WG - The Mystery of the Poisoned Healer Options

[Grits]

“I know a few alchemists, but I couldn’t guess if any of them could be involved,” said Abiene. “That’s not something that would have been shared with me. It was Sethyas who brewed the cure, I would have been at a loss if you did not know him. Even Master Selvilo didn’t offer to help, though both he and that Altmer discerned the nature of my trouble.

“I expect anyone who brewed such subtle poisons would keep that aspect of their skill a secret to avoid attracting suspicion in these circumstances,” Abiene continued. It helped to think of the situation as a puzzle somehow apart from herself. “Anyway, would the poison have to have been made recently or even nearby? I’ve used potions that were concocted in other provinces and shipped to Chorrol. Lifting curses is tricky business, and the experts are rarely inclined to travel for the sake of some faceless patient.”

Abiene tried to ignore her grumbling stomach. Seth’s vegetable stew smelled divine, unlike the institutional meals served at the chapel. Yet she was not inclined to invite another rush to the urn.

Some organizations fulfill the contract even after the person who took it out has died, Eyja had said. A hopeless dread crept through her. And rising up underneath it was a new kind of anger. The best she could hope for was a chance to fight. Abiene blinked until her eyes stopped burning. She found her fingernails had marked crescents in her palms.

“It seems that confronting the poisoner would be most helpful. They might provide some clue as to the organization they work for, or they might admit to working alone. Assuming I’m actually the target, is there a way we might draw them out? Hiding here for safety isn’t providing any new information. Perhaps there’s another way we might guess that a murderer would use to make a death look accidental. A fall, or choking on something, or even a fire.”

[mALX]

*

Eyja:


"Confronting the assassin is exactly why we have isolated you. They will have to show themselves to make another attempt, and get through the three of us to reach you. The poison itself takes time to make, it is usually made up days in advance. Most pros carry a supply of it around, which is why we think a pro is involved. A good Alchemist can make it, but why would they? There is no other purpose for this type poison than to make someone's death appear to be natural causes to cover up a murder. It is quick acting but nearly symptom free, the person usually dies in their sleep and no one is the wiser."

Eyja glanced at Seth as a thought struck her. "Tell me, Abiene. How have you felt in the weeks leading up to this? You said you have been taking potions to keep up with all your workload; was it that great or were you tired doing the same tasks you had previously done without feeling the effects of it?"



*






This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 10 2013, 05:19 PM

[Grits]

Abiene gave her head a little shake. “I keep careful track of my potion use to avoid toxicity. It’s been the same. It’s not my regular workload but the healing I do outside the chapel that puts a strain on me. When I’m excused from the healing hall to rest and allow my magicka to refill I tend to visit the beggars’ camp and some others who aren’t on good terms with the Nine. That’s why I take so many potions. And honestly, when given a choice between watery soup and a Restore Fatigue potion, who would eat the soup?

“And come to think of it, I wasn’t even taking potions for the few days prior to the poisoning. I was at the wayshrine. I used up all of my magicka on healing and other activities, but I wanted to give my body a break and just refill naturally. Of course that’s where I picked up the infection that I passed to Maxical. I didn’t worship with any of the pilgrims, so I didn’t even think to check myself for disease.”

She glanced between the three of them, wary of judgment. “I don’t hide my Dibellan connections, but I’m not very open about them. Folk tend to get a wrong idea. If someone knew where I was or with whom I would spend time, then they know a great deal about me.”

[Black Hand]

Seth grabbed a bowlful of stew, and wolfed down a spoonful.

"Knowing much about someone may not take a long time either. Any professional could figure you out nearly on sight. Determining a schedule takes only a few hours to a couple of days. Some of the better ones might even just strike when they sense the opportunity, sort of a way to keep being undetected in a social sense" He said, kind of explaining his own methods. "

Especially if this one made use of invisibility or chameleon. Simply pouring a vial of poison into a cup of tea would not disperse that field either."

His mouth contorted as he stretched and puckered it in thought.

"I wonder if the Guild out here would know anything. They often have access to this type of information." He thought aloud. "As I recall the Beggar's out here tend to have a sort of unseen eye on everything, and you spend much time in their company...perhaps they saw something as well."

"And...as far as this 'contract' goes. I intend to make it so that you are safe. In every sense of the word." He said, as he took another spoonful of stew.

"Any good Healer knows it better to treat the cause, and alleviate symptoms. I will eliminate both." He assured her.

Or die trying, I'm not that good.He thought wryly.

[mALX]

*

Eyja:

Eyja moved over and ladled out a bowl of the stew automatically, setting it down in front of Abiene.

"Sorry, habit." She said, then yanked a hair out by the roots of Abiene's hair.

"Oops! Look, my button caught on your hair, I am so sorry! But while I have it, no sense in it going to waste."

She went to her bag and pulled out a small sized laboratory style magnifier and stretched the hair out beneath it, slowly pulling the hair through under the lenses while her eye looked impaled on a raised lens.

"Seth, you want to examine this?"

Maxical glared at her. "Eyja! What button? You yanked that hair, I saw you!"

"We need to know if she's been poisoned before this incident. That would tell us if it was someone she knows rather than a pro."

Maxical rolled her eyes. "Geez, you ever hear of asking?"

Eyja stepped aside from the magnifier for Seth to look. "It hurts less if you don't know it is coming."

Maxical raised up her shirt to show her bald stomach. "It was YOU? YOU did this to me?"



*





This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 10 2013, 08:36 PM

[Grits]

Abiene wondered what Guild Sethyas was referring to. She doubted he meant the Mages Guild.

He was right about how transparent she must be to a professional. She was good at fooling those who wanted to believe her. None of her little deceptions would stand up to close scrutiny. Much as she wanted to resist, she needed to quit trying to solve this and just answer the questions. Here was a case where she just didn’t know enough to rely on her own judgment.

Sethyas spoke between bites of stew. “And...as far as this ‘contract’ goes. I intend to make it so that you are safe. In every sense of the word,” he said. “Any good Healer knows it better to treat the cause, and alleviate symptoms. I will eliminate both.”

Abiene let his meaning sink in without shrinking from it. They were planning the death of at least one person, probably two. Perhaps even more. She had lived this long insulated inside walls protected by others. When it was time to deal out death and judgment she had the luxury of turning away. Grow up, Abiene. Open your eyes.

The corner of Seth’s lip twitched, perhaps in amusement at some wry thought. Abiene slowly nodded her understanding.

“Sorry, habit,” Eyja said, placing a bowl of stew in front of Abiene.

“Oh, this looks-- Ow!” Abiene picked up her spoon while she rubbed her scalp. Did she just yank out my hair?

Maxical jerked her shirt up over her pink belly. “It was YOU? YOU did this to me?” she demanded of Eyja.

Abiene tucked into the stew, chewing carefully in case it came back up. She widened her eyes in mock surprise at Eyja, smiling around the spoon.

[mALX]

*

Eyja:


Eyja waved Maxical to sit down. "Hush." She turned to Abiene.

"Abiene, come look at this hair. Put your eye on the top like I did. See the change in color and texture of that hair just before that blackened part nearest the root? That blackened part is this last poisoning. Someone was poisoning you before this incident, but in smaller doeses. See how the color gets darker as it gets closer to the root? They were increasing the doses each time. That means we are absolutely looking at someone you know. A pro doesn't follow you around giving small doeses, this is an individual poisoning. You have an enemy close enough to taint your food more than once."



*






This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 10 2013, 09:50 PM

[Black Hand]

He held back his amusement at the exchange between the girls. Eyja used the old distraction method to get her hair sample.

Sethyas raised his brow in surprise.

"An image magnifier? I haven't seen one of those outside a Dwemer Study Academy." he said in admiration.

"So I'm assuming we're not looking for split ends. Hmmm. Yes. I see." He dragged the hair up and down the magnifier and let Abiene look next as Eyja explained the significance of the markings.

"I'm afraid Dunmer hair grows at a different rate than Cyrod's and Nords, how long ago would you say these poisonings started Eyja?" he asked.

"We can use that time frame to help determine the motive...alongside your usual eating place...you said you usually eat here didn't you?"

"And coupled with the knowledge that the poisoner seems to possess, we can further eliminate our suspects to a handful...the poisoner may well be in the tavern as we speak." His gauntlets creaked as he gripped his blade's hilt.

[mALX]

*

Eyja:

Eyja showed Seth the intricate and unusual pattern on the bottom of the piece.

"It is Dwemer. When Maxical stayed with Divayth Fyr he offered her a choice of one Dwemer artifact from his collection at the end of the visit. She chose this and gave it to me."

She showed Seth how the lenses swiveled into place.

"On the timeline, the speed which her hair grows is the prime factor. We know how many days ago the black ridge occurred, it is already visible just above the root. Her hair growth is probably accelerated from all the healing she does and potion intake. Use that width as a measurement of days to where the poisonings first began."

She set the magnifier back up and swiveled to a stronger lens; making a rough guess by the length of damage near the root.

"I'm guessing three weeks at most, no less than two." She turned to Seth. "Look how they increased the amount almost daily. They couldn't know the dose needed to do that. This isn't a qualified Alchemist if they don't know the dosage. But they were able to make the poison, so they either aren't that inept or possibly bought it on the black market. Maybe they just stumbled across a recipe for it."

She stepped back so Seth could look. "It was just a rough guess on the timeline, what do you think?"

While he looked, she turned to Abiene.

"You'll need to think of someone whose secret you've learned or possibly who you angered within a month; and narrow it down by any who have access to things you eat. Seth feels it could be a woman, and he could be right about that. Also, Seth mentioned they most likely would have been in chameleon, so you wouldn't necessarily have seen them when your foods or drinks were tainted. That is why I gave you that ring that detects life. Make sure you wear it at all times, period. Even in your bath."

Eyja shot Seth a look of undisguised admiration when he grabbed his sword hilt, and caught Maxical eyeing him with the same admiring look. He did make one feel protected.


*


Maxical:


Maxical elbowed Abiene and spoke quietly into her ear. "That's a Dunmer challenge. If his hand stays on the hilt like that it means he won't stop till they are dead. At least you know now there is only one enemy, not an organization."


*





This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 11 2013, 12:31 AM

[Black Hand]

He loosened his grip from the hilt, having absentmindedly placed it there in the first place.

He returned to the kitchen and cleaned his finished bowl, and started on some tea.

This also spoke of clear intent. Hate. Cold, guided, and focused.

An overwhelming desire to see another mortal dead, but with enough of a sense self-preservation to do it discreetly as was possible. His instincts had just simply told him it was more the subtle trait of a woman.

Part of him wished it were not. Too many of them have died because of me and my choice. he self-ruminated.

He grabbed some parchment and ink from his pack, and prepared his tea.

This post has been edited by Black Hand: Aug 11 2013, 02:16 AM

[Grits]

“Split ends?” laughed Abiene. “I should think not.” She gave her hair an exaggerated pat, grateful for the jest.

She took her turn looking through the Dwemer viewing apparatus. There was no way to describe her hair’s growth rate. The curls just kept curling up as they grew until the hair’s weight pulled them suddenly long. Before she could try to explain, Eyja came up with the answer.

Eyja and Sethyas worked rapidly through the information.

“The poisoner may well be in the tavern as we speak,” said Seth. His hand went to his blade’s hilt.

Abiene felt her stomach flutter in almost hopeful anticipation. I would like this to be over.

She stayed in her seat and began answering the questions. “If someone has been poisoning my food over time… They would have to have constant access to the chapel’s living quarters. I dine there mornings and evenings, and the food is served from communal bowls and platters. They must have poisoned most of the chapel staff along with me. Mid-day I usually take a potion instead of lunch. All of my potions at the chapel come from the compounding room. I only make a few of my own, honestly I have no talent for alchemy and there’s always someone who’s willing to trade. Folk get starved for a gentle touch, even a shoulder rub or a hand massage.” Abiene flushed, realizing that might not have sounded right.

She decided to just move on. “Sometimes I get a snack or tea from a food cart out in Fountain Gate, but someone would have to be pretty quick to… No, like you said, I’m sure I’m far more predictable than I imagine myself to be. Anyway, I—”

Abiene froze in mid thought. She brought her hand to her mouth in horror. “My extra potions, the ones I take beyond what chapel guidelines allow. A friend makes them for me. I keep my supply in the back of Northern Goods and Trade. Seed-Neeus lets me keep some things there. They’re just sitting in a box on a shelf, organized of course. It’s pretty obvious which one I’ll take next. I am not a neat freak, but there’s a correct way to do some things, and that’s how I do them.”

Imagining that someone had followed her around for a month watching for her to sicken and die made Abiene’s jaw ache. She deliberately unclenched her teeth.

“As for secrets I’ve learned, they will have to stay secrets.” She looked first at Maxical and then at Eyja. “My word is not conditional. Anyone who has my promise should trust that it will be kept. Anyone.”

Abiene’s eyes went reluctantly to Sethyas. He was the one with his palm on a blade hilt. She realized that she was not being easy in this matter, but he had her quiet trust in the same way that she had Maxical’s and Eyja’s. And if there was going to be a scene, so be it.

[Black Hand]

“My extra potions, the ones I take beyond what chapel guidelines allow. A friend makes them for me. I keep my supply in the back of Northern Goods and Trade. Seed-Neeus lets me keep some things there. They're just sitting in a box on a shelf, organized of course. It’s pretty obvious which one I’ll take next. I am not a neat freak, but there’s a correct way to do some things, and that’s how I do them.”

Sethyas brow furled.

Acquire potion sample. Add Seed-Neus to suspects. He jotted down.

But probably not her, though she is a woman. His instincts spoke.

“As for secrets I’ve learned, they will have to stay secrets.” She looked first at Maxical and then at Eyja. “My word is not conditional. Anyone who has my promise should trust that it will be kept. Anyone.”

Sethyas nodded in appreciation. "As it is for me as well." He said, noting yet another similarity in their opposing trades. "That does not mean you cannot let your knowledge guide you. You don't have to be the self-poisoning priest." He advised.

He took it from their vacant stares they didn't know the parable.

"In my orphanage, we were told the story of the Priest who heard it confessed to he that one of the faithful had poisoned the wine used during the sermon. Being sworn to absolute secrecy, the priest took the only recourse he had and drank the wine before any others could, and fell dead." He recounted quickly.

"As I said, you're not in that situation. If something occurs to you as a possible motive, you need not reveal the circumstances, you may honor your pledge to the Nine. That does not mean you need not tell us who the person might be, or even a preceding event that may lead us down that thread to it."

"I don't mean to encourage you to be duplicitous, but understand what the spirit of Sacred Secrecy is: Protection. The protection of person and property. I think both those tenets have been violated here, and you are the victim."

He stopped for a moment.

"When...when we are absolutely certain to who the offender is, and if there is no other recourse, I will take the burden on for myself." He said more looking at Eyja then Abiene.

"If we can see to it that the person can be sent to the dungeons to rot; which is the crueler fate I think, and it fits with your idea of justice, Abiene. It will be done."

[mALX]

Maxical:


"Folk get starved for a gentle touch, even a shoulder rub or a hand massage.” Abiene flushed



Eyja gave her a saucy look and arched one eyebrow at her twice.

Maxical caught the look and blushed. "Oh, a...er...hand massage, huh? Wait a minute, you mean..." She flushed deeper.

She was grateful Seth broke in with the story about the Priest to wipe the visual images from her mind as she tried to imagine what Abiene was talking about; but the end of Seth's story stunned her.

"Huh? Man he was dumber than me! Why didn't he just uncork the wine and drain it onto the ground so no one died?"

Maxical turned to Eyja in all seriousness though. "Eyja, break into that store and steal the next vial of that potion. Maybe Seth can examine it for poison."

Eyja nodded. "I already planned to, and you are right that it should be the next one she would be taking. They wouldn't have tainted any more than needed, her hair proves that."

Eyja turned to Abiene. "I doubt it will be the one making the potions for you; they could be too easily pinpointed as the suspect if others knew they did this for you; and whoever did this has proven they don't want to be connected with the crime. But a busy store, anyone could come in chameleon and taint one at a time."

Maxical turned to Seth. "I am highly visible and easily described..." She pointed to her white skin and red hair, then continued.

"I could make a public display of going to the store and saying I'm picking up Abiene's potions for her so it will get out she is still alive and accessing those potions; then hide in chameleon and watch to see if anyone sneaks in to taint another bottle. Reel him in like a fish."

Eyja nodded agreement.

"I agree with Maxical in one thing, let the assassin know she lives and is here. Abiene could send messages to the places she frequents most; tell them she is busy here at the Wobbly Inn on a medical procedure and will be unavailable for healing anyone else temporarily. The only one seeking her here then would be the assassin, and we can be set up watching for them. The windows of this suite give quite a view to everything but the stables side of the Inn, and she can alert us if she sees someone suspect. That will narrow it down considerably and bring them into our hands."

Maxical slapped her hand on the table. "I can set traps on the windows and doors here." She turned to Eyja with a sudden thought.

"Who was that person you said paid you a Septim to embarrass Abiene in the road? They were there at the time the poison was passed to her, and must have had a reason to single Abiene out."

Eyja's brows drew down into a frown.

"Why didn't I think of them before? They may have been trying to delay Abiene reaching that doctor she works for; who would have seen immediately she'd been poisoned." Eyja turned to Seth.

"A tall man in expensive robes gave me a Septim if I could make Abiene blush. When I returned for the Septim he was gone. His voice..." She broke off with a frown, then looked back at Seth.

"His voice sounded like Earana's, that deep...remember hers? It was like a man's. That day, that person could have been a woman, I couldn't see for their hood covering their face."



"When...when we are absolutely certain to who the offender is, and if there is no other recourse, I will take the burden on for myself." Seth said more looking at Eyja then Abiene.


Eyja nodded at Seth with gratitude in her eyes. She mouthed, "Thank you, Seth." silently to him.


Maxical caught the exchange and smiled her approval at Seth. Eyja would kill in defense of herself or a friend in a heartbeat with no qualms, but the end killing in cases like this usually bothered her the same way she was bothered when she returned from that shouting match last night. She was grateful Seth was there and willing to relieve Eyja of this one.




*





This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 11 2013, 04:35 AM

[Black Hand]

It actually hit Sethyas like a smack in the face. The most obvious solution. It seemed to fit, Earana was a woman and was quite adept in poisons. At the very least drugging Maxical. Her interest in using her for her Cloud Top experiments would seem to interrelate with Abiene in some fashion.

"If..this is the case, have we already eliminated the threat?" Sethyas pondered aloud.

"Or are there other cohorts we've yet to come across?" he shook his head.

"I could make a public display of going to the store and saying I'm picking up Abiene's potions for her so it will get out she is still alive and accessing those potions; then hide in chameleon and watch to see if anyone sneaks in to taint another bottle. Reel him in like a fish."

"Very well, Maxical. If you feel up to the task, but Ejya or I should accompany you. I don't discount you or devalue your capabilities, merely wish to lessen any risks that we face." He said. He'd been around this long because he'd prepared for 'probably won't happen'.

"Either of us can be stealthy as well." He reasoned. "And if Earana's machinations were larger than what we've come across, you may be still targeted as well."

"And either of us can protect Abiene in this suite with the seal spell, alongside your traps. Hmmm." He stroked his chin.

"And I do happen to still have a last minute escape plan as well. Abiene, are you familiar with the spell: Divine Intervention?" he asked.

"It's rarely seen out here these days, I realize. But, I do have it in scroll form here." he went to his pack.

"Once read, the enchantment will immediately translocate you to the closest Imperial Cult Temple....I suppose they would be called Nine Divine Chapels in Cyrodiil Proper. Should your protector fail, and there is no recourse...simply read." he instructed as he handed her the scroll.

[mALX]

*

Eyja:

Eyja flushed, remembering the woman outside Maxical's window she had dumped Maxical's pee on. That woman had the same deeper voice as Earana too. She shook her head at Seth.

"I've heard other Altmer women with those deep voices. Some of them are hard to distinguish from males in the dark with those loose robes and cowls that cover their forms and faces."

Maxical poked Eyja in the side. "What about Earana's laboratory in the sewers though. It could easily have been made in there. I was ill and slept a lot; and now I know drugged as well...but I did hear other voices in there. Maybe she sold the poison to the one who wants Abiene dead. Or maybe it is this other person's lab and they allowed Earana use of it."

Eyja was struck by that. "Honditar said Earana lived at the Gray Mare, and only gave up her room that day. Someone else probably does own that laboratory."

Maxical hesitated as if searching her memory.

"There was an odd shrine in there, like nothing I've ever seen before; strange symbols over the doors and wall hangings that were macabre; like skeletons with crossed hands under the skull, and one near the bed I was kept in had a black hand symbol..."

She broke off and held her hand open so the fingers and thumb were spread apart. "It was different from yours, Seth. I think this was Dark Brotherhood maybe."

She glanced up at Eyja.

"Right across from this suite along the City wall is a huge rock. It hides an entry into a cave system, and at the bottom is the access to the lair in the sewers. The cave is trapped worse than I would have done it. I nearly killed the Orc inadvertently setting them off when we were leaving for Cloud Top. Armed and armored mercenary bandits guard the entrance to the sewers lair; and a wolf guards the people she brings inside the lair. It follows every move so closely you can feel its breath through your clothing. Being a cat, I was terrified, but truthfully he never bit me. I think he is just trained to do that."

Eyja watched Seth's eyes to see what he was doing with this information. "These types usually work alone so there are no witnesses; but I've seen them form temporary pacts of silence when they need a service the other has; then silence the final witness at the end. If Abiene's killer formed a pact with Earana, we have saved him from having to kill her and the Orc later."

Maxical eased to a stand using the table as leverage. "Excuse me, please." She worked her way along the wall holding onto it and headed upstairs.

Eyja glanced at Abiene. "Why is she hanging on to the walls that way?"







Strange shrine on right:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zpse36f1333.png



Skeleton wall hanging over shrine and strange symbol over door:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps4b3cd42a.png



Alchemy Lab:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps6bb6e643.png


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps24820bec.png



Black Hand symbol on wall hanging:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps1036626c.png





Wolf guard:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps3397df8e.png







*






This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 11 2013, 07:18 AM

[Black Hand]

"There was an odd shrine in there, like nothing I've ever seen before; strange symbols over the doors and wall hangings that were macabre; like skeletons with crossed hands under the skull..." Maxical recounted.

Necromancers. The books I read in their regard in Morrowind almost prophesied their unusual level of organization here in Cyrodiil. He thought.

"...and one near the bed I was kept in had a black hand symbol..."

She broke off and held her hand open so the fingers and thumb were spread apart. "It was different from yours, Seth. I think this was Dark Brotherhood maybe."

He paused visibly.

It is.

The sight of a Khajiit climbing across the walls would normally have drawn his attention. He hadn't moved.

His gauntlets creaked once more. Both this time.

"Dearest Abiene. I am sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to keep my word on this one. Whomever is involved that would dare adorn that symbol upon their abode is already dead." He said with clenched teeth.

"Excuse me. I need some air." he said, and abruptly left dispelling the seal with frustrated gesturing.

[mALX]

*

Maxical worked her way upstairs to her room to pee. She had been using the bedpan since they arrived, so till now hadn't noticed how extremely high the urn was. Dear gods, was it made only for Nord or Orc? Maxical never sat on public urns, but carefully balanced herself over them in a hovering stand. There was no way to do that with his urn.

She pulled a chair over and wedged it beside the urn, then pulled the chair closest to the bed over to the urn. Someone's pack was on it, not hers or Eyja's. Was it Abiene's or Seth's? Seth would probably have a Morrowind travel pack like her own, which had been her mother's. It must be Abiene's.

She lowered the pack to the floor and stood on the chairs, one hand on each of the corner walls to balance herself. Her head still felt a little too woozy to be balancing on chairs.

Getting back down was even harder. She'd have to let go with one hand, but wasn't sure which was giving her the most stability. She chose the wrong hand to release, and tumbled off the chair, landing on the pack. There was a loud crack and then a crunch as she landed.

What broke was some kind of hollowed-out animal tusk. It had to be some kind of musical instrument like a flute or horn, Maxical guessed.

She rolled off the pack and pulled herself up, washing her hands at the ewer quickly before grabbing the instrument to show Abiene she had broken something that belonged to her.

Maxical worked her way into the kitchen with one hand on the wall and the other waving the broken tusk.

"Abiene, I fell and landed on your pack. I'm afraid I broke your flute."

She heard Eyja's braying laugh and saw Abiene's face purpling with embarrassment.

"Huh?" She looked from one face to the other.



*

[Grits]

A plan came together to secure a sample of her potions and possibly lure the murderer to the Goblet. The target, she amended to herself. They haven’t murdered me yet. Abiene built a list in her mind of the folk to whom she would send her notes.

Seth’s words eased her conscience and set her thinking forward again. Maxical’s traps and Eyja’s seals would keep her secure in their absence, and Seth’s scroll of Divine Intervention was her safety net. She wondered what his escape plan might be if she had his emergency scroll. That’s not for you to ask, she told herself.

Eyja spoke. “I've heard other Altmer women with those deep voices,” she said. “Some of them are hard to distinguish from males in the dark with those loose robes and cowls that cover their forms and faces.”

Abiene remembered the Altmer in Selvilo’s office. Her voice had the low pitch common to many high elves, but her tailored robe had flaunted her femininity. That wench is probably treating my patients. Abiene found her teeth grinding together again.

Maxical excused herself and groped her way up the stairs, clinging to the walls all the way.

Eyja glanced at Abiene. “Why is she hanging on to the walls that way?”

Abiene’s eyebrows went up. “I have no idea. Her body should be fully recovered, but there are many ailments of the mind that can manifest in physical symptoms. Stress over reliving her ordeal may have caused a drop in blood pressure, and that would make her feel light-headed. Is she prone to fainting spells? Oh, and…”

She didn’t want to mention Maxical’s skooma issue in any way that the Khajiit might overhear, so she mimed tipping skooma into a dish and then lapping from it. Then she realized that her motions might easily be misinterpreted, especially after the hand massage misunderstanding.

Sethyas’ words drove other thoughts from her head. “Dearest Abiene. I am sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to keep my word on this one. Whomever is involved that would dare adorn that symbol upon their abode is already dead.” His formal tone and clenched teeth spoke of rigid control, perhaps barely maintained. Abiene found that more chilling than open rage. “Excuse me. I need some air.” And he was gone.

Eyja met her eyes. Abiene didn’t know if it was the necromancer symbol or the Dark Brotherhood hand that was to blame, but somehow this enemy was personal to Sethyas beyond his connection to Eyja and what had been done to Maxical. It seemed that Eyja knew. The Nord woman’s face was a mask slipping down over boiling emotion.

Maxical limped into the room holding the wall with one hand. In the other she brandished a broken horker tusk. “Abiene, I fell and landed on your pack. I'm afraid I broke your flute.”

Abiene’s face heated as Eyja brayed out a laugh.

“Oh my,” said Abiene. She struggled to stand, shaking with suppressed laughter. “Dear Maxical, you should hand me that right away. Goodness…”

She didn’t dare look at Eyja or they both might choke to death.

“Yes, my… flute. I was going to play myself a little tune this afternoon while all of you were busy. Music does clear the mind, it’s so relaxing. Don’t worry about breaking it, Maxical. I’ll think of another way to occupy my time. And anyway, see how this one is made in the,” she coughed to cover her laugh, “Nordic style? I thought I might try an instrument made in Hammerfell, and you’ve given me incentive to find one.”

[mALX]

*

Eyja:


"Oh, and…”


Abiene had paused for an extended time. Eyja turned around to prompt her and saw her miming...

She raised her eyebrows at Abiene. There was no doubt what she was acting out.

Eyja shrugged. "Well okay, but it will cost you. My services don't come free you know."

Maxical's interruption and what she was carrying in her hand startled her into braying out a laugh, but as she passed Abiene she lowered her voice and leaned into her ear.

"And I charge extra for kinky stuff, you know." She raised one eyebrow twice at Abiene and brayed out another laugh.




*





This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 11 2013, 10:48 PM

[mALX]

*

Maxical:

Maxical flushed a deep purple. "Geez Eyja, first Earana and now Abiene! If you decide to turn to cats next, don't come looking for me!" She stomped back up the stairs clinging to the railing and slammed her bedroom door shut behind her.


The truth was, having Seth around smelling of Gils had reminded her how lonely her life was without Gils, or even Fathis in it. She could never dispense herself freely like Eyja did, but the ache was there to kiss a man and feel him respond to her touch again. If there was a way to bring Gils back from the dead, she would become a necromancer in a heartbeat and do it.

Eyja was overly loud in her passions, and it was the last thing Maxical wanted to hear right now, feeling this way. Eyja was here to protect Abiene, and Seth was out actively seeking the killer; most likely clearing that cave and destroying that laboratory and everyone in it. And Seth had made it clear he didn't consider Maxical capable of even staking out a shop by herself.

Maybe it was that catalyst that made her decide to stake out the Inn's tavern. The decision to do it was no sooner made than she found herself pulling on a clean dress of Eyja's from the schrank. Eyja's dresses gave her shapes she didn't have, and may draw the killer right to her.

Eyja and Abiene were still in the kitchen giggling when Maxical's invisible form slid out the back door. She resealed the door behind her, and wondered if Seth had done the same when he left. It wouldn't hurt to go check.

Maxical scurried along the back wall of the Wobbly holding onto it; then clung tightly to the bushes as she moved closely along them on the side so if Eyja or Abiene looked out they wouldn't see her invisible pink form moving stealthily past with their Life Detect rings. She eased into the front door of the inn and glanced around. There was a fairly good sized crowd in there, and as she suspected Seth was not among them.

Before doing anything else, Maxical moved up the stairs to their room door and sealed it locked, then dispelled her chameleon and walked down normally; as if she was just a guest leaving her room and visiting the tavern; who just happened to be holding the railing as she went down.


*





This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 11 2013, 08:58 PM