Chapter 93: The Making Of Immortal Races


A flood of memories washed over Janus then. He could hear his fathers voice yelling the name Dagoth-Ur in his ear when he had defended Malan to him. He began to feel ill. Divayth poured him a stout snifter of brandy.

“Drink this lad. I know this news is shocking to you. And this was not the time to break it to you.” Divayth glared at Lord Kagrenac. “There are things you need to know about your making. But knowing them today or tomorrow won’t change anything. We may as well wait till we have this situation with Maxical taken care of. Then we will sit down with you and give you the details of what went into making you. You are the one and only of your kind, and there is a reason for that.”

“No! No, I am not one of a kind. I have put my blood inside Maxical. I have made her. I have to know...what I have done to her. What is so different about me than other vampires? Surely there are other Immortals, and I am just one of them, right?”

“Janus lad; Malan was experimenting, making a super race of vampires. They were amazingly powerful. He was placing pods of them outside of each city who would attack people coming and going. His plan was to infiltrate, ease into and fill each city unnoticed. As long as they fed they could not be distinguished from anyone else. He did the first experiment on himself, but the vampires he made were not immortal. The second experiment he took a sampling of blood from every ancient and immortal line and combined them, then added a few…extra ingredients. You really need to see the journal, it tells every thing he did in explicit detail, which ancient lines he used and why. He planned your making a long time. He could only make one with this special ‘cocktail’ and so was extremely selective in his choice of victim. The journal is at the Crystal Tower, and Kagrenac, Gyron and I have already agreed to accompany you when you are ready. When I return to Tel Fyr I will send you what I have, Malan began publishing some of his journal notes. We think he was needing money to fund his plans.”

“Yes, I’d say you thwarted him in his mission quite a bit by throwing him out and becoming a recluse for over 50 years. I’m very proud of you that you did that lad. It shows your character.” Lord Kagrenac said, pounding Janus on the back. “Come on lad, buck up. Today is no different than yesterday or the fifty years before that. You just know something about yourself now. Knowing this can’t hurt you, it can only make you stronger. I would always choose to know something rather than be in the dark about it.”

“Was he a giant? Shivani said she saw a giant there the day Maxical was killed. If he was there, why didn‘t he take me then?”

“As far as him being a giant, yes. Malan and those he made would grow to enormous proportions when transformed. He wanted his troops to be able to infiltrate cities as normal people and on signal grow to giant proportions and attack. He planned to take over Cyrodiil. Malan has the same weakness for virgins that you do Janus. Her scent is what probably drew him out, as you said she was bleeding freely into the air. He would have been driven mad by it.“ Divayth patted Janus on the back and continued.

“Kagrenac is right Janus. You needed the warning about Malan to protect Maxical. If he was there that day, then he is waiting outside your city. Maxical will be in danger when she leaves here to perform her service for Uriel Septim. It would be best if both of you were prepared ahead of time.”

“Look lad, we have a lot of time to discuss this, and Divayth was right that this was not the right time. Let’s get the girl back on her feet and worry about this later. What say we go get Traven to have a look at her. Buck up lad, nothing has changed, you are just more aware now.” Lord Kagrenac looked contrite.

“I feel like something has changed. Years lost with my father because of him; years I can never get back now. He died with this rift between us.”

“Now, now lad. You can’t undo the past. Best talk to Clavicus about that. Maybe he can help you find his soul and apologize, try to make things right.” Divayth shook his shoulder gently.

“And don’t forget, Malan is not immortal and you are. You can always kill him, but he can’t kill you. If I were you I would learn all you can about your making, what powers you have, and what weaknesses. Hone those skills and develop protection against the weaknesses before you go after Malan, because I assure you he has developed his powers.” Lord Kagrenac pounded Janus’s shoulder.

“Those are both really great ideas. I will follow both your advice. I’m ready, lets get Traven. Er, just give me a second, I want to put a few amenities in the room.”

Janus stocked the wine cabinet in the suite with his best wines an assortment of cheeses, breads, and meats. He placed scented bath oils and soaps out, along with some of his personal towels and velvet robes. He drew a hot bath in the tub as well.

“I want them to have a chance to clean up before being brought to see Maxical. She shouldn’t see Traven looking like he does now. It will be hard enough for her to understand the shackles if she sees them.”

“Kagrenac, when you enchant those shackles, make them invisible as well. They will still jingle, but she won’t see them. Lets get Traven and the girl up here to this suite Janus is fixing up.”



***

“Let me get my leather bag and supplies. Has Janus been making sure she gets that paste?“ Hannibal asked as he busily gathered up his supplies, shackles jingling. “Come Marie.“

“I don’t know. There is one thing you may not be prepared for that we may want to warn you of Traven. Maxical’s birth mother is in the sick room.”

“But I thought she was dead?”

“She is. Her soul is in there.”

“I’m glad you warned me, is she visible? Does she talk?”

“Yes to both. She has given her soul to Clavicus Vile. He is in there with her” Lord Kagrenac said with a laugh.

“Oh my.” Hannibal seemed frozen in place.

“Maxical would not be here if not for Clavicus Vile. He saved her when Sage Vardengroet could not, breathed for her when she could not. And he gave the blessings of his realm on the ceremony, without which it would have been Molag Bal. I was pleasantly surprised by Vile, and I think you will be as well. Don’t let prejudice guide your feelings towards him. Meet the Lord and see what you think for yourself.” Divayth asserted.

“Sage Vardengroet was here? Oh how I wish I could have met him! It was his life that inspired me to get into alchemy.“

Hannibal’s fought off the mental images of himself and Sage Vardengroet conferring with each other and forced his mind to concentrate on the drawings he had seen in his texts of Clavicus Vile. Suddenly he remembered why Janus’s dog looked so familiar to him. “Barbas!”

Both men nodded their heads. “He saved my life when Mannimarco came. I guess I should shake Clavicus Vile’s hand…if he lets me.”

“I like him. He is good to Maxical’s mother, it is obvious she adores him. And he is quite taken with Maxical as well. I find him to be a gentleman, and quite the character.” Divayth said firmly.

“Yes, if you like Maxical, you will like him. They are two peas…oomph!” Lord Kagrenac began, but Divayth elbowed him with his Daedric gauntlet.

“Here is your new quarters, it is still a cell, but a very nice one. Let the body guard know when you are ready, and he will bring you to Janus’s room. Janus drew a nice hot bath for you and stocked the room, he thought you might like that.” Divayth added.



***

Janus entered the room and even with the cowl covering his face I could tell something was wrong. I don’t know if it was the way he was standing with his shoulders slumped; or just an aura about him.

“Janus.” I waved him over and took his hand, pulling him as best I could so he would sit.

Something was definitely wrong. He was stiff and quiet, not like himself at all. I did something I hadn’t done since I woke up to find myself here ill, I sent him a thought.

Do you want me to comfort you?

Janus’s head spun around like he was stunned. He immediately lay beside me and wrapped his arms around me tightly, whispering in my ear.

“I was afraid the illness had taken that from you. Do you know how much that means to me when you do that?”

I nodded, thrilling at the lightheadedness that came from Janus’s breath in my ear. I didn’t speak aloud, but sent him more thoughts.

Remember when I said I was going to become a healer, using my own guilt and the laying of hands to cure people I had caused to become ill or injured?

He nodded.

Did I cause this?

He turned to face me, and I think if we had been alone he may have kissed me. “No, it was not you.” He whispered into my ear.

I get lightheaded whenever he does that. Janus has magical breath I think. I love you Janus. I sent the thought to him.

He breathed, as if releasing something. “I love you too.” He whispered into my ear and held me closer.

“You are tickling my fur.” I whispered back.

The tension in him eased considerably. I wonder what happened to upset him. I could tell something had rocked him to the core.



***

Hannibal entered the sick room nervously, darting glances around for the ghost. He didn’t have to look far, she had her arms wrapped around the giant form of Clavicus Vile. Although she wasn’t scary, he was still glad he had been warned.

Clavicus Vile turned at his entrance. “My dog says you handled yourself well against Mannimarco. Stood right up to him and told him off.”

Hannibal felt his cheeks redden with pleasure. “I was quite safe in the cell.”

“You didn’t know that when you told him Barbas ate that staff of Mannimarco‘s, or lich for snacks. Barbas was pleased to protect you after that.”

“And a good protection he was. I doubt I would have faired as well had he not been there to give me courage. Please thank him for me.”

“Consider it done.” Clavicus Vile turned and smiled down at Maxical. “We’ve brought a friend.”

Hannibal started toward the bed and his eye was caught by a portrait of a large mouse on the wall. “Isn’t that a Mrs. Treydog?”

“Yes it is,” Clavicus smiled. “It was the first thing I noticed when I came in here too. I haven‘t quite figured out what that is she painted on top of his head.”

“Let me get my spy glass out and take a look.” Hannibal said, digging in his bag.

Clavicus stepped over to the portrait. “See this line here? Amazing detail! I just can’t quite make out…”

Shivani turned to Maxical. “Your visitor is admiring Alix‘s portrait.”


***

I was unable to edit this in, so I am putting it down here for anyone who may have missed it at the time, or just wants to see it again:


Alix's portrait, done by the famous artist Mrs. Treydog


http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/78/l_5300f8b1769147f892270ba7025ecc36.jpg


*

I still don't know exactly what is going on, but it seems Maxical is getting better, and that is good. I am looking forward to her once again assuming center stage.

Looks like I need to make a schematic for you, lol. Thank you so much Acadian, you are greatly appreciated!

SACRE BLEU!

Malx, how can I say how much I love this story? I think the best thing about it is how fun it is. Sure, you deal with some serious themes and you pack a real punch when you have to, but it's the charming humour that gives your writing its heart. Maxical's first revived words are a perfect example.

Oh and you know what's also cool and awesome? My penname comes from a character in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats - just another way Maxical and I have an eerie connection!

Love it Malx, you rock! xxx

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!! RUMPLETEAZA IS HERE!!!! :goodjob: :twirl: :woot: :tops: :rock: :cake: :hugs: :wub:

Woo Hoo !!!! It's RUMPLETEASZA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOT !!!!!


I guess I'll have to update now, lol.

Here is a screenshot of Shivani's husband S'Vandra - Maxical's father of record, but not her biological father:


http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/images/24952-1-1252591532.jpg



Thank you Rumple, it means TONS to me that you like it!


*

Chapter 94: Hannibal Traven Takes Charge




I looked up surprised. “Arch Mage Traven! You came see me?”

“I was tired of looking at Jarol’s dour face, thought I‘d come look at yours instead.”

“Oh please, I am ill enough without that image in my mind.” I said, attempting to smile. It felt more like a grimace.

“We are going to find out why your muscles aren’t working right. Just relax for me. Have you been eating that paste I sent you?”

“I haven’t felt much like eating yet”

“That is medicine to make you well. It is not dependant on whether you feel like it or not. You must take it just as if it were a potion. It will help the muscles in your face so you can smile again, you want that don‘t you?” Hannibal’s voice was a cross between firmness and babying.

“Yes Arch Mage Traven.”

“You’re not my student anymore, you can call me Hannibal if you like. They said your eyelids feel heavy and dry, I will make up some drops that will help that, and you’ll need to exercise them. Now, before we take a look at these muscles of yours, why don‘t you tell me if you have pain anywhere.” Hannibal was digging in his bag.

My chest hurts, and my shoulder. I don’t remember being injured.”

“Have you had any trouble with your memory?”

“A little, mostly short term.”

“Marie, I need you to bring me as many candles as you can get your hands on. I need to do an examination.”

Everyone brought candles. Since Hannibal had started examining me they all sat by staring at him in fascination. He is a wonderful healer, I learned that while at the Arcane.

“Arch Mage…Hannibal loves the practice of medicine. He enjoyed having me at the Arcane because I kept his waiting room full of injured students he could heal.” I said to the room in general.

“From what I heard, you were the bane of his existence.” Janus teased.

I tried to fake a pout but couldn’t.

“Oh yes, Maxical. You want to eat that paste so you can do a better pout than that. Okay now, will you feel comfortable with an examination in front of an audience? Because you seem to have one.”

I think he was hinting but no one took the hint. “It’s okay Hannibal. There is nothing they haven’t seen before here. Plus, in case you forgot I lived in the Bloodworks.”

“Ah yes, ’if you haven’t seen it there, it don’t exist’. I saw your fight against the Nord, did you know that? I see that old injury on your shoulder. It must have been quite bad at one time. It looks to be healing, lets make sure it is healing properly.”

“You saw that fight? It was one of my best. OW! That hurts.”

“I taught Owyn how to heal. He was one of my best pupils. Where did it hurt now…here?”

“OW!”

“That shouldn’t have hurt. Okay Maxical, now I have to feel around that area, and this is going to hurt, but you can’t tense up.“

“OW! Why did you pinch me over on the other side?”

“So you would relax this side over here and let me examine it properly. I have found something…there is something in there. Janus, I need several clean sheets and some brandy. While he is getting that I want you to describe the pain in your chest to me.“

While I was doing that, Hannibal went over me with a fine toothed comb. When Janus came back Hannibal had him prop me up while he listened to my breathing with his ear. He stood up shaking his head. Next he used something that looked like a spy glass to look in my eyes, and then he brought Marie up to hold candles while he examined my neck.

“What is it?” I asked, as he seemed to be spending an inordinately long time on my neck.

“You have something lodged in there, it felt like possibly an arrowhead. That is the reason you can’t lift your arm. Now Janus is going to help me with this, he has a nice sleeping spell he can use.“ Hannibal glanced over at Janus and signaled him. “When I give you this signal, I want you to put her into a decent sleep. This will be painful, but I don’t want it so heavy you can’t bring her out of it either.”

“That’s not what I meant. I meant on my neck…” Was all I was able to get out before the drowsiness hit.



***

Hannibal signaled Janus to put Maxical to sleep, lifting her eyelids to make sure she was under far enough before speaking.

“Janus, you told me you only bit her on one side, which side?”

“I did, it was on her left side.”

“Well she has bite marks on the right side too, and they do not match the ones you left on her. Was someone else there that day?”



“Yes Hannibal. I saw him. It was a giant of a man. He came out of the trees while Janus was…biting her. The giant cast a spell on Janus, I think he was paralyzed or something. Maxical saw him and was afraid. She screamed, but Janus was under the spell and couldn‘t hear her. When Janus came to Maxical was dead.” Shivani’s face reflected the horror of that day.

“Then you didn’t kill Maxical!” Divayth said, turning to Janus.



“Yes he did! If two dogs attack and kill someone, does it matter which gives the fatal bite? They were both there doing the same thing. Janus can‘t deny his lust for her blood whether his was the fatal bite or not.” Shivani said, averting her face from Janus.

“Shivani is right. It doesn’t matter whether Malan was there or not, the results would have been the same. I couldn’t stop myself, it was overpowering. Melisande was right, or maybe it was you Shivani. I should have sent someone else, knowing my nature. I just didn’t really know the extent of my nature till that day. I am as guilty as Malan of her death, there is no cleaning that up.”

“That was me both times, not Melisande. I said it to you. And I agree with you, there would be no change in the outcome. You would have killed her, and she loved and trusted you.” Shivani kept her face averted.



“But if he was laying in wait for Janus and smelled Maxical bleeding freely into the open air, he would have killed her whether Janus came out or not. Malan has the same weakness for virgins as Janus does.” Lord Kagrenac turned to Janus then. “You would have never known she was in trouble, he would have broken the wavelength that allows you to read her mind. There are not many who could fight him. There is only one vampire more powerful than him, and that is you, if you ever hone your skills. He must have been drawn from his lair by her scent.” Lord Kagrenac asserted.

“I hadn’t looked at it that way.” Shivani said stiffly.



“Malan, you mean Dagoth-Malan? When did he become a vampire? I thought he was an ascended sleeper that somehow escaped the slaughter when the Nerevarine did the ‘House’ cleaning, at least that is what the Arcane has been teaching all these years.” Hannibal asked, and then stood still waiting for the answer.

“Dagoth-Ur harnessed some force or power from the heart to make the ash vampires and ascended sleepers. On the night in question, Ur woke up in the night and caught Malan taking blood from him with an odd contraption like the one Melisande used. Ur cast the magic force to turn Malan into an ascended sleeper, but Malan was expecting it. He used a spell in advance to protect himself and escaped with the vial of blood. Ur logged Malan as an ascended sleeper in the records he kept. After the Nerevarine supposedly killed Dagoth-Ur everyone just forgot about Malan. We know he hid out in the Crystal Tower for years after that. We found the journal he kept there that detailed his experiments.” Divayth answered, carefully watching Janus.



“Taking blood from him, was that a part of the ’cocktail’ you told me about?” Janus asked stunned.

Divayth just nodded. Janus sat down looking pale.



“You don’t believe the Nerevarine succeeded in actually killing Dagoth-Ur?” Hannibal asked.

Clavicus, Divayth, and Lord Kagrenac all shook their heads no.

“I never believed it either. He is out there somewhere, and will turn up again, just as I always thought Malan would, and the Dwemer. I just never expected all three to show up here.” Hannibal glanced at Janus, then continued.

“As Janus’s personal physician, I hope I will be let in on what you know of his making, especially as it now affects Maxical too; but at another time. We didn’t knock this girl out so we could chat, I need to get to work on her shoulder and lungs.” Hannibal glanced at Janus. He looked like he was experiencing shock from what he just learned. “Janus, I need your full concentration to keep her sleeping, do you feel you can concentrate? There will be bleeding too, is this going to be a problem for you?” Hannibal folded two of the sheets Janus brought and lay them under Maxical’s shoulder.

“No, she has only my blood and Divayth’s right now, there is no problem.” Janus barely whispered.



Hannibal cleaned an odd looking dagger and some other equipment with the alcohol, then splashed it over his own hands, then Maxical’s shoulder. He quickly made a perfect cut with the strange dagger and carefully extracted the offending item, an arrowhead. He flushed the area with alcohol then used a spy glass to peer into the cut, making sure there was no damaged muscle tissue or debris. When he was done he threaded some string into a needle bent into a half moon shape and deftly pulled it through several times.

The room was dead silent as they watched him work, awestruck at the sight of Traven in his element. When he was done they all clapped him on the back saying, “you have the hands of a healer!”



Janus was looking confused. “I…smelled three different bloods.” He said, and then stared hard at Marie.

Divayth and Lord Kagrenac looked at each other.

They know more than they care to tell Janus, Hannibal thought as he removed the bloody sheets and placed a clean one under Maxical’s shoulder, wrapping it expertly into a triangle. “This has to stay clean. It will need changing and alcohol cleanings several times a day.

“I’ll do it Hannibal!” Marie volunteered, her eyes shining as she looked at him.



“Her lungs don’t sound right at all.” He turned to Clavicus Vile. “Master Divayth tells me you had to breath for her for quite some time. Were her lungs collapsed?”

Clavicus hesitated. “They felt rigid, and didn't seem to be filling properly.”

“That may have been caused by the rigor mortis or freezing. She may have fluid in her lungs. I'd like them cleaned out anyway in case of contamination from the attack, the time in the wine cellar, possible putrification. I am going to put a tube down into her lungs. Does anyone have a spell to create a vacuum on the tube and svck fluids out?”

“I can. I used that to cleanse the shrine of the dead for her.” Clavicus said, stepping into position.

“I’m glad you did that, that gives me hope that the fluid is not putrefied. Janus, if this will make you ill you may want to turn.”

“I see you know our vomiting friend well!” Clavicus laughed as he created the vacuum.



Hannibal signaled Clavicus, then flushed brandy and pure water through the tube and gave the signal again. Clavicus performed the cleansing again.

“I want healings done on her every time anyone walks in here. She is to eat my paste four times a day, and you have to watch her eat it, she is a slick one. I want to set up a series of physical therapy, exercises, and massages for her. I‘ll put a chart of what is needed out. Check off and initial anything you do on that chart.” Hannibal called out as he gathered his equipment up and cleaned it in the alcohol.

Hannibal produced a glass tube with a ball stuck in it, marking the side of it with a quill.

“Have her blow in this till the ball reaches this mark three times a day. Clean the mouthpiece with alcohol after each use. I want to check on her progress every eight hours round the clock.”

Hannibal turned to leave, but before he did, he caught the eyes of both Divayth and Lord Kagrenac. “I hope you two can come visit me in my quarters as soon as possible, there are some questions I have.”


*

Oh this was waay well-done mALX! I love that Maxical is thinking and talking. Your command of first person has lost nothing from disuse.

She needs to eat her peanut butter, take charge and get back to adventuring! I hope she sees Alix the mouse soon. :dance:

Good writing as usual mALx, but I think I need to back track and re-read some of the last few chapters. I am getting a little confused (That is more a shortcoming of me being preoccupied a bit in real life, not your story... )

And honestly, if Hannibal is such a kick ass healer, couldn't he come up with something more appealing than paste? At least turn it into chocolate pudding - who doesn't like pudding??

Chocolate pudding! EWWWW!!!

I shall say no more.

I laughed at this part. It reminds me of myself when its necessary to take any sort of medication >.>

Ohhh, so many new chapters! Talk about an awesome "welcome back to the forums" present!! I can't wait to catch up!

@ Acadian - Thank you so much! - Alix is coming soon, he has some good parts, so does Barbas.
***

@ Leydenne - Thank you very much Leydenne! I know how hard this time has to have been for you, I doubt you've had much time for reading, lol - but that said, you are missing some real action in the story! Destri said my best scenes were written after I killed Maxical, lol.

Hannibal Traven calls it a paste, but Acadian (and others) nailed it, it is peanut butter, lol. - I used to know a hemopheliac and the doctor made him eat peanut butter all the time to build his red blood cells up, so I stole that idea and had Hannibal make it.

So Maxical is back alive from the dead now, and all H is about to break loose in the story.

It means a lot to me that you took the time to stop in, You ROCK Leydenne!!!

***
@ Foxy - Hey, what is wrong with Chocolate pudding? (or chocolate ANYTHING for that matter?) Thank you so much for stopping by Foxy!
***
@ Jacki Dice - Oh, I got this from my children. You would not believe the things I found under their pillows, in their pillow cases, under the beds, under the mattresses, hidden in their dressers, etc. GAAAH! Talk about some "EW" stories!!! Thank you so much Jacki!
***
@ Rachel - It is so good to see you back on here, you have been greatly missed! I waited a little while to see if your post would be followed by two more and then dove in! YEAH! Edward is BACK !!! (And so is Rachel!!!) You made my day!

@ Foxy - Hey, what is wrong with Chocolate pudding? (or chocolate ANYTHING for that matter?)

I dare not reply
Lest mods escry
and me access deny
for scatological reply.

Nudge nudge, wink wink, indeed say no more,
is most likely an apprpriate addition to this.
..oh wait, wrong sketch



..and great writing Malx, :goodjob:
..some of the meds I get are like that

@ Foxy - EW! I know what that is! GAAAAK !!!!
***
@ Andy - Thanks for stopping by Andy!

Alright, now that I am up to date on this, I can only say -- this is as good, nay better, than ever...and MORE, please!!

Keep up the great work, mALX -- I love this story!!

Woo Hoo !! It is so great to have you back on the boards!!!! I appreciate your kind words more than I can say, Thank You so very much Rachel!

Chapter 95: The Healing Process


Janus walked Hannibal to his new quarters after he finished. "Traven, I have never been so impressed in my life. I never realized how much you really are capable of. I plan to make an enormous contribution to your University, I want you to bring it back with you when you go, I just can't make myself send it when I know Polus will receive it."

Hannibal barked out a laugh. "I guess when I get back I will need a new bed and robes as well, I am sure he has been parading around in them and sleeping in my bed?practicing for the day when he makes Arch Mage." Hannibal's mouth twisted as he said it.

"You aren't serious! Surely you have a better candidate in mind than Polus!" Janus looked at him aghast.

"Who? I know his nose is as brown as, and probably smells like?well you get what I am saying. But I have no one else qualified."

"Maxical said she would make changes there if she could. I plan to make the Septims available to her to make donations to the University as she sees fit. If she earmarks Septims, would you be willing to follow her ideas with them?"

"What kind of changes? Other than retiring Jarol, I know she wants that."

"She said the man you have teaching about vampires has never even seen one. She felt the person who taught it should know what they look like, have faced them down. She wanted to teach a seminar in it. She wants to institute a training program for mages that will give them real world experience. Maxical said most of your mages graduate and hang out in the University or in the Mages Guilds, never leaving their safety. All their training is wasted if they don't use it. She said when they do venture out they are easily killed, because their training isn't covering what they face out in the world. She felt the graduating students that pass with the highest grades should teach the next group. That way the teachers stay young and on top of what is going on in Cyrodiil. She wants to revamp the lectures so they are interactive with the students instead of a droning voice for two hours. She wants to add a class in aiming and improve the restoration training to include different methods of restoration, not just the standard."

Hannibal felt tears bristling against his aged eyes. Those were all his ideals when he became Arch Mage. What had happened? Why had he never instituted any of them? He started out so young, with so many dreams for this University; here he was old and not one of them had been realized.

He loved the Arcane, and wanted someone who loved it to replace him. Maybe someone who loved it enough to do those things he always wanted to with it. It would haunt him through eternity if he left it to Polus, who never envisioned improvements, only thought of the power he would hold in that position.

Hannibal remembered fuming when Maxical blew up the yard, but she (or rather Fathis) replaced it with an Alchemy garden that was extraordinary. It was one of his favorite spots now, sitting on that bench among the rare plants.

Maxical came in like a Minotaur breaking everything, but replaced it with much better. Even the horse eating his old scratchy wool blanket; it had been replaced with bedding of the richest silk, spun so fine it was a pleasure to slide between the sheets naked; something he had never done with the old blanket.

Here was someone who had beaten every challenge including the grave. What a powerful replacement?oh no. She was a vampire. That would not be a good idea. Hannibal sighed. For a second he had let himself get excited over the thought, drat.

If he could remove the vampire blood without killing her in the process; maybe pump good blood in one arm while pumping the tainted out the other. She would be perfect for the position, and had assured funding from two of the richest men in Cyrodiil. He sighed again. It was a pipe dream, he was too old for ground breaking. It looked like Polus would have his wish one day.




***

Shivani and I spent a lot of time talking after we became acquainted. I told her about my childhood, Alix and S'Jirra, the Arena, and even told her some of the things I saw as a thief. The sixual things mostly. I liked her company a lot because she talked to me about men and love. She is the only one I have told about my feelings for Janus.

I wanted her to tell me what it was like to be with a man. No one else would talk about it to me. S'Krivva would bop me in the head for asking and S'Jirra would go into coughing fits.

"Aren't we supposed to have some kind of?talk?"

"What are you wanting to know?"

"What do I do? What happens? What should I know?"

"It sounds to me like you described plenty."

"Oh, you mean Hieronymus Lex and the guard? But that was two men. What about me and Janus?"

"Maxical, these things come naturally. You can hear all about it, but you'll find that when you and?whoever?kiss that everything just happens just as it should. You haven't even kissed him yet. When you do, you will know."

"I've kissed before, and I still didn't know anything."

"But you didn't kiss a man you were in love with."

"Oh?Oh! So that makes a difference?"


"Yes, of course it does."

"Well, then I have learned something. Do you think I am ready?"

"You are quite sick right now, you had best concentrate on getting better before worrying about kissing Janus. Believe me, Janus will wait for you."

"I know."




***

Clavicus Vile grinned at Shivani. "That daughter of yours is a minx. She has been erasing the healer's marks and telling Janus the girl hasn't been giving her the massages. It may be time for all of us to clear out of here and let them have some privacy."




***

Hannibal gave me the arrowhead as a souvenir. He came in with Marie and did therapy on me daily, Janus did it at night. The paste was helping my mouth muscles tone up a lot. The pain in my shoulder was improving daily. My breathing was greatly improved from the moment I awoke. My movements were improving from the therapy which was a combination of stretches and pushing against someone to strengthen my muscles. The massages I loved.

"Hannibal, shouldn't you teach Janus to do these so he can take over when you and Marie leave?" I tried to sound innocent.

Hannibal gave me the same look he used to when I was a student into mischief and dropped an orange into my hand. "Do your hand exercises." He said.

I squeezed the orange for a while then peeked to see if he was still watching. "Keep going." Hannibal said without turning his head.

"Hannibal, will my tail ever work right again? Can you fix it?" I put the orange in my other hand and started exercising it.

"I think when your legs start working better it will improve your tail function." Hannibal said, then turned around as Janus entered the suite.

"Ah Janus, I was hoping you would come in. Come here, I wanted to teach you how to do these massages." Hannibal winked at me and gave his lopsided grin. I winked back and smiled.

Somehow Marie did not pick up on the hint. She kept giving me massages and checking them off the chart. I had to resort to my own means.

Marie had just finished my massage, and Janus would be taking over for the night. I watched Marie sign off on the chart, and as soon as she left I crawled to the end of the bed and erased her mark while the ink was still damp. It left a smeared black mess. I was scrubbing the blanket on it trying to clean it off when I heard Janus coming, so darted back and lay back on the pillows.

Janus picked up the chart. "Didn't Marie do your massage?"

"Uh?I don't think so." I looked away in case my eyes showed mischief. "Will you do it for her?"

It worked, so I kept doing it. The crawling got easier each time. Pretty soon the chart was a mass of black smudges. I saw Marie looking hard at the chart one day and quickly looked down, acting like I was concentrating on squeezing the orange for my hand exercises.

"Hannibal, look at this." She said, poking her elbow into him.

"Yes, very good. I see I have to consult with you more often." He said, then looked up at me with wicked imps in his eyes.

"Wha?What is it?" I tried to sound innocent. They both laughed.

"Therapy." Hannibal said.

I looked at Marie and she turned her head away, but I could see her shoulders shaking.

"You knew I was doing it?" It sounded more like an accusation than a question.

"It was Marie's brilliant idea. You were getting bored with your therapy, and your legs have not been improving as they should. The night I taught Janus how to do the massages Marie suggested that it would be an incentive for you to use them more if she pretended she didn't get the hint and kept marking the chart. That was why we moved the chart to the foot of the bed. She figured eventually you would crawl down there and start scrubbing her mark off. And she was right. Now lets check out those legs and see how much they have improved from all this."

I tried to be mad but couldn't. It had been intriguing to my mind to get into mischief and helped my legs?plus I had all those massages from Janus?Janus!

"Did Janus know about this too?"

"Of course! We had to tell him so he wouldn't be upset with Marie for not doing her job, or mention the smeared places on the charts."

"Well?him I will get even with for this trick. Somehow."

"Good therapy for your mind. It's boring laying in bed all the time. Plotting destruction is the best thing for you." Hannibal said grinning.

"I really would like to be able to go outside and get some fresh air. Did my sneaking really help my legs? Will I be able to walk soon? Or swish my tail?"

"It sure did." Hannibal said, examining them. "We'll see about those other things. Maybe one of the men can carry you down into the sun for a while."

"Janus can do that." I said, an image of it in my mind.

"Janus can take you out for the night air if you would like, Lord Kagrenac has you on the day shift." Marie piped in, glancing at Hannibal.

I wondered what that was about.


***

"Who? I know his nose is as brown as, and probably smells like?well you get what I am saying. But I have no one else qualified."


I strongly suspect I am responsible for this imagination inspiration.

This was wonderful to read. Great fun.

“I think when your legs start working better it will improve your tail function.”
Oh, I'm sure that is true. . . . must have her tail functioning properly.

As I said, just fun to read. I surely hope Maxical does not take over the Arcane University - Oh my what trouble that would be!

It is wonderful to be back inside Maxical's head. My goodness, she was even outmanuevered when it came to pulling pranks this time!

LOL...and, if we needed any reminders, here is Maxical's wonderful impishness ... or minxishness, if you will ... to the rescue, refreshing our memories with her delightfully impish adventures, and reminding us of just why we love her so much!

@ Foxy - ...could be...a certain scatology comment...stuck... Ew, I am making myself sick with that imagery, lol. Thank you so much Foxy!
***
@ Acadian - Maxical is actually a lot like Traven was in his youth though, remember that he hung his prof's robes on a spire too, lol. Thank you very much Acadian!
***
@ Rachel - You ROCK !!! And it is so great to see you on the boards again!!!! Thank You, Thank You !!!!

Just wanted to let you know I'm still around and reading.