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[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 18

~Assignments, Nimble Fingers, and Mabari Bunnies~

Kai and Alistair made their way to the fire, with Jory tagging along when he saw where they were headed,and stood before Duncan.  “You found

Alistair, did you?  Good.  I did want to ask you if anything untoward happened earlier.”  Duncan raised an eyebrow at her. 

Kai blushed but kept her eyes on him, “I don’t know what you mean.”  Actually, she didn’t know what, of the many things she had managed to do

this day, he meant.  If not all of them.  Duncan did seem to know everything going on at all times, the man was too sharp by half.

“Earlier, your mabari began looking up from the valley and barking frantically.  He seemed to think you were in trouble, young lady.  Now why

would he think that, I wonder?”  Duncan’s eyes sparkled with mirth. 

“I have no idea.”  Kai smiled sweetly. 

“Except that trouble always seems to know right where she is at all times, you mean?”  Kai heard Alistair mumble under his breath, which was

expelled suddenly, when her elbow shot out catching him in the stomach, causing Duncan to emit a deep throated chuckle.

 “I’ll assume you are ready to begin preparations.”  Duncan leaned in and shot a deliberate look at Alistair who stood rubbing his belly. 

“Assuming of course, that you’re quite finished riling up mages.”

Kai shot Alistair a look, he blushed and ran the hand previously soothing his bruised abdomen, through his hair.  “What can I say?  The revered

mother ambushed me.  The way she wields guilt they should stick her in the army.”

Duncan cocked an eyebrow as Alistair came to stand beside him.  “She forced you to sass the mage, did she?”  Alistair blushed and shuffled his

feet as Duncan continued.  “We cannot afford to antagonize anyone, Alistair.  We don’t need to give anyone more ammunition against us.”

Alistair looked down at the ground, blushing harder, before looking at Duncan once again.  “You’re right, Duncan.  I apologize.”

“I don’t, the old bat.”  Kai murmured under her breath while rolling her eyes. 

Duncan shook his head at her while his lips twitched suppressing what looked like a smile, “Now then, since you are all here, save Daveth...” 

Duncan pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh, “We can begin.  You can fill in our slick friend once you find him...again.”

“You four will be heading into the Kocari Wilds to perform two tasks.  The first is to obtain three vials of darkspawn blood, one for each of

you.”

Kai nodded, “And what is the second task?”

“There is a Grey Warden archive in the Wilds, abandoned long ago when we could no longer afford to maintain such remote outposts.” Duncan crossed

his arms over his armor clad chest.

“It has recently come to our attention that some scrolls have been left behind magically sealed to protect them.”  Duncan turned to the young

Warden, “Alistair, I want you to retrieve these scrolls if you can.”

Kai couldn’t help but be curious, “What kind of scrolls are these?”

Duncan grinned at her, “Old treaties, if you’re curious.  Promises of support made to the Grey Wardens long ago.” 

His face sobered immediately, “They were once considered only formalities.  With so many having forgotten their commitments to us, I suspect it

may be a good idea to have something to remind them with.”

“And what if they’re no longer there?”  Kai furrowed her brow.  This was beginning to sound like a needle in a haystack sort of assignment.

“It’s possible the scrolls may have been destroyed or even stolen, though the seal’s magic should have protected them.”  Duncan nodded towards

Alistair, “Only a Grey Warden can break such a seal.”

Alistair shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t understand...why leave such things in a ruin if they’re so valuable?”

Duncan grimaced at Alistair, “It was assumed we would someday return.  A great many things were assumed that have not held true.”

Kai snorted, “Isn’t that always the way?  So, how will we find this archive?” 

“It will be an overgrown ruin by now, but the sealed chest should remain intact.  Alistair will guide you to the area you need to search.  I will

be giving him a map of the area in the Wilds where you are going.”  Duncan shrugged, “Granted, the map is as old as the chest, but it should get

you there.”

Kai gave him a cheeky grin, “Is this part of our training too?”

Duncan chuckled, “No, young lady, it is not part of your training; but the effort must be made.  I have every confidence you are up to the task.”

 

She winked, “Find the archive and three vials of tainted, poisonous blood.  Understood, captain my captain.”  Kai gave him a snappy, mock salute.

Alistair looked at Duncan.  Kai noticed he seemed a little pale.  “Duncan, may I speak with you for a moment?”

Kai watched them walk away from the fire towards the tent they had here at camp.  Argus came and leaned against her thigh giving her a little

whine. She crouched down beside him to rub his broad head behind his pointed ears, while keeping an eye on Alistair and Duncan.  “Hey boy, I’m

all right.”  Argus gave her a happy soft woof and licked her cheek, making her grin. 

Alistair gesticulated with his hands while getting red in the face.  He seemed more scared then angry, from what she could tell.  Duncan stood

his usual stoic self, apparently letting Alistair get whatever it was out that he wanted to say.  She could only hope it wasn’t her that was

causing this sudden disquiet in her soon to be fellow Warden. 

Kai could feel Ser Jory standing behind her, “I wonder if it is yet another test for us they are discussing.”  Jory let out a huff of air, “I

thought I proved myself worthy at Redcliffe.”

Argus looked at Jory for a moment before cocking his head next to hers and gave her a questioning whine.  “I have no idea boy.  I only hope it

isn’t anything I did.  But you know me.”  She continued to observe the two men.  When Alistair seemed to run down and finish, Duncan placed a

comforting hand on the young Warden’s shoulder while speaking in quiet, soothing tones.  This seemed to bolster Alistair, and he nodded, giving a

chagrined smile at Duncan, the way a small boy would his father.  Duncan gave the shoulder a squeeze before taking his hand away and taking a

rolled up browning piece of parchment from the pouch attached to his belt and handing it to the younger man.  He reached into the pouch and

handed Alistair a smaller leather bag which clanked slightly.  That must be the vials for our poisonous liquid retrieval.  Splendid.  Kai huffed

to herself.  If the insides of darkspawn smelt as bad as the outside, this was going to be a mission that would require a lot of hot water

afterwards. 

Kai’s inner musings were interrupted when Alistair and Duncan made their way back to stand before her.  Kai rose so she wouldn’t have to crane

her neck.  Duncan clapped a comforting hand on Alistair’s shoulder once more, “You had best find our cut purse friend, fill him in and be on your

way.”  Alistair gave him wan smile which garnered him a gentle grin from Duncan.

Alastair nodded, “Let’s find Daveth...again.”  Kai chuckled and jerked her head at Jory to follow along. 

Since Daveth would no more be allowed to go to the army side of camp than they were, she figured that left him with a limited set of possible

place he might be staking out for opportunities to lighten someone’s unwieldy burden of carrying around too much coin.  She mentioned this to

Alistair who was inclined to agree that Daveth was probably scouting out possible marks near the quartermaster.  After all, soldiers, commoners,

and nobles alike would purchase any sundries from the only merchant in camp with items to sell, beside the food and drink vendors. 

Sure enough Kai caught sight of Daveth as he emerged from the shadows following the velvet clad back of some noble.  Kai watched as the thief cut

the strings to the fancy dagger sheath belted at the man’s waist. 

Kai caught up with the thief as he stood letting his mark walk away up the ramp in the direction of the infirmary and army’s camp, watching with

a smirk of triumph on his handsome face.  “Really Daveth? One close call with the hangman’s noose wasn’t enough for you?”  Kai wrinkled her nose

at him.  “You do realize you can’t be conscripted twice, right?”

Daveth grinned at her, but before he could say anything she grabbed the dagger from his hand and ran up the ramp, Argus following on her heels. 

She caught up with the noble, who still hadn’t noticed the change in weight from its loss.  Kai managed to tap the man on the shoulder just as he

reached the gate leading to the army camp.  “Ser, you dropped this...”

Kai felt her stomach clench when the man turned to face her.  He was none other than Bann Loren, Dairren’s father.  Loren’s eyes got wide, his

mouth pulling into an ‘o’ of shock.  Something else crossed his face, fear? Cunning?  Interesting.  She had no love of the man, nor he her, but

his reaction seemed out of place even for that. 

Alistair, Daveth, and Jory came up behind her.  Bann Loren’s face changed once again to the red faced ire she was familiar with; she had seen it

enough when Tyrel Loren spoke to Dairren or his mother.  “Well if it isn’t the little Cousland chit?  Stealing from me were you?  Like you stole

my son from me?” 

Kai snorted, “You can’t steal what is given away.  You never gave a damn about Dairren or his mother.”  Kai almost choked on Dairren’s name, just

barely keeping her voice steady she plunged on.  “Why the sudden pretense now?”  Kai raised an eyebrow, “And as for the dagger, I told you.  You

dropped it.”  Kai thrust it into Bann Loren’s chest hard enough to cause him to grunt.  He fumbled to catch it as Kai immediately released it

once it made contact with his person. 

Loren looked at the leather thongs that had tied it to his belt, “Dropped it did I?  Then explain how the ties are cut so cleanly!  You little

whoring ****-thief!”

That last comment elicited a strong “Hey-y!” from Alistair, and a “Look here, mate”, from Daveth.  Kai swiftly drew one of of her daggers,

twirling it in nimble fingers, before leaning in close, placing the point on Loren’s chest.  “As you can see, I have no need of another dagger,

especially not that be-jeweled and useless pig sticker you’re carrying.”  Kai gave him a cold smile, “And I have money, I don’t need to steal to

get more.” 

“Oh, I am sure you have plenty now that your family lies dead, save for that brat of a brother of yours.”  Loren put his face in Kai’s, his eyes

narrowed while he gave her a wicked grin, “Though I suspect that the family treasury is a little difficult to get to now, isn’t it?” Argus

growled low in his throat as Loren leaned in closer.

It felt as if the world stopped.  Kai could feel the blood draining from her face.  All sound receded into background noise as her own heart beat

like a war drum.  “How do you know about my family and Highever?  I only arrived here today, and only King Cailan and Duncan know.  And I know

for a fact that the king has been down in the valley with the Grey Wardens.  I also know he doesn’t like you and wouldn’t tell you ****e.”  Kai

tilted the dagger’s tip from Loren’s chest to rest under his chin.  “So tell me exactly how is it that you know?”

Loren’s eyes widened and he stood stock still.  His voice quavered, “I don’t know what you mean.  I heard it around camp!” 

“Heard it around camp my a---”  What she was about to say was interrupted as a silver armor covered hand reached out and gently grasped Kai’s

wrist, turning the dagger away from under Loren’s chin. 

Kai turned her head to find Duncan watching the man with a hard glint in his eye.  “I believe my recruit asked a valid question, Bann Loren.  How

do you know about the fall of Highever?”

“Your recruit?  The Wardens must be insane, or desperate, or both to take this troublemaker in their ranks.  And now she is a thief.”  Loren’s

voice pitched higher with his bravado.  “As for how I know about Highever, I will tell you what I told her.  I heard it around camp.  News like

that tends to travel fast.”  Loren smirked and shrugged his shoulders, “No loss if you ask me.  The Couslands always thought of themselves too

highly.  Especially Bryce, thinking he had the right to interfere with a man’s fam...”

Anything else Loren would have said was lost as Duncan swiftly lifted him off of his feet slamming the bann’s back into the stone wall that held

the gate.  “I would chose your words more carefully, Bann Loren.”

Behind her Daveth whispered, “He’s fast for an old bugger.”  Kai stifled a giggle that wanted to border on hysterical.

Jory’s voice replied, “Yes, well I thought it advisable to fetch Duncan, considering where the conversation was headed. Now I’m not so sure that

was wise either.”

“You are making a grave mistake! Unhand---”  Loren’s voice ended in a gasping choke as Duncan’s hand squeezed harder.

“I watched my friend’s castle burn, I saw him with his guts hanging between his fingers, bleeding.  I saw the murdered bodies of his daughter-

in-law, his grandson, and your son and wife.  I left him and Eleanor behind to die.  So I would be very, very careful if I were you.”  Duncan’s

voice was low, quiet, smooth, and oh so deadly. 

“Howe’s man was here in camp, Duncan.”  Duncan turned his head slightly to look at her.  “The man whose horse we foundered.  He must have had the

shoe repaired faster than we thought he would.”  Kai walked up to stand by Duncan, pitching her voice lower so as not to be overheard by the

guard standing on the other side of the gate doing his best to ignore what was going on.  “I saw him, coming from Teyrn Loghain’s tent.”  At this

statement Loren’s eyes opened in fright.  So, that was where Howe’s man went after his visit with the Teyrn.  Kai cocked an eyebrow throwing the

bann a nasty look while speaking to Duncan.  “You were down in the valley.  By the time I caught the camp messenger you were already here, but

with the assignment and finding Daveth I forgot to tell you.” 

Kai crossed her arms and glared at Loren.  “Well?”

“I told you, I heard it around camp, and that is all I have to say on the matter.”   Duncan released Loren who stood rubbing his neck shooting

angry looks at all of them, though there was fear around the edges of his eyes.  “Since I have no wish to cause the king more worries, I shall

forget your thievery.”  With that the bann turned sharply on his heel and strode quickly for the gate.

“I’m sorry for your loss Bann Loren!  Your son and wife will be missed!”  Kai yelled at his retreating back.  The bann stopped, without turning

around, his shoulders stiffened for a brief moment before he continued on eventually becoming lost in the crowd.

“Well, young woman, it seems Alistair was right, trouble knows where you are at all times.”  Duncan grinned and clapped a hand on her shoulder. 

His eyes looked into hers with a sadness she understood. 

“Duncan, what was that about all us needing to get along?”  Alistair gave his lopsided smile, “I seem to remember you mentioning that, somewhere,

at some point.”

Duncan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.  “Yes, it would seem following one’s own advice can be the hardest of all.”  He glanced at Kai,

sensing her mood, and giving her arm a squeeze before he motioned that they should all follow him back to the bonfire.  As they walked past the

Quartermaster and the infirmary Duncan glanced at her once more.  “Kai, were you stealing from him?  If you were, I need to say something to you.

 You are a worthy and skilled recruit, and I know of your talent with slight of hand.”  Duncan grinned at her, “Learned from the magician and

court entertainer when you spent time in Denerim.” 

Kai laughed and nodded.  She had almost forgotten that Stiobhán, the man whom she suspected was a cutpurse and rogue during the rebellion, was

also the one who showed her certain...tricks.  He was one of those heroes that stayed in Maric’s service after the fall of Orlais.  His

innocuous, and supposedly, law abiding new position really hid a spy and guard to the king.  He knew slight of hand tricks with coins, and cards.

 Sometimes even with small animals like rabbits or doves. 

It was during once such entertainment session for the nobles of the Landsmeet and their families, that Kai befriended the man.  He had called all

the children up on the stage set in the royal gardens to participate in some of the tricks.  One such trick involved a live songbird inside a

small cage.  All of the children were to touch the cage as he threw it in the air and made it disappear, to the delight and awe of all.  But it

was the coin trick that caused the magician to be most impressed with Kai, when she pointed out where the coin really disappeared to when she

picked the man’s pocket and showed him the coin.  Both Maric and Stiobhán laughed, and Maric asked his spy and magician to teach his little

friend some tricks from that day forward. 

Duncan broke Kai out of her reminiscing, “That is a good thing.  Grey Wardens use a diverse range of skills and tools to accomplish their

missions.” Duncan shot a look over his shoulder at Daveth.  “But the law is very hard on thieves.  Ferelden still bears mistrust towards our

order, so practice these skills with caution.”  He turned back to Kai, “Your standing as a Warden will not always help you.”

Kai flashed him her sauciest grin, “But I need the practice to get better.  After all, it has been years since I last practiced my slight of

hand.”  She batted her lashes at him.

Duncan grinned. “Certainly.  Just don’t get caught.”  Kai flashed a look at Daveth herself and watched the thief blush bright red. Duncan cocked

an eyebrow at both of them, “Let us change the subject, shall we?”

They arrived in front of the bonfire once more.  Daveth went to Duncan and began to confess to being the thief.  Duncan waved him away.  “I know

that, the lecture I gave was as much for you as her.”  Daveth flashed him a smile and a cheeky salute which elicited a heavy sigh from Duncan. 

“Daveth gather your things.  You and your fellow recruits, along with Alistair, will be going into the Wilds; which you would have heard had you

been here instead of using your nimble fingers in less than appropriate ways.”  Daveth grinned wider, causing Duncan to roll his eyes.  Kai bit

her lip to keep from laughing, Daveth was as much trouble as she was apparently.  “Your fellows will fill you in on your journey.”  Duncan’s eyes

followed the thief as he disappeared into the big blue tent they were all sharing. 

He shook his head and then smiled.  Kai figured if she was going to say what she intended, now was the time.  Jory had gone back to writing his

letter, using his knapsack as a back rest.  And Daveth was in the tent packing his bag.  “Duncan.”  Kai nodded her head to him and he and

Alistair walked over to her.  “Duncan, I need to ask you something, well you and Alistair.” 

Kai patted Argus’s broad head, looking down at her beloved mabari.  “Argus, my friend it involves you as well.”  Argus cocked his head and

whined.  “Argus, I need you to stay with Duncan while we go into the Wilds.”  The dog barked as if in protest.  “Now, don’t argue.  You must stay

here.  This is for me to do, and where I am going you cannot follow.”  Argus whined but gave a  bark in the affirmative and a small lick on her

hand.

Kai turned to both Duncan and Alistair once more.  “If I don’t come back from this mission...”  Kai leaned in pitching her voice lower so as not

to be overheard, “Or if I should not survive the Joining...well, I want to know that Argus will be taken good care of.”  Duncan’s face went still

and Alistair blushed when he looked at the young man.  Kai shook her head, “Alistair didn’t tell me anything.  It really wasn’t hard to piece

things together from hearing the crazed ramblings at the infirmary, or the discussions with the Ash warriors, or from the whispers of the other

soldiers.  Did you really think I wouldn’t be able to put it all together?” 

It was Duncan’s turn to shake his head, “No, young woman, I actually expected it.  I am far more surprised Alistair didn’t let it slip somehow.” 

Duncan grinned.  This elicited a “hey-y”, from the ex-templar, causing both Kai and Duncan to laugh.

It was a loud bark from Argus that brought her back to the seriousness of the situation and her request.  She knelt down putting her arms around

the mabari’s big muscled neck, resting her forehead against the hound’s.  “Now Argus Rabbit, don’t be like that.  You know I will do my best to

come back to you.  You are my best friend, besides Fergus.”  Kai hugged him tight while the mabari licked her face.  “After all I have...after

all we have lost, I can’t do this unless I know you will be okay.  If Fergus lives, go to him.  If not, stay with Duncan and Alistair, okay? 

Promise?”  Argus whined, but licked her face more vigorously before giving her an affirmative bark. 

She gave him one last hard hug before standing and facing Duncan and Alistair again, who both nodded to her.  Alistair flashed the mabari a

sympathetic look before grinning at Kai, “Argus Rabbit?”  The hound gave Alistair a  low growl.  “Hey, I am just asking, not criticizing.”

Kai laughed, “Yes, well you see my brother...Fergus, wanted a mabari rather than a little sister.  Our relationship was...strained, in the

beginning?  King Maric came to a tourney my father held for him after Queen Rowan’s death.  He brought mabari pups and offered to have one

imprint on my brother.”  Kai looked down at Argus and grinned, “As you can see that didn’t quite work out the way it was intended.  But it

brought my brother and I close together.”

Duncan chuckled, “Yes, I remember that visit. And that incident.”

Alistair looked between Kai and Duncan, and back again.  “Yes-s, well, that still doesn’t explain the Rabbit part of his name.”

Kai looked at Argus who began to bark, and leap, and twirl.  “As you can see, Argus likes to jump around a bit when he ‘talks’.  He also had

really big feet as a puppy, his back ones reminded me of a bunny.”  Alistair raised an eyebrow at her, and Kai grinned and shrugged, “I was four.

 So, when I was asked what I wanted to name my new mabari, I said Bunny.  Of course my brother protested, being a boy, that it was not a proper

name for a war hound.  So, I said ‘Rabbit.’  My parents, in their wisdom, suggested that Fergus name him and I agreed.  Fergus came up with

Argus, which means ‘guardian’.  But my brother, when my parents couldn’t hear, called him Argus Rabbit, just for me.”  Kai felt tears welling up

just thinking of her brother, along with all of her fear and worry over him. 

She patted Argus’s head until she could get her emotions in check. She swallowed hard before looking up again.  “I also wanted to ask you,

Duncan, to make sure my...my possessions will get distributed amongst the rest of the Grey, should I fall.  You will do this, yes?”

Duncan nodded, grasping her arm in a gentle grip.  “I will, though I know I will not need to.”

Kai gave him a smile, and then a thought struck her.  “Be that as it may, I do have one thing I have with me that I can give to someone right

now.  And it will certainly serve him better than that leather covered, wooden serving tray the Templars gave him.”  Kai gave a pointed look at

Alistair before giving Argus the hand signal for ‘stay’ and going to their tent.

Daveth was just leaving, his bow strapped to his back, and his pack slung across the other shoulder.  “Hello, love, just my luck.  If I had known

you were coming to see me I would have waited.”  He flashed her a wicked grin, “I’m sure we could have some fun together.”

Kai rolled her eyes at him, “Ah, the offer of a quick roll in the sheets...or cot as the case my be.  It’s not everyday a girl gets an offer

twice in one day, unless it’s from you I suppose.”  She wrinkled her nose at him, “Truly amazing there aren’t women just lined up.”

“I know isn’t?”  He laughed with her before walking on towards the rest at the fire.

Kai shook her head, grabbed her still packed knapsack and the item she sought, before leaving the dim interior of the tent and making her way to

stand next to Alistair.  “Here, this will serve you better than the shield you have.”  Kai thrust her father’s bulwark at him, the Cousland

herald painted on its battle marred surface. 

Alistair’s strong hands grasped the metal his face a look of surprise and appreciation.  “But I can’t take this, it belongs to your family. 

Shouldn’t your brother have it?”

Kai gave him a wan smile, “My brother carries our *uncle Iain’s shield, he died at the battle of White River during the rebellion.  This is...was

my father’s shield.” 

“All the more reason why I can’t take it.”  Alistair held it back out to her.

Kai pushed it gently back at him.  “Use it for now.  I can’t, I tried once and broke my arm in two places.”  She grinned at him.  “If Fergus is

alive, then you can always give it back to him later.  In the meantime, you can consider it as using a family heirloom to protect me.  I’d feel a

lot safer than if you use that wooden piece of ****e you have strapped on at the moment.  I think my father would agree.”  Kai swallowed hard and

looked down before looking at Duncan and giving him a small smile.

“I quite agree.  Now you all had best be on your way.  The sooner you all go, the sooner I can expect your return.”  Duncan turned to Alistair,

“Watch over your charges, Alistair.  Return quickly and safely.”

Alistair gave Duncan his lopsided grin, “We will.”

“Then may the Maker watch over your path.  I will see you when you return.”  Duncan, grinned and clapped one hand on Alistair’s shoulder, and the

other gently squeezed Kai’s arm.  They both nodded at him.  Kai whistled at Daveth and Jory, jerking her head in the direction of the gate, and

they all walked past the Ash Warrior’s encampment to the large wooden gate. 

The same guard with whom Kai had her altercation was still on duty.  He nodded and gave her a rueful smile, which she returned.  “Hail!  I’m told

you all have business in the Wilds.  Duncan bid me open the gate for you... just be careful out there.”  He reached out his hand to grasp Kai’s

in a warrior’s grasp and in a lower voice he leaned and whispered, “Especially you, my lady.”  He straightened back  up, “Even a Grey Warden

won’t be safe in the forest tonight.”  He grinned at her.  “Good luck, my lady, and to you all.  Maker watch over you.”

“And you.”  Kai grinned, gave his forearm one more shake before releasing it so he could swing the portal open for them.  Kai took a deep breath

and walked through stopping a short way down the mountain path that snaked downwards into the Wilds.  Once her group stood behind her, they heard

the clanking rasp as the gate was shut and locked into place behind them.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Iain’s shield refers to the character (and younger brother of Bryce Cousland, lost at the battle of White River during the Rebellion) my dear

friend, and very talented author, Ladyamesindy created for her story “We Do What Must Be Done”.  It is the origin tale of Bryce and Eleanor

Cousland and a wonderfully creative story.  Please check it out.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks LadyAly!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Sorry I haven't been on the forum much! And sorry about not putting that it is 18 that is up not 17 still.

[LadyAly]

Even if you have not much spare time my dear - it hasn't harmed the writing

Its wonderful

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw, thanks LadyAly! My work isn't letting me get on the forum and I do most of my reading then. *cries*

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment and the support! *hugs*

[Lynn01]

finaly my post here! Love it gil! Nice work. My vacation delayed things

[Gilgamesh1138]

*pounces and hugs Lynn* I missed you, hope vacay was fun, fun, fun!

[westiex9]

Awesome work Gil! its been too long since i last read

Modifié par westiex9, 29 septembre 2010 - 06:15 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw me too for yours, love! I am so sorry about that. Thanks for the post! *HUGS*

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw thanks sweetie! *HUGS*

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 20 ~Waste Not, Want Not~



They walked through the debris slowly.  Kai looking at each body one more time, not wanting to

take a chance that she missed one, just in case...it was becoming a compulsion.  She made her

way just beyond the last of the wreckage, and the last body lying near the crumbling wall of

some of the ruins dotting the Wilds in various places. 

She was just about to continue on following the wall when a flash of white caught her eye.  It

was a bloom, white as the moon, but with a scarlet center the color of blood.  Darker spots of

crimson speckled the inside. It rose from a stiff stem with the bloom resting from it like a

trumpet.  The perfume was musky and spicy.

“That flower...white with a red center.  The kennel master at Ostagar was asking about those.”

 Daveth’s voice came over her shoulder as he too bent down to look.

“Why did he want them?  Do you know?”  Kai glanced behind her catching Daveth’s amber gaze and

cocky grin.

“The kennel master said this flower can help dogs that get sick from biting the darkspawn.” 

Daveth shrugged, then his eyes got wide.  Kai turned her attention back to the flower. 

Apparently, the flower hosted another less fragrant “blossom” in the form of a black and white

striped little animal.  She motioned for Daveth to back away, as she began to do so... slowly,

as the skunk’s bright black eyes fastened on them both.  Kai and Daveth made it a few feet

walking backwards when the creature began to stamp its feet, a warning before the tail would

be raised and pointed in their direction with distressing and smelly results. 

She had reason to know that the smell alone would linger for weeks, even months, when a

childhood friend found themselves on the receiving end of the “perfume” this particular flower

gave off.  No amount of baths would rid them of the malingering fog that would surround them

should they be sprayed.

They made it back to Alistair and Jory who stopped to look in the wagon of the priest, Jogby. 

Alistair looked up startled, his visage mirroring her own, “What is the matter?  It can’t be

darkspawn.  Were you attacked? Was it the Chasind?”

Kai couldn’t help herself, she started to laugh, “No, no Chasind with a sword; rather a skunk

with tail ready to be aimed.  Darkspawn would smell better than what will come from that

animal’s hind end.”

Alistair gave her a lopsided smile, “Wel-ll, I wouldn’t go that far, but I am very glad you

and Daveth got away unscathed, otherwise it would have made for interesting sleeping

arrangements in camp.”

Kai grinned at him and looked at Daveth, “I think we’ll just leave that flower alone and look

for others for the kennel master, no?”

Daveth grinned.  “You are as wise as you are beautiful,”  he said giving her a slight bow.

Kai snorted, but it was Alistair’s comment that had her laughing (and for Ser Jory to have his

usual confused look), “Something we can agree on, my sticky-fingered charge.  Though I would

watch how far you go, Kai is liable to drown you in one of these conveniently placed ponds.”

He shot Kai that lopsided grin, “Let’s move on shall we?  Um, away from our little odorous

friend.”

Kai nodded and grinned, leading the way around past the flower and its fragrant friend, across

a stretch of land that wound between two dank and swampy ponds. It led them along a narrow

passage of rocky dirt, with the pond to the right of them breaking against the stony hill

towering over them. 

Kai thought she saw a tent.  Her first thought was of course, of Fergus.  It could be his

camp!  She was about to go forward to see if her brother and his group were the ones

bivouacked in the glade before them when she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder.  It was

Alistair’s gauntlet covered hand resting on her leathers with a gentle but firm pressure.

She could have easily removed herself from his grip, but she was too shocked to do so.  His

eyes had a glowing white foggy film that covered the entirety of the eye and floated upwards

like smoke from the corners. 

Neither Daveth, nor Jory saw it as they were behind Alistair.  He caught her startled look,

“Darkspawn, Kai, straight ahead.”  He nodded towards the tents, “If there are darkspawn, there

are no humans alive.”

Kai nodded, with one quick glance at Alistair’s eyes, she cocked an eyebrow.  He blushed

charmingly and shrugged, “I can’t...”

Kai grinned, “Yeah, you can’t talk about it just yet.  Interesting early warning signal

though.”  Kai directed Daveth to nock his bow while she nocked her own.  They continued

forward cautiously bringing more of the camp into view. She could see strange spiky totems

made of wood and scraps of leather, or cloth.  Definitely not human made.  Kai jerked her head

at the camp and asked Alistair, “So, how smart, or dumb are these things anyway?”

Alistair shrugged, “When there isn’t an archdemon involved, not very.  With one in the mix,

well, they seem to get slightly smarter.  Though the ones to really watch for are the alphas. 

They’ll be the ones with more elaborate armor, and they can use rudimentary words.”

“You mean like that nasty fellow over there?”  Kai pointed out one in a horned helmet, whose

armor and weapons seemed a cut above his fellow nasties. 

Alistair looked where she was pointing, “Hm, good guess.”

“So as the smartest of the bunch, he dies first?  That should make taking the others out a

simpler task, yes? 

He grinned at her, “That is the idea.”  Alistair’s shoulders raised and he leaned in and

whispered, “I have only been in a few battles with them myself.  Remember I’m new to this too,

but best not to mention that part to Ser Jory.” 
 
Kai stifled a snort, and nodded. She motioned Daveth to come stand in the shadow of the rocky

hill next to her while she pointed out their target.  She looked over her shoulder at Alistair

and Ser Jory who had their swords drawn and ready as they hung back. 

She and Daveth sighted, took aim, and let their arrows fly in tandem.  Kai’s arrow hit the

alpha in the eye, while Daveth’s bolt hit the creature in the throat below the corner of the

jaw below where an ear would be on a human.  Its milky pale eye, opened wide before gurgled in

rage and ripped both arrows in a fountain of cruor.  It turned its mangled face towards them

and grunted at two more darkspawn standing next to it, then pointing at Kai and Daveth. 

She looked at Daveth who shrugged and said, “Well it seems we got their attention.” 

Kai rolled her eyes and nocked another arrow, aiming for the alpha once more.  Sod it, these

things were tough!  Kai huffed into her own head.  Her thinking still that if they took out

the smarter leader, any others might be easier to deal with.  Since the target was moving,

aiming for the creature’s other eye would more than likely be a miss. She aimed for the larger

target, the torso, which was covered in a primitive metal armor.  The arrow landed in the

larger opening between the pauldron and the cuirass.   The alpha screamed but kept coming. 

Kai waited until it was almost on top of her before she dropped the bow and drew her sword and

dagger. Daveth followed suit, nimbly twirling two sharp daggers in his fingers.  The alpha let

out a screech as it ran at Kai, whom the monster had chosen as the target for its ire, she

dropped into a crouch putting her weight on the balls of her feet in anticipation of the

creature’s first move.

Instead of the vibrating smack of metal on metal she expected, the darkspawn alpha sailed

backwards as if it met a stone wall, its momentum forward changed to a swift change in course

backwards. She snuck a look over her shoulder to find Alistair with the Cousland shield

raised, as he rushed toward the stunned darkspawn.  She was even more grateful that she had

given him the metal shield to replace the wooden one he had been carrying. 

Since the ex-templar seemed to know how to fight and appeared to have things well in hand, she

turned her attention towards Ser Jory.  The genlock was squealing in dismay as the knight

seemed to have things under control on his end as well, a very long and sharply pointed end. 

Kai admired Jory’s moves.  He might not be the brightest candle in the candelabra, but he

certainly knew how to wield a sword.  Kai watched him execute a spinning maneuver that took

the short darkspawn’s grinning head off of its stumpy shoulders and sent it flying.  Before

the head even hit the ground he was assisting Alistair with the hurlock alpha. 

That left Daveth who was circling with the second genlock.  Daveth, a rogue like herself, did

better with attacks from behind.  Kai figured to help him with that.  She sliced the stumpy

little creature across from shoulder to shoulder with the sword then jabbing it in the back

where the kidneys would be on a dwarf (this particular darkspawn being dwarf sized).  It

emitted a high pitched squeal of pain and anger before turning towards its newest foe. 

She and the genlock danced, exchanging swipes with their bladed weapons giving Daveth the

chance to land blows from behind, before the creature turned towards the cutpurse.  Between

the two of them the darkspawn’s movements became sluggish as it bled from multiple wounds. 

Eventually, Kai was able to execute a round house kick and with a slice of her sword in a back

hand motion removing the genlock’s head. 

Kai took a moment to assess the battlefield and the battle.  “Okay, I have a plan.”

Daveth shot her a cocky grin, “Is it a cunning plan?”

She wrinkled her nose at the thief, “Yes, in a way.  That took too long.  Daveth, you pair

with Ser Jory”  She turned and addressed the knight, “Jory, Daveth and I work our abilities

best when we can rain blows while the foe is distracted.  You and Alistair can keep their

attention while Daveth and I work our magic.”

Jory looked befuddled so Daveth attempted to help,  “What she’s saying mate, is that rogues do

it from behind.”

Alistair let out a groan and pinched the bridge of his nose, but she could see his lips

twitching as he suppressed a grin.  As for herself, she couldn’t help but giggle, which turned

into full laughs when the cutpurse turned to her, “If only Jory was as pretty as you, then

fighting with him would be more fun.”  Daveth shrugged and winked at her, “Oh well, we do what

we must.  Isn’t the Grey Warden motto?”

“Not exactly, but close enough.”  Alistair flashed Kai a grin.  Alistair’s eyes still smoked,

indicating there were still darkspawn nearby. 

Daveth shot Alistair a look, “Well that little visual quirk comes in handy, now don’t it

mate?”  He nodded his head towards Alistair’s eyes.

“Yes, well, it is one of the warnings we get.” Alistair blushed, “And since it is, we had best

clear out the rest of this group before we search the camp.”  Alistair reached into the pouch

at his waist and withdrew the smaller leather bag that Kai had seen Duncan give him at

Ostagar.  “But before we do, there is one task we can accomplish first.”  Again the bag

clanked as the glass vials inside clapped together.  He swept an arm at the darkspawn corpses,

“Shall we?”  He opened the bag and handed out the vials, one to each of them. 

Kai bent to the alpha putting the vial to one of the wounds. The black oil that poured out

smelled of every imaginable foulness. On the inside--unfortunately fouler still--the blood

seemed to hum, a dull, throbbing vibration that set her teeth on edge. It was this combination

of sensations that nearly made her retch.

“Wait!”  Kai turned her head to see Alistair grabbing Daveth’s arm and stopping him from

gathering blood.  She watched the ex-templar bend down and sniff at the genlock lying on the

ground.  It was the one she and Daveth danced with together.  “Did either one of you use

poison on your blades?”  Daveth nodded.  Alistair sighed, “Well then we can’t use this one. We

have two samples we need.  Lets draw in the rest and then we can get the rest of the blood we

need.”

Kai grinned at him and nodded, “I think Daveth and I can use the shadows, maybe draw them to

us one or two at a time?  You did say that without their leader they tend to be a little

thick.”  She walked over and grabbed her bow from where she had dropped it.  She motioned

Daveth to follow her once more. 

They stuck to the shadows keeping their backs to the hill as they crept forwards.  Kai

motioned for Daveth to stop. She motioned with her fingers to her eyes and towards the camp,

signaling to have the cutpurse scan one side.She then took the remaining side,  scanning the

tents along the water’s edge.

There was one genlock, to her right. She looked to Daveth who held up three fingers before

changing it to two, then placing his flat palm at his own height to indicate two of the three

were hurlocks.  She nodded and pointed towards the the two hurlocks, holding up two fingers

before tapping her bow and raising her eyebrow.  Daveth grinned and nodded in agreement.

They crept back towards Alistair and Jory and nocked their bows.  Their two targets came

running forwards while the genlocks stayed where they were. The battle went quicker now that

the rogues were paired with the warriors.  Kai thought she might actually be getting a feel

for these creatures and their fighting style, which without the alpha to guide them, seemed

slap dash at best. It seemed Alistair was right. That was until the air wavered before her and

as if from smoke, and a genlock wearing a spiky helmet with a half face mask and leather

armor, appeared before her dual wielding a set of wicked, crude, black-bladed daggers. 

The daggers may have looked primitive, but they were sharp and effective.  Kai stopped helping

Alistair with his hurlock to concentrate on the rogue before her, as one nasty cut through her

leather curiass was enough to let her know that the creature was simple of mind, but deadly

with the blades it carried.  It would not do to underestimate these tough monsters, not if the

cut stinging from the sweat of her exertions was any indication. 

They pulled the remaining genlocks from the camp. With no other surprise guests to their

little party, they were able to dispatch the rest with minimum effort.  The new pairings

worked well, provided Alistair didn’t knock down their target with his shield as he seemed

want to do.  It did make doing backstabbing maneuvers more difficult for Kai.  Lucky for her,

Alistair was brighter than Ser Jory, and he caught that knocking them backwards was not

helpful unless their attention appeared to be turning towards her. 

By the time the last darkspawn went down, she and the ex-templar seemed to have developed into

an effective working team.  She was surprised at how comfortable she felt around him

personally, and as a fighting duo.  They just seemed to fit together, like a hand in a well-

worn glove. 

Before she could muse more on this, Daveth began going over the bodies looking for things they

could use or sell. Ser Jory opened his mouth to chastise her fellow rogue for looting corpses,

when the cutpurse gave a triumphant ‘ha’ and held up some gemstones.  Kai shot Jory a grin and

began helping search the dead darkspawn for easily carried and sell-able items. 

She had just stood up when Alistair reached out and ran a finger along the cut in the leather

the rogue darkspawn had made.  She reached out and their hands touched.  They looked at each

other their eyes widening simultaneously.  She felt her own flush answer the one creeping up

Alistair’s neck to cover his own cheeks.  Kai looked down quickly. 

It was Daveth’s comment that made her flush even more, “Well, aren’t you two cute together?” 

Kai rolled her eyes and wrinkled her nose at him, “I am going to check out the camp.  When

you’re done being funny, maybe you can actually make yourself useful.”  Daveth just chuckled

at her.

Kai stood looking at the camp. The darkspawn apparently had no use for tents, as the canvas

material either collapsed where poles had toppled or swung loose in shreds as if torn by angry

claws.  Barrels that might have carried food supplies lay broken.  The camp looked much like a

child staged a temper tantrum with its toys. 

One positive thing for Kai, the camp wasn’t big enough for a scouting party of men. And it

wasn’t set up the way soldiers would lay out a camp.  It wasn’t Fergus’ after all.  She and

the others rummaged through the debris.  Daveth again looking for things to sell, Kai to make

certain that there was no sign of her brother (she just couldn’t leave it no matter that the

camp appeared civilian what if he passed through?).

 She found one chest laying on its side, locked.  It appeared to have been hurled in a rage,

probably due to a darkspawn’s inability to undo the bolt.  Kai didn’t have that problem and

used the picks she stored in her boot.  Soon she had an audience as she moved the pins to the

lock mechanism of the chest, giving a triumphant little cry as the latch clicked and she swung

the lid open. 

Daveth grinned at her, “Well, well, will you never cease to surprise me?  I certainly hope

not.” 

Kai grinned and rolled her eyes at him.  Alistair snorted, “I wonder, how closely I should

watch both of you.”

She couldn’t resist, she leaned in and whispered in Alistair’s ear letting her breath tickle

it, “You could watch me...more closely.”

He blushed a brilliant shade of red which made her laugh,  and she reached into the chest,

pulling out items and handing them to Daveth.  Her fingers brushed what felt like the leather

cover of a book and she grabbed it pulling it out.  She stood up and walked away to stand and

thumb through the book while Daveth continued to look through the chest.

It turned out to be the field journal of the man who had penned the letter they found on the

corpse in the pond (presumably his son Jogby).  It contained prayers to the Maker, entries

about the Wilds (plants, animals, the Chasind).  There was even mention of meals and stomach

complaints due to the water perhaps.  It seemed pretty mundane until one entry caught her eye:

The Chasind barbarians are nothing if not clever. They have hidden markers and signs in the

arrangements of stones and rubble along the paths of the Wilds. In this way, they mark trails,

note places of interest, and even give warnings in a way outsiders cannot understand.

Interestingly, these markers look indistinguishable from a regular pile of stones.

I have dedicated my time to deciphering these signs, and I believe I am close to a

breakthrough. The trail markers seem to point to a horde or a location used for secret storage

among the Chasind. I have only found a portion of the message however. I think if I could

complete the message, find all of the trail markers, I can find this cache and see what

treasures the Chasind have to hide.

I have found one such marker near this camp, under a fallen tree leaning against the ruins.

Each marker seems to point to one or two others.

I hear rumours that a darkspawn horde is coming. I hope I can find this treasure before it's

too late!

Kai felt breath on her shoulder and she turned her head to see Daveth reading over her

shoulder. “Hidden treasure, then?  Hey, I think I saw a pile of stones with some twigs over on

the hill when we passed by scouting the camp.”  The cutpurse turned on his heel and walked

back toward the hill they had used as cover while she and the others followed.  He climbed up

the slope and stood pointing, “Yes, here it is!” 

Kai bent down to look at what Daveth pointed out. She saw a pile of stones, that looked

haphazard, if you didn’t know what to look for.  She stood, “The journal says there is another

close to the camp, near that fallen tree by the ruins.  Let’s go see.”  She walked back down

the hill and to the felled tree. There she saw it: another pile of stones almost

indistinguishable from nature’s own dumping of rubble by rain or receding water.  Now that she

knew what to look for, it seemed obvious.  She pointed to the pile, “Keep your eyes pealed for

these signs then.  we might get lucky and find this Chasind treasure, that is if the Chasind

didn’t take it with them.”  She pointed at the camp, “I think we should take one more look

around the camp, then we can be on our way.”

They returned to the site, and after helping Daveth to pack what little they found that could

bring some coin for the Grey, she was about to suggest they move on; but something was off,

and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.  Then it struck her. The wood laid out in the

fire pit bore no scorch marks or ash, nor did the ground beneath it, yet the camp looked used

despite the destruction. 

Who made a fire pit but didn’t us it?  She knelt down and removed the wood from the ring of

stones, placing it to the side.  Taking one of the rocks from the border of stones, she

started to dig.  Her suspicions were immediately confirmed when the dirt gave way easily, as

if it had already been moved once.  The metallic “thack” of the stone hitting what was buried

beneath told her she had come to her prize.

“Well, well, despite being a noble, you certainly have the heart of a thief.”  Daveth chuckled

behind her, “I think I’m in love.”  Alistair’s ‘ahem’ behind the rogue made him chuckle, “And

I am not the only one I think.”

“Yes, well what did you find Kai?”  Alistair’s face was bright pink as he crouched beside her

to see what she had found. 

She flashed him a grin and pulled out a small locked metal box.  The contents rattled inside

of it.  Kai pulled out her lock picks and went to work on this lock as she had the one on the

chest.  There were fewer pins to this hasp so it gave way more quickly.  Inside were several

gems, an amulet, and a note.  The note held the same neat penmanship that the note on Jogby’s

person held.  It was to someone named Jetta, and professed feelings of love, admiration, and

regret followed by the same looping signature that was becoming so familiar.  Poor sod, poor

unfortunate son, and poor Jetta.  Kai shook her head in pity and gently placed all of the

contents back in the container before locking it and putting it in her pack.  “I know the man

wanted to spread the word of the Maker, but really, he and his son could have had better

timing.”

Kai stood up, looking the way they’d come, and then back in the direction of the Chasind trail

sign and the arches of the old Tevinter ruins, “Well, the only way out is through, is it not?”

 She grinned, shouldered her pack, swung her bow over her shoulder and started walking further

into the Wilds the others following her lead.

****************************************************************************************************************************

NOTE: I am so sorry I have been lax in posting.   I am hoping to return to a more constant posting mode. Thanks for hanging in with me.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 02 novembre 2010 - 09:22 .

[Lynn01]

glad to see an update gil! As usual, i love it! And i will definately stick around!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw thanks! I am glad to be posting!

[LadyAly]

Excellent - I really stick how you *painted* Daveth. I always have seen him in this way and was very sad as he had to die so early.

!!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks LadyAly! I loved Daveth too! I was so disappointed when you couldn't romance him in game. I figured his and Kai's personalities would go well. Thanks for sticking with me sweetie! I am going to try and post more consistently. Danke meinen freunden.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 21 ~Wilder by the Dozen~

They walked past the moss covered pillars that bordered the campsite and moved eastward following the body of water to their left as the land to their right rose in craggy hillocks.  The deeper into the Wilds the group went the colder and clammier the atmosphere became, as if the air itself was alive and trying to climb down Kai’s throat despite her lungs. 

Alistair yelling her name occurred simultaneous with the sudden arrival of an arrow embedding itself in the dirt next to her foot.  She looked up and on a rise of land stood three grinning genlock archers. It was while she was doing the head count that she caught movement out of the corner of her eye; a huge hurlock hurtling down the hill towards her at breakneck speed brandishing a shield and a wicked spiky black metal sword, its mouth open in a roar of fetid breath and black pointed fangs.  The creature’s pale eyes held malice, and the leathery skin of its bald head bounced what little dim light the Wilds offered off the mouldering pate, and what was becoming a familiar stench of foulness wafted towards her (along with the nasty cocktail that was its breath). All in all, it painted a rather disgusting picture, and time seemed to slow down as her adrenaline kicked in.   A part of her mind wanted to giggle and it kept sing-songing in her head, oh here comes Ser Ugly; big, stinky,ugly!

Then time sped back up as her Qun training kicked in and she grabbed the front of the hurlock’s armor and using the momentum of its movement to spin it around using it as a shield.  Kai watched the hurlock’s milky eyes get wide, the smell of rot and excrement emanating from its fanged mouth as it screamed in pain with each ‘thunk’ of the arrows the genlocks were firing missing their intended target... her.  Her mind was doing the sing-song thing again, Ser Ugly McStinky he was a little hinky; with pale eyes and mouth too wide, was it any wonder the ladies flee his side? Oh poor, poor Ser Ugly McStinky.  She stifled a laugh, barely. 

She shoved the hurlock backwards towards the natural stone wall created by the hill the genlocks stood on, continuing to use it as a shield while she put herself below the range of their bows.  More thuds followed the others and with each one the hurlock screeched in her ear. 

More arrows flew over her shoulder and her head, she had a moment to worry that there were more darkspawn archers behind them. Kai shot a look over her shoulder to see Daveth was firing missile after missile while Alistair ran forward with his shield in front of him to block any arrows of the darkspawn that might come his way.  Jory followed behind using Alistair as his bulwark. 

Alistair was right, they weren’t really bright. The genlocks kept firing at Kai’s meatshield, as if the arrows might go through their fellow and get to her.  Just as she was thinking that they were wasting their projectiles, one black metal barbed arrow head punched through the creature’s chest about an inch from her nose.  Oka-ay, maybe it wasn’t as dumb as she first thought. 

Kai continued to push the unfortunate hurlock towards the cliff wall, ending with her shoving the creature’s back into the rock driving the arrows further into its torso, mindful of the barbs coming through to the front.  It gave one last pitiful screech of dismay before falling forward as she let it go.  It twitched once then lay still. 

Kai put her back to the rock wall listening to the noises from above.  She heard Alistair’s shield clanging amidst squeals of pain from darkspawn, and the swish of Ser Jory’s great sword, along with the clang of metal blades meeting metal blades.

Apparently, the genlocks had given up on the bows and had drawn bladed weapons.  Kai started to move back the way she had come to join them on the cliff above when her hand touched a sturdy vine snaking its way up the rock  face.  Kai grabbed a hold and began climbing. 

She was about a man’s height off the ground when she felt a hand grab her leg.  She looked down to find another hurlock’s pale eyes looking into her own, its open mouth issuing a battle cry.  Kai held on tight with her hands, twisted and swung her other heavily booted foot over to smash it into the creature’s face. There was a sickening snap, crunch, and high pitched squeal as the jaw broke beneath the metal armored leather. 

She kicked out once more catching it in the temple, “Oh, do shut up.”  Kai told the hurlock.  Another nausea-inducing crunch and the hurlock’s howls were silenced, its eyes glazed and the grip on her leg lessened enough for her to yank it away from the leathery taloned fingers holding it.  With both feet free she kicked it in the forehead hard, a deep popping coming from the beast’s neck. It sailed backwards and landed on the grass, puffs of mist curling upward, covering the prone form as if being devoured by living smoke. 

She allowed herself to give a small shudder, before continuing to climb the vine towards the top.  She reached the edge and found one genlock’s foot. Instinctively, Kai reached out and pulled, sending the badly wounded darkspawn over the edge to join its felled fellow. 

She spared it a look before reaching up to grasp the grass with one hand while holding on to the vine with the other.  She almost jerked her arm back, pulling what thought would be another genlock over the edge.  She found herself flushing with embarrassment as it was Alistair’s gauntleted hand that held onto her forearm.  He grinned that lopsided smile of his and helped to pull her up to stand with he and Jory,  “Spending your time climbing around while we did the heavy lifting?” 

She wrinkled her nose at him and grinned.  “Well, my dance partner decided to play the role of target dummy and I found myself with nothing to do, so I thought I would hang around.”

Alistair chuckled, even Ser Jory got the joke this time.  Daveth just grinned as he walked up the hill towards them slinging his bow over his shoulder, stopping long enough to collect still usable arrows from the corpses.  “Hangin’ around, my arse.  There are three dead beasties down there. Granted, one of them was killed by his own mates, sore lot that; but only because our gorgeous and talented fellow recruit was smart and used him as shield.”  Daveth flashed her a saucy leer, but there was respect in his sparkling amber gaze, “She gave one the boot, or rather two boots, to the face, repeatedly.  Giving the other one flying lessons was a nice touch.  I am falling more and more in love by the minute.”

Kai rolled her eyes, “Lust is not love, as I told you before.  And you were supposed to be targeting and aiming with the that bow of yours, not watching what I was doing.”  She stuck out her tongue, “Besides, I told you to watch my back, not my backside.”

Daveth chuckled, which turned into loud guffaws at Alistair’s mortified expression and reddening skin tone.  Her fellow rogue leaned in towards her, lowering his voice, “Really, love, if I didn’t think you and our fearless leader weren’t...smitten...with each other, well I would be more than willing to watch anything of yours you told me to.  You are the most fascinating woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”  He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and set about looting the corpses. 

Kai stood in shock for a moment before she flashed a look at Alistair who raised an eyebrow, before flashing Daveth a scowl.  Kai laughed softly to herself then walked to the ex-templar.  She leaned in and Alistair bent down so she could whisper in his ear, “I would tell you that you are welcome to watch my backside, however, and my frontside.  If you wish.”

She gave him a saucy grin of her own and Alistair drew back as if he had been burned, and a blush crept up his neck and flooded his face causing Kai to start laughing...hard.  Alistair grinned. “You did that on purpose, just to make me blush, didn’t you?  You are a bad, bad, person.”

Kai smiled. “Do you hate me?”

He laughed. “Yes!” Alistair grinned and shook his head before indicating they should help loot the bodies. 

After they finished, they continued on their journey.  They followed along the bank of the lake, taking their time.  Alistair’s eyes did not turn white and smoky, yet Kai still felt as though they were being watched.  It was becoming chronic, and it made the space between her shoulder blades itch; but even when she looked casually, she could see nothing obvious.  She thought she caught a glimpse of bright yellow eyes out of the corner of her own, but even with her subtle (or so she assumed) turning to see, what she thought she saw was not there. 

As Alistair’s eyes didn’t change, she knew the sensation wasn’t darkspawn.  She was beginning to wonder if the very trees and stone weren’t alive and filled with malicious glee after all.  She felt as though they were being toyed with, and that made her angry.  She stopped trying to be subtle and began deliberately looking around. 

She was broken from her concentration on one such overt maneuver when Alistair called to her, “Kai, do you think this could be one of those Chasind signs?”  She turned to see Alistair pointing to a small pile of stone beneath a tree near a body of water that held pieces of ruins in it.

As she and the others walked over to look at the pile of rubble, Alistair drew his sword in a wide arc and a slick ‘shing’ noise.  His eyes glowed, tendrils of smoke curling upwards.  Kai didn’t hesitate, and neither did Daveth or Jory.  They each formed up into their teams in short order, which was just as well, as seconds were all they had.  The darkspawn genlock rogues popped up as if from nowhere, just as the other one had at the campsite earlier.  

Kai counted four malicious pointy toothed grins before she was too busy concentrating on slashing and stabbing.  Alistair’s shield bashing did come in handy with two opponents.  When one would turn its attentions towards her, he simply knocked it to the ground with such a force that Kai could continue to focus on the one target facing Alistair.  One sharp dagger to the back of Alistair’s opponent’s neck when it lowered its head gave Kai access to the spine right beneath the skull; and she dispatched it just as the second genlock dizzily heaved itself to its feet once more. 

When two of the darkspawn lay dead, Kai turned to see how Daveth and Jory fared. As Ser Jory had no shield to bash, she figured they might need the help.  Kai nodded to Alistair and they turned to see the rogue and knight fighting only one of the genlocks.  The other was standing but seemed to be wheezing and moving very slowly.  Whenever it got close, Daveth simply shot out a boot and kicked it back. 

Kai ran up to it, hoping to save the cutpurse the trouble this time, and it looked at her with black blood leaking from its mouth, nose, and corners of its eyes.  It practically fell on her sword, and she used her foot to kick it off the blade before using the sharp edge in a roundhouse sweep, shearing off its head.    The other darkspawn rogue was fast on its way to death as Jory spun, putting his back to it. He slid his great sword through the creature while Daveth did a cross armed swipe across its back.  The genlock went face down as the sword was removed with a sickening sucking sound and a grunt of dismay.  

She left the others (particularly Daveth) to loot, and to gather the one vial of blood they still needed from the ones she and Alistair had fought. 

Kai bent over the small pile of stones that Alistair had been pointing to before they were so rudely interrupted.  She eyed it closely, and noticed something that all three piles shared.  On first glance, anyone might think they were merely nature’s detritus. Very clever of the Chasind, but its purpose was more complex than that.  Each pile contained a variety of stones in a range of colors, but their hues were pale in this pile with one exception, one stone placed on west side.  The one on the hill held an odd colored stone on the south side of the pile, and that had led to the one under the fallen tree that Rigby found.  That pile contained one pointing her to this unobtrusive stack of rock, or rather led them in the direction to find it.   

From the different colored stone in this pile, it indicated the next sign would be in the same direction and in a crescent shape of land near water with ruins?  Kai mused in her head.  The pile sat next to a subtle arc of grey blue stones, with a rough rock standing upright reminding Kai of one of the many ruined pillars dotting the landscape.  The directional stone (as she was starting to think of them) sat on the east side of the grouping and pointed them in the same eastward direction they had been going.  She might have dismissed the upright rough rock and the line of bluish stones again for Nature’s detritus; but the sign on the hill had a bent root, or so she thought, next to it.  Thinking on it again, Kai realized that the “root” must have been placed there deliberately to mimic the fallen tree.  The stones next to the fallen tree near the camp had a small puddle of water with a broken stick next to it.  She had thought the puddle was from the proximity to the pond there.  She was seeing now that they were all deliberate landmark clues.  Complex indeed; genius really, and all around bloody brilliant. 

Kai pointed out the pile and voiced her ideas on how the system worked.  Daveth squatted down for a closer look. “Hmm, smart buggers the Chasind, but not as clever as you.”  He stood and grinned giving Kai a wink. 

She shook her head and grinned, waving a hand in the direction the sign said to go. “It says that way, which conveniently enough, is the way we were headed.” She laughed again and started walking.  Kai found the next sign with even less trouble, now that she had the Chasind’s system figured out.

The fourth pile sat on a small mound of dirt with a twig standing embedded in the mound.  At first she thought it was a bush that had died and all that remained was the main stalk, but on closer inspection it was a twig from a tree stuck into the small rise of dirt next to the pebbles; with what looked like a root again, connecting the small hillock of earth to another miniature knoll.  The directional stone pointed north. 

So, the next sign would be on a hill, next to a tree, with a log from that hill to another.  Kai chuckled to herself, and so back in the direction they gone.  The others waited patiently for her to read the sign, and they all followed her without comment when she rounded the edge of the lake keeping it to their left and following it back northward.  She wondered for a moment if it bothered Alistair at all, that Jory and Daveth seemed to follow her rather than him.  Kai shot a look at Alistair from under her lashes.  If anything he seemed to be more at ease with the situation as it was, than when they first left Duncan and left the Wilds. 

They continued on, keeping the lake with the sunken tower ever to their left.  They crossed a thin land bridge between the lake on their left and a smaller more shallow pond to their right.  She saw the tree bridge between the two swells of land, and at first she thought someone had strung deer up to keep the meat safe from predators. 

As they drew closer her heart began to thud painfully,  and her stomach wanted to climb out of her throat. The bodies were so swollen and the smell told her they were days old,  that along with the swarm of flies.  It was the one corpse wearing armor like her brother’s, along with dark hair, that made Kai’s vision start to go gray. 

Kai was hardly one of those fainting hot house flowers, wilting at the least provocation; but Alistair’s hand on her shoulder told her she had been listing.  His voice was soft, “Look at them, poor sods.”  Kai shoved his hand off, her cheeks were flaming, and she glared at him before taking off at a jog as he called out behind her, “Hey-y, Kai, I didn’t mean it that way.  Hey wait!”

[westiex9]

Ah that Alistair what a charmer, or at least he would be if he wasn't so shy... Great story as always Gil!

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL! Thanks Westie! : D

[Lynn01]

Wonderful Gil! Keep up the great work! *performs a small little "excited-for-new-chapter" dance.

[Gilgamesh1138]

*joins you in the dance and hugs tight* Thanks sweetie!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 22

~Sticky Handed Situation~

Kai barely registered Alistair speaking to her, his voice receded like the tide on the Waking

Sea.  She had only one thought: cut those men down and see if one of them was her brother. 

Don’t be Fergus, don’t be Fergus, don’t be Fergus kept echoing in her head like some mad

metronome.  Her heart was pounding in her chest, and the skin of her scalp tingled painfully. 

With such a personal inner cacophony going  on, she was surprised that she heard her fellow

rogue’s voice as he chastised Alistair.  “Nice going there, mate.  Tell me, how do you walk

with your foot in your mouth like that?”

A part of her mind that seemed to be watching everything from a distance wanted to giggle

uncontrollably as she made her way beneath the dangling feet of the dead men above her.  The

stench of decay made her stomach lurch upward as if it wanted to escape the confines of her

ribcage, while the buzz of the flies drowned out all other sounds.  The insects covered the

bodies in a malicious black cloud.  Maker, there are so many of them! 

Kai’s feet pushed her onwards as if they had a mind of their own. A part of her dreaded what

she was doing, yet she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, stop. 

She turned left and climbed the hillock that sloped steeply upwards.  The hill was sharp and

narrow, abutting the lake they had traveled around hours before.  She could see the sunken

ruin in it from her vantage point as she continued to climb towards her goal. 

She made it to the log “bridge” just as the others arrived below her.  Kai took a deep breath

and carefully stepped out on to the rough bark, testing the tree gingerly to see if it would

hold her weight as well as those of the three corpses.  Alistair called up to her, “Kai! Come

back down here!  You’ll fall and break your neck!”  She ignored him as it seemed sturdy

enough, so she continued to make her way to the first coil of rope.  She heard the templar

mutter, “If she falls, Duncan is going to feed me to the archdemon.”

“What in the Maker’s name is she doing?”  Jory’s befuddled voice drifted up to her just as she

drew one of her daggers and applied the blade to the thick fibers girding the log.

“I wouldn’t stand there, mate, if I were you.”  Daveth grabbed Ser Jory’s arm and tugged the

knight out from under the corpse Kai was attempting to free from its constraints.  The last

strand of the rope gave way with a dull squeak, dropping its burden to the ground below.  The

cadaver landed with a ‘whoof’ of air as gases were expelled as rotting flesh met unyielding

ground. 

Either Kai was becoming immune to the smell or she was far too focused on her task.  Her

fellow travelers were not so fortunate, if the gagging noises emanating from below were any

indication.  She sawed through the next round of rope and proceeded onward until all the

corpses lay on the ground.   

She brushed flies away from her face, the insects confused by the change of their abodes

sought other places to land.  She was about to turn around slowly when the sunlight (or what

went for sunlight in this gloomy place) glinted off a pile of stones near the tree on the

other knoll; the next Chasind sign, she was sure of it.  She also noticed what she had failed

to see before, so fixed on the corpses as she was.  It was a large, empty wooden cage.  Kai

didn’t see any darkspawn around it, though the rogues were able to hide; surely they would

have shown themselves before now. 

She turned and started to make her way back across the trunk when Alistair called to her,

“Kai, I’ll catch you.  Please don’t walk across that log, I don’t want you to fall.  Please?” 

His voice held genuine concern and she couldn’t help but take pity on him; especially, with

the look on his face reminding her so much of Argus’s when she had told the marbari to stay

behind in Ostagar. 

Kai felt herself softening.  Blast! What was it about the man?  She nodded at him and eased

herself down to sit, the rough bark scraping the leather leggings she wore as she moved

forward and dropped down.

The sensation of falling ended as strong hands and arms caught her.  Kai found herself looking

into deep grey eyes as her hands were on his shoulders, his big hands wrapped around her waist

just above her hips, their faces only inches away from each other. 

For a moment the world seemed to disappear and they were the only ones in existence.  Their

breathing in tandem.  Kai’s heart was racing, she thought from the adrenaline rush of the

short plummet, but it showed no signs of slowing to normal, if anything it was speeding up. 

It was Daveth’s loud mock cough that brought the world rushing back in.  She watched the red

flush creeping up Alistair’s neck.  If the heat she felt rising to her own face was any

indication, her own skin was following suit.  Weren’t they just a fine pair? 

Alistair stood her on her feet blushing all the way to his hair.  Daveth chuckled, “A bit

sticky-handed there, aren’t you mate?”   Alistair’s hands quickly left her sides as if she

were a hot coal.  He looked down at his feet mumbling something that sounded like ‘smart arsed

cutpurse’, which had Kai biting her lip to keep from laughing. 

Alistair looked up and caught her expression, he remained an endearing shade of pink, but he

gave her that lopsided smile that made her heart start fluttering again.  “I’m sorry for what

I said earlier, Kai, I wasn’t thinking.”  He said it softly and the pink deepened, but he

looked her in the eyes.  Her father always told her that one should always make eye contact so

the offended party knew it was sincere.  It struck her then how much her father would have

liked Alistair, and that gave her a painful wrenching twist to her heart.  She smiled and

nodded.  Her brother would like Alistair too, come to that.

Fergus!  Kai spun around to look at the corpses lying in skewed positions on the ground.  Only

one had caught her attention.  Her hands were cold and clammy and her breath came out in

hitches as she walked towards the corpse with dark hair and armor like her brother’s.  She

clenched her hands into fists so hard the knuckles popped.  Kai took a deep breath and

swallowed hard before she knelt down. 

The corpse was swollen, the skin a putrescent yellow.  The sockets were black holes devoid of

eyes; the nose was gone as well. The ravens hadn’t wasted any time. She kept shooing flies

away, and maggots crawled everywhere.  She couldn’t tell if it was Fergus from the puffed and

decimated face.  She gingerly turned the body over, pulling the collar of the hauberk down 

looking for the birthmark on the upper part of her brother’s shoulder.  It was a brown smudge

that made Kai think of a slightly lopsided sea star from the Waking Sea.  Oren bore...had

borne (she corrected herself) the same mark. 

Maker! Memories, memories everywhere and not one that wouldn’t bring pain and loss with it. 

Kai closed her eyes, squeezing them shut until she saw stars burst on on the underside of her

eyelids.  It was Alistair’s hand on her shoulder and Jory’s exasperated voice that snapped her

back to the present.  “What in the Maker’s name is she doing now? And why is it taking so

long? I want to complete our mission and get out of this place.  Standing around only makes us

a target for more of those monsters!”  Jory whined. 

“Shut it, mate.  She’s checking to see if this is her brother, so you can spare her a few

sodding minutes.” Daveth’s gruff voice addressed the knight before she felt his hand on her

other shoulder and he addressed her, “Take your time, love.  Don’t mind mister antsy pants

there.”

The pressure from Alistair’s hand increased, “Kai, is it...is it him? Your brother?”

Kai forced herself to look, the skin was yellow but no brown star-shaped spot.  She let out a

breath she didn’t realize she had been holding.  She shook her head, “No, it isn’t him.” 

Alistair’s hand squeezed her shoulder tighter before releasing, and Daveth’s hand gave her a

little shake before doing the same.  She stood giving the poor unfortunate soldiers one last

look.  She wondered if they had been with her brother out here.  There was nothing

recognizable to link them to Highever; but if they were men from Highever and part of Fergus’s

scouting party... Kai chose not to think about it, or she might drive herself insane.

“So which way now?  I really think we should move on, I don’t like all this standing around.” 

Jory ran a hand over his shorn head. 

Daveth and Alistair shot the knight a nasty look which Jory took no notice of.  Before either

one of them could start something with the dim witted man Kai broke in,  “Well, we could start

by going around and climbing the opposite side of this hill here.  I think I saw the next

Chasind sign.” 

“Well then let’s get a move on then, the sooner we get out of here the better!”  Jory walked

away skirting the hillock heading north.

Kai ran to catch up, Alistair and Daveth following closely behind her, “Ser Jory wait!”  She

grabbed the knight’s arm just as they cleared the slope of the hill to their right.  Jory

turned, his beady eyes wide as he looked behind her at Alistair.  Kai turned to see, and found

Alistair with his eyes white and smoking. Kai shook her head, turning back to the startled

knight, “You left before I could tell you the rest of what I saw.   There is a big empty cage

on the hill as well, and I doubt humans put it there.”    She grinned at Alistair, “And from

Alistair’s  oogy eye trick, he agrees.  So perhaps a little more caution is in order, don’t

you agree ser knight?”

Any reply from Jory was interrupted by Alistair, “Kai!”  Alistair’s sword ‘shinged’ in unison

with roar of the darkspawn swarming over the hill towards them. 

Kai grabbed the oncoming hurlock and using her Qun martial arts used the creature’s momentum

and ‘threw’ it towards Alistair, who impaled it on his sword while Daveth stabbed it from

behind with his poisoned daggers.  Another hurlock followed the first along with several

genlocks.  

Kai gave the second fellow the same treatment, swinging him towards Ser Jory this time. 

Daveth spun and struck one genlock with a blade before helping the knight.  Alistair swung the

hurlock using his sword to do so, letting the momentum slide if off of the blade.  She watched

as he turned with the sword not missing a beat, and sliced the closest genlock’s head off,

sending it sailing, where it hit the one behind it in the chest with a sick meaty sound.   The

force of the cranial projectile elicited squeals of dismay as the genlock was knocked back

into its fellow right behind it causing both to topple to the ground of the hill and slide on

the fog slicked grass.  Kai took advantage of their indisposed position to plant one boot

firmly in the throat of one with a sick crunching noise before using that same foot to kick

the gurgling genlock down the hill to the others of her group. 

The second genlock, sensing how things were going screeched and flipped over on its belly

scrabbling for purchase.  It presented her with the perfect target  as a rogue.  Kai used her

daggers on the creature’s exposed back.  The keening got louder before it flipped over once

more before kicking out at her ankle.  Kai leapt up to avoid having her leg swept out from

under her, which normally would have worked if the ground were not steeply sloped and slippery

like ice on the lake at Highever in winter. Kai found the world suddenly went upside down and

she found herself looking at the watery sky. 

The view was quickly replaced by a wicked grimace full of black needle teeth and fetid air. 

The breath was knocked out of her as the small but dense genlock leapt onto her chest.  She

just barely managed to raise the Cousland sword up to block the nasty black-bladed dagger

headed for her throat. The genlock growled in anger clutching her torso with its legs.  The

maneuver put her ribs in a crushing grip causing her bones to burn in agony while the air in

her lungs expelled out in painful spurts.  Her vision was going gray around the edges, while

black pin points blossomed in her view like black flowers. 

She thought she might pass out and save Duncan the trouble of the Joining. Andraste’s flaming

knickers, it would probably save both him, Alistair, and the Grey in general from the trouble

that was Kaidana Cousland.  The detached part of her wanted to giggle even as her very life

was being squeezed out and the blade crept closer to her throat

Just as she thought the gray was going to go to total black, the world came back in a rush

after a loud nasty thump.  Her lungs, freed from the pressure, greedily sucked in air.  Kai

kicked out and rolled away, scrabbling to get to her feet. When she finally was able to rise,

she saw Alistair bringing the edge of his metal shield down on the skull of the genlock with a

sickening crunch.  She watched the darkspawn’s body twitch as the ex-templar ran his sword

through its chest. 

“You all right, love?”  Kai felt a hand on her shoulder.  She turned to find Daveth looking at

her with concern in his amber eyes.

“Yes, I thought for a moment I wouldn’t make the Joining ritual after all.”  She grinned and

gave his hand a squeeze. He returned her smile, released her shoulder, and grabbed Jory to

enlist the knight’s aid in looting the corpses. 

Alistair came to stand next to her, now that the genlock was dispatched.  Kai was doing an

assessment of possible injury.  No ribs felt broken, just badly bruised.  Kai looked up,

Alistair’s face showed unguarded concern as he ran a hand across the leather.   He caught her

watching him and blushed adorably again, his expression a mixture of guilt and misery, “I am

so sorry Kai, I’m supposed to be watching out for you, keeping them off of you.”

Kai grabbed one of his hands, giving it a squeeze, “Hey now, no worries.  I’m fine, I just had

the wind knocked out of me.  Nothing’s broken, the breath on that thing was the worst part.” 

She joked with him, hoping to lighten his mood.  “Besides, from the looks of ‘Mr. Nasty’, I

would say he got the worse end of the deal.”  She motioned towards the genlock whose head,

even from this distance, looked decidedly ****eyed,  “I say you did your job admirably, the

genlock might agree if he wasn’t little preoccupied with being dead.” 

She was delighted when he laughed and nodded. He blushed more furiously as he lifted her hand,

giving it a quick brush with his lips before releasing it and turning to help loot.  Kai could

only stand there heat rising in her own cheeks while her fingers tingled where his skin had

touched hers.

“You’ll catch flies that way, love.”  Daveth grinned and placed a finger under her chin

closing her mouth.  He gave her a saucy wink and only laughed when she gave him an indignant

scowl. 

While they looted she climbed the knoll to find the Chasind sign she saw while on the felled

tree. She bypassed the cage and knelt down next to the living tree that grew next to the

latest pile of stones.  After careful examination, Kai figured that the next sign was

southeast from this location, near a body of water with a ruin in the middle of it.   Again,

it would be next to a tree. 

“They sure have thing for putting these next to trees.”  Alistair’s summation echoed her own

thoughts. 

She startled slightly as she had not heard him come up behind her, she was really going to

have to watch that.  It would not do for her to let her guard down and get skewered.  Duncan

would not be amused.  She grinned up at him, “So it appears to be telling us.”    

Alistair looked up at the sky which had darkened, “I think we need to find a place to camp. I

don’t look forward to staying the night here, but with all the fighting we aren’t close to

where the map tells us the Grey Warden scrolls are.  And I don’t relish stumbling around in

the dark in this place.” 

She nodded, “I don’t either.  Since the next sign is in that direction,”  She waved a hand to

the southeast, “Shall we continue slightly north to go around this pond and look for a place

to camp while we do?  Once we get around it we should be able to head southeast.”

He gave her that lopsided grin of his and helped her rise to her feet.  She decided that it

was the sudden changed in position that had her heart racing a little, not his smile or his

touch, it just couldn’t be that.  She followed him back down the hill. 

Jory and Daveth finished looting the corpses, and Kai explained their plan, which thrilled Ser

Jory not one bit.  After some whining on the knight’s part they started up the hill keeping

the pond to their right.  As the slope steepened, Kai heard a noises come from just over the

small rise in the slope.  As they crested it she saw one hurlock fighting a pack of wolves

while a genlock archer fired arrows keeping the pack from jumping the hurlock completely and

taking it down.  From what she could see the hurlock was losing the fight, death from a

thousand bites.  Kai, gestured for Jory to take out the archer.  She and Jory unslung their

own bows and fired at the hurlock who screeched in pain as arrows landed in its back.  The

wolves leapt upon it and the darkspawn disappeared in a sea of growling fur.

“You do realize the wolves will come for us next, don’t you?”  Alistair said.

“Hopefully, some of them will be too occupied with finishing off the hurlock.  We take care of

those that come for us, then the rest.”  Kai flashed him a grin. 

She and Daveth began hitting wolves with arrows until they came too close.  Alistair knocked

some aside when they got too close.  The battle didn’t last long, and the knoll was littered

with dead wolves and two dead darkspawn.  It also appeared they found a spot to camp, an open

air ruin sitting at the top of the hill easily defensible and backed by water.  They weren’t

the only ones to have the idea to use it as such either. 

On the stone floor of what Kai thought might have been an atrium when it was built lay the

bodies of two men. One in solider’s garb (not Fergus, thank the Maker), the other in Chantry

robes.  There was another locked chest, and various barrels of supplies for this makeshift

camp.  Apparently Rigby had stocked this area as a rest point and the darkspawn must have

attacked just recently as the supplies were untouched. 

 A search of the body in the robes yielded another dwarven cylinder wrapped in leather, sealed

shut with a bit of parchment in it.  It confirmed what Kai suspected, that they had indeed

found Rigby.  The parchment bore the same neat penmanship and familiar handwriting as before,

along with the looping signature.  It read:

This is the last will and testament of Rigby the missionary, proud speaker of the Maker's

word. I have come to the Wilds to speak the Chant, but I fear I will die here at the hands of

the darkspawn.

I leave all that I came with to my wife, Jetta. Should the reader of this note feel

charitable, I have buried a sealed lockbox in our camp, nestled in a Tevinter ruin in the

western reaches of the Wilds. It is my will that this lockbox finds my wife in Redcliffe, and

that it is still sealed shut when it reaches her.

To my wife and my son, I apologize that my work has taken me from you, but I know that I die

in service to the Maker.

Rigby

“Well, so much for it staying hidden and sealed, eh, love?”  Daveth gave her a saucy wink,

“Maybe his wife won’t notice.  You know, she doesn’t know about the will or the box...” 

Kai gave him snort, “Now you know why I am the one carrying it and not you.  And no she won’t

notice, not unless she is familiar with scratches around a key hole from lock picks.  I locked

it back, and I intend to see that she gets it after the battle is over.” 

“All right, love, don’t get your knickers in a twist!”  Daveth chuckled as she wrinkled her

nose at him.  “I don’t look forward to telling this, Jetta, that she lost both husband and son

in one go.”

Kai nodded and patted him on the shoulder.  After a brief discussion they dragged the darkpawn

off to the side, as for the wolves they skinned them and Daveth hung the pelts from the log

the soldiers had been tied to.  The soldiers, and Rigby they put into a pile and having found

oil for cooking in one of the barrels, they managed to give them a proper Ferelden burial.

After cleaning up the stone floor they tied canvas sheets from the pillars to give them some

shelter should it rain.  Bedrolls were laid out, and firewood gathered.  With these chores

completed, they settled in to wait out the night in the Wilds.

[Lynn01]

YAAY! Love it again Gil!