The wind picked up. The blustery, rainy weather felt foreboding. Small droplets of rain hit my armor with tiny, high noises. Normally, I enjoy the rain - it is cleansing, refreshing. But...this rain felt cold. Small, biting specks fell across my bare face.

I looked around, vaguely impressed by the size of the this force. At least five hundred men, most Imperials and Orcs. There was also a large number of Nords and Redguards. Twenty Bosmer archers sat idly by a larger group of Orcs.

"Quite a group." Even I wondered if there was a sardonic touch in my voice.

"It took me a month to raise." His voice had a slimy, dripping pride in it. "Over a hundred thousand Septims were spent on these men."

"And yet, you spent half of that on me alone." There wasn't a hint of arrogance in my voice. I had made millions of drakes in my works. This wasn't really even a necessary job. It did sound interesting, though. "What makes me so valuable?"

Perhaps I was looking for a slight ego boost - no one can really tell. Maybe I was trying to talk him out of hiring me. I'm not sure why, but he certainly answered.

"Three months ago, you were on a mission in Vivec, the holy city. There, you were accosted by a pair of ORdinators who had decided you looked like fun to pick on.

"You killed two Ordinators in close combat."

I shrugged.

"You were unarmed."

I almost laughed. His delivery was perfect. How could I not? At the moment, it seemed almost trivial. I stood, towering over the Imperial, and faced my army.

Those words tasted too sweet for my liking.

"Who here knows who I am?" My voice was louder than I had expected.

"A murmer of acknowledgement (or bewilderment?) went through the crowd. One Orc even laughed, a choked, gurgling sound.

"Does anyone here question my skills as a leader?"

A dull roar rose up at this, and I turned to my Imperial "Associate".

"I cannot lead men that will not follow me." He nodded, and then stepped forward. His presence, although usually unimposing, demure, became taller, slightly more there.

"Quiet!" He yelled. He repeated it again, and again, until there was relative silence. "This man will be God for the next week to you." He looked around. The Imperials shifted nervously. "You will obey him for so long as our contract lasts, or he has my authority" -I raised my eyebrow at this -"To kill you. Understood?"

Silence followed. The silence of understanding, and not wanting to admit it. Then he turned back to me, smiling a rather indignant smile.

"You have full access to our Armory-"

"That won't be necessary," I cut him off, raising a hand. "I have everything I need."

He nodded, a slight smile spreading over his face. "As I figured."

I was beginning to dislike this man.