I really enjoyed the description, Maxical. Also, cool spell

Wow.... a whirlwind of fur, claws and fists..... Poor attackers

You should stop selling yourself short as a writer, mALX. Details like this (especially the tail) are why people hang on Maxical�s every word!

Somehow it seems strange that Gils would extend himself so much to save Maxical. Is his motive fear of what Agronak might do to him? Or is there something else going on?

@ Foxy - Thank you so much Foxy! Er...Foxy? Is that good or bad? You ROCK !!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you very much Acadian! I got my tips on that from Hauty!! Of all the chapters for her to miss! ARGH! Lol.

***
@ MyCat - Thank you so much MyCat!!! There is another Oblivion story on this site that has me in hysterics every time I read it, there is at least one crotch kick per chapter - the two chapters of the character's meeting with Lucien Lachance had me spraying drinks for days!

WOO HOO !!! X rated pot boilers! Yeah! I got the "Basic Instincts" on my Oblivion game and thought it was just a fun way to strip NPC's temporarily - till one day in the Skingrad Mages Guild when I accidentally hit Druja with it. Then I got Stoker, who is supposed to love your character - Maxical folds her arms and turns away every time she sees him. He balls his fists up and turns away from her every time she walks in the room. - they hate eachother! I have had the mod over 6 months and they have not grown any closer, so I stuck him in the cellar with Eyja the Skingrad maid. He's all friendly to her, lol. (if they are having relations I have not caught them at it yet, but he is supposed to at some point).

Thank you so much MyCat! It is great to see you over here!!!

***

@ Zalphon - Happy Birthday Zalphon!!! Thank you so much! Oh, that is a higher power all Khajiit come with, but it can only be used once a day.

***

@ Remko - Thank you so much Remko! Maxical will go down fighting, lol.

***

@ Destri - Thank you so very much Destri!! That paragraph you quoted was the first thing written, I wrote the chapter around it. Hauty sent me a PM over at the BGSF that gave me every cat scenario and the actions the cat would be expected to display, I saved it and refer back to it a lot - that paragraph came from her knowledge and what I've seen on my own front porch with my feral colony of cats I tend, lol.

Gils is a caretaker type. (in my story) - Owyn's right hand man due to his longevity in the Bloodworks. He probably would have done that for anyone, but he does have a weakness where Khajiit are concerned.

*


Chapter 27: The Aftermath


When it was over Owyn was staring at the logbook of injuries with a dazed look on his face. �If this happened in the Arena it would be the special event of the century! A cage match! The Arena would be filled to capacity! A bare hands meet, I can have the cage built for it. You two against a cage full of Pit Dogs�the box office draw would be sensational! Maxical, what did you call that move?� Owyn jabbered excitedly.

I glanced over at Gils, but he looked noncommittal. �Decapitation. Cutting the heads off one end or the other.�

�Do you realize what a draw this will be?� Owyn actually laughed. �Look at this! Gils, this is a list of the damage you did, it�s incredible! One guy lost his eye and half his face from your fist! Maxical, this is your list. Astounding that you two did this, just the two of you.�

Owyn pulled out his playbook of moves for us to use out in the Arena. �Both of you, I want a debriefing of moves you used. Gils, if you can think up names for your moves like Maxical did that is even better. I don�t want you to mention any of this to anyone, do you hear me? This is top secret! I don�t want Haki beating me to it. No one but the three of us are to know about this. You two are going to have to start training together to coordinate your moves, and I don�t want it done out here where someone could see you and start talking. From now on you'll train in with Pork Chop.�

I tried to give Gils a meaningful look but he seemed to be going along with Owyn's idea.

�When I was in the orphanage I heard some of the older Legion talking about something they used to do in a cage called a �Rumble�. They would start each match by yelling�� I started and Owyn joined in.

�Let�s get ready to rumble!� Owyn�s eyes were lit up remembering it. �We�ll have to get permission from the Arena first, releases.�

I crossed my fingers that Jack would refuse it.





***

Owyn told Gils and me to brainstorm ideas to get the crowds behind us again once the arrests became public. Every time one of us thought of something he wrote it down.

�That band in the stands does nothing during the matches. I think we should have a certain song that is played each time any Blue team member sets foot in that chute and is heading up to the Arena. You will have to draw up a contract so the band is bound legally and can�t do the same for the Yellow team. You know, a song that makes everyone want to get up out of their seats.�

Owyn hooted. �That�s a great idea Maxical! But you can�t come out dancing, I�ve seen you dance before. What about�� He went on to list off some songs Gils and I had never heard of before. When we told him that he started singing them.

"You think you mixed silver, blue diamonds, and yellow grass!"
The King laughed, "Look up, Faer, up to the ceiling glass.
The light falling makes the ingredients you choose
Quite different hues."
"What do you get," asked the floating voice, bold,
"Of a potion of red diamonds, blue grass, and gold?"


I looked over at Gils, he rolled his eyes. �What is that song you were singing the other day during practice? I liked that one.� I poked Gils to sing something so Owyn would quit singing those old songs.

�Which one do you mean?�

�The one that said �fight, fight, fight� in it. I can�t show you, I�m banned from singing in the Bloodworks.�

�Yeah, well that was by massive request.� Gils said, then quickly dodged the tail hit I aimed at him. Gils sang a good rendition of his song for Owyn, he has an excellent singing voice.


�I'm not a slave to the gods
That doesn't exist
But I'm not a slave to a world
That doesn't give a [censored]

And when we were good
You just closed you eyes
So when we are bad
We'll scar your minds

Fight, fight, fight, fight�


I looked over at Owyn. �What do you think?�

�That is so modern, what about�

Now I know thou jest.
My boon Mate Darfang wouldst not fail.
There be no finer Bladesman.
If thou chargest him, he wouldst not fall."


Owyn started, but Gils and I both cut him off.

�We want something modern.� We both said in unison.

�Do that other one Gils, the one I love best.�

Gils sang again.


�New blood joins this earth
and quikly he's subdued
through constant pain disgrace
the young boy learns their rules

with time the child draws in
this whipping boy done wrong
deprived of all his thoughts
the young man struggles on and on he's known
a vow unto his own
that never from this day
his will they'll take away�


�What about that Owyn? Those old songs will only draw in a dying audience. We want to get the younger crowd in, a new generation of fight fans. And if we get a song with a good beat and lyrics people will be singing it every where they go, that is free advertising.� I looked over at Gils for support.

Gils sat up. �Salomon Geonette might write us our own song. But she�s right, it has to be something powerful and upbeat.�

�Those songs are classics. They aren�t affected by time.� Owyn declared.

�You gotta have modern music Owyn. Think about it. It could start off with an extended kettle drum roll to build the crowds into a frenzy�� Gils was tapping his hands on the metal table to mimic the sound.

�Yeah, something that sounds like thunder rolling in. We could call ourselves Blue Thunder.� I added.

�Exactly, make their hearts race. We'll run up the chute to the sound, then as we actually appear at the head of that chute it will be climatic!�

Owyn and I both stared at Gils for a moment.

�Keep your mind on the music Gils!� Owyn ordered. �We�re going to need every bit of this when Hassiri�s article hits the streets. We�ll have to get the crowds back behind us again.� Owyn said, then looked over at me while Gils was insisting he had been talking strictly about music.

�How did you get out?�

�I�escaped. They took me from my cell in the middle of the night. I was afraid they meant to hurt me.�

�How the hell did you escape?� Owyn asked, staring at me with his eyes bugging.

�I disappeared.� I proved it by going chameleon, then dispelled it.

�And you were stupid enough to come where they would look for you?�

�I didn�t have anywhere else to go.�

Gils� stared hard at me but didn�t say anything.

�I�ll bet that is why Jack demanded I see him right away.� Owyn said, glaring at me.

�They torture beasts in prisons Owyn. I had to escape.�

Gils distracted Owyn. �What was that thing you did tonight that made them all run like that? I was fighting two at once and suddenly everyone was running away like Dagon was after them.�

�That was my �Eye of Khajiit�.�

�Is that what you did in your last fight that made the man wet his pants?� Gils asked.

�Yeah. It has that effect sometimes. We will have to work out a signal between us so when I am going to use it you look away. It effects anyone it hits and doesn�t know who is friend or foe. You make up a signal that you will remember and I will learn it. And no tricks this time.�

Gils had taught me false signals that almost got me banned from the Arena when I was a Pit Dog.

Gils gave a wicked laugh, then looked up with excitement. �Hey, on the billboards they could do caricatures of the moves where they exaggerate my fist or Maxical�s claws, and have the name of the move above it so the crowd could scream the moves when they see them, or chant for them. They could put a different billboard in each window. Make one for her �Eye of Khajiit� that shows Pits running away with terrified faces. For the �Decapitation� they could show her claw oversized with trails behind it and a head flying. My fist one could show a guy�s eye flying, half his head gone or something.� Gils grabbed one of Owyn�s parchments and started drawing what he was describing.

�Maybe we could ask some of the storefronts in the Market District to allow us to hang some advertisements for the cage match in their front windows. Or post them on the city gates between Districts. We may have to lay out a few Septims in bribes for it though. And definitely invite Hassiri and his brothers, we need the press back on our side.� I watched Gils drawing the caricatures. �You draw really well Gils!�

Owyn picked them up as he finished. �Gils these are great! What an idea! I want you both to work out names for any move that will get the crowds attention. Gils, can you do these billboard sized?�

�I can do them better than that if they are bigger.�

�Would you do the billboards for the cage match? These are much better than the ones that snotty artist has been doing for the Arena billboards, and I�ll give you a bonus if you do. Can you draw a cage in the background? I want to bring these with me when I talk to Jack.�

�Better not bring him the drawing of the decapitation, I promised him I would try not to do it anymore. I didn�t promise anything on the goring though.�

�Well, we have to be upfront with him, we want him on our side.� Owyn looked hard at me. �Can you decapitate someone using just your claws?�

�No, of course not. It is just psychological warfare in melee. Even superficial head wounds bleed profusely, so I just claw their head and it bleeds so heavily everyone thinks someone has been decapitated. They are more hesitant to attack then and gives me the advantage.�

�Good answer. I�ll take these with me when I talk to Jack.�

Before going to talk to Jack Owyn called an emergency meeting. I hovered close to Gils when the ones I had clawed came waddling in with their bandaged crotches and heads.

�All right everybody, listen up. I am going to be scheduling your fights in a three day rotation instead of five. That means three-a-days training and mandatory curfew. We have to make up for the revenue lost from the recent problems. I don�t tolerate attacks like these on my fighters��





***

Owyn told Gils and me to get some rest while he went to talk to Jack. We went in the bathing room and locked the door, not knowing how long Owyn would be gone. I picked a clean mat in the corner of the back wall and Gils pulled another mat in front of mine so someone would have to step on him to get to me.

He stretched out on his mat facing away from me, probably so I would feel at ease with his close proximity. I was exhausted but sleep wouldn�t come, and my fidgeting must have been disturbing Gils.

�You want me to sing for you?�

�Would you? You know which one.�

Gils voice echoed strangely in the bathing room, but still it relaxed me enough that I drifted off. When I finally did though, the images I had been fighting were released to haunt me; visions of the men�s faces as they were attacking, what could have happened to me if Gils hadn�t charged through the mob the way he did. The thought of Claudius Arcadia�s daughter and what she went through.

I heard Gils� voice calling me quietly, �Maxical, wake up. You�re having a bad dream.�

I woke up sweating and my face was drenched from crying in my sleep. I tried to sit up and found I was shaking too badly. �Gils?�

�What?�

�Thank you for saving me today. When I felt there was no hope I looked up and saw you charging through them all�I don�t know what I would have done if you hadn�t been there.�

�Shh, don�t think about that anymore. The fear will take you over if you do.�

�I think it already has.�

�What is it then? Talk to me.�

��The look� on their faces and�Claudius Arcadia�s daughter.�

�You think he was among them?�

�I don�t think it matters, the result would have been the same if you hadn�t helped me.�


*

It is clear that SOMEONE has been watching way, waaaaaaay too much World Wrestling Entertainment and UFC.



My god...Dearest and most Beloved Red Riter, this story has NOT 'taken on a life of its own'. Since you are a cat, it's taken on NINE lives of its own!!!

No, I haven't missed anything!

Sometimes I just can't think of any constructive comments.

Oh, and how you described Maxical's reaction to the attack is spot on!

I'm with Owyn; I like the older fashion stuff better too.

Gils seems like not a bad sort. I liked your reference to the daughter of Claudius Arcadia and the fate she suffered. I can understand why that would haunt Maxical.

I don't understand who 'he' is in this context. Can you 'splain for this old, slow paladin?

@ Foxy - Oh dear. Oh no. Should I start deleting chapters instead of posting them? - ARGH !!!! - I can always have it turned down of course...

***

@ Hauty - Thank you so much Hauty! I used your PM at the BGSF for those details, I saved it to refer back to. There is more coming up that I got directly from it - stuff I knew nothing about till you sent me that. You ROCK!!!!

Oh, if you have a criticism, please post it! I'm running blind here without guidence, and you see where it is taking me!!!!! I'm like a loose horse here, someone grab the reins - quick !!! Lol.

I was thinking about doing what you did except dividing it up by Themes. This could be the Arena questline (if I can ever figure out how to edit the title) and the next could be "The Inept Assassin" or something.

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian !! Gils is not a bad guy at all, but he does have at least one major flaw.

Maxical was remembering the rape on Claudius Arcadia's daughter.

Gils asked, do you think HE was among them (the rap - ist)

Maxical said, it doesn't matter, the result would have been the same if you hadn't helped me - in other words ( she would have been rap - ed and murdered if Gils had not been there to help her).

As with Haute I haven't missed anything and just couldn't think of anything useful to say.

Her reaction is well handled and she is showing quite an ability in advertising... she should set up her own agency and get paid far more

I'm not quite sure about Gils, he seems alright but I still don't trust him, good building of tension there.

Ah, I was beginning to wonder if Owyn would see the financial benefits to be gained by restaging that fight in the Arena.

Your song lyrics were an absolute pleasure to read. Are they all original?

@ Olen - Thank you so much Olen! I can see it now, a promotion where she dumps live turkeys off the top of a tower (not knowing they can't fly) ; or she could bring a live bull to the Market District to advertise "No Bull, Thoronir has the best prices in town" and the bull stampede the streets - or breeds that statue of a horse...

I may just do that later on Olen, thanks for the idea!!!

***

@ Destri - Thank you, Thank you so very much for that PM critique!!!! I made the changes you suggested, I hope it reads better now!!!! You ROCK !!!!!





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








Chapter 28: Secrets In The Bloodworks


�Gils�I know Owyn gets a percentage of the Box Office receipts and he could get pretty rich off that cage match. But why do you want to do it? I mean, you almost got killed today.�

�I noticed you didn�t look too excited when Owyn was talking about it. Maxical, you face death every time you step out in that Arena, and for a lot less income than you can make on a special event like this. Owyn told you before you signed the contract your first day that someone dies every match. You live for the crowd or die for it.�

�I thought that was just a motto.�

�That�s how they keep stocked with Pits, na�ve kids thinking it�s all a bunch of sword play or the one with the biggest hammer wins. It�s all skill and odds out there.�

�You mean like gambling?�

�Exactly. Every time you step out there you are gambling that your skills are higher than your opponent�s. Either way, there is always one loser that won�t be going home that night. Owyn�s training increases the probability in your favor, but you never know when Haki is going to slide a ringer in there.�

�That�s what he did my last fight.�

�He has done it on several of your fights, that�s just the first time you realized it. Maxical, you know why I�ve stalled my career, because I won�t fight Aggie. But I�ve earned as much in these special events as the Yellow Gladiator has and he has to fight every five days. You do a few of these and you will have your golden armor.�

�It pays that well?�

�Look at your contract under the clause for special events. You get a small percentage of the Box Office for the event as a bonus. I got five percent last time, but there has been a cost of living increase since then. My take will be higher than yours because of my rank. And Owyn is right, it will be standing room only for an event like this. We could all come out of this one well off.�

I watched Gils spinning Agronak�s ring on his finger.

�What about in here today? You weren�t paid, and could have easily walked away but you didn�t�you faced death without a thought.�

�I saw the look on your face and knew I needed to do something, even if we both went down.�

�That�s the stuff heroes are made of.�

�Ach. You�ll give me a big head. Listen, you can trust me for now. I won�t be trying you in here.�

�Is this a truce?�

�Just temporary. I can�t protect you and try at the same time, you know. I�ll warn you when the games begin again.�

�Deal.�

�Isn�t this the ring Aggie gave you? Did you enchant it?�

�Hannibal did. I don�t want the ring anymore. Agronak lied, he said it was a behest from his mother, then told the press he bought it. Andronicus thinks he did it deliberately to ruin me with Fathis.�

�Will you sell it to me? It really helped me rally today. How does it work?�

�You can have it, you earned it saving my life. Give me your hand�feel that power when I slide it? When you are fighting and get injured, slide it just like I am doing. Feel that?�

�I feel it, like a boost of power! I can use this with the ladies and go forever, just slide the ring��

�EW! GROSS! Don�t tell me about it!�

�Er�now how do I work this again?�

I reached for his hand then caught the mischief in his eyes. �Hey, you said truce!�

�I thought you were wanting the truce broken, giving me expensive jewelry and playing with my hands that way. Look what hand you�ve put it on too, is it marriage you�re wanting from me then?� Gils gave a wicked laugh and started singing �From Rags To Riches�.

I unsheathed just the middle claw on one hand and held it up to him.

�What do you call that?�

�The Khajiit Proctologist.�

�Now that sounds more like you. You�ll be okay.�

�Thanks Gils, I do feel a little better.�





***

The shadows in my corner gave way to the dim light slanting down from the windows cut into the high stone walls of the bathing room. The form of Gils was illuminated by it, he had turned towards me in his sleep. His face was lined by age and exhaustion, something I never noticed before. Normally his eyes draw my notice, filled with mischief or seduction depending on his mood. Would Fathis look the same in his sleep? Both are Dunmer�I tried but couldn�t remember seeing anything but Fathis�s eyes in all the times we spoke�I would have to make an effort to check his face for wrinkles next time I saw him.

I was counting the lines on Gils� face but kept losing track of which I had already counted. Had he stayed awake to guard after I went back to sleep? Worry lines? No, they were from age. How old could he be? I made a mental note to ask Andronicus next time I saw her.

The sound of a key turning in the lock made me jump. It was followed by Owyn popping his head in and signaling me to come out. Oh dear, he was scowling.

I stumbled on the pile of Gils� clothes trying to climb over him and the ring I had given him tumbled out and rolled loudly on the stone floor. I caught it and tucked it back into the pocket of his pants.

Owyn led me to his office, talking the whole way.

�You�ve got to take over Andronicus�s duties around here.�

�What duties?�

�You keep that Bloodworks clean, and that includes the bathing pool.�

�Andronicus has been cleaning?�

�Just do it! Listen, if you see Agronak ask him to drop charges against her.�

�I�ll try for her sake, but I�m a little mad at him right now. Agronak told me that ring was a behest or I wouldn�t have taken it. Why would he buy a ring and lie to me about it? He is only a friend, could never be more than that anyway, even without his�problem. And Andronicus said he�s done this before with another girl.�

�What problem?�

�You know, he�s an Orc mix. They are incapable of�anything. Their privates don�t work for that kind of thing.�

�Where�d you hear that?�

�The Arcane. There has been a lot of research, it�s in the textbooks. It�s true too, Agronak doesn�t even give off any male aura to women. Gils does, and you do.�

Owyn had stopped walking. �So that�s the secret Gils has been covering for him all this time. Are you sure about this?�

�Ask Hannibal, it is scientific fact. Andronicus knows about it, remember she tried to tell you before the arrest. But why would he do this to me, I�m just his friend?�

�Because he couldn�t find anyone else dumb enough to take a ring in front of the Courier offices. You�ve been walking around holding his hand, letting everyone think you two have been [censored].� Owyn made a circle with his thumb and finger on one hand and ran a finger from his other hand through it in a graphic display to emphasize his words as he continued.

�Were you helping him cover it up? Boy are you stupid! Ruin your reputation to help that big Orc keep his secrets?�

�But�I�ve always held hands with my friends. Delphine and I held hands in school, it means nothing�Owyn why are you looking like that?�

�You listen to me, don�t you come down in my Bloodworks holding hands with girls unless you want to send Gils into an apoplexy. You ain�t in school anymore Maxical. You hold hands it means you�re [censored].� Owyn displayed his graphic gestures again for emphasis.

�You mean�I�ve been walking around�everyone thinks�Oh no! Fathis!�

�You idiot, what did you think you were telling everyone by doing that?�

�Oh my gods! Owyn I didn�t know! Fathis must think�oh dear gods!�

�So the big Orc can�t do [censored], and all these girls he�s dated have just been a front, huh? So that�s their game. Gils takes over�they�re tag teaming them.�

�What�s that?�

�Never mind, you just stay away from Gils. He�ll charm your pants off you and once he does he�s on to the next one. Don�t be stupid and believe him when he turns it on you.�

�Andronicus already warned me. She told me about Agronak�s glass jaw too.�

Owyn stopped walking again. �What?�

�She said that is how some Champion knocked him out twenty years ago. I knew he had a useless [censored], but didn�t know his jaw was glass.� I rhymed.

Owyn was too stunned to laugh. �So that�s why Gils paid�� Owyn suddenly stopped talking and was staring at me as if he was in shock.

�What? Why are you looking at me like that?�

�I just figured something out.� His expression looked calculating and he was staring hard at me. He shook his head. �So Gils has to know because he paid that Champion off to keep him from fighting Agronak. The kid knew�Andronicus couldn�t tell me because she holds his book��

�Held. She said she is dropping him, so she doesn�t care who knows now. She said Agronak did all this before with another girl, that it was deliberate. I just thought he was dumb like me. He�s my friend, why would he want to ruin me?�

�Because he ain�t right in the head. Gils said it was because he just lost his father back then, and he did get better till just here recently. Now he�s lost his mother, so it looks like he�s going downhill again. The father was the same way, died from a long illness that none of the healers could cure.�

�Er�she didn�t die from it Owyn. I didn�t tell Agronak because I didn�t want to upset him, but I found an empty bottle of poison in her bed when I was helping him clean up. And there was something weird in her journal too. She talked about dying as if it was going to happen any day, but it was written back when Agronak was young. Then she wrote the information on where to go get his proof of heritage.�

�Poison! I thought she looked awfully green!�

�Well, she is an Orc.�

�There�s a difference though, a good healer can see it. You say the whole bottle was empty? What size bottle?�

I nodded, and showed him with my hands the size of the bottle. �I guess she committed suicide.�

�She couldn�t have! No one can empty a bottle that size, you�d get too ill before you even got half that down!�

�Well it wasn�t spilled into the bedding. I pulled the old sheets off myself, that�s how I found the bottle. Agronak was with her that night she died, he was asking her about the proof of his heritage. He wants to prove he is really the son of a Lord. From what she said in the journal she prayed he�d never find out for some reason.�

�There�s something weird about his background. I don�t know what his other half is, but it ain�t human.�

�You think it was like�a Daedric Lord? I wonder which one? Oh! It would have to be Malacath! The shrine is right in that same area too! I can�t imagine his sweet mother making love to a Daedric Lord!�

Owyn wasn�t paying attention to me, he seemed lost in thought. Then suddenly he grabbed hold of my arm, startling me into shutting up.

�Listen Maxical. That Orc is crazy. You need to stay away from him from now on. I�m going to Jack and change his ban to a legal one so they can arrest him if he comes even near the door. I don�t want him around our Bloodworks period.�

�Better tell Gils, Agronak said Gils is the one that let him in after lockdown the other night. Should I sleep near you till Andronicus gets back?�

�Not unless you want her to kill you. Gils will protect you, he can be trusted when he�s needed. Don�t be stupid and think that�ll apply after she gets back though.�


*

�Ach. You�ll give me a big head. Listen, you can trust me for now. I won�t be trying you in here.�


So! Our White Khajit knows how to give BIG HEAD, hey? And since Gils won't be trying her in here...WHERE will he be trying her 'big head'???



�I feel it, like a boost of power! I can use this with the ladies and go forever, just slide the ring��

�EW! GROSS! Don�t tell me about it!�

AHEM.

May I point out that if he COULD slide the ring over ... his .... erm ... sword with two oranges that produces whipped cream.... ... his sword would actually be the size of a swiss army knife... and if it DID expand to the size of a normal tool... it would look more like a number "8" than a normal sword...


�What do you call that?�

�The Khajiit Proctologist.�


DANG. That was GOOD!!!


or she could bring a live bull to the Market District to advertise "No Bull, Thoronir has the best prices in town" and the bull stampede the streets - or breeds that statue of a horse...


DANG. Let me see.... I wonder if some of my genes are in that bull...



No! No! Just a joke - NO BULL!!!

Ooh, a new chapter. Nice, mALX!

Good Ol' D.Foxy beat me to the punch and picked out all my favorite parts!

Good work, yet again!

My dear, if I picked out all your favourite parts, you wouldn't be able to...


...ah ... never mind.

Starting with the very first sentence I love the revisions that you made to the last chapter (except for your insistence on keeping the word �would�)! I especially love the subtle change that you made to Maxical�s attitude about the entire tenor of the conversation, and the fact that Gils notices it and comments on it early in this current chapter.

Speaking of which, I am quite impressed with the detail that you continue to bring to the inner workings of the Arena. Contracts, pay scales, special events, you seem to have thought of everything.


Classic!!

D.Foxy; you're a perv

Loved the usage of "The Unforgiven from Metallica", it really suits the atmosphere
Khajit proctologist....

@ Foxy - ROFL !!!!! Er...I won't bother to make any corrections to your versions, but...ARGH!!!! ROFL !!!! Thank you so much Foxy!! You ROCK!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian!!!

***

@ Hauty - He even created some good parts out of boring ones! ROFL!! Thank you so much Hauty!!

***

@ Destri - ARGH! I fixed it on my hard copy and forgot to fix it on here!!! - oops! - I was never happy with the lack of detail in my last Arena storyline, but now I wish I could back off from it a bit, it is going to be 100 chapters of Arena if I don't quit, lol. - Thank you so very much Destri, and especially for the critique!!!!! You ROCK !!!!

PS: Anyone know how to alter the title on a thread? I can make this her Arena memoirs or something. ARGH !!!!!!

***

@ Remko - I meant to post that on the last thread when Destri asked, I PM'd him with the songs. I think it fit too. I listened to hundreds of songs to get just the right lyrics and sound to use on that. I hated using a modern song, but other than writing my own lyrics and having everyone guess at a tune I finally took the easy out on that. Last year I put Linkin Park's "In The End" in the original story and no one raised a rucous over it, so I thought it would be okay, lol. - Thank you so much Remko!!!

*


Chapter 29: Earning Septims For Dummies


Owyn shut his office door and unlocked a desk drawer. He grabbed out some parchments and shoved them under my nose.

“Now you listen up. You see this? It’s your application to fight for me. You want to tell me why you didn’t know your own birth date? You’re a minor, aren’t you? When will you be eighteen?”

“No one knows for sure. My parents had no documentation on them when they were killed. The Imperial Guard ordered it be the first of the year like all beasts. They guessed me to be two years old because of my size, but you can see I am still smaller than most Khajiit even fully grown. They didn’t even know I was Khajiit. And look Owyn, I have my blue show. Khajiit don’t get that till they are around twenty. They probably guessed my age wrong.”

“Are you an idiot? You think I can ignore your proofs and just point out your blue show? Now you listen to me Maxical. There are reasons for laws like this, they protect you and me both. We’re not done. It says you are an orphan on your application, now look at your Designated Claim, you’ve suddenly got parents! Alix Lencolia? Are you trying to ruin me? Do you know the kind of trouble I can get in having a minor in the Bloodworks? If those guys had succeeded with you or if you had been killed in the Arena, Alix would sue me if he didn’t kill me first. You’re a run away, aren’t you?”

I hung my head and nodded.

“You don’t lie to someone you work for. Now you fill these out right, and hurry it up.”

“What about me being underage?”

“Jack got Alix’s signature, but if he hadn’t you would be gone from here, you understand me?”

“Jack got Alix‘s signature…Is Alix in town?”

“How the hell should I know? Hurry it up, you need to get with Andronicus for a list of her usual duties. You’ll be taking them over while she is gone, and I expect you to keep up with them and your training till she gets back.”

“I can’t go out, remember? I’m an escaped prisoner.”

“Jack said he got the charges dropped on you, you are free now.”

“Oh thank goodness!

“Owyn, can you ask Gils to draw a picture I can bring to Andronicus? It might cheer her up.“

“Fat chance! You ask him, but don’t bring me in on an idiotic thing like that. Hey, do it in front of me will you? I could use a good laugh. Say, tell you what. If you talk him into it I’ll give you a Septim, but I’ve got to see it.”

“A Septim? You‘re on!”





***

“Owyn, let me show you this dual promotion the Arcane gave me. It’s for the debut of a music group they are sponsoring and my return to the Arena, which would include the cage match if you will be ready to advertise it this soon. I have to hand them out at the music festival coming up in the Arboretum.”

Owyn opened the safe and his jaw dropped when he saw the rings. “These are real!”

“I know. Hannibal is following my progress in the Arena because I have a rare healing disorder, he is researching alternative healing methods for me. Here, he gave me this note to give you about it.”

Owyn opened the note. “You can’t heal at all and have a total weakness to magic? You’ll need some special enchanted equipment for this, especially if you go out against a mage.”

“Yeah, he made me one ring but said I’ll need more coverage, he wants to talk to you about the rules on the raiment and about ordering me a shield.”

“I’ll get with him on this. This can’t get out Maxical, they’ll use it against you.”

“I know.”

“Why is the Arcane sponsoring a music group?”

“They are mages that just graduated, they combine magic with music. The band is going to bring me on stage to get excitement drummed up about my return. Then I hand out the rings.”

What do you mean they mix magic and music?”

“They make smoke, lightning, fire balls, stuff like that; but they do it in time to the music. Hannibal is sure they will take the prize at the music festival, they are that good. I went to school with them all, they played at graduation and the whole crowd was jumping out of their seats. They are really good Owyn.”

“Debut? They are unsigned?”

“Yeah, but they will be snapped up by someone at this festival. Hannibal is getting a suite for them at the Merchants Inn and told me to meet them there in the morning to coordinate them bringing me on stage. They go on in the afternoon. Try a ring on Owyn, they are enchanted to make everyone laugh, since my persona is being funny.“

“Tee-hee-hee! Maxical, this is some promotion! We need to get Gils to hurry with those billboards, I’ll ask Wes to come do the announcement and afterwards you and Gils go plaster those Billboards up. I want to interview this band before the festival. I’ll bring Jack, we may sign them.”

“If you sign them, give me a heads up beforehand so I can get Hassiri. We owe him and need the good PR.”

“You’ve really picked up a lot from Andronicus.” Owyn said as he locked the rings back up. He handed me the ring he had tried on. “Show that to Gils.”

My eyes lit with mischief. “Will you give me another Septim if I can get one over him with this ring?”

“You haven’t gotten him to draw you that picture yet. Okay, but I gotta see you do it. It isn’t easy to get anything over on Gils, he is a lot smarter than you.”

“Just have those Septims ready.”





***

Gils was snoring up a storm in the bathing room. I tiptoed to his pile of clothes and switched the laughing ring for Agronak’s, putting it in my pocket. I hurried out, grabbing a parchment from Owyn’s cabinet and scribbling a quick picture on it.

“Ready?“ I waited for Owyn’s nod, then banged on the bathing room door. I hurried back to stand beside Owyn, plastering an innocent look on my face. It didn’t take long before Gils cackling could be heard echoing around from the bathing room.

“Maxical! Tee-hee, tee-hee. Something is tee-hee wrong with tee-hee this ring you gave me! Tee-hee.”

Owyn plopped a Septim into my outstretched hand, then I handed him my drawing. “Will you write something to Andronicus on this?”

SPEW! “What the hell is this?” Owyn choked out, then doubled over laughing as Gils walked up holding the ring out to me.

“It’s a card I made to cheer her up. What’s wrong with that ring Gils? Let me see it.”

I palmed the real ring and slipped it onto his finger. “Did it work that time?“ Gils nodded. I took it back off and acted as if I was inspecting it, then palmed the gag ring and handed it to Gils. “Here, you try it again.”

“Tee-hee-hee-hee.”

I held my hand out to Owyn and he plopped another Septim into it.

“Hey! Tee-hee. What’s going on here? Tee-hee.”

Owyn gave me away by roaring laughing. I handed Gils the real ring. “You can have them both. The other one is a gag ring I‘m using for a promo. Say Gils, would you write something to Andronicus on the card I made her?”

Gils went into hysterics when he saw my picture.

“Is this another hint you want the truce at an end?” He grinned wickedly.

“What do you mean?”

“Look where your hand is! What were you doing while I slept, eh?”

“Look, see my arms both sticking out? That is my tail! This isn’t a dirty picture!”

“I’ll lay you a Septim Andronicus thinks it is. I’m not signing your dirty drawing, I’ll buy it from you for when the games are on again.”

“EW! No! I made it for Andronicus. There is nothing wrong with this picture, besides it’s the best I can do.”

“I could stick a quill in a mud crab’s claw and it could draw better than that. Any child could do better. You just want a picture of all of us in here? I’ll do a quick one for you.” Gils grabbed a fresh parchment.

“Thank you Gils.” I winked at Owyn and he started laughing.

Owyn reached in his pocket and pulled out a Septim, flipping it through the air at me. I caught it just as Gils looked up from the paper.

“What’s going on here?” Gils looked suspiciously at me, then at Owyn who was beginning to laugh louder.

“Nothing. Owyn has been laughing ever since I asked him to sign my drawing. Oh, this is wonderful! It even looks like us! You have a lot of talent Gils. Will you write a message to Andronicus on it and sign it? Thank you, this is beautiful!”

Gils went to use the bathroom and I nabbed Owyn. “Will you sign something to Andronicus on here?”

“Tell you what, I’ll give you a Septim anytime you can get one over on Gils. He’s really smart, it won‘t be easy.”

“I might be dumb, but don’t count me out for it, I just made three Septims in a few minutes.”

“You were just lucky, I’ll tell you what, I’ll double it if you get him again.”

“Deal.”





***

The Courier arrived and we were all surprised that the article Hassiri did was biased in our favor. Hassiri didn’t witness Owyn or Haki actually resisting arrest, only their injuries. He wrote the piece as an expose on the brutality of the guards and had Owyn and Haki figured as victims of a corrupt system. Reading the article one never got the impression Andronicus was too drunk to walk and wetting herself, instead it detailed her being dragged and mentioned she had wet herself in fear.

As far as the charges went, the article listed them under each of our names, but went on to say that the lawyer bringing these charges had a reputation for filing faulty claims against famous citizens trying to make a name for himself. It went on to say that although Agronak pressed the charges it was believed to be due to being in a vulnerable state from the loss of his mother and that the unscrupulous lawyer took advantage of him. Then it went on to a review of the funeral itself. It could not have been better for us.

*

Everyone signed Gil’s picture with funny sayings for Andronicus. I rolled it up with the one I drew and grabbed a copy of the Courier to bring.

Andronicus cried and reeked, I found myself grateful for the bars between us because I was sure she would have hugged me to death for showing up. In one of the few times I have spent out of my savings for the golden armor I bought her a meal from the Merchants Inn and stuck it between the bars for her. They packed it in a box to keep the bugs out of it in case she didn’t eat it all, but as it turned out they didn’t have to worry. She cleaned it up, chattering a mile a minute while she chewed.

“Gils is guarding me while you are out, he has called a truce on his conquest hunting till you come back.”

“If he told you that, you can believe it. Gils is very honest.” Andronicus said through a mouthful of beef. “When do you come off injured status?”

“Soon, but Owyn has found a way for me to earn while I’m off. He gives me a Septim every time I get one over on Gils. When you don’t have food in your mouth I will show you this mornings earnings. I don’t want you to spray out anything in here, it may draw a rat into your cell.”


*








*

Beautiful artwork! Seriously!


Maxical is a typical kitty - not too bright but still knows how to get what she wants!

Well, actually, it looks likes Gils has something extra long and flexible which is crawling into the Kitty's butt, hence the big grin on her face.

Or maybe that's just my dirty imagination.

Could it be?

Our vulpine perv sounds a wee bit jealous, if you ask me!

Annnyyywaayyyy! The chapter itself is another one of those wonderful romps that we have come to know and love from Maxical. I have the feeling that Owyn is going to have to adjust the terms of their agreement or run the risk of loosing a lot of septims. I didn�t like Gils as a character, but of late he has started to grow on me (pun not intended. Please, no snide remarks about who is poking whom in that picture). I am still not sure what this agreement is that he and Agronak share, but I am confident that all will be revealed in due time.

These two sentences struck me as slightly off:

I think you should take advantage of the participle phrase here � Owyn shut his office door and unlocked a desk drawer. Grabbing out some parchments, he shoved them under my nose.

And here:

This reads as if the duties are those that Andronicus needs to perform (presumably from her cell), rather than Maxical. If your intent is for Maxical to get a list of duties from Andronicus then you need to change �her duties� to �your duties�, or something to that effect.

With MaLX writing, Destri, you can bet your last Septim that "all" will be revealed in time.

I quite enjoyed this mALX!

The band of mages doing fire and lightning to music was very clever.

My goodness, Maxical's Imperial City surely is a litigatious place! So many legal forms and clauses.

The whole thing with Maxical's picture was very clever also.

Good fun would describe the last two parts, most enjoyable and as ever I'm looking forward to the next part


Really?

And I'm not going to comment on the many possible interpretations of the picture....

@ Hauty - The sad thing is, that is actually the best I can do. Except horses, I draw pretty good horses. My cat can only meow, but he gets his way and his point across very clearly when he wants something - and he is not the brightest. He has certain tail positions that mean different things, like straight up with a hook at the end means he wants to eat. I guess he feels like he is fishing and has hooked you if you follow him (as he runs straight to his bowl). He makes an S with his tail too. Thank you so much Hauty, and for all the cat tips - You ROCK!

***

@ Foxy - ROFL! - I am going straight to your second comment and saying - Thank you so much Foxy!!! I appreciate that! (ignoring hose and butt plug comment, lol)

***

@ Destri - I fixed those two places (hopefully). I appreciate your help so much!!! It has been a hectic week, so my editing was really faulty this week - and I will try and cut the ETN vernacular out of my story too, lol. I didn't know that one wasn't correct. Thank you Destri!!!! You ROCK!!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you Acadian! Well, legal issues are there in Morrowind with the Tribunal, but they kind of glazed over them in Oblivion. I kind of used a combo of horse track backside and boxing backside to determine how the Arena would be run in real life and ran with it. I just hope I am not getting too detailed and it be pulling down the story any worse than its continuation is already, ROFL !!!

***

@ Olen - ROFL !!!! I don't blame you, the bar has been set pretty low on that one! Thank you so much!!!

***

@ Everyone - I am finally beginning to be able to see an end in sight for the Arena questline!!! - Yeah !!!!




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

*


Chapter 30: Enter Pilus


�Let me see what you�ve got there.� Andronicus reached out between the bars.

�Okay, swallow first. I wanted Gils to draw you a nice picture. Owyn said he�d give me a Septim if I could get Gils to do it, so I drew this and asked him to write something to you on it.�

�BWAAAHAAA! You showed this to Gils? Look where your hand is! I�ll bet Gils noticed it, what did he do?�

�It�s my tail. He noticed in a flash. Said I needed to sell it to him for when he calls off the truce.�

�BWAAAHAAA! He�d have to be pretty hard up to look at your stick figure drawings for inspiration.� Anronicus�s laugh echoed loudly down the corridor and grumblings of �Shut up!� could be heard from the other cells.

�He is, Owyn chased that Nord girl Horski off, remember?� I pulled out Gils� drawing.

�Okay Andronicus, are you ready to see how I earned my Septim this morning? Look at this, Gils drew it and we all signed it.� I slid it carefully between the bars of her cell.

�Oh, this is beautiful! Look, it even looks like all of you!� Andronicus broke down sobbing looking at the picture.

�Here, you can have my chewing gum if you want to stick that picture up on the wall over your bed.�

�I want to hang them both. Oh no, what is that? The courier? No wonder you saved it for last. I guess I better see the damages, hand it in.�

�Not bad news, I saved the best for last!� I stuck it in through the bars of the cell and she scanned it quickly. �We had to wait for the second printing they sold out the first before it could be delivered.�

�Maxical, do you know what this means? Hassiri has really come through for us, bless him! We owe him an exclusive for this, so if you do anything dumb, call him first to do the story. Let me teach you the signals you need to know, and don�t adlib the words, you repeat what I say exactly. Watch my hands now.� Andronicus showed me all the signals to use with the reporters, and how to read their comments back for answers.

�Remember now, Hassiri will raise his pad when he walks up to you. That is saying what you tell him is on the record. If you want something off the record you reach over and lower his pad down.�

�I�ll remember. I will try and do the best job possible to handle your duties while you are in here, but it really shouldn�t be long. Jack Thompson was livid about all this. Andronicus�are you planning to go back to holding Agronak�s book when you get out of here?�

�If he crawls and begs�maybe not even then. He has pinched every Septim and nip-cheesed me for years, it�s not like I�d be losing that much income. I don�t have any expenses right now, I may just take the time off and wait for you to make Champion. Would you give me a chance to hold your book?�

�You are the only one I would have, if I make it that far that is. What will Agronak do if you drop him?�

�He can be an independent or hire that sleazy lawyer of his to handle him. He was always accusing me of trying to gouge him when I was working well below what I should have been getting.�

�I know, in the hearing he said that he thought the �Free Agent� clause meant you had to work for free.�

�BWAAAHAAA! Oh, that is a good one! Hey Maxical, Jack told me that you went up there and ripped a new hole in Agronak�s blue butt defending me. I know he is your friend, so it had to mean you believed in me to do that. I want to thank you for that.�

�I told the truth, and repeated every word you said.�





***

I spent several hours with her before a handsome guard showed up to tell me visiting hours had been over long since, I shouldn�t have been left back there alone.

�Pilus?�

�By Dibella! Aren�t you that little wildcat from the compound? We were sure the Blademaster or Fathis Aren would have done away with you and sank your body in the Rumare by now! We had a betting pool on how long they would last before you drove them crazy!�

�Geez, don�t you read the papers or go to the Arena?�

�You are the one with the Golden Armor? I should have known it was you driving Fathis around the bend! The Arena�are you the one that wore that mask? The one with the tail?�

�I�ve still got it.� I swished it to prove my words. Owyn was right, they do forget you when you aren�t out there. I needed this promo we were doing to get the crowds back behind me.

�Pilus, I would like you to meet Ysabel Andronicus, Battlematron for the Grand Champions. She is in here under false charges, she has done nothing wrong. Pilus�there is a guard on here nights threatening to beat her with his rod.�

�His�rod?�

�You know, that thing.� I pointed.

�That is a baton.�

�Oh. Well, can you see she is treated well? Here, I have�uh, thirty Septims. Can you see she gets special care? If she is in here much longer I can bring you more.�

�Maxical, you are saving that for your Golden Armor, you can�t give that away!� Somehow Andronicus managed to say that to me while at the same time displaying the most obvious flirtation towards Pilus imaginable. I saw him gulp.

�Andronicus, this is Pilus. He was at the Imperial Compound when I was in the orphanage there. Get him to tell you about it some time, you will laugh yourself sick.�

I found another five Septims in the bottom of my pack. �Here Pilus, I found some more, can you make sure she is well taken care of?�

�You said you�ll bring more in a couple days?�

�Yes, if she is in here that long.�

�Well, okay then. You are trading on our longtime acquaintance.�

I couldn�t see how hard it would be just to not beat her, she may be loud and stink but he was acting like I was asking the impossible from him.

�I�ve got to go, we all miss you Andronicus.� I was surprised to find I did miss her, but most of all I hated leaving her in that cell and walking away like that. She cried when I left.

�Thank you Pilus. You can�t imagine how much better I feel knowing you will be handling everything. You could always be trusted to do a good job from what I heard at the Legion compound.�

Pilus preened a bit. �They said that about me? I didn�t realize I had developed a reputation. I do strive to please�er, why is she in there?�

I told him about Agronak being distraught over the death of his mother and the cost of the funeral, a fame hungry lawyer getting his claws on the Grand Champion at a time of extreme vulnerability.

�I�ve seen that Orc fight, he is indestructible!� Pilus raved.

�Yeah, well. If you don�t hit him in the jaw that is.�

Pilus gaped, and I nodded.

�It�s glass. He has a glass jaw. That is a secret not many know, even in the Arena.�

�Are you sure? I mean Orc are noted for having jaws of rock.�

�Yes, but he isn�t full Orc, he is a mix. You know about Orc mixes, don�t you?�

�No, I never��

�Neither can they. They can�t�you know. It doesn�t work.�

Pilus appeared to be staggering so I grabbed his arm and held him up.

�Are you okay?�

�I�m�in shock. You mean he can�t�� He pointed down.

�Totally incapable. It is a well known fact about Orc mixes, they teach it in schools. I learned it at the Arcane. They even have textbooks printed up from the research they found. Children�s rhymes are taught so you can remember the lesson.�

�Like what?�

I told him several, and even worked in a few with the glass jaw. Pilus was roaring laughing. He signaled a guard at the desk.

�I�m going to escort Maxical to the Arena, can you sign me out for an early lunch?�

Pilus opened the door for me and took my arm. �Tell me some more Arena secrets.�

�Like what?�

�You are pretty tiny, how would someone your size take down someone as huge as the Gray Prince when they have a glass jaw? Or could you not do it?�

�I can, but someone as tall as you could do it a lot easier of course.�

Pilus was well under six foot tall, and he preened at me calling him tall.

�How would someone your size do it?�

�I have to use levelers in most of my fights. That is something that brings the fight down to my size.�

�Like the goring?�

�Yes, or slicing the tendon behind the heel. Then there are levelers that make your reach longer. Like using your shield as a fist, or your sword hilt. Your baton would work too. And then there are tricks.�

�Now you�re talking, what are the tricks.�

�They are illegal outside the Arena.�

�I won�t use them, I just want to know.�

�Okay, well on the Gray Prince you must only use a very fast uppercut to the jaw. If you hit him anywhere but the jaw you will just anger him. If you don�t wear gauntlets you have to use street moves. Here, see this fob chain you have? Wrap it just like this, don�t entwine or you�ll lose a finger. As soon as he is knocked out, put your fob back on and no one will know you used it. Remember, uppercut only, and put every bit of speed you can into it. You can use anything, fish hooks work great because you can toss them afterward, run a needle through the lower loop and put them right here between your fingers with the barbs sticking out. They�ll take a mans face off. These brass buttons on your uniform, take a couple off and put them in your fist with the points facing out between your fingers to take out someone�s eye with one punch. Now for someone big like an Orc someone my size will get into the heavy equipment.�

�Like what?�

�I�ll show you.� I pulled him into the alley between two buildings. It didn�t take long to find an empty sack. I threw a stone in it. �This only works if you have a robe or cloak on. Hold it just like this so you don�t break your hand. Do a fast uppercut with this and you can take out a Daedra.�

�Why does it only work with a cloak or robe?�

�You can see the sack otherwise, and it is illegal on the streets. If I had a robe I�d show you.�

�Here, I have my rain cloak in my pack, show me what you mean.�

I donned his cloak and demonstrated.

�It looked just like your fist!�

�Yes, you can stand right next to someone and do this without them seeing it, but you have to get rid of the evidence right away. Someone may want to shake your hand if you have just knocked out the Grand Champion. You can tie a rope on the sack and attach it right here on your pants. It makes it easy to grab quickly and when you are done with the hit just drop the sack. It will fall back into place below the robe so no one knows till you get somewhere to drop it. If someone gets hit too many times with that it will kill him, but just a few times will crush his jaw. The bones take a while to knit so for a few weeks even a bare fist will knock him out. That�s why we keep track of our opponents injuries.�

�These are amazing tricks! Thank you Maxical. I knew your destruction would find an outlet some day. Do you remember the pigeon incident? Oh, and Commander Phillida used to dream of your demise, and I am pretty sure he was the cause of it in some of those dreams.� He grinned at me. He had aged well.


*

I'm sure he was thinking the same thing I was! Ha ha!


Isn't that a little redundant? Oh, that's riiiight, our little kitty is a bit naif when it comes to the best fun!

Excellent work.

Grr, this time Nautee Hautee beat me to the innuendo!!!

Nice mALX! I enjoyed the interaction between Maxical and Andronicus. I must confess I'm feeling sorry for Agronak now.

Why do I have the feeling that Agronak�s business is going to be all over the Imperial City by the time of your next post? Acadian is right, I too feel sorry for him. I hope she didn�t give away too much insider information to Pilus. It would be just Maxical�s luck to discover that he used one of the illegal tricks on a fellow guard or something.

Great stuff, but Destri's beaten me to my thought. She's told it and soon everyone will know the rumour, I wonder if it was deliberate though. I don't feel sorry for Agronak though, he has it coming... but if he knows she knows about his jaw, well that might change things.

You build the characters and the city well, I want to know what happens next and what will ultimatly happen between Aggy and Maxical. Great stuff

I was reading the part about the beating...with the rod, and one eyebrow went up. Then Andronicus replied, "His...rod?" And the other eyebrow went up. And the Maxical point to "that thing" and the biggest Grinch-smile crossed my face.

@ Nautee Hautee - (I love your new name!) - I threw that in because SOMEONE - (I won't mention any names...but their initials are Nautee Hautee) - pointed out before that I called it a rod in an earlier chapter. I couldn't think for the life of me what they were supposed to be called, so I did some research on the subject, ROFL !!!! I threw that line in there just for you for catching my lack of proper nomenclature before, ROFL !!!! Thank you so much Hauty, you are an AWESOME reader to write for!

***

@ Zalphon - Thank you so much Zalphon!!!! And thank you for moving your venue to Cyrodiil where I recognize the places!!! Yeah!

***

@ Foxy - Thank you very much Foxy!!! You gave me a new name for the Ms. Hauty too, she will never live down her sense of humor now!!!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! I hope to remedy that feeling in a few chapters. The skewer (to use Destri's terminology) is in place, it only lacks the thrust at this point, ROFL !!!

***

@ Destri - Thank you so very much Destri! It is true that Maxical is pathologically incapable of keeping anything to herself, she is not one you would want to hold your secrets. It is probably a terrible flaw, but...it works against her too, she even blabs her own secrets. Lucky thing telephones and the internet weren't available back then, lol. - and Oh yeah. I see Agronak's secrets being spread far and wide, even without these useful tools. You ROCK Destri!!!! And...NEVER AGAIN REMOVE A CHAPTER !!!!! ARGH !!!!

***

@ Olen - Thank you very much Olen! - I doubt Maxical ever does anything deliberately, it is mostly a thoughtless running of her mouth because she is a chatterer - but the results are the same, lol.

I have to agree with you, when he decieved her over that ring, he publicly ruined her. (and can't even offer her a loaf of bread in compense) The way I look at it he deserves what he gets. And paybacks...well his has only just begun, but I am trying to shorten the Arena segment of my story so I have been cutting out stuff left and right, lol.

South of the Mason-Dixon Line (where I live) there is a theme that prevails - if you fight with anyone in these parts, you fight their whole family. Clannish is a good description. Hatfield-McCoy type thing. The battlecry around here is, "It's On!" - ROFL.

***

@ Verlox - Er, is that a loaf of bread in your pocket or... - ROFL!!!

Thank you so much for reading Verlox !!! Blame Nautee Hautee for that one, she egged me into it, lol.

***

** There is a special cameo appearance of Mrs. Treydog in this chapter. Thanks Treydog, Mrs. Treydog!!!



Chapter 31: Setting The Stage For Disaster


�Owyn, I wondered how much you know about that golden armor on display over at the Best Defense?� Jack�s face was inscrutable.

�I go see it every time I�m in the Market District. There�s always a crowd there. Tourists come from all over Cyrodiil just to look at it. The price is outrageous, rumor is the price is the current high bid on it. I thought the Arena should purchase it to draw that tourist crowd here. Our Box receipts would triple. We could add to that by putting it in a secure area and charging admission to see it. If the Arena won�t do it I was going to ask for an advance on my Box Office share and a contract for the concession on it. I�d buy it in a heartbeat.�

�Someone has already contracted for it from what I hear.�

�Yeah, some mystery owner and Fathis Aren are in a war over it but Varnado is holding out for the owner to come up with the funds. At least that�s what he tells everyone.�

When Owyn left Jack sat tapping his thumb on the desk, his eyes staring unseeing at the doorway. As if coming to a decision he went to his cabinet and rifled through the neat stacks of legal forms, grabbing several and placing them in his leather satchel.

Jack had to step around several people blocking the inner doorway of the Best Defense. His first glimpse of the armor nearly took his breath, it appeared to be descending from the sky, yet giving off light of its own. A crowd filled the customer area of the store waiting to reach the perimeter of velvet roping surrounding the armor. Owyn, Gils, merchants, guards, and many who were obviously tourists. An Artist�Mrs. Treydog?

Jack slid behind her and eyed the painting, it was spectacular as he expected. �I�d like to purchase��

�Highest bid. There�s the chest.� Mrs. Treydog�s brush never stopped moving on the painting. A chest rested behind the easel.

A quick calculation in his head and Jack scribbled a price and �For display at the Arena� on the back of his business card, dropping it in the slot cut into the top of the locked chest.

When Jack finally made it to the velvet rope his eyes trailed up the armor and then back to the large sign in front of it. When he saw the price on the sign his eyes widened and then narrowed.

The door opened repeatedly to admit more people. Two guards stood next to Jack, staring at the armor with awestruck looks on their faces. Jack scratched his chin thoughtfully.

He quietly stepped up to the counter. �Varnado my good man. I�d like to speak with you privately please.�

Owyn stepped up. �Varnado, I want to purch�Jack, is that you?�

�Yes. Varnado�if we may be private please.�

After some time passed Jack walked out of the back room, an enigmatic look on his handsome features. He veered over to the Merchants Inn, hoping to catch Fathis in.





******* Maxical

Gils was standing outside the Bloodworks door watching us as Pilus and I made our way across the lawns to the Arena. I had a sudden realization that I had broken a cardinal rule of the Arena in giving away fight tips. Before we were close enough that Gils could overhear I stopped walking and turned to Pilus.

�Er, Pilus�we are not supposed to give away the secret fight moves of the Arena, I could get in a lot of trouble, so please don�t tell them to anyone.�

�I won�t. I just like knowing. Almost everyone that learns these moves dies before they can pass them on to anyone. How do you stand knowing you might die each match? You�re so young, but the odds are against you being alive a year from now, did you know that?�

I didn�t know that till recently. Owyn went through the spiel with me before I joined like he does for everyone. I didn�t listen to a word, no one does. All you can think of is getting paid to wave your sword around and your name on the billboards.

�You were making everyone laugh with your tail, but looked like you might die any minute. How do you do it?�

�The crowds. They call your name and it can bring you from the brink of death to rally and make your next move. It is everything to a fighter when they are out there facing an opponent.�

�Well I will make sure my friends and I scream your name whenever you fight.�

�Thank you Pilus. And I appreciate what you are doing for Andronicus.�

�Well, I�ll do what I can but can�t promise to keep it going without some extra�incentive.�

Pilus acted like it was a strain on him to see she was not beaten! What was wrong with these guards? I was going straight to Jack about this, and was glad Hassiri did that piece on the guards brutality.

Pilus took both my hands in his and raised each to his lips before we parted, giving me a wink. What was that all about? I thanked him and hurried the rest of the way. Gils had been leaning on the wall with his arms folded, but stood up as I neared. He was glaring darts at the direction I had come from. I turned around and saw Pilus standing where I had left him, watching me. I quickly skirted by Gils and darted in.

Gils followed me in, slamming the door. �Who was that rube?� Gils eyes pierced into mine.

�An old friend.� I made a concerted effort to look away from his intense eyes and see if I saw wrinkles.

�What are you looking at?�

�Nothing. Where is Owyn?�

�He went up to Jack�s office.�

�Oh good, I needed to see them both anyway.� I hurried away.





***

Owyn was flirting with Jack�s new runner, a young blonde Bosmer girl.

�He�s not back from lunch yet.� He grunted then went back to impressing the girl.

I sat on a nearby bench and waited, watching the young girl�s blushes at Owyn�s overtures. She was receptive�yet�she kept glancing up at his gray hair. I could take care of that for him, S�Jirra and Abhuki always had me dye their hair for them as a way to keep me out of trouble. When the girl scooted off I offered.

�Dye my hair? What do I look like to you?� Owyn looked at me like I had gone mad.

�It doesn�t matter what you look like to me, but what you look like to her. She liked you, but kept glancing at your hair. She thinks you�re too old.�

�I can�t be gray one day and black the next, are you nuts?�

�Owyn, she�ll only remember some old man that flirted with her by tomorrow. When she sees the new you she won�t be able to forget you. Andronicus may even attack you again.�

�What�ll you do?�

�I use a combination of scented conditioners and oils with just a touch of blacking. Then I heat my sword with a fireball and wrap it in your hair to make waves.�

�Are you off your rocker? You think I�m going to let you near me with a fireball and your sword right after you put something flammable in my hair?�

�And I could make a nice beeswax lotion to smooth those wrinkles, you�d look thirty years younger.�

�Thirty years! How the hell old do you think I am? If I looked thirty years younger I�d have my momma�s teat in my mouth still!�

�Geez, and I thought I couldn�t add.�

�Okay, how much? But no fireball or sword!�

�Five Septims.�

�Five Septims! Are you nuts? Forget it!�

�I need it, I spent a bunch today. Besides, she is young and pretty. You�re competing against��

Just then the young Bosmer returned, smiling apologetically. �He will be back in one hour.� She hesitated, then went into one of the empty offices behind her and shut the door.

�Okay, five Septims. But you better not screw this up.�

�We�ve got an hour, lets do it now.�

�I mean it, don�t mess me up.� Owyn followed me to the Arena triage area.

I pulled down several oils and whipped them with boot black, then covered Owyn�s face with a heated mix of beeswax and honey.

�When do I wash these oils out of my hair?�

�You don�t.�

�You mean I gotta go around with a greasy head?�

�If you let me put the waves in you will like it. Owyn that style you wear went out before I was born.�

�I swear if you set fire to my hair��

�If you like it I get two more Septims.�

�I better like it!�

I lit a fire under the calcinator with water in it and darted my sword in the flames. When it was good and hot I dipped a towel in the water and squeezed it out, then lay it on Owyn�s face.

�OW! YOU [CENSORED]! You trying to burn me to death?�

I crimped his hair quickly while he had his face covered with the hot towel. Before I was done I cast a frost spell on a towel and lay it on his face.

�OW! YOU [CENSORED]! You trying to freeze my face off?�

�Okay, now go look in the looking glass.�

Owyn stared at himself a long time. He gave me ten Septims. �Keep it. I haven�t looked like this in��

He did look thirty years younger, even kind of handsome.

Owyn strutted to Jack�s office, his eyes darting around for the runner. I tapped on Jack�s office door and he bid me enter.

�Maxical. What may I do for you today? And�Owyn? I barely recognized you! Looks like you were serious about going after that Captain Renault after all.�

I broke right in with my problem. �Jack, the night I escaped the guard was threatening to hurt Andronicus with his baton because she was noisy. She is always very loud. When they took me out she tried to stop them and I thought they would harm her. Today when I was visiting her I saw a young guard I used to know from the Imperial Compound. I told him of the threats and asked him if he would see to it that Andronicus was well taken care of. I even gave him bribe money, thirty-five Septims. He acted like it wasn�t enough, and told me if she was still there in two days he would need more �incentive���

�SPEW!� Jack sprayed sparkling water all over his desk.

�You did what? You stupid idiot! Do you know what you have done?� Owyn bellowed.

�I didn�t want her abused by the guards, I thought if I bribed them they would be nice to her. I used my own Septims from my savings. Did I do something wrong?�

Owyn was glaring at Jack, who was struggling to keep a straight face. �What should we do about it?�

�I can�t step in on something like this, it�s between you and your fighter. But please take it out of my office so I can have a good laugh.�

�What did I do?�

�You bought his services for Andronicus, you idiot!� Owyn roared.

�What? I don�t understand��

Owyn graphically showed me with hand gestures.

�OH!�You mean�services?� I felt my face turning bright red.

�You are the dumbest�!� Owyn�s face was infusing with purple tones.

Owyn seemed to hang on the brink of something, like when you can feel a storm coming but are waiting for the first sound of thunder. I hesitated, unsure whether he was going to blow his stack and would want me there to erupt on or if I should run.

Jack was visibly struggling before bursting out laughing. Owyn wavered for a minute and then roared laughing.

Jack pulled out thirty-five Septims and handed them to me. �Next time you think Andronicus is being ill treated, come to me before you try to handle it yourself.�

�Don�t you tell Gils about this.� Owyn ordered, then turned to Jack. �I�m glad she didn�t help me when I was beaten. I would have killed a damn Legion guard.�

�Unless she bribed Captain Renault?�

�Now you�re talking. Er�say Jack, what�s the lowdown on your new runner?�

�She is��

I pulled the door shut and walked slowly away. Oh dear gods, what must Pilus think of me�wait�EW! He agreed to do it! EW!





***



Owyn�s before and after screenshots:




Before:











After:











***

Oh, I'm soo Disappointed! I thought you were going to make Owyn look like Stoney Jackson and his Jeri curl! That guy was sooo hot!

Stoney Jackson

Now that's what Owyn should look like!

Okay, now I'm done laffink! So Pilus thought the same thing I did huh?

I'll have you know, ladies, I have the best loaf of bread this side of the Mississippi River

And now Owyn looks like a slick Bad Attitude Barrackus. Though I was hoping you would have made him look like Marvin Gaye so someone could make a music video of Owyn singing Sexual Healing.

Owyn gets a new doo. Woohoo!

This was a fun romp. Very cute how Maxical can get herself in trouble without even realizing it!

Oh no, I am 4 pages behind.

Ahhhh.....

Sorry, mALX.

Dying Owyn's hair.. that way?! My dear, that's old school( for me anyways)!

Maybe if you burn some rice to a crisp, add some lavender lotion and oil, you'll have raven black hair in no time! Used by the ancient Jewish people (or so I've heard)!

No... My narcisstic obssesion about funky hairs is resurfacing.. I must..

Nah! mALX, this is one outstanding chapter!! More!

You gave Owyn a FINGER WAVE!!??? Horror of Horrors!! First you turn Vicente into an androgynous Anne Rice vampire, now this?? By the Nine, someone please tackle Maxical before she wussifies the whole of Cyrodiil!

And Pilus; Dude, WTF!!! I have heard of cash-strapped, but really? Andronicus?! I don�t think they make that much disinfectant!! How do you plan to . . . and the smell . . . ? Nope, strike that, I don�t really want to know!

@haute � Stoney Jackson?! Really? Please don�t tell me you had a thing for El DeBarge too!

WUSSIFICATION EVERYWHERE!!!

*Destri had to leave in the wake of a tsunami of estrogen induced nausea.*

This is brilliant! Slightly crazy, unexpected and downright hilarious. Owen getting a makeover - genius. I'll stop laughing at some point, probably. And using a sword as hair crimpers (if that's the word hair things are beyond me) is original, I'm not sure I'd let Malxical near me with a hot sword even if I had hair.

Andronicus getting services... you're veering into horror there. That image is only marginally better than her and Owen...

@ Nautee Hautee - my construction set limited me on Owyn's makeover, but I actually did drop 30 years off him, about 50 pounds from his frame, and changed his hairdo. He didn't look good with long hair in a pony tail like I did with most of the other men in my game, ROFL !!!! I really need to give Gils a makeover too, I worked on it, but then messed something else up and had to throw out all my hard work. Thank you so much Nautee girl! Lol.

***

@ Verlox - ROFL !!!! Owyn singing Sexual Healing (choke, gasp) - I spewed hot coffee on my keyboard thanks to that comment! ROFL - Thank you so much Verlox! (The Marvin Gaye look was not included in the construction set either, lol)

***

@ Acadian - Maxical had not gotten in trouble for far too long, I really almost made a straight character out of her and figured I better fix that quick. Thank you so much Acadian!!!

***

@ Winter Wolf - Oh Wolf, you have been so missed! I wrote a special Dunmer line in the story just for you too! I'm just glad you are alive and well, you have been greatly missed! <3 Thank you so very much Wolf!!!

***

@ Ureniashtram - ROFL !!!! Oh, I didn't know about burning rice to die hair, I'll have to look that up!!! Thank you so much Ureniashtram!!!

***

@ Destri - ARGH!!! I take no responsibility for the hairdo, it was all the construction set offered that looked good on him!!! ARGH!!! But, I did drop 30 years and 50 pounds off him, and in game he looks a lot better!!! (and I refrained from adding long hair and a pony tail to him, I should get kudos for that!) ROFL !!!

Gotta agree with you on Andronicus and Pilus, I kept my mind as far from it as possible while writing it. There is actually a reason for it though that will come out later.

PS - Wait...Vicente? Androgynous? No way, he was a sex-crazed womanizing dog in my story! Although I don't deny skewering him...

On Vicente's makeover I had to do that, the man was ugly as sin in game, and that actually took hours of work to even get him to look that decent. I finally just gave up and randomized him to get that look. ARGH!

- oh wait! I know what you are talking about now! Vicente as The Man! Oh yes, androgynous for sure! Er...Sorry about that.

Er...does this mean you don't think I should give Gils a makeover? I think I actually did a good job on Janus Hassildor and Fathis Aren, although my Alix Lencolia could use some work, he actually does look androgynous. And I haven't posted a pic of my makeover on Hannibal Traven, but lets just say he has long hair and a pony tail, so does Jauffre - ROFL !!!!

ARGH!!! Thank you so very much Destri! You ROCK !!!

***

@ Olen - ROFL !!! I thought the exact same thing in the exact same words on the Andronicus and Pilus/Andronicus and Owyn !! Thank you so very much Olen, I appreciate your words a lot!

*


Chapter 32: Of Anger And Disaster


Every time I thought of Pilus an image floated into my mind of him and Andronicus mating like rats in that filthy cell and my stomach would churn.

Gils kept bringing him up, till I nearly gagged. He was obviously miffed over Pilus walking me home, and alternated his comments with an extremely intense practice.

�I�ll end the truce if I see that rube near you again. I�m not baby-sitting you just to have that sleazy guard��

I quit listening. He was making me ill while pressing the most powerful sparring I had ever found in a partner. I wished he would spar like this all the time�except shut up about Pilus while he did it.

His eyes were on fire with some kind of passion, was it anger? The molten red depths glowed with it. I wondered if I�d ever see passion like that in Fathis�s eyes, and what would I do to cool the flame? Kiss him?�

�Stop it!� Gils voice cut into my reverie like a whip.

I dropped my hands to my sides and stood at ease. �What?�

�Your eyes reflect your thoughts. You want the truce to continue, don�t look like that again. Let�s take a break. Er�why don�t you go do Andronicus's duties for a while.�

�Okay.�

I went to the stack of damaged raiment and began trying to repair them. The hammers kept breaking. I finally finished the first one and hung it up. It looked odd for some reason. I logged the repair hammer losses on Owyn�s chart and started on the next one, finally just moving a whole crate of repair hammers next to me. It was over half gone when I finished the second raiment.

I heard Owyn bellowing before he found me. �What the hell is this [censored]? Twenty repair hammers used, only one raiment hanging? How many one-armed fighters do you see me sending out into the arena?�

�What?�

�Look what you�ve done to this raiment! You hammered one arm closed!� Owyn started shaking and pointing at the pile of broken hammers at my feet. His eyes bulged.

�What is that? You used a half a crate of hammers up and only fixed two�what the hell? Is that the second one you repaired? Where is the head supposed to come out?�

�Uh�Owyn�I never repaired armor before. Andronicus has been doing mine for me.�

Owyn�s eyes were bulging and his face was turning purple. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he bellowed out, �GILS!�

Gils came flying in, stopping short when he saw Owyn. �Owyn! I barely recognized you! You look better than you did twenty years ago!�

�Gils, take over the repairs till Andronicus gets back. Do you think you can fix these two?� Owyn�s voice came out in a hoarse whisper as if he was strangling on the words.

Gils looked at the two I had repaired. �What the� I�ll try.�

Owyn stomped out and Gils handed me my list from Andronicus.

�Go do something else.� Gils was still acting mad at me.

I heard Gils laugh echoing as I left. Scrubbing the bathing pool was next on the list. That was simple enough, and I could use the bath.

I was pleased with the job I had done. I released the drains for the old water and finished scrubbing the pool, then soaped myself up. My plan was to keep the drains open when I first released the water from above. That would rinse everything completely before refilling it. I pictured the bathing pool sparking clean and Owyn forgiving me for the armor mess-up.

The top of the Arena is made perfectly for watershed and streams rainwater to a reservoir over each Bloodworks.

I tried to yank the chain to release the water from the reservoir on the roof but my soapy hands slid on the chain. I didn�t have the weight to just pull down on it. Thinking fast, I hooked the chain underneath the door latch to Pork Chop�s area and entwined an old steel cutlass into the chain. That gave me more leverage. Bearing down on the hilt acted like a lever, I heard the gates open above me as I hooked the blade under the latch.

The sound was like a raging waterfall and floodwaters roared down from above. The latch broke on Pork Chop�s door and it flew open, gushing water into his pen. The chain got yanked up in the air and the dangling latch or entwined sword got caught on something.

All I could think of was Pork Chop drowning, so I flew across his cage in the rapidly deepening water and flung open his door to the Arena proper. The gush of water billowed out into the Arena with Pork Chop riding the crest of the wave. Water pressure knocked me down and drove me across the bottom of the cage and out into the Arena, naked and now covered in pig feces.

The water spread out once it hit the Arena, creating a muddy mess. Pork Chop took off after the Yellow team raiment as Owyn had taught him to do, goring the combatant with his tusks. I heard Wes announcing that the blue team forfeited the match for three citations, two for unauthorized personnel and one for out of raiment because I was naked.

Owyn had opened the door into the bathing room when he heard the water roaring and the inside of the Bloodworks was now flooded too. When he found out his match was forfeited and he got three citations he was livid.

�I didn�t know pigs could swim.� I tried to explain to Owyn why I had released Pork Chop (and inadvertently myself) into the Arena.

The wet mats had to all be laid outside to dry and all but Andronicus�s stinking mat were stolen by beggars. We had to requisition a slew of new mats and bail the water out of the Bloodworks. The order came down from Jack that until Andronicus returned Gils was to take over the duty of cleaning the bathing pool.

I was in Owyn�s black books for everything except the hair. He got a date with the Bosmer girl. �You two clean up this place. I�m going out. Get some passes ready for Hassiri, he�ll have to be briefed. Just tell him the reservoir release broke.�






***

Agronak sent me a note through one of the Pit Dogs to meet him outside. Owyn wasn�t there to ask what to do. First he had said to talk Agronak into dropping the charges on Andronicus, then said to stay away from him. I wasn�t sure if the second order cancelled the first. I went. My thoughts were that I could ask him to drop the charges, then end the friendship and stay away from him from now on. That way I was obeying Owyn on both orders.

Agronak was livid when I told him I had been attacked the night before. He paced, shouting and cursing. I believe he would have killed if one of the Pit Dogs had shown up right then. Agronak rarely curses, nor had I seen him display that kind of violence outside the Arena before.

I understood his upset�but he had created the situation. I was still raw over leaving Andronicus in that cell and mad he had done this to all of us, but especially for lying to me about the ring. I was angry with him before our conversation began, his actions did nothing to soothe it.

�Where are they, I�ll kill every one of them!�

�They were taken back to prison. If it hadn�t been for Gils there is no telling what would have happened. He charged through the mob and saved me Agronak.�

�Why didn�t you contact me when you got out last night, or go to the house? You should have never gone there alone.�

�You had me arrested as a thief, why would I contact you or go to your house? You may have brought trespassing charges against me if I did.�

�Get your things packed right now. You are going to the house to stay. I insist on it! You are not spending the night in the Bloodworks without protection ever again!�

I don�t take well to being ordered around, especially not by someone who was the cause of me being unprotected in the first place. Anger was beginning a fiery path through my mind, engulfing any plans of a calm end to the friendship. The more he spoke the more my temper flared and rationality receded to the background. I struggled to keep heated responses from flying out of my mouth and forced myself to speak in a light, airy tone that sounded brittle even to my own ears.

�Don�t worry about it, Agronak. I do have protection now, Owyn is back and Gils is there.�

�GILS! He�s worse than anyone! May as well stick the fox in the henhouse and ask him to be gentle!�

�I�m not exactly sure what that means Agronak. And it may surprise you, but Gils is being a perfect gentleman.�

�Surprised? I would be shocked if I believed it. He is pulling something, outsmarting you. You just don�t realize how tricky he is. But you wouldn�t need his protection if you just went to the house.�

�Agronak, I don�t appreciate being called dumb whether I am or not. There was no one else there but Gils, you had them all locked up. Besides, Gils is supposedly your friend, remember?�

�He is my friend, a close enough one that he has told me his schemes and ploys with women.�

�Is one of them nearly dying in the act of saving a co-worker�s virtue? He saved me Agronak. That was no scheme or ploy. And as I said, he has called a truce while I am under his protection.�

�He better be, and you can tell him I said that.�

�I don�t carry threatening sounding messages for others. Now what did you call me out to ask?�

�Let�s go to the house and talk, this is too public.�

�Are you forgetting my reputation would be damaged going there with you alone? The house is no longer in your mother�s name, and she is no longer there to chaperone. I�ve already stayed too long. I am on �three-a-days� to make up for the lost revenue. Oh, by the way�er, Owyn has temporarily canceled his permission for me to go on that trip for you. He said he needs me here till Andronicus gets back, Gils and I are sharing her duties.�

�This is ridiculous, Owyn was just gone one day, what lost revenue? And Andronicus doesn�t do anything but hold my book, how could you have to replace her?�

�Two days lost revenue if you count the funeral. Odd how you expect everyone to suffer monetary losses over you without complaint or recoup while you sue them for spending too much to make your own mother�s funeral special. And Andronicus does quite a bit more than manage you, how do you think she earns her share of the Box Office receipts? I know because I am having to fill her shoes plus train three times daily with Gils.�

�WITH GILS? What do you mean you are training with Gils?�

�He is the only one Owyn trusts right now, and who I feel safe with.�

�I don�t like this at all! What duties could Gils possibly take over for Andronicus?�

�He is watching the women at night.�

�But you are the only woman there!�

�If there were others he would watch them too.�

�If you went to the house he wouldn�t have to!�

�Oh, he doesn�t seem to mind.�

�OF COURSE NOT! This can only end one way Maxical. You don�t know him like I do. Maybe Owyn would let me spend the nights there to protect you.�

I snorted. �You have got to be kidding! You have been banned from our Bloodworks.�

�Banned!� Agronak was fuming.

�What did you think would happen? You had Owyn arrested as a thief. You�re lucky he didn�t kill you. I told you before you pressed charges Andronicus would never steal from you. I�m really surprised Haki hasn�t banned you.�

�He wasn�t back yet when I left this morning.�

�Well Haki was pretty mad, you may be banned from the Yellow Bloodworks too. You know he only let you stay there as a courtesy, you aren�t his fighter anymore.� Andronicus had told me that.



*

Oh my Kitty!!!

What next, I tremble to ask...


(thinks)

Let's see, FLOOD has come.


ARRRGH! FIRE and FAMINE are coming next!!! Stock up on the water and food, everyone!!!

Back to the usual chaos... Managing to flush herself into the arena naked on a tide of slurry was inspired, I laughed aloud.

And now the havok is building and ready to wash everyone away in a whole tide of... well... Makes me wonder how who will react, and what Agronak is really up to, he seemed almost worried.

Good degree of mystery and great characters, I love it.

Ahah! I see Maxical is smarter than all of us. One by one, she eliminating her requirements to do Andronicus' chores. Screw up the chore, Owyn will make someone else do it. Brilliant kitty!

I enjoyed her 'chat' with Agronak. Very well done, mALX.