Several Hours Later...

Kalur watched the Dark Elf pace back and forth casually, as if there was no rush, as the elf fiddled with a daedric dagger.

"Just who are you working for? The Dark Brotherhood?"

"The one and only." The dark elf responded coolly.

"And what is your name, Elf?" Kalur prodded.

The elf turned to him, smiling in a sincere, yet twisted manner. "I'm glad you asked. My name is Golamus Llarm, an agent of the Night Mother. But don't worry. After we get you on the path of darkness, you can call me 'brother.' " He ended the sentence with a chuckle.

"I'll never join you!" Kalur snarled, pulling against his bonds.

"Oh, but you will." Golamus replied smoothly, running the dagger's tip up Kalur's chest all the way to the tip of his chin without drawing blood. "You see, my superiors have enlisted me with aid that will be here soon to... enlighten you. Open up your mind. Plus now, my brothers and sisters are covering our tracks, so not even the great 'Dovahkiin' will be able to find us. Oh, and speaking of aid, they should be here right about now..."

They heard footsteps enter the cave.

"And, there they are!" Golamus said, as several dark brotherhood agents entered with a group of people. Kalur's fear became downright terror as he saw who they were! They were the slavers he encountered all those years ago when he first entered Skyrim! The one that struck the most fear into Kalur was the leader, Esdruf Atrius. An Imperial. Also known as "Will-breaker Atrius" in the slaver circles.

Kalur remembered him quite well. Esdruf was the one whom tortured him when he was first captured, trying to break him. He used all sorts of methods; whips, ropes, burning him with hot charcoal, heating daggers and swords over fires and pressing the metal against his scaly skin, using all kinds of torture spells to make him unable to breathe, numb and deprive him of sight and senses, try and trick him with illusions of people he knew... Esdruf's list of torture techniques was nearly endless, and he was very resourceful. He could turn an empty cave into a dungeon of torturous oblivion given the right supplies and time. When Kalur escaped, he had to fight Esdruf directly, and blinded him in one eye with a swipe of a stolen sword, then ran. Judging by the look in Esdruf's eye, he no doubt remembered that memory well.

"Well, look what we have here?" Esdruf said. He walked up to Kalur, roughly grabbing him by the base of his jaw. He whipped out a steel dagger, pressing it against Kalur's neck. "Seems like someone's been a naughty pet lately, and needs to be taught a lesson..."

"Remember our agreement, Imperial!" Golamus Llarm warned sternly, twirling his own dagger in his fingers with skill. "You may make him bleed, but nothing beyond that! He's no good to anyone dead! You kill him, and the brotherhood will send you to a place where you will beg for your own death for the rest of your pitiful life ten times over! Am I clear?"

Esdruf rolled his eyes, and pulled the dagger away from Kalur's neck. "Yes, you are clear with your terms, assassin."

"Good. I'm glad we understand each other." Golamus said smootly. "And remember, if you do spill some of his 'sanguine essence,' I want it collected and sealed in alchemy vials."

That caught Esdruf and Kalur's attention. "What in oblivion would you want his blood for?" Esdruf asked.

"That is not your concern." Golamus said flatly. "Your only concern should be breaking his will, making his mind open to suggestion, making him moldable. I trust you'll be able to do that by sunrise?"

Esdruf smiled, looking at Kalur. "That will be his pain, and my pleasure."