Rumble in the Jungle Bloodworks! Great title!

‘She looked like a windmill in a gale, and was also kicking crotches with those tall boots of hers.’
What an image this conjured!

‘I always fake a faint when caught in wrong doing, but I don’t think that was what Gils was doing.’
How wonderfully Maxical this is!

‘Should I pray to another god or maybe Clavicus Vile or something? Sell off some more of my children to save Gils again?’
Oh noes! Maxical is running out of imp chips for divine bartering!

Wow, treachery at every turn! Malan impersonating Damien, Renault trying to screw Gils, and now Ocato equipping Legion vampire fighters with iron weaponry!

I’m on the edge of my seat to hear what Gils has to say if/when he becomes coherent.

Blimey!... ...I disappear for a while and look what I missed!!... ...

Fantastic stuff...Very intense with Maxical's search for Gils...

The confrontation with Renault was brilliant...As with many other versions of characters, it's cool to see how we all interpret the same NPCs differently...

Loved all the fighting talk... ...

Brilliant stuff...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Phew! Owyn and Eyja are alive! Although Owyn is hurt a bit. I'm sure he's had worse

The fight in the second part of the chapter was intense! It was AMAZING! very well worded. PERFECT!

Loved this bit though, made me laugh a little bit (the POW part, not the fact that she was hurt ):



Another amazing chapter mALX! As always, can't wait for more

What a tremendous fight! I’m glad that the little arm wound didn’t slow Owyn down. Folks at the Bloodworks would be pretty used to such things, I guess. Good thing Maxical remembered not to maim anyone.


Gils!! At last!! Wow, he’s a mess.


Oh my gosh, this whole part with the bargaining was both delightfully Maxical and also quite touching. After all of the struggles and doubt, they’re right back at the fount.

Then to learn that at least some of the troops’ suffering was caused by sabotage, yikes! That could be an angry scene with Uriel.

I’m also very curious to hear what Gils has to say. I hope he’s not allergic to Maxical’s virgin blood! Although I’m sure Eyja would have an idea or two about how to overcome that. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Gaaaaherown!

Awesome! Just plain awesome fight scene and I have to say that you are talented at writing battles! Yikes, everyone seemed to get a beating. Maxical's kapow against the captain's face with that gauntlet was great!



Never touch Eyja's big bewbs without permittion! Let alone punch them!



Helluva brawl we got here. Poor Max and Eyja, I guess its back to the oiled bath for them for a proper recovery. Ouch! They sure got a beating. It isn't called Bloodworks for nothing.

And the ending...Ocato that sneaky honoured user! I can see him smirking in his high chair for giving them iron weapons, haha. This was wonderfully written and now it seems there are twists at every turn!

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@ King Coin - Lol, you had me rolling with your comment! Thank you so much KC !!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so very much for those kind words, Acadian !! It means a lot when someone can get a visual from something I’ve said, thank you !!!

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@ McBadgere - WOO HOO !!! You are still around !!! Thank you so much McB !!!

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@ Rihanae - Your comment made my day !!! Thank you so much Rihanae !!! That meant a lot to hear, Awesome !!!

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! You caught the gist (I hoped would come across) of that scene at the fount. Maxical is getting her first taste of how the gods work. She’s at a loss of how to help Gils now. Thank you so very much Grits !!!

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@ Darkness Eternal - This comment made my day big time !!! You can’t imagine how hard it is for me to write a fight scene, your kind words meant tons to hear !!! Thank you so very much Darkness !!!!!


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** There is a nod to dear Rachel the Breton (who I miss terribly) from her story “Edward the Imperial” in this chapter.

Edward the Imperial:


http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4502



Chapter 159: The Betrayal Of Gods



I’d lost count of the number of times I heard the magic being forced through the healing fount, lost track of how many times Owyn broke out cursing. Gils never moved after that screaming fit he’d had, lay like a corpse…looked like one, pallid and sickeningly cold to the touch.

Several times I lay my ear over his heart to be sure it still beat. Owyn never stopped working on him, instead he called for any mage that could heal to help Eyja in healing the troops. Captain Renault never showed her face to heal her own troops or even dispute Owyn’s authority, she stayed in the bathing room.

Inside me a rage was eating away at any sanity I may have left seeing this act play out again, Gils on the verge of dying and me standing by helpless with no resource but to bargain with the gods again.

I couldn’t bring myself to beg Akatosh again, in fact had he showed up I may have run him through with my sword. Was this Akatosh’s idea of keeping his end of the vow? Did he think I had given up my life to his service just to see Gils go to another woman and die anyway not a month later?

I’d done everything Uriel and Akatosh demanded of me, sworn myself even knowing I’d be squashed like a bug under Dagon’s feet within a year. How could Akatosh be so dirty as to take my service and still take Gils from me? I’d have been better off going to a Daedric Lord than the gods.

Akatosh would never have my prayers again, but I let loose plenty of curses on his head. The words never left my lips, but my mind screamed them.

“You listen well, you dirty lying sack of [censored] [censored] Akatosh! This is the last vow you’ll ever hear from me. If I lose Gils to the grave, or even to another woman…you’d best be looking for a new Champion! I’ll be of service to your enemies before I’ll ever help you again, you piece of [censored] [censored] cow [censored] [censored]! I‘ll curse your name till I die, you [censored] [censored]!“

I did pray to Azura, since my marriage to Gils was blessed by her both through my Khajiit seal and Gils’ Dunmer mysteries. I vowed my soul to Clavicus Vile since Akatosh only owned my life. I even called on Fathis’s soul, wherever it may be. I have no idea if I promised any more of my children away, but I know it wasn’t to Akatosh.

SMACK!

“OW! What did you hit me for?” I looked stunned at Eyja.

“It looked like you’d gone into shock. You need to hear some of the [censored] that’s been going on at this outpost.” Eyja dragged me to the group of healed men.






***


Camaraderie was established already with the Imperial Army and Eyja. They had begun to open up, telling some of the treatment they had endured at this outpost. I was livid, hearing what they’d suffered.

The soldiers slept in their armor and were called up night and day instead of shifted. Over half of them were in broken armor and their weapons were in desperate need of repair. They all had dark eye sockets from exhaustion. Soldiers with no magic were being sent into the sewers.

The “Feed Bag” had been commandeered to cater food in for the troops because there was no kitchen in the Bloodworks, but what came was scanty and barely edible. Ocato and Captain Renault had all their meals at the Palace, coming back belching like sows afterward in front of men whose stomachs groaned for decent food.

Worse, they were fighting vampires with improper and inadequate supplies. Ocato gave the supplies daily to Captain Renault, who guarded them as if they were her personal possession. The men had to come to her to get Cure Disease potions, she doled it out by the tablespoonful instead of giving full potions.

All these troops should have been given one full dose of the Cure Disease daily when they were fighting vampires. The Arcane had given clearance for duplications to be used in wartime, why wasn’t it being done?

Did Captain Renault not know how to duplicate? She couldn‘t heal, or would have fixed her own jaw by now. I suspected she had stunted magic. She couldn’t have admitted it, or would never have been promoted to a position over troops in Uriel‘s Elite Guard.

But how did she reach that rank without proving she could perform basic Arcane arts? My guess is she performed another act to get those promotions, but who signed for her rank increases? They needed to be dishonorably discharged with her.

The only things missing from my pack had been scrolls and that Cure Disease potion. Gils or someone had tried to save themselves, and maybe others. Looking at the many feverishly flushed faces and dullness in the eyes of these young men, I doubted whoever took the scrolls knew how to use them.

With a sickening twisting in my stomach I listened as they described several other sewer workers that had come back like Gils was tonight, screaming and ranting…then stopped coming back. No bodies were ever found, they just weren‘t seen again.

They said Captain Renault pronounced those that came back like Gils and anyone that had nightmares or night sweats as ’turned to vampires’. They were sent to the front lines in the sewers, the section directly below the Arena.

She sacrificed troops rather than give them the medicine they needed. The men had become afraid to admit to any symptoms, because instead of healing of the disease they were dispensed with. The men that disappeared were never listed on the casualty lists, their families would never be notified of their loss.

And neither Ocato or Captain Renault had ever even entered the sewers themselves, the troops weren’t led into battle. I was strongly reminded of Uriel battling vampires alongside average citizens that first day. He would never send his troops somewhere he wouldn’t go himself.






***


Every now and then as they talked, I’d hear Owyn curse or shout in confirmation of what they’d said. There was no doubt in my mind it was all truth.

They liked Eyja better than me, so I signaled her to speak to each man individually and write down every suggestion they had for improving conditions. Other than a few suggesting Eyja come frequently as a moral booster, the list was all valid requests. I added a few suggestions of my own at the end, things I‘d noticed. Then I held the list up to get the men’s attention.

“Listen, Uriel Septim is a warrior himself. I know how he cares for his troops; he wouldn’t tolerate the conditions you’ve suffered here if he was aware of it, that much I know of him. You have my vow that the Emperor will be given this list. My personal promise to you is that beginning tomorrow I will ensure you are each given one full potion daily of Cure Disease and every man will carry an enchanted weapon if I have to duplicate them myself. I will request enforced shifting and that each man have at least one meal per day at the Palace so their armor and weapons can be repaired while they eat. I give you my word personally that there will be changes to the conditions here.”

A half hearted cheer went up till I started making promises. They doubted my ability to bring change, and no wonder. A Khajiit they didn’t know other than a cheater in a fight, they couldn’t believe any promise would be delivered on. I felt ashamed of taking these men down on a cheat. Captain Renault was one thing, these men were totally different.

“You stood up well to our dirty fight tactics. They are filthy tricks when used against an army of good men like yourselves, but you’ve been fighting creatures that don’t follow any rules out there. What you saw here is how three normal people can take down an army in a couple hours. Simplicia the Slow knocked out the Gray Prince using these same moves not two months ago. Owyn here knows every one of the filthiest street fighting tricks, the same these vampires have been using against you. You can kill a Daedroth in one hit with them. With the Emperor’s permission, I’d like to see you men trained in them. They would end this war in half the time and with minimal losses of men, and we don’t want to lose any more of you valued troops.”

I pounded my chest twice. “My hat is off to every one of you for putting up the best sparring I’ve had in a long time.”

Eyja blew kisses and promised every one of them something I won’t even begin to mention, but it got a bigger cheer than anything I’d said.

“For the Empire!” I raised my sword in tribute to the men, coming after Eyja’s promise it got a hearty response and cheer.






***


Eyja pulled me aside. “You think Uriel will stand by all those promises you just made?”

“What I know of him, he wouldn’t have let any of that go on if he knew. Uriel is too disconnected from this war, relying too much on Ocato. I understand why he keeps him alive, but why is he still allowing Ocato the power over his defenses?”

“You don’t think he knows what goes on here?”

“I would stake my life on it he doesn’t. He relies on everyone doing what they should without checking up on them. It‘s exactly like Sir Damien said, Uriel is trusting people he always did in the past but they’ve stopped earning that trust. Those Blades are supposed to be Uriel’s Elite Guard. They’re completely undisciplined, don’t know the law, and their blade skills are terrible. If he ever personally inspected them he’d know that. Whoever is training them needs to be canned, didn’t they say his name was Jauffre? Isn’t he that maniac that killed his cook and piked heads around his yard?”

“I thought that was just rumor.”

“Rumors like that don’t start from nothing. Uriel needs to disband the Blades or do a complete shakedown of them starting at the top. The Imperial Army was good though, Uriel should be proud of them.”

“Maxical, it’s almost morning. Uriel is going to wonder where we spent the night. We just beat up his Blades and half his Army.”

“Not Baurus, he came out unscathed somehow.”

“You’re not getting what I’m saying. He is going to be in a rage when he finds out what you’ve done.”

“Hey, I only came here to take her down, and had every right to. Glenroy caused all this. He has some kind of issue with letting things drop, I noticed that the day they threw me out of here to take over the Bloodworks. Besides, you are looking at this all wrong. The point is that a sixty year old man, a girl in a garter belt and low cut top, and a tiny Khajiit were able to take down all his Blades and half his Imperial Army in just hours.”

“Oh! That sounded good!”

“It’s all in the perspective you put on it, I learned that eavesdropping through the wall when Sir Damien talks to Uriel.”

“You did what? Foxy would blow his top if he knew you did that, Maxical! What do you think Uriel will say?”

“When something like this happens Uriel calls it ‘incidental damages‘, at least I think I have that right. I was eavesdropping when I heard that too. Anyway, the best defense is a good offensive attack.”

“What do you mean?”

“Instead of waiting for him to yell at me, I’ll walk in and rip up at him for the conditions his troops are in and these Blades he is relying on for protection. The Imperial Army was really good, boy did they hit hard! They know the law well, too. I didn’t see Baurus fight, but his sword looked like it could do some serious damage.”

“BWAAHAA!”



*

Holy crap! Maxical’s swearing her soul to Vile? She needed that smack from Eyja. Too bad it didn’t come before she swore everything away to some deity or other.

Sounds to me that Renault is Ocato’s woman. Or perhaps she’s under the influence of a vampire? Perhaps we will find out. I’m leery of Maxical’s promises too, I’m sure she’ll try to do what she said, but again, she doesn’t have any authority to do any of those things. This is all relying on Uriel believing her and acting on what she says. And he is going to be pissed at what she’s done in the Bloodworks. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s jailed!

Fighting scenes comes with practice, haha. Just watch sword movies or brawl scenes . It helps somewhat.

Oh no, this is the second time I see Maxical make a reference to C.V in a dangerous way. Pledging her soul to him? . Danger! I guess Akatosh and all the Nine don't do compassion that Maxical might convert to Daedric worship. In a way. I see where she comes from. Gil's sure fate brought out the slumbering animosity in Maxical that her perception may be altered throughout. This is an interesting scenario that can be a turning point for our young albino lass.




Woah! Maxical is truly peeved! This was so strong that I could picture the scene in my head, the palpable aura of rage. Excellent part...before Eyja smacked her from her paganistic Daedric worship .

That Glenroy is something, huh? Uriel is going to lose his hair when he finds out that Maxical and company just brought out a can of whooping some Blade booty.

Uh oh, I’m pretty sure Clavicus Vile is going to take that offer seriously. Although staying yourself after death in his realm sounds like a pretty good deal compared to having your identity stripped away in the Dreamsleeve, maybe to experience an afterlife or maybe not.


ROFL! Well, that explains a lot about the Blades. I have to go back and re-read that story, just remembering it made me laugh!

Wow, there is quite a confrontation with Uriel building. Knowing how things often get twisted sideways, I can’t begin to guess if Maxical will be able to keep those promises.

Whatever's wrong with Gils and the other soldiers who have been sent off by Captain Renault to conveniently die, I hope it can be fixed! Maxical has a lot to deal with right now!

’Ocato and Captain Renault had all their meals at the Palace, coming back belching like sows afterward in front of men whose stomachs groaned for decent food.’
Captain Renault is a fool - and worse. I can imagine how she attained her rank, but it was most clearly not based on her leadership merit.

’A half hearted cheer went up till I started making promises. They doubted my ability to bring change, and no wonder. A Khajiit they didn’t know other than a cheater in a fight, they couldn’t believe any promise would be delivered on. I felt ashamed of taking these men down on a cheat. Captain Renault was one thing, these men were totally different.’
I love this humble self-assessment by Maxical.

“For the Empire!” I raised my sword in tribute to the men, coming after Eyja’s promise it got a hearty response and cheer.‘
When preceded by her list-gathering, promises to the soldiers, humility and insistence that they be taught more unconventional tactics, this shows that, although she doesn’t yet realize it, Maxical is growing into a leader – and champion.

“Instead of waiting for him to yell at me, I’ll walk in and rip up at him for the conditions his troops are in and these Blades he is relying on for protection.”
Bravo, Maxical. I think this is a superb plan of attack.

What a wonderful episode. Despite Maxical’s passionate doubts regarding Akatosh, her anger seems to be serving her well. I saw her grow a great deal here.

Maxical the Daedric Devotee--I like it. *Smiles and claps* I can't wait for further chapters.

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@ King Coin - You are right that Maxical needs to stop bartering with the gods/Daedric Lords, this is the second time she has sworn herself away over Gils. But Ocato - he is drawn toward young males rather than women, I guess my hints on that weren’t clear enough, lol. Thank you so much KC !!!

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@ Darkness Eternal - Yeah, Maxical feels Akatosh tricked her, and if he did she won’t trust him again. Uriel has def earned her loyalty, though. She will still serve him at least.

It means a lot to me to hear you could visualize Maxical’s rage in that scene - Thank you so very much Darkness !!!

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@ Grits - I’m with you, I so miss Rachel and her story! I’ve made a couple references to Rachel’s Jauffre (piking heads and killing the cook) in my story (and also used Dokada as the Adoring Fan) in her honor.

I was going through my first story today and found some tribute poems to Maxical that Rachel wrote, and she also made some great artwork for this story. She is so Awesome!

Thank you so much for your kind words, Grits !!!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian !!! I am so glad you pointed this out:



Yes, she def showed some growth and budding leadership ability in that chapter in spite of her temper fit at Akatosh - maybe a little bit because of it, since she thinks better when angry. So glad you caught that! Thanks again Acadian !!!



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@ Zalphon - Aha! Like the girl turning to the dark side, huh? Lol, Thank you so much Zalphon !!!


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** The screenshot of Gils is actually an elf modded and captured on film by the Awesome Victoria. I keep screens of my characters on hand as inspiration when I'm writing their roles. Since I saw this screen on Victoria's thread I have used it as Gils when writing his parts, it hangs over my desk next to Colin Firth's (the model for Jakben Imbel). She has a lot of inspiring characters she has modded, and her talent for taking screens is unsurpassed.

You can find more of her wonderful photo work and gorgeous mods at this link:


Victoria's Screenshot Thread


*


Chapter 160: Assassinations, Murder, And Theft


I cast frost on two towels, pressing one to my cheek and handing the other to Eyja. “Use this to get the swelling down.“

“Uriel is going to rage at you, Maxical. You went about this all wrong, it was sloppy. You should have come and gone like the wind, stealthily. Just taken her down, no one else should even know you’ve been here.”

“I just wanted to beat her, not murder her. And I had a legitimate claim and legal standing to challenge her.”

“You know a lot about the law?” Eyja looked surprised.

“Yeah. I‘ve had to defend myself a lot, I’m always getting into trouble. Uriel has a file on my misdeeds thicker than the length of Baurus‘s sword.” I held my hands up and showed her.

“BWAAHAA! If it was me I’d have just crept in and killed her, or probably both of them. They might suspect you, but they couldn’t prove it.”

“They don't need proof against Khajiit, and we don't fare well in prisons. Besides, I couldn’t stand the thought of Gils being dead. But if I did, there are legal ways to do it.”

“How?”

“Dunmer law. Request Divayth Fyr do an investigation into Gils’ activities with Captain Renault. As Gils’ first wife, I’m the only one he can share his mysteries with. So if he is bedding anyone else and I‘m alive, that’s all the proof they’d need that he’s sharing his mysteries with another. That is breaking tenets, it is punishable by death to both Gils and Captain Renault.”

“Maxical! That is evil genius!”

“No, it is just using the law to your benefit. Keeps the Dark Brotherhood from visiting you in your sleep.”

Eyja looked away with flushed cheeks. “I know all about that visit.”

“You? I thought everything you did was for Sir Damien?”

“Foxy got me away from them when I was younger than you, that’s when I met your father. I’m still a member, it is not an organization you can quit.”

“Oh.” I dropped off into an uncomfortable silence, not wanting to push her into talking about it.






***


“Maxical, where did you disappear to earlier? And why did you come back through that side door like you were being chased.”

“I was searching for Gils.”

“And? Even with your eyes swollen and blackened I can see you aren’t telling the whole story. You were gone hours, now what happened?”

“Malan was out there. I’m in trouble, it‘s complicated…GAAAAAH! What are you doing?”

Eyja nearly dragged me into the storage room. “Now you tell me exactly what is going on! What happened with Malan?”

“Remember what I just said about using the law against Dunmer?”

“Yeah.”

“Malan is doing that, but against me and Gils. I’m not stupid, I know he does it for my blood. He’s tied my hands by it. Malan says he’s the new Arbiter of Dunmer law now that Fathis is dead.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“It means he’s the law over the Dunmer mysteries. By Dunmer law if I breed anyone but Gils or the Arbiter it proves our marriage was a sham and Gils broke tenets. Malan kills us both. If I breed Gils, Malan still kills us both.“

“What? Why?“

“Because Fathis married me after my marriage to Gils, invalidating my first marriage. Since Fathis was Arbiter, I was still within law to stay alive but Gils would be killed. Fathis let Gils know he was coming after him right there at our wedding ceremony.”

“But Fathis died!”

“Right, within the first day. He never consummated the marriage or gave me even one mystery, so now my marriage to Gils could be made legal if the Arbiter agrees. But Malan is the Arbiter, and he wants my blood. If I breed anyone but him, he will kill both me and Gils.”






***


“What are you going to do?”

“Nothing till I have time to think. I won’t endanger Gils, I’ve already lost one husband.”

“But you’ll have to do something! Uriel said he ordered you to because Malan has been in the Palace, he thinks your virgin blood drew him in.”

“I think Uriel’s throne drew Malan in, and I just happen to be a tasty treat to eat while he sits on it. These ancients are territorial over their feeding grounds, and Malan is moving on the Palace. I’m virgin blood he’s spotted in his territory.”

“But you’ll die if Malan drinks your blood!”

“Not if he mates with me first. According to Sir Damien, Malan hasn’t killed a virgin in centuries. He breeds them first. Nissy and those Khajiit women were all virgins he took. I really need advice from someone a lot smarter than me to figure out what to do.”

“We need to talk to Foxy about this, he’ll know what to do.”

“None of this may matter now, I might have made Malan really mad. I kind of escaped from him.”

“You did what? How?“

“I kind of put a spell on him and ran.”

“Good gods, Maxical. We need to talk to Foxy right away.”

“Okay, but can you tell him? He makes me nervous.”

“Yeah, no problem. Boy, knowing you sure isn’t boring! It’s been less than a day, we just wiped out two of Uriel’s major defenses and you escaped a legendary vampire!”

“We only wiped out one of Uriel’s defenses. Those Blades have no business even being considered one. We are his other major defense. I just hope he knows that.”






***


I chilled the towels again with the frost spell and we leaned against a stack of crates, holding them against our faces.

“I’m scared, Eyja. Did you hear what they said about those men working the sewers coming back like Gils did tonight? Ranting and screaming like that, then just disappearing? What could be going on out there?”

“Owyn said some crazy Orc that is related to Gils attacked him. He said it was a miracle Gils lived through it, then Captain Renault insisted she be the one to treat him.”

Images of Lord Lovidicus and that performing bear in shreds came forcefully to mind with a sickening lurch in my stomach. I lowered the towel and gaped at Eyja. “Owyn didn‘t heal Gils? Renault can’t even heal herself!”

“I know. Owyn was in a rage over it but had no say, she’s the commander of this outpost.”

“Dear gods, Agronak? It really is a miracle Gils is alive. I’ll bet he’s taken Gils’jewelry then. The first time he attacked Gils he tried to get it. That‘s how I got in this mess with Akatosh to begin with.”

“What?”

“I gave Gils 30,000 Septims worth of jewelry, and every bit of it is gone. I want to know what happened to it.”

“Are you going to take it back?”

I gaped at her. “No, I bought it for him to keep. Haven’t you ever been around Khajiit before?”

“No, why?”

“Khajiit have to know. Curiosity, you know? Anything that is a mystery will drive us till we find the secrets.”

Eyja raised her eyebrows. “I need to write this down.”






***


“What’s with all this writing down?”

“I keep a dossier on everyone I meet. Personality traits or quirks, any weaknesses and strengths, all financial assets and any secrets they hold over themselves or others.”

“Why?”

“Just in case the day comes when I need to take them down.”

"Wow, you’ve made a science out of killing!"

"It has always been a science for assassins, that’s what sets them apart from murderers. I almost never get blood on my hands, just usually use poison in my own special recipe of Shepherd‘s Pie or homebrew of Rosethorn Mead. Don’t ever eat or drink anything you find among my personal things."

I gaped at Eyja. “Dear gods, thanks for the warning! I‘m going to look for that jewelry, you coming?”

Eyja followed me back into the bathing room. Captain Renault was still laying prostrate on the floor. It had been too long, she had to be faking. Probably biding her time till I left.

“What are you doing with that mirror?”

“Looking for that jewelry. Gils keeps his important stuff in here…GAAAAH!” The alcove was totally empty!

“Eyja, I was just in here not hours ago and all Gils’ stuff was here! Gils couldn’t have gotten them, he barely set foot in here and had to be carried out. Someone else has been in here besides Gils.” I pointed at Captain Renault.

Eyja searched her, but found nothing. When she finished, Eyja gave her a good kick.

“You can quit faking still being knocked out, she didn’t hit you that hard. Count yourself lucky it wasn’t me whose man you were whoring with, you wouldn’t have gotten off this easy.“

I lifted up all the mattresses and dug through all the packs in the bathing room, Gils’ stuff was gone.

“Well now we have a mystery, and it isn’t a Dunmer one! Who would steal his dirty books in the middle of a melee fight?”

“SKREEEK! BWAAHAA!”






***


Baurus was the only one who didn’t look like he’d fought. I signaled Eyja out of the bathing room.

“Eyja, get those sultry eyes of yours healed up. I want you to question Baurus about why he was not seen fighting or injured in that battle, then ask him about Gils’ missing stuff.”

She nodded. “I’ll do it, but it will have to wait a little while. Captain Renault and I are going to have a long talk. You make sure you stay in plain sight of plenty of witnesses.”

“I’ll be with Gils in the storeroom, here comes Owyn with him now.” I hurried ahead of Owyn to open the storage room door, then helped undress Gils the rest of the way.

“Dear gods, Owyn! His stomach looks like it was ripped out, his tattoo is completely gone! I know every inch of this man’s body, what are all these horrible scars? These weren’t even healed! What on Nirn happened to him out there?”


Gils:


http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images0...9a4cd2b0a/l.jpg





“Agronak did that days ago, Captain Renault was supposed to have healed it! He‘s eat up with internal injuries and disease. She‘s botched the healing bad, and he‘s too bad off for me to fix it without Traven‘s help. He’s not right in the head either, Maxical.”

“Owyn, how could you let anyone else heal him? You’ve never let anyone but Hannibal touch your fighters! And you had to know she couldn’t heal, I’ve been here just hours and know she’s got no magic!”

“She’s the command around here, Maxical. They took over the Bloodworks, I’ve got no more say here than Pork Chop till they leave. Now you listen to me, I know you want privacy in here but I need to be near to keep an eye on him. Eyja and I will stay on the other side of those crates, no one will get by us. I‘ve put him heavily under, he‘ll sleep. You let him sleep as long as he can, you hear?”

“I will, don’t worry. Did he talk at all when you were healing him? Can he be moved tomorrow? Will you help me carry him to the Palace at daybreak? I’m getting him away from here, but will need your help to do it.”

“I have orders to fight in the Arena days, Maxical.”

“Uriel Septim’s orders supersede any other’s, and he ordered Gils to the Palace. He will commission you to do this, Eyja will verify it if you don‘t trust my word. I was telling the truth when I said I was his emissary.”

“Maxical, you’re like a buzzing gnat.”

“Gils was in perfect health not two weeks ago, Owyn. Captain Renault has done this to him, I hold her responsible for the condition he is in now.”

“You’re doing it again, shut up so I can think.”

“Sorry. My mind races when I‘m enraged.”



*

Cold towels, perfect for the bruises. Eyja is right, Uriel’s going to ream Maxical, but I’m glad she did it her way instead of Eyja’s way. Still, Uriel’s not going to give a damn about Maxical’s claim when his city is under siege and Malan’s around doing who knows what.

“We only wiped out one of Uriel’s defenses. Those Blades have no business even being considered one. We are his other major defense. I just hope he knows that.”

Be very afraid Uriel!

“Why?”
“Just in case the day comes when I need to take them down.”
"Wow, you’ve made a science out of killing!"

Wow, and she’s writing that down about you! You two might be buddies now, but she’s an assassin! I wouldn’t be cozy about an assassin writing anything down about me!

She knows every inch of his body and is still a virgin? how did she manage that? I know I read it a while back but it still baffles me!

“You know a lot about the law?” Eyja looked surprised.
“Yeah. I‘ve had to defend myself a lot, I’m always getting into trouble.”
Yup, that's our Maxical!

Loved the bit about Eyja keeping dossiers on everyone.

And Agronak resurfaces. Yikes!

“I just happen to be a tasty treat to eat while he sits on it.”
I still think old Malan is gonna get outsmarted by the enraged tasty treat.

“Maxical, you’re like a buzzing gnat.”

Maxical’s explanations to Eyja also reminded me how things work. She is really in a tough spot!


Uh oh, for a second I thought that Maxical might consider giving it up to Malan in some kind of bargain for Gils, since she’s already bargained herself away to Akatosh and C. Vile. And now they're going to ask the fake Foxy for advice!


Maxical and Eyja together are pure fun. I love how they both get a cheap shot in on Captain Renault whenever they can.


I just love Owyn! Scary that Agronak is back, and what a state Gils is in! And where is his stuff?! I’m glad Eyja has Maxical’s back in this situation!! I feel like I'm right there in the Bloodworks trying to figure it out!

I thought Maxical had given Agronak a good 'sploding a while back (accidentally of course).

I’m still a member, it is not an organization you can quit. except in a box, and I'm sure they have Necromancers for that eventuality.

Everyone thinks that Fathis is dead by now, so I'd guess he's about to reappear - after all, if Agronak can...

Gils is . . . no comment, but I love that picture of him, even thought I've seen it before. .

Cold towels=icy hot. And it appears that Maxical's sneak skill did not improve. Eyja's scolding came with good reason.

"Owyn said some crazy Orc that is related to Gils attacked him. He said it was a miracle Gils lived through it, then Captain Renault insisted she be the one to treat him.”

Agronak is back!

“But you’ll die if Malan drinks your blood!”

“Not if he mates with me first."

Woah, wait, huh? So Max and Malan are going to ?

Heh, I really liked your comment on how Khajiit are treated It makes the world feel more real...sorry, the little things are awesome.

They have [censored], [censored], and [censored] - stuff like that. They haven’t [censored]. (insert Owyn’s graphic hand gesture).

They what?... ... ... ... ...Oooohhhhh... ...

Excellent stuff!!...

Loved it...

Owyn makes me laugh... ...

Oooh, is Eyja going to be the one to work out that it's not Foxy?...Ooooh...Can't be long now... ...

What was that Baurus?...No? Nevermind...

Aaaamywho...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

*

@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC! You are so right, Eyja isn't someone you can fully trust as a friend, lol. I'd be nervous if an assassin said that to me while taking notes on me too, ROFL !! Thanks again, KC!

*
@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! I probably told you this on the first version of Maxical's story - Eyja takes over the keyboard, lol. She writes her own parts, and I love them! Thanks again, Acadian!

*
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! It started off with just that gauntlet slap from Maxical, but somehow kept growing, ROFL !! I love Owyn in game even. Because he is such a strong character in game, it means a lot to hear you like him in the story too - very kind words from you, Thank You Grits!

*
@ Ghastley - No, Agronak crawled out of those sewers within hours of the explosion (frightening Vicente when he did, lol). "Except in a box" - that had me rolling, lol. Thank you so much Ghastley!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - Yes, that screen is one of Victoria's wonderful modding work and photography - I fell in love with it on her thread and hung it over my desk to inspire me when writing Gils' parts. Victoria does AWESOME work! Will Malan and Max ? ROFL !!! I spewed my coffee everywhere when I saw that! Thank you so much Darkness!

*
@ Zalphon - I'm glad you liked that, Zalphon! Yeah, in my story Khajiit are suspected and assumed guilty by virtue of their tails and fur - and do NOT fare well in prisons, either. Thank you so much Z!

*
@ McBadgere - ROFL !! I am glad to see you coming back to us, McB! Thank you so much!


*

*


Chapter 161: Akatosh Responds To Getting Cursed Out



Owyn’s eyes were a myriad of conflicting emotions, but what caught my attention more than any of them was fear and an angry pain that had nothing to do with his physical injuries. Worse, his aura was giving off helplessness…or hopelessness.

Hopeless? Owyn was nearly as good a healer as Hannibal, but how many times had he cranked that fount? I had lost count, but it was more times than I’d ever heard it flushing on one person before. But hopeless?

With a sickening jolt it suddenly struck me that Owyn didn’t think Gils may make it till Hannibal could get here. Dear gods, did Owyn think Gils was dying?

“Whatever you’re thinking, Owyn…stop it! He was perfectly healthy just two weeks ago. He has amazing strength and willpower, Gils will overcome the odds against him just like he did the last time.” Owyn is wrong…he has to be, Gils couldn’t really be dying.

Owyn‘s expression was bleak, something I‘d never seen before. “You better get ready, Maxical. You’ve got nothing to bargain with this time, your life already belongs to Akatosh.”

“Akatosh owns my life, not my soul. If he’ll save Gils, I just vowed it to Clavicus Vile.”

“VILE! Are you crazy?”

“The Arcane taught that Vile just craves entertainment. According to Sir Damien, there is nothing more entertaining than Khajiit. I should be okay, I guess. And I vowed away enough children to fill the Arena. Akatosh only gets my firstborn. We Khajiit can sometimes pop out more than one baby in the same pregnancy.”

“TO VILE?”

“No, to any of the gods whose names popped into my head. Well, maybe to some of the Daedric Lords too, but the nicer ones like Azura. I was kind of tapping every resource. Gils has to live, Owyn. He will. Just look how quickly Akatosh swooped in to grab me and my firstborn when he saved Gils two months ago. Surely one of the other gods will jump on it too.”

“You better hope you don’t live to regret this, Maxical.”

“I won’t. Akatosh’s task will kill me next year before I have time to even squeeze out the firstborn child I promised him. My life span is down to months now, I'm promising children they will never get.”

Owyn stared hard at me without speaking, from the look in his eyes and for the first time since I’d met him I don‘t think he could speak. As tough as Owyn acted, he really cared about his fighters. There was no doubt he was hurting over Gils and my news shocked him.

“It could have happened any time in that Arena, Owyn. At least it will be for Gils and Uriel, not just Septims.”






***


I turned back to Gils and eased the sheet down, carefully inspecting the horrible scarring on Gils’ stomach…nearly vomiting when I realized how Gils must have suffered. His tattoo was completely gone, as if it was a patch someone had ripped off a shirt. The skin twisted grotesquely into an indentation over his left kidney that looked deep enough to reach his back.

A sudden thought stunned me. How could Gils have been attacked and my seal from Azura not instantly burned me alive? It should have been excruciating, and Azura should have appeared immediately when the attack started so she could guide me to his aid! She is supposed to name his attacker to me so I can hunt them down, why didn‘t she come to me?

I sat up, going over the last few days in my mind. The vampire juices only dulled the pain and burning, they wouldn’t have stopped Azura from coming to me. What could have interfered with the seal to the extent that Azura didn’t warn me Gils was being harmed and by who? Something wasn’t right about this.

Maybe for the first time the words Owyn had said began to sink into my consciousness. Agronak attacked him. Agronak. Days ago. Gils was eat up with disease…Renault was only giving them tablespoons of Cure Disease. Oh dear gods. Panic welled up inside me like vomit rising to my throat, I felt myself scrambling up from Gils‘ side without even knowing I was moving.

“How many days has it been, Owyn? I’ll run to the Palace and get Cure Disease right now, I’ll risk it! Please, put him back on the fount, Owyn!”

Owyn was shaking his head no, I saw his mouth moving but couldn’t hear the words. Instead the rushing sound of the void filled my ears like it had when Akatosh stopped time to warn Uriel.

Instead of the blackness of the void filling the room, I found myself inside a castle with fire all around me and the stench of dead and undead filling the air sickeningly. Arcs of blood and pieces of shredded flesh painted the sides of the walls as high as I could see…Crowhaven! Why was I here?

Agronak’s roar filled the air, chilling the blood in my veins into a gel. Suddenly I saw Gils running toward the balcony and scrambling over the railing, Agronak chasing right behind him roaring. Gils was dangling till Agronak smashed his hand. I heard Gils scream and his ankles shattering as he landed after falling from such a height. Somehow he stayed conscious through the pain, somehow.

Behind Gils the flames rose into an impenetrable wall of fire, keeping Agronak from following Gils as he dragged himself out of the chamber by crawling on his knees and elbows. One of his hands was dangling wrongly from the wrist, the fingers twisted and bent in odd angles. I ran after Gils calling his name, but he couldn’t hear me.






***


Outside Crowhaven Gils aimed toward the western cliffs, probably knew Agronak would search for him in the direction of Anvil. Gils sent himself into a tumble down the cliffside, then went airborne and landed in the river below.

I saw him go under, then suddenly I was below water with him; watching him struggling to try and reach the surface. With fractured ankles and a broken hand he had no hope to survive it. I screamed and screamed, watching him drowning in front of me and unable to stop what was happening to him. Then I heard my own voice begging Akatosh to save him…but wait! I hadn’t done that till days later, not till Gils came back to the Bloodworks!

There was no doubt Gils was dead, his body had sunk to the floor of the river and lay without movement…but Gils didn’t die in the river, he came back to the Bloodworks!

Suddenly a dragon larger than I’d ever imagined them to be came out of nowhere, swooping down in a nosedive through the deep water. It grasped Gils in one claw that completely engulfed him, and then suddenly I was on the banks of the river and watching as the dragon deposited Gils on the shore near me. It hovered over Gils, blowing a white cloud over him that looked like steam coming forcefully from his nostrils. I could feel its coolness in the air, healing magic of extraordinary power.

Water bubbled out of Gils’ mouth as if forced out, and then with a choking gasp he was struggling to breath again. Then the dragon turned his head toward me, his eyes glittering frighteningly as if he would devour me.

A man was running along the shoreline towards us, and when I looked around the dragon was gone. And then suddenly I was in the void, looking down into the Bloodworks and seeing a series of tiny glimpses of that month after Gils returned from Anvil…the month I spent rejecting Gils to try and work it out with Fathis. The last glimpse was at the music festival, me swearing marriage vows with Fathis in front of witnesses…invalidating my marriage to Gils.

Akatosh couldn’t have said it more clearly, he did save Gils like he promised. Gils died in that river. Somehow Akatosh fulfilled my promise before I made it. The dragon god of time, he knew it would happen before it did. But my rejection of Gils and marriage to Fathis brought an end to Akatosh’s share of the vow. I bought Gils two months of life and wasted it pushing him away. I felt sick to my stomach.

But Akatosh considered me still bound by my half of the vow, that was clear too. In a blink I found myself in some ancient crypt-like place with marble walls and floors. It reeked of stale air as if it hadn’t been opened for ages.

In front of me Uriel Septim stood alone, dear gods what was he doing alone in a place like this? Where was his guard? I hurried forward calling his name, but before I could reach him a panel moved in the wall behind him and men in crimson armor poured through it. I screamed, but Uriel didn’t hear.

His expression showed surprise a second before the tip of a blade poked through his robe just over the heart. A cough of blood spurted out of Uriel’s mouth followed by a slow pulsing stream of it, choking and strangling his last rasping breaths.

He crumpled in slow motion, the hilt of a long dagger plunged deeply beneath his left shoulder blade stuck out of his back. By the time I reached him he was dead, dying alone in this horrid place. They had struck him from behind, not even giving him a chance to defend himself!

“COWARDS!” I screamed, but the assassins didn’t hear me. I felt the same sickening helplessness that Owyn had given off looking at Gils, not being able to stop what was happening.






***


Uriel would die alone if I wasn’t there, no doubt. But what about Gils, was he dying again now, while I stood by helpless?

Inside me was a frailty I’d never known before today when I was kneeling over the crusted bloodstain where Fathis lay dying while Malan stripped him, a weakness that would consume me if I lost Gils now too. I could feel it shaking the foundation of every part of me already, just from the fear I might be losing Gils. How could I be there for Uriel if Gils died?

“Dear gods please don’t take Gils from me too. Please save him again, Akatosh! Please! I won‘t survive it if you don‘t.” I whispered into the void.

There was no answer from Akatosh, instead I heard Uriel saying the words he’d spoken to me right after Akatosh froze time the night before.

“Every bit of rage and pain you have inside is a resource, tap it at will to push you beyond your own strength and do whatever is needed. Funnel that rage and pain into thought and action.”

“I can’t, Uriel…Akatosh, I can’t do it. Not with the pain, I just can’t do it.“

Even as the words were leaving my mouth a feeling of numbness began creeping over my mind, encasing it like a shield. It felt like going into shock.

The rushing sound of the void receded as quickly as it came, and I was back in the Bloodworks storage room sitting beside Gils. I could hear Owyn and Eyja whispering on the other side of the crates. What just happened? Was it all a dream?

I felt weak, sore and tired. I hadn’t healed since the melee, my face and arms felt like they‘d been through a masher. I curled on the floor so I could feel Gils’ breath on my face and immediately had to move. For the first time since I’d met him Gils’ breath reeked. It was putrid, like decaying flesh.

Instead I squirmed carefully up against his back, casting Eyja’s spell to remove my clothes so I could feel him against me. It was the first time since Gils started me that I was able to lay curled up against him and taste the moonsugar so sweet on my tongue. It was a greater pleasure than I’ve ever known, Azura’s seal blessing our marriage.

My purring from being close to Gils deepened and got louder as the moonsugar filled my mouth. I could feel the tension in Gils body relaxing from it, but not his mind. There was an intangible feeling that an impenetrable barrier was between us in his mind, like he was locked away somewhere in there…or locking me out.

None of this made sense. I know what his goals were just two weeks ago. He was healthy and strong, happy and in love with me. There was no doubt in my mind what we had was truth, love. Two weeks couldn’t change him this much…but it had.


*

Love the chapter title!

I’m with Owyn, Maxical how can even you be so foolish? I hope she hasn’t damned herself for eternity.

Wow! Maxical’s realization that she was never burned by the seal was stunning! What does this mean for her? Where they never bound? Is this not Gils? Is Malan doing something? Gils couldn’t have been turned into a vampire without her knowing it could he?

So Akatosh saved Gils from the water, way back in Anvil. And then Maxical sees Uriel’s end!

What a sad but sweet (sorry) ending.

‘Owyn’s eyes were a myriad of conflicting emotions, but what caught my attention more than any of them was fear and an angry pain that had nothing to do with his physical injuries.’
What a magnificent opening line!

I love Maxical’s ‘bargaining’ with the gods. It was quite humorous until you turned it deadly serious again with this:
“I won’t. Akatosh’s task will kill me next year before I have time to even squeeze out the firstborn child I promised him. My life span is down to months now, I'm promising children they will never get.”

Her vision was cool as can be! And so mysterious! I loved the nod to the game’s future as Maxical watched Uriel cut down by assassins. One thought that strikes me is that perhaps Gils has been turned to vampirism – between Agronak and all the other bloodsuckers down there. I’ll just have to see though.

Awesome title!


This is especially grim, given that Owyn has pretty much seen it all. Maxical’s reasoning tugs the heart, she’s promising away the future she doesn’t even hope to have. Also a beautiful example of Maxical thinking.

Wow, Akatosh came through with a powerful vision! Eyja’s spell was handy but a lot less fun than it would have been with a healthy Gils. Like Acadian, I suspect some vampire/undead issue might be interfering with Azura’s seal, but I'll have to wait and see!

The ending was both sweet and sad with Maxical and Gils curled up together as they should be and yet still so terribly apart.

None of this made sense.

When Maxical starts thinking this, you know I have no chance!

Wow... ...

That was amazing stuff...

Sooo sad and intimate and heartbreaking and stuff, yet epic and huge and Divinely stunning at the same time...

Your writing is amazing...I am most definately in awe...*Bows down*...

Erm...



Whut?!! ...

Nooooooo!!!...

And on that bombshell...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

So just when Maxical thought she would go Vile, Akatosh paid her a visit. The mystery of the seal is a good twist.


WOAH! Gils is a vampire!? Or not. But it is heavily implied here. Death, bloodworks?


Ah, the well-known fate of Uriel Septim! Good work here and what better than a Divine-given dream?

Like Acadian and Grits, I do believe we may be seeing a vampiric Gils! Maxical has no choice but to convert now! Hahaha!

Joking.

Nits:

"The Arcane taught that Vile just craves entertainment. According to Sir Damien, there is nothing more entertaining than Khajiit."

I might be wrong, but there should be an "a" in between "than" and "Khajiit".

*

@ King Coin - Thank you so much, KC! The moonsugar on her tongue proves she was bound and it was the real Gils, and there is def something wrong that she didn't know he was attacked. You nailed it on one of your guesses though. Malan has done something. The next several chapters will reveal exactly what Malan did. Thanks again, KC !!

*
@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! Maxical knew she was promising children she wouldn't be alive to produce, but in her desperation to save Gils she would have done it even if she wasn't facing Dagon within a year. She didn't think far enough ahead though, if she knows she is making empty promises, the gods and Daedric Lords probably do too.

Thanks again, Acadian, especially for your understanding of what one tiny girl will do for someone she loves as Buffy proved when she faced Kvatch for Matias.

*
@ Grits - Your comments are always spot on to what I hoped would come across, and always get right to the heart of what I am trying to show that Maxical is. That means so much, you are so appreciated! Thank you so very much Grits!!!

*
@ Ghastley - Darn, I was hoping that vision wouldn't be too confusing! Urk! The scene in Crowhaven happened to Gils (in Chapter 53, page 23). Maxical wasn't there when Gils was attacked in Crowhaven, Gils was alone there.

Akatosh's vision just showed Maxical what really happened to Gils that day so she would realize (Akatosh kept his vow to save Gils).

Akatosh then showed Maxical that her own actions (rejecting Gils and marrying Fathis) ended Akatosh's responsibility to keep Gils alive.

Akatosh then showed Maxical what will happen to Uriel if she doesn't keep her end of the vow to him, Uriel will die alone.

Thank you so much Ghastley!

*
@ McBadgere - Yeah, Maxical's task for Akatosh/Uriel is to be beside him when Mehrunes Dagon attacks Cyrodiil, she doesn't think she will live through that so is counting down the days till he comes as her last days on Nirn. Thank you so much McB, so great to have you back on here !!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - Thank you so much Darkness! Yeah, Maxical may have ticked off Akatosh by cursing him and turning to Vile, ROFL !!!

On the "Khajiit" - I didn't use the "a Khajiit" because that may have been confused as just her (when she was referring to Khajiit as the race itself).

It also is meant to denote the difference between the way the Khajiit speak and humans do. (like in game how they say "this one doesn't like mudcrabs." when referring to themselves)

What you asked about a couple chapters ago is about to happen, Malan is about to take center stage and wreak havoc with that Palace. You will get to see a lot of his POV in the upcoming chapters, lol. Hope you like it, and thank you so much again Darkness!!!

*

*


** The screenshot of Gils is actually an elf modded and captured on film by the Awesome Victoria. I keep screens of my characters on hand as inspiration when I'm writing their roles. Since I saw this screen on Victoria's thread I have used it as Gils when writing his parts, it hangs over my desk next to Colin Firth's (the model for Jakben Imbel). She has a lot of inspiring characters she has modded, and her talent for taking screens is unsurpassed.

You can find more of her wonderful photo work and gorgeous mods at this link:


http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?showto...263&st=1080


*




Chapter 162: Making Pacts With Devils





Gils:

http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images0...9a4cd2b0a/l.jpg



Gils & Maxical’s song:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctc73dDUr1o





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



I didn’t know if Gils could even hear me, but I talked softly into his hair…just whispering bits of memories that had been important to us. The day we met, he‘d walked out of the bathing room naked and stood staring at me. I’d never seen a man’s sword before, pointed at it and asked what that was. Gils said he fell in love with me that day.

Told him how I loved the smell of brandy on his breath, the taste of it on his mouth when he kissed me…my first kiss, there on the banks of the Rumare where later that night we swore our marriage vows. I’ll remember that night forever.

Talked about the day he came back from Anvil and serenaded Pork Chop. That was the night I swore myself to Akatosh to save him. How he bought that mansion in Anvil, he said we’d live in it and fill it with little Dun-jiit babies.

Gils’ eyes stared vacantly in front of him, they weren’t closed but I didn’t know if he could actually see anything. Just in case, I held my hand up in front of his face to show his wedding ring on my finger.

“Remember how you got me this wedding ring by catching slaughterfish Gils? The Jewel of the Rumare. Azura blessed our marriage twice, Gils. I’m the only one that can ever have your mysteries, and I‘m bound to you by her seal. I can‘t live apart from you, Gils. I’ve suffered terribly without you this past two weeks. Please don’t ever let us be separated again, Gils. I can’t take the pain of us being apart. I love you, Gils.”

There was an intangible feeling that he wasn’t there, like a wall was between us…no, it was more than that. It was like he literally wasn’t there beside me.

“Captain Renault knew I was alive, Gils. She lied to you because she wanted you for herself. Everyone said she was trying you. If you gave to her, I‘ll forgive whatever you‘ve done if you just come home to me. You are my husband and the only one I want to be with. I love you Gils, I always will.”






***


An eerie feeling of being watched hung in the air around me as I lay beside Gils, and not someone I trusted like Owyn. My first thought was Captain Renault sneaking up on me, maybe wanting retribution. My instincts raised immediately, the fur bristled on my arms and the back of my neck. My ears were already swiveling, searching for a sound that didn’t belong. The Life Detect ring from Eyja showed nothing but her and Owyn sleeping on the other side of the crates, but I was positive someone was there.

Then it hit me. Malan. Probably guarding my blood, and without a doubt if Gils had been healthy and mounted me Malan would have killed us both by now. Without a doubt.

Maybe the only reason he was letting me have this moment with Gils was that he knew, like Owyn did. Like I’d sensed the minute I saw Gils walk into the bathing room. Gils was dying. My mind screamed over and over again, Don’t you dare let him die, Akatosh! But even as I formed the words in my mind, I knew.

I never slept, just stroked Gils’ hair and told him over and over how much I loved him…how much everyone did, that everywhere in Cyrodiil people knew him as Gils the singer. I didn’t sing to him, but whispered the words to our song; the song that everyone said they fell in love to.


Lay beside me
Tell me what they've done
Speak the words I want to hear
To make my demons run
The door is locked now
But it's open if you're true
If you can understand the me
Then I can understand the you

Lay beside me under wicked sky
Through black of day, dark of night
We share this pair of lives
The door cracks open
But there's no sun shining through

Come lay beside me
This won't hurt, I swear
She loves me not
She loves me still
But she'll never love again
She lay beside me
But she'll be there when I'm gone
Dead sure she'll be there

Lay beside me, tell me what I've done
The door is closed, so are your eyes
But now I see the sun.

What I've felt, what I've known
So sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there
'Cause I'm the one who waits,
The one who waits for you




***


At first I thought something I said had reached Gils, his cheek and hair on the pillow were damp. I cast a low light spell and sat up to look. It wasn‘t tears, it was a yellowish green fluid seeping from the corners of his eyes and nostrils. A thin line of it drizzled from his mouth. He started tossing and jerking as if he was having a nightmare, mumbling something unintelligible.

Then suddenly it was like a dam broke. Sweat poured from him like a river flooding, and that greenish yellow liquid seemed to ooze from every pore of his body. The jerking became violent shaking, and it sounded like he was trying to say something but all that came out was a gurgling. Inside me was a terror like I’ve never known.

“OWYN!” I tried to hold Gils tight, but his seizing was so violent I couldn’t keep a grip on him.

“OWYN! AKATOSH, HELP! CLAVICUS, PLEASE HELP ME! OWYN!”

I reached my arm up to cast a stronger light spell and froze. The outside wall of the room was surrounded by giant pink glows…Malan’s army! I cast the light quickly, but no one was there. Either the Life Detect was showing them through the outer wall or they were in here with us but invisible.

When I looked back at Gils my blood curdled in my veins. Fangs! His eyes looked wild, crazed like a feral rabid dog…dear gods, or like Lord Lovidicus’s had that day at Crowhaven.

“OH CRAP!” Owyn shoved me out of the way, grabbing Gils. “GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! HE SMELLS YOUR BLOOD!“






***


I don’t know if I tried to walk, it felt like my feet were rooted into the stone floor. My mind felt like it had gone numb, frozen and unable to comprehend what it was supposed to be doing.

“EYJA! GET HER OUT OF HERE!” Owyn shouted, and immediately she was there. I felt her pulling me through the gap in the stack of crates.

“OH CRAP!” I heard Owyn’s shout as Gils broke loose from him and came barreling toward me and Eyja. Then suddenly it was as if he ran into a brick wall.

The invisible pink forms of Malan’s giants appeared from nowhere, blocking Gils from getting to Eyja and me. They grabbed Gils and began dragging him toward the door.

“DON’T KILL HIM, PLEASE MALAN! PLEASE DON’T KILL HIM!” I screamed it over and over.

“What the hell just happened?” Eyja shook me hard.

“Leave me alone! MALAN, DON‘T! MALAN!”

“They’re gone, Maxical!” She shook me hard again. “Now what is going on?”

“Gils…was having a nightmare. Malan’s army took him away. Please gods don’t let him die. Akatosh, please keep your vow to me…please! Clavicus, please help Gils.”

Eyja smacked my face hard and shook me till it felt like my head might fly off.

“OW! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP!”

“You sounded like you were going into shock. That was no nightmare, Maxical! I know a vampire when I see one, Gils has been turned!“

“You’re damn right he is!” Owyn wedged through the crates. “I need Cure Disease now, look what he’s done to me!” He had several claw marks on his face and neck where Gils had fought to get free.

“Both of you go in the other room, please! I need to be alone. And don‘t tell anyone out there about Gils!” I literally shoved them out of the storage room and wedged the shield under the door.

My legs crumbled under me and I felt myself sliding down the wall as if in slow motion, just repeating over and over, “Malan, please promise me you won’t kill him. Don’t let him die, please Akatosh? You promised! Clavicus, I only vowed my soul if you save Gils…please save him, please!”






***


A visible vapor rolled across the room toward me, then the pink glow of a man appeared. Malan stepped out of the middle of the vapor like he‘d rode in on a magic carpet. He squatted in front of me, lifting my chin up to look into his face.

“Your seal from Azura would tell you if we meant him harm. The wrath would come, remember?”

“No, something’s wrong with my seal, Malan. Gils was attacked by that Orc days ago, I didn’t even know it! And Azura never came to me, either, I‘d never have known had I not come here. Please, swear it to me that you or your army won’t kill him…please, Malan.”

“You have my promise, Lass. Dagoth-Malan, nor his army will touch him. But I don’t have to tell you the lad is dying, you know it. I doubt he‘ll last the night.” Malan sat beside me on the floor, scooping me against him.

“Thank you. Malan, I don’t understand what happened to him. I talked to him, but he wasn’t there, it was like he was locked away from me. I could feel him through some kind of barrier but couldn‘t reach him.”

“I was reading his mind, he heard everything you said. He knew what was happening to him, knew he was dying. He knew what he’d become, Lass.”

“But how can he be dying? How can someone who was strong and healthy two weeks ago get this ill? Hannibal said you were a great physician once, please…can you tell me what happened to him?”

“Aye, he’s strong all right. Willpower like I’ve never seen. It’s a miracle he lasted this long after that attack, Maxical. You saw his injuries, that Orc did internal damage that couldn’t sustain life. Only a healer like Traven or Owyn could have saved him, and then only if they got to him right away. Captain Renault pulled rank on Owyn, ordered him not to touch the lad. She said she‘d treat him.”






***


His words sank in, and I remembered Owyn saying the same thing…but that was before I knew it had caused Gils’ death. A rage like I’ve never known choked in my throat, and I struggled to sit up.

“He had mortal wounds, and she refused to let Owyn treat him? She knew she couldn’t heal, she outright killed him! Why? Why would she kill Gils when she wanted him so badly?”

“You answered your own question, Lass. That Captain Renault is power hungry and enjoys a bit of torture as you‘ve seen from her bedroom. He needed healing and a cure for that disease. She held the healing over his head for her own gain.”

Malan grabbed me as I was surging up and held me tightly in his arms so I couldn’t leave. His voice was soothing in my ear, but did little to calm the rage in me.

“Shh now. If you have a hand in it, it’ll be the murder that will bring the Dark Brotherhood to your bedside. Now what do you want Dagoth-Malan to do about her?”

“There has to be a legal defense if I kill her!”

“You‘d need proof, Lass. She’s Captain of Uriel’s Elite Guard, you‘d be put to death.”

“He suffered and is dying because of her, Malan. I want his death burned into her soul so she’ll know when she dies it was for what she did to him, and I want my name on it.”

“Listen to me, Lass. Let Dagoth-Malan give her a taste of what she put your man through. I’ll have my army bring her to the lair of that Orc that attacked Gils, let him handle it. I’ll see she’s told it’s for causing Gils’ death, tell her you send your regards.“

“I…I can’t say to do it, or I’ll be legally responsible. And I don’t want to be beholden to you, Malan.”

He rumbled a low laugh before answering. “I‘m just a disgruntled friend of yours and Gils. It’ll be done without your say or knowledge.”

“Thank you, Malan.”


*

First paragraph made me smile. What a nice (and funny!) memory to review. It gets sad from there though. What has happened to Gils?

What’s going on? He’s a vampire!! As sad as this is going to be for Maxical, I have to appreciate the horrific description of the transformation. What will happen now? I’m so glad Owyn was there to take control when Maxical was shocked out of her wits. And Malan shows up to take advantage… I hate seeing Malan use her like this…

What a bittersweet collection of memories Maxical quietly voices to Gils. We come to realize he is dying. When the fangs appeared, you had done such a good job that, although we didn’t want it to be so, it was not a surprise.

Eyja and Owyn are good friends to Maxical.

What Malan says about Renault is supported by Owyn. Yes, turn the orc loose on her and let her know why. Of course, Maxical doesn’t cue on the fact that Gils would likely not have been turned without Malan’s direction. He is stunningly complex in a dastardly charming way. Poor sweet Maxical is no match for him.

Oh, poor Maxical pouring her heart out, and it’s just too late. That moment when she realized that what she thought might be tears is really not was just chilling. I thought that Gils’ transformation was very well done. As Acadian said, you gave us enough warning that it made sense, but it was still gripping because that’s Maxical’s man!! Also it was gross enough to do justice to what a horrifying event it was, but not so yucky as to be distracting.

Yikes, Gils attacking and Malan’s invisible army all around made me want to turn on all the lights! Eyja and Owyn were awesome. When the chips are down you can count on Eyja to slap you silly, whether or not you really need it.


Argh!! Malan!! He had Maxical in his lap before she could blink. He is the master manipulator!!

Why oh why must good people die? Oh yeah, because it makes for an interesting story Please continue!

Fair dues, all Maxical seems to have been doing since I started here is try to find Gils, and now...Blimey ...That was a shocker!...

A pretty intense and heavy episode, expertly done...

I just hope Owyn gets that Cure Disease soon!... ...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Yay! You will keep your promise about Malan . Don't get me wrong, I love Maxical too! .



So, Gils is a vampire! Oh my . . .things are about to go down! The transformation scene was gritty and otherwise excellent! Props to you! I loved it! You offered some nice humor here where Eyja once again slaps poor Maxical . . .again!

Grits is so right, Malan is a hardcore manipulative dude, and he does it with flawless skill. It will take more than just Maxical to take him out, or perhaps she will have the courage to do it and face him alone .

Oh and some crazy metallica song, there! , good song! Overall, good update. You gave us some interesting twists and turns, and the undeath of Gil's, which kicks major "boat".

*

@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC! That scene with Gils was very hard to write, he has been one of my fave characters in the story. Malan will do what he does best with Maxical - manipulate and use her to his own benefit. He has power over her as Arbiter, and she has a history with him that makes her trust him despite what she knows of him; but she's about to see the other side. That should wake her up. Thanks again, KC !!!

*
@ Acadian - You said something in your comment that was prophetic for what is coming up - and you were exactly right. Malan def had something to do with Gils' condition. Not just that he ordered Gils' death that day war broke out that day in the Arena, but since then he's realizing his dream of that Palace and is making his move now. Gils didn't fit into his plans at all.

Your last sentence made my whole week, and that was hard to do this week! That means tons to hear, that is exactly how I hope Malan comes across - Thank You so very much !!!!!

*
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! You had me in hysterics with this line:



I was having the week from hell and really needed a laugh and you really gave it to me with that sentence, ROFL !! Your kind words are so appreciated, and I felt the same way you said in writing that episode - it is Maxical's man. That chapter was excrutiating to write because of that. I doubt I could ever have done justice to what she would have been feeling (had she not had the assistance of Akatosh giving her that blessed numbing). Thank you so much Grits, You ROCK !!!

*
@ Zalphon - I liked Gils a lot, it was really hard to do that to him - Thank you so much Z !!!

*
@ McBadgere - Thank you so much McB! For someone who rocks intense scenes, it meant a lot to hear those kind words from you!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - You said it right, it will take a lot more than Maxical to take Malan down. He didn't live centuries to be taken down by a green girl, lol. Your words on Malan always make my day, you are the resident expert on vampires and it is so appreciated when you give me a thumbs up! Thank you so very much Darkness!

*

*


Chapter 163: Aftermath And Revelation



“I feel like crying, but can’t. I don’t know why. My brain feels numb.” My whisper echoed back to me off the stone wall.

First Fathis, then Gils. It felt like in two weeks my life had been wrenched from me by this war. I was separated from everyone I’d ever been close to, uprooted...and devastated. But either I had run out of tears or Akatosh had done something to block the painful memories from my mind. All I felt now was rage and an icy numbness.

“You’ll mourn him when the shock is gone and the memories are all you have. I can see what’s in your heart. You love deep, Lass. Khajiit are like us ancients that way. It’s the beast in us both that feels things deeper than humans can.”

“Malan…er…”

“You’ve got a favor to ask Dagoth-Malan. Tell me what it is.”

“I don’t want anyone knowing what happened to Gils here tonight or at the end. I want his memory free from that taint so I can bury him with honor. Can you erase it from anyone’s mind that knows? Everyone except Captain Renault, since she caused it. She needs to remember for eternity that she was killed for what she did to Gils.“

Malan nodded his approval. “Aye, I’ll do that. Funerals are very expensive, Lass. Will you need funds? Dagoth-Malan is very wealthy.”

“No, but thank you for the offer. I don’t like being beholden to anyone. No burials are being done till the war ends, anyway. When it does, I’ll have my own funds. I’ve saved everything I’ve ever earned, it should be plenty for a funeral.”

Malan looked thunderstruck. “What were you saving for?”

“To buy back my golden armor. It was a gift from Fathis.”

Malan looked like a memory struck him suddenly. “Ach, the Golden Armor. How could I forget ‘twas yours? I remember the Courier calling you the ‘Mystery Owner‘, piquant humor that was. Dagoth-Malan may yet add that armor to his collection.”

I stared at him dumbly. “Humor? I don’t get it.”






***


His eyes quickly concealed a flash of mischief before he answered. “It’s a private joke. Are you wanting Dagoth-Malan to make a gift of it to you?”

“No, of course not! I refuse to be indebted to you, Malan. Anyway, Gils and I had already planned to use those funds for something else.”

“What of the arrangements you’ll need to make, won’t you be wanting my army to bring Gils to you when the time comes?”

The thought of Gils‘ body being brought to me left an ill feeling in my stomach and I felt the numbness creeping across my mind to dull it. Once again I wondered if Akatosh somehow blocked my mind from being overwhelmed by painful memories.

“Oh. Can you do that for me, Malan? I’ll have to get a coffin first, I couldn’t stand to see Gils’ body and it not be alive. His jewelry was gone, but I want his sheath and sword to keep.”

“You’ll have it as you wish. You just reminded me of something. Unless you particularly want to select the coffin yourself, I know of one that can be had for free. It was originally made for a member of the royal family in Daggerfall, and is luxurious.”

“Is it…er...yours?”

“Nae, Lass. Knowing how averse you are over being beholden to me, I’d not have offered it if it was mine.”

I eyed him suspiciously out of my one eye that still opened, but he didn’t blink. “How can one that nice be free?”

“Don’t worry, it will cost me nothing to obtain. An enterprising Thieves Guild member stole it out of the shop before they could deliver it to the Palace. Greywyn Blenwyth beat me to the fence and purchased it for 2,000 Septims. It was delivered just as war broke out, and has not been slept in or even uncrated yet. I planned to steal it from him just for fun, it will give me joy to donate it.”

“Because the burial will be public and he’ll read the description of the coffin in the Black Horse Courier?”

“You’re a bright one, Lassie.”

I glanced up at him quickly before answering, oddly surprised. Sir Damien had said those exact words earlier.

“Then no. I don’t want Gils’ grave desecrated by Blenwyth wanting his coffin back.”

“Ach, you’re right, Lass. Thoughtless of me.”






***


“Where is Gils?”

“I’ll tell you where they’re taking him only if you give your word not to go seeking him there. He‘s not right in the head anymore Lass. He’ll be as dangerous as Lovidicus and the Orc. That whole line is tainted. When I was making my ancient line I avoided any connections that led to Lovidicus, wouldn’t chance it.”

“I won’t seek him, Malan. I want to remember the Gils I knew…but I want to know.”

“My army is taking him to a cabin on the mainland, a nice little place. It’s set back in the woods. He‘ll have food and a bed, and my army will guard till the end. It belongs to that Jenseric fellow Seridur accused of killing that girl a month or so back.”

“Seridur killed that girl.”

“I know. Not just her, he killed many. You ever swim in the southern end of the Rumare where the Red Ring Road bridge is, off the eastern shore you’ll find an old Ayleid ruin underwater. It’s filled with the skeletons of girls he killed.”

I made a mental note to tell Uriel about that. “When will your army take Captain Renault?”

“She’s already gone, Lass.” He curled a finger under my chin and lifted my face to his. “They took her out that same side door you ran into earlier when you escaped from me. We need to talk about that.”

“Oh.” I averted my eyes from his and turned my head away when he released my chin, then quickly changed the subject.

“Er…where is the Orc‘s lair? I may want to blow it up with him in it one day.”

“The Orc is holed up in a very little known section of tunnels built by Jagar Tharn himself as an escape route from the Palace in case his illusion was discovered.”

“The Palace! Can he access the Palace through it?”

“He could, but I have some of my army nested there so he can‘t cross. Vampires can‘t enter an ancient‘s lair, their nature stops them as if an invisible barrier was up. They can feel it, but not fight it. There is another tunnel into the Palace that comes out on the upper floors, he hasn’t found that one yet. I’ve already set a nest up there too. Uriel may consider me an enemy to the throne, but as I told you before my army is at his service.”

“You want the throne.”

“Aye, no denying that; but I’ll not kill Uriel to get it. The gods will be taking him in his own time, I can’t change the path they’ve laid out for him. When you consider I’ve waited centuries already, there’s but a blink left before Dagon comes for him. I can‘t change his destiny, Lass.”






***


My head ached from all that had happened, from everything I was trying to remember to tell Uriel. And from Malan. He looked me in the eye, seemingly talking candidly. Everything about his body language said he was being truthful. But Uriel said he was an uncanny con. Would he really sit here and blithely tell me secrets? I’m not sultry like Eyja, so why was he telling me all this?

“I’m in over my head, Malan. I don’t know who to believe or trust. Uriel said you are the greatest con imaginable, uncanny. You’ve always seemed so kind and good when I meet you, but I know your history and inclination. I don’t know why you’re being so friendly to me, but I have to protect Uriel at all costs.”

“Now don’t go trying to arouse me again, Dagoth-Malan is off his game from that kiss of fire you gave when you escaped me. You immobilized me with it. I need to know what you did to me.” He lifted my chin up to his face, watching me closely. I couldn‘t read the look in his eyes so averted mine.

“Er…uh…huh?”

He stroked the underside of my chin almost absentmindedly while he answered, the caress at odds with his words that sent shivers of fear down my spine. “Maxical, this Bloodworks is sealed tighter than a drum. Did it stop my whole army from entering and taking what they wished?” He released my chin and pointed at the Detect Life ring Eyja had given me. “Did you see any of us here till we wanted you to?”

“I didn’t see you till you came out of that vapor. You mean you can’t be detected when you’re a vapor? But how did you get in then? Through the vent windows?”

“We can come in crevices smaller than those vents. We could fill that Palace and no one would know till we wanted them to. But before you panic, listen. I give you my vow that I’ll guard Uriel from every enemy except Dagon. That fight is between him and the gods and there is nothing any of us can do to save him from it. He knows that.”

“Your army is in the Palace? They’ll kill me for my blood!”

“My army is the most disciplined on Nirn. When you crawled up on the mezzanine to Fathis did they harm you?“

“No. They kept me from falling, even though I‘d just torched a raft of them…but why?”

“Because you are under my protection, and they know it.”

“You mean my blood is under your protection, right?”

“Your blood is a part of you.”

“Why me?”

“Now that I can’t tell you.”






***


“Malan, when I’m no longer wafting virgin blood around will all this stop? I just want to feel safe.”

“Whoever took it would be dead, could you live with that on your conscience?”

“I don’t understand, Malan. Am I just in your territory so my blood falls under your jurisdiction or something?”

“Maxical, you read people through their eyes. Look into mine and tell me what you see there.”

“No! Vicente used some kind of hypnotism on me when I looked in his eyes.”

“I know, he just barely escaped with his life for that. Then will you take my promise?”

“No. Just tell me, why do you help me? Why do you protect me?”

“It’s what I told you earlier, my nature sees things beyond your mortal realm’s capability. We have a connection, you’ve felt it.”

“Like we were bonded ages ago?”

Malan nodded. “Aye, we were bonded ages ago. Humans only see the bodies people wear for brief moments in time. Ancients, we see the souls and remember them for eternity.”

“I don’t know what to believe, Malan. You make me feel safe and secure when you’re around me, while everything I know of you says it is deceit. For all I know you could be using some powerful vampire charm over me.”

“Are you saying you find Dagoth-Malan charming, Lass?“ When no laugh came Malan tapped his finger on Fathis’s wedding ring. “Vampire charm can’t pass that ring you wear. You’re safe from it.”

“I am? Well that makes me feel better…I think.”

Malan tipped my face up to his again. “Let me heal you, Lass. It’s hurting you each breath and your eyes are almost swollen shut. Lay down here.” He indicated the two mats pushed together that Owyn and Eyja had used.

“No, you might get ideas! Anyway, those mattresses are filthy. And I can’t go back to mine, it’ll remind me…I don’t want to ever remember Gils like that again.”

“Just don’t start challenging me with battle talk, you’ll be safe enough with me.”

“Huh? Is that a joke?”

“’Tis as much a joke as the last time I said it. You have my promise you’ll be safe from me tonight. Dagoth-Malan won‘t kill you, and that kiss you gave earlier robbed my ability to do what’s needed to keep from it. Since you’ve changed the conversation every time I’ve asked about it, we’ll discuss that another time. There now, my cloak is clean and will cover both mats easily.” He proceeded to pull a richly heavy greatcloak with many capes and an inner lining of thick velvet from seemingly nowhere and spread it out over the mats.

His eyes showed no guile, and I was exhausted. Every injury I’d gotten in the melee ached excruciatingly. Hannibal said Malan was a better physician than himself. I shrugged off the warning bells in my mind and crawled onto his cloak, pulling the soft velvet lining over to cover me.


*

Maxical sure has been through a lot. She thinks Fathis is dead and now Gils is a vampire. I’m not surprised she’s numb. When she finally realizes who did this to her, she’s going to let him have it!

It a small relief that Maxical’s refusing gifts from Malan. He’s doing everything he can to get her. This can’t all be about blood, can it?

Another clue that Malan is impersonating Damien! And Maxical noticed! If Malan follows through on his plan, the time after Uriel’s death will be very exciting. Both Malan and Dagon coming in to take over.

Malan’s too good at this for Maxical. She knows she shouldn’t trust him and yet she still does. She even ignored her instincts to not allow him to heal her. I’m sure he’ll heal her up just fine, but there will be more to it than that.

Malan is playing into Maxical’s shock, grief and needs like the master of deception that he is. As smooth as the velvet of his great cloak, that one. Like KC, I was pleased to see Maxical cue on the Ancient’s Foxish slip of words. We are all screaming for her to heed her warning bells but, given her state of mind, she is acting exactly as her nature dictates. I can imagine how difficult this is for you to write, and I applaud the vulnerability and confused thinking you are allowing her to share with us. What testimony to your skill that we are all biting our nails in worry for Maxical!

Argh, so close!! Of course I wanted Maxical to jump up and claw Malan, but being a virgin widow of two husbands is just too much for her right now. She crawled into that velvet cape like it was some soft childhood comfort. With all of the action and grief that has been going on, these quiet scenes between Malan and Maxical are mesmerizing! What a great chapter!

Oooh...Pass me a bloody stake will ya?!... ...

Aaamywho...Fantastic writing...Brilliant stuff!!...

An interesting line in headfracking there...Manipulation is the word of the day!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

*Stares at mALX*

I really like this Dagoth Malan fellow... He's villainous, but certainly an interesting fellow. Is it bad to be rooting for him?

My pleasure, mALX! You've been a great friend here in the forums!

Zalphon: No, it isn't wrong. I root for him too!

Ah, my favorite toys; deception and manipulation. Malan's dialogue with Maxical was chilling to the bone, and sprinkled with some seductive touches.



I LOVE THIS! Maxical still denies Malan . . . but I wonder for how long? The dialogue is superb and you did not fail with the mysteries. Still shocked about Gils though .

And all this time, Fathis is alive, and Maxical doesn't know it. Damien is alive and is not Malan, and Maxical doesn't know it. Gils is curable, but Maxical doesn't quite believe it

All we need is a credible direct threat to Uriel, and she's going to go ballistic, and accidentally do the right thing again.

*

@ King Coin - You are very correct. Yes, Malan wants her blood (of course) - but that is not what this is all about. He has other plans (plots) involving Maxical that have nothing to do with her. Malan will never do anything unless it is part of a plot that will avail him, and every action has consequences in the most places possible. (He never hurts just one person if he can hurt three or more with one move).

Maxical will learn faster once he starts showing his true colors. Right now it is hard when all she sees is him being nice to her (when she desperately needs that from someone).

You are so appreciated KC, Thank you so very much !!!!

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@ Acadian - This was so nice, you really understand! And you are right, it is hard to show the vulnerability in Maxical. Suffering major loss for the first time has opened up weaknesses that enemies like Malan can and will exploit till she starts applying what Uriel tells her, (what she should know to do from being an Arena fighter). Right now the power they have over her is overwhelming, and the danger she's placing herself and Uriel in is about to (hit the fan). Thank you so very much Acadian !!!

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! You were so right about the 'childhood comfort'. As badly as Maxical has needed that solace, unfortunately Malan is the only one that brings it. Makes it hard to for her to see him as the enemy right now. I am so glad you liked the quiet moments - there is a chemistry there when writing them that flows from the keyboard without effort. I like them too, but worry they'll get too boring for others, lol. Thank you so much again, Grits! You ROCK !!!!

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@ McBadgere - Thank you so much McB! I fell in love with your Trellanwr character for his cool head and plotting ways, he ROCKS! Your support is very appreciated, Thanks again!

*
@ Zalphon - I wanted Malan to come across as charismatic, and really hope he does. Back when Malan was impersonating Jakben Imbel - I loved his character, it was very hard to stick with the plan of him being the villainous character he was meant to be, lol. We're about to see more of that side of him now that he is starting to make his move on the Palace, though. Thank you so much Zalphon!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - You pick up on every nuance that I hope comes across with Malan, Thank you so much Darkness! (and YEAH! You caught the 'Mysteries' joke!) You are very appreciated!

*
@ Ghastley - Thank you so much Ghastley! Everything is going to start coming out now that Malan is making his move, that should be a relief...or will it? Lol. Thanks again, Ghastley!


*

*


Chapter 164: Nightmares And Reality


Malan tapped his finger on Fathis’s wedding ring that protected me against spells. “You‘ll have to take that off for me to heal you, Lass.”

He knew the enchantment on it, how? The only time its power was used was the night Sir Damien attacked me and tried to put me under spells. If Malan was in the Palace that night, wouldn’t he’d have killed Sir Damien for trying me? I slid it off, but clutched it tightly in my hand to throw on quickly if he tried anything.

Hannibal was right that Malan was a better healer than he was. Malan’s magic was more powerful than any I’d ever experienced before, I could feel it going through me as strongly as the healing fount. He was as professional as Hannibal would have been, no errant touches or lingering of his hands longer than needed at any time.

I’d needed the healing badly, the pain of my face and on breathing had been excruciating…but the memories of what happened tonight were a torture I couldn‘t escape, each scene replaying over and over like being trapped in a nightmare that you know you will never wake from.

Without the blessed numbing Akatosh gave my mind I’d never survive this. But why wouldn’t he take the torment of the memories away too? Gils walking into that bathing room and dropping to the floor, that horrible seizure and those last seconds with his eyes so wild…Gils with fangs.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how he must have suffered from those injuries, or that Renault knew she couldn’t heal and insisted Owyn not heal Gils. She killed him as surely as Agronak did. The sight of her in that filmy negligee on that mat pulled up to Gils’…as if she loved him. No one that loved him would have put him through that suffering. Then why…how could she?

Malan had stopped healing me, I don’t know when. I looked up and he was watching me.

“You’re shaking like a leaf in a storm, Lass. Dagoth-Malan can’t heal you while your mind rages, you’re blocking the magic as surely as that ring of yours would.”

Hannibal had said the same thing, it must be true. Uriel warned me not to trust Malan…but I would never be free of these memories, not without his help. I wanted to forget tonight ever happened, remember only the Gils I knew and loved…never again remember that I lay beside him and felt him dying in my arms or the monster he’d become.

“Tell Dagoth-Malan what you want him to do, Lass.”

“Please, Malan…please take the memories from me. Make them go away so I never remember what happened here tonight again, please Malan.”






***


For the fourth time since that day in the orphanage when I was seven years old, Malan sang away painful memories I couldn’t face without them destroying me. He bundled me up in his cloak and held me like a child in his arms, singing the old traditional songs of his homeland again; gently stroking the hair from my face with one hand while he healed me with the other.

Before falling into an exhausted sleep I remember thinking to myself, “Thank you, Malan,” but then couldn’t remember what I was thanking him for. Healing me, I guess.

After that came a blur between dreaming and reality, like those minutes just after waking where your mind clings to the last vestiges of illusions and struggles against the truth of day sweeping them away.

The chill of the stone floors seeping up through the thin mat, the familiar smell of the Bloodworks, the warmth of a man‘s body pressed against my back and his legs entwined with mine…for just a few blessed seconds I could almost believe the war had all been a nightmare I was finally waking from. I curled my tail on his leg and softly stroked it, purring and snuggling closer to the heat of his flesh against my fur.

Dear gods I’d missed this. I reached for his hand and rubbed it on my cheek before tugging it tightly around me, wondering why the moonsugar wasn‘t on my tongue. That’s when reality crushed the moment, stealing the dream as the stark truth of a cold metal armband on a massively muscled arm tightened me to him. Malan!

Why was I sleeping with Malan? Where was Gils? I tried to sit up, but it was like the signal between my brain and actions was severed. I wasn’t paralyzed, why couldn’t I move? This had to be a dream…a very strange one. Why would I dream about sleeping with Malan instead of Gils?

My mind felt disconnected from my body, feeling every sensation but unable to act of my own will. I could feel his breath tickling the fur on my ears and feel my nostrils flaring to capture the scent of him. I would do that for Gils, but never Malan. I wouldn’t.

This had to be a nightmare. Malan couldn’t be in the Bloodworks…wait, I remember him healing me…dear gods, I took Fathis’s ring off for healing! Had Malan put me under a spell? No, I’d have felt the magic if a spell were cast on me. There was no magic running through me, this was some weird nightmare. But then where was my ring? It had been clutched tightly in my hand and it was gone now. And where was Gils? Had he ever come last night? Why couldn’t I remember?

My mind felt overtired suddenly, dopey. I don’t know when I’ve felt so exhausted. The tension in me was relaxing against the warmth at my back, my eyes drooped to the sound of my own purring.







***


When I woke daylight was streaming in the vent windows. I sat up disoriented, not remembering where I was. Fathis’s ring tumbled from somewhere when I sat up. I grabbed it quickly and slid it on. Had I dreamed Malan slept beside me last night? But he must have been here, I was wrapped in his greatcloak!

Why would I sleep with him? Dear gods, had we? I felt my neck, but there was no wound. I tried to bend over far enough to see if my private area looked any different. It didn’t feel any different. But I was naked. Had I dreamed feeling Malan’s skin hot against the fur of my back? Where was my tail while we slept? I don’t remember feeling it between us!

Was I still a virgin? There was only one way to know. I kicked the shield from under the door and stepped out of the storage room, naked but wrapped in Malan’s cloak.

A loud gasp escaped before I could stifle it. Uriel Septim was there, standing regally in full dress Imperial armor…the troops gathering before him! I cast chameleon too late, Uriel had spotted me.

“MAXICAL!”

I dispelled, struggling for any expression other than guilty. Eyja hurried over at his shout and ogled me standing there with nothing on but a greatcloak twisted around me like a towel. She raised her eyebrows twice and grinned.

“Looks like that little problem has been taken care of. Well? You going to tell us about it?”

“Er…huh?”

Uriel’s eyes looked astonished, then relieved. “Let’s go back into the room you just came from, there are some things we need to discuss.”

Uriel strode into the room and glanced around, taking in the two mattresses pushed together just before looking back at me with raised eyebrows. “Well? Has that worry been relieved?”

“Uh…I don’t know. I think I remember sleeping with him, but it may have been a dream. Although I do have his cloak.”

Uriel glanced at Eyja and she brayed out a laugh.

“Did you have too much to drink, Maxical?” Uriel’s expression was enigmatic, I couldn’t tell if he was baiting me or not.

“I don’t drink, Sire. I just don’t remember. I don’t feel any different. Is there something I should look for?”

“Well we know it wasn’t Baurus then.” Eyja winked at me.

“Dear gods, I remember that!”

“We’d better get her back to the Palace and have Traven examine her.” Uriel shook his head.

“Wait, Sire. All I have to do is step out into Pork Chop’s cage. If I’m still intact, I’ll know it by the vampire’s reactions and the cage will keep me safe.”

“Do it, but armor up first. I’ll wait in the other room.”







***


We could hear bits and pieces of Uriel addressing the troops through the wall, the words ’My Champion’ came through and I breathed a sigh of relief. If he was owning up to knowing me, maybe some of what I promised may get done for those men.

Eyja grinned at me while she helped me find my armor. “Owyn said you were so dumb you could lose your virginity and never know. I didn’t believe him.”

“Well it’s not like I know what I’m supposed to be feeling. He has to have been here, because I have his cloak.”

“Who has to have been here?”

“Malan.”

Eyja gasped and her eyes bulged out from her head nearly as much as her breasts were doing in her lowcut top.

“I gotta say this, Maxical. You don’t do anything halfway.”

“I guess we’ll find out.” I buckled on my sheath and sword and we headed into the bathing room. Uriel followed, locking the door behind us so our conversation would be private.

It didn’t take but a few seconds of stepping out into Pork Chop’s cage to see the reactions of the vampires out there to know I was still intact. Eyja yanked me back inside and slid the bolt.

“How’d you get healed up, anyway? You look like you never fought yesterday, I’m still bruised everywhere and I slept with the healer.”

“Maybe he was clumsy.”

“BWAAHAA!”

Uriel was waiting. “Well?”

Eyja shook her head no. I shrugged both shoulders. Uriel rolled his eyes. “Let’s get back to the Palace, we have a lot to discuss.”






***


“Wait Sire, er…I wanted to talk to you regarding the conditions these troops have suffered. I made promises to these men that changes would be made in their treatment.”

Uriel cut me off by handing me a list. “This covers the vows you’ve given them, I’ve approved them all and informed the troops of the changes they would see.“

One glance at the list was all needed to see every promise had been covered in it, including Owyn being over all healing and the dispensing of potions starting immediately. I gaped at him. “How could you know this? I don’t understand…”

“I heard a bit of what was going on down here, wanted to see how you’d handle things on your own. Foxy tailed you in chameleon and give a very detailed report on everything you did.”

My face flamed scarlet, realizing all he must have seen. “Huh?”

Eyja looked stunned. “There was nobody here in chameleon but us! And I’d know Foxy in any disguise!”

Uriel continued, ignoring Eyja‘s outburst. “He covered everything, from the startling of Ocato’s horse and arguing over the size of Eyja’s anatomy to your use of Eyja as a distraction after your challenge. He repeated all the private conversations between yourself and Eyja, including eavesdropping on me and Malan‘s leverage over you through Dunmer law.”

“Again with the eavesdropping and repeating of my private conversations! ARGH!”

Uriel gave a brief grimace. “He mentioned you might be upset over that.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t inform you whether I was intact or not and save me the trip out to Pork Chop’s pen!”

“SKREEK!” Only Eyja laughed, but Uriel was obviously enjoying my discomfort.

Uriel indicated an item on the list. “That notation for immediate stealth training is for you. Shrieking out obscenities while trying to infiltrate can compromise an entire operation.” Uriel’s eyes reflected laughter he was holding in.

“You did well on your first assignment, Maxical. The best learning is achieved through experience, it is time you begin earning your title. Once you are relieved of this virgin blood I’ll have another task for you.”

He gave me his rare approving look. I felt like I could breathe again. It didn’t last long once Eyja informed him of who I had spent the night with.


*

Dagoth-Malan...

He's such a nice fellow--going so far as to heal Maxical