I awaken, coughing up the blood and sand in my mouth, not even bothering to look about i make it to my knees before a fit of coughing keeps me there. after it passes i spit and snort clear my throat, but no matter what i try the wretched tickle remains, it seems whatever sand is still lodged back there has dug in. I take a moment to look around. Dead, all dead. I clasp my hand of my face and look away not from the scene but the wind at it rakes across my face carrying a dry heat, so powerful it feel's almost solid. GET UP! wincing cough and spluttering i slowly get to my feet. despite pain all over the wounds are superficial. just bruises, nothing a warm bath and a weeks rest won't heal.
My men, along with frederic my retainer. The man practically raised me. "****** orlesians" i feel the gentle hum of my staff nearby. Nevear... I still remember the day the guild smith infused her. my face pressed against the glass at his workshop, It took all my will to stop myself from turning the door handle and rushing in for a closer look. despite the risk. FOCUS! i snap out of my own thoughts, close my eye's, and search with my mind, so much lyrium scattered so hard to...wait.....there! and with a flick of my wrist she dislodges from the sand. MAGIC IS NOT TO BE USED FOR MUNDANE TASKS!, i actually smirk, which again causes me to cough and splutter. the drill sergeant's voice still plays back to me after all these years. Nevear still warm as ever, One of a kind the fade touched Obsidian makes the lyrium sing in a unique way I can tell her apart from any staff even at night without ever having to touch her. The jet black glass snaked up the silverite shaft in a wave pattern the lyrium dotting each time the wave receded on either side. all the way up to the orb made of infused glass from serult formed perfectly it was seated in Blue vitriol.
The bodies are already being picked at by birds, I walk around the newly formed sinkhole in front of me, how many fell 15-20? I find myself suddenly smiling, the look on those templars face. For all their training, all their planning, they didn't even consider where they were fighting. "****** templars." they struck just after dusk. We were sure we were alone out here, green lyrium they said. Green. If it exists it doesn't matter now, getting out of this ****** desert is all that matters. Why the maker created such a place like this i'll never understand.
I freeze, someone behind me, i can't help but laugh, whoever it is their talented, but stupid, perfume......must be dalish. "don't even think about shem" a female voice spits rather than speaks. judging by her voice echo's over the hole, i must have walked straight past her....talented.... "turn around, face me"......... but stupid. I turn on the spot and gently raise the bottom of my staff in a curve but channeling mana with it as i do so, The blast is weak, but stronger than the sand, a plume rises around me, the granules catch the wind and race towards her. the winged scavangers scatter in all directions. she looks away and blind fires in less then a second. i'd never have time to get out of the way, but had already i followed up with my barrier. the arrow disintegrates just above my left lung........talented. even though her vision is impaired she whips around and quickly fires two more shots glancing up for only an instant, Barrier won't hold much longer. I fire off a weak bolt, she react's and uses the stem of her bow to block it, shards of timber shatter in all directions driving splinters into her arm and face......but stupid.
I quickly dissolve into a flutter of paper and ride the wind over her head. To my surprise she aware of the spell traces the arc and is already moving towards where i'll land. and i'm unable to change course. She draws a dagger and throws it, i watch in horror oddly aware what's about to happen but unable to change it, as i re take solid form the dagger lands digging in just below my right shoulder, as if it made of a morning spread only the hilt stops it from passing straight through me, the pain drives me back down to one knee......Talented.
she closes fast and then...........leaps into the air coming towards me with another dagger, i raise my arm just in time. Now it's her that see's what's coming, the force sends her flying hard into the sand below, stunning her. Out of mana i use all my physical strength as i swing the orb of my staff into her head. Screaming in both rage and agony the movement rips open more the flesh as it tries to fight against the razor sharp the blade in my torso. The Orb makes a heavy thudd on impact, sending vibrations up my arm, her body goes limp. If she'd stayed on the ground she could have braced for the reactive mind blast.
Talented, But Stupid...........