Chapter 7
The Gift of Companionship
Urzob drank from the large water basin that was free for the gladiators to drink from when they trained. He was busy teaching the new arrivals from Al Tufayl's group how to use their bodies as well as their weapons and they were learning very quickly. The Dunmer, Tiberius used a thick rope to train, since he used the Whip Chain style. "It is nice to falter, and not end up with scars or bruises, is it not Matthias!?" He shouted heatedly, the large Redguard Matthias training with his twin wooden swords. The two gladiators were sparing, and the Whip Chain was proving difficult for Matthias to avoid, since Tiberius' skill was close to perfection.
"I don't care to train at all, I should be dead, to be defeated by a runt like Damos!" He roared, his swords breaking as he banged them against the wooden post close to him. Tiberius saw the opening and flipped his rope, the end flying at Matthias who grabbed it in anger. "Refrain from giving me a reason to kill you Tiberius!" He threatened before letting the rope go.
"We do not kill our brothers here, at the House of Demetos." Urzob spoke, walking up to the skilled fighters. "Matthias, you are unlike anyone I have ever see, you get better the more you fight, that is a great skill to have." Matthias looked at the Orc, he looked like such a weakling but this was the legendary "Hammer of Might," the Orc who has slain a thousand men.
"I have nothing to discuss with you Orc, so leave me be!" Matthias shouted, only to feel the Urzob's whip wrap around his leg, and trip him, leaving the Redguard on the ground.
"Maybe you should learn something while you are here. I am the Teacher, regardless of how skillful you are or how many people you have killed. So you will treat me with respect! Or rather you feel the sting of my whip!?" Matthias stood, angry before grabbing a sword and shield.
"So you think you can beat me Orc!? I have killed men twice your size!" Urzob chuckled, his whip unrolled once again but he dropped it. The Redguard rushed him, the wooden sword being jabbed at the Orc before Urzob dodged them easily.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Urzob asked calmly as he dodged the furious attacks. "Good good, you are skill with the sword Matthias, you have the makings of a great warrior!" Urzob jumped to the right, grabbing a training sword as well, now easily deflecting the incoming attacks from Matthias.
"Shut up Orc!" Matthias shouted, dropping the shield to use only the sword now, his attacks grew shorter and faster, stabbing and slashing with the wooden sword. Urzob chuckled, his sword now being knocked out of his hand by Matthias who breathed hard, still holding his weapon before Urzob nodded.
"Good job Matthias, your technique improved very quickly, analyzing your opponents movements and style is also very good, but extremely difficult to do so in the amount of time you did it in. You and Damos are obviously the strongest two here." He praised the Redguard, who looked at the Orc in confusion. Why was he happy, he had just lost! Matthias was astonished when Urzob offered his hand, the Redguard taking it slowly before he smiled along with the Orc as well. "Thank you for the lesson Urzob, I mean...Teacher."
Damos sighed as he stood in the middle of the party, forced to stand at attention during the party in his Prime Armor, his twin swords in his hands as he stood, feeling the looks upon him by the nobles. He could feel the looks of awe, the champion of Alik'r Arena, an absolute killing machine, forced to stay still during the entire party.
"Look at him, he is so regal looking, even for a slave." He could hear some women discussing before they started to laugh, he squeezed his swords in anger. These Tirenians, they used slaves for everything, yet they held them in such low regard. This angered him the most, and he found himself going into a trance as he stood, his body would be unaffected, and he would awake when spoken to.
His eyes closed for a second, and flashed a bright light before they glazed over as he entered Moonshadow. The Redguard sighed, still frustrated as he entered the Rose Palace. He felt different once he was inside however, the normally calm energy that filled the realm now buzzed with activity.
Come, my child. Another Daedric Prince has entered my realm, you might as well meet him. He heard Azura's voice explain before he followed it. He entered another room, the Queen of Dawn and Dusk was sitting and speaking with another, who Damos guessed was the other Prince. The other Prince looked like something out of a story. He was tall and muscular, easily larger than Matthias or Urzob. He was tanned, but he wasn't as dark as a Redguard. The man's body only sported a long black loincloth. Damos could not see the body's face however, since it was covered with the mask of a skull, the top of the mask sporting a antlers. The Prince held a large spear in his left hand.
Damos, this is Hircine, the Lord of the Hunt. He and I have been talking about you, he is someone I would like for you to meet, my child. Damos nodded, walking closer to the large Daedric Prince.
It is nice to meet you Damos, don't let my current form intimidate you. Azura tells me that you are a very talented warrior, are you skilled with the bow!? Damos shook his head, Hircine frowning. Well that is too bad, I had hoped you were, we could have hunted together, shame. Hircine turned to Azura then, his back to the Redguard.
I think I will be on my way then Azura, thank you for the conversation. Oh, and Damos. He turned back to the Redguard, pricking him with the large spear he carried and tasting it. Mm, you have very good blood, you certainly could survive the change. We will meet again Damos, very soon. Hircine then disappeared into a vortex of purple energy, his laugh the last thing to leave the realm.
"He was very nice, I guess, what did he mean by "change?" Damos asked, Azura quite shaken by the things that Hircine had spoken of. "Azura!?"
She seemed to snap out of her little trance and nodded. Hircine may be the Lord of the Hunt, but he is also the Father of Manbeasts. So I assume he plans to turn you into one, my child. Damos, you have to be careful, that curse can be difficult to get rid of. If you plan to accept the gift of lycanthropy ever, know what your getting yourself into.
Damos nodded, but he was now being woken from his trance by the outside world. His astral projection faded as his conscious was pulled back into his mortal body, the Redguard shaking his head as Onaeus slapped his cheeks softly. "Damos, what is wrong with you!? Your taking your duties a little to serious!" The Imperial whispered before Damos nodded, showing he was responsive.
"Sorry Master, I was just, in another place, but don't worry about it, I'm fine now, what do you wish?"
They were interrupted by Antonius Aquilinius who boasted his superiority over the other guests, his drunken outbursts embarrassing his daughter and causing a problem for everyone at the party. "Dear Mirela has asked me to assist with the nuisance of her father, and since you have more experience with dealing with the man, maybe you should do it, you will be rewarded I assure you." Onaeus explained, Damos nodding before he sheathed his swords, walking over and grabbing the shoulder of Aquilinius.
"Master Aquilinius, maybe you should calm down and take a rest, you are very drunk." Damos spoke calmly, his soft smile shining at the drunken Imperial. Antonius eyed him however, shaking away from him.
"You think you can stop me slave!? Your just a dumb, feral gladiator whose only purpose in life is to kill, and you follow orders like the dog you are!" Antonius finished by spitting into Damos' face, the crowd around them gasping at this. Damos did something between a sigh and growl, his hand tightening around Antonius' shoulder.
"Just come with me, Master Aquilinius, you need to rest." Damos gently pulled him but was batted away once again, Antonius drawing one of the Redguard's swords and pointing it at him, the crowd gasping and shouting in alarm. Damos was completely still, his own sword now poking him where his heart was.
"You think your better than me slave!? I'll teach you a lesson!" The drunken man shouted, stumbling as he swung the iron blade back and forth trying to connect with the Redguard. Mirela Aquilinius held her hands to her mouth, watching Damos deflect the wild advance from her father.
"Father, please stop this!" She walked up, pulling on her father's clothes to try and stop him, but he only pushed her away.
"Get away, you brat! I'm so fed up with you! Always asking for things, and spending my coin, your just like your mother!" Antonius shouted, sending Mirela into a fit of sobs, Issatia Demetos following her to console her. With that, Aquilinius turned back, the sword he held slashing after the Redguard once again. It wasn't very hard to block the attacks, but the instinct to strike back was edging him constantly through the little squabble.
Antonius Aquilinius stumbled, and Damos took the chance, his arm shooting out and grabbing the thrusting arm of Aquilinius before grabbing the sword and elbowing the man in the face. Aquilinius fell back on his rear, the drunken Imperial now being watched by everyone as he was secured by the house guards. Onaeus sighed, walking up to the gladiator and patting him on the back before speaking to Aquilinius.
"You have ruined the party, caused a scene, and humiliated your daughter and yourself all in a few minutes, I congratulate you. Now please, take him somewhere he can sober up." He instructed the guards before turning to Damos.
"Good job, you have done well tonight. I know that Mirela will be thankful of the justice you did for her. I will try and find her and my wife, I suppose she will want to stay somewhere away from her father for the time being." Onaeus sighed, nodding his thanks to the Redguard before turning and walking away.
The roar of the crowd sounded as Damos walked onto the sands of Alik'r Arena, his twin swords raised in the air as he shouted in happiness of the praise he was receiving from the crowd. The gladiator owners all perched in their own private balcony clapped at the young Redguard.
"Damos is ready for battle! He will surely take care of the opposing gladiator quickly, and without difficulty I am sure." Onaeus Demetos laughed before he watched the opponent walk out onto the sands, his style the of the Heavy Sword variant. With a sign from the Master of Ceremony, Damos and the other gladiator began their fight.
The Redguard shouted as his twin swords slashed against the large saber, their blades creating sparks that tingled against his dark skin. Spinning, Damos caught the gladiator in the cheek with an accurate roundhouse before shouting to the crowd. The large sword hit the ground along with its wielder before he it was grabbed up by the other gladiator.
"Hmm, you sure you want to continue!? There's no going back after this!" Damos cautioned, the gladiator shouting in rage as he rushed the Redguard. Damos' swords crossed into the shape of an "x," his blades catching the claymore before it was twisted from his grasp. Now defenseless, the gladiator started to run, the crowd booing while his owner cursed with anger. Sheathing his blades, Damos grabbed the large sword, swinging it before he threw it roughly at the retreating man.
"Gotcha!" Damos shouted as the claymore buried itself into the back of the gladiator, severing his spinal cord and killing him before he hit the ground. The Redguard roared with triumph, the crowd responding as did the gladiator owners, whether they cheered or cursed.
"He has done it again!" Onaeus shouted before hugging and kissing his wife and Mirela. The rival gladiator owner rose quickly before leaving in a fit of anger, his accompaniments following suite, leaving Onaeus and his party.
"Damos! Damos! Damos!" The crowd shouted before he bowed and started to walk towards the exit, until he felt the ground shake a little. The crowd hushed as Damos turned, his eyes glancing over the form of a Sabre Cat stepping on the sands.
"What the...!?" Damos shouted before the predator began to run towards him, the golden coat of the Sabre Cat blending in with the golden sands. Damos grabbed his swords, retreating away from the Sabre Cat as the crowd gasped and screamed in fear. The predator was advancing quickly and Damos knew that sooner or later it would catch him
"Urzob open the gate! Open the gate!" Damos shouted, the Orc reacting to his friend's cries for help before he grunted against the wheel that opened the gate.
"It's not opening! Damos your gonna have to fight it!" Urzob shouted, this making the Redguard lose all hope he had in himself before he ran full speed at the wall. His feet caught the stone wall before he jumped back towards the Sabre Cat, slamming into the beast as they wrestled.
Damos could feel the claws and teeth of the monster graze against his vital areas, only to be jerked away from the Redguard's efforts as he fought with the beast. The swords slashed and stabbed into the predator's coat, covering it with blood although it still fought on in anger.
"I'm definitely not going to die here!" Damos shouted, his chest now being slashed by the Sabre Cat.
Shouting with pain, the Redguard stepped back, faltering as the beast pounced on him once again. Damos felt the razor sharp teeth of the Sabre Cat lick his neck, and he could see all the way down the creature's throat as it roared and chomped at him. Now growing tired, Damos could feel his body afflicted by more slashes and bites from the predator as he tucked into a ball.
'This can't be happening, I can't die now, I gotta help everyone escape!' Damos thought to himself before kicking with all his strength, the beast being pushed back for only a second, the Redguard taking the quick relief to tighten his grip on his swords before he plunged them deep into the Sabre Cat's chest as it pounced once again. The beast gave a loud roar, and it grew still on top of Damos, the Redguard falling back in relief as he felt the animal's breathing stop.
"Damos!" Urzob shouted as he finally got the gate to open, the Orc rushing to the dead Sabre Cat before he lifted the large carcass off of the Redguard, Damos coughing and breathing hard in return. Helping his friend to his feet, Urzob looked Damos over, seeing if his wounds were near fatal.
"What happened!? Why did I have to kill this Saber Cat!?" He shouted, looking over the carcass of the great beast before he stared up at the balcony that held the gladiator owners. Onaeus Demetos roared with laughter and praise as he clapped for Damos along with the crowd. "This was Demetos' doing, and I'm sure he wouldn't have agreed to it for no reason." He declared, finding that Urzob was now stooping to the Sabre Cat.
"This beast was a mother, and it is still carrying a cub! Lend me your sword!" Urzob shouted before Damos grabbed a sword and handed it quickly to the Orc, who in turn cut carefully into the abdomen of the beast. He dug into the warm flesh of the carcass before he pulled forth a bundle of black fur. The cub survived the ordeal, and Damos was happy to see this.
"A true survivor, and look it is female. What should we do with her!?" Damos asked Urzob, who in turn rose as he held the mewling black cub in his arms. The cub opened its eyes, and Damos was amazed when he saw that they were the color of its mother's pelt, bright gold.
"Well Damos, since you have taken care of its mother, I assume that it is your duty to care for it, just don't let Demetos find out will you." Damos was astounded with the proclamation, and didn't know what to say as Urzob handed the bundle of fur to him.
"Me!? Why do I have to do it!?" He asked over and over to Urzob, the Orc only walking away from him. Damos had mixed feelings but the small female cub soon grew on him, and he found himself cooing and playing with the cub. "That's a good girl, your so beautiful! I think you and me will be best friends!"
The cub would mew at him before it took hold of his finger, licking softly against his rough finger before it purred and fell asleep into his chest. He smiled before he left the sands of the Arena, now seeking somewhere for he and his new friend to settle so that he could feed and care for her.
"She's so cute!" Sela exclaimed as she ruffled the black pelted cub, the little female growling at the Imperial before it waddled back to Damos. "Well, I guess she has taken a liking to you Damos, she thinks your her mother!" Damos chuckled, picking up the cub and cuddling her, the bundle purring as she was hugged by the Redguard. It had been several weeks since the cub joined the group and she was just now meeting Sela.
"Well I haven't left her side since Urzob handed her too me. And she certainly won't venture far away from me either. We are best friends, and I'm sure we will always be!" Damos proclaimed, his cheek now being licked by the young cub.
"What have you decided to name her?" Sela asked as he walked closer to the pair, only to receive a glare and hiss from the cub. Damos would calm her down before motioning Sela to step back.
"I don't know, I have just called her by what she is, Cub. But I think that it is time for a name, her name will be Subira!" Subira growled playfully with Damos, seeming to accept the name as she batted with Damos' dreadlocks. Sela would smile at Damos and Subira before she rose and hugged Urzob who finally entered their room.
"Urzob meet Subira!" Damos exclaimed with a smile before holding the cub out who mewled cutely at the Orc. Urzob chuckled before sitting on his bed and removing his armor before he was dressed only in his ragged trousers.
The trio along with Subira conversed for about an hour before Damos and his companion finally left the couple to their sleep. Letting the black cub perch on top of his head, Damos walked into his new room. He was rewarded the room since he had defeated Subira's mother. It was about the same size of Sela and Urzob's room. Laying down on his bed, the Redguard played along with small cub before he fed her the precious milk that he stole from the kitchen of the House of Demetos.
"You know Subira, you and me will escape from his place. You'll grow into a large powerful creature, maybe you will still be my friend then, maybe you won't I don't care. I just love you now, my little bundle of joy!" He spoke before petting her gently, the cub falling asleep soon.
He smiled, his body stretching out alongside his companion's as he thought of his future. What would he do when he finally escaped Tirenus. Maybe he would live with Sela and Urzob, maybe become a sailor, maybe even go into adventuring! He didn't know, all he knew was that he would soon free all who had been enslaved by the Tirenians and that he would do so in the name of Azura.
The large man stood smiling as he pet the large hound next to his side. The Lord of the Hunt, Hircine sat upon a throne of vines as he peered down at the two companions. It was he who had sent the Sabre Cat after Damos in the Arena, although the Redguard had disappointed him when he saved the cub instead of slay it like its mother.
Hmm, you intrigue me Damos! To care for something that is a natural born killer, just like yourself. I guess the spawn can be considered as a gift from me, although you are now in debt to! Oh, what fun I will have with you once you are free from the chains of slavery! Oh what fun!
