Nukke shivered.

Another one dead and for what reason? To catch an elf that is destined to die because she was born with pointy ears instead of round ones.

"Are you deaf or what?"

"No, my lord."

"Then do what you are told to do!"

Nukke nodded in understanding, then he made his way towards the cage.

Inquisitor observed him with his usual expression.

Nukke tightly grabbed the cloth with both of his hands, it was huge and so was the cage, perhaps too huge for one elf.

He hesitated, what happens next? More senseless killing.

"Do it."

"Do it, NOW!"

Nukke pulled with all his strength, the curtain fell down and uncovered its secrets.

Both of them were shocked and confused, because what they saw was not a young elf, but a dragoness with scales as green as emeralds. Nukke saw her as beautiful, but he found it difficult to determine how she seemed to Nocens.

She observed them with fear in her eyes, her wings were cut off and judging by the disproportion of the wound, it was made with a saw, rather than a sword or an axe.

Her mouth was tied with a rope and so were her legs.

"Get out."

Nocens sound excited and angry at the same time, Nukke did not quite understand why.

"I said GET OUT!"

Nukke turned towards him, confused.

"I grant you your freedom, you've done what you were told to do, but now I order you to leave. In fact, I actually give you your life back, you are free to do whatever you want, as long as we never meet again."

"What? Why do you want me to leave all of a sudden?"

Nocens rolled his eyes.

"Do you want me to count down? How long does it take for you to understand?"

He unsheathed his sword with his right hand, blood was still dripping down from its blade.

Nukke though about his possibilities, should he risk his life for a foreign dragoness, one she has never met and doesn't know anything about? Perhaps she deserves to die, perhaps the Inquisition has a reason to hunt them, but now all he could see was a scared scaly creature, that seemed surprisingly sapient.

"Do not-"

The Inquisitor didn't finish his thought, as he was interrupted by a steel noise of a drawn sword.

"Are you really going to sacrifice yourself for that ungrateful stupid animal?"

The dragoness made a silent snarl, her restraints did not allow her to react differently.

"She seems to have understood that, that alone proves that she is not as stupid as you think!"

"Who cares? Don't you think I know that already? That is one more reason to hunt them down, if we don't they will hunt us down."

"You are insane!"

Nocens chuckled softly, more amused than anything else.

"Die."

With those words, he lunged forward in an attempt to stab Nukke in his chest, Nukke reacted by making a swift step back, thus evading the blow.

"You're fast learner."

"Thank you, my lord."

"But I don't really have a time for this."

Nocens made another step forward and swung his sword against Nukke's head, his attack was parried again.

"You know, I never wanted to let you go, the moment you'd turn would be the moment I'd stab you in the back."

"Thanks for being honest. My lord."

Nocens chuckled again.

"Watch out! Behind you, my lord!"

Inquisitor shook his head.

"Really? That's the best you can do?"

"You remind me of one pathetic elf, it was the first time he'd hold a sword in his hand, thinking he was something more than h-"

Using the brief moment of Inquisitor's inattention, Nukke lunged forward and cut Nocens in his main hand. Inquisitor let go of his sword, letting it fall on the floor with a loud clanking noise.

 Loosing own balance, he found himself lying on the floor just a moment later, completely on Nukke's mercy.

"You've lost, but I grant you your life and your freedom, go to hell."

Inquisitor chuckled, when Nukke sheathed his sword and turned towards the dragoness, exposing his back to Nocens.

"No, no I didn't."

It took only a second for him, to grab his sword with his left hand and to pierce Nukke's chest with it. Death came immediately, his heart pierced, with blood running down on the floor in little streams.

Nukke fell on the ground, lifeless. The dragoness shuddered in fear, knowing that there was nothing that could save her now.

"F-Fuck..."

Nocens slowly stood up, the palm of his hand was cut to the bones, with blood pouring from the wound like a waterfall of red.

He cut off a stripe from the curtain, which he used as a bandage to stop the bleeding and to prevent the infection from settling in.

"You see, he wasn't smart, nor famous, nor rich when it comes to that."

Inquisitor chuckled softly.

"There is no need to mourn him, trust me, absolutely no need to do that."

He put on his leather gloves and returned the sword back to its sheath.

"YOU, on the other hand, you will surely be missed."

He smiled as he put his hand on her thigh, she tried to keep an eye on him, but her restrains and the lack of space forbid her from doing so.

"Surely you have a family that cares for you, a mate or perhaps a hatchling, waiting for you somewhere... In the mountains, perhaps?"

He pat her on her side.

"Worry not, for I don't care. You see, I joined the ranks of the Inquisition for a different reason than most. I have certain desires that needs to be fulfilled from time to time..."

He walked near her head, whispering her in the ear:

"Do as you are told and I shall grant you freedom, the moment you hesitate however, the moment you even think about escaping or hurting me, will be your last moment on this world. Do you understand? Blink once for no, twice for yes."

...

...

She blinked.

...

...

Nocens clutched his hand in fist.

...

She blinked again.

"Very wise. I am happy that we came to an agreement."

He gave her an educational pat on the head, just above her two horns.

"Let's get to it then."

He cut off the rope restraining her muzzle.

"Now remember, if you bite, I'll slice your throat in no time."

She blinked twice, to signal an agreement.