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[Master Warder Z_]

Oh and monkey the chapter is up.

[Red of Rivia]

He still hasn't noticed that I dope-slapped him in the head. Hmpf!

Let's see.

 

Elf.

Spoiler

Red watched for a few minutes the elf's preaching, was a fanatic, no doubt. Soon someone would silence him, Red wondered what he could do to stop him.
- Go down, elf - Red caught his attention. - Enough.
- I'm a free elf - replied the elf. - You can not tell me what to do, giant human.
- I am a Magister - revealed, the people around turned away from Red, but the unbeliever elf did not come down. - And it's my job to smother rebellions.
- I'm not the rebel - said the elf, with unpleasant voice. - And I'm not inciting rebellion.
Red just motioned for him to stop.
- You are not a Magister - replied the elf - You can not tell me what to do.
Red approached him. The people had begun whispering and some onlookers began to appear.
- I am, chosen by Archon itself. - he said - if you don't stop, I will break your neck.
The Elf had understood the message and probably recognized Red.
- Choose another place to preach - said Red, quietly - slave market? It is the stupidest place, get out of here before you get caught.
- I will, - said the elf in the same tone. - And the Arishok will know about your betrayal.
The Elf was gone and the curious along with him. Red had saved this elf for one more day, but would probably be killed if he continued preaching carelessly. Red imagined he would have to deal with the elf later.
The walk through the slave market  was never something nice, it was tight, stinky and people were screaming a lot. But it was also the best place to buy some information. Red spotted a woman on his back, had a red hair and for a moment thought he had found what he sought for a while. She was accompanied by two guys, Red remembered had seen them somewhere, but she was not who he was looking for, was an elf of short stature and and judging by the clothes probably a mage. Red decided not to get closer and continue to keep looking for some hidden informant. The hair it's too dark. Red said to himself. And she is a elf.

[Serelir]

"Petite" is a nicer way of putting it. These shemlens have no manners!

[Red of Rivia]

"Petite" is a nicer way of putting it. These shemlens have no manners!

Free elves in the slave market, ironic

[raging_monkey]

HEhe

[raging_monkey]

Oh and monkey the chapter is up.

will read tonight after I handle a errand

[Uccio]

Spoiler

*"Your new apprentice brought herself slaves", Livia said taking a sip of her wine. She was wearing a dress with hint of orlesian style and her chestnut brow hair was braided around her head.

"You look stunning" Caius said cocking a eyebrow at her, "something to celebrate?". Livia smiled at him, "thank you for noticing. But there is no occasion. I just thought to wear something nice. Trying to blend into the crowd forces you to wear too plain clothes. It is a nice change".
Caius smiled shortly, "well, you make every cloth look good". A slight blush appeared on her cheeks, "thank you".

"So what was that about Elowyn and slaves?", Caius turned to the tray pouring himself wine.

"She brought two children, and apparently gave the mother a note because she didn´t have enough money to get them all, at least that is what the agent tailing her said in his message".

Caius gave a laugh, "so she is becoming a true tevinter then, or she just has a soft heart". "Nazlik is with her", Livia continued. "She is? She said she wanted to meet this new apprentice though. So it makes sense", Caius nodded.

He twirled the wine in his cup and took a sip gazing the map of Tevinter in the wall, "buy the mother, and send her to Elowyn´s quarters as a gift. A lesson of responsibility is in order here I think".

Livia placed her cup on the table, "there is one more thing. A elf was in the slave market preaching for the Qun, of all the places". Caius frowned, "have the elf apprehended, right away, and taken into questioning. I will not have any qun monsters in my city, I want to know if this elf has any friends in Minrathous. Then dispose the body".

Livia nodded, "I will send someone right away, for both tasks". She stood up to leave but hesitated at the door, "the girl, she is a somniari. Shouldn´t you be careful with her? That power could rival even with you. In the dreams, at least".

"My will is stronger than dragonbone", Caius said calmly turning to her, "even in the dreams". Livia nodded and left, "I truly hope so" she muttered to herself walking away.

Caius waited for her to close the door. He placed the wine cup on the table turning to the bookcase. Caius pulled one of the books and part of the shelves turned around revealing a entrance to a secret room. A elven nanny sat there with the baby in her arms. "He is sound asleep my lord", she whispered smiling.

Caius reached out taking the child off her hands, "meet me in the tower. I will keep him for a moment", he said softly. Nanny bowed and left the room, Caius had processed all the nannies with blood magic. Each of them would die for the baby or take Caius secret into the grave with them if tortured.

He walked slowly up the secret spiral staircase to the tower. When he reached his chamber the baby had already woken up. Caius gazed into his silver eyes as the boy stared him steadily. "You have your mothers stoicism, don´t you?", Caius whispered with a smile tickling the boy. A wide smile appeared on the boys face. His white hair had grown, the warm breeze in the balcony ruffled his hair.

"I have found a asset to us", Caius said gazing the city boy in his arms. "She will help me to pave the way for your rise".*

[Serelir]

Free elves in the slave market, ironic

They sell humans, too. Viddathari mage might fetch a high price.

[Serelir]

The Slave Market, Minrathous

Spoiler

Elowyn finally found Ser Galatea and Aminia. Galatea’s stall was in one of the buildings. The slave pen was full of big, tattooed men with bulging muscles and matted hair. Aminia and Elowyn hugged, and Elowyn introduced Nazlik.

 

“You’re apprenticed to Varazes?” Nazlik asked. “That must be interesting.”

 

“Kinda,” said Aminia noncommittally. “I can’t believe you’re with Magister Vaellanius now!” she said to Elowyn.

 

“It all happened rather quickly,” said Elowyn. “Your compatriot Monkai was instrumental.”

 

“So how did Caius convince Aurelie to let you go?” Aminia asked. Elowyn raised her eyebrows and tried to signal to Aminia that it wasn’t safe to talk in front of Nazlik.

 

“I would actually like to know the details of that arrangement,” said Elowyn. “Or maybe not…” she added, remembering her interview.

 

‘Well, I wanted to chat with you about Magister Fuficius’ rally,” said Aminia. “Want to grab some food at one of the lunch counters?” The city was full of restaurants, many of them small counters with a couple of stools or a table on the sidewalk. They were called Popinae, and the apprentices had christened them “Pop-ups” for their habit of appearing and disappearing at the whims of the carta.

 

“Can Nazlik come with us? Also, I have these children,” said Elowyn.

 

“I noticed! I thought maybe you were babysitting,” said Aminia.

 

“Sort of,” replied Elowyn, wondering what she was going to do with the children when she got back to the manor. It was no place for children with all the dangerous experiments going on. Maker only knew what was down in the ‘interrogation facilities.’ Elowyn wondered if Zera, Cassia and Miriel had been raised there, or if they’d been sent to boarding school. “Who are all these men anyway?” she asked, gesturing toward the slaves.

 

“Oh, Galatea gets them from the army. They auction them off in lots. They’re some kind of Qunari followers,” said Aminia, wrinkling her nose. “Or fog warriors or something. Probably both, though not in the same pens,” she laughed. “They’ll be sold as laborers or maybe to the arena, if they have any talent.” Aminia eyed one particularly good-looking man, though he was covered in grime. He had the audacity to leer back at her, and she grinned. “That one will do well,” she said.

 

Elowyn was feeling suddenly exhausted. Her head hurt trying to reason through the complexity of slaveholding in Tevinter. “Where is this Galatea anyway? Aminia, I’m really surprised to see you hanging out with slave traders.”

 

Aminia shrugged. “You can’t help if you don’t know the trade.” She darted Elowyn a significant look and shook her head slightly. They’d discuss it later, when Nazlik wasn’t with them. “She’s over there, making a deal. I’ll introduce you next time.”

 

They were exiting the building when they saw a commotion where the Qun follower had been preaching. Elowyn noticed the tall, red-tattooed guy and pointed him out to Aminia, who put her lips right up to Elowyn’s ear and whispered, “He’s one of us.”

 

“Really? Because I saw him handling the merchandise,” said Elowyn. “I was thinking how pathetic and lazy it was for a man to buy a woman instead of winning her affections.”

 

“Nah, he’s not like that,” said Aminia. “Maybe it wasn’t what you thought.”

 

Elowyn shook her head. She was certain the man had been staring at her and wondered if he knew she’d been the one casting the spell.

 

They saw the preacher being dragged off, made their way through the crowd and finally out of the market. There was a lunch counter near one of the fountains. Elowyn pitted some olives for the kids and passed them some grapes. “Hey, you might want to cut those in half,” Aminia said. “They could choke.”

 

The kids were gobbling the grapes. “They do have teeth,” she said, wondering how any children survived all the dangers of the world. She’d never choked on a grape. Not that they’d had grapes in the alienage.

 

Nazlik was observing this exchange with amusement. Elowyn expected that she didn’t have any children – she was very young, for one thing, and it was difficult for Elowyn to reconcile this lithe, dangerous fighter with her image of motherhood. She thought back to her tryst with Vel, glad she’d been close to her monthly when it happened. ‘Dodged an arrow with that one,’ she thought. She was going to have to investigate some birth control spells. ‘I wonder what Nazlik and Caius do about that?’ she wondered, then blushed at the thought of Magister Caius disrobed.

 

“Hey, what’s up?” asked Aminia, noticing Elowyn’s red cheeks. “Is the food okay?”

 

“Just a bit too much wine,” said Elowyn, trying to crush the image of naked Caius from her head. Think of… think of… what had Caradoc said? Chamberpots!

 

Aminia was asking Nazlik where she was from and asking questions about the Tal-Vashoth men. “You must have known some of those guys in Rivain, right?” Elowyn asked her.

 

“We were technically at peace, but there wasn’t too much interaction with them where I was from,” said Aminia, “and I came to Tevinter when I was a teen – there was no way my mom would let me hang around with Qunari guys. Still, they sure are something to look at!” Aminia exclaimed. Nazlik laughed.

 

“Aurelie has some bodyguards,” Elowyn contributed. “They’re Tal-Vashoth, I guess. They have horns and everything! There’s this guy Mawz who’s like a mountain – the most enormous person I’ve ever seen.”

 

“Bet they’re enormous everywhere,” said Aminia, wiggling her eyebrows.

 

“I’ll never tell,” said Nazlik. Aminia and Elowyn protested. “Not in front of the children!” Nazlik exclaimed.

 

“So you’ll tell us later? You promise?” said Aminia. “Magister Caius must be something if he can compete with them.” Nazlik just grinned. Elowyn took a large gulp of wine.

 

“So this rally,” Aminia turned to Elowyn, “think you can make it?”

 

“Why in Thedas would I want to come to a political rally?” asked Elowyn.

 

“I think you’d be interested in Fuficius’ policies concerning foreigners,” said Aminia. “You, too,” she added, looking at Nazlik.

 

“I don’t get involved in politics,” said Nazlik, “I’m just a slave.”

 

“So are we all,” said Aminia, “in various forms. Promise me you’ll come, Elowyn?”

 

“Okay,” said Elowyn reluctantly, “If the Magister gives me permission.”

 

“Good!” said Aminia. “I’m sure he will – he doesn’t like Fuficius, either. And you need to start learning about the other Magisters if you want to aid your own.”

 

“I’d better get these kids home,” said Elowyn, “they need a nap… and a bath, desperately.”

 

“Nice meeting you, Nazlik,” said Aminia, waving goodbye.

 

As they headed home, Elowyn said to Nazlik, “I’m glad you came with me.”

 

“It was fun for me, too,” Nazlik said, “I don’t have many friends here, especially girlfriends.” Elowyn smiled, hoping they’d be able to do more things together, things not involving the slave market. Like shopping for shoes! Then she remembered she needed to save her money to help the children’s mother.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor

Spoiler

Elowyn had bathed the children, put them in her bed and sung a lullabye when Vel wandered by her room. He saw the children sleeping in her bed and raised his eyebrows. She put a finger to her lips and gestured for him to go out into the hallway.

 

“What are you doing with those kids? They’re not yours, are they?”

 

“Do I look old enough to have two children?” she asked.

 

“Slaves start young,” he said and shrugged. Elowyn rolled her eyes.

 

“Circle mages are not allowed to have children. You did know I came from the Orlesian Circle? I’m surprised they didn’t just sterilize us,” she said.

 

“I put two and two together – your accent, all the apostates making their way north,” he replied. “So whose kids are they?”

 

“I bought them at the slave market. It’s not what you think!” she added, noticing his expression. “I don’t know how I’m going to take care of them. It’s not as if I get a salary.”

 

“Well, don’t look at me,” he said.

 

Elowyn glared at him. “Just because we had sex once doesn’t mean you’re my boyfriend or anywhere close to being a husband!” she said angrily. “I have no expectations about our relationship. None! I knew how you felt about women when I got involved with you, and that I was just another notch on your belt.”

 

“Hey, you were the one who wanted it!” he retorted.

 

Elowyn sighed. “This is my problem, and I’ll deal with it.” She glared at him, wondering how something so great could turn rotten so quickly.

 

“Women…” he muttered under his breath, then asked, “Does Magister Caius know?”

 

“I expect he knows everything that goes on around here,” she said meaningfully.

 

“They won’t last long. You can’t do his work for him encumbered by children.”

 

She put her forehead in her hand and squeezed her temples. “This whole situation is just so screwed up! The world is full of such evil, everyone fighting each other and oppressing each other. Sometimes I think there’s no goodness left in it.” She slumped against the wall.

 

“Hey,” he said, squeezing her shoulders. She tried to shrug him off.

 

“I said I don’t expect you to help,” she said.

 

“I was just surprised, that’s all,” he replied. “I came here hoping for a kiss and found two children in your room.”

 

“I guess it was a little surprising,” she laughed ruefully. He hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

 

“We’ll figure something out,” he said.

[Uccio]

The Slave Market, Minrathous

Spoiler

“Just a bit too much wine,” said Elowyn, trying to crush the image of naked Caius from her head. 

 

Caius is branching out into modeling. 

[Serelir]

Caius is branching out into modeling. 

STOP! chamberpots champerpots... damn

[raging_monkey]

Image the old wizened body... and hair every where

[Serelir]

Image the old wizened body... and hair every where

with Nazlik, the two of them... arggghhhh

[Uccio]

Hey now, Caius is a man still in his prime, he never misses his morning crunches.

And he is not hairy, damned.

[Serelir]

You're just making it worse! *think of Vel, think of Vel* whew! Can't have a crush on the boss, even if he is really powerful and scary.

[raging_monkey]

Hey now, Caius is a man still in his prime, he never misses his morning crunches.

And he is not hairy, damned.

gotta keep them pecs from sagging

[Uccio]

Yep, think of Jason Statham. Like that.

[Serelir]

gotta keep them pecs from sagging

magic - it keeps everything in Tevinter up.

[Uccio]

Practically. When in need. 

 

Caius doesn´t need though.

[Serelir]

Yep, think of Jason Statham. Like that.

Like this? 

 

[Uccio]

More like this. 

 

[Serelir]

Hey, silver body paint is okay with me.

 

He does have bloodmage eyes. 

[raging_monkey]

I do enjoy statham films

[Serelir]

Now I'm going to think of that stare every time I write his scenes.