if nothing else.

"I'm ready to go," she said, and they started out, one of her hands gliding against the wall, and the other around Lex's broad shoulders. One of his arms was wrapped around her waist, and it felt so strange to have him this close that she didn't know what to say or do. For the most part, they walked in silence, and she was content to pretend that he was merely a kind man doing his best to help her.

"Why am I always running into you, elf?" Lex commented, and Mandila started to laugh before she realized how much pain it put her in.

"You're just lucky, I guess," she teased. Lex 'humphed' and tightened his grip on her when she began slipping downward, but the action made her to sharply inhale in pain as his arm grazed her wound. "My apologies," he said.

"It's not your fault."

"So if I am to believe that this was an accident, how did it happen?" he pressed. "If it was someone else's negligence, I'll see that he or she is dealt with properly." He sounded so official that Mandila wanted to poke him in the side and tell him to stop being so stingy, but he was apparently still on duty, and she was too weak to bother. Even when off duty, he didn't seem that different.

"This injury is my own fault, captain," Mandila stated. "And let's leave it at that. I don't think that I can handle any questions right now. I want to rest."

"I will not bother you until tomorrow then," Lex offered, and no doubt he thought that such a step was very sympathetic, but Mandila had other ideas.

"Sir, even if I was doing something wrong—which I'm not saying that I was—don't you think that I've learned my lesson?" Her head tilted sideways, and she found herself getting lost in his blue eyes. They were intense, as if he was trying to solve a riddle, and she could only offer him the sincere longing for compassion that marked her face. She believed him capable of being gentle when no one else did, and she prayed that he could decipher the implicit trust that accompanied her stare.

"Don't forget your lesson, citizen."

"Mandila," she smiled. "Stop calling me 'citizen'."

"Very well. Here we are at your home, Mandila," and she thought that she detected a smile in his tone. He held onto her as she unlocked her door and pushed it open.

"Thank you," she said, and moved to close the door, but it wouldn't shut the whole way. Lex's hand had shot out to keep it open, and his face looked sculpted from marble as he stared at her.

"Take the potion," he ordered.

"What? Are you going to stand there and make sure that I do?" Mandila asked at wit's end.

"Yes." He did care. She didn't know if she wanted to punch or hug him, so she settled for putting more pressure on the door.

"I would be crazy not to take the potion," she countered. "Now go away or I'll file a complaint against you for trespassing." Lex's eyebrows rose, and he leaned forward with a dark undercurrent to his voice.

"You wouldn't dare," he breathed. "Now take that potion." He turned and left her to her own healing, apparently sure that she'd do as ordered, and Mandila quietly indulged in the idea of him having saved her. It was a comforting feeling, like his arm around her waist, helping her stand, and for the first time in her life, Mandila was glad that he was so strict in doing his duty. No one had ever helped her like that before, and she'd never forget it.

[haute ecole rider]

Oooh boy o boy o boy!

Just when Mandila talks herself into not playing the 'game' anymore with Lex, he shows up just when she is at her weakest! Not only does he restrain himself from questioning her about her injury (I honestly felt he let her off easy), but he escorts her home and insists she takes that healing potion that she may or may not have in her shack! Now how in Oblivion is a woman supposed to resist that?

[Acadian]

This was lovely, Ornomint! Well done, and a pleasure to read.

Let me quote a couple wonderful segments:

"I wasn't in uniform last night," Lex stated, his face as cold as his tone. "But I am on duty now, and I can arrest you for making unwanted advances. You will not make a public display." Unwanted. The word slapped Mandila across the face, and her expression fell. Oh, the hurt that her face was probably broadcasting could not be good. She didn't want this man to know the extent of the hold that he had over her, but she couldn't help it. The gleam vanished from her eyes, and she felt her dancing spirit retracting in upon itself.

Very poingnantly powerful stuff.

Mandila checked her surroundings and saw that, as expected, no guards were afoot. They'd be changing the watch right about now, and most patrols had been stopped for the night. With a smile, she crept toward her target's home and began fiddling with the lock. It was a complicated one, but the click of success had never been sweeter to her ears or more timely, for she could hear the guards approaching as the last pin was pushed into place. By the time that the armored men were within eyesight, Mandila was safely inside of the house, the door shut behind her.

Simply a magnificently immersive description of Mandi's breaking and entering.


Looks like a tiny nit here:

"You're just lucky, I guess," she teased. Lex 'humphed' and tightened his grip on her when she began slipping downward, but the action made her to sharply inhale in pain as his arm grazed her wound. "My apologies," he said.

I suspect the bolded 'to' is an extraneous oversight.

[Destri Melarg]

This was priceless:

“Of course it was only a joke.” Sort of. Not really. Gods, I’d love to kiss him again.

She had no idea when her fascination had progressed this far, but she blamed it on him for having started to talk back to her, and for playing that trick on her after the swimming incident. If he had just ignored her attentions like he always had, everything would be fine right now.

Ah, the beautiful complexity of the female mind!

Now she was posed to strike, for in a few minutes, the owner of a nearby house would leave for her evening stroll.

Was this supposed to be poised to strike? It actually works either way, I was just wondering. Also the second comma isn’t really needed.

Here is a question: If Mandila threw an enchanted dagger at an ancestral ghost, wouldn’t it cause damage on contact? Were you implying that her throw missed the ghost?

She nearly feel down the stairs in her hurry to avoid whatever spell was being hurled at her, and as the wrath chased her, . . .

Mandila was so frightened that the ‘i’ was scared out of the wraith.

She knew that a ball of energy was flying at her back as her hands began pulling on the door, for the spell’s brightness cast her shadow against the wall . . .

This is a fantastic detail!

she was sure that she was bleeding, even if her numbed mind didn’t yet realize it.

This is slightly confusing. If she is sure that she is bleeding, then her mind does realize it. Perhaps you should change that to ‘her numbed body.’

Poor Mandila, hung-over in the morning, burnt to a crisp by nightfall! More!

[SubRosa]

Whew! You just keep ratcheting up the tension between the two. I do not know what might happen first. Lex arresting Madila, or him falling as madly in love with her as she is with him! A delightful quandry!

Sort of. Not really. Gods, I'd love to kiss him again.
I love it!

[treydog]

Chapter 4
The whole swimming scene was inspired! And it is interesting to watch Lex slowly drawn into engaging with Mandila, even as he continues to think he is only doing his job. But that is the beauty of the long con- the mark believes he is in charge every step of the way. Not to imply that Mandila is not sincere- she clearly is- just that courtship and grifting have a great deal in common.

Chapter 5

“In fact, Mandila couldn't think of a single occasion when the captain didn't look in top form.”

I quoted that sentence because of how much it does with just a few words. Economy is a mark of good
writing- and it is shown in that line.

And almost immediately after that, we have:

“He was studying her in the same manner that she might have eyed a locked door—thinking about how it worked and the easiest way to open it.”

Simply brilliant- a wonderful use of simile that is perfectly suited to the characters and the setting.

“…watched two young Nords having a spitting contest from the ship's upper deck…”

And that is how to do world-building. Add those details that no one ever thinks of that make the place live and breathe.

Post length- On the one hand, I believe in the advice Abraham Lincoln gave his son about how long a person’s legs should be…. On the other, finding natural “break points,” even within chapters can work quite well. And on the third paw- somewhere around 800-2000 words seems to be a comfortable length for most forum posts.

Chapter 6

What’s not to like about this one? Enjoyable throughout, as our inebriated, infatuated Bosmer finds herself in WAY over her (soon-to-be-aching) head.

Chapter 7

“At least she hadn't thrown up on them. In fact, she was quite proud of herself on that account.”
We take our victories where we can find them…

The attack in the Dunmer’s house had my heart pounding. You pile up the tension on that one ‘til I could barely stand it.

[SubRosa]

I think I found your Hiernymous Lex: Ewan McGregor

[mALX]

Mandila's inner dialogue keeps me laughing! You have really developed her character so well !!!

[treydog]

Will it help us get an update if I make sad puppy dog eyes? If so, consider it done. (I can also add a sad kitty face...)