Eola nodded, tears prickling at her eyes. Not something it had ever been safe to admit or talk about, and the main reason she'd never really let anyone get close – even a Daedra-worshipping cannibal had some standards and having to lie to a serious lover about who she really was had been a bit too far even for her. But she no longer had a choice, and seriously this Elisif had better be something special for her to go back to a past she'd done her best to forget. It was probably already going to cost her Cicero and she was really starting to like him. She'd miss the little idiot.

So it was that she was surprised to hear him giggling softly, and then the laughter got louder until he was lying on the steps next to her, howling away.

“What?” Eola cried. “Oh gods, what is it with you? It's not funny!”

Cicero dried his eyes, hysterics slowly subsiding.

“Oh sweetling, it is, it is, Cicero is going to have to go to a very tough prison run by the fearsome King in Rags, all the while knowing he has done unmentionable things with the man's daughter.” Cicero giggled again, and when Eola looked closer, she realised Cicero was actually shaking despite the giggling. When he put it like that, it was a little bit frightening.

“So don't tell him,” she whispered, starting to giggle herself. “Oh honey, I'm sorry, I honestly had no idea you'd end up spending the morning after facing up to my Da. Who – oh gods, yeah, just don't mention me unless you have to. Not until you're out of there and can run.”

“That will not help, is he not a terrifying battlemage??” Cicero gasped. “Oh sweetling, Cicero is doomed. But he will think often of you in the Void after Madanach has killed him.”

“It won't come to that,” Eola told him. “You just find our Maia and keep her safe. Don't worry, I've got contacts. I'll get you both out, I promise.”

Cicero leaned forward and kissed her again, and Eola moaned softly at his touch. He really was quite good at that. Eola really hoped this worked because if it didn't, she was frankly stuffed. The world would end and she'd never get to kiss Cicero again. She wasn't sure what bothered her more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaie was long gone and it must be morning by now – the guards had changed shifts after all, although Madanach was sure they varied the shift patterns sometimes just to confuse the prisoners. Wouldn't surprise him. Damn Nords.

But still, it probably was morning Which meant Elisif might be deigning to get up some time soon, yes? He could have his bed back, right? Come on, Elisif, I'm old, I need sleep, don't make me wake you up... The alternative was joining her, and that was just asking for trouble.

Resting his head on the desk maybe. It'd be agony once he woke up, but Restoration magic could fix that, right?

No good, it was no good, he was getting too old to sleep contorted on hard surfaces. He'd have to wake her up.

Then came the shrieking from the main prison, and that had to be pretty damn loud to echo down here. Casting his mage armour, Madanach ran down the tunnel, frost magic ready to go.

“LET POOR CICERO IN! CICERO WANTS TO SEE MAIA!”

That halted Madanach in his tracks. One of Elisif's companions, a little red-haired daedra called Cicero. Oh sweet gods, the little murderer had got himself incarcerated and from the sounds of it, daedra was an apt description. Namely one of Sheogorath's.

“Tough shit. You ain't coming in,” Borkul growled. “Boss said he wasn't to be disturbed. Not by you, not by anyone.”

“But he has sweet Maiiiaaaa!!!!” Cicero whined. “Maia is Cicero's friend!”

“I said no!” Borkul snarled. “Now get out of my sight, new meat. Go mine up silver like the rest of us.”

Heavy sigh. “Cicero is very sorry, dear Borkul. But you have left Cicero little choice.”

There followed the sound of something Madanach hadn't heard for some considerable time – the sound of Borkul screaming in pain.

“GAAAAHHHHH!!! GET OFF ME! MALACATH'S BALLS, YOU LITTLE FETCH- AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!”

“LET – POOR – CICERO – IN!!!!!”