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[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 27

~Titillating Strategies & Royal Lip Service~



Kai walked with Duncan down the ramp towards the war council table she had seen when exploring

Ostagar.  The table, bare then, bore a large vellum map held down by various pieces of armor. 

Even with the weights, the leather’s edge snapped in the quickening breeze as the storm drew

closer. 

Four people stood around the scared wooden table. A man with what Kai and Fergus as children

had always called decided eyebrows—thick black and arching—worse a scowl along with mage

robes. Ah, a tower mage then, elder enchanter to boot, or he wouldn’t be here, Kai thought. 

Next to him was the obnoxious old bat, the Revered Mother herself.  Oh goody!  Woman still has

a face like a prune, Kai thought, and still looks as if she has a broom handle permanently

lodged up her backside.

The mage and the Revered Mother stood off to the side while Loghain and Cailan leaned over the

table.  Kai watched them gesture over the leather painted with a map of Ostagar.

As they approached, Kai could hear Cailan’s voice arguing in a tone that sounded both angry

and bored, as if this was an old argument, “Loghain, my decision is final.  I will stand by

the Grey Wardens  in this assault.”  Cailan, sensing their presence, turned, winked at Kai,

and gave her a saucy grin.

Loghain’s voice rose higher as he said, “You risk too much Cailan.  A darkspawn horde is too

dangerous for you to be playing hero on the front lines.” 

Cailan addressed Loghain once more, but not before giving Kai a conspiratorial eye roll in

Loghain’s direction along with another cheeky wink.  “If that’s the case, perhaps we should

wait for the Orlesian forces to join us after all.”  He waved a dismissive hand at the Teyrn

before he  spoke to Kai. “I see you made it through the Joining.  Every Grey Warden is needed

now, you should be honored to join their ranks.”  Cailan gently took her hand in his while

brushing his lips on her cheek near enough to her mouth that it almost was a kiss. 

His lips were soft and lingered for the barest of moments, long enough that Kai could smell

the metal of his armor, and the soap he used. When he pulled back he still gripped her hand,

and his eyes shone with admiration and...attraction?  “As your king, and your friend, I am so

very pleased you are a Grey Warden now.”

Kai gave Duncan an raised eyebrow before smiling at Cailan. “Thank you, your Majesty.”

The look Loghain turned towards her was much less friendly.  In fact, he glared first at Kai

then Cailan. “Your fascination with glory and legends will be your undoing, Cailan.  We must

attend to reality!”

Kai noticed how Cailan seemed to enjoy tweaking Loghain’s tail, as the saying went.  She knew

that Cailan was toying with Loghain, but there was something about Loghain’s reaction that set

alarm bells ringing in her head.  His blue eyes, which always gave the impression that they

could frost water in a cup, turned into hot glass.  A fleeting look of rage crossed his

features so quickly that Kai wondered if she was the only one to catch it. “I must repeat my

protest to your fool notion that we need the Orlesians to defend ourselves.”  Loghain turned

away. When he turned back, that livid look in his eye was gone.

Cailan’s voice rose in anger as he shook his head. “It is not a fool notion.”  The king’s eyes

narrowed as Loghain apparently hit a nerve. “Our arguments with the Orlesians are a thing of

the past.  And you will remember who is king!”

Loghain’s already pinched features took on a more sour look, as if the man had eaten a sackful

of lemons, before he became tired and...sad?  He ran fingers across his forehead while

sighing, giving the impression of a parent talking to a wayward child. “How fortunate Maric

did not live to see his son ready to hand Ferelden over to those who enslaved us for a

century.” Loghain’s voice was quiet and sent shivers down Kai’s spine.  Almost as if he had

come to some important decision, but what that decision was, she could not say.

Cailan’s tone was harsh and not at all like the devil-may-care one she was used to. “Our

current forces will have to suffice then, won’t they?” Kai watched Cailan’s blue eyes—so much

like Maric’s—glitter before he turned a soft smile on her and Duncan. “Duncan, are your men

ready for battle?”

Duncan nodded. “They are, your majesty.” 

Loghain cleared his throat, which made Cailan roll his eyes again. “Fine, speak your

strategy.”  He leaned in over the map as he looked at the lines dyed into it. “The Grey

Wardens and I draw the darkspawn into charging our lines.  And then?” His voice sounded

slightly bored, as if he had gone over it all many times.

Loghain joined Cailan in leaning over the vellum while keeping his eyes on the king. “You

alert the tower to light the beacon, signaling my men to charge from cover—”

Cailan broke in and said, “To flank the darkspawn, I remember. This is the Tower of Ishal in

the ruins, yes?” He put an armor clad finger to the leather’s surface. “Well, who shall light

this beacon?”  His blue eyes looked into Kai’s.

Loghain stood straight, looking at Kai then Cailan with a slight crimping at the corners of

his mouth and eyes. “I have a few men stationed there. It’s not a dangerous task, but it is

vital.”

Cailan flashed a look at Duncan that Kai couldn’t read, but which Duncan seemed to understand

perfectly as he nodded slightly. The king looked down at the map once more before giving

Loghain a cheeky grin. “Then we should send our best.  Send Alistair and Kai, one of our

newest Wardens, to make sure it’s done.” He winked at her before shooting Duncan that

indecipherable look once more.

Kai looked at Duncan but his face was immutable. “You mean I won’t be fighting in the battle?”

 Bloody hell! Told she wouldn’t be coming to the battle at all, and now that she had lost

everything, she was still being kept from the fight! Kai clenched her fists while shooting

Duncan an angry look. 

Duncan’s dark skin flushed slightly but his features remained still. “We need the beacon, Kai.

 Without it, Loghain’s men won’t know when to charge.”

Cailan looked at her with... hope? And then flashed her a brilliant smile. “You see? Glory for

everyone!”

Loghain snorted before glaring at Kai and Duncan. “You rely on these Grey Wardens too much. 

Is that truly wise?” 

Shaking his blond head, Cailan rounded angrily on Loghain. “Enough of your conspiracy

theories, Loghain! Grey Wardens battle the Blight no matter where they’re from. And both

Alistair and Kai are Fereldans!”

Then Duncan said, “Your Majesty, you should consider the possibility of the Archdemon

appearing.” Kai could feel her eyebrows shooting up while she watched him. After their

discussion when they first arrived at Ostagar, she hadn’t expected Duncan to broach the topic.

Loghain’s icy gaze, with that familiar minute crimping of his features, turned to Duncan

before he turned to Cailan. “There have been no signs of any dragons in the Wilds.”

Cailan shot Duncan a questioning look. “Isn’t that what your men are here for, Duncan?”

To anyone but Kai, Duncan’s face looked calm, but she saw the same flash of disappointment and

fear as she had in the Great Hall at Highever. He sighed. “I-yes, your Majesty.”

The bald mage practically leapt forward, startling Kai as she had all but forgotten that he

and the ‘old bat’ stood to the side.  “Your Majesty, the tower and it’s beacon are

unnecessary! The Circle of magi—”

“We will not trust our lives to your spells, mage!” The Revered Mother practically spat out

the word ‘mage’ as if she had tasted something unpleasant on her tongue. Of course, it was

hard for Kai to tell if the Maker’s fish wife was any more displeased than she seemed to be on

a regular basis. Being sour, unhappy, and disapproving appeared to be the old bat’s natural

state. “Save them for the darkspawn!”

The mage flashed an enraged look at the Revered Mother before he and Loghain exchanged some

sort of silent communication with one another that made the hairs on Kai’s neck stand on end.

Loghain turned his gaze to the Revered Mother. “Enough! This plan will suffice. The Grey

Wardens will light the beacon.” Kai watched Loghain and the mage exchange another look before

the teyrn turned away. 

Cailan smiled. “Thank you, Loghain.   cannot wait for that glorious moment! The Grey Wardens

battle beside the King of Ferelden to stem the tide of evil!”  His visage took on the wide-

eyed wonderment of a child watching for Father Winter and his sack of presents. 

Kai couldn’t help but grin and shake her head. The smile left her lips quickly enough when

Loghain turned slightly away from Cailan, arms crossed over his chest. “Yes, Cailan, a

glorious moment for us all.” His tone of voice raised goosebumps along Kai’s arms and the

hairs on her neck to stand on end. Loghain turned back to Cailan, his eyes sharp and his face

set.

The alarm bells in her head sounded louder than ever. Something was wrong, but she couldn’t

put her finger on what it might be. She looked at Duncan, whose features were so still she

knew he felt it too. He caught her looking at him and shook his head very subtly.

Cailan apparently felt nothing was amiss, and he simply turned back to her. “Ah, I think that

is enough for Kai and Duncan. We all know our parts to play.” Cailan gave Duncan another of

those secretive looks before flashing Kai a brilliant smile. “My dear lady, please get some

rest, I will need you to be fresh to climb those stairs and light the beacon.” His hand

grasped hers as he brushed his lips first over her knuckles, and then once lightly on her lips

this time. She gave Loghain a sideways glance as it happened, and the man’s face was livid

before the shutters came down once more.

Kai slipped from Cailan’s grasp, blushing bright red. Duncan came to her rescue by bowing

slightly to Cailan. “I shall see that she does, your Majesty.” He gently grasped her arm and

walked her past the king and the others. He let go once they were around the table, and then

they headed down the corridor back towards their campfire. Once they were near the

Quartermaster, Duncan stopped and drew her into the shadows where the tranquil mage stood when

she first came to camp. The chest Norval described sat at their feet.

Kai grinned and removed the key (that she had heated it in the flames of the campfire, before

washing it with soap and water) from her belt pouch and slid it into the lock. The chest

opened easily. Duncan’s voice commented dryly over her shoulder, “Do I want to know about

this, young lady?”

She laughed after pocketing the things she thought would be most useful and sell-able, and

left the rest alone. “I didn’t steal the key, if that is what worries you, dear Duncan.”

Duncan cocked an eyebrow at her. “That is a very slight distinction.”

She shrugged, grinned, and gave him a saucy wink. “It was a... gift.” 

Duncan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Trouble certainly knows where you are at

all times does it not, young lady?”

Kai laughed. “What trouble, dear Duncan? The key was a gift of sorts, and no one is here to

object. And you certainly can’t tell me you have an objection to stealing, as you seem to be

sticky fingered yourself.”  She touched his arm. “I suspect you had a less than honorable

youth, Duncan.”

His lips twitched as if hiding a slight smile. “Indeed. How else would I know the tricks you

and Daveth might employ? However, the trouble I was referring to was not the convenient

liberation method for a chest belonging to the Magi, but rather that little display with

Cailan.”

“Hey, that wasn’t my idea, nor have I encouraged him!”  Kai could feel her face getting hot as

her skin flushed with embarrassment.

“Nothing is ever your fault, young lady.” Duncan smiled reassuringly.

She returned his grin, but it faded quickly. “I think he did it mostly to anger Loghain.”

“That would not be surprising. They have a very, push-me-pull-you relationship. Like oil and

water, not like the relationship Maric had with Loghain.” Duncan’s face looked pensive.

“More like oil and fire. Did you catch Loghain’s expression?” Kai waved a hand in the

direction of the war council. “I don’t like how he acted with Cailan.  And did you see that

look he exchanged with that creepy mage?  I wonder what that was all about.”  Kai shuffled her

feet. “I have a bad feeling about this, Duncan.”

“All the more reason to have you, Alistair, and Daveth lighting the beacon. I trust you, and

them, and it is of vital importance.” Duncan patted her arm.

Kai lifted an eyebrow. “Hm, yes, that look you and Cailan shared meant nothing, I suppose.” 

Duncan removed his hand and his skin darkened as if he were blushing. “You are far too

observant by half, young lady. I really must remember that in the future. That look is between

me and the king, and Alistair.”

“Alistair? Well, that is interesting.”  Kai leaned in. “So, going to confess?”

“I will let Alistair tell you, when and if, he is ever ready to do so.” Duncan’s gaze became

sharp and his expression brooked no argument. “As for that ‘creepy’ looking mage, he happens

to be a senior enchanter by the name of Uldred.”

“I don’t care if his name is Ferdinand and he keeps fish as a hobby. The man is decidedly off,

and those doe-eyed looks he and Loghain were exchanging set my hair on end.” Kai began to pace

in agitation while ticking off the list. “First, Howe’s man leaving Loghain’s tent, and his

disdain for Cailan, and the way he talked to him and about him? Then there is the fact that

Loghain had the tower closed today while his men took care of some lower chambers, and then

there is his not wanting us to be involved with the beacon. Which, by the by, I agree with! I

didn’t come here to babysit a pile of wood and a torch—”

Duncan cut off her tirade and said, “Yes, I am not surprised by your reaction to that.” Kai

opened her mouth answer, but Duncan simply held up his hand and stopped her. Then he

continued, “However, it is the desire of our king.”

“Fine! Cailan wishes it. But I still say that Loghain is up to something. Surely you saw it?

The resigned look, as if he came to some important decision? And it all ties in with Howe and

the death of my family, creepy Uldred, that tower, the beacon, this battle, and Cailan. Did

you hear him? ‘It will be a glorious moment for us all.’” Kai gave Duncan an intent look.

“Something stinks!”

Duncan patted her arm again. “Just between us, I agree with you. But we don’t have the time to

deal with it now. The battle is upon us, and lighting the beacon, no matter how you feel about

the task, is vital. The king has given his assignment, it is your duty to see it carried out,

and Couslands always—”

“Always do their duty?” Kai shrugged and sighed. “I really am coming to hate that family

motto.”

Duncan just grinned and motioned for her to follow him. They walked the rest of the way in

companionable silence to where Alistair and Daveth stood at the campfire.

[Lynn01]

Oh very nice, an update!!!!!!! Damn for duty before figuring out what Loghain is up to!

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL!!! Thanks for the review Lynn! *HUGS* Yeah damn that duty thing!

[westiex9]

Duty can be such a pest, one minute your trying to save the world from evil villains who twiddle their moustaches(or in loghains case delicate hair braids) and the next Duty calls and sends you to feed the cat and water the tax collectors....or is that just me...errr...Great story Gil!!

[erynnar]

ROFL!!! Nope feed the cat and water the tax collectors...or in this case get your hind end stuck killing darkspawn on every floor of a very tall tower. Thanks westie! *HUGS*

[Gilgamesh1138]

~Chapter 28~ The Coming Storm

As she and Duncan drew closer to their side of camp, Kai could feel the wind lifting her hair as it caused the bonfire’s flames to

flicker and dance, making the shadows appear to be living things. She shot a quick glance upwards, noting that the storm’s full-bellied

clouds were directly overhead now, threatening with grumbling thunder and flashes of light deep in their dark, moving mass to drop their

burden of rain.

Duncan stopped at the fire’s edge, putting his back to it, waiting as Alistair, Daveth, and Argus all rose from their prone positions at

the great burning stack of logs’ edge to stand next to Kai. 

A thought hit her... Norval! The poor prisoner and his key, she had let him completely slip her mind what with the trip to the Wilds,

meeting Morrigan and her mother, and the Joining, to say nothing of that intense war council with Cailan and Loghain. She flashed a look

at Alistair and mouthed, “Norval” at him. 

“Oh riiight!”  Alistair turned to Duncan, who stood with an amused look on his face. Daveth cocked an eyebrow and looked from one of them

to the other.

“Care to share, mate? Or is that some secret lovers code between you and our lovely fellow warden? What’s Norval, a new position,

perhaps?” Daveth’s faced creased into grin as Alistair’s face flushed a darker shade in the orange glow of the fire. 

Kai bit her lip trying not to laugh out loud at Alistair’s first pained, and then annoyed expression.  Alistair wrinkled his nose at

their fellow rogue before addressing their commander. “Duncan, we met a prisoner who is awaiting sentencing. It seems the poor chap has

been accused of deserting.”

Duncan cocked his head. “Alistair, if you expect me to use the Rite of Conscription on him, I am afraid you and Kai will be sorely

disappointed.”

Kai broke in, briefly touching Duncan’s arm. “No, nothing like that.” Though, she’d wanted to do that very thing before Alistair talked

her out of it. “We merely wanted to inform you so you could tell Cailan. The man doesn’t deserve to be hanged, he wasn’t deserting!” At

least not at the time, she thought to herself as she crossed mental fingers behind her back.

“Ah, and you believe him to be innocent as sunrise, do you?” Duncan leaned in towards her, eyebrow raised, arms crossed over his chest.

Kai did her best to keep a straight face and not to squirm under Duncan’s intense gaze. “Yes, well, despite being mostly naked and locked

in a cage while being guarded... I took him to be a particularly upright fellow.”

“Hm, I see, young lady. And this feeling of his sincerest honesty as a truly upstanding citizen would have nothing in fact to do with

that little ‘gift’ you used on the chest we stopped by earlier now would it?” Kai rolled her eyes. Damn and blast! The man was too smart

by half. Duncan’s lips twitched as if he were hiding his mirth with the thinnest margins of self control.

“Okay, so he wasn’t deserting.” Alistair’s muffled, ‘at least not then,’ ended in a sudden expulsion of breath as Kai’s elbow caught him

in the stomach. She gave him a quick frown, which had the ex-templar giving her a chagrined look, and had Daveth chuckling. “Okay, so he

was going to steal. But he didn’t, so, that should count right? I mean, we don’t have to tell Cailan that part, do we? Couldn’t we just

say Norval was taking a walk due to indigestion? Or maybe he was walking in his sleep. Yes, that’s it!” Kai turned pleading eyes on

Duncan. “Please, won’t you plead his case with Cailan when the battle is over?”

Duncan rolled his eyes and shook his head while chuckling. “I can see why your father had a hard time saying ‘no’ to you, young lady.” He

put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze. “I give you my word that I will indeed plead this prisoner’s case with Cailan.”

He released his hand and swept it to encompass them all, but his gaze rested on Kai. “You heard the plan, Kai. And now you shall all

know. Alistair, you and Daveth will accompany Kai to the Tower of Ishal and  ensure the beacon there is lit.”

Alistair immediately stopped rubbing his stomach as he stared at Duncan in disbelief. “What? I won’t be in the battle?” 

Kai looked on with sympathy at her fellow Warden. She wasn’t so happy about the situation either, so she could sympathize. She looked

around Alistair’s still, shocked form and at Daveth. Her fellow rogue’s face held neither an expression of relief nor annoyance.

Kai looked at Duncan, whose expression remained neutral, save for the barest hint of something she couldn’t quite read. Probably to do

with Alistair’s secret in relation to King Cailan, whatever that was. Duncan’s voice was the calm of a parent talking to an angry child,

though it, too, held a hidden cadence that Kai couldn’t place. “This is by the King’s personal request, Alistair.” Duncan waved a hand in

the direction of the tower. “If the beacon is not lit, Teyrn Loghain’s men won’t know when to charge.”

Daveth broke in, his tone of voice was not hard to discern, however—pure cheek.  “Yeah, mate.  You don’t want them ‘coming’ too soon.” 

Daveth winked at Kai and smiled. “That is never a good thing in my experience.”

She watched Duncan duck his head and cough, which sounded suspiciously like laughter.  Alistair flashed Daveth another annoyed look

before speaking hurriedly as though to change the subject. “So, he needs three Grey Wardens standing up there holding a torch, just in

case right?”

Kai broke in. “I agree with Alistair, we should be in the battle.”

The look Duncan gave her seemed to say, ‘you’re not helping.’ “That is not your choice. If King Cailan wishes Grey Wardens to ensure the

beacon is lit, then Grey Wardens will be there.”

Kai huffed under her breath. “Then why not send other Wardens then? Why us?”

A look of consternation and—fear?—passed across his features so quickly she almost missed it. He raised his eyebrows at her, his gaze

intense, as if he hoped she would not take that line of thought further. “Because he specifically asked for you, Alistair, and Daveth to

do this important task.”

She was about to rejoinder when it struck her, he—and possibly Cailan—were doing this to protect them. But which one? Cailan didn’t know

Daveth. Protecting her was a possibility, as she was, if Fergus didn’t make it—Maker, best not to think of that, it hurt too much—the

last of the Cousland line. One of only two bloodlines ruling a teyrnir and being in line for the throne should the Theirin line fail or

fall. 

Kai didn’t think politics were Cailan’s strong suit, and she very much doubted that she was the reason. That left only Alistair, and with

the looks between Cailan and Duncan, and the strange timber Alistair’s voice had taken when speaking of the King, that seemed to Kai to

be the most logical path.  But why? An ex-templar, now Warden? What made Alistair so important that Duncan and Cailan would conspire to

keep him from harm’s way?

It was there, just jumping up and down in her head, begging her to figure it out. She caught Duncan’s gaze once more as he gave the

barest nod at Alistair before a hint of a shake, no. So, Duncan knew she was gleaning onto this and wanted her to cease going down that

road. The old bugger definitely knew why Cailan wanted Alistair away from the fray. 

This was just getting better and better. Kai made a mental note to grill Duncan about it later. She supposed he should learn soon enough

that she was like a mabari with a bone once she latched onto something. She had a moment to pity her new commander before she nodded and

gave him a saucy grin.

Duncan shook his head once more, rolling his eyes for good measure before continuing. “We must do whatever it takes to destroy the

darkspawn... exciting or no.”

Alistair sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I get it, I get it. Just so you know, if the King ever asks me to put on a dress

and dance the Remigold, I’m drawing the line. Darkspawn or no.”

Kai laughed and gave Alistair a cheeky smile. “I think I’d like to see that.”

Daveth winked. “As would I, mate.”

Alistair blushed and returned Kai’s smile. “For you, maybe. But it has to be a pretty dress.” He wrinkled his nose at Daveth. “But not

for you, ever.”

This elicited a chuckle and shrug from their fellow rogue. “Ah, well, you win some, you lose some. And who am I to say what kind of games

a man should play in the bedroom, mate?”

It was Duncan’s deep sigh that broke any rejoinder Alistair might have made. Kai snuck a look at their leader from under her lashes and

found herself biting her lower lip to keep from laughing at Duncan’s pained expression. “The tower is on the other side of the gorge from

the King’s camp. I believe Kai knows where as she was exploring there yesterday.” Duncan waited for Kai to nod before he continued.

“You’ll need to cross the gorge and head through the gate up to the tower entrance. From the top, you’ll overlook the entire valley.”

Kai nodded again. “When do we light the beacon?”

Duncan gave her a small smile. “We will signal you when the time is right.” He waved a hand towards her fellow Warden. “Alistair will

know what to look for.”

Kai shot a look at Alistair, whose brows were drawn down, but he said nothing. “How much time do we have, dear Duncan?”

Daveth chuckled and winked at her while rolling his eyes at Alistair.

Duncan just shook his head. “The battle is about to begin. I will leave to join Cailan and the rest below. You all should move quickly. I

estimate you’ll have an hour, perhaps less. We need enough time to allow the bulk of the horde to enter the valley so Loghain’s men can

pin them in from behind.” Duncan clapped a hand on Alistair’s shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze. “Remember, we need you to light

that beacon. It may not be drawing your sword against the horde, but it is vital to the battle, and our lives on the field. I am counting

on you all.” Duncan looked them in the eyes, each in turn.

Kai caught Alistair fidgeting from foot to foot while blushing. He nodded at Duncan and smiled. Kai touched Duncan on the arm as a

thought struck her, what with her recent Joining and her vision of the great and diseased dragon. “Duncan, what if the Archdemon

appears?”

Alistair looked at her. “Soil our drawers, that’s what.”

Daveth chimed in and said, “I won’t just be trashing me knickers, mate, speak for yourself. I’ll be running the other way and looking for

a clean pair of trousers.”

Kai burst out laughing and even Duncan joined in before he answered her. “If it does, leave it to us. I want no heroics from any of you.”

Again he locked eyes with each of them in turn.

“No, worries there. If that nasty bugger shows up and you want me, you’ll find me in Antiva.” Daveth shrugged and grinned.

Kai wrinkled her nose at her fellow rogue and Grey Warden before brushing her hand along Duncan’s arm. “May we join the battle

afterwards?”

Duncan looked first at her hand, his skin flushing from the neck up, before he raised an eyebrow at her as if to say her flirting would

not work—a wordless ‘nice try.’ She smiled while biting her lower lip, giving him a sheepish shrug as he continued. “Stay with the

teyrn’s men and guard the tower. If you are needed, we will send word.”

“Well, gents, I guess we know what we have to do.” She sighed under breath. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it ,though.” Her statement was

apparently louder than she thought, as it garnered a chuckle from Daveth, a smile from Alistair, and yet another sigh from Duncan.

Kai looked from under her lashes again to see Duncan’s—despite his sigh—lips twitching as though hiding a smile. “Then I must join the

others. From here, you three are on your own.” Duncan schooled his face well, but Kai could see his concern and worry for them despite

it.  “Remember, you three are Grey Wardens. I expect you to be worthy of that title.” Again, he looked them in the eye as he grasped

their forearms in a warrior’s grasp.

Duncan released Kai’s forearm last, giving it a fatherly little squeeze and a look of... sadness? They both had been through so much

together since the fall of Highever. Despite her grief, her bad and even cowardly behavior, he still believed in her. She returned the

pressure, nodded, and leaned in to kiss his bearded cheek, making him blush again. This time he gently stroked her hair and smiled.

As he turned to go, Alistair called out to him. “Duncan... may the Maker watch over you.”

Duncan smiled and nodded. “May he watch over us all, Alistair. And you watch over your new fellow Wardens. I know I can count on you, my

boy. I know you won’t let me down.” 

They watched him until the shadows swallowed him up before turning to their tent and gathering a pack with potions—not that they expected

to need them unless called down to the battlefield—but, Kai pointed out, better safe than sorry.

Kai was securing her helmet, making sure the braid of her hair—now rolled under and pinned at the nape of her neck—didn’t cause the

helmet to sit ****-eyed or choke her with the chin strap. She caught Alistair standing and looking at another sword, as his sat in the

sheath on his back she had no ideas whose it was, with an peculiar look on his face. It was a look bordering on horror. She strode

forward. Maker, what? Had Duncan left one of his swords? Had one of the other Wardens? She put a hand his arm, and he looked at her,

holding up the sword for her closer inspection. The hilt held a dim golden sheen and a round pommel. The blade looked fine, no nicks or

dents. In fact it looked bright and new and …  Andraste’s blood! Now she knew why Alistair had that look, it was the sword of some other

soldier the elven messenger had given them by mistake.

She grimaced and bit her lip. Damn and blast! They had forgotten to ask around and get the sword to its rightful owner. Bugger! 

Alistair gave her a chagrined look. “Somewhere down on that field is a bewildered knight fighting with his dinner fork.”

Kai choked back a laugh long enough to answer. “Pity him.” Which only caused them both to break into giggles and Daveth to look from one

to the other before shrugging and examining his arrows and quiver. 

“I know we shouldn’t find that funny, poor bastard is probably confused. Luckily, he will no doubt be equipped from the cache of weapons

that are down on the field to replace broken items as the battle goes on.” Alistair shrugged and slipped the sword through the belt

holding the sheath of his own sword to his back. “At least we can try and return it if we get called to the field. Or after.”

Kai nodded, strapped on her own quiver—which she’d had the foresight to restock from the quartermaster—and the bow she carried, her

daggers and the family sword she wore already.  Looking at the fine-grained heartwood brought to mind Wicked Grace, her mother’s bow, and

a sudden sharp pain of loss hit her. 

She looked up to find Alistair and Daveth watching her with concern. She shook her head, shrugged her shoulders adjusting her pack and

quiver before slinging the bow on as well.  She motioned for them to follow her as she left the tent. 

The camp was bustling. People ran to and fro, there were shouts and clanging of metal as gear was loaded onto wagons at the

quartermaster’s to be carried down to the valley below. Kai guessed that it might be for that cache of extra equipment Alistair mentioned

earlier. Mabari barked in the distance and she could hear orders being issued. 

Hearing the barking reminded her of the Ash Warriors. Kai walked Argus over to the fire and took the Kaddis the from the bag that held

health potions. She unstoppered the bottle and dipped her fingers in. The smell was earthy, sweet, and spicy. It was strong without being

pungent or unpleasant. She found she rather liked it, which was a fortunate thing, she supposed, since she would also be wearing it as

per the instructions she was given.

Kai looked at Argus and explained what she was about to do. He cocked his head and whined, but allowed her to apply the Kaddis readily

enough. The mixture was white, so Kai decided to draw a skull on Argus’ face and led her to complete the look by drawing the rest of a

skeleton on his body. She stood up and stepped back to admire her handiwork.

“Hmm, how about I let you paint me next, love? I think I could stand to have some of that to, um... what does it do, anyways?” Daveth’s

warm breath tickled her ear as he had come to stand right behind her.

 She looked over her shoulder at him, which put her face and her lips very close to his. Before she could think too much on it,

Alistair’s cough made her jump slightly and step back. 

“If it would poison a certain cutpurse, I’d be interested in dunking him head first in it,” Alistair’s voice grumbled over her other

shoulder and Kai had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

Argus gave an angry woof as if to say, “how does it look?” and “are you laughing at me?”

“You look fantastic, mate, trust me. You know your mistress would never do wrong by you.”  Daveth winked at the mabari. Kai patted Argus’

head and smiled at him.

Alistair nodded at Argus. “For once, I agree with Daveth. You look fantastic, very fierce.” 

“See? You look great.” She turned back to Daveth. “In answer to your question, it’s called Kaddis and it will help Argus find me in the

thick of battle, and I him.” She dipped her fingers in the pot once more drawing a stylized version of the Cousland herald on the back of

one hand before putting the cork back in the bottle and placing it in her pack next to the potions.

“According to the old bugger...” Daveth shot a glance at Alistair’s frowing face. “We aren’t going to be in the battle.”

Kai grinned. “Hope springs eternal.” She shrugged. “Besides, we can always sneak onto the field after we light the beacon. Surely

Loghain’s men can handle a fire.”

“I like the way you think. But then again, I like a lot of things about you, darlin’.”  Daveth gave Kai a rakish leer.

“Yes, well, I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Alistair scowled at both of them. “Duncan said to stay unless we were sent for.”

“Do you really want to stay and watch wood burn, mate?” Daveth gave Alistair a cheeky grin. “Or were you just being obstinate to give

Duncan a few gray hairs?”

“Hm, you have a point. All right, we’ll go down and join the rest after the beacon gets lit.” Alistair gave his lopsided grin along with

a shrug.

“Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Or at least that’s what my old Nan used to tell me was my philosophy.” Kai felt a quick

pinching pain around her heart and she quickly closed the door on the images of Nan and her kitchen staff lying under crimson-stained

table cloths. “Okay, gents, time to go I think.” 

She quickly turned on her heel, giving Argus the hand signal to follow, and made her way towards the bridge at a fast pace. It gave her

vision which had gone blurry time to clear. Kai heard footsteps behind her, so she knew that Alistair and Daveth were not far behind. She

left it to them to catch up.

Kai stopped at the top of the ramp leading to the bridge. Soldiers walked around her like a stream around a rock. She glanced upward,

noting the dark top of the tower and how high it stood. She had a moment to be grateful that they had so much time to get there and to

wonder how sore her legs would be be the next day from traipsing from the bottom to the top and back again, for she had no intention of

sitting the battle out if she could help it. 

“Andraste’s flaming ass, that’s going to be a bugger on the old legs, that is.” Daveth must have been thinking along the same lines as

herself. Kai shot a look over her shoulder to see Daveth giving Alistair a once over. “And I really don’t envy you, mate, in all that

metal.”

If Alistair meant to reply, it was lost in a rolling peal of thunder as cold rain began to fall, the storm finally arriving overhead. As

if in answer to the weather, the great sounds of war horns blared out, alerting them to the battle about to begin below. 

It was with that clarion call that summoned all the soldiers who still needed to be below, and those that were to man the battlements, to

take their places. Kai made to move forward only to find herself and her group surrounded as a large group of archers surged ahead to

stand at the bridge wall. 

Another blaring of trumpets and a rumble from the storm answered back. “Well, boys, time to go.” And with that, Kai walked down the ramp

to make her way to the Tower of Ishal.

[erynnar]

Oh geeze sorry about the bad formatting! I just realized it everyone! Mea culpa. I will try and fix it! SHOOT!

[A Crusty Knight Of Colour]

But you realise that the more you post your writing, the less I am able to focus on my own.

I am disappoint, Ery.

[erynnar]

ROFL! Sorry sweetie! I want to read yours! You need to share!

And if you think this is unclimbable...I have 99 chapters soon to be 100 of an after the Blight story with Kai. ROFL!

Don't sacrifice your own writing though! But I thank you for reading mine. : D

[erynnar]

Chapter 29 ~Before the Fall~


They made their way to the top of the tower after meeting a very panicked guard and the Circle

mage who had accompanied him. It seemed that the lower chambers that Loghain’s men were

supposed to secure while the tower was closed had erupted with darkspawn. In the words of the

guard, “Like a ants from an overturned ant hill, they are.”

And so it was that Kai and company, along with the help from the mage, a man named Edwyn,

found themselves fighting to even reach the front door of the tower.

Each successive level had been worse than the last. On the first floor they found a large and

dark pit dropping off into what looked like middle of the world, yet Kai suspected it led to

those lower chambers the guard from a few days ago mentioned—so much for being secured. She

also figured the darkspawn used those chambers to invade behind enemy lines and had done so

well before the first horn sounded the call to battle, if the large swaths of death and

destruction were any indication.

And the creatures were everywhere; the tower was infested. Horrors revealed themselves around

each corner. Large swaths of walls painted in blood... Maker, so much blood! That didn’t even

count the darkspawn’s “decorations,” large pikes and spikes of metal holding naked,

dismembered torsos, heads, limbs, even more blood, and gibbets of meat of no discernible type

save human or mabari.

It was on one of their moments of very brief rest after facing yet another flood of the

creatures that Alistair had given voice to Kai’s own fears. “Maker’s breath! What are all

these darkspawn doing ahead of the horde?” Alistair’s breath came out in pants. “There wasn’t

supposed to be any resistance here!”

Her and Daveth’s responses were, perhaps, cheekier than either one of them felt. Kai flashed

Alistair a grin. “You could try telling them they’re in the wrong place.”

Daveth chuckled. “Maybe they got lost?”

Alistair had rolled his eyes. “Right. Because clearly this is all just a misunderstanding.

We’ll laugh about this later. At any rate, we need to hurry! We need to get up to the top of

the tower and light the signal fire on time! Teyrn Loghain will be waiting for the signal!”

With their sense of urgency renewed, they pressed on fighting swaths of the foul smelling

darkspawn while a strange repetitive booming noise from above strengthened the closer they

were to the top.

It was the mabari dead in their cages—save four—that almost broke her heart. Those war hounds

that lived fought the remaining monsters barring the way to the top floor and the beacon. She

had patted them and ordered them to flee the tower. They had barked in the affirmative and run

for the door, one black female stopping to look over her shoulder, whining slightly, before

following her packmates.

“You don’t think that whine was for us, do you?” Daveth asked.

“Well, if the loud pounding noises above us are any indication, we’d best use caution. If the

darkspawn beat us here, then Loghain’s men must still be fighting to keep the beacon free.”

Kai indicated to Alistair to open the door—as he was armed with a shield and wearing heavier

metal armor—before nodding to Daveth, Argus, and Edwyn indicating they should rush in and

surprise the enemy once Alistair cleared the portal. She hoped this would give Loghain’s men

the advantage and let them all dispatch any of the darkspawn quickly so they could light the

beacon.

Alistair put his metal-encased shoulder to wood, forcing the door inwards with a loud boom and

his war cry as he ran in, shield raised. Kai and the rest followed closely behind, almost

falling over him when he stopped short.

Kai gave a quick glance around the room, expecting to see groups of warring darkspawn and

Loghain’s men. What she did see was almost more than her mind could comprehend.

Loghain’s men were indeed in the room... all over the room, in what looked to be hundreds, if

not thousands, of pieces. The floor was liberally coated in blood old enough that the edges of

the puddles made Kai’s boots stick to the floor.

A part of her wanted to laugh hysterically, that was before it wanted to gibber in abject fear

at the only living creature in the room besides themselves.

It was so large she had to look up... and up, and up. A hugely muscled back stood before them.

The skin was putrescent and a sickly shade of purple—the color of a bruise—and covered a

massive amount of stone hard mounds of muscle and radiated a sense of stalwart nastiness. The

moist crunching sounds did not help her state of mind, nor the almost human-like humming of

delight that emanated with each sickening slurp.

Time seemed to fold in on itself and every detail came into sharp focus as the creature turned

to face them. Andraste’s flaming knickers! Was that a leg in its massive... paw? Her mind

seemed to be one of those brightly painted whirling tops that she and Fergus played with as

children.

Colossal curling horns only added to the monster’s height. Like other darkspawn—at least, she

assumed this was a darkspawn, too, and not say, a walking purple mountain—it wore rudimentary

armor. Well, hardly any armor at all, actually, and the loincloth covering its, well,

intimates left a lot to be desired. But then again, as this thing probably played tiddlywinks

with massive pine trees, who needed armor? Right? Kai suppressed the giggle that welled in her

throat.

The stench was unbelievable. Even the smell of blood and offal from dead bodies did not dampen

the miasma that surrounded it and seemed to fill the rest of the tower not occupied by its

physical body.

Beady eyes burned with hatred and malice for them as it opened its fanged maw wide while

giving a mighty roar, engulfing them in that same fetid stench that Kai had come to associate

with darkspawn, along with a goodly amount of spittle and bits of... Maker’s blood! She wasn’t

going to think on that!

“Ogre!” It was Alistair’s voice that snapped Kai back and time resumed its proper pace.

Kai glanced at Alistair. “Have you ever fought one of these before?”

“No.” He gave her a rueful shrug.

“Well, I think we best figure it out on the go, lads and ladies.” Daveth nodded towards the

ogre, whose head was lowered, horns aimed at them. Daveth nudged Kai’s shoulder while backing

away. “I saw an old bull do that once, the results to the farmhand were unpleasant, and that

chap is far bigger than that bull. Move it, mates!”

They found themselves scattering as the behemoth rushed forward, missing them by inches, only

to stop its momentum once it broke through a stone railing as it smacked the stone wall of the

tower hard enough to break the stained glass window in a shattering of brightly colored shards

and a shower of stone dust.

Kai felt the reverberations through her feet. She had a moment to wonder if the ogre wouldn’t

topple the top of the tower, plunging them all to their deaths, but the vibrations stopped

soon enough, and soon she was too occupied fighting the monster.

And that proved to be a most sufficient distraction, as what seemed like an eternity later,

they all seemed to draw its ire and it was all Alistair could do to keep its attention focused

on him so the rest of them could whittle away at it.

It felt like they were chopping on a stone pillar with a spoon. The poor mage seemed to garner

its rage the most, and often resorted to running in circles occasionally casting spells when

he’d run far enough ahead. She was especially grateful the ogre was none too bright ,or they

might have lost the poor enchanter. When it would finally lose its train of thought—what

little of that there was—it would stand and roar, angrily swatting at them in turns like a

bear surrounded by bees.

Eventually, they were able to wear it down enough for Alistair to run into it and topple it

before placing his sword through its eye. The thing shuddered and lay still.

“How in the Void did that thing get through the door?” Kai managed to gasp out as she put her

hands to her knees, trying to catch her breath.

“Maybe one of them magic-using ones we met earlier knows a shrinking spell?” Daveth gave a

cheeky grin and clapped a hand on the shoulder of the mage.

Alistair nodded towards the beacon. “I think we missed the signal. We’d best light the

beacon.”

Kai nodded as Alistair went to the wall, grabbing a torch and setting the large pile of wood

ablaze. From the rapid burst of light and heat, she surmised that the wood had been treated

with some sort of combustible material.

The flames shot up the chimney and a large whoomph could be heard above them as the flames

lit, what Kai guessed must be more wood, at the top of the tower, setting it alight.

She ran to the window the ogre had conveniently broken for them and leaned out over the sill

carefully—it was a long way down—to view the battlefield and watch for Loghain’s troops.

Daveth’s hands grasped her hips, supposedly to keep her from pitching head first, but he shot

her a cocky grin and a wink when she raised an eyebrow at him.

Kai searched the area, expecting a large field of torches to show the advancement of the rest

of the army to surround the darkspawn. But the field stayed as it was: soldiers and darkspawn

looking like ants from the height of the tower fighting each other. She couldn’t tell which

was which, but she suspected she knew who was winning as Loghain’s army still did not show. 

Kai’s heart began to beat harder. Maker! Where were they? Had Loghain’s men been in turn

surrounded by darkspawn? Were there more darkspawn than Duncan thought? Was the battle then

lost and Ferelden with it? If Loghain’s army had been taken...

She flipped over and jumped down. The look on her face made Alistair’s hand reach out and

grasp her arm. She shook her head. “They aren’t coming! Something must have happened!”

Alistair squeezed her arm. “What? Do you think the Archdemon showed up after all? Maybe it

engaged Loghain’s men? Duncan said this was a Blight—” Alistair’s eyes went wide. “Oh, Maker!

Duncan and Cailan!”

“We need to get down there, now!” Kai yelled over her shoulder as she was already headed to

the door. 

She stood not a few paces from the portal when it burst open with a screech of metal hinges

and splintering wood. White, hot pain arced through her abdomen as an arrow shaft appeared as

if of its own accord. Two more followed, one more to her ribcage the other to her left

shoulder, knocking her off of her feet with such force that she slid across the floor.

She looked up to see a doorway full of darkspawn. The pain was replaced by a cold numbness as

her vision went gray around the edges. Sounds seemed to recede as well. She dimly heard her

name. Alistair, maybe, or Daveth. Even Argus’s war bark was muted, as if her ears were stuffed

with cotton. 

Edwyn the mage collapsed in a shower of bolts. With her vision rapidly fading, she watched as

Alistair, Argus, and Daveth surged forwards. Then it all went black.


                                        #-#-#
                                                                 
She woke briefly or so she thought. Wind rushed around her as she dangled in the air and it

was so dark she couldn’t see a thing. She thought maybe she was falling, that the darkspawn

had tossed her and the others out of the tower. Despite her wounds, the animal instinct of

fight or flight kicked in and she began to flail—though a part of her mind knew it to be

futile—she knew she would die on the hard ground below.

A pressure around her middle increase as if she was being crushed and a great yellow eye with

a slitted pupil like a cat’s gazed into her own blue ones. Her fingers brushed leathery skin.

The Archdemon? Kai struggled more before the eye seemed to glow brighter and brighter,

blinding her, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut while a voice rang in her head.

Cease your struggling, foolish girl. Sleep.

Modifié par erynnar, 01 juillet 2011 - 01:35 .

[westiex9]

Bloody Towers! the tevinters should have built escalators to make the uphill battle easier for Kai and Ali...and unlucky mage or soldier with redshirt under robe/armour......love that you add the rescue by flemeth in at the end once again breathing new life into a well known scene.

[Lynn01]

Our patience is rewarded! You've written it well, like always, and I like how you put down Kai's experience in Flemeth her claws!

[erynnar]

@westie ROFL! Yes, escalators would have been a great help. And thanks wes! I hope you like the next chapter's opening. My own little twist, of course.

@Lynn Thank you so much for your patience too! I appreciate it so much! I hate to make you all wait. Glad you liked the bit with Flemeth. I wanted to give more than an allusion to the rescue. Thanks for the feedback guys!

[erynnar]

Chapter 30 ~ One Arrow makes you larger, one arrow makes you small. Go ask Kai When She Takes the Fall~



One pill makes you larger

And one pill makes you small

And the ones that mother gives you

Don't do anything at all

Go ask Alice

When she’s ten feet tall



And if you go chasing rabbits

And you know you're going to fall

Tell them a hookah smoking caterpillar has given you the call

Call Alice

When she was just small



When the men on the chess board

get up and tell you where to go

And you just had some kind of mushroom

And your mind is moving slow

Go ask Alice

I think she'll know



When logic and proportion

Have fallen sloppy dead

And the white knight is talking backwards

And the Red Queen's "Off with her head!"

Remember what the dormouse said



Feed your head

Feed your head

I just had to add the lyrics to Jefferson Airplaine's Go Ask Alice... It seemed appropriate to the first part of the chapter.


NOTE: My apologies, the first half of the chapter went missing, due to formatting I guess. I aplologze.

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


She ran headlong and unheeding of where she was going. Kai only felt one thing, fear, and that

compelled her to do one thing: flee. The great beast was bearing down on her, its skeletal

head filled with black saber-like fangs snapping at her heels.

She ran through Ostagar, the battlefield itself, dodging fighting darkspawn and soldiers who

all remained oblivious to the great diseased dragon raging behind her. She felt it grab her

around the middle as it leapt up into the air taking to flight.

Kai struggled and writhed when she noticed another dragon, a high dragon flying alongside her.

Oddly, it was Morrigan’s mother’s voice that seemed to flood her mind with one word... “fly.” 

 And with that, the Archdemon’s mouth opened in a roar, dropping her.

Kai screamed as she plummeted, the high dragon circling her, while the old witch’s gravely

voice echoed in her head. “Fly,” she said over and over again. And as quickly as a blink,

Kai’s momentum slowed then stopped as wind caught under great wings.

She took a moment to enjoy the sensation until she looked at the wings and saw they were

covered in black-purple skin and pustule-laden sores, and where her hands had been, were

leathery claw-covered talons. Kai screamed again, but the sound was the bellow of the

Archdemon.

The high dragon almost seemed to grin, and again the old witch’s voice filled the void. “Yes,

you have become what you seek to kill. You become what you hate to save what you love. It is a

blade that cuts deeply. Remember that, child. Do not let your regrets drown you, or you will

surely fail, and the world will fall with you.”

The high dragon’s mouth opened and in a spew of flame cut down the belly of her Archdemon

self, splitting it as if it was a sack made from old, rotten cloth. Kai felt herself pulled

from it and began plummeting once more only to land in a body of water. Right before she hit

the surface, she swore it was the lake outside her home of Highever.

Instantly, Kai was under water so dark and deep that she could not tell which way was up to

the surface. It was black and fathomless, the pressure surrounding her was intense and the

cold of the water chilled her to her very bones. She began swimming futilely in an attempt to

find and break the surface.

It when she thought that she would pass out, her lungs burning from lack of oxygen—she even

swore she heard her parents’ voices—that an armored hand reached from the shadows of the water

and pulled her forward. Kai lay, gasping, on the ground for air.

She managed to get to her knees and look up into glowing yellow eyes set in high cheekbones.

It was a strong female face, and a disturbing one. A spiky metal headband held white locks

back from a smooth forehead, with parts of the hair swept back into horns that mimicked the

high dragon’s. The rest hung loosely in coils around armor-covered shoulders. The studded

leather chest-piece—the color of old blood—hugged a lithe curvaceous form while leather

ribbons of the same hue wrapped the ends of the ‘horns’ of hair and heavy, spiked metal armor

covered the woman’s arms and legs. Dark painted lips were drawn in an amused, if cold, smile. 

The voice was Morrigan’s mother’s still, though the figure before her in no way resembled the

poorly dressed, wrinkled and gray old woman Kai had met in the Wilds. This woman exuded power

rather than trying to hide it.

Perhaps Kai’s own fevered brain as she lay dying was only giving form to the power she sensed

at their first, and only, meeting. The woman’s lips merely curved upward in an amused smile,

as if she could read Kai’s thoughts. “Nothing is ever as it seems, not even you.”

Metal-gauntleted hands, the tips of the finger curved in sharp points like claws, gestured,

encompassing Kai. “Well, well, well. You are a puzzle. Yes, I was right to keep you alive. No

child, you are not ready for this particular journey’s end just yet—though you will come close

many times, and perhaps wish for it more than that—but for now, you have too much yet to do.”

The figure that was the old witch, and yet not the old witch, turned on a graceful heel and

sauntered away, leaving Kai scrambling to follow swaying hips encased in metal, leather, and

cloth. Her walk reminded Kai of Morrigan’s cat-like stride when they’d met her in the ruins.

They wandered through the battlefield once more, the woman before her neatly side-stepping

groups of battling soldiers and darkspawn like a cat wending its way though long grass, while

Kai found the journey more laborious. So much so that she almost ran into the witch when she

finally caught up.

The woman stood, a tilt to her head, as she watched something intently, and yet Kai’s

instincts were screaming at her to look away, to run in the other direction. The witch nodded

at what lay before them. “Look.”  

But Kai seemed unable to look anywhere but at the witch’s angular profile. The witch’s face

turned towards hers, one eyebrow cocked, golden eyes boring into her blue ones. "We stand upon

the precipice of change. The world fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss. You must watch

for such moments... and when they come, do not hesitate to leap." A metal greave-covered hand

grasped Kai’s chin, turning her to face what was before them. This is one such moment. Look,

foolish girl, or you will miss it.”

Kai watched as Cailan and Duncan fought back to back against darkspawn. She had a moment to

appreciate that both men knew how to fight, and fight well, before a now familiar roar rang

out behind them and the ground shook. Duncan’s expression told her he knew what was coming.

She watched as an ogre, as big as a building, ran towards Cailan and Duncan. Watched as Duncan

spun to engage the creature only to be thrown to the side with such a force it made Kai wince

and start forward, only to find a strong hand gripping her shoulder and holding her back.

The pressure tightened on her shoulder as if anticipation of her reaction of what was to come.

Metal-clawed fingertips dug into the leather armor covering her shoulder with a squeak. Kai

watched Cailan spin around, a look of surprise on his face as he saw the behemoth before him.

He raised his sword to swing at the ogre, but to no avail. Instead, the monster snatched

Cailan up in one massive, clawed hand like a child grasping a doll, bringing Cailan close to

its face.

To his credit, Cailan did not cry out in fear. She watched as the ogre bellowed, spraying the

king with spittle, before swinging him out at arms length and crushing Cailan in one quick

squeeze and a fountain of blood before tossing the broken body away, knocking two darkspawn

over in the process.

Kai’s eyes filled with tears and she heard someone screaming “no” as if from a distance. Yet

the nightmare continued as if she wasn’t there.

“But you aren’t there, girl. This is not real.” The witch’s husky voice almost purred. “And

before you ask, yes, it happened. You see only a reflection of what has already happened. This

is the precipice, the moment before the fall. Savor it.”

Kai shook her head, tears coursing down her cheeks, as she watched Duncan—who lay a few feet

from where Cailan landed—raise up on his arms to give the same sad look he had worn when her

father and mother were sacrificing themselves to buy them time to glance first at Cailan, and

then the ogre, who stood growling in triumph.

She watched as Duncan picked himself up, dagger and sword in hand, as he made a running leap

at the ogre. His momentum aiding him in landing high on the ogre’s chest, his weapons embedded

up to the hilt into the beast’s muscular torso. 

The ogre writhed in pain as Duncan used his blades to literally climb the creature as if it

were a mountain, each stab of metal ending in a vicious twist and a spray of dark blood. It

ended when Duncan’s careful ministrations reached the beast’s neck and the ogre, weakened,

fell onto its back and lay still.

Again, Kai was forcibly restrained by the strong, armored grip on her shoulder when she sought

to go to Duncan who, now that the adrenaline from the fight had subsided, grasped his side in

pain and gasped.

The witch’s head tilted in her direction, intense yellow eyes boring into her skull. “Did I

not tell you that it would be pointless, foolish girl? You are here to observe, nothing more.”

With this, she turned her face back towards the battlefield and Duncan.

Kai watched as Duncan limped to the body of Cailan. It was so covered in blood that the golden

sheen of metal had been turned scarlet. Duncan fell to his knees beside the king’s unmoving

form. The tears made tracks down her checks and crawled along her neck. Kai kept hearing,

“no,” repeated over and over again like a mantra. And she realized it was herself saying it.

But it was as Duncan looked at Cailan, and then at the battle around him, and finally at the

tower whose beacon shone brightly, that Kai thought her heart would break. The look of loss,

despair, and the worst, hopelessness, knowing that Loghain’s troops weren’t coming, were

almost more than she could bear.

And then, a new wave of darkspawn appeared, rushing forward. Kai watched as one Alpha in heavy

plate with a huge war axe ran forward, swinging it at Duncan’s head. This time she was

determined to get to him, to help him, so she tore herself from the witch’s grasp, screaming

Duncan’s name just as the hurlock reached him and the world went white.

As it did, she thought she heard Morrigan’s mother’s voice say, “Foolish girl, this is the

leap, fall or fly, the choice is yours, and always will be. Remember this.”

Kai’s eyes fluttered open slowly, cheeks wet with tears. There was a moment of disorientation,

and a small amount of panic because of it. Her hands flew automatically to her abdomen and

upper ribcage where the first two arrows hit, fingertips brushed bandages as well as her

smallclothes. And another, more careful, exploration of her shoulder where the third confirmed

that she was still alive, and someone—presumably someone other than darkspawn—had rescued her

and tended to her wounds.

Her thoughts instantly flew to her companions and Argus. Maker, did they die at the tower? Kai

struggled with the blankets covering her on the dilapidated wooden bed on which she was prone.

It was as she rose to sit up that she noticed Morrigan placing a tome back onto the bookshelf,

one of the few items of furniture in the sparse and rundown room that Kai could see from her

position on the bed.

The woman turned to where Kai lay. “Ah, your eyes finally open. Mother shall be pleased.”

 Kai watched Morrigan stalk over to the bed as Kai swung her feet over the side, resting them

on the rough planks of the floor. She must be in the old witch and Morrigan’s hut, then, in

the Wilds? Kai tried her voice, which was raspy as though from lack of use. “I remember you,

the girl from the Wilds, Morrigan.”

The young witch’s face registered first surprise then a fleeting look of appreciation, and

then possible annoyance. As though she had not expected Kai to remember her name, liked that

Kai had, and felt irritated at taking pleasure in that fact. “I am Morrigan. I thought you

might have forgotten.”

As if she had read Kai’s mind about their locale, her next statement confirmed it. “And we are

in the Wilds, where I am bandaging your wounds. Which should be much easier now that you are

awake to assist.” Morrigan knelt down beside the bed reaching for a bowl of pungent—but not

unpleasantly so—paste and a pile of clean rags, which Kai took to be the bandages the witch

spoke of.

Morrigan lifted an eyebrow and gestured that Kai should help with the removal of the old

bandages. Kai obliged by unwrapping the bandage around her abdomen, revealing the purple,

bruised flesh with only a shallow-looking wound. “Morrigan, what happened to my companions, to

Argus?”

“Do you mean the two morons?” Kai nodded. Morrigan sniffed and continued. “And by Argus I take

it you mean the flea bitten mongrel?” Again Kai nodded. “All alive and here, as well.”

Kai let out a sigh of relief.

Morrigan placed the cool poultice on Kai’s wound, re-bandaged it, and began on the next. “You

are welcome, by the way. How does your memory fare? Do you remember Mother’s rescue?”

Kai hesitated. What did she remember? It all seemed scattered. The dream of falling but not,

the feel of leathery skin, the great yellow eye. Then her running from the Archdemon, and the

high dragon, seeming to do Morrigan’s mother’s bidding. And... Cailan, and Duncan! Andraste’s

blood! Her eyes wanted to fill with tears. She dared not in front of the witch, she knew.

“I... I remember being overwhelmed by darkspawn.”

Morrigan finished wrapping up Kai’s ribs and, with surprising gentleness, began on the

shoulder wound. “Mother managed to save you and your friends, though ‘twas a close call. I

rescued the cur. ‘Tis lucky that it is so smart.”

“Thank you, Morrigan. Argus is... Argus is important to me. He is one of the last things I

have from my home.” Kai grasped the witch’s hand. 

Morrigan looked flummoxed, two bright spots of pink blooming in her exquisite cheekbones

before she nodded and continued with her ministrations and her conversation. “What is

important is that you all live. The man who was to respond to your signal quit the field. The

darkspawn won your battle.”

So, what she had seen in the dream had come to pass after all.

The witch finished by tying off the bandage and grasping both bowl and old bandages to rise

and place them aside. “Those that he abandoned were massacred. The idiot... your fool friend,

is not taking it well. The bumpkin is dealing with it far better. Even the dog is doing better

than he.”

“Idiot? Do you mean Alistair?” Kai tried to stand, carefully testing for balance.

“The dim-witted, suspicious one who was with you before. The one who threatened to bring the

templars here, the foolish thief who aimed an arrow at me, and the flea bitten mongrel, yes.

They are all outside by the fire. Mother asked to see you when you awoke.” Morrigan turned

back from the fireplace, where she had set the bowl and used rags.

“Why does your mother want to see me?” Kai felt a shiver run along her spine, after her very

strange and realistic dreams, she was not looking forward to meeting with the old woman again.

Morrigan merely cocked an eyebrow while crossing her arms across her chest. “I do not know.

She rarely tells me her plans.”

Kai gingerly touched the bandages. “Were my injuries severe?”  She felt a pang of guilt for

causing such trouble, as is it seemed she was the only one in the hut taking up the only bed.

Morrigan seemed amused as if she could read Kai’s mind. “Yes, but I expect you shall be fine.

The darkspawn did nothing Mother could not heal.” 

Kai caught a subtle hint that it was not quite as certain as Morrigan was making it out to be.

She must have come very close to being with her family in the Fade. “What about Alistair and

Daveth? Are they all right?”

Morrigan almost rolled her eyes. “They are, as you are. I supposed it would be unkind to say

that the idiot blond one is being childish.”

Kai scowled. “Very unkind! They were his friends!”

Morrigan shrugged dismissively. “And you think they would encourage his blubbering? If so,

they are not the sort of Grey Wardens the legends note.”

“I wouldn’t know, I only got to meet Alistair and Duncan.” Kai shook her head. “Are there any

survivors besides us?”

“There were a few stragglers who got away. As for the rest... you would not want to see what

is happening in the valley now.”

Kai felt her heart begin beating faster. “Why, what’s happening?’

Morrigan tilted her head. “Are you sure you want me to describe it?”

“I... yes, please.” Kai swallowed hard.

Morrigan nodded. “I had a good view of the battle scene. They roam the battlefield, feeding.”

The witch strode to the fire and added some wood to it before gathering a cast iron fat

bellied pot with a lid. Morrigan shrugged. “They also look for survivors and drag them back

down beneath the ground.” Morrigan waved a dismissive hand. “I cannot say why.”

Kai’s heart beat faster with hope. “So those survivors could be rescued?”

And her heart crashed again with Morrigan’s next statement. “If you are willing to run into

the midst of the horde, perhaps.”

Kai’s head was spinning. “You said that Teyrn Loghain quit the field. Why did he abandon the

king?”

Morrigan gave Kai an annoyed look before taking a bowl of what looked like sliced tubers,

roots, and some meat of indiscernible origin, and pouring the contents into the fat bellied

pot along with some water from a pitcher and hanging it over the fire. “I do not know who this

Loghain even is. Perhaps ask Mother of it.”

“Are we safe here? What with the horde coming from the Wilds, where are the darkspawn?”  Kai

felt a flutter of fear. After all, they were at the edges of the horde’s domain.

“We are safe for the moment. Mother’s magic keeps them away. Once you leave, ‘tis uncertain

what will happen. The horde has moved on, so you might avoid it.”

Kai shook her head. “Why did your mother save us?”

Morrigan laughed. “I wonder at that myself. Perhaps you were the only ones she could reach. I

would have rescued your king. A king would be worth a much higher ransom than you.” The

witch’s golden eyes twinkled with mirth.

Kai refrained from rolling her own eyes. “Much, much higher.”

Morrigan cocked an eyebrow and nodded. “What a sensible attitude. Mother is seldom sensible,

however.”

Kai thought back to her very realistic dream. “How did she manage to save us, exactly?”

Again, the young woman only smirked. “She turned into a giant bird and plucked you up in her

talons and her beak.” Morrigan laughed before stirring the pot on the fire. “If you do not

believe that tale, then I suggest you take it up with Mother yourself. She may even tell you.”

Morrigan set the spoon down and walked to a chest at the end of the bed. “‘Tis time you speak

with Mother, and then begone. You have an army of darkspawn to avoid and it would be best to

get an early start.”

Kai watched Morrigan pull out Kai’s leather armor and woolen undershirt, both of which had

been crudely repaired. The undershirt, though stained, smelled clean and herbal as Kai pulled

it on over head with the witch’s help. And the armor had been cleaned and oiled, and despite

the shoulder wound, with Morrigan’s aid, she was able to slip it on as well.

She took a look around the hut’s interior while Morrigan helped buckle her into the leather

cuirass.

Bookshelves lined one wall, filled to bursting, along with piles of books at its foot, and

with the bed and the fireplace, were the largest things in the room. One dark corner held an

altar with what looked human skulls. Andraste’s flaming knickers! She wasn’t even going to

think about that. Hanks of herbs hung drying from the rafters. Despite its dilapidated nature,

the room was clean and neat.

She watched Morrigan’s nimble fingers buckle the last strap and felt a wave of gratitude.

“Thank you for helping me, us, all of us, Morrigan.”

Morrigan’s vivid golden eyes widened in surprise before the lashes were lowered and two bright

pink spots bloomed on her pale cheeks, as if she was embarrassed by Kai’s kindness. “I... you

are welcome, though Mother did most of the work. I am no healer.”

“Yes, but you helped. You brought my mabari to me. You tended my wounds and bandaged them. You

did much for me to be grateful for.”

“Well, don’t become maudlin about it.” The witch waved her pale hands dismissively, though the

blush remained.

Kai bit her lip to keep from grinning. “I will go and see the others, then.”

“And I shall stay and tend to supper.” Morrigan sniffed and turned back to the pot over the

fire, lifting the lid and stirring its contents.

Kai put a hand to the door and swung it open to step out into the cleared area outside the

hut. Daveth and Argus sat beside a large bonfire while Alistair stood staring out over the

dark, lily pad strewn waters of the small lake, whose borders ended at the edges of the cliff

on which the ruins of the Grey Warden tower stood. Maker, had it really only been such a short

time since she, Alistair, Daveth, and Jory met Morrigan there? It feels like a lifetime ago.

It was Argus that noticed her first, giving a soft woof and bounding over to her. Kai placed a

gentle hand on the dog’s head. “Easy, boy, I don’t want to re-open any wounds. That would be

rude to our healer.” Argus contented himself with jumping up and down in front of her, wagging

his stump of a tail so hard his whole back-end shimmied.

Daveth’s face lit up with relief he spotted Kai. He rose to meet her, placing one hand on her

shoulder and the other on the mabari’s broad head, rubbing the hound behind the ears.

The old witch looked the way she had when they’d first met her, though Kai’s mental memory was

giving her double vision with the powerful figure of her dreams. The old woman grinned as if

she knew what Kai was thinking as she crossed bony arms over her chest. “Wise decision, girl.

I would not heal you from your own folly.” Kai shivered as she looked the woman, remembering

her very real dream and what she had seen.

Alistair must have heard them speaking as he whipped around his face, a mask of surprise,

which seemed to amuse the old witch more as she pitched her voice as though talking to a small

child. “See, here is your fellow Grey Warden. You worry too much, young man.”

Alistair’s eyes didn’t leave Kai’s face, as if he were afraid she’d disappear on him. “You,

you’re alive! Huh, I thought you were dead for sure.”

Kai shook her head in disbelief while walking to Alistair’s side. His face looked so stricken

she patted his arm. “I’m fine. I appreciate your concern.”

Daveth gave a grin and a wink. “Concern? More like constant chronic worrying while pacing by

the fire, and keeping those of us who’d knew you’d be fine from getting any shut-eye.

Interrupted a perfectly good dream of a dancing girl I knew at The Pearl, he did.”

Kai laughed and gave Alistair’s arm a comforting squeeze. What Daveth said next sobered her

quickly. “I do have to admit, I was worried we’d never see those big blue eyes open, love.

You’ve been down and out for two days now.”

Alistair ignored Daveth and continued to stare at her as if she were a ghost. Or as if he

didn’t seem to be there with them, but elsewhere. His voice sounded the same as the look in

his eyes—lost.The tone of his voice set off alarm bells in Kai’s head. “If it weren’t for

Morrigan’s mother, we’d be dead on top of that tower.”

The old woman’s voice rumbled as she closed the distance and joined them at the edge of the

lake. “Do not talk about me as if I am not present, lad.”

Alistair blushed and looked down. “I... I didn’t mean... but what do we call you? You... you

never told us your name.”

The witch chuckled. “Names are pretty, but useless. The Chasind folk call me Flemeth.” Bony

shoulders rose in a shrug. “I suppose it will do.”

Kai raised an eyebrow, remembering the tale the guard at the gate to the Wilds told them while

Daveth did a sharp intake of breath.

Alistair’s eyes widened. “The Flemeth? From the legends? Daveth was right. You are the Witch

of the Wilds, aren’t you?”

Daveth shook his head. “See, I told you so! You should listen to me more, mate.”

Flemeth gave Daveth an amused look. “And what does that mean?” She turned her gaze back to

Alistair. “I know a bit of magic, and it has served you all well, has it not?”

Kai shivered again, remembering the strange “dream” and how Flemeth appeared in it. She gave

the witch a hard stare. “If you’re Flemeth, you must be very old and very powerful.”

Flemeth gave a husky chuckle while giving Kai a raised eyebrow. “Must I? Age and power are

relative. It depends on who is asking.” She waved an old gnarled hand at Kai. “Compared to

you... yes. On both counts.”

Alistair’s voice choked, making Kai’s heart squeeze painfully in response to shared pain.

“Then why didn’t you save Duncan? He is... was our leader.”

Kai was surprised when Flemeth’s face seemed to fold into wrinkled sympathy. “I am sorry for

your Duncan. But your grief must come later, in the dark shadows before you take vengeance.”

The old witch’s lip curled into a sardonic smile. “As my mother once said.”  She shrugged.

“Duty must come now. It has always been the Grey Wardens’ duty to unite the lands against the

Blight. Or did that change when I wasn’t looking?”

Kai snorted. “The land is hardly united, thanks to Loghain.” She felt eyes on her and turned

to see Flemeth’s looking into hers while the expression on her face spoke of something shared.

Kai felt more and more as if the dream of the battle was more than mere illusion.

Alistair broke Kai’s inner musing. “That doesn’t make any sense! Why would he do it?”

Daveth gave a bark of laughter before saying under his breath, “You really didn’t get out much

before joining the Grey Wardens, now did you, mate?”

Flemeth merely looked from Kai to Alistair and back again. “Now, that is a good question.

Men’s hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature.” The witch gave a cynical grunt of

laughter herself. “Perhaps he believes the Blight is an army he can outmaneuver. Perhaps he

does not see the evil behind it is the true threat.”

Alistair smacked one fist into the open palm of his other hand. “The Archdemon!”

Kai looked at Alistair, who seemed more animated than before, and she found this a vast

improvement from his earlier malaise. “Then we need to find this archdemon.”

Alistair looked at her as if she had grown another head. “By ourselves? No Grey Warden has

ever defeated the Blight without the army of half a dozen nations at their back. Not to

mention... I don’t know how.” His voice almost fell into desperation once more.

Flemeth looked at him with an amused glint in her eye. “How to kill the Archdemon? Or how to

raise an army? It seems to me those are two different questions, hmm?” The amused look

transferred to a slight curling of the witch’s lips. “Have the Wardens no allies these days?”

Alistair looked confused. “I... I don’t know! Duncan said that the Grey Wardens of Orlais have

been called. And Arl Eamon would never stand for this, surely.”

Kai looked at Daveth then Alistair. “Would the Grey Wardens believe us over the teyrn?” She

tilted her head. “And Arl Eamon, the Arl of Redcliffe? I saw him at the after Landsmeet

parties. But it’s been a while.” Kai grasped Alistair’s arm tighter. “We need to contact the

other Grey Wardens!”

Alistair shook his head. “Cailan already summoned them. They’ll come if they can. We must

assume they won’t arrive in time.” His hand covered hers. “Arl Eamon wasn’t at Ostagar. He

still has all his men. And he was Cailan’s uncle. I know him. He’s a good man, respected at

the Landsmeet.”

“My father always respected him. His brother, Teagan, too. Duncan told Cailan that Eamon sent

his regards and offered his troops. Cailan apparently turned Eamon down.” Kai shrugged.

Alistair looked even more excited. “Of course! We could go to Redcliffe and appeal to him for

help.”

Daveth asked, “Not to interrupt, but what about those treaties that our kind hostess gave us?”

Alistair’s face took on a sickly hue. “Didn’t we leave them in the tent? We would have to go

through the horde and get back to Ostagar and hope our tent and its contents are still there!”

Kai grinned. “Relax, that won’t be something we have to do. I never took them out of my pack.

I remember seeing them there when I took out the kaddis to put on Argus.” She shrugged. “I

didn’t mention it as we didn’t have the time to wait for me to take it back to the tent and

leave it by that point. I figured I would hand it over to.... I figured I would hand it over

once the battle was over.”

Flemeth laughed. “See, there’s a smart lass.”

Alistair practically jumped in place. “Of course, the treaties!” He turned to Kai. “Grey

Wardens can demand aid from dwarves, elves, mages, and other places. They’re obligated to help

us during a Blight.”

Flemeth grinned at Alistair in the way of a proud parent with a child. “I may be old, but

dwarves, elves, mages, this Arl Eamon, and who knows what else. This sounds like an army to

me.”

“Sounds like a bloody headache to me.” Daveth rolled his eyes.

Alistair ignored the cutpurse as he looked at Kai with a hopeful look on his face, like a

child looking for Father Winter to leave presents on Wintersday. “So, can we do this? Go to

Redciffe and these other places and build an army?”

Kai grinned at him. “Why not? Isn’t that what Grey Wardens do?”

Daveth broke in, “Sure, easy as fallin’ off a log, I’m sure. Why do I have the feelin’ it

won’t be that easy, mates?”

Flemeth laughed the first true laugh Kai had heard from the witch so far. “And when is it ever

easy?”

Alistair looked at Daveth then Kai. “It’s always been the Grey Wardens’ duty to stand against

a Blight. And right now, we’re it.”

Daveth gave a saucy wink. “I think the Grey Wardens who’ve gone before us are turning in their

graves at that thought.” Kai shook her head and laughed.

Flemeth merely cocked an eyebrow. “So you are set. then? Ready to be Grey Wardens.”

Kai nodded. “Yes. Thank you for everything Flemeth.” Kai gave the old woman a pointed look.

As she expected, the witch knew Kai was referring to not only the healing, but the dream that

was no dream. Flemeth seemed amused by Kai’s tone. “No, no. Thank you. You are the Grey

Wardens, here. Not I.”

Kai swore she heard the woman’s voice in her head again. “So you choose to leap after all.

Maybe you will fly, and fly high, at that.” Kai shivered as Flemeth’s shadowed eyes looked

into hers.

No one else seemed to notice as the old witch continued. “Now before you go, there is one more

thing I can offer you.”

She was interrupted as Morrigan gracefully exited the hut, slinking over to their group while

addressing Flemeth as if the rest of them weren’t there. “The stew is bubbling, Mother Dear.

Will there be three guests for dinner or just one?”

Flemeth’s lips curved in an amused smile. “The Grey Wardens will be leaving soon, girl. And

you will be going with them.”

Morrigan smiled and looked at Kai and Alistair with a superior smirk. “Such a pity—” That smug

smile was quickly replaced by golden eyes widening in disbelief when the rest of what Flemeth

said sank in. “What, what?”

Flemeth’s smile became a chuckle. “You heard me girl. The last time I looked, you had ears.”

Modifié par erynnar, 16 juillet 2011 - 05:32 .

[erynnar]

Chapter 31 ~At Your Disposal~


Kai looked from Morrigan to Flemeth and back again. The old woman’s features were immobile, but Kai swore there was some thing, some message, going on within that gaze. “Thank you, but if Morrigan doesn’t wish to join us...”
 
Flemeth turned to Kai. “Her magic will be useful. And she knows the Wilds and will be able to get you past the horde.”
 
Kai opened her mouth to say something when Morrigan broke in. “Have I no say in this?”
 
Flemeth grinned at her daughter. “You have been itching to get out of the Wilds for years.” She shrugged her bony shoulders. “Here is your chance.” Flemeth turned back to Kai, Alistair, and Daveth. “As for you, Wardens, consider this repayment for your lives.”
 
Kai looked at Morrigan, whose golden eyes were narrowed and looked like hot amber glass as she glared at her mother. Kai looked back to Flemeth, who merely returned her daughter’s gaze with an amused look on her face. Kai shrugged. “Very well, we’ll take her along.”
 
Alistair shuffled his feet and coughed, causing all eyes to turn towards him. He looked down briefly before returning Kai’s questioning look, his face flushing a bright pink. “Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but wouldn’t this add to our problems?” He waved his arm. “Outside the Wilds, she’s an apostate.”
 
Flemeth gave a deep and raspy chuckle. “If you didn’t want help from renegade mages, then perhaps I should have left you atop that tower.”
 
Alistair blushed harder and shuffled his feet again. “Point taken.”
 
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing as Alistair flashed the witch a chagrined look.
 
Morrigan merely glared at him before turning back to Flemeth. “Mother! This is not how I wanted this! I... I am not ready.”
 
Flemeth’s mouth quirked slightly at the corners. “You must be ready, girl. They need you. They will not succeed if you do not help them, and the world will fall to the Blight. Even your mother.”
 
There was something that went unspoken under surface of those words that made Kai wonder if there was more to her sending Morrigan with them than just that they could use the magical aid. Kai cocked an eyebrow, which only made Flemeth’s mouth curve more, as if she could read Kai’s thoughts and found them amusing.
 
Morrigan’s response broke into this exchange. “I... I understand.” Kai looked from Flemeth to Morrigan, whose pale cheeks bloomed with pink though her face remained void of any expression.
 
Flemeth chuckled before addressing them all. “And you, Wardens? Do you understand? I give you that which I value above all in the world. I do this because you must succeed.”
 
Kai nodded. “She won’t come to any harm with us.” She resisted the urge to cross her fingers behind her back—she was pretty sure they wouldn’t be stopping the Blight by getting together with the darkspawn, holding hands and singing.
 
Flemeth gave a husky laugh and smiled at Kai as if she had read her mind again. Morrigan merely shook her head at the both of them before addressing at Kai. “Allow me to get my things, if you please.”
 
Kai nodded and waved her hand at Daveth and Alistair. “We had all best get our things.”
 
Daveth, who had remained surprisingly quiet during the conversation, stroked Kai’s arm and gave her a saucy wink. “I’ll gather your things for you, love. We don’t want you bending and stretching and breaking open those wounds after we just got them closed and your eyes open.”
 
Kai grinned at him. “If you plan on chatting Morrigan up, do be careful. I would hate for us to fight the Blight with two Wardens, a witch, and a toad.” Daveth laughed and saluted smartly before turning on his heel and disappearing into the hut’s interior.
 
Kai looked at the old witch standing before her and decided she might not get another chance to speak to the woman, or whatever she was. Flemeth quirked the corner of thin, wrinkled lips in amusement once again. “I hope you aren’t planning on hanging around for some stew.”
 
Kai snorted and shook her head. “You could come with us, you know.” 
 
Not that Kai thought Flemeth would, nor were they likely to enjoy her company, but Kai had an overwhelming desire to keep an eye on Flemeth, the way one would a mabari puppy in a glass blower’s shop. Though, she would be hard pressed to explain why what appeared to a frail old woman should cause her skin to goose pimple under those cold eyes.
 
Another deep chuckle followed as Flemeth crossed her arms over her chest and leaned in as if Kai and she were old friends. “Hah, I prefer to remain here. Considering what the world has done to me, I have done more than it deserves.”
 
Kai leaned in as well despite the hair on the back of her neck rising and her instincts begging her to run in the opposite direction. “And what has the world done to you?”
 
Flemeth’s eyes seemed to bore into Kai’s. “That is between the world and me; your business is elsewhere.” Something dark seemed to swim behind those eyes, like sharks in the Waking Sea. Kai tried not to shudder as Flemeth continued. “I have lived here since before I was wrinkled and old. You may think it strange, but I was young and beautiful once, asMorrigan is now.” Flemeth’s husky voice took on an almost wistful note. “Yes, men desired Flemeth then, and some even killed for her...”
 
Something sparked in her gaze and Flemeth drew back with a look of... annoyance? Annoyance that Kai had wrung so much from her? “You don’t seem happy about that.”
 
“I am not, nor was I then. It dictated all that followed.” Flemeth’s tone hinted that questions in that direction should cease if Kai knew what was good for her.
 
Kai felt Alistair, Daveth, and Morrigan come and stand behind her so she changed the subject. “What will you do when we’re gone?”
 
Flemeth shrugged. “Huh, have a moment’s peace for once.”
 
Morrigan’s cocked an eyebrow at her mother while using a sing-song voice. “I hear the peace of the grave is eternal.”
 
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing while Daveth chuckled. Flemeth waved a dismissive hand. “Bah! This is the thanks I get for feeding and clothing her?”
 
Morrigan sniffed while crossing  her arms over her chest. “Feed me, she says. Without me, I swear she shall be caked in dirt and eating tree bark inside of a month.”
 
Kai broke in before they could argue further. “Can you tell me about the magic you do?” Kai’s thoughts flashed to her all too realistic dream with Flemeth and the High Dragon seemingly doing her bidding.
 
Flemeth gave her an amused smile as if she knew why Kai asked the question, then a saucy wink as if to say they were co-conspiritors. “What good would it do you? You are no mage. It is sufficient that I have passed my knowledge onto Morrigan, and her on to you.”
 
Morrigan rolled her eyes. “Like an old dress or a worn out pair of shoes.”
 
Flemeth cocked an eyebrow at Morrigan. “Are you still here? Hmph. You cannot give them away, apparently.”
 
Kai clapped a hand to her to her mouth to keep from laughing, which earned her a chuckle from Daveth and a glare from Morrigan. Kai only gave the younger witch a rueful grin before turning back to Flemeth. “Well, any advice then?”
 
“About the darkspawn?”
 
Kai grinned. “About anything, really.”
 
Flemeth’s husky voice became deeper the look in her eyes more intense. “Then hear this: I laugh at a world full of stupid humans who strive for their spiritual gain and forget.” Flemeth put her face in Kai’s. “Remember, it is up to you to stop the Blight. Pray not for someone to destroy it. It will always be nipping at your heels.”
 
Kai cocked an eyebrow and gave the old woman a slight nod before feeling a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Morrigan’s amber gaze flashing a quick look over Kai’s shoulder at Flemeth before turning to her. “I am at your disposal, Grey Warden. Might I suggest a town on the edge of the Wilds not far from here where we may gather supplies? Or, if you prefer, I shall simply be your silent guide.” The witch’s slender shoulders shrugged dismissively. “The choice is yours.”
 
Kai grinned. “No, I prefer you speak your mind.”
 
Flemeth’s voice floated over Kai’s shoulder from behind. “You will regret saying that.”
 
Morrigan’s golden gaze turned to hot amber glass once more, though her rosy lips curved into a cold smile. “Dear sweet mother, you are so kind to cast me out like this. How fondly I shall look upon this moment.”
 
Kai looked down while biting her lower lip to keep from giggling, especially when Daveth’s own chuckle reached her ears. Even Alistair coughed as though hiding his mirth.
 
Flemeth, however, didn’t bother to hide her amusement. “Haha, if you need something done, do it yourself, I always say. Or hear about it for the next decade or so.”
 
Kai broke in, grabbing Morrigan’s attention before the two women could continue to bicker with each other. “Tell me about the village to the north.”
 
Morrigan tilted her head at Kai. “‘Tis a small place of no consequence. A stop along your Imperial Highway. I make purchases at their market there. I would go more often, but their chantry makes it a small-minded place.”
 
It was Alistair’s turn to break in, his voice pitched higher in incredulity. “They have a chantry there? And they never suspected you were a witch?”
 
Morrigan snorted. “Of course they have. They even called out their templars once.” Her voice became almost sing-song. “They found nothing.”
 
Kai rolled her eyes and jumped in again—Maker, it felt as if she was going to spend most of her energy just being a buffer to keep any fighting to a minimum. Daveth gave her a sympathetic grin and she continued. “Is there any reason to go to Lothering then?”
 
Morrigan simply shrugged. “I mention it for its tavern where people gather and talk. ‘Tis small and our presence might go unnoticed. Beyond that, ‘tis close and I know the way.”
 
Kai nodded, and then it struck her: the horde, surely they would be out in greater numbers since the battle and their victory. “How are we going to get past the darkspawn?”
 
Morrigan waved a hand at Alistair. “The real question is how are we going to get your friend past the darkspawn, is it not?”
 
Alistair blushed and shrugged as he handed Kai her pack. “That’s true. We can sense the darkspawn. Conversely, they can sense us.”
 
Daveth stepped closer. “I don’t sense the nasties.”
 
Alistair looked at the rogue then Kai. “You both won’t right away. It takes time. The darkspawn, particularly larger groups, can sense us, though.”
 
Morrigan sniffed. “Mother has given me something else for them to ‘smell’ instead as we pass by. ‘Tis important we head out of the Wilds, however, not farther in.”
 
Kai looked at Alistair then Morrigan again. “The darkspawn are camped further in the forest?”
 
Morrigan grimaced and spoke as if speaking to a small child or an especially slow witted person. “They come from underground, like an eruption. They broke through deep within the forest and that is where they will be most concentrated.”
 
Kai nodded and tilted her head toward the north. Morrigan nodded and turned to Flemeth. “Farewell, Mother, do not forget the stew on the fire. I would hate to return to a burned down hut.”
 
Flemeth waved her hands as if shooing off a fly. “Bah! More likely that you will come back to find the Blight has swallowed up the entire forest along with your poor old mother.”
 
Kai was surprised by the contrite tone of Morrigan’s reply and the softer, almost loving, response from Flemeth. “I... I meant...”
 
Flemeth nodded and shrugged. “Yes, I know. Try to have fun, dear.”
 
Kai nodded at the old woman before gesturing that the others should follow Morrigan up the path and away from the hut.
 
Morrigan took one more look around before she turned on her heel and began up the narrow dirt trail.
 
Kai turned to follow Morrigan, resisting the urge to look behind her as she felt the space between her shoulder blades itching as Flemeth’s gaze followed their retreating backs.
 
It was as they rounded the bend at the top of the hill in the ruins that Alistair coughed and pulled Kai to a stop. “I just... do you really want to take her along because her mother says so?”
 
Kai shot a look at the witch, who stood impatiently tapping her booted foot annoyance, amber eyes narrowed, before Kai answered him. “We need all the help we can get.”
 
“Not to mention that she’s prettier than you, mate.” Daveth’s cheeky comment garnered him a derisive snort from Morrigan and an eye roll from Kai.
 
Alistair glanced at Morrigan as well before shrugging at Kai, a pink flush darkening his cheeks. “I suppose you’re right. Grey Wardens have always taken allies where we could find them.”
 
“That’s the spirit, son.” Daveth smacked Alistair on the arm, causing the ex-templar to blush harder.
 
“I am so pleased to have your approval.” Morrigan’s voice dripped with sarcasm, causing Kai to look down and bite her lower lip to keep from laughing.
 
Kai waved at her group, indicating they should continue on. They traveled in comfortable silence, only stopping on occasion to wait on the path as the witch would disappear into the underbrush, presumably to plant whatever it was the darkspawn were to “smell” other than the Grey Wardens.
 
After some time, the Wilds became less overgrown and Kai was able to walk side by side with their newest companion. She decided to vent some of her curiosity about the young woman. “I have some questions, if you don’t mind.”
 
Morrigan cocked an eyebrow at her. “I may have answers. Ask.”
 
Kai looked at Morrigan’s lithe, well-formed figure and exotic beauty and found herself doing mental flips trying to imagine Flemeth and the young witch being related. “Are you really Flemeth’s daughter?”
 
Morrigan merely gave a half smile. “‘Twas she who raised me, and thus I consider her my mother, born form her womb or not. ‘Tis what you meant, yes?”
 
Kai shrugged and nodded before hooking a thumb back towards the Wilds behind them. “She’s just going to stay there all alone?”
 
Morrigan gave a derisive snort. “Mother was alone long before I came along, and will be so long after I am dead. Such is her choice, though I suspect she would claim the choice was made for her.”
 
Kai merely nodded and they fell into silence once more as they continued onward. It was as the Imperial Highway came into view and the last of the Wilds fell behind them that Kai tried again. “Have you ever been out of the Wilds? I mean, really out of the Wilds.”
 
Morrigan gave her a curious look. “From time to time. The village where I studied its people and pondered their strange behavior. There, I bought goods and men stared as I was an outsider.”
 
Kai doubted that they stared only because Morrigan was an outsider, or even because she was a witch, given the rather revealing nature of the clothing that she wore.
 
Daveth’s statement only confirmed her thoughts. “Darlin’, you really sell yourself short. If men were starin’, it probably had something to do with you being very easy on the eyes.” This garnered a groan from Alistair and a growl from Morrigan. Kai thought she might crack a rib trying to hold in her laughter.
 
Morrigan waved a dismissive hand at the men before continuing. “Mother wishes for me to expand the horizons of my experience beyond the Wilds. Even she was not born there.”
 
Kai shrugged. “Is that what you want?”
 
Morrigan let out an exasperated sigh. ”What I want is to see mountains. I want to experience the ocean and step into its waters.” The witch’s tone became less irritated and more wistful. “I want to visit a city instead of seeing it only with my mind.” Slender shoulders shrugged. “So, yes, this what I want. ‘Tis just that...”
 
Kai gently touched the woman’s arm. “Just what?”
 
Morrigan’s eyebrows drew down in annoyance before softening again as she looked back to the Wilds. “Actually leaving is... harder than I thought, however. Perhaps Mother is right—it must simply be done quickly.”
 
Kai resisted the urge to offer comfort sensing that would only earn her a verbal slap—f not a real one—for her troubles. Instead, she nodded toward the white granite of the Imperial Highway off in the distance and they continued walking.
 
Kai studied Morrigan’s profile and got caught at it, which seemed to amuse Morrigan rather than annoy her. “You have more questions for me, then?”
 
Kai shrugged her shoulders, adjusting her pack. “Flemeth mentioned she passed on skills to you, though you did say you are no healer like she is.” This caused the witch to arch one delicate dark eyebrow as if to say, ‘so?’ Kai merely grinned. “So, what skills do you have, exactly?”
 
Morrigan snorted delicately. “I know a few spells, though I am not so powerful as Mother.” 
 
Kai heard an unspoken “yet” as if it hung in the air before them. She grinned and rasied her own eyebrow in a “do tell” gesture.
 
Before the witch could reply, Alistair’s voice broke in from behind. “Can you cook?”
 
This caused Morrigan to stop and spin around, hands on leather clad hips, and a fierce gleam in her yellow eyes. “I... can cook, yes.”
 
Daveth let out a chuckle and slapped Alistair on the back. “Nice one, mate. If she does cook tonight, I’ll look for a frog that looks like you.”
 
Kai laughed. “Then you can substitute for Alistair.”
 
Alistair blushed. “I only meant...” He sighed. “Right, my cooking will kill us, that’s all I meant.”
 
Morrigan’s eyes narrowed, though her voice was as smooth as cream. “I also know at least fifteen different poisons that grow right here in this marsh.” The witch’s pink lips curved into a feline smile. “Not that I would suggest ‘tis related at all to... cooking.” With that, she turned on a booted heel and continued walking towards the raised road of the highway.
 
“When it comes time for her to cook, I’d feign a stomach ache and lack of hunger, mate.” Daveth laughed as he clapped Alistair on the shoulder once more before winking at Kai and following the witch.
 
Alistair just stood with his mouth open as he watched their companions’ retreating backs. Kai laughed and grabbed his arm, making him walk with her. “Well, at least with her along, things won’t get boring.”
 
Alistair sighed. “Boring, no. Creepy, strange, paranoiac, certainly. But boring, definitely not.”
 
Kai merely punched him in the arm before looping hers back, making him blush and grin. They laughed together as they made their way to the road. 

[Gilgamesh1138]

Sorry about the post and no update as to if it was a new chapter. I had to reset hubby's password because I forgot what it was.

And I hope you'll forgive me the long hiatus. Many things were going on and I was unable to write. But I'm baaack. I hope you enjoy the latest chapter.

[Slim Warden]

I did indeed enjoy the latest chapter, and the one before that, and the one before that........ I've had a lot of catching up to do.

[erynnar]

SLIM!!!! I've missed you! *pounces and hugs tight*

Thanks for the comments!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 32~ Low Flying Nugs

Lothering, was by distance, normally only a day’s walk from the Wilds and Flemeth and Morrigan’s hut. But Kai and company found themselves making camp on the raised avenue as darkness fell with their departure having started at the dinner hour.

Camping on the highway brought back memories of Kai, Duncan and Argus doing the same, in what felt like a lifetime ago. It made her heart clench painfully, and more than once she found herself fighting back tears at the vision Flemeth had given her of Duncan and Cailan’s deaths.

Two more had  gone to the Fade before her. And if she was taking it badly, Alistair seemed to be suffering the most. Having her alive had helped, but that soon passed into bouts of quiet melancholy where the ex-templar would speak only when spoken to, and he seemed disinclined to do much more.

So they fell into silence. Morrigan seemed the least interested in their party, as she sat reading from some book on herbs, or spells--Kai didn’t try and read the title.

Daveth’s joke, that she was studying to poison their companion, earned him only a sniff and a raised eyebrow from the witch--and garnered no response, not even an attempt at a smile from Alistair. Daveth even gave up trying to engage their companions in something resembling a conversation. 

She worried that Alistair would keep it to himself the way she had after the death of her parents and her family. Would the ex-templar be as foolish as she had been?  Kai wasn’t sure, but she knew that if she had her druthers she would let him brood until tomorrow and then she’d find a way to make him talk.

Daveth offered to take first watch. Kai took second, with the campsite duty of keeping the fire going with wood they had gathered in anticipation of a night spent on the elevated stone road .They all settled down to wait for sunrise and the continuation of their journey.

Kai woke the others when the sun’s first rays began to barely peek over the gentle swell of hills surrounding them. After a  quick meal of hard traveler’s bread, dried meat, and fruit from Argus’s pack and after ensuring the embers of the fire were completely doused, they went on their way.

Though the day that they awoke to promised to be one of those unusual sunny Ferelden days, the mood of their group was decidedly morose. Even with bird’s song, the scent of wildflowers--and as they drew closer to the outskirts of Lothering--hay and beasts from farmers’ field, did nothing to lighten the aura of melancholy that surrounded them. Well, all of their moods save Morrigan’s, who seemed to be alternately puzzled, amused, and disdainful of their gloomy attitudes.

Kai was mourning Duncan, their fellow Fereldans, as well as Cailan, as Alistair was--and she didn’t doubt that Daveth was doing the same--but her raging feelings were coupled with a sense of shock and dread for having lost a major battle to the darkspawn due to treachery of one of their country’s greatest heroes. She didn’t know if that part even registered with Daveth, being a thief and no political animal. Nor, did she know if Alistair was thinking on it either, being so immersed in Duncan’s death. But as a person raised in the political shark pool of the nobility, it was more than a niggling worry for her.

Alistair’s mood had fallen even further into a depressed despondency. And even Argus was subdued and barked only in quiet ‘woofs’.

Added to that mix was the additional stress Kai had of leading this group and the decision making that went along with that role. The weight of it hit her as they walked closer to Lothering.

Which group should they approach first with the treaties? Where were all those groups? Kai tried to remember Aldous’s geography lessons--not her favorite subject--and what was the most immediate way to reach them? What was the best way to approach said groups? What if said groups laughed at old mouldering papers and long forgotten promises? What would they do then?

 Duncan had said, if they didn’t beat back the darkspawn before the horde reached the North, then Ferelden would fall. If Ferelden fell, then the other nations of Thedas would have to take up the fight to save their world. No pressure, no, none at all.

They almost passed Lothering, or would have rather--so lost in thought were they--if not for the corpse lying on the stone walkway dressed in templar armor. The plate was of  good quality and bore the heraldry of Redcliffe. Kai gently searched the body in hopes of finding something to identify the man, so his family might be notified. She noted the sword slashes and the smashed in armor from, what she could only guess, was a mace or hammer that looked to be the killing blow.

Her cursory search turned up an empty money pouch. But a more thorough search than his killers had done revealed a hidden pocket on the inside of his sash-belt, which turned up a golden locket and a folded piece of parchment. The locket popped open easily as if it had been opened many times before. Inside it held a tiny painting of a pretty brown-haired woman. It was impossible for Kai to tell who the woman might be, but whoever the knight was, he apparently had been quite fond of her.

Kai quickly put the trinket into Argus’ pack with orders to guard it. This earned her a grin from Daveth and a woof that sounded suspiciously like a laugh from the Mabari.

“If you keep returning treasures of dead folk to their families, love, we’ll have nothing left to buy supplies with.” Daveth grinned as Kai wrinkled her nose at him and began unfolding the paper that had rested with the locket.

“‘Tis something the bumpkin and I can agree upon. ‘Tis most impractical to waste time seeking out these people to return objects they did not even know about.” Morrigan crossed her arms over her chest, her booted foot tapping the granite tiles of the walkway. “And supplies do not fall from the sky.”

“See, love? It ain’t practical.” Daveth winked while the witch glared at him.

Kai only laughed, shaking her head at them, as she quickly skimmed the note. When she finished she answered them. “We’ll be fine moneywise for a while. And I know I’d want to know what happened to my beloveds, as well as a mem...” Her voice caught as she thought of Oren’s dire bunny in her pack. “As well as a memento to remember them by.”

 Alistair bent down to examine the fallen knight, which distracted Daveth and Morrigan from arguing, allowing Kai to steady herself.

  Since it was the first interest he had taken in anything since Ostagar, she handed him the note and rose to her feet. Alistair stood as he looked up from the letter. “It says he’s a knight from Arl Eamon’s town of Redcliffe, and he was  looking for the Urn of Sacred Ashes.”

“Urn of Sacred Ashes? Why would anyone be looking for dregs from a fire pit?” Daveth shrugged. “More to the point, why would anyone want to keep it?”

“It’s not just any ash from any fire, you dolt. It’s the ashes from the fire that consumed the blessed Andraste.” 

Daveth winked at Kai, as Alistair continued to read the letter. It was the most animated that their fellow warden had been, and they both wanted to encourage it.

“He says that many of his fellow knights have been searching for it, but that he found a Brother Genitivi of Denerim holds the key. But he says that no one, until this chap, knew where the brother was.” Alistair’s eyebrows flew up his forehead in surprise before he looked up from the letter with an impish grin. “He says that surely others found where the Brother is, but seems to think something bad happened to them, then he talks himself out of it. Cre-epy.”

“Maybe there’s cannibals that ate them?” Daveth jokingly returned Alistair’s impish grin, while Morrigan sniffed derisively.

“One should not discount such things, or dragons, or darkspawn, or bandits. ‘Tis most likely though, the fools could not find it, as it doesn’t exist because it is all Chantry twaddle. ‘Tis more probable they ran away, rather than return like dogs, with tails between their legs in failure.”

Alistair rolled his eyes, as his grin turned into a serious frown. “He says he was meeting a fellow Redcliffe knight named Ser Donall here in Lothering. Poor sod, he was so close.” His gaze looked up and over the at the roofs of the buildings of the town showing over the wall,  without really seeing it. “But what could be so dire, that they need a major religious relic said to make miracles?”

Morrigan crossed her arms over her chest, her voice sweet as cream. “‘Tis one way to discover such information, is there not? Inquire as to the whereabouts of this Ser Donall and bother him with your silly questions, ‘tis useless to ask the rest of us.”  And with that the witch put her nose up in the air and began to stalk off while speaking over her shoulder. “We have a dog with us and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the party.” 

Alistair only blushed and handed Kai the note which she put into Argus’ pack along with the locket. She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze before she motioned they should follow the witch’s retreating back.

Daveth grinned. “Don’t worry, mate. I’m sure she thinks I’m only slightly smarter.” And he jogged to catch up with Morrigan.

Kai linked her arm  with Alistair’s and gave him a wink and a smile. Both of which caused him to blush more. But the smile he returned, which she took as a good sign. “Come on, Alistair, we’d better catch up, or she might turn us into rabbits and cook us in a stew.”

Morrigan merely turned to face them. “‘Tis a possibility if I have to eat more of that disgusting fare from the mongrel’s pack.”

Daveth gave the witch a grin. “Aye, I admit that I could use a warm meal myself. That hard bread slows the flow of things if you get my meaning.”

Morrigan merely glared at the rogue while Alistair groaned while brushing a hand across his forehead.

Kai laughed and rolled her eyes as she let go of Alistair’s arm and walked passed them, patting her leg for Argus to follow. “Well, we best get ourselves into Lothering then. I suspect we’ll be walking and eating that kind of fare, more often than not. Best to get a cooked meal while the getting is good, as Nan used to say.” She quickly shut the door on the memory of Nan’s corpse that tried to float into her mind’s eye. Maker, would it never end?

Kai began walking around a blockade of wooden crates that were stacked on either side of the walkway narrowing the path. They created a blind corner which left her wondering if they had been placed to add protection from the darkspawn headed this way.

She discovered the “why” and “who” soon enough as she rounded the boxes to come face to face with a group of seedy looking men, in armor and weapons, standing in a cleared area. Behind them lay another narrow twisting path, made by overturned wagons leading to the ramp into the town itself.

Kai was willing to bet they weren’t guards to Lothering or a volunteer group of villagers acting as same, and that the obstacles on the road weren’t to act as bulwarks against darkspawn invaders.

Rather than hesitate, she kept walking forward until she stood in front of the group. She didn’t look around as Alistair and the rest filed in behind her.  Instead, her study of strategy had her doing a head count, number and types of weapons, assessing armor, and general alertness--or intelligence and training--of what was looking to be a  very probable threat.

To her immediate right stood a man, with dark hair in a ponytail plait--that reminded her of the Ash Warrior leader at Ostagar--who stood looking over grass covered hills, a huge mace strapped to his back. To his right stood two archers in leather helms, quivers and bows strung over their shoulders.  To Kai’s right--and the archers’ left--stood a hugely muscled man with a receding hairline, and two great axes strapped to his back. Next to him, a man who stood out in a land of pale skinned Fereldans, with tan skin and dark hair suggesting Rivaini descent. A round shield gave him a humpbacked appearance, while the hilt of a sword showed itself behind his left shoulder.

None of the men had reached for, readied their arms, or nocked bows--in the case of the archers--for her and her war hound’s arrival, nor did they seem inclined to do so, when more of her party came to a halt behind her.

So, not military men, and not particularly bright. Kai suspected that the man with the mace was the culprit in the Redcliffe knight’s death. Since they hadn’t found the locket, they weren’t particularly good thieves--no imagination. And they were apparently used to peasants and townsfolk who did not have weapons or the wherewithal to fight back. Or they were used to using overwhelming numbers when they did run into someone who could and would fight, like the templar whose body they found.

It only left Kai to figure out who was the leader of this crew of buffoons. Her problem was solved for her when the balding one turned to the man with the darker skin. “Err...they don’t look much like them others you know. Uh...maybe we should just let these ones pass...”

So, the dim one--who reminded her, uncharitably of Ser Jory, though slightly smarter--pointed her to the right man, whose  rejoinder was very chipper as if he was only a host inviting them to his home. He waved a hand at his compatriot before addressing Kai and her group. “Nonsense! Greetings, travelers!”

Kai thought she’d bust a rib holding in her laughter at the man’s out of place tone of voice.

Her companions’ attitudes varied wildly from hers. Alistair’s was simply to state that they were highwaymen preying on those fleeing the darkspawn. Morrigan’s opinion was far more direct with allusions to fools and teaching them a lesson for getting in their group’s way. Daveth’s was a mixture of both. Argus merely growled low in his throat, his pointed ears flat against his broad skull.

All comments were heard by the ’leader’ who merely cocked an eyebrow and leaned forward, a wry grin on his face. “Now is that anyway to greet someone? Tsk, tsk. A simple ten silvers and you’re free to move on.”

Kai grinned back, while keeping an eye on the men to her left. She pointed a finger at the big muscled fellow beside him. “You should listen to your friend. We’re not refugees.”

The leader’s dim companion shook his head. “What did I tell you, boss? No wagon.” The man’s beady eyes darted to the hilt of her father’s sword jutting out over her shoulder. “And this one looks well armed.”

He waved a dismissive hand at his companion. . “The toll applies to everyone, Hanric. That’s why it’s a toll, and not say, a refugee tax.” He grinned at Kai.
 
Hanric, the toll troll--as Kai now thought of him--turned back to them, his dim-witted response had her biting her lip to keep from laughing. “Oh, right. Even if you’re no refugee, you still gotta pay.”

Kai cocked an eyebrow while crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re toll collectors, then are you?”

The lead bandit nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed! For the upkeep of the Imperial Highway!” He jerked a thumb at the crumbling remnants of the raised avenue that continued behind him while grinning conspiratorially at her. “It’s a bit of a mess isn’t it?”

Kai only laughed while rolling her eyes. “Right, you’re only fixing the highway. And low flying nugs will begin nesting in the hair of the citizenry.”

The man only grinned harder. “Nothing much gets past you, I see.”

At this point, Hanric, the dim, decided to clarify for her and leaned in. “It’s not really a toll. We’re just robbing you, see?”

His leader turned a frown the man’s way while waving a hand. “Do shut up! Even a genlock would have understood that.”

Kai snorted. “Forget it. I’m not paying.”

He turned his gaze back at her. “Well, I can’t say I’m pleased to hear that. We have rules you know.”

Hanric looked from him to her. “Right. We get to ransack your corpse then. Those are the rules.”

Kai bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing--these men were really amateur hour. “Do you really want to fight several Grey Wardens? Not to mention a mage and a mabari war hound?”

Hanric’s expression took on an even more confused look as he regarded his boss. “Did she say she’s a Grey Warden? Them ones killed the king!”

Kai placed a hand on each of Daveth and Alistair’s chests as they surged forward at the king killing comment. She shot both of them a look over her shoulder, which silenced any comments they may have made, especially at the bandit leader’s next comment.“Traitors to Ferelden, I hear. Teyrn Loghain put quite the bounty on any who are found.”

Her hand slid reflexively to the dagger strapped at her waist. So, Loghain called them traitors and put a bounty on them? Interesting. They made The Hero of River Dane nervous, did they? Curiouser and curiouser.

Apparently,  Hanric caught the motion, and the look on her face, even if his boss didn’t. He shot Kai a look before addressing his leader. “But...aren’t them Grey Wardens good?” His look slid to her dagger then back again. “I mean, really good? Good enough to kill a king?”

The head bandit must have caught the various looks of anger and outrage on their faces. He paled “You have a point. Well, let’s forget about the toll. We’ll just leave you to your darkspawn-fighting, king-killing ways.”

Kai bit her lower lip, an impish idea was  forming based on Morrigan and Daveth’s earlier comments about returning items to owners. She leaned in towards the man. “You know, the Grey Wardens could use a donation.” She winked. “What with the battle and all.”

He looked nervously, first at her, then to each companion, his eyes resting on Argus, who growled. “You don’t say?”

Hanric clapped the man on his shoulder. “They is really good boss. Remember.”

Kai watched as the man took a heavily ladened leather pouch from his belt and handed it to her. “Here are one hundred silver? It’s all we have collected.”

She cocked an eyebrow and asked sweetly. “Really, how about all the other days since Ostagar fell?”

Hanric pointed a thumb over his shoulder towards one of the overturned wagons. “All we collected is there.”

One of his fellow bandits, who had remained silent until now, surged forward. “Idiot!”

The blue glow from the magic glowing in Morrigan’s hand ceased his forward motion. Kai nodded at the witch before she grabbed the sword from her back along with one of her daggers which she put in an “x” of crossed blades around the throat of the bandit leader. 

“I think, gentlemen, it is time for you all to find a new form of employment. If I see you back here, taking ‘tolls’ from innocent folk, I’ll make you wish you’d met the darkspawn instead of us.” Kai grinned. “Am I being clear enough for you?”

The bandit’s eyes grew larger and his adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard before nodding. “Clear as glass, dear lady. We’ll take our leave right now.”

Kai gave him a small smile as she removed her blades from his neck. “Glad you’re such a sensible sort.”

Kai motioned for her group to back up so the now unemployed bandits could file through the way her group had come. The leader gave her a little salute. Hanric only shrugged his shoulders and followed along with the archers.

It was the man with the mace that decided he didn’t like how the negotiations went.  He leapt at Kai, his large mace braced in both hands. “Galaher is a fool and a coward! He should never have been leader!”

Kai let the man come at her, dodging at the last minute, and executing a pirouette that brought her sword slicing through the thin bones of the man’s wrists causing the mace to fall with a loud thud of metal, cracking granite tiles. The man stared stupidly at the space where his hands had been before he turned that look on at her. His was mouth agape in surprise, before the same sword--that parted his hands from his arms--slid into his chest between his ribs.

She merely gave him a face set like stone. “I know it was you that landed the killing blow on the templar we found. Consider this payment in kind for him and his lady.”  Kai drew back her blade to let the man fall face first onto the roadway.

The leader, Galaher, turned to her with a grateful smile. “He was becoming a problem. I ordered no one be killed, including the knight. I wanted to rob him, not kill him. A threat of death works more often than not. Those it didn’t work on, we let pass, like those Ash Warriors .” 

“But after a few robberies Petrog was feeling a little too powerful. After killing the templar and not being struck immediately down by the Maker,  he was making moves to take over. You saved me the trouble of serving him his walking papers. I owe you dear lady, even if you did rob us in your fashion.”

He grinned. “Well, one good turn deserves another, as my Great Aunt Maude used to say. Farewell, dear lady, and watch out for bounty hunters. We met some and let them pass. Keep a sharp eye peeled in town. “

And with that he waved goodbye and motioned for his men to follow him. Kai heard Hanric tell him, “I told you they was really good, boss,” followed by Galaher’s laughter.

Kai shook her head while walking around the wagon Hanric pointed to as the cache for their ill begotten booty.  She saw crates of items and one lone, little white lamb, with a leather collar and tether, tied to one of the crates. It bleated loudly at her and she gently scratched its wooly head.

She stood lost in thought. These items, and lamb, needed to be returned to their rightful owners. She knew this would  garner her more responses from the witch and Daveth, but it was the right thing to do.

“Deciding how to return everyone’s lost goods, love?” Her inner musings were interrupted by Daveth’s cheeky grin. “That’s all right, darlin’ I think we make up for it by selling this.”

Kai looked as Daveth raised the hefty mace--sans the dismembered hands--and chuckled. She shot a quick look at Morrigan, who only raised an eyebrow and sniffed. Kai laughed and made the hand motion for Argus to stay. “Argus, cosain,” using the old Alamarri word for  “protect”.  At which point he lay down next to the lamb who curled up with its head on the marbari’s back.

“We’ll be back as quickly as we can, Argus Rabbit.” Kai said as she bent down to give the Mabari and the lamb one last scratch behind the ears before heading down the ramp leading into Lothering.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 33 ~ The Lothering Blues


Kai
nodded her head.  “I have, while on watch last night. Thank Andraste’s
holy knickers, they They walked down the incline to the balcony of the
intersection of ramps, one leading to the right the other left.  They
stopped to look at the town from the balustrade.  

Alistair gave a cheeky grin and wave his hand at the view before them. “Well, there it is, Lothering, pretty as a painting.”

Morrigan
gave a derisive sniff, “Ah. So, you have finally decided to rejoin us,
have you?” The witch cocked a dark eyebrow. “Falling on your blade in
grief seemed like too much trouble I take it?”

Before
Kai could jump in, Alistair answered,“Is my being upset so hard to
understand?” He faced Morrigan.  “Have you never lost someone important
to you?”  He shrugged his shoulders. “Just what would you do if your
mother died?”

“Other
than do a dance of joy, thank the Maker, and get pissed faced
celebratin’?” Daveth whispered under his breath, causing Kai to bite her
lip to keep from giggling.

Morrigan remarked as if she hadn’t heard the thief, her voice amused. “Before or after I stopped laughing?”

Alistair rolled his eyes.  “Ri-ight. Very creepy. Forget I asked.”

Kai broke in, putting on hand on his arm. “You have been quiet Alistair.”

Alistair blushed and gave her a small smile. “Yes, I know. I was just...thinking.”

One corner of the witch’s lips quirked into a smile.  “No wonder it took so long then.”

Kai glared at the witch and tried again. “What did you want to talk about Alistair?”

Morrigan
responded to Kai’s glare the same way a cat would, she ignored it
completely.  ”His navel I suspect. He certainly has been contemplating
it for long enough.”

Alistair
snorted. “Oh, I get it. This is the part where we’re shocked to
discover how you’ve never had a friend in your entire life.”

The
witch’s took on a smooth almost seductive tone. “I can be friendly when
I desire to. Alas, desiring to be more intelligent, does not make it
so.”

Kai
found herself trying to keep from pinching the bridge of her nose in
frustration. She had the sinking sensation that she would be coming
between these two a lot in their coming travels.

Daveth
grinned and leaned in to speak in her ear, apparently thinking
something similar.  “I hope you have a thick skin, love. Those two could
wear you down quick if you don’t.”

Kai
merely wrinkled her nose at him and continued to listen as Alistair
looked her way. “Anyway...I thought we should talk about where we intend
to go first.” His voice lifted on the last word, almost as if he was
posing a question, rather than making a statement.  

Waiting for her to take the lead? Kai nodded encouragingly at him.  “Have you some ideas on that matter?”

The
witch merely crossed her arms over her chest, a small smile curving up
one corner of her pink lips. “Oh, this should be good.”

Alistair
blushed, but to his credit, didn’t falter. “I think what Flemeth
suggested is the best idea. These treaties...have you looked at them?”

were
in both Trade Tongue and dwarvish, in the case of the Dwarves’
parchment. My dwarvish is, well, lacking. And I’m not much better with
Antivan, or Orlesian. The Circle’s treaty made it very easy on me, no
magical glyphs or strange secret languages. Nor did the Elves’ scroll,
King’s Tongue all the way. ” She made a joke of it to see if she could
get him to laugh, at least a little.

Alistair
didn’t laugh, but he did give her his lopsided grin. “I can’t say I am
good with languages either. Well, there are three main groups that we
have the treaties for, as you saw: the dwarves, the elves, and the
Circle of Magi.” He shrugged broad shoulders. “I still think that Arl
Eamon is our best bet for help. I think we should see him first.”

Kai
was inclined to agree with her fellow Warden about Eamon being helpful,
though she thought the Circle should be first. She looked to their two
other companions. “What do you two think we should do, Morrigan?
Daveth?”

The
witch jumped in. “Go after your enemy directly.  Find this man,
Loghain, and kill him. Then this business with the treaties can be done
in relative safety.”

Daveth’s
opened his mouth to speak, but was left with it agape as Alistair
retorted sarcastically, “Yes, he certainly wouldn’t see that coming. And
it’s not like he has the advantage of armies and experience.”

Daveth
winked and shrugged at Kai, whispering to her out of the corner of his
mouth, “Not to mention I don’t think they’d let us just march into the
ruddy palace and ask to see His Nibs. Of course we could disguise
ourselves as Ale merchants or a circus troupe?”

Apparently
Morrigan heard the thief despite his attempt to keep it for Kai only.
She glared first at  the cutpurse, then Alistair.  “I was asked for my
opinion and I gave it.” She sniffed and put her nose up in the air. “If
your wish is to come up with reason why something cannot be done, we
will stand here until the darkspawn are upon us.”

Kai
rolled her eyes. “Enough! I value all of your opinions.” Kai turned to
the witch. “Morrigan, much as I would love to string Loghain up by his
thumbs over a hot fire to find out why he betrayed our King and his
country and blamed us for it--before I ran him through, of course-- it’s
just not feasible. Please, keep giving your opinions. I was not lying
when I told you at your hut to speak your mind.”

She turned to Alistair and Daveth. “The same goes for the both of you as well.”

Alistair blushed slightly but smiled. “Fair enough. Let’s head into Lothering then.”

They
continued down the ramp. As they reached the bottom, a wall of stench
hit them. Apparently the odors didn’t quite reach them on the raised
road but on ground level it was almost a living thing.

Kai
couldn’t stop herself, she put a hand over the lower part of her face
trying to breath through her mouth. It didn’t help. She spoke through
her hand. “Maker’s blood, what is that smell?”

Daveth’s
voice spoke sadly, “That, love, is the smell of abject and bone
crushing poverty in large numbers shoved into small spaces.” The tone of
his voice was knowing and wistful. “This is the smell of my childhood,
though that was on a smaller scale.” His eyes trailed over to their
right as he waved his hand in the same direction. “And the smell of my
adulthood, until Duncan recruited me. I just can’t seem to get away from
it entirely though, can I?”

Kai
followed his gaze to look at a sea of tents shoved into a space in
between the wall of the raised road  and the small market area in front
of the chantry. “There are slums in Denerim that smell like that. Most
particularly the Alienage.”  He turned haunted amber eyes on her. “Most
often such a perfume would make the Black City proud. It’s often caused
by cruelty, laziness, greed, bigotry, and indifference. In this case, I
think it’s actually due to the opposite of those things.” He gave her a
cynical grin. “These people are running, and this town is trying to help
them. But there’s only so much they can do with what they have.” Daveth
turned back to the tents and the dirty children playing in the mud. He
spoke almost as if to himself. “Ain’t that always the bitter truth?”  He
laughed and turned a jovial smile on her as if to tell her not to take
him seriously, “As me Mam once said, truth has a bitter taste to it, but
if you can keep it down, it strengthens you.”

Kai
gave him a sympathetic smile. “And the harsh truth in this case? These
people had to leave their homes and most of  their belongings behind,
and will still have to flee and hope that others will take them in. And
those in this town will be doing the same, shortly, if they’re smart.
Their numbers, made even greater, will make the likelihood of aid from
other towns diminish even further.“ Kai shook her head. She was
determined to help as much as she could.

The
first thing she could do was find a way to get the money and stolen
goods back to these refugees. That would be a start at least. And the
best way she could do that, to her mind, was inform the soldiers of the
bann who should be keeping the peace, but seemed to be missing--if the
bandits were any indication. They could help ensure that people didn’t
make a run on the items and monies, to take what wasn’t really theirs,
or more than what belonged to them.


She voiced this opinion to her companions, but before any of them could
reply a cynical bark of laughter echoed across the dusty road from a
small park.

Kai
turned to the man in question whose clothes were well worn and whose
hands spoke of hard physical labor--the dirt on his clothing and under
his nails gave her the impression of farmer. He leaned against a stone
pillar, his mouth set in a smile that was more of a grimace due to the
hard set of the man’s jaw.

She
walked over to him and he raised his chin at her, almost pointing at
them all with it. “You don’t look like the other folk fleeing the
South.”  He tilted his head while his eyes traveled up and down as if
taking in her armor and weapons. “And you don’t look Chasind, so you’re
not from the Wilds. Well, all but one of you maybe.” This was directed
at Morrigan who merely lifted an eyebrow in return.

His
gaze traveled over Alistair, and Daveth in turn, before turning back to
Kai. Then his eyes slid to the sword hilt showing over her shoulder and
back to her daggers belted at her side. “And you’re not farmers. I’d
guess you saw some fighting.”

Kai
figured it would be useless to lie to the man but decided to keep his
attention on herself. “Yes, I was with the King’s army.”

He
grinned. “I thought them that survived already marched north with the
teyrn. You must be a survivor or a deserter.” He laughed again. “Lucky
you, I guess.”

Kai merely cocked an eyebrow at him. “Mind if I ask you some questions?”

The farmer shrugged at her. “Can’t promise I’m gonna answer them.”

Kai grinned. “That’s fair.  Why did you laugh when I suggested finding the Bann’s men?”

The
man shook his head, “Those bandits were the best thing that’s happened
to Lothering. They kept the rabble out...mostly.  Even if Ser Bryant and
his lot won’t.”

She gave the man a hard look. “What do you mean? What exactly is going on here?”

He
shrugged. “What isn’t? We’ve got Chasind barbarians and every
freeholder swarming in running from the darkspawn. You caught the whiff
of that heavenly odor, and saw the tents, no doubt.”

He
huffed under his breath. “Not that they’ll be safe here with the army
gone. That’s why I was laughin’ ya see. Best joke I’ve heard in awhile.”

Kai
swallowed hard. “The army is gone? With the teyrn to Denerim? Figures.”
She spoke almost to herself as well as her companions. “Loghain would
need men after he lost us the battle at Ostagar and let the darkspawn
kill what army we had.  He has to get a new one somewhere, I suppose.
So, Loghain will leave towns and civilians defenseless to do so. Bloody
hell!” She pounded a fist into her palm hard enough it caused the farmer
to jump slightly.

She turned her ferocious expression on him. “Who is in charge of the village?”

Another
roll of hard edged laughter followed this question. “You could talk to
the elder, though she’s got her hands full trying to help people get on
their way.”

The
farmer’s mouth crimped downward as if tasting something sour. “For now,
most folks go to Ser Bryant. He’s head of the chantry’s templars here.”

Kai sighed deeply. “Let me guess. Your ruling lord took off to high hat it with Loghain in Denerim?”

“My,
my, aren’t you quicker than you look? He’s gone to play war and has
taken all his soldiers, leaving us to fend for ourselves.” The man
laughed again, as if at some private joke he found immensely funny.
“There’s not going to be much left when he returns...if he returns. The
sodding bastard.”

Kai
nodded, thanked the man, and walked with her companions out of the
farmer’s earshot. “Andraste’s flaming knicker weasels! Well, I suppose
we need to see this Ser Bryant, he mentioned, or the elder; whichever we
find first.”  She heaved a huge sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose
this time. She felt a headache forming.

Daveth patted her shoulder in comfort. “Yeah, love, now you know why I’m glad I’m not leadin’ this group.”

“Oh?
And I thought you weren’t leading because you are as dull as dishwater
and ‘twould find ourselves eaten by bears if you were in charge.”
 Morrigan’s voice dripped honey.

Daveth
merely flashed the witch a cheeky grin which earned him a glare before
Morrigan turned on Kai. “Of course the way we are going, we will be
rescuing every cat out of every tree. Kai ‘twill need a lost and found
box  for all the items we find, and a boat to navigate the ocean of
tears for all the sob stories we must give aid to.”

Kai
couldn’t help but laugh. “Would it help if we compromised?  I’ll try to
make the sure that at least some of the sob stories are paying ones? I
suspect that we’ll need more coin, especially when Winter comes. And for
repairs. My guess, being of course, that we will  be doing more
fighting before it’s all said and done. Maker’s blood, Loghain on one
side and the Blight on the other.”

“Brings a whole new meanin’ to ‘rock and a hard place’, don’t it, love?” Daveth winked and grinned.

Alistair
chuckled. “Or how a piece of cheese feels between slices of bread.
Hmmm, cheese.” It was at this moment that his stomach grumbled loudly,
causing their fellow warden to blush profusely and rub his abdomen.

Kai
laughed, some of the tension that had been building draining away.
 “Well then, I say we’d best find Ser Bryant or the elder and then find
something to eat?” She winked at Alistair making him blush harder.
“Since the chantry is sitting just over there...” Kai pointed at the
dark wooden building with it’s stylized sun carvings sitting behind a
low stone wall. “I suspect we’ll find Ser Bryant there. Maybe the elder
too, if we’re lucky. Though I’m not sure luck wants to be seen with the
likes of us, if the way things have been going are any indication.” She
sighed again, hitched her pack slightly and walked on towards the the
church.

It
turned out Fortune didn’t favor them, and getting to the building
itself would prove difficult despite it’s close proximity. They were
stopped by one conversation after the other. A conversation with an
elven couple and their child whose belongings and lamb Argus was
guarding. With a trip to retrieve same, and the war hound, made them
retrace their steps. Added to that was the ruckus caused by a merchant
selling items--sold to him by the townsfolk before the impending
darkspawn invasion--back to them at outrageous prices. That conversation
took all of her training as a noble to negotiate. Especially after the
man had insulted one of the priestesses of Andraste in front of a group
of villagers who looked ready to put the man on a spit and cook him.

Even
once they reached the wall of the chantry there was a brief, and
confusing, conversation with a “chanter” who spoke only in verses from
the Chant of Light. His short quotes were helpfully translated by a
young boy standing nearby--who pointed them at the Chanter’s board with
various tasks that needed doing. When the witch started to complain, Kai
pointed out that they were for coin, as per her promise.

But
even inside the wall with the Chantry a few scant steps away they were
thwarted from their goal. If Kai thought the conversation with the
dubious merchant and angry townsfolk tested her skills to their fullest,
she was mistaken. The poor Chasind man was screaming about the
darkspawn feasting on everyone’s hearts and telling villagers to slit
the throats of their families to save them from the Horde. His hysteria
was catching and the templar nearby seemed at a loss at how to stop it
before a riot broke out. Again, her training kept her in good stead.

Finally, Kai thought as they neared the large carved doors, they were going to get inside the Chantry.
Her hopes were dashed when they were stopped once more by the Templar
at the door. “If you seek refuge within, there’s simply no room left.”

“You’re closed? But we were told to seek out Ser Bryant or the Elder.” Kai tried not to let her frustration show in her voice.

The
man’s eyes were graced with dark circles beneath them, along with worry
lines around his mouth. He shook his head wearily. “We turn none aside.
But we simply don’t have any room for anyone to sleep. You can try the
inn, but I doubt they have any room either. This village is like a bag
packed too tight, it’s coming apart at the seams as is, with illnesses
cropping up due to the overcrowding.”

“Well,
as we assured your fellow templar in the road leading into town, we
will camp outside and not inconvenience you all. In fact, we are here to
help if we can, before we move on.” Kai grinned hoping to take the
irritated edge out of her voice that she knew must be creeping into it.

He
gave her, what she thought was a supposed to be a smile in return, but
seemed more a grimace instead. “Priests are within if you seek to offer
devotion-” This comment had Morrigan snorting, as Kai tried not to roll
her eyes. The templar studiously ignored both of their reactions before
continuing, “--to the Maker, however. May he protect us all.”

“If
the Maker had protected his own home better, we wouldn’t have the
darkspawn to deal with in the first place. Better a set of serviceable
weapons, good ser.” It was a hand on her shoulder giving it a gentle
squeeze--Alistair’s hand--that made her realize she was being...well
herself. She blushed and shrugged. “I apologize, the recent goings on,
news of the war...”

“Say no more. It has us all on edge, does it not?” He did give her a real grin this time.

Kai nodded. “Who's in charge of this Chantry?”

“We
recently lost our head Priestess, and several of our villagers, to the
standing water fever. With the war falling to the darkspawn, the Revered
Mother managed to escape and make it to us. She is in charge of the
Chantry itself, and Ser Bryant is in charge of the templars that are
stationed here.The elder is in charge of the town.”

Kai
found herself with a sinking sensation in her stomach and her headache
getting worse. She turned to her companions while groaning under her
breath, “Oh Andraste’s flaming knickers! Her high-assedness didn’t fall
at Ostagar and is here? Lovely! Fortune not only doesn’t favor us, it
downright hates us. Especially me it seems.”

Daveth leaned in. “Problems, love?” Which only caused Kai to narrow her eyes at him.

Alistair
interrupted any verbal rejoinder she might have made to the cutpurse.
“And me as well. She and I didn’t part on great terms either, as you’ll
recall my telling you.” Alistair grinned at her, “I’m sure she still has
a cell in Denerim all picked out that has my name on it.”

“I
didn’t know the old bird was into those kinds of games, I thought they
took a vow of chastity. A waste of the fun if you ask me, love.” Daveth
winked.

“No
one did ask you, buffoon.” Morrigan glared at the cut purse. “Might we
go and see this Ser Bryant, avoid this woman that vexes you, and then
get something to eat and a place to rest. ‘Tis a small request, when
compared to, say all of the most urgent mewlings of the townsfolk, no?”

Kai
bit her lip to keep from laughing. “It is a modest request, I think.
Any suggestions on where to do this since the chantry is full?”

“Might
I suggest the local tavern? I suspect it might be too full for
sleeping, but some of the local farmers brought in all their stores and
some of the men brought in a couple of young bear that had been getting
closer to town.” The templar at the door broke in. “The place is called
‘Dane’s Refuge’, my lady. And while bear meat isn’t my favorite, it is
filling and there should be plenty.”

Kai nodded and thanked him before motioning for the other to follow as she opened the door and stepped inside.




























































































































































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They walked down the incline to the balcony of the
intersection of ramps, one leading to the right the other left.  They stopped to look at the town from the
balustrade. 

 

Alistair gave a cheeky grin and wave his hand at the view
before them. “Well, there it is, Lothering, pretty as a painting.”

 

Morrigan gave a derisive sniff, “Ah. So, you have finally
decided to rejoin us, have you?” The witch cocked a dark eyebrow. “Falling on
your blade in grief seemed like too much trouble I take it?”

 

Before Kai could jump in, Alistair answered,“Is my being
upset so hard to understand?” He faced Morrigan.  “Have you never lost someone important to
you?”  He shrugged his shoulders. “Just
what would you do if your mother died?”

 

“Other than do a dance of joy, thank the Maker, and get
pissed faced celebratin’?” Daveth whispered under his breath, causing Kai to
bite her lip to keep from giggling.

 

Morrigan remarked as if she hadn’t heard the thief, her
voice amused. “Before or after I stopped laughing?”

 

Alistair rolled his eyes. 
“Ri-ight. Very creepy. Forget I asked.”

 

Kai broke in, putting on hand on his arm. “You have been
quiet Alistair.”

 

Alistair blushed and gave her a small smile. “Yes, I know. I
was just...thinking.”

 

One corner of the witch’s lips quirked into a smile.  “No wonder it took so long then.”

 

Kai glared at the witch and tried again. “What did you want
to talk about Alistair?”

 

Morrigan responded to Kai’s glare the same way a cat would,
she ignored it completely.  ”His navel I
suspect. He certainly has been contemplating it for long enough.”

 

Alistair snorted. “Oh, I get it. This is the part where
we’re shocked to discover how you’ve never had a friend in your entire life.”

 

The witch’s took on a smooth almost seductive tone. “I can
be friendly when I desire to. Alas, desiring to be more intelligent, does not
make it so.”

 

Kai found herself trying to keep from pinching the bridge of
her nose in frustration. She had the sinking sensation that she would be coming
between these two a lot in their coming travels.

 

Daveth grinned and leaned in to speak in her ear, apparently
thinking something similar.  “I hope you
have a thick skin, love. Those two could wear you down quick if you don’t.”

 

Kai merely wrinkled her nose at him and continued to listen
as Alistair looked her way. “Anyway...I thought we should talk about where we
intend to go first.” His voice lifted on the last word, almost as if he was
posing a question, rather than making a statement. 

 

Waiting for her to take the lead? Kai nodded encouragingly
at him.  “Have you some ideas on that
matter?”

 

The witch merely crossed her arms over her chest, a small
smile curving up one corner of her pink lips. “Oh, this should be good.”

 

Alistair blushed, but to his credit, didn’t falter. “I think
what Flemeth suggested is the best idea. These treaties...have you looked at
them?”

 

Kai nodded her head. 
“I have, while on watch last night. Thank Andraste’s holy knickers, they
were in both Trade Tongue and dwarvish, in the case of the Dwarves’ parchment.
My dwarvish is, well, lacking. And I’m not much better with Antivan, or
Orlesian. The Circle’s treaty made it very easy on me, no magical glyphs or
strange secret languages. Nor did the Elves’ scroll, King’s Tongue all the way.
” She made a joke of it to see if she could get him to laugh, at least a
little.

 

Alistair didn’t laugh, but he did give her his lopsided
grin. “I can’t say I am good with languages either. Well, there are three main
groups that we have the treaties for, as you saw: the dwarves, the elves, and
the Circle of Magi.” He shrugged broad shoulders. “I still think that Arl Eamon
is our best bet for help. I think we should see him first.”

 

Kai was inclined to agree with her fellow Warden about Eamon
being helpful, though she thought the Circle should be first. She looked to
their two other companions. “What do you two think we should do, Morrigan?
Daveth?”

 

The witch jumped in. “Go after your enemy directly.  Find this man, Loghain, and kill him. Then
this business with the treaties can be done in relative safety.”

 

Daveth’s opened his mouth to speak, but was left with it
agape as Alistair retorted sarcastically, “Yes, he certainly wouldn’t see that
coming. And it’s not like he has the advantage of armies and experience.”

 

Daveth winked and shrugged at Kai, whispering to her out of
the corner of his mouth, “Not to mention I don’t think they’d let us just march
into the ruddy palace and ask to see His Nibs. Of course we could disguise
ourselves as Ale merchants or a circus troupe?”

 

Apparently Morrigan heard the thief despite his attempt to
keep it for Kai only. She glared first at 
the cutpurse, then Alistair.  “I
was asked for my opinion and I gave it.” She sniffed and put her nose up in the
air. “If your wish is to come up with reason why something cannot be done, we
will stand here until the darkspawn are upon us.”

 

Kai rolled her eyes. “Enough! I value all of your opinions.”
Kai turned to the witch. “Morrigan, much as I would love to string Loghain up
by his thumbs over a hot fire to find out why he betrayed our King and his
country and blamed us for it--before I ran him through, of course-- it’s just
not feasible. Please, keep giving your opinions. I was not lying when I told
you at your hut to speak your mind.”

 

She turned to Alistair and Daveth. “The same goes for the
both of you as well.”

 

Alistair blushed slightly but smiled. “Fair enough. Let’s
head into Lothering then.”

 

They continued down the ramp. As they reached the bottom, a
wall of stench hit them. Apparently the odors didn’t quite reach them on the
raised road but on ground level it was almost a living thing.

 

Kai couldn’t stop herself, she put a hand over the lower
part of her face trying to breath through her mouth. It didn’t help. She spoke
through her hand. “Maker’s blood, what is[/i]
that smell?”

 

Daveth’s voice spoke sadly, “That, love, is the smell of
abject and bone crushing poverty in large numbers shoved into small spaces.”
The tone of his voice was knowing and wistful. “This is the smell of my
childhood, though that was on a smaller scale.” His eyes trailed over to their
right as he waved his hand in the same direction. “And the smell of my
adulthood, until Duncan recruited me. I just can’t seem to get away from it
entirely though, can I?”

 

Kai followed his gaze to look at a sea of tents shoved into
a space in between the wall of the raised road 
and the small market area in front of the chantry. “There are slums in
Denerim that smell like that. Most particularly the Alienage.”  He turned haunted amber eyes on her. “Most
often such a perfume would make the Black City proud. It’s often caused by cruelty,
laziness, greed, bigotry, and indifference. In this case, I think it’s actually
due to the opposite of those things.” He gave her a cynical grin. “These people
are running, and this town is trying to help them. But there’s only so much
they can do with what they have.” Daveth turned back to the tents and the dirty
children playing in the mud. He spoke almost as if to himself. “Ain’t that
always the bitter truth?”  He laughed and
turned a jovial smile on her as if to tell her not to take him seriously, “As
me Mam once said, truth has a bitter taste to it, but if you can keep it down,
it strengthens you.”

 

Kai gave him a sympathetic smile. “And the harsh truth in
this case? These people had to leave their homes and most of  their belongings behind, and will still have
to flee and hope that others will take them in. And those in this town will be
doing the same, shortly, if they’re smart. Their numbers, made even greater,
will make the likelihood of aid from other towns diminish even further.“ Kai
shook her head. She was determined to help as much as she could.

 

The first thing she could do was find a way to get the money
and stolen goods back to these refugees. That would be a start at least. And
the best way she could do that, to her mind, was inform the soldiers of the
bann who should be keeping the peace, but seemed to be missing--if the bandits
were any indication. They could help ensure that people didn’t make a run on
the items and monies, to take what wasn’t really theirs, or more than what
belonged to them.

 

 She voiced this
opinion to her companions, but before any of them could reply a cynical bark of
laughter echoed across the dusty road from a small park.

 

Kai turned to the man in question whose clothes were well
worn and whose hands spoke of hard physical labor--the dirt on his clothing and
under his nails gave her the impression of farmer. He leaned against a stone
pillar, his mouth set in a smile that was more of a grimace due to the hard set
of the man’s jaw.





She walked over to him and he raised his chin at her, almost
pointing at them all with it. “You don’t look like the other folk fleeing the
South.”  He tilted his head while his
eyes traveled up and down as if taking in her armor and weapons. “And you don’t
look Chasind, so you’re not from the Wilds. Well, all but one of you maybe.”
This was directed at Morrigan who merely lifted an eyebrow in return.

 

His gaze traveled over Alistair, and Daveth in turn, before
turning back to Kai. Then his eyes slid to the sword hilt showing over her
shoulder and back to her daggers belted at her side. “And you’re not farmers.
I’d guess you saw some fighting.”

 

Kai figured it would be useless to lie to the man but
decided to keep his attention on herself. “Yes, I was with the King’s army.”

 

He grinned. “I thought them that survived already marched
north with the teyrn. You must be a survivor or a deserter.” He laughed again.
“Lucky you, I guess.”

 

Kai merely cocked an eyebrow at him. “Mind if I ask you some
questions?”

 

The farmer shrugged at her. “Can’t promise I’m gonna answer
them.”

 

Kai grinned. “That’s fair. 
Why did you laugh when I suggested finding the Bann’s men?”

 

The man shook his head, “Those bandits were the best thing
that’s happened to Lothering. They kept the rabble out...mostly.  Even if Ser Bryant and his lot won’t.”

 

She gave the man a hard look. “What do you mean? What
exactly is going on here?”

 

He shrugged. “What isn’t? We’ve got Chasind barbarians and
every freeholder swarming in running from the darkspawn. You caught the whiff
of that heavenly odor, and saw the tents, no doubt.”

 

He huffed under his breath. “Not that they’ll be safe here
with the army gone. That’s why I was laughin’ ya see. Best joke I’ve heard in
awhile.”

 

Kai swallowed hard. “The army is gone? With the teyrn to
Denerim? Figures.” She spoke almost to herself as well as her companions.
“Loghain would need men after he lost us the battle at Ostagar and let the
darkspawn kill what army we had.  He has
to get a new one somewhere, I suppose. So, Loghain will leave towns and
civilians defenseless to do so. Bloody hell!” She pounded a fist into her palm
hard enough it caused the farmer to jump slightly.

 

She turned her ferocious expression on him. “Who is in
charge of the village?”

 

Another roll of hard edged laughter followed this question.
“You could talk to the elder, though she’s got her hands full trying to help
people get on their way.”

 

The farmer’s mouth crimped downward as if tasting something
sour. “For now, most folks go to Ser Bryant. He’s head of the chantry’s
templars here.”

 

Kai sighed deeply. “Let me guess. Your ruling lord took off
to high hat it with Loghain in Denerim?”

 

“My, my, aren’t you quicker than you look? He’s gone to play
war and has taken all his soldiers, leaving us to fend for ourselves.” The man
laughed again, as if at some private joke he found immensely funny. “There’s
not going to be much left when he returns...if he returns. The sodding
bastard.”

 

Kai nodded, thanked the man, and walked with her companions
out of the farmer’s earshot. “Andraste’s flaming knicker weasels! Well, I
suppose we need to see this Ser Bryant, he mentioned, or the elder; whichever we
find first.”  She heaved a huge sigh and
pinched the bridge of her nose this time. She felt a headache forming.

 

Daveth patted her shoulder in comfort. “Yeah, love, now you
know why I’m glad I’m not leadin’ this group.”

 

“Oh? And I thought you weren’t leading because you are as
dull as dishwater and ‘twould find ourselves eaten by bears if you were in
charge.”  Morrigan’s voice dripped [1] .

 

Daveth merely flashed
the witch a cheeky grin which earned him a glare before Morrigan turned on Kai.
“Of course the way we are going, we will be rescuing every cat out of every
tree. Kai ‘twill need a lost and found box 
for all the items we find, and a boat to navigate the ocean of tears for
all the sob stories we must give aid to.”[2] 

 

Kai couldn’t help but laugh. “Would it help if we
compromised?  I’ll try to make the sure
that at least some of the sob stories are paying ones? I suspect that we’ll
need more coin, especially when Winter comes. And for repairs. My guess, being
of course, that we will  be doing more
fighting before it’s all said and done. Maker’s blood, Loghain on one side and
the Blight on the other.”

 

“Brings a whole new meanin’ to ‘rock and a hard place’,
don’t it, love?” Daveth winked and grinned.

 

Alistair chuckled. “Or how a piece of cheese feels between
slices of bread. Hmmm, cheese.” It was at this moment that his stomach grumbled
loudly, causing their fellow warden to blush profusely and rub his abdomen.

 

Kai laughed, some of the tension that had been building
draining away.  “Well then, I say we’d
best find Ser Bryant or the elder and then find something to eat?” She winked
at Alistair making him blush harder. “Since the chantry is sitting just over
there...” Kai pointed at the dark wooden building with it’s stylized sun
carvings sitting behind a low stone wall. “I suspect we’ll find Ser Bryant
there. Maybe the elder too, if we’re lucky. Though I’m not sure luck wants to
be seen with the likes of us, if the way things have been going are any
indication.” She sighed again, hitched her pack slightly and walked on towards
the the church.

 

It turned out Fortune didn’t favor them, and getting to the
building itself would prove difficult despite it’s close proximity. They were
stopped by one conversation after the other. A conversation with an elven
couple and their child whose belongings and lamb Argus was guarding. With a
trip to retrieve same, and the war hound, made them retrace their steps. Added
to that was the ruckus caused by a merchant selling items--sold to him by the
townsfolk before the impending darkspawn invasion--back to them at outrageous
prices. That conversation took all of her training as a noble to negotiate.
Especially after the man had insulted one of the priestesses of Andraste in
front of a group of villagers who looked ready to put the man on a spit and
cook him.

 

Even once they reached the wall of the chantry there was a
brief, and confusing, conversation with a “chanter” who spoke only in verses
from the Chant of Light. His short quotes were helpfully translated by a young
boy standing nearby--who pointed them at the Chanter’s board with various tasks
that needed doing. When the witch started to complain, Kai pointed out that
they were for coin, as per her promise.

 

But even inside the wall with the Chantry a few scant steps
away they were thwarted from their goal. If Kai thought the conversation with
the dubious merchant and angry townsfolk tested her skills to their fullest,
she was mistaken. The poor Chasind man was screaming about the darkspawn
feasting on everyone’s hearts and telling villagers to slit the throats of
their families to save them from the Horde. His hysteria was catching and the
templar nearby seemed at a loss at how to stop it before a riot broke out.
Again, her training kept her in good stead.

 

Finally[/i], Kai
thought as they neared the large carved doors, they were going to get inside the Chantry[/i]. Her hopes were dashed
when they were stopped once more by the Templar at the door. “If you seek
refuge within, there’s simply no room left.”

 

“You’re closed? But we were told to seek out Ser Bryant or
the Elder.” Kai tried not to let her frustration show in her voice.

 

The man’s eyes were graced with dark circles beneath them,
along with worry lines around his mouth. He shook his head wearily. “We turn
none aside. But we simply don’t have any room for anyone to sleep. You can try
the inn, but I doubt they have any room either. This village is like a bag
packed too tight, it’s coming apart at the seams as is, with illnesses cropping
up due to the overcrowding.”

 

“Well, as we assured your fellow templar in the road leading
into town, we will camp outside and not inconvenience you all. In fact, we are
here to help if we can, before we move on.” Kai grinned hoping to take the
irritated edge out of her voice that she knew must be creeping into it.

 

He gave her, what she thought was a supposed to be a smile
in return, but seemed more a grimace instead. “Priests are within if you seek
to offer devotion-” This comment had Morrigan snorting, as Kai tried not to
roll her eyes. The templar studiously ignored both of their reactions before
continuing, “--to the Maker, however. May he protect us all.”

 

“If the Maker had protected his own home better, we wouldn’t
have the darkspawn to deal with in the first place. Better a set of serviceable
weapons, good ser.” It was a hand on her shoulder giving it a gentle
squeeze--Alistair’s hand--that made her realize she was being...well herself.
She blushed and shrugged. “I apologize, the recent goings on, news of the
war...”

 

“Say no more. It has us all on edge, does it not?” He did
give her a real grin this time.





Kai nodded. “Who's in charge of this Chantry?”

 

“We recently lost our head Priestess, and several of our
villagers, to the standing water fever. With the war falling to the darkspawn,
the Revered Mother managed to escape and make it to us. She is in charge of the
Chantry itself, and Ser Bryant is in charge of the templars that are stationed
here.The elder is in charge of the town.”

 

Kai found herself with a sinking sensation in her stomach
and her headache getting worse. She turned to her companions while groaning
under her breath, “Oh Andraste’s flaming knickers! Her high-assedness didn’t
fall at Ostagar and is here? Lovely! Fortune not only doesn’t favor us, it
downright hates us. Especially me it seems.”

 

Daveth leaned in. “Problems, love?” Which only caused Kai to
narrow her eyes at him.

 

Alistair interrupted any verbal rejoinder she might have
made to the cutpurse. “And me as well. She and I didn’t part on great terms either,
as you’ll recall my telling you.” Alistair grinned at her, “I’m sure she still
has a cell in Denerim all picked out that has my name on it.”

 

“I didn’t know the old bird was into those kinds of games, I
thought they took a vow of chastity. A waste of the fun if you ask me, love.”
Daveth winked.

 

“No one did ask you, buffoon.” Morrigan glared at the cut
purse. “Might we go and see this Ser Bryant, avoid this woman that vexes you,
and then get something to eat and a place to rest. ‘Tis a small request, when
compared to, say all of the most urgent mewlings of the townsfolk, no?”

 

Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing. “It is a modest
request, I think. Any suggestions on where to do this since the chantry is
full?”

 

“Might I suggest the local tavern? I suspect it might be too
full for sleeping, but some of the local farmers brought in all their stores
and some of the men brought in a couple of young bear that had been getting
closer to town.” The templar at the door broke in. “The place is called ‘Dane’s
Refuge’, my lady. And while bear meat isn’t my favorite, it is filling and
there should be plenty.”

 

Kai nodded and thanked him before motioning for the other to
follow as she opened the door and stepped inside.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 16 octobre 2012 - 01:29 .