Pelinal 1

	The first thing he noticed was the sound of rain. It could be heard even here in this dark pit. The cell, for that's what it had to be, was completely devoid of light and robbed him of his sense of sight. The cold weight of shackles were a familiar presence however and he had already exerted himself attempting to break them without success. He could at least move around his cell by feeling along the walls and had a rough idea of how large it was. He was about to continue his futile attempts at breaking the irons when he heard a sound outside his cell. Footsteps and voices were rising in pitch and he could see the flicker of light under his cell door. He stood up against the wall immediately wary of these new arrivals. There were the sounds of fiddling keys and after a moment the door creaked open. There were three figures silhouetted against the torchlight in the hall, two of them wearing black elven plate and one of them wearing hooded elven robes. All three had the tall lean physiques of altmer.
	"Come for me at last have you? You're going to regret not killing me on the field."
The robed figure snorted and clearly had to fight back a retort.
	"What nothing to say elf? I'm used to Thalmor being able to drone on for hours about elven superiority and now when I have to listen you can't find your tongue?"
	"Shut up human or I'll take your tongue right now."
	"Oh you'd like that wouldn't you. Except if you did the elf that holds your leash would take your tongue as well. Funny that despite all your power you aren't the one in contr-"
A swift backhand caught him off guard and sent a jolt of pain through his system. He grinned despite himself. It was good to know that he could still feel pain. Pain was a tool and he'd need it very soon if he was going to survive.
	"Stand up and get moving."
He complied despite his instinctive desire to throttle the elves. Nothing would be gained by prolonging this ordeal. Not if he knew where they were taking him. After a few minutes they arrived in another part of the dungeon. At least he assumed it was due to the distance traveled but they could have been going in circles and he wouldn't have known. Inside the room was a table and a torture rack, as well as another robed thalmor preparing his torture implements.
	"Tie him down and ensure he cannot move," the two armored elves hurried to carry out their superior's orders.
"Sir I have brought the prisoner as ordered," the first robed elf stated while snapping to attention. The new elf did not even bother to turn around to acknowledge his subordinate.
	"Good now get out. I have work to do." The first elf gave a quick salute, turned on his heel and disappeared into the corridor.
"Tell me prisoner, what is your name?" The prisoner remained silent as the guards secured the last of his bindings and made to exit the room. "Come now let's be civil. There's no reason for you to prolong your suffering. My name is Justiciar Arendal. What's yours?"
	The prisoner spat. "You tell me your name like its something worth knowing elf. If you want to know who I am all you have to do is untie these binds and I'll show you."
	Arendal selected a tool from his kit on the table, making a show of testing its sharpness. It was a short knife with a curve at the end. Certainly not intended to be used as a weapon but in the right hands it could inflict more pain than any dagger to the ribs ever could. "Tell me your name human so I can at least know who it is I'm about to cut into. I would rather hear it before rather than after I drive you insane."
	The prisoner laughed. "You think that I'm sane now? I'm afraid you're going to be sorely disappointed." He stared at Arendal, boring into him with his red-eyed unflinching gaze.
	"My name is... Pelinal Whitestrake."