It's early morning and the first rays of sunlight are shining down on the grass. All the gladiators are enjoying a few minutes of relaxation before training. Viperish Night is stretched out in the sun like a cat, the sun's rays warm on his scales. Fernthorn and Qa'Dar are sitting in the grass and every time Qa'Dar tries to inch closer to her, she finds an insect or spider to throw in his face. Rayrl and Israean are under a tree dozing. Kigum-Dar and Zan'tabe are wrestling and Titumus is standing against the gladiator's quarters wall just watching with a tired smile.

It's already been two weeks since the fight. Since Viperish Night killed the last two of Rishima's murderers. Viperish Night feels oddly at peace. Rishima had been avenged in such a way that he had not been driven in the icy river. Despite Titumus and Zan'tabe's worry, Valsvis has not done anything threatening. Even Thjonwulf has been oddly absent, his eyes no longer on Viperish Night when he trains. Even the small earthquakes have not upset the strange peace.

The sun crawls across the morning sky and slowly everyone rises to head in for training. Titumus suddenly stumbles and Zan'tabe catches his arm. "My friend, are you unwell?" Zan'tabe asks as Viperish Night hurries to Titumus as well.

Titumus waves them off. "Just not sleeping well lately," he says, a troubled look crossing his face. "Cost of living hard and getting old."


Halfway through training that day Thjonwulf walks in, the first time in weeks. His eyes immediately focus on Viperish Night, who is training with Kigum-Dar. Viperish Night feels his eyes and pauses, hissing. "Do not let him get to you, Viperish Night," Kigum-Dar says quietly. Viperish Night slowly nods, his eyes narrowed slightly. He will not be what others wish him to be.

Titumus steps in Thjonwulf's path as he starts to move toward Viperish Night. "Out of my way, Imperial." Thjonwulf snarls. "I allow you enough latitude as is."

"Accept things as how they are," Titumus says. "How your gladiators are. We all win for you. It should be enough."

"Accept?" Thjonwulf snarls. "They pay to see you fight, but they keep coming back for bloody carnage. I need my monsters, and I HAVE NONE."

All the gladiators are now still, paused in place by the confrontation. Qa'Dar looks at Fernthorn, they had been sparing before this. "Not monster enough for him?" he asks confused. Fernthorn looks uncomfortable.

Zan'tabe walks over to Viperish Night and Kigum-Dar. "Zan'tabe thinks this will not end well." He runs a paw over his head. "No new gladiators, attendance down, the werewolf's temper is non-existent right now. Titumus should not be confronting him now." Worry crosses the Khajiit's face. Titumus has not been sleeping well for some time, the point it was causing him to falter in training. If that happened in a match...

"Titumus..." Viperish Night says, starting to move to him.

Zan'tabe puts a paw on his shoulder. "You will not help, Viperish Night. It will make things worse."

"Enough," Titumus says. "Viperish Night is an excellent fighter. The fact he took on both those Orcs without serious injury is proof of that. He does not need to be your monster."

"You ORDER ME?" Thjonwulf roars. He suddenly grabs Titumus by the neck and slams him against the wall. "Your all MINE. You will do as I tell you, fight as I want you to!"

Viperish Night hisses and surges forward. "Let him go." he snarls at Thjonwulf.

"Viperish Night should not be doing this..." Zan'tabe says.

Thjonwulf drops Titumus and turns to Viperish Night in a rage. "You too, my formerly savage Argonian?" His eyes narrow. "Submit!

Viperish Night knows he should back down. Submit. Things are stable, his anger is at last under control. But this man...no. This monster. He's just like his former mentor. Just like Stalks-in-Darkness. Wanting him to be something he did not want to be. Wanted him to be a monster. He's sick of it and so he meets Thjonwulf's eyes in challenge.

"Viperish Night stand down!" Titumus says staggering up. "You cannot beat him." Viperish Night pauses, glances at Titumus.

Zan'tabe moves to Titumus's side. "We could beat him together. Though that would bring so much trouble. And anyone of us could get bitten in the process."

The rest of the gladiators gravitate towards the wall, towards Titumus. If he ordered it, they would attack Thjonwulf. Titumus judges the situation and then looks at Viperish Night a question in his eyes. Viperish Night shakes his head. He wants them to stay out of this.

"Yes, formally savage Argonian, stand down. Submit!" Thjonwulf says.

Viperish Night's attention returns to Thjonwulf. He does not drop his gaze, instead of meeting the werewolf's eyes once more. "No.," he says.

Thjonwulf's eyes melt from brown to gold and he shifts in a heartbeat. He howls and then savagely throws himself at Viperish Night. Viperish Night dives to the side then leaps up and his claws rake Thjonwulf's side. Thjonwulf growls and throws his body at Viperish Night, sending him crashing to the ground. Thjonwulf leaps on top of them and the two roll claws flying and jaws snapping until Viperish Night manages to slither out and slams into Thjonwulf sending him tumbling. Thjonwulf springs up and clubs Viperish Night across the side of the head bringing him to his knees. He then springs onto Viperish Night and both crash down. Thjonwulf's jaws close on Viperish Night's throat and stop before they clamp down, his fangs just brushing Viperish Night's scales.

Viperish Night hisses, then closes his eyes. "...I submit," he says.

Thjonwulf releases his grip and stands up, shifting back just as the guards rush in with Valsvis leading them. "Take him to the cave." Thjonwulf orders.

Viperish Night staggers up, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Valsvis. He goes with the guards without issue, looking back at his friends with a small shrug.

"Valsvis." Thjonwulf snarls as Valsvis starts to leave. "JUST the cave. No additional punishments. He just needs a little time out."

Valsvis's eyes narrow. "Of course," he says stiffly.

"Keep him there until I return from town." Thjonwulf orders. "I have to deal with the milk drinkers today. I won't be back till after nightfall." Valsvis nods and turns to follow the guards. Thjonwulf gives the rest of the gladiators a glance. "You will stay in the building today. That is an order. The doors will be locked." he orders then stalks out as well.

"Damn it," Titumus says. "This is my fault. I should not have baited him."

"Zan'tabe thinks you need more sleep," Zan'tabe says.

"No one's ever tried to take on the fleabag before," Fernthorn says, eyes wide.

"He's an idiot for trying," Rayrl says.

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Israean says. "I find it more interesting that Thjonwulf seems to have purposely come in to start a fight."

Titumus stares at the door. "Titumus?" Kigum-dar asks.

"Fernthorn," Titumus says. "Your the only one small enough to sneak out. You know the way. Keep an eye on things if you can."

Fernthorn glares at him. "Fine. But I wish I was an Argonian. Always think I'm going to get stuck and drown." she heads off to the baths.

The rest of the gladiators head out to the dining hall. No one's mind is on training any longer and so they will wait for the day to be over as best they can.


The guards lead Viperish Night to the cave and down into the earth. The cage awaits, the lava bubbling nearby. He goes in without a fuss, turning to look at them before they lock the door. Valsvis stares at him for a few moments, before leaving with the guards. Viperish Night sighs. He still hates lava and small cages. He sits cross-legged on the ground, his scales already drying out from the heat. At least the simmering warmth will help the aches in his body from being thrown around by a werewolf. Viperish Night tilts his head. He should not have challenged Thjonwulf but he was just sick of people telling him who to be. He may not know what he truly wants, but that does not mean anyone else knows! He growls softly and rests his head against the bars. Maybe now Thjonwulf would leave him alone.


Outside Valsvis walks away from the cave. One of the Orc guards is left to guard the cave. Valsvis walks to an equipment building and leans against it watching the cave with a look of fury in his eyes for nearly an hour. Finally, he shifts. "You are late," he says as two Dunmer mages walk from the shadows of the building. "Follow me, and keep quiet. You'll be paid after." Valsvis walks down to the cave the two mages trailing behind him. When he gets to the guard, he places a pouch full of gold into his hands and descends into the cave.

Viperish Night raises his head as footsteps echo down the path. It's far too early for Thjonwulf to be back. Far too early to be released. Viperish Night rises as Valsvis walks into view followed by his two mages. His eyes fill with hatred, but he remains calm and silent. The match with Rishima's murderers has given him calm. He is not about to let Valsvis shake it. His eyes narrow. Valsvis is making his move then.

Valsvis walks up to the cage with a twisted smile. "You stupid lizard," he says as he gestures for the mages to move to the back of the cage, closer to the lava. "Had you not decided to take a bite out of that fur rug Nord I might have never had a chance like this."

Viperish Night stalks the cage, his eyes never leaving Valsvis. He runs his claws against the bars, focusing an unblinking stare onto Valsvis, even as a chill runs down his back. Traped in a small cage, no way to snap his jaws around Valsvis's neck.

"Those damn eyes!" Valsvis suddenly snarls. "Always those damn eyes staring, challenging me!"

The depth of anger in his words staggers Viperish Night back, his eyes shifting from hatred to confusion. "Why do you hate me so much?" Viperish Night hisses.

Valsvis surges forward and slams his fist against the bars. "You damn lizards!" he snarls. "All of you! Damn Argonian's, acting all obedient and passive, but it's a lie, an act!" Valsvis suddenly steps back, just now realizing he's in Viperish Night's range. He starts to pace back and forth in front of the cage.

Viperish Night's eyes follow him, even more confused. Valsvis is acting half-mad and filled with so much hatred and rage, just as much as Viperish Night has in the past.

"Damn lizards. My family treated them better than a lot of Dunmer treat their slaves! And how did they repay us? By going mad and killing nearly everyone in the middle of the night! I killed some of those Damn fetchers myself before the house guards came and put the rest down." Valsvis spits.

Viperish Night steps forward, wrapping his claws around the bars. "You kept them bond." he hisses. "What do you expect? That every single being you Dunmer bind will just take it? Just accept it?" The acts of the Argonian's in Valsvis's story puzzles him. Argonian's did go with the river in many cases. What would cause them to rise in mass? His eyes narrow. The world seems to cause so much pain and misery. Everyone dealt with it so differently. Valsvis decided to become a hate-filled spiteful Dunmer that caused pain to those bound against their will. "You do not deserve pity." Viperish Night hisses. "Go away."

"As if I want your pity. Your so much lesser than me." Valsvis sneers and turns to the mages. "Get ready to destabilize the floor behind the cage," he orders. He turns back to Viperish Night and smirks. "Small earthquakes all week. When Thjonwulf returns and finds the cage and his lizard melted in the lava it will just be a sad little accident."

Viperish Night's eyes widen and his eyes dart around the small cage. It was built to withstand a warrior. The bars solid metal bolted into the rocks. And his strength is in part bound by the binding cuffs. "Coward." he snarls at Valsvis. "I should have thrown you in the lava back then."

"Yes, you should have," Valsvis says with a cold glare.

"All this just because you hate Argonians?" Viperish Night hisses.

"Oh no," Valsvis says. "This is far more personal, you damn lizard." His eyes spark with hatred and anger. "Ever since I saw you, your damn eyes challenge me, always challenge me! It was to be a simple matter to do what I wanted. Nelimar was so disinterested. I should have been able to do whatever I wanted with you damn slaves, disgusting treacherous creatures that you are. But YOU! You and your damn friends. Rebelling at every turn, a challenge in your worthless eyes at every glance! How I HATE you!" Valsvis yells, spittle flying from his mouth. "Even when I lashed you, you still lived, even on your knees you defied me!" Valsvis slams his fist against the cage, jerking it back before Viperish Night has the chance to do anything. He takes a deep breath, calming slightly. "Finally I'll be rid of you. The last time failed, this won't. Some things you have to do yourself."

The last time? Confusion crosses Viperish Night's face. "What do you mean by that?" Viperish Night hisses.

"Stupid Fetcher," Valsvis says a smile creeping on his face. "You never figured it out, did you?"

Viperish Night takes a step back, dread creeping down his spine. "What did you do?" he asks.

"Oh, you foolish lizard," Valsvis says. "You should have died over a year ago. How you managed to murder one of the Orcs I hired to kill your cat and kill you when you came from them...clearly I underestimated you a little."

The Orcs... Viperish Night backs away until his back hits the back of the cage. He stares at Valsvis with horror in his eyes The last words of Yatob come back to him, he called Viperish Night an idiot. So confusing at the time, and then he had forgotten it. Viperish Night starts to tremble with horror and rage. This could not be true. It just could not. The world spins as he stares at Valsvis. "The Orcs..." he hisses.

"Never once did you think it odd that they went after the cat for such little reason?" Valsvis mocks. "Risking a fight with a Dunmer house and trouble from their clan?" A twisted grin crosses his face. "Every man has their price. Pay them enough and they'll murder for you. Though they could not manage to kill a lizard. Just a worthless cat."

"You?!" Viperish Night says and throws himself at the bars snarling. Rishima, he was the one who had her murdered? He thought it was just the Orcs, just random brutality. The world spins ever more and he howls and snaps his jaws against the bars. Trying to get out, trying to get at Valsvis.

Valsvis starts to pace back and forth in front of the cage. "That fight truly was priceless, lizard. I lost some money betting on your death, but it was worth it for that vicious look of victory on your face at the end. Thinking you killed your cat's murderers when they had been just...hired mercenaries for lack of a better term."

Viperish Night slams his fists against the bars trying to budge them, break them. Trying to reach Valsvis so he could tear him apart. "You." he hisses.

"Yes yes." Valsvis gloats. "I paid to have your stupid cat killed. And now you'll die here too." he gestures to the mages but a commanding voice stops them in their tracks.

"That is ENOUGH, Valsvis." Thjonwulf roars, stomping down with many guards behind him. "Take them all," Thjonwulf commands. The guards surge in and surround the mages and Valsvis, cuffing them and leading them out of the cave.

Viperish Night's eyes narrow and he slams his claws against the bars again. "NO!" he snarls. "GIVE ME VALSVIS." Viperish Night growls and then howls in utter heartbreak and rage.

Thjonwulf pushes past the remaining guards to stand before the cage. "STOP." he commands.

"NO." Viperish Night snarls, raking his claws against the bars, his eyes wild and utterly out of control. "Give him to me. LET ME KILL HIM."

"SUBMIT." Thjonwulf roars. "Submit now and his punishment will be yours."

Viperish Night finally stops, shaking. He drops to his knees. "When." Viperish Night asks, hanging his head down.

"Soon," Thjonwulf promises. "I must clear it through channels." as Viperish Night tenses, he adds. "He will not get away with any of this. He has attacked my property, meaning he attacked me. And he has done more besides. Soon."

Thjonwulf gestures to the last pair of guards. "Take Viperish Night to my cabin. Post guards. He is not to leave."

The guards unlock the cage and take Viperish Night's arms. In a fog of shock, he meekly follows them.

Viperish Night paces inside Thjonwulf's cabin. His whole body is trembling and he slams his fists against the wall. All this time, Valsvis had been the one. The one to take Rishima away from him. First Denros and then his Rishima. Viperish Night throws back his head and howls, a scream of utter despair and agony He thought he had justice for Rishima...but they had just been hired to hunt and kill her. To kill him when he came after them. The world spins around him and he collapses onto the floor, claws tearing at the rug. "Rishima...my river," he whispers. "I should have thrown him into the lava, the ocean, something. Why was I so weak I did nothing. And now it's too late." The pain sweeps through him, memories of Rishima flooding through his mind. And then that night, Rishima lying on the cold ground of the building, bloody and broken. Viperish Night staggers up and attacks the room, screaming incoherently until at last, he hits his limit and drops to the floor the world going black.


Fernthorn rushes into the dining room, dripping wet. Titumus and Zan'tabe are at a table looking worried, the rest of the gladiators are either in their rooms or in the training room.

"What happened?" Titumus says.

Fernthorn sits down. "Valsvis went into the cave with mages. I would have gone in after them, but Thjonwulf showed up with a lot of guards."

"It was a setup. Why is Zan'tabe surprised?" Zan'tabe says.

"The guards brought Valsvis up and took him to be locked up somewhere." Fernthorn continues.

"And Viperish Night?" Titumus says.

"A few minutes later they brought up Viperish Night." Fernthorn answers. "He was not hurt." Fernthorn trails off and looks at Titumus. "Titumus, his eyes." she softly says. "His eyes were full of such rage and agony."

"By Jone and Jode, what did Valsvis do to him?" Zan'tabe says.

"Where is he?" Titumus asks.

Fernthorn shrugs. "They took him someplace. I don't know where. And Thjonwulf went into town."

"Damn it all to Oblivion." Titumus curses, slamming his fist against the table.

"Calm, Titumus," Zan'tabe says.

"What is going on?" Fernthorn says, Zan'tabe giving her an odd look puzzled by the way she's acting.

"Leave her be," Titumus says. "Its Viperish Night we need to be worried about now.

Fernthorn wraps her arms around herself. "I like Viperish Night." she suddenly says. "I like all of you. Even that idiot Qa'Dar. I just... it's easier to pretend."

"Zan'tabe's head spins," Zan'tabe says. "But yes, Titumus, this is not good but it's not a disaster."

Titumus's fist clenches. "Thjonwulf intends to make an example out of Valsvis and let Viperish Night enact the punishment." Titumus sighs. "He's also made it so that none of us can calm or ground Viperish Night beforehand."

"Zan'tabe feels sick," Zan'tabe says. "But Viperish Night is doing well. He took down the Orcs without losing control, or losing himself."

"You did not see his eyes," Fernthorn says. "Worse then I have ever seen him, even when he first came here. There was no madness in his eyes this time though... just utter despair and such hatred and rage."

"Whatever Valsvis did or said," Titumus says. "We need to find out what. I'll talk to Thjonwulf when he returns." Titumus rises to wait by the building door. Thjonwulf will come and announce what is happening. Titumus feels sure of it.


Thjonwulf enters at dusk and Titumus is waiting for him arms crossed and anger on his face. He waits for Thjonwulf to speak.

"Imperial," Thjonwulf says. "Why am I not surprised to see you waiting for me."

"You planned this," Titumus says tightly.

"Valsvis has vexed me for some time," Thjonwulf says. "Damn Dunmer is slyer than most and it took longer than I thought to catch him in the act." he grins. "Now I get to have my fun with the damn Dunmer."

"Punishment for capturing you so long ago," Titumus says. "Hunting the Dunmer down and doing it in such a way that they have little recourse but to let you."

"Makes the hunt fun, Imperial," Thjonwulf says.

"Viperish Night." Titumus states. "He does not deserve punishment for any of this."

"Oh, on the contrary, Imperial. I'm rewarding him. He wants Valsvis's head, he'll get it." Thjonwulf says with a laugh.

"Viperish Night did not fight the way you wanted him to with the Orcs," Titumus says. "He'll take down Valsvis the same way, not the way you want him to."

"Such faith," Thjonwulf says. "I listened in on Valsvis when he was tormenting Viperish Night." Thjonwulf leans in closer to Titumus. "The Orcs never acted on their own with Viperish Night's kitty cat. Valsvis hired them.

Titumus goes still. "What," he says.

"You heard me. Treacherous backstabbing race. Why I hate the Dunmer so much. Cowardly milk drinkers." Thjonwulf snarls.

"Where is Viperish Night?" Titumus asks.

"My cabin," Thjonwulf says. "Guarded of course."

"Bring him back here, Thjonwulf," Titumus says. "He needs to be with his friends."

"Why?" Thjonwulf says. "So you can tame my Savage Argonian, Imperial?"

Titumus tenses, eyes locked on Thjonwulf. "You do NOT know what you are doing," Titumus says. "You do not know what he used to be. What if the collar releases during the fight? You'll have more than a few dead Dunmer spectators on your hands!"

Thjonwulf slams his fist into Titumus's face, sending him crashing to the ground. "Do not challenge me! I doubt I'd be able to stop before I snapped my jaws around your neck." He stares down at Titumus until he looks away. "His collar cannot be cut off unless someone beheads him." Thjonwulf turns to leave. "Two days. You all will be in attendance for the special match. And Viperish Night stays with me till then." he slams the door on his way out.

Titumus paces in the dining hall with the rest of the gladiators gathered. "Damn it all," he says.

"He'll be fine," Qa'Dar says. "He was so angry at the Orcs, yet it was fine then."

Fernthorn's expression is more of a lost little girl than her monstrous mask. She suddenly leans against Qa'Dar much to his surprise. "His eyes." she says "None of you saw his eyes."

"Zan'tabe says the solution is simple. We challenge Thjonwulf and take him down. Take over." Zan'tabe says.

"Thjonwulf is many things," Rayrl says. "But stupid is not one of them. He will not come into the training room where we can get him."

"Thjonwulf was a gladiator," Israean adds. "He knows our mindset far too well."

"Viperish Night will remember us." Zan'tabe insists. "This one is certain."

"It is easy to become lost in the past." Kigum-dar says. Remembering the fight with the Daedra, he had temporarily lost his mind during it.

"It is set for two days from now," Titumus says. "Thjonwulf will not wait till the end of the month or let Viperish Night calm down first." he pauses. "If Viperish Night can calm down. If the Orcs had acted alone as we all thought, that is an act of brutality. But Valsvis paying them... that is an act of venom of sheer hatred."

Everyone falls silent. Two days seems an endless wait.


Thjonwulf walks into his cabin, past the guards. The room is trashed and Viperish Night is passed out in the middle of the carnage. Thjonwulf rights a chair and gets a cup of mead and sits watching him, waiting for him to wake. "My savage Argonian," he says with a grin. "This is going to be fun."