Mul awoke to the smells of mold and rotting flesh. He opened his blood-crusted eyes and was immediately blinded by the sunlight streaming in through a rusted iron bar window. Unsteadily rising to his feet with the assistance of the lone chair in his tiny room, he quickly realized that he was in some kind of prison cell. He stumbled towards the barred iron door, grasping it for support. As he looked up, he found a dark-skinned elf staring at him from a nearby cell. "You! Elf! Tell me where we are!"
The Mer laughed at the Orc's meager attempts to intimidate him. "By the Nine Divines, you're an ugly one. Aren't Orcs supposed to be strong? Ha! You must be the one Orc weakling, captured by the Imperials. The guards drug you in a few days ago. Whatever you did, you must've really ruined someone's day." The elf clung to the bars of his cell, straining to see Mul as he leaned against the gate. His face contorted into an ugly sneer as he continued to taunt the Orc. "I hope you ate a horse or something before you came in; they don't feed us down here. Maybe you'll get lucky and attract some rats. Filthy Orc…."
Mul stewed quietly for a moment, struggling to keep his composure. The elf clearly felt safe behind iron bars. If only he knew what an Orcish berserker was capable of…nonetheless, trying to convince the arrogant fool of that would get him nowhere. "No food? By the Gods! Did they bring any others with me? Were there any more Orcs?"
"No, just you. They probably slit your friends' throats like the pigs they are. You might think you're the lucky one; let's see how you feel in a week or two." The heavy clang of a door opening hushed their conversation.
Mul counted four pairs of footsteps; three marching in sure strides, and the fourth in a faltering drag. As the group passed his cell, he immediately recognized one of the faces in front of him. Kresh! Kresh nodded his grim recognition towards his captured commander as he was shoved into a cell neighboring Mul's. "Good…we can work with this," Mul thought.
After the guards accompanying Kresh had left, they began conversing in their native Orcish. This kept the haughty elf from overhearing their plans and tattling to save his own skin.
Several hours of deliberating (and nervous pacing from the elf) passed before Mul and Kresh had finalized their plan. They would escape at the next nightfall. The lengthy wait proved the elf's taunting to be true: time ticked by without any sign of life aside from the trio of prisoners.
As dusk approached, Mul and Kresh readied themselves for action.
Unexpectedly, the dungeon door opened again. Another four pairs of footsteps marched down the stairs, more urgent than the last arrival. The orcs watched from their cells anxiously, hoping to find another fallen comrade with which to escape. The over-dressed Imperial who passed in front of Mul's cell was no less than the Emperor himself, Uriel Septim VII, accompanied by three heavily armed guards.
Mul's face contorted in anger. Here, right within his reach, was the cause of all of his people's problems. This man was the figurehead that the Imperials rallied behind, and if only these bars weren't in the way he would be able to snap his frail little neck. Unfortunately, the guards, the Emperor's Blades, would kill him long before he ever managed to break through the door. Mul's curiosity had also been aroused. Things obviously weren't as idyllic as they appeared within the Empire. The guards' faces were shadowed with worry, while the Emperor's bore the resignation of certain defeat.
The Emperor stopped directly in front of Kresh's cell. "Dammit," Mul thought, "Surely they don't know of our plans. Who else would know Orcish in the Imperial palace?"
"Through this cell, sire. It's the only way out of here," a red-skinned guard explained. The group paused, surprised to find a form within the cell. They deliberated for a moment before stepping into Kresh's cell. "Stand back, prisoner. I'll gut you myself if you make a move."
"Keep calm, Kresh," Mul reassured in Orcish. "Don't tell him anything."
The Emperor spoke, his sonorous voice resonating through the dungeon. "Wait…by the Gods…I know this Orc. Come here, Orsimer. Let me see your face."
Kresh stepped forwards cautiously, his curiosity overcoming his distrust of Imperials. As the Emperor peered into his eyes, he suddenly felt much calmer, as if warm waters were flowing around him. "You will come with us. What is your name?"
He struggled to regain his clarity of mind, pushing back the waters. "Kr…Durza. Durza gro-Franz."
"Very well then, Durza. Stay close to us and you'll be safe." The Breton woman made a sound of protest that was quickly silenced by a glance from the Emperor.
"I don't understand," stated Kresh. "Why would you let me escape?"
"The Empire needs you, Durza. You hold the key to its salvation. I will die today, but you will carry my torch, my amulet, to my heir."
The Redguard interrupted. "You're not dying, sire; you're surrounded by the finest Blades in Cyrodiil. Now let's go."
"No," the Emperor commanded. "The Orc comes with us. Without him the Empire will fall. I have seen it in my dreams."
"Fine, but he stays in the back. We're not dodging these hooded assassins just so you can get your brains bashed in by some green-skinned prisoner." Uriel nodded before stepping out of view, further into Kresh's cell. Kresh looked uncertain, glancing to his leader for confirmation.
"Go, Kresh," Mul advised in Orcish. "Find Dulfish gro-Orum in Cheydinhal. He will give you shelter until I find you. Good luck, friend."
"Quiet over there, Orc," the guard shouted, his voice laced with bitterness. "We can't release ALL the scum in Cyrodiil."
With that, the Emperor and his entourage left the cell through its back exit, leaving Mul and the elf to themselves once again.
AN: Thanks again for the read; I'm really excited for what I have planned for the next few chapters. I know a lot of y'all aren't crazy about OC-led stories, but I appreciate all of the views I'm getting. Again, feel free to leave constructive reviews; it's the best way to help me grow as an author. I'll see you guys next week!