"Distribute your weight evenly or you opponent can easily overtake you." Turin yelled out as he swung his maces out at Baron. Baron quickly slapped them to the side with his sword and lunged forward making sure to keep his center. The weapons clanged together and sparks flew every direction. The torches in the room flickered light on the two as they danced in fire torn battle. "Don't favor one side with your attacks make sure that your opponent never knows how to read you or what to do next.
Another parry from Turin shook Baron's sword and the shockwave traveled down his arm. Baron took a step back and lowered his sword. His whole entire arm was numb. The two had been training and fighting for over forty minutes now and it was hard for Baron to keep up with his ferocious attacks. Baron was surprised at the man's quickness and stamina even though he was older than Baron he could still hold his own in a fight. Baron had enough; he raised his sword above his head his young muscles tensing up with the weight of the sword. Turin knew of this rookie mistake and placed his mace under Baron's swing aiming the head toward the dark elf's throat. Baron had predicted this and gave Turin no more time to react. He spun around ducking under Turin's mace and in one motion tripped the man and rose in time enough to press his own blade against the Redguard's throat.
"Good." Turin breathed out, the old man out of breath. "You can remove that now." He said staring up at Baron's red eyes, they were filled with rage. Baron soon realized that he had let his emotions get the better of him and quickly removed the blade. He turned and slid it into it's sheath trying to hide the anger the fight had given him. He always tried to control his emotions in battle but this tiring fight had gotten the better of him.
Turin was on his feet by now and turned to face Baron.
"Good. Now go to your quarters and dress out in acceptable attire. We are expecting a guest tonight." The Redguard said to Baron. The dark elf hated it when the man when he spoke to him in a fatherly tone. But Baron could not deny the training that Turin had gave him over the last month. He was smart when it came to the slavers as he advanced through the slavers complex and made sure to make all the relationships that he had made in the slaver company professional, and that meant distancing himself from everyone else. That was always reoccurring theme in the group, but one thing was for certain they all either feared or respected Turin. In fact, for that one reason Baron was accepting training from him. He knew he was getting better at fighting and he hoped to be as good as Turin one day. Baron turned to leave the Redguard but Turin stopped him.
"I want everyone to be civil tonight, this is a very important guest, He comes every year to check up on our progress. He reports to the Black Wolf directly so don't annoy him or I will kill you my self."
Baron gulped, Baron still did not know much about the Black Wolf but he knew well enough that he was in charge and he was not a man to be meddled with. He indignantly walked away from Turin toward his quarters all the while wondering what the night would bring.
Fieve walked down the row of slavers, grunting with the strenuous task of moving his body. Fieve Shadowbrook was overweight and was wearing rich linens, a large crimson cloak that draped all the way to his feet. The man had lived in the Imperial City his entire life. Baron could smell the Alcohol on his breath and his sweaty fat face dripped with sweat as he talked. The large man stopped in front of Baron and looked him up and down, scanning him for something. Baron stood attentive making sure not to look the man in the face but also showing no weakness in his posture.
"So you are the new man are you?" Fieve croaked out "Turin tells me you show great potential." He looked Baron over one more time before taking out a small canteen that had straight ale in it. He took a giant swig, relishing as the Alcohol burned down his throat. He stepped away from Baron and continued his patrol looking at the other slavers before returning to Turin's side at the front of the group. "These boy's look fine Turin, I think we should go take a look at the slaves." The fat man licked his lips as he followed the Redguard away to the slave cages. The men dispersed. Twitch and Hadil left the room leaving Gronack and Baron standing silently. Baron looked up at the giant orc. He was wearing an Orcish ceremonial outfit for the occasion, Baron could see the rippling muscles out of the shirt and it looked like the orc was very uncomfortable. Gronack saw Baron looking at him and laughed.
"We look ridiculous don't we Ashborn." Baron smiled and looked down at his own finery, they truly did.
"Come Baron, have an ale with me." Baron was surprised that the man referred to him by his first name he barely knew the Orc. He followed the giant down through the twisting halls of the slaver complex; the man had a hulking manor as he walked. The difference between Baron and Gronack was immense. They finally reached the cellar where they kept the Wine and spirits, Gronack grabbed a tankard from the table and walked over to the barrel of ale. The frothy brown liquid poured into the cup and Gronack could be heard grunting with a deep sigh. Baron followed soon after grabbing his own tankard. The gigantic man took a seat in one of the wooden chairs propped against the Wall and took a huge swig. After Baron had gotten his beverage he drank. The liquid smelled strange and as the warm ale went down his throat it gave him the sensation of disgust. He spit the ale out all over the floor, it splattered as it hit the stone.
"HA HA, Little elf! you can not hold your liquor." Baron frowned and took a seat next too Gronack. "That is OK. I know it tastes like warm piss." The Orc said as he took another huge swig. "Let's be honest here Baron, do you know that this operation is completely turning to shit. Look at Turin, he is supposedly our leader yet he follows this arrogant fuck around, showing him this and that and telling him all about our progress." The orc paused to gain his composure before continuing. "I hate it here and that is why I need your help," Gronack sat upward in his seat leaning toward Baron. "We will get the hell out of here." Baron was taken aback at Gronack's request.
"You want to leave the slavers Gronack?" Baron said his eyes cautiously scanning the drunken orc.
"Why the hell not." The orc said as he got out of his seat and went to the center of the room. "The operation is nothing but a pile of goblin dung." Gronack exclaimed spinning around and sloshing his ale on the floor.
"I think that may be the ale talking." Baron replied. Gronack frowned as Baron rose from his seat and joined him in the center of the room.
"Don't you want to leave and explore and find what is out there? I am sick of being trapped in this prison." He walked over to Baron and stared at him his eyes unmoving from Baron's face. "I have seen what you can do Drow, you have potential. We could be partners, what do you say." The giant orc stuck out a hand to Baron. The dark elf paced around the room and ignored the hand that Gronack was now extending to him. Thoughts were swirling around in his head, he was trying to weigh his options. Gronack put his hand on Baron's shoulder.
"Listen to me Baron, I know you have seen this part of Cyrodiil but, by the gods you have not really seen it. You have not experienced it for yourself. I know what is out there and I know that it is better than what we do now." He paused "I know you want to leave." He said as he walked back to the wood chair in the corner and sat upon it. Baron was thinking hard, flashes of the landscape he had always dreamed of flew through his mind. The sparkling gold coast waters in the morning sun. Baron hesitated before sticking out his hand to the orc. Gronack laughed heartily and grabbed the boy's hand shaking it fiercely. "We will become rich men."
Baron was drunk and tired, he stumbled down the hallway using the walls to hold him upright. He had spent most of the night drinking with Gronack, the orc definitely knew how to hold his ale. Baron had never drunk that much in all of his life. The orc claimed they had to celebrate their last few days in the slaving operation. Baron had been thinking about the deal ever since he had shaken the orcs hand. Could he really trust him to keep his bargain, and even though he did not trust the orc, he wanted to. It was just something about the orc that made him seem sincere. He had to trust him for now. He kept the vision of the gold coast in the back of his head, the little house overlooking the ocean, the distinct smell of the coastal breeze. Baron had to get there and make his fortune. He had learned a lot while he was in slavers but he craved freedom and this orc insured him that.
He turned the corner the torches passed light throughout the twists and turns of the hallways. He made his way to the front hall. The tapestries were draped down from the upper floor hanging quietly over the room's torches. Baron stopped as he heard a scream from a side hall leading out of the room. The elf moved as quickly as he could, running to the source of the scream.
He turned the corner and ducked into the shadows peering in to the room. In the center was Fieve Shadowbrook struggling with a young slave girl. He had the strength to overtake her and after a minute of stress he wrestled her to the ground. Baron could tell that the woman was strong however and he was struggling. His hair draped over his face and sweat curled down his fat chin. The drow also spotted Turin as he entered the hallway through one of the doors. Stealth was important in his endeavor and his drunken state was not helping. The Redguard ran to the fat mans aid grabbing the girl and tying her hands together behind her back. Baron watched from afar hoping to find the reason that this was happening. Fieve struggled to get to his feet and when he finally did he was severely out of breath. He walked up to Turin and gave him a hard slap across the face yelling at him as he restrained the girl.
"If I had wanted your help I would have asked for it!" Fieve exclaimed sweat flying of his lips in all directions.
"I apologize, sir." Turin replied trying desperately to keep his composure. Baron was completely taken aback by Turin's awkward response he as had always saw Turin as invincible, a unique man of steel. Baron knew that if anyone did that to him he would shove there stomachs down their throat. Maybe this Black Wolf was more dangerous then he first thought. Turin brought the girl down to her knees and let Fieve circle around her. He stopped and leaned over the girls shoulder rubbing his sweaty face on hers. A look of desperation was on the girls face and Baron wondered what she was thinking. The fat man giggled with joy as he stuck his plump tongue out and licked the woman's face before whispering something's in her ear. He paraded her off in the directions of the bedrooms. Baron threw up in his mouth a little.
Turin was left to himself in the tiny hallway, he stared with a glance directed at the ground. As soon as Fieve Shadowbrook was out of sight anger rose over him and he fiercely punched the wall. Baron could hear the bones smack against the stone and it made a sickening sound. Baron figured this was his way of venting. The pushed his head out farther from his place of hiding trying to see if the wound was bad.
Turin looked up suddenly his eyes on Baron, he had discovered him and their was nothing he could do about it. He marched toward Baron shaking his paining hand out. The dark elf stepped out of the shadow standing at attention even though he respected Turin less than he ever did at that exact moment. The Redguard stopped when he came to the side of Baron and turned his head without looking him in the eyes.
"He is testing the merchandise." Turin said nothing else keeping his quiet resolve and walked by. He did not punish Baron in any way. Maybe Gronack was right, maybe Turin was getting soft.