Old Habits Die Hard Part Six, some old habits never die Options

[Acadian]

I loved it! You did a wonderful job at humanizing the bandits and it was a fascinating read. With a frail character such as Buffy, she so often has to make hard choices between shooting first preemptively from the shadows, or declaring yourself and likely being killed. The only time Buffy’s been involved in ‘declaring’ herself with bandits was with Alawen, and that got them promptly attacked. So she is very frightened to risk it. Therefore it was neat indeed to see that if you have the steel to declare yourself to a bandit what can sometimes happen in our stories.

I really liked Julian's inkstone - what a great idea!

You did a fabulous job in sharing the stage among the two bandits, Sai, Blanco and Julian, with each contributing importantly to this delightful episode!

This post has been edited by Acadian: Sep 13 2011, 12:26 AM

[Destri Melarg]

First of all I love the new avatar! It suits you better than the snake or the cat. Now, three chapters to comment on:

28.9

I think Sai’s attitude toward Berennus was perfectly sensible. Sai is a working dog, after all. Bad masters are still masters in a dog’s eye, and it was his job to defend the camp. I don’t blame him for being wary when confronted by the scent that killed the camp’s previous tenants. Especially since he has found a much better human to manipulate protect in Julian.

28.10

I have seen Julian amused, I have seen her entertained. I have even seen her laugh and smile throughout this odyssey of hers. But this is the first time that I have seen her allow happiness to penetrate her austere demeanor. I love that she remains true to herself and tries to shunt those feelings aside, just as I love that she can no longer pretend she doesn’t have them. I can see that Captain Steffan would have an uphill battle on his hands. But, as my old pal Weebum-Na once said about a certain orc of our acquaintance,

‘My sniffer says that she might be worth it.’

Below, Sai wove from one side of the road to the other, White-tipped tail dancing arabesques above his back as he examined every rock and shrub along the way.

Now THIS is how to end a segment! Wow!

28.11

Wait . . . bandits with a bit of common sense? I thought this was an Elder Scrolls story! Why didn’t Dalia simply try to punch Blanco after she lost her weapon? You know, like Mongo in Blazing Saddles! Julian is set to add ‘bandit redeemer’ to her list of accomplishments. I can just see Hedy Lamarr (“That’s Hedley!”) standing in the ruins of Kvatch saying:

CLICKY
and
CLICKY

This is what sleep deprivation does to me!

[Olen]

Sorry about the delay. RL is busy. Very busy.

A good set of parts. Her spending an extra night at the camp worked well and adds realism to her, as well as showing just how drained Miscarcand left her.

Around me the world looked like a bakery shop

I loved this line. It really brought the scene home and captured some of her thoughts (which given how hungry she was were probably bakery based).

The part with the bandits was another welcome addition. Making them characters who're stuck, much as she was, rather than nameless doers of evil worked. They they'd also been fighting daedra was a nice touch too, it helps show more bredth to the crisis. Having them recognise Sai was a good touch too.

I know what that fifth artifact is, and I don't think she's going to like it.

[Athynae]

My sincerest apologies for getting so far behind. RL and all that, helping Trey keep up with BOTM has taken what time I have allowed. Trying to find a job sucks!

I love Julian, and I could spend days picking out lines that stood out but I would say pretty much the same thing about all of them....Great read, very touching, wonderful description....etc. I enjoy tremendously every moment I spend reading Julian's story.

[treydog]

Having gone through the entirety of Miscarcand with Julian and Sai, I am glad of the respite at the end. Overall, this entire chapter shows off your wonderful skills of description- environmental, atmospheric, internal, and healing.

Goblins. Why does it have to be goblins? I leaned back against the wall with deep breaths. The dog licked the back of my right hand, his white-tipped tail flickering in the blue light from the crystals high above us. I met his gaze and considered his recent actions. He attacked that goblin as if nothing else was worse than that unfortunate creature. And he broke its neck.

Here we see the blossoming of ANOTHER beautiful friendship.

Throughout, you describe the battles between goblins and undead wonderfully, as well as Julian’s wise decision to stay out of them. And, alongside that, we see her abilities as a scout.

Sai circled around and dove for the other leg. This time the entire lower leg separated at the knee and Sai approached me carrying the severed limb like a stick I had thrown for him to retrieve.

And yes- going into battle with dogs has its own… unique aspects.

A whine brought my gaze back up to the ledge. Sai fidgeted anxiously, his front feet testing the rim.

I grew up with collies, and still recall one of them getting stuck on a rock ledge and jumping down into my sister’s arms.

...the stone did not shatter. I knelt down and picked it up. As long as my hand, and barely wider, it thrummed softly. After a moment, I slid it into my back pack. I looked at the others, but left them alone. One's enough for now. Until I find out what it's good for, other than light that is.

Showing Julian’s pragmatism and caution.

The climactic battle with the goblin shaman forces Julian to finally face her greatest fear. And I would have to quote the entire section to highlight the parts that “sing.” That said, I will note the following:

No, I have only two choices. Do this alone, or go back to Martin and let him down. I forced myself to take deep breaths. If you go back without the Great Welkynd stone, are you worthy of being Casnar’s Blade Sister? Valdemar? Alain and Rielus?

You must find whatever it is that allows you to go on.

Beneath my palm, I could sense his heartbeat, sputtering erratically. That’s what the shock enchantment does to you, boy. It prevents your magicka from flowing smoothly.

Of the many things you do remarkably well, your descriptions of TES magic and its effects are right at the top.

Darkness fell like silent thunder as I closed the flap.

Silence crouched over us in the dimness, lit only by the glowing crystals set into the faraway walls.

Paint me green with jealousy at those passages.

Weakness overwhelmed me and I fell back beside Sai. He laid his head on his forepaws. His sigh echoed mine. Akatosh! That was close! Those shock bolts from that staff were all too familiar to me. If my hair hadn’t already gone white, it would be now! I could still feel the last vestiges of that enchantment trailing silver pain along my nerves.

It may be premature, but I also think a great deal of Julian’s trauma from her time as a captive also drained away here.

The moment when Julian recalls the spirits (no, they were much more than ‘ghosts’) of the 4 is simply brilliant.

Love Julian’s thoughts about Steffan. Apparently “denial” is also a river in Cyrodiil….

Giving the bandits lives, a history, and reasons is another wonderful bit of world-building AND characterization.

And it is a satisfying way of letting us know there is so much more to the Oblivion Crisis then what is done by the “great people.”


Typos:

28.4- 4th paragraph. There were movement in the darkness below,

I believe you want “was.”

28.7, Paragraph 15- There were no sign of life other than Sai’s flickering shape and myself.

“signs”

[haute ecole rider]

Has it really been almost TWO months since my last post?? Yikes!

I'm working steadily on Chapter 29, and hope to have it ready for posting before the end of THIS month.

Then it's Nanowrimo time, so I don't know if I will get Chapters 30, 31 and 32 written until after the end of November. We'll see.

@Kazaera: Daron was the Redguard that wouldn't let Julian heal him when she was on her way back to Skingrad after Anvil. She came upon that little Gate near Fat Rump Camp (I know, it's Fat Ramp, but Rump makes more sense to me), and found him mutilated by daedra. He wouldn't let her heal him, and instead asked for a quick ending. Thanks for your kind words about Enar and Dalia - they really came alive as I was writing the scene. I've done enough writing to know that I'd be better off letting them tell the story.

@Grits: You sure it's your mind that got elevated? The stuff you've been writing lately has been genius!

@SubRosa: Thanks for the terrific words! I rather thought you might enjoy Blanco's help in this episode. As for the bandits recognizing Sai, I wanted to place him more firmly in the TES world. And a dog like Sai is certainly unforgettable!

@Acadian: The inkstone actually is a real item noted in Chinese and Korean history. It's a block of hardened, solidified ink (baked, I think) that they grind with a small stone, then use a wet brush to liquefy the ground powder. I think it's a great way to transport ink without getting it all over your bag, your clothes, and your whitey-whites (as vials tend to leak, right?).

@Destri: Ah, my comrade-in-arms! I'm glad you caught up, only now it's my turn to catch up! To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if Sai is manipulating Julian or not. Blanco certainly is! Poor woman! As for Captain Steffan, just how uphill it's going to be will become apparent in a couple more chapters. Ah yes, we are approaching the point where she declares her feelings for him in a very emphatic manner. And no, I doubt it is quite in the way you're thinking . . . I had forgotten about Mongo! Thanks for the reminder!

@Olen: I think you're right, Julian's not going to like what Martin has in store for her. Of course, she won't like what she finds in Bruma, either, when she stops by on her way up the mountain.

@Athynae: Thanks for the kind words! It's folks like you that keep me writing on this story - both in your replies to my chapters, but also in the stories you are yourselves writing. Things have become quite inspiring here lately!

@treydog: I'm glad you're caught up, too. And I'm delighted that you enjoyed it so much. Denial is a river in Cyrodiil?? Where?? I'd love to take Julian there and slap her upside the head! Thanks for the input and the nits. I will fix them when I open up the story on my Mac partition (currently I'm in my W7 mode, having just completed my schoolwork for this week). I like to fix them in the original file as I update the forum posts. Hopefully I've caught them all by now.

I don't have anything more to post just yet. I have four posts of Chapter 29 written up, and I think it's good for another one or two more segments. I want to take the time to review them, tweak 'em if necessary before I start posting again.

This session I am enrolled in only one class instead of two. I'm hoping that it helps with the writing, as I've fallen way behind. And I have Nanowrimo coming up as well, and plan to participate again this year. Though I have yet no idea what I will write. Don't worry, I'll think of something!

Thanks to all of you that have been reading and encouraging me and Julian on this journey of hers. It has been almost two years since I started it (Jan 2010), and it's been a fun ride, though frustrating at times. I really appreciate all the support from my fellow forumers here at Chorrol.

[haute ecole rider]

Hi all:

Nanowrimo started yesterday, and I'm off on a new story.

But ironically enough, it has helped me start writing again on Julian's story. She is happy enough to listen to the NNWM story, then tell me hers. It's great to have the creative juices going so well again.

So Chapter 29 isn't quite done, but I have enough to get us through November. So without further ado . . .

Julian has left Miscarcand and is on her way back to Cloud Ruler Temple. But first a stop in Bruma to check in with friends and to seek a little professional advice.

*************************
Chapter 29.1: A Welcome to Bruma

Blanco was too happy to stop and visit with the Paint mares at the Wildeye Stables, just outside the city walls. They made it clear that they weren’t interested in him, and he settled down quickly enough in the winter shed that blocked the wind off the mountains to the north.

I noticed that he made certain to stand close to his tack on the rack beneath the eaves of the shed. After he had chased off a street urchin trying to sneak into the saddlebags outside of Skingrad, I had realized that Blanco seemed well aware of the importance of the Great Welkynd stone resting within. I recalled how he stood guard beside the packs in Merowald’s paddock yesterday.

“I’ll be back for him,” I said to Humilis Nonius. The Imperial stablehand nodded, his somber eyes eyeing Sai warily.

“Not to worry, I’ll have him ready right quick when you’re ready to leave, ma’am.”

I gestured toward the haft of the war axe jutting skyward behind his shoulder. “Trouble lately?”

“Ach, it’s these damned Gates,” Nonius shook his head vehemently. “The Guard’s pretty good about keeping those daedra away from the stables, but one can’t be too careful, right?”

“Better safe than sorry,” I agreed. “I’ll see you in a bit, then.” I turned and headed out the corral. Sai remained rooted to the ground near the winter shed. He returned my gaze when I paused and looked back at him.

Sai looked from Blanco to me, indecision in every line in his body. I glanced toward the towering East Gate just a short walk from the stables, the still-smoldering ruin of the Oblivion Gate beyond just visible past the curve of the high stone walls. More of the Bruma guard stood outside the walls than when I had passed them by on my last departure from Cloud Ruler Temple. I could see the remnants of a few more daedric portals scattered among the rocks and boulders that marked the plateau of Bruma.

He’s nervous with so many soldiers around. Well, he’d better get used to it, where we’re going, there’s nothing but soldiers! I gestured Sai to heel. He sprang to my left side, his hackles bristling at the yellow surcoats. I could see their eyes glimmering sideways toward me and dropped my hand to Sai’s ears.

He paced alongside me as I approached the guards. I could feel his body against the side of my leg by the time we reached the first pair.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” they stood at attention. I frowned at them. I’m not one of their officers - I peered closer at the taller of the two. It’s Bor. And Soren.

“As you were, men,” I spoke softly. “I’m not one of your officers.”

“No, ma’am,” Bor agreed, his pale blue eyes shifting toward me with a twinkle. “But you led us like one in there,” he jerked a thumb toward the Gate we had closed together.

I shook off the compliment. Or was it a compliment? “And you’ve been busy since, I see.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Soren nodded shortly. I looked past him to see four more guards ranged within the enclosed space before the tall portal. Beyond its wooden gates standing wide open, I could see General Talos standing high above a bustling plaza.

“Captain Burd boosted the guard out here?” I glanced at the two men.

“There’s been an increase in the rate these Oblivion Gates have been opening,” Soren explained. “Started out at once a week or every ten days, now it’s every other day.” He nodded outward. “Seven have opened between here and Applewatch, and four to the south.”

“And we’re full up with all the reinforcements from the other counties,” Bor added.

A sudden concern caused me to inhale sharply. Sai glanced up at me and licked my fingers. “How is that working out?”

“Most of them are camped in the Castle, both in the main Keep and out in the courtyard,” Bor shrugged. “They’re getting along rather well, I think. Most of them are good people.”

“I wouldn’t want to mess with that Bravil captain, though,” Soren remarked, rolling his eyes at me. “She’s a hardcase, that one.”

I stifled a smile at that succinct summation of the character of Viera Lerus. “I take it her Guardsmen don’t cause any trouble?”

“‘Blivion’s globes, no!” Soren ducked his head at the sharp glance Bor sent him. “Excuse me, ma’am.”

“I’m the last one to be offended by something like that,” now I smiled. “My optio will tell you my language has been worse than that.” I cocked my head thoughtfully at him. “Though that’s a new one to me. I’ll have to remember that.” Beside me, Sai relaxed at my tone. “But do tell me,” I returned to the more serious topic, “have any of the other guards caused problems in Bruma?”

The two Bruma guardsmen exchanged glances across the width of the gateway. “Well,” Bor met my gaze with some trepidation, “those Leyawiin men are a bit -“

“Hoity-toity, like,” Soren added when his mate’s voice trailed off. “Think they’re better than every one else. But they do the least amount of work of all of them!”

My heart sank. If this is what Count Caro calls aid, we may have been better off without his help. “How do you mean?”

“They don’t drill with the rest of us,” Bor frowned. “They don’t bother to learn what we know about the inside of them Gates. And they don’t stow and shine their gear like the rest of us.” He jerked his head backwards over his right shoulder at the open gates beyond. “You’ll see if you go up to the castle courtyard. You’ll know their area by the mess.”

“And they lord it over the locals,” Soren added, a growl emerging in his voice. Sai turned his head toward the Redguard. “Not just us guardsmen, but the civilians, too. And the one thing Captain Burd’s taught us -“ he rolled his eyes again, “- well, those of us not Skyrim-bred like that lunkhead over there,” he nodded in Bor’s direction. Vapor spurted in silent chuckles from the lean Nord’s lips. “The Cap’n’s taught us to always respect the local civilians and their Skyrim ways.”

I turned to face Soren more fully. “Are you saying all Nords are lunkheads?”

“No ma’am,” Soren’s tone had the familiarity of refuting an old argument. “Just that one there.”

This time Bor laughed heartily. “Just like me callin’ him a knuckledragger doesn’t mean you’re one, ma’am, or Cirroc, or any other Redguard.”

A chuckle escaped my lips in spite of my efforts to maintain a serious demeanor. Sai yipped once and sat down, leaning his shoulder against my knee. “Who is in charge of the Leyawiin contingent?” I managed to turn serious again.

“One Valeria Cordelius,” Soren’s gaze remained on Sai. “She’s the worst of the lot, if you ask me.”

I think I’d prefer to see for myself. “Is that the only contingent that is giving you trouble here in town?”

“Pretty much, yes,” Soren nodded. “Though there are individuals here and there that kind of rub the wrong way.”

“That Ulrich Leland!” Bor snorted. “Already he and Cap’n had a few clashing eyes, though he’s not done anything obvious, like.”

“Really?” I remarked, my heart sinking. And Viera Lerus? She did promise me that she would not challenge Burd’s authority here.

“Aye, when Cap’n first advised him of the drill schedule we have, Leland was against his guards drilling with us. But after fighting a few of the daedra around the next Gate, he changed his mind.”

Inexperienced? Maybe, but why would he be Captain if he lacked combat experience? I put the question aside.

The wind nudged the enchanted brown cloak off my right shoulder and kissed my neck with a razor edge. I shivered involuntarily. “Gods! I’m getting cold out here!” I shook my head at the two men. “Frostbite potions?”

“Specialty of milady Orania,” Soren grinned at me. “Lasts through an entire watch.”

“I’m going to have to speak to her about them,” I grumbled. “But not standing out here! I’ll see you both around, I suppose.”

“Aye, we’ll be around,” Bor agreed.

This post has been edited by haute ecole rider: Nov 3 2011, 02:07 AM

[Athynae]

Another wonderful post full of Julian's compassion, she IS connected to these men. I can't wait to see how she handles Cordelia and her men. She never ceases to not only impress me with her strategies but in cases like this I have no doubt there will be some humor too.

Great write Haute, I look forward to more...soon. Best of luck with the Nanowrimo!!!

[SubRosa]

I think Blanco's Witchhorsieness is showing again, given his protective feelings toward the great welkynd stone.

I could see General Talos standing high above a bustling plaza.
I enjoyed this, as it tells us so much of Julian's character. It is not Emperor Tiber Septim, but rather General Talos. We see the legion stamped all over her.

It was interesting to see the inside view of all these guard contingents mixing together. Most stories would portray them as one big, smoothly functioning unit. But instead you have shown them to us as being a diverse bunch, with equally divergent personalities. It comes as no surprise that the bunch from Leyawiin would be malcontents that Count Caro would want rid of (much as Count Bravil wanted rid of his malcontent, but for a vastly different reason! ) And Leland, well, those of us who know him only hope he ends up at the wrong end of a daedric longsword. Too bad he is essential at this point in the game.

[Grits]

How great that Julian is cooperating with NNWM! Thank you for relieving my concerns that I would have to wait until December for a Julian fix. Now I can say good luck with your novel, and really mean it.


“Ach, it’s these damned Gates,” Nonius shook his head vehemently. “The Guard’s pretty good about keeping those daedra away from the stables, but one can’t be too careful, right?”

I’m always worried about this during the crisis. Ever since that mountain lion incident at Horse Whisper Stables (in a game), I make sure I put my horse behind a closed gate. Not sure if that would help, though.


Vapor spurted in silent chuckles from the lean Nord’s lips.

I love the banter between Soren and Bor, and especially this image. It was very interesting to get a look at the inner workings of the allies for Bruma. There would be regional differences and rivalries, but I never thought about it until now.

I also enjoyed the behavior from Blanco and Sai. Blanco is in full Witchhorse mode, and Sai’s uneasiness makes me wonder again about his history.


“Specialty of milady Orania,” Soren grinned at me. “Lasts through an entire watch.”

It’s great to hear something nice about a member of the Bruma Mages Guild. They must be in high gear now too, with all of the gates opening around Bruma and a bunch of southerners to keep warm. I get a real sense of the escalating crisis in the opening of this chapter. Julian has been on solo missions (with the dog), and now she’s back in with all of the players. I’m looking forward to seeing Burd, and then finding out how Martin is holding up. And all of the others at Cloud Ruler Temple.

[Acadian]

Welcome back to posting for you and to Bruma for Julian!

And what a great job of capturing the martial bustling of Bruma at this stage. I enjoyed how you pointed out the differing temperaments and personalities that are only partially muted by the uniforms.

’I shook off the compliment. Or was it a compliment? “And you’ve been busy since, I see.”
What a perfect sentiment for a senior NCO to have. And delivered in such a delightfully understated way!

’The wind nudged the enchanted brown cloak off my right shoulder and kissed my neck with a razor edge. I shivered involuntarily.’
I’m positively jealous of how masterfully you worded this! Simply magical.

Nit?
’I noticed that he made certain to stand as close to his tack on the rack beneath the eaves of the shed.’
Perhaps it is just me, but I paused at this to reread, looking for the answer to ‘as close to his tack {on the rack beneath the eaves of the shed} as what?’ I wonder if the word ‘as’ was perhaps simply a remnant from an earlier edit?

[treydog]

First- HOORAY for new Julian story! Ahem. With that out of the way, let us get to the good parts. Oh wait- they are ALL "good parts." In that case, the parts that I liked best.

Sai's reaction to the multitude of guards shows once again your eye for detail. He WAS a "bandit dog" for a long time- official livery cannot have positive connotations for him- yet.

The problems with the Leyawiin contingent put me in mind of a maxim Julian knows quite well:

Bad leadership makes for bad soldiers.

And Julian shows her sense of responsibility once more. She was the motive force behind those "outsider" troops coming to Bruma- she cannot help but feel that their behavior reflects upon HER honor. Whether that feeling is "logical" is quite beside the point- it IS the way she FEELS.

Ah- wonderful weaving of story and personalities and politics once again.

[Olen]

A continuation. Exciting .

As every Blanco and Sai hold their own as characters. Blanco seems rather smarter than the average horse, certainly those bags should be safe. Sai is entertaining as always, there's something pleasingly light-hearted about him. His dislike of the guard is understandable, but ultimatly he wants to protect Julian rather than hurt them I think so he should settle down fine.

The idea of trouble in Bruma from all the guards makes sense. That Julian will make it her job to sort it is only natural. I doubt this Valeria Cordelius knows whats about to hit her. Still given what's coming I suspect many of the undesirables will either be changed or dead. Of course the way you introduced them was excellent, it's always nice to see old characters again.

I wonder how things are with the mages...

[Thomas Kaira]

Hiya, there. I'm all caught up again after getting so behind.

Very nail-biting journey through Miscarcand. Well done on capturing everything, from Julian's PTSD panic attack from noticing the Shaman all the way to the final battle against the witch lich king of Angmar Miscarcand. Good thing Julian was no man!

I very much enjoyed our return to Bruma, as well. Interesting to see a bit of unrest between the camps, makes one wonder how they are going to fare in the battle soon to come.

Though considering her episode with J'Skar and Volanaro, I have no question in my mind Julian will whip those Leyawiin snob-slobs into shape faster than you can say pilus prior!

[McBadgere]

Loving this bit, I always love the idea of the muster by Bruma...My favourite bit of the main quest, going around all little camp bits, hearing how they interact...Most excellently rendered here...

Ulrich Leland is always a boo-hiss baddie, interested to see if he turns up more... ...

Most excellent...

Nice one!... ...

[haute ecole rider]

@Athynae: I don't know about the humor, but I had a great time letting Julian's pilus out of the bag. You'll get to judge in a few more posts.

@SubRosa: I know people are itching for Julian to tangle with that nose-in-the-air Leland. Even if she doesn't do so here in Bruma, at least we know he survives to face her afterwards . . . In any case, as for Blanco, I wanted to remind everyone of his Witchhorse status. That's something both Julian and I are still figuring out. And of course it would be General Talos, not Emperor Tiber! I personally think the General is a far more fascinating character than the Emperor. Of course, a certain Redguard historian may have had something to do with it . . .

@Grits: I know, it's great that Julian is cooperating. But she knows from last year that if I get a plot bunny out of the way, I come back to her story. And she's having as much fun listening to the NNWM story as I am! And oh, boy, does she keep that internal editor in line! I'm glad you enjoyed the banter between Bor and Soren. They were always friends, which is why Burd selected them to go in that Gate with him and Julian. Their shared experiences in that place only served to strengthen their bond, their loyalty to Burd, and their respect for Julian.

@Acadian: Somehow I just knew you would catch the double meaning behind Julian's thoughts about the 'compliment!' Yes, Julian is like most senior NCO's, with a rather cockeyed perspective of officers. On the one hand, it's nice to be mistaken for an officer, but on the other hand, knowing officers as she does, well . . . Thanks for the nit!

@treydog: Thank you for picking up on Julian's sense of responsibility for these 'reinforcements' she has dumped on Burd. Though she did not have any input at all on who was sent, she still believes that if not for her, Burd wouldn't have these additional headaches. And yes, it takes a while for Sai to feel comfortable among soldiers. You'll see in the next post that not all guards are the same.

@Olen: It's funny that you should mention mages, because that is where we're going next!

@TK: You're right about how Julian will whip those lazy lay-abouts into shape. But you'll have to wait. I'm glad you found Miscarcand nail-biting. It was one of the scariest parts of the whole MQ, and quite possibly the entire game.

@McB: Welcome to OHDH! I hope you continue to enjoy this story as it heads slowly toward its inevitable conclusion.

Now Julian has returned to Bruma, she pays a visit to the Bruma chapter of the Mages Guild.

*******************
Chapter 29.2: Warming Up at the Mages Guild

Frasoric greeted me with her usual fizzling magic and indomitable optimism. “Why, good afternoon, Associate! I heard you’ve completed all the recommendations! Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” I murmured, gesturing Sai to hold as another cloud of emerald sizzled between the chapter head and me.

“Have you gone to the University yet?” Frasoric wouldn’t let me continue. “Isn’t it wonderful?” She stood a little taller on her tiptoes for a moment before sinking her heels back to the floor.

“I haven’t, yet,” I responded when she paused for breath. “I’ve had a few other tasks to attend to.” Like recover Tiber Septim’s armor, and that Great Welkynd stone in my bags. “I stopped in to speak to Orania, if she’s available?”

“Of course!” Frasoric waved toward the alchemist’s office, just behind the counter. “But Cirroc’s with her. A consultation, I believe.” Her gaze fell on Sai. “Oh, have you been practicing your conjuring? But I didn’t know there was a spell for that!” Envy tinged her tone.

“Umm, no,” I shook my head at the woman’s single-mindedness. “He’s flesh and blood, like you and me. This is Sai the Lucky, and he’s kind of made himself my friend.” I brushed his ears lightly with my fingertips as I looked down at him. He met my gaze swiftly, then returned his attention to another conjuration failure.

“Oh, but you could have fooled me!” Now relief flooded her voice. Was she jealous when she thought I could conjure up a dog? What’s there to be jealous about? Oh, that’s right, she can’t even whistle up a scamp! “With those blue eyes of his, I was convinced he was from the Void!”

“More like a bandit camp,” I remarked dryly. “I’ll peek in and let Orania and Cirroc know I’d like to speak to them.” I suited my actions to my words, signaling Sai to stay close to my side.

“Very well!” Frasoric turned away from me in tacit dismissal, continuing her practice, which had never ceased during our conversation. Is that why you can’t conjure a scamp to save your life? I put the thought aside. Battlemages can swing a sword and cast spells simultaneously, why can’t Frasoric talk and conjure at the same time? It must be in how she practices. Wonder if magic uses muscle memory, much the same way that swordfighting does. If so, she must have skipped the basic focusing drills. Trying to do too much too soon?

In the alchemist’s office, Orania and Cirroc stood over her work counter, heads together in murmured conversation. The pungent scent of crushed wormwood leaves filled the room as Orania’s hands worked independently of her voice.

Sai lifted his nose and sniffed loudly, then whined. Cirroc, his back to the door, glanced around. His dark eyes lit up when he recognized me. “Julian!”

“I’d like to speak to both of you,” I paused in the doorway. “But I can wait until you’re free.”

“No, no, come in!” Orania smiled warmly at me. “And I see you have a new companion, as well,” her gaze dropped to Sai.

“Yes, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I stepped into the room. Cirroc cleared a pile of workbooks off the stool next to him. He glanced at me again as he straightened up.

“The dog?” He held his hand out toward Sai, who approached slowly and sniffed curiously, his tail waving slowly.

Orania set her mortar and pestle down and rinsed her hands in a nearby bowl, drying them on a small towel. She rounded the counter and stopped beside Cirroc, her gaze on Sai.

“He looks well enough,” she commented, kneeling down. Sai sniffed at her hands, then licked her face in a friendly greeting. She stroked his thick ruff. “How can a healer and an alchemist help you with this dog?”

“You can explain something to me,” I answered, meeting Orania’s gaze as she looked up over Sai’s pointed ears. “I found him in a bandit camp. He had been injured when the bandits were attacking a Legion rider.” I pointed at the bald patch over his right shoulder. “Open fracture of the - um - humerus?”

It was Cirroc’s turn to kneel beside Sai. After a friendly ruffle of his ears, Cirroc moved his hands down to the healed scar, much as I had on that rainy afternoon. “Yes, the humerus,” he nodded after a palpation of the area. “I see the hair’s beginning to grow back.” He glanced up at me. “What about it?”

“That was a little over a week ago,” I continued. Both healer and alchemist regarded the shoulder, then me. “I used my Convalescence spell and what Cirroc had taught me about battlefield wounds.”

“I didn’t see him limping, Julian,” Orania ran her hand down Sai’s back and rose to her feet, brushing her palms together. Dark brown hair drifted in the golden lamplight as she crossed to a bubbling alembic at the rear of the room. “Tea to warm you up?” At my nod, she began pouring the simmering amber fluid into a glass beaker. I hope that’s clean.

Cirroc gave the healed area a final examination, then rose to his feet and returned to his stool. “Looks like you did a fine job of it, Julian.”

“So there isn’t any difference between healing an animal and healing a human or mer?” I accepted the steaming cup as Orania resumed her place at the mortar and pestle. It had been something that had been bothering me for some time. Why do chapel healers refuse to heal animals? Why is Marz the exception to the rule? Why is it left up to owners to heal their own livestock? Not everyone has the knowledge that trained healers have.

“There’s a few anatomical differences between humans, mer and animals,” Cirroc shrugged. “But those differences come into play largely in surgery, and in your choice of potions.”

“For example,” Orania added, “there are some plants that are toxic for cats, as well as Khajiit, but are well-tolerated by other species. And everyone knows of the Argonian resistance to poisons.”

Cirroc was nodding. “So you healed this dog of a traumatic injury. Really, when it comes down to it, trauma is trauma, and healing proceeds in the same manner regardless of the species.” His eyes narrowed at me. “But that’s not what is bothering you.”

I took a sip of the tea, wondering how to frame my question without causing offense. The mildly astringent taste gave me the courage to proceed. “Why don’t Chapel healers and Guild alchemists heal animals too?”

Cirroc’s eyebrows rose, and Orania’s hands paused in their grinding. “What?” Cirroc leaned his elbow on the counter. “Where did you get such an idea?”

“Get that - that thing out of here!” the Imperial woman seized me by the shoulders and pushed me toward the tall double doors. “How dare you defile the Chapel of Dibella with such filth!”

“But he’s hurt and needs help!” My nine-year old body resisted the Chapel healer’s physical urgings. The bedraggled creature clutched in my arms did not move in spite of our wrestling movements.

“It’s just a cat!” Somehow Lucilla Piconaea had managed to steer me to the carved wooden panels. With one claw on my left shoulder, she wrestled the door open far enough to push me out into the downpour. “And don’t think about going to Felen Relas at the Mages Guild! He’ll capture that cat’s soul in one of those evil gems!” The heavy door slammed shut with a deadly finality.

“He’s not just a cat!” Tears mingled with the cold rain on the black-and-white blood-splattered fur. “He’s Cao! He keeps the mice out of Mother’s garden! You can’t let him die!”

Those tears turned my voice ragged as I briefly told them about the little mouser who had appeared on Mother’s doorstep one cold winter evening and adopted us as his family. “He died before I could get him home to Mother.”

“And this Lucilla Piconaea told you Chapel healers do not tend to animals?” The suppressed fury in Cirroc’s tone drew both my and Sai’s eyes to him.

“I never questioned that,” I admitted, thinking back to my surprise when Frederick had mentioned Marz’s fondness for creatures. “Not until Marz in Bravil helped me heal Paint.”

“And it didn’t occur to you to ask why Marz would heal Paint after thinking for years it was forbidden?” Cirroc shook his head. “The decision to heal animals, or not, lies with the individual healer. Some do, some don’t.”

“Do you?” I held my gaze steady on the Bruma healer’s dark eyes.

“Of course!” Cirroc nodded emphatically. “Especially if it’s a black and white mouser in the arms of a heartbroken little girl.” He reached down to gently stroke Sai’s ears. “Or a Skyrim Husky mix at the side of a battle-hardened warrior.” His smile gleamed at me. “Not that Sai needs anything from me. You’ve done an admirable job of healing him.”

“I’ve been with the Guild for seventeen years,” Orania declared, scraping the macerated remains of the motherwort out of her pestle into a calcinator. “I can not recall there ever being a proscription against treating animals there, either. And my potions are for animal use as well as human, mer, or tailed folk.”

“Good,” I sighed with sudden relief. “Because I used all of your extra-strength healing potions on Sai.”

“I thought you healed that leg with just your Convalescence spell?” Orania added something else to the calcinator, something I could not recognize.

“I did,” I took another sip of the tea. “But he insisted on accompanying me into - a dangerous situation, and got himself banged up on more than one occasion.” Fondly I ruffled the scruff of Sai’s neck as he leaned happily against my leg. “He wouldn’t let me face those goblins by myself.”

“He’s not military trained?” Cirroc exclaimed. “But I saw you using those Legion signals with him, I assumed -“

“He knows some, but not all,” I thought back over the trip from Skingrad to Bruma. “He knows stay, quiet, come. But he doesn’t know take cover, go there, or some of the others I’ve watched Legio Ten use with their war dogs.” I shook my head. “And I’m not sure how to train him to those signals.” Playfully I rapped my knuckles gently on his skull between those prick ears. “Nor do I know if he can be trained!”

“I see I had better teach you what’s safe to use for cats and Khajiiti, then,” Orania chuckled as she refilled her own beaker with the tea. “Never know when you might encounter a cat to rescue!”

[Grits]

Frasoric is hilarious. I forgot about the little up on the tiptoes mannerism that you gave her. How funny that she thought Sai was a summoning, and how fitting for her!

Dark brown hair drifted in the golden lamplight as she crossed to a bubbling alembic at the rear of the room. “Tea to warm you up?” At my nod, she began pouring the simmering amber fluid into a glass beaker. I hope that’s clean.

I like this even more. Memories of college and borrowed beakers in the kitchen.

What a touching story about little Cao, and an interesting veterinary discussion that followed. Do I see another LBMQ career opportunity for Julian?

[SubRosa]

I agree with Grits, the tipy-toes was a wonderful little addition, that just seems so suited for the ditzy chapter head. Likewise mistaking Sai for a conjuring!

The pungent scent of crushed wormwood leaves filled the room as Orania’s hands worked independently of her voice.
Right on the heels of Julian's musings about Frasoric's failures, this really stood out. It is nice to know at at least someone in the Bruma guild is competent. And how perfect of her to warm her tea in an alembic!

He’ll capture that cat’s soul in one of those evil gems!
Those Dunmer are wicked and profane like that...

Finally an eye-opening and once again past-revealing discussion concerning healing animals. It is too bad Teresa had not been around when Julian was younger. She would have healed her cat!

[Acadian]

What a delightful episode! I like Jeanne and you do such a wonderful job of capturing her.

The scene with Cirroc and Orania was great as well. And another effective use of a poignant flashback.

“Of course!” Cirroc nodded emphatically. “Especially if it’s a black and white mouser in the arms of a heartbroken little girl.”
Testimony to your build up here, this made my heart swell.

And a perfect ending, gently reminding us of Julian’s tendency to rescue every stray cat that she encounters!

[Athynae]

I chuckled throughout the part with Frasoric, she seems like she is just happy to be happy, and I too enjoyed the tip-toe thing.

The rest with Orania and Cirroc was more wonderful insight into who Julian is and how she thinks, what is important to her. There are just some of us who can't help picking up every stray we come across. I really shouldn't have harassed Trey so much about his "stray" cat, I now have another canine at my house.....Sadie was abandoned and I just couldn't leave her where she was.

A quote that I remember from childhood went something like this "Be careful of the words you speak you never know which ones you'll eat"

BUT BUT She's a good dog!!!!!!