A.N Posted same time as chapters one and two. Any mistakes...shouldnt be there i checked it already but, well, u know how it is. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Durgaz, Lydia, Ozul and Boroja mine, all else is Bethesda's

Durgaz turned and left the South Wall. He crossed the river and headed up Trade Street to the fighter's guild. Nodding to friends as he entered, he headed down to where Eydis was. Or wasn't. The room was empty and although there was no sign of a struggle something seemed amiss. He carefully inspected the weapons rack and then moved over to a small desk in the corner. Eydis usually had correspondence from various people around Tamriel and also took care of the guard rosters. He sifted through the letters waiting for something to catch his eye. Nothing. But when he stood to leave he noticed the secret drawer, it hadn't been closed properly so obviously she had been in some haste. He opened it fully and picked the paper up that laid within. It was a note but was only signed with initials.

Dearest Eydis,

Made contact as requested, will return to u in

three days to finalise arrangements. Also saw

D on the way back, I can see why u have

confidence in him.

Regards L.B.

Durgaz crumpled the note up and threw it in the fire. Strange certainly, but why was it so important that it had been hidden in a secret drawer; he closed it experimentally and marvelled at how well it blended into the woodwork. He was just standing to leave when the door opened behind him and two burly Apprentices entered.

"Ah good day to you," said Durgaz, "have you seen Mistress Fire-eye around?"

"We were rather hoping you could tell us that orc. Eydis Fire-eye is a traitor to the guild and we'd like to ask you some questions about your dealings with her."

"Ah, well I'm afraid that won't be possible gentlemen, I was just leaving for home." He moved for the door but the two stepped in front of him to block his path.

"The steward said you might be trouble and that if you refused to come quiet like, we had orders to use necessary force." Durgaz took a step back.

"Well I suppose I'll have to do this by the book lads." He unsheathed his axe. "When ever you're ready"

The two apprentices looked at each other then unsheathed their swords. The larger of the two, a well-built Redguard, edged round to Durgaz's left whilst the other moved right. Then they moved. Durgaz sidestepped the closer of the two then brought his axe up to parry the second attack. He kicked out as the large one stumbled past and heard a crack as the man's knee slipped out of joint. As he fell to the floor his friend, an Altmer swung his sword around in his hand in a well-practiced manoeuvre designed to remove Durgaz's head. Which it didn't on account of Durgaz moving out of the way and hitting him in the ribs on the way by. As the elf turned to swing again Durgaz lifted the Redguard up and used him as a shield. The man screamed as his friend's sword entered his chest cavity and coughed blood onto the floor where Durgaz dropped him. The Altmer stared in disbelief just long enough for the orc to behead him in one stroke.

"Poor bastards," muttered Durgaz as he kicked the bodies into the corner. He grabbed the rest of his belongings and headed towards the door. "So now I know the guild steward is in on it too. Looks like I won't be in here for a short while," he thought.

He darted up the stairs and out of the door, then jogged down Trade Street.... in only a few short hours his comfortable routine had been flipped upside down and he was dragged into the depths of conspiracy. "Looks like my life just got interesting," he smiled to himself. An hour later he was jogging up the hill to his estate on the Odai Plateau. The guard nodded as he went by. In the years since his father had built the original stronghold it had grown from three simple houses a tower and a wall, to a town almost as big as Ald'ruhn. The original settlement housed his manor, several shops and the original tower (now used as a barracks for the guards). But beyond that houses had been built down to the river on one side and over the hill towards Hla Oad on the other. Another much larger wall had been erected around all this with several more guard towers. These were patrolled by Hlaau guards, a birthright secured by his father's influence. It may only be slightly smaller than Ald'ruhn but it was certainly more secure than the Redoran city, more so than Balmora even. The Hlaau council had considered moving it's quarters there but Durgaz had expressed his negativity to this idea and the matter was dropped. He disliked house politics almost as much as he disliked the temple (he'd also refused them to build a chapel in the town. Entering his manor he was greeted by a miscellaneous houseman.

"Good day my Lord"

"How are things doing?" inquired Durgaz

"Fairly well. The mines are operating at near peak efficiency"

"Splendid have some matze sent to the workers...only not too much because we don't want them too drunk to work do we."

"Quite my lord. Also you have two visitors. Madam Fire-eye and a dunmer woman. I showed them up to your quarters."

"Well done. Have a message sent to the guards at the gates and another copy to those in the barracks. Until further notice no members of the fighter's guild, with the exception of the two that are already here, are to be admitted to the estate. Have them leave a message to me or they can wait in the outer guardhouses and somebody will have to notify me."

"My Lord?"

"Don't worry," said Durgaz grinning like a guar, "I feel interesting times coming on."