Nazeem Entered his home in the cloud district, enjoying the cloying sent of his imported candles. He had been a trader for many years, and while he was good he could barely afford to live in the cloud district let alone have such candles… That was until he had made a deal that had made him richer than he could hope, once he helped the brotherhood move weapons and people across borders, but one little deal with the king of the empire set him up for life.
"Where is my dinner woman?" He yelled out to his house maid, only to be met with silence.
"Where is that lazy woman, I told her to have dinner ready for me!" Nazeem growled to himself as he entered the kitchen and froze, a Drummer elf leaned against his cold hearth.
"The brotherhood never forgets debts we owe and are owed Nazeem." A voice whispered behind him, a club knocked him out before he could turn.
###
Nazeem woke up to a roaring hearth, trying to move found him tied to the chair. Looking around in a panic he saw that the only light was coming from the hearth and a single candle on the table, it was not one of his. It rested in a stand made from a human skull with runes craved into it, at his table sat an Argonian polishing tools of torture and a Drummer sat across from his sharping his daggers.
"Ah your awake, I was beginning to worry that I hit you too hard and I would lose the chance to balance the books." Nazeem went pale at that, he knew that term meant he would receive what those he betrayed had.
"Please, I am sure that we can work something out, I am very wealthy and have the ear of the Jarl!" Nazeem pleaded, only for the offer to cause a cold hissing laughter.
"The night mother sent me to balance the books for our dark father, I will balance them Nazeem starting now." Nazeem screamed as the shadowscale advanced on him, but the wards set by Han-Lei had sound proofed the room so his screams went unheard.
###
Aela and Kazder entered the bannered mare, Aela had lost a bet with Kazder so now she owed him his favorite meal from the mare. Saadie brought them their meal and started chatting with them, Aela saw a pair of figures sitting in the back corner drinking and talking.
"When did those two get here?" Aela asked the maid, Saadie looked at the pair and shrugged.
"Arrived two nights ago and rented a room for a few days. Funny thing is they left yesterday with a bag each and did not return until this morning and slept the day away." Saadie explained, Aela smirked and turned to Kazder.
"Guess you were right." She told the Khajiit. "Right about what?" Saddie asked, Aela looked at her. "That pair mentioned that they were going to remind Nazeem of a debt he owed, and the man took a trip yesterday so I guess they really did manage to convince him to leave and pay the debt." Aela lied.
"Well that bastard never tips, so I hop he gets lost on the way." Saadie remarked before leaving.
###
Steel sat across from Han-lei nursing a mug of ale, the Argonian was drinking a rum and brandy mix that was making him drunk just from the fumes. Steel was not much of a drinker, never having much of a chance really his brotherhood chapter frowned on exposing yourself like that. Han-lei had no such problem it seemed, so after the work of 'balancing the books' was done Han-lei dragged him to the inn for a drink.
"I don't think we should be drinking, it makes you sloppy." Steel complained, taking a sip of the ale because of the lack of another drink.
"Ash-walker I drink after a mission like this because otherwise I am not sleeping tonight, I may be trained for it does not mean I like to make a death slow like that." Han-lei explained darkly, Steel nodded along, having done missions like that himself he knew what the Argonian meant.
"So did you two manage to get the debt squared away?" A female voice broke into Steel's thoughts, cursing himself for being so sloppy he nodded greeting to the pair of warriors that drew level.
"The books have been balanced, Nazeem has left to double check the books, so our job is done." Han-lei said vaguely.
"This one is impressed that you managed to make him pay his debt." Kazder remarked, Han-lei offered them spots that they took Kazder sitting next to Steel.
"I just remined him that debts must be payed, if he had not payed his business would have suffered for it." Han-lei remarked.
"Enough talk like that, I noticed you have come by the hall." Aela said, Steel knew she meant the drinking hall and barracks of her group.
"We have been busy and we are not sure if we would make a good fit." Steel lied easily, Kazder swung an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close.
"You would make a fine shield-brother, trust Kazder he knows talent!" Kazder Proclaimed, clearly already slightly buzzed.
"How about a bet? I win you two tryout you win we drop it?" Aela suggested, a strange gleam in her eye as she challenged them.
"Fine name the game." Han-lei agreed, Aela smirked and signalled for a pair of hard drinks.
"First one to be too drunk to continue loses." Aela challenge, Han-Lei sighed and picked up the mug and downed it in one shot.
"Your deathwish huntress, I don't lose." Han-lei raised an browscale at her, Steel sighed and knew that this was going to end badly.
###
Steel woke the next morning with a head splitting in two from pain, he cursed letting that overgrown cat drag him into drinking with him. Steel tried to roll over only to freeze, a large furry arm was locked around his waist, his rather nude waist. Glancing back, Steel choked, Kazder was sound asleep next to him naked giving Steel an eyeful. The rest of his body began complaining of it's pain and to Steel's horror he knew this soreness very well.
"This one is trying to sleep stop squirming." Kazder sleepily ordered, Steel blushed as bits of last night came back.
"Please tell me that it was just you an me last night?" Steel asked, not wanting to have to deal with a hangover and looking his new partner in the eye if he ended up sleeping with him.
"Aela and the scaled one went into her room to set the bet when it became clear that they would be out of money before one lost. After awhile we decided to settle the bet as well, this one was the victor by the way." Steel glared at the Khajiit.
"I don't recall losing, I recall that at best you tied with me." Steel countered as more of the night came back, Kazder smirked.
"This one has a pair of cure-alls want a rematch?" Kazder taunted, Steel knew that he was being baited, but he also knew that it would be fun.
"Your on, just don't tap out too soon." Steel challenged, Kazder smirked and rolled over to get the bottles from his bedside table.