"Hello, Archivist Halthir." said Ondolemar. "We're back from the Embassy. Flopsy was elevated to the most glorious office of Agent of the divine order of the Thalmor. I mean Aralina was."
"I'm going to sit in the library for a bit." said Archivist Halthir.
"There you are."
"Why did you tell me Skavild was spying for the Penitus Oculatus?" Eldaline demanded.
"Oh, please, Second Archivist Eldaline, I heard it from General Tullius himself."
"Do you remember me saying that transmitting information without ensuring its accuracy would result in more research holidays to Apocrypha?"
"Oh, no. The tentacles. The horrible tentacles." said Archivist Halthir.
"Say hello to Hermaeus Mora for me!"
"What's all that racket upstairs?" said Skavild, who had just returned to the Bureau of Advanced Communications.
"Skavild! I am so glad to see you. I was just banishing Archivist Halthir to Oblivion again."
"You know, you should probably stop doing that. Disproportionate punishments can actually make people so nervous it makes 'em make more mistakes."
"I did not know that. I will bear it mind for next time. Have you had a nice time while I was away?"
"You were right about them Imperials, you know. They're a strange lot. One minute, I'm in bed with this wild officer's wife and she's telling me how great I am, next thing I know she's telling me to get out of her swimming pool."
"Don't get me wrong, Eldaline, I don't approve of what you do here, but at least you're consistent. They got great hospitality but I've just spent nearly two days sulking in the mountains. A man likes to know where he stands."
"Well, I am pleased you're back, Skavild, and whether you approve of my purpose or not is, as always, irrelevant to me."
"It's nice to get such a warm welcome. Turns out, they thought I was a Spectre! I said to myself, Skavild, that's not good. Better stop sulking, get back to Solitude and clear all this up, before Eldaline hears about this and gets the wrong idea."
"Don't worry about that, Skavild. I would have had you killed immediately if I had thought it was true. But I spoke to the Penitus Oculatus. It is all sorted out."
"Well, that's good." said Skavild.
"But I would like to speak to you about my research on Altruism. I have learned many useful things and completed the first volume, but I have concerns."
"I was very proud to help the Second Archivist with the first volume of her latest masterpiece." said Aralina, on the stairs.
"I'll bet you were very helpful, Aralina." said Skavild. "What's this concern?"
"We started a vampire war, and did not mean to." said Eldaline.
"Ah, so that must be what all the guards were so excited about as I was walking back through town."
"The Second Archivist is worried." said Aralina.
"I could not discard the mace of Molag Bal, and so I thought Valerica might like it. After all, I rather presume she likes Molag Bal. I did not expect her to immediately declare war on the Vampiric Order of Cyrodiil and proclaim herself Mistress of the Night."
"I tell you what, Eldaline. This problem you bring up now seems like a lot of work. You've had a hard week and you've learned a lot. So why don't you just relax and forget about the vampire war until next week?"
"I know I shot her husband, but that does not mean I will support her every decision from now on."
"That's enough, Eldaline." said Skavild. "No more agonising about the vampire war. I'll run you a bath and then we'll all go down to the docks for breakfast."
"I will use some of my Thalmor commission to buy you some mudcrab legs." said Aralina.
"And I will rub your shoulders." said Ondolemar.
"You see?" Skavild said. "Everything is going to be fine."
"The way you say it, I almost believe it."
By the gates of Solitude, an Imperial couple were setting off on the long journey back to Cyrodiil.
The way would be dangerous, but Andalius Cosori of the Penitus Oculatus was not easily waylaid.
He and his wife required no military escort, and neither one intended to insult any of the locals on the way.
Eldaline waved from the walls of Solitude.
"It's nice to see you waving to those Imperials so nicely." said Skavild. "Looks like you've learned a lot from studying altruism."
The fishermen of Solitude were already hard at work as the sun lit the harbour.
"You know, Eldaline, the Penitus Oculatus have got enough files on you to fill a bloody library." said Skavild.
"Good. I would expect nothing less of them. I expect you read it all?"
"'Course I did. Would you expect less of me?"
"You have done well. Let us discuss your findings indoors."
This might have appeared imprudent, but the regular patrons of the Fo'c'sle knew not to pry into Eldaline's conversations.
"Anyone listening, you suppose?"
"Speak freely." said Eldaline.
"I will!" said Skavild. "Is it true that you like bald men?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Oh, no. Not at all. I'm a bit bald, you see."
"I see. Well, thank you for telling me, Skavild." said Eldaline.
Andalius and Vilona Cosori were speaking to each other again by the time they reached Falkreath.
And when the Imperial City was in sight at last, both were quite certain that Solitude would one day hold only fond and cheerful memories.
THE END
NEXT: The Quill