77 odpowiedzi w tym temacie

[Serelir]

Minrathous

Spoiler

A porter stopped Elowyn in the hallway. “Message for you, ser,” he said, handing her a scroll. The porter was a small, tubby man with gnarly muscles all covered in hair. “I didn’t know there were dwarf slaves,” she said, gaping at the pelt that ran seamlessly from his neck down onto his chest. “I am an elf, ser,” the man corrected. “I see,” she replied, eyeing his small, rounded ears. “Thank you for delivering the message.” He ducked his head and walked off, whistling.

 

The note was from Aminia:

 

Come to the slave market. There is an abolitionist preaching the Qun. Meet me by Ser Galatea’s stall.

 

Elowyn decided that asking permission might result in denial, so she waited until the guards had passed by a forlorn section of the garden and fade-stepped out into the street. She was just turning the corner when a shadow loomed up behind her. She turned to see Caius’ Qunari woman blocking out the sun.

 

“Going somewhere?” the woman asked.

 

“Just doing some shopping!” Elowyn replied cheerfully. “One can buy so many things here in Minrathous – it’s amazing!”

 

“Mind if I come with you?”

 

“I’m meeting a friend – another apprentice,” deflected Elowyn.

 

“I’d like to meet this friend of yours. I haven’t met all of the apprentices yet. Which house did you say she served?”

 

“I didn’t,” replied Elowyn bluntly and scowled. ‘Fine, let’s see how you enjoy this shopping trip,’ she grumbled to herself.

 

The woman fell into stride next to her. It was comical to see her have to shorten her steps to match Elowyn’s pace. She shone so brightly, it hurt to look at her, all covered in silver and gold armor. ‘Caius must have spent a fortune on that,’ Elowyn considered. ‘He must value this woman a great deal.’

 

Elowyn heard the slave market before she saw it. The air was filled with the voices of men haggling, vendors calling, and people crying. The plaza opened out before her, the largest open place she’d seen in the city. Slave dealers stood here and there in front of groups of people in chains. The entire plaza was surrounded by buildings holding more slaves.

 

“Did you know that I was bought from here?” the Qunari woman asked Elowyn, who realized she hadn’t even asked her name. ‘How rude of me,’ she thought, feeling chagrined.

 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name,” Elowyn said, suddenly feeling differently about the woman, knowing what she must have suffered, and that Elowyn had dismissed her in her mind as another slave. ‘I’m becoming like them,’ she thought, ‘I’ve stopped seeing the slaves as other people.’

 

“My name is Nazlik Beres-taar,” she said.

 

“How did you come to this place, Nazlik?”

 

“I was captured near my home. The raiders target fishing villages and arrive early in the morning. Sometimes they wait until the men are out in the boats, then take all the women and children. I was alone though, walking on the beach, thinking about… a dream I’d had. I didn’t see them in time. There were too many of them, and they had a net.”

 

Elowyn had to pause and focus on a cloud in the sky to stop the tears threatening to fill her eyes. The idea that this strong woman could be brought down, captured and trussed like a halla attacked by shemlens horrified her. “Magister Caius found you here?” she said hoarsely.

 

“His slave procurer,” Nazlik replied. “They were going to send me to work on one of the farms.”

 

“But the Magister saw you,” added Elowyn.

 

“He did.”

 

“That slave procurer must be blind,” said Elowyn, “Anyone could see how amazing you are.”

 

“This market is full of beautiful and talented women,” said Nazlik.

 

Elowyn tried to take in the hordes of people, each of them with stories of sorrow and suffering.  It was overwhelming. She wanted to go Kirkwall on this place and burn it to the ground.

 

“I can’t save them all,” she said, feeling defeated.

 

“Even if you bought every one of these slaves, the market would be full again tomorrow,” Nazlik replied.

 

Elowyn saw the preacher, standing on an apple crate, holding forth about the wonders of the Qun. She thought it was suspicious that the guards would let him spout off like that in front of everyone. She decided not to approach him – he was probably a plant to attract idealists, who could be picked up and thrown into the city dungeons – or chained to an oar.

 

“Do you know where Ser Galatea’s stall is?” she asked Nazlik.

 

“Look at that family!” Nazlik said instead, gesturing to a mother with two little children. “They are going to split them up – the mother one place, the children to another.”

 

Elowyn felt her coin purse. She might have enough. She’d been trying to save coin instead of spending so much on shoes. She felt ashamed that she’d wasted her money on luxuries for herself. She went over to the slave vendor.

 

“How much for this family?” she asked. The man looked her up and down, assessing her wealth, she supposed, or maybe putting a price on her body.

 

“Sixty coppers,” he said.

 

‘So little for the lives of these people?’ she thought. She had only forty-two coppers. She hadn’t saved enough. She cursed her shoes.

 

“Would you take forty?” she asked.

 

“You can have the kids for that,” he shrugged.

 

A bystander chimed in, “Don’t waste yer coin, lady. Ya gotta feed ‘em and clothe ‘em, and ya can’t work ‘em so hard, or they keel over.” He made a farting sound with his mouth and flopped his hand over to symbolize a collapsing child. Elowyn looked at him in disgust.

 

The mother looked at her with desperation in her eyes. “Please ser, you look like a kind person. Take my children.” Elowyn thought her heart would break. She took a slip of paper from her purse and wrote on it:

 

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous. Ask for Elowyn Adaran.

 

She handed it to the woman. “Keep that safe. When you know where you’ll be sent, have someone write a message telling me where you are. I’ll save up some money and come get you.” And send a lightning bolt through your master and give his farm to his slaves, she thought to herself, gritting her teeth. She gave the woman a copper to send the message, hoping the slave vendor wouldn’t take it from her. She held out her hands to the children. They were reluctant to go with her, but the woman urged them to let go of her skirts, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. Elowyn saw that Nazlik was crying, too. Elowyn handed the forty coppers to the vendor, who gestured to his guards. They wrenched the children away from the mother and pushed them at Elowyn. The children were wailing, the mother was on her knees. Elowyn held one of the children and took the other by the hand and turned away.

 

“The Magister will be furious,” Nazlik whispered to her.

 

“The Magister can go suck a nug,” retorted Elowyn. “They can sleep in my room and share my food. I don’t eat much.” Nazlik frowned but made no further protest.

 

Elowyn bought each of the children a sweetroll with her last copper. They tore into the rolls like they hadn’t eaten in days. She scanned the crowd, hatred flashing in her eyes. Her gaze fixed on a very tall man covered in red tattoos. He was squeezing the breasts of a girl who couldn’t have been more than fourteen, just like a man buying a heifer. She flicked her hand and cast a small wave of force that swatted him in the back of the head. He stumbled forward, knocking into the girl and banging his nose on a column.

 

“Oops, that was a little harder than I’d planned,” giggled Elowyn, feeling a tiny bit better.

 

Vaellanius Manor

by 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]

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.

 

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.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

Spoiler

A servant was leading a woman toward Elowyn’s room. The woman looked familiar, and Elowyn realized with consternation that it was the children’s mother. The servant stopped and said, “Magister Caius has bought you a slave,” bowed and departed. Vel started laughing at the look on Elowyn’s face.

 

“Your ladyship is so gracious to have purchased me! I’m ever so grateful,” the woman said effusively. Elowyn didn’t have the heart to correct her about the purchase.

 

“You don’t need to call me ‘Lady’ or ‘Ser,’” she said, “I am a slave, too.”

 

“Then I am a slave to a slave – how far I have fallen. Yet I am in your debt and can only repay you with my loyalty. Are my children safe?”

 

“They’re sleeping in my room. How did you come to the slave market?” Elowyn asked.

 

“I was handmaiden to a Laetus, but when he married, his wife was jealous and tricked him into selling me and our children. Please, can I see them?”

 

“Of course!” Elowyn opened the door. The woman rushed in and hugged her children.

 

Vel said to Elowyn, “At least you have someone to watch them now.”

 

“What am I going to do with three slaves?” Elowyn whispered. “I suppose they can sleep in here tonight. Perhaps I can find a corner somewhere.”

 

“You can sleep in my room,” suggested Vel.

 

“I don’t think you intend to do much sleeping there,” replied Elowyn.

 

Elowyn arranged a meal for the mother and accompanied Vel to his quarters. They’d been discussing his skills, and he’d promised to show her how to tie knots. He’d taken off his swordbelt, and she was distracted by his daggers. She picked one up to study the grip: it was in the shape of a voluptuous nude woman. She thought about his hand wrapped around it, thrusting it into an enemy. “Hey, be careful with that,” he said, gently removing it from her grasp. “Those are magebane daggers. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.” He put the dagger aside and stroked her cheek. “I will keep you safe. Anyone who dares to mar this cheek is a dead man.”

 

Elowyn almost asked him if he’d forgotten she was a mage and could take care of herself, but she knew he felt protective of her. Instead she said, “What if Magister Caius ordered you to kill me?”

 

His dark eyebrows drew together like crows landing. “I would not obey that order,” he stated.

 

“What if he compelled you with blood magic?” she asked.

 

“I’d kill myself first,” he said.

 

She went over to him and placed her hands on his cheeks. She loved to feel his bristly stubble, so different from her smooth skin. “I’ll try not to let it come to that,” she promised, looking into his dark eyes.

 

“Show me you’ve learned these knots,” he commanded. She demonstrated by tying him to the bed and seeing if he could free himself. He didn’t seem to be trying very hard. She leaned over him and secured a blindfold over his eyes. For a moment, she considered what he’d do if she left him there, but she decided it would be more fun to explore his anatomy with her mouth while he lay helpless.

 

***

 

She went walking in the Fade that night, searching for dreams. It was easy to find Vel’s: he was playing a game of Wicked Grace in a crowded room. She glided around the table, checking the other players’ hands. No need for her to help him by changing the cards: he was already winning, with a big pile of gold in front of him. It was a good dream, and she didn’t disturb it.

 

There were so many dreams crowding the halls of the manor! Elowyn dipped into several of them. One of the clerks was dreaming of columns of numbers endlessly marching. Someone else was giving a speech in the Senate. That must be Publius, she thought. One of the slaves was dreaming of a huge table, groaning with the feast that lay upon it. She came upon one of the children she had rescued. The little girl was dreaming of curious creatures like caterpillars with many legs. The dream animals curled and uncurled themselves and rolled around. The girl was laughing in merriment at their antics. Elowyn left that one alone as well.

 

The other child was having a nightmare. He was whimpering. Elowyn cleared the darkness by casting a halo of light over the child. She took his hand and led him to the garden, where she showed him the sphinx moths, large as birds, that visited the evening primroses. He clapped his hands in delight, and she shaped a moth large enough for him to ride. Its body was covered in soft white down, and its feathery antennae brushed his cheeks and tickled him. She left him swooping around on the moth, whooping with the joy of flight.

 

As she passed back into the manor, she came close to the door of the dungeon. A dark, wet stain spread out below the door. She eased the door open and stepped gingerly around the pool of liquid. There was someone down there in the darkness. As she descended the stairs, the very stones cried out to her. The walls threatened to close in. Various substances burgeoned and effloresced upon the walls, which seemed to breathe, as if she were traveling through the trachea of a huge, living creature.

 

At the bottom of the staircase was a large empty room. Hallways led off to the right and left. Elowyn could feel a living person to her left, so she turned in that direction. Iron doors lined the hallway on both sides. Elowyn reached out with her mind. Many of the rooms contained nothing but bones, dry as dust. Toward the end of the hallway was a room that hosted a malevolent presence. Elowyn could feel it waiting behind the door, its rasping breath scraping across her ears. She passed by that door and arrived at the last room all the way at the end of the hallway.

 

This door was open, beckoning her. A red light fell from the room onto the stone floor of the hallway. Elowyn slipped inside the room and saw a form strapped to a looming rack. She went closer and saw that it was the priest from the slave market. She could barely recognize him beneath the wounds and blood. His eyes had been torn out. He turned his head weakly toward her and moved his lips in a sigh. Burns covered his thighs. She couldn’t bear to look at what remained of his genitals. She touched his brow, and he flinched. “Ssshhhh,” she whispered, “I’ve come to take the pain away.”

 

She wished she could simply send him into the gentle sleep of oblivion. She wished she could make his body whole again or turn him into a flying creature and let him disappear into the night sky. But she couldn’t do any of those things, so she reached out with her mana and found his heart and crushed it. It only took a few seconds, then the pain was over, and his last breath left his body.

 

She turned away from the corpse. She didn’t want to pass by the evil thing waiting for her in the hallway, so she shaped a door. It opened onto a circular staircase leading up and up, winding round and round, and she made her way slowly but inexorably upward. A glowing white light beckoned to her from the top of the tower. She could feel its radiance and longed for it to wash the darkness from her.

 

As she drew close to the top, she heard voices. She gently pushed open the door. There was a family in the room: mother, father, and a beautiful baby, glowing with light. She was drawn to the child, but the father turned and looked straight into her, and knew her, and she quailed. This dreamer recognized her! Her heart sped up, and as he came toward her, she turned herself into a wren and flew out through the tower window.

 

But he pursued her! She could feel his hot breath on her feathers. She spiraled and looked behind her and saw to her horror that he had transformed into an enormous, black dragon. The beating of his colossal wings sent waves of air battering into her. She dipped and dived and spun in and out of the currents, but her wings were tiring.

 

Clouds scudded across the two moons, alternately limning her feathers in their pellucid brilliance, making her glow like a tiny spark as she darted ahead of the monstrous bulk of the dragon. Ahead of her gleamed the dome of the Great Library. If only she could make it. With her last strength, she surged forward, then folded her wings and stooped. Down, down, so fast that the air shrieked past her ears. She flicked the edge of her wings and whisked into a tiny window at the top of the dome.

 

Behind her came a tremendous crash and a terrible screech as the dragon’s claws raked the curve of the dome. The building shook and shuddered, and she thought she’d be crushed by flying books and bricks. Too tired to go on, she took shelter in the carving of a greenman under an archway.

 

It was there that she opened her eyes the next morning, in the library, with the sunlight streaming through a great rent in the dome.

[Serelir]

Minrathous

 

Spoiler

Elowyn managed to dust herself off and escape in the confusion that followed. Everyone was busy gazing at the damage. She hoped the catastrophe wouldn’t be traced back to House Vaellanius, or she’d be in trouble with the Magister. Perhaps she could turn it to their advantage by suggesting that Caius bid on the repair contract.

 

It was the day of the rally. She thought she’d better just head down there to meet Aminia rather than get trapped by duties at the manor. Elowyn had never experienced a rally and didn’t understand the point of it, but she didn’t want to disappoint Dio and Aminia. She hastened to the meetup spot and was surprised to see Caradoc waiting with Aminia. She was afraid he’d be angry with her for deserting House Caracalla.

 

“Caradoc, I know it doesn’t make up for what I did, but I’m sorry.”

 

“Listen, once Magister Caius took notice of you, it was only a matter of time before he got you in his clutches. Aurelie may blame you for sneaking out, but you’re only the latest accoutrement in a long-running battle among the magisters. Besides, she’s gotten hold of a new weapon.”

 

“Oh? What’s that?”

 

“Better to ask who: your friend from the dinner party, Monkai.”

 

“Yikes! That doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

 

“I said exactly those words to her before I left this morning. But she’s determined. Hey, did you hear about the accident at the library?”

 

“Nope,” said Elowyn disingenuously. “What happened?”

 

“Some duel or other – happens a lot, but they don’t typically do so much damage.”

 

“Is the library ok? What about the books? Smaragdus is going to self-combust!”

 

“They said there’s some structural damage to the dome, but they’ve cast a temporary spell to keep it in place. Whole thing’s held up by magic anyway,” added Aminia.

 

“I’m relieved to hear that!” said Elowyn. “About this rally – why are we going again?”

 

“We need your help with something,” said Caradoc. “I’ll explain on the way there.”

 

They boarded a gondola, and Aminia drew the curtains closed. Elowyn thought that was odd, since it was a beautiful day.

 

“What happens at a rally?” she asked. “The magisters aren’t elected, so why do they need to have rallies?”

 

“They still need public support,” explained Aminia. “A Magister’s position in the Senate is stronger when public opinion is favorable to the legislation, so they have these functions to make public speeches and sway supporters.”

 

“So you’re attending in order to spy on Magister Fuficius for House Caracalla?”

 

“We’re going to do a little more than just observe,” said Caradoc drily.

 

“And we need your help,” said Aminia.

 

“My help? Just what are you planning?” asked Elowyn.

 

“You know weather magic, right? You can make it snow?”

 

“Yes, I can make a blizzard,” said Elowyn. “But won’t that be a little obvious? It doesn’t usually snow in the Imperium, does it? So everyone would know a blizzard was created by a mage.”

 

“Exactly. We’re not interested in snow. We’re going to make rain instead. A slow, drenching sort of rain that will kill the rally.”

 

“But that’s Dio’s house! I’m not going to sabotage my friend,” stated Elowyn.

 

Aminia and Caradoc exchanged glances. “Why don’t you hear what Magister Fuficius has to say, and then decide?” suggested Caradoc.

 

“But you’re going to do it anyway.”

 

“It would be better with your help,” said Aminia. “Elemental magic isn’t my strong point. I might create a thunderstorm by mistake and fry some innocent bystanders. It could backfire.”

 

“We’ll set you down, and you can meet up with Dio and listen for a bit,” said Caradoc. “Then, if you decide you want to help, make an excuse and come signal us. We’ll pick you up.”  Elowyn agreed, wishing she’d brought an umbrella. She could at least get Dio away from the crowd before any thunder and lightning started raining down.

 

The gondola dropped her off a block away from the plaza where the event was taking place. Elowyn studied the crowd. It was mostly shemlens, middle-class sorts, conservatively dressed but not laeta or alta. A few elves skulked around the edges, and a cluster of surface dwarves stood to one side. A band was playing, “Tevinter Shall Stand Forever.” Elowyn located Dio and greeted him. He kissed her on both cheeks. “Hello Beauty!” he exclaimed. He looked so happy to see her that she had trouble believing it was all just an act meant to entrap her.

 

“How are you, Dio?” she asked.

 

“My day just got better, seeing you!” he cooed.

 

“This is my first rally ever,” she told him. His smile faltered.

 

“I wanted you to see it,” he said.

 

“So, what are the issues? What sort of legislation is your Magister trying to pass?”

 

“Shhh, the speech is about to start.”

 

They turned their attention toward the stage. Magister Fuficius strode out wearing some sort of archaic Imperial apparel, black with a wide band of purple running through the sleeves. He was a fleshy sort of fellow, with a poof of hair blown back from his face that didn’t stir the slightest when he moved his head.

 

“Citizens of Minrathous!” he began. “There is a plague in our midst!” The crowd gasped as if on cue. “The oxmen sit on our northern border like a hulking parasite. Refugees stream through the city gates, and along with them, Undesirable Elements! The lowest sorts of scum: Antivan rogues, Nevarran thieves, and black-skinned Rivainis who rape and seduce our women. And my colleagues in the Senate just encourage this subversion of our noble society while they dally with their knife-eared slaves!”

 

The crowd roared. Elowyn had heard enough. Dio had a pained expression. “I’m sorry,” he whispered to her. “I wanted you to see for yourself.”

 

“Excuse me a moment, Dio, I need to use the facilities.”

 

Elowyn had to restrain herself from casting a lightning bolt at the podium. Knife-ears, indeed! He would see what a knife-ear could do. It was going to rain, alright. She walked into the nearest alley and signaled the gondola.

 

“This is going to be the finest, dreariest, most soul-destroying rainstorm Minrathous has ever seen,” she told Aminia and Caradoc. “I’m doing this for all the immigrants. Just call me the Rainmaker.”

 

She gathered her mana and willed gray, heavy clouds to form. A few drops fell. People in the crowd looked up while Fuficius was railing against the poor soporati sucking away at the government’s teat. Elowyn increased the amount of rain, and the crowd began murmuring and covering their heads. Elowyn turned her hand, and the rain increased, cold and soaking. People began running for cover. Fulficius’ droning speech was drowned out by the sounds of the crowd breaking up. The music stopped as the musicians scrambled to protect their instruments. Elowyn let the rain continue until everyone had dispersed. She’d seen Dio, forlorn, look for her then walk slowly away.

 

It felt good to use her magic, really good. This was what she was made for: to mold the substance of the world, to gather it into her hands, change its form and send it out again. She steeled herself against the temptation of pride, but felt satisfied when at last she put her hands down and Aminia and Caradoc cheered and clapped her on the back. The rain went on, the susurrus of its pattering making the most pleasant music.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

Spoiler

Vel was out that evening on some business for the Magister. Elowyn checked on her charges – she preferred that word to "slaves." She hoped to set them free as soon as she could arrange food and lodging for them. The mother, Avulia, had asked for duties.

 

“Just take care of your children. Do you know how to read? We can get some children’s stories.”

 

“I know enough stories to tell them,” Avulia replied, “but I need something else to do all day. Don’t you have any work for me?”

 

Elowyn had barely had time to arrange her own duties – she should be continuing her research, but had been caught up in everyone else’s issues. She thought for a moment. “How about gardening? There are some herbs I need for my research and for making potions. I can talk to the head gardener and see if she can set aside a space.”

 

“I grew culinary herbs and flowers at my former master’s house,” said Avulia.

 

“I’ll write a note for you to give to the gardener. Just be careful – some of these herbs could poison the children.” Avulia assured her that she would keep the kids away from that area. Apparently, the slaves exchanged childcare among themselves. Elowyn wondered how many of the children were Caius’ bastards.

 

As she got ready for bed, she decided she would go dreamwalking again. She was curious about the man in the tower. It had to be Caius – who else would take the form of a dragon? He hadn’t mentioned anything about being a somniarus though, not that he would tell her his secrets. She wanted to know how he had known she was inhabiting his dream and not just a figment of his imagination. It wasn’t as if she could just hang out with Caius and ask him a bunch of questions. He was a busy man and spent much of his time in the Senate and in meetings with his agents and the other apprentices.

 

If he appeared as a dragon again, though, he could actually kill her inside the dream. He could do that anyway, of course, dragon or no dragon. She would have to be clever, and she didn’t always feel very clever, especially when confronted with the full force of a Magister’s powers.

 

She felt the sleepers drift into their dreams all around her. So many worlds, so many desires and fears inhabiting their dreams. She had to focus on one dream and find a way to enter it. She willed herself not to be distracted by all the fantastic dreaming thoughts as she made her way toward the heart of the mansion. She knew roughly where Caius’ private rooms were, and since the Fade bore a correspondence to the waking world, she navigated corridors that were both familiar and distorted.

 

She found Nazlik’s dream first. A sparkling ocean of gentle waves stretched out in front of her. Elowyn could smell the sea and feel a freshening breeze blowing through her hair. Nazlik was just ahead of her, picking up seashells. It was a beautiful, peaceful scene, and Elowyn longed to stay there. But she turned aside and went into a cave in the cliff behind her.

 

Something gleamed at the back of the cave: a mirror just barely catching the fitful light reflecting off the water. Elowyn gazed into the mirror, expecting to see her own reflection. Instead, mirrors within mirrors stretched into infinity. It figured that Caius would have tricky dreams. She would have to take a chance: she went through, hoping she could find her way back out of his mind.

 

The silver of the mirrors tingled on her skin. She became attuned to its touch, like a taste on her skin. One of the mirrors had a burnt, smoky taste. It called out to her, and she chose it, stepping out at the bottom of a grassy hill. It was nighttime. The air felt heavy and still. There was something at the top of the hill: Elowyn could see the shadows against the reddish, oppressive sky.

 

She made her way up the hill, each step a struggle. At the top was a sort of table: a platform of black granite. She saw Nazlik standing next to it, forlorn, cloaked all in white. But whichever way she turned, Elowyn could not see Nazlik’s face. Sorrow was writ into every part of her body. A man approached the table. Elowyn thought it was Caius, but then she recognized the man from a portrait in the manor: Caius’ father. He carried a baby in his arms and placed it on the table. It was the infant from the other dream: the same brilliant white light glowed from the child. The man raised a sacrificial dagger, the same dagger Elowyn had seen in an earlier dream, the one in which she had been tied to the rack.

 

Black lightning snaked across the bloodied sky. Elowyn heard the beating of enormous wings and felt gusts of hot air scorch past her cheeks. A great black dragon appeared on the horizon. The dragon or the dagger? There was only one thing to do. Elowyn grabbed the baby and ran for the mirror. The man sent ice to slow her – Elowyn burnt it away with fire. She could feel the dragon coming closer, pushing the air against her. She wouldn’t make it in time.

 

She reached out and tore open the Veil and leaped through with the baby, then turned and sealed it closed again. She was back in the mansion. She could hear someone moaning wetly. She stumbled on something soft and heavy. She couldn’t see – the air was full of smoke. She pressed the baby to her chest, kindled veilfire and wished she hadn’t: the floor was covered with blood and viscera and dead people. The worst part was that Elowyn recognized all of them: the guards, the apprentices, the slaves. She whispered a prayer that she would not see her beloved among them.

 

She heard the wrenching, hoarse cries of a man and made her way forward. She came into a room and saw a man cradling a woman’s lifeless body. It was Caius and Nazlik. She reached out and touched Caius’ shoulder. He turned, his eyes full of anger and sorrow. She lifted away her cloak. The baby’s light shone out.

 

“I saved him,” she said, and placed the child in his arms.

 

Vaellanius Manor

by Uccio

Spoiler

*That had been the strangest dream Caius had seen in a long time. Caius sat in his study looking at the old tome about dreamers. His suspicion had grown into a certainty. Caius held his hand on a page explaining dreamer abilities. Specifically how to infiltrate the dreams of other, willing or unwilling. He had again seen the dream where the manor had been under attack by Mucia and her troops. This time, before the final confrontation someone had appeared. A blurry vision, but still clearly a woman. With their baby in her arms, "I saved him", Caius recalled her say. And that voice, so much like his new apprentice.

 

Few days ago he had dreamed of something else, but equally strange. A moment with Nazlik and the baby, it had been a lovely dream. Much better than the latest. So serene. Her smile had brightened his heart and the child´s laugh had bubled in the tower chamber like tiny golden bells. But the child had his eyes elsewhere, like he would have seen something funny at the door. And then something happened. 

 

What exactly happened was still a bit blur to him, like looking things from behind a misty veil. But Caius felt like he had seen Elowyn, it had lasted just a blink of an eye, tiny fragment of a moment. But that moment he felt awake like something, or someone, had woken him up. In his dreams, and this something had a red hair. A good indicator. He had a vague memory of following her, flying? Something happened, Caius thought. Did we fly? The desire to catch had burned in his veins like a fire.

 

He shook his head. Now he was sure he had seen her. The little elven girl had breached Caius barriers into his dreams, twice. And she did so easily. It was time to talk to her, alone. Caius closed the tome standing up, he grabbed his staff leaving his study.

 

He walked silently across the manor, hooded, like a dark ghost in the empty hallways. Upon reaching the apprentice wing Caius stopped in the hallways close to Elowyn´s chamber. He had heard talking from there. Caius stood in the shadows watching silently leaning on his staff when Vel walked out of the room throwing a kiss as he left, "I will return in no time love".

 

Caius stored this information in his mind for later use. After Vel had disappeared to the hallway Caius stepped forward. He knocked at the door standing close by.

"Did you forget something already?", her melodious voice spoke behind the door. Then the door opened and Elowyn stepped forward with a hopeful and expectant look smiling. She recoiled slightly when she saw Caius standing like a dark shadow by the door. The playful smile on her face disappeared fast. She gazed at Caius with a diffident look.

 

"What can I do for you?", she finally whispered collecting the pieces of her self-confidence, trying to desperately keep her voice steady.

 

"It is customary for the apprentice to call her tutor a master", Caius said with a calm deep voice. "Alright, what can I do for you master?", Elowyn raised her dainty chin pooling her willpower to gaze into his eyes covered in his hoods shadows. 

 

A faint smile gleamed in Caius lips for a tiny moment, "that is better, my apprentice". Caius stood there for a moment looking into her eyes, "I need to have a word with you. Please come with me". Caius stepped away from the door gesturing with his hand tilting his head, "now".

 

Elowyn took a quick glance at the slave woman and her children sitting on her bed. The she straightened her back and walked out of the room with a defiant look, "alright. Lead on".

 

A wry smile on his lips hidden in the shadows of his hood Caius turned to walk down the hallway. "Follow me", he said to her. When they passed the apprentice library Elowyn almost turned there but seeing him continue she quickly ran after him.

 

"Where are we going?", she asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice, remembering her dream trip into the dungeon. "To my tower", Caius said without looking back, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

 

Long steps up the large spiral staircase, passing a occasional door or a hallway. The tower held many levels and rooms. And then finally, the top chambers. Caius walked on Elowyn glued to his heels, she had been determined to show her spirit. No matter what would come. But she didn´t expect this.

Caius opened a door to his own chamber, "If you please". He gestured her to walk in. 

 

"Here? in your room?" Elowyn peaked inside leaning forward, her wondering eye caught the massive elaborate bed against the wall. Then she remembered, "master?". Caius nodded slighty, "yes, in there". Elowyn took few careful steps into the chamber stopping at the center of the room sifting her feet. She gazed at the luxurious furniture, paintings in the walls and frescoes in ceiling, and again at the bed. She swallowed, "what now? Master?". She asked while her mind raced wildly. 

 

"Follow me", Caius walked past her into the large stone balcony stretching out from the side of the tower. Elowyn slipped silently after him wringing her hands, "why are we here?". 

 

The hot afternoon wind twirled her hair, and Minrathous opened up before her. She could see most of the land marks from this height, the Circle, the library, the proving ground. And dozens of palaces, manors and mage towers. She could even see the tower of Magistra Aurelie from here. A seagull flied by screaming. Caius manor stood on a hill overlooking much of the city.

 

"Please, have a seat", Caius gestured at the ancient seats carved of dragon bone. Still strong, still shining white. She could feel the faint dragon magic echoing from them. While she sat down Caius went back in, he returned with a silver tray holding a crystal wine bottle and two glasses, his hood pulled off. The hot wind tried to grab his light brown hair without success, had to be magic she thought.

 

"Some wine my lady?", Caius bowed slightly with a inquiring look on his face. Elowyn was so dumbfounded by all this that she just nodded silently. Caius poured her a drink and handed her the crystal glass taking his.

 

Caius walked by the carved stone railing watching the gigantic city. "So", he said after a moment of silence. "Would you like me to start?", he asked turning to her and taking a sip of the wine. "It is good wine, from my own vineyard actually. The best in the Imperium". Caius smiled seeing her hold the cup with both hands, "please have some". 

 

Elowyn stared at him for a moment nervously, "Yes please, you start master", she said with a faint voice and took a sip her wine. It was a exquisite taste, powerful, aromatic and intoxicating. 

 

"All right", Caius nodded with content. "You have been in my dreams", he said gazing attentively at her reaction. Elowyn winced, just slightly but enough for Caius accustomed eye to notice. "yes, you have. Twice actually", he said walking next to her. Elowyn took yet another sip of her wine unable to answer to him. We are all alone here, what will he do now? She thought.

 

"You have a powerful gift", Caius continued pleased with himself. He placed his free hand on Elowyn´s shoulder looking into her eyes, "a gift many houses would be willing to have in their blood line". Elowyn´s eyes opened wide, that hand, the bed. Her eyes took a hasty glance at the bed. Caius followed her look to the bed and back. He stared in her wide eyes for a moment, then threw his head back laughing out loud. 

 

"My lady", he shook his head with a wide smile, "you have nothing to fear from me in that regard. Trust me". Caius took his hand off her shoulder sitting down next to her. "All I am saying is that your gift is so precious and rare that people would be ready to go to the most extremes to get it". He gazed into her eyes, "and not all in a nice way". 

 

"So", he leaned back in his seat, "I need to start training you already now to make sure you will not wander into a dream of someone less friendly person and reveal yourself. We don´t need more attention". Elowyn stared at him her cheeks blushing, he had read her fear from her face like a open book.

 

"There are some books in my study, they are from my personal library and deal with a somniari training", Caius continued. "You will go there and retrieve these books. You will know which books, there is only one pile in my table". He took a sip of his wine, "go read the books, I will train you in a few days". Elowyn didn´t know how to respond, her fear had suddenly turned into wonderment. "thank you, master" she whispered.

 

Caius nodded, "the guards know already that you have a permission. Training starts now". He looked into Elowyn´s eyes, "you can go now my lady. Just remember, do not enter my dreams anymore unless I specifically ask you to". His voice was silent but sharp.*

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Library

Spoiler

Elowyn couldn’t leave Caius’ chambers fast enough, though she wished she could have absconded with the bottle of wine. She needed something a little stronger after her audience with the Magister. ‘Master,’ she corrected herself. It struck her at that moment that she really was a slave, though she wore no collar nor bore a brand. She hadn’t felt like a slave in Aurelie’s house, despite her discovery of their plan to use her body. With the Magister – Master, she corrected herself again – the hierarchy was very clear.

 

She took solace in the books. The beautiful books! She donned gloves and lifted the book on the top of the stack to her nose so she could inhale its scent, its accumulated ages, the lives of all the mages who had read it. The cover was some sort of red leather, tooled in glyphs and runes. As she turned the pages, a letter fell out. It appeared to be a copy of a letter sent to Kirkwall by someone named Feynriel:

 

“My dreams don't trouble me as much these days. I'm hopeful that, in time, I'll master myself.”

 

“Master himself,” she said aloud. She considered: whom did she fear more, the Master or her own destructive capabilities? She read a passage in the book:

 

“The presence of demons is painful to dreamers, as they are particularly sensitive to them.”

 

This must be why she had been sucked into the Fade the instant she made contact with Monkai’s body – her ability to dreamwalk had connected with the demon possessing him. She picked up the second book. There was further information about this Feynriel. It seemed he was elf-blooded, that perhaps his father was from Tevinter? Maybe the two combined to give him his somniarus power? There was a reference to an event in which a woman was abducted. Feynriel had entered her dream and then proceeded to shape the dreams of her captors so that they attacked each other. When she awoke, their bodies lay around her. ‘I want to know how he did that!’ thought Elowyn. She wondered if she could find this Feynriel. Which Magister did he serve? Maybe Caius would know.

 

Hmm, it seemed Feynriel’s father was Antivan. She wondered if he’d been a mage. She didn’t know much about how magic was practiced in Antiva, which was famous for its rogues, not its mages.

 

She wished she could talk to Caius – she had so many questions. She remembered what he’d said about having nothing to fear from him. It was difficult not to feel intimidated. He simply oozed a dark power that both attracted and frightened her. She felt she would become enthralled by him and lose her moral compass. She wasn’t sure how she felt about his assurance that he had no sexual interest in her. It was the tiniest bit disappointing! Perhaps if she grew a backbone and stood up to him, learned all she could about dreamwalking, perhaps he would at least respect her, even if he didn’t find her attractive.

 

‘At least Vel sees something to admire in me, even if it’s only my body,’ she thought to herself, wondering when Vel’s attention would waver and wander to another pretty face. Though she’d had a crush on Guy ever since he’d befriended her, she’d never expected to have a boyfriend outside of the Circle. Though it was technically not allowed for mages in Orlais to have lovers, some of them managed illicit affairs. Being an elf, she had tried to accept that she wouldn’t be chosen by some powerful Orlesian lord to be his mistress, nor even allowed out of the Circle on missions: it set a bad precedent for people to see an elf in any position of importance.

 

She’d certainly never expected she’d have to learn the rules of attraction and flirtation, nor entertain the possibility of having children. She had tried to bury that part of herself, but acknowledged the longing for family that was in her heart. She already loved the children she’d rescued from the slave market and was reluctant to send them on, though she felt that it was completely wrong to own another person, much less expect reciprocal affection from a person who had no say in the matter.

 

She realized that her thoughts had wandered far from her duty, and composed her mind to memorize everything in the pile of books.

[Serelir]

Minrathous

Spoiler

Elowyn and Aminia were giggling in the library stacks. When an assistant librarian shushed them for the second time, they decided to go get lunch.

 

“There’s a great noodle place in the Flower District,” said Aminia.

 

“But isn’t that where all the brothels are?” Elowyn asked.

 

“Sure, but they have amazing noodles – you’ll love it!”

 

“Won’t we be mistaken for prostitutes?”

 

“Dressed like that? They’ll think we’re there to buy some sugar, woman.”

 

“I don’t know about this, Aminia. Maybe we should just go to that place with the green olives instead,” suggested Elowyn.

 

“Are you worried you’ll run into your boyfriend or something?”

 

“Vel? He’s on some assignment for the Magister.”

 

“Sure he is. Come on – I have a contact down there I want you to meet. Oh, I almost forgot! I got the dirt on what Caius did to get Aurelie to agree to let you go, and I have to tell you about this new guy I’m dating.”

 

“We might need seven courses for all that! Tell me about Aurelie on the way.”

 

It was a gorgeous day, sunny and hot, so they decided to walk instead of taking a carriage or gondola. Elowyn had to open her parasol – the Tevinter sun was too bright for her southern skin.

 

“So Caradoc told me what happened.”

 

“I didn’t realize you two were so close,” said Elowyn.

 

“We’ve known each other for ages! Ever since Aurelie recruited me. Okay, so did you know that Aurelie and Caius were supposed to get married? Only, Aurelie’s father made a better deal with Caracalla, so that marriage fell through, and Caius married Mucia instead.”

 

“Isn’t she dead now?”

 

“Yeah, and there are rumors that Caius had her poisoned!”

 

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” said Elowyn.

 

“Aww, he likes you! Vel told me the Magister took a real shine to you. Said you reminded him of some lost lady love from his youth.”

 

“I don’t believe Magister Caius was ever young,” replied Elowyn, “That man was born old and scary.”

 

“Nah, he was a sweet young thing, that’s what they say. Now that Mucia’s gone, families are lining up to present their daughters to the most eligible bachelor in Minrathous.”

 

“Really? But isn’t he…” Elowyn thought of Nazlik and remembered that she was a slave, and a horned woman to boot. “So what happened with Aurelie?”

 

“Well, she was married off to Caracalla, who really was an old guy, and he died and left her with boatloads of gold, but not before giving her a son, Batzas.”

 

“I never met him,” said Elowyn.

 

“He’s a war hero,” said Aminia, “Got injured in Seheron. Lost his legs. So he spends most of his time out on their country manor. He’s a real cutie! You should see him.”

 

“I think there are more than enough handsome men in my life at the moment,” said Elowyn drily.

 

“Never enough!” countered Aminia. “You should see this dwarf I’m dating – oooh whee!” Elowyn rolled her eyes.

 

“So Batzas is married to Flavia Domitia, right? Only she never visits him, ‘cause she’s snobby about his injury, so there are no kids. No kids means no heir, and that’s a problem in Tevinter. Well, anywhere, if you’re rich. No use building up a fortune if it’s all going to the Chantry. Anyway, Caius swung a deal with Aurelie: he’d get House Domitia to agree to a divorce between Batzas and Flavia, Caius would get you, and House Caracalla would get a new wife for Batzas.”

 

“And who would that be?” asked Elowyn.

 

“Caius’ daughter!” said Aminia triumphantly.

 

“Zera? But isn’t she married to Monkai?”

 

“Not any longer, but no, it’s Cassia.” Elowyn had only had a few dealings with Cassia, none of them pleasant.

 

“I thought Publius wanted to marry Cassia?”

 

“Publius? No way, he’s not an altus.”

 

“Neither is Monkai, but he was good enough.”

 

“I never understood that myself – must have been something else going on there,” said Aminia.

 

“So it’s come full circle then: Aurelie and Caius never married, but their families will be connected through their children.” Elowyn felt sorry for Batzas, even though the deal had freed her from broodmare duties.

 

“That’s the way it works!” declared Aminia. “Tevinter is like a big bowl of noodles – the families are all wound around each other.”

 

“Speaking of which, I think we must be getting closer,” said Elowyn, noticing groups of scantily clad women standing around, and a few dubious men trying to look inconspicuous in the middle of the day. Aminia greeted some of the women by name and asked how business was going. Elowyn admired Aminia’s comfort with the situation. She didn’t like how the men were looking at her, but Aminia just smiled back at them.

 

Aminia noticed that Elowyn had hunched her shoulders. “Hey, it’s alright – they’re not going to eat you.”

 

“They might!”

 

“What better place to hide the movement than among its most-trafficked people, eh?” said Aminia. “They have all the information, and it’s easy for them to wheedle secrets out of their visitors.”

 

Once again, Elowyn felt like she had a lot to learn about the way things worked in Minrathous. They got to the noodle place and put in their orders. Elowyn sipped the rich salty broth. She was glad at least one of the dishes didn’t have nugflesh in it.

 

“So who is this guy you’re seeing?” asked Elowyn.

 

“He’s a carta guy,” said Aminia, “and he’s got this lush black beard. It’s fantastic! Really tickles my thighs with it, too.”

 

“I don’t think I needed to know that,” said Elowyn, blushing.

 

“Aww, look at you! The girls are saying you’ve gelded your man – he’s just not the same since he met you.”

 

“Hey, he was the one who pursued me! I didn’t do anything to Vel.”

 

“They’re saying his sack is empty, just swinging in the breeze!”

 

“I can assure you it’s not,” said Elowyn tersely. “And how would they know, anyway?”

 

Aminia guffawed. “Speaking of balls, here’s my contact,” she said. Elowyn looked up and recoiled a bit when she recognized the very tall, tattooed man from the slave market. She’d hoped he hadn’t connected her with her little trick, but he was gazing down at her distastefully. ‘I really made a bad impression there,’ she thought to herself. The guy was frowning at her ears. Elowyn thought it was time to get them pierced. If people were going to stare, she wanted something to show off. Maybe Aminia would pierce them for her - all those Rivainis had piercings.

 

“This is Red,” said Aminia, “he’s from Par Vollen.”

 

“Pleased to meet you,” Elowyn said carefully, but the tattooed man just grunted and turned to Aminia. Elowyn took the opportunity to study his tattoos – they appeared to cover his entire body, as much of it as she could see, anyway. Elowyn wondered what they meant.

 

“The shipment will arrive three days from now,” Red was telling Aminia. “Is the elf coming with you?” Elowyn wondered if he was referring to her.

 

“Of course she is,” said Aminia. “Be sure to bring the sleeping powder.”

 

“I don’t know why you are bothering with that,” said Red. “We are three mages, each with our own specialties,” he added significantly.

 

“It’s easiest this way,” replied Aminia, “and we won’t harm the innocents if they get caught in the middle.”

 

Once again, the man gave Elowyn a disparaging look, as if he didn’t trust her for a second. She wanted to kick him with her pointy little shoe. He nodded to Aminia and strode off.

 

“Huh,” said Aminia, “He usually likes redheads.”

 

“For a guy who ‘rescues’ slaves, he doesn’t seem to like elves very much,” replied Elowyn, frowning.

 

“Maybe you intimidate him,” said Aminia.

 

“Me? I barely come up to his knees!” exclaimed Elowyn. “He could squash me with just one of his big boots.”

 

“I don’t know, but you two need to try to work together if we’re going to pull off this mission,” said Aminia.

 

“I’ll be good,” said Elowyn, “I promise.” She wondered what kind of dreams Red had. Aminia didn’t know about Elowyn’s talent, but maybe their mission would give her an opportunity to practice some of the new techniques she’d been learning. Sleeping powder could come in handy – she’d have to get ahold of some and experiment.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor - A Lesson with the Magister

 

Spoiler

Elowyn was in the garden with a gaggle of slave children, breaking off bits of herbs for them to taste: lemony sour sorrel, bitey peppermint, spicy basil and fragrant marjoram. Some of the children made faces and spit out the herbs, but the little boy who belonged to her now, Appollinarus, asked to try all the varieties of basil. He was so sweet and thoughtful that her heart ached at how easily he could have been sold to a cruel master.

 

A servant approached her. “Message from the Magister,” he said.

 

“Yes?”

 

“He wishes you to meet with him in the training yard,” the messenger replied. Elowyn asked one of the older children to lead the group back to the kitchens. She dusted herself off and hurried through the pergola toward the training area. She was a little worried that she smelled like a bouquet of herbs.

 

The Magister was giving orders to Publius, Vel’s friend. She saw Publius nodding and making notes on a wax tablet. Caius dismissed him, and as Publius passed Elowyn he hissed, “Here to try your charms on the Master? He’ll never make you his woman, knife-ear.”

 

Elowyn lifted her chin, arched her back, looked Publius in the eye and said, “You’re the one who wants to be his wife, not I.” Her silver laughter followed Publius as he tripped on the hem of his robe. The Magister noticed her smile and stroked his goatee as she approached.

 

“It has come to my attention that your training in the Circle was not adequate,” he said.

 

“I passed my Harrowing, Master. I am a qualified Orlesian Enchanter.”

 

“Sum up your combat experience for me then,” he said.

 

“I—I have never been in a battle, Master. There were a few skirmishes surrounding the dissolution of the Circle. Was my performance on your test not worthy?” she asked.

 

“That was merely the audition. Tell me what you studied during your time at the Circle.”

 

“I am well-versed in Elemental magic, primarily Electricity and Fire, though I can perform a few spells from the Ice tree as well. We practiced on training dummies. Our Circle was one of the smaller ones, Master.”

 

“Do you know how to use a summoning circle?”

 

“Oh, no, we weren’t allowed to summon… demons, Master.”

 

“And you never tried it on your own?” he asked perceptively.

 

Elowyn looked uncomfortable. “I had no need, Master. When I wanted to talk to a demon, I went into the Fade.” The Magister smiled at this. “I would have been beaten had they known, Master,” said Elowyn carefully.

 

“Do you know how to cast a barrier?” he asked.

 

“Of course!” she said hotly, and added, “Master.”

 

“Then show me!” he raised his staff and cast a fireball at Elowyn. She quickly cast a barrier and felt the heat from the fire wash over her, depleting her barrier by half. She wondered if he was holding back.

 

“Good, but it needs to be stronger.” He pulled a silk handkerchief out of his pocket and tied it over her eyes. “Stand there,” he guided her to the center of the training area, “and don’t remove the blindfold until I tell you.” She waited, taking deep breaths to calm herself, and considered which spells he would cast first. If he anticipated that she would start with electric cage, he would probably counter with mana clash, a spell they hadn’t taught in Orlais. But she knew about it through research. Therefore, she decided to feint.

 

“Remove the blindfold,” he called. Instead of looking around to see where he was, she fade-stepped to the side of the yard. She felt some sort of hex pass by the spot where she’d been standing. She knew the next shot was coming, so she renewed her barrier to give herself time to locate his position. She felt a disturbance in the Veil to her right and faced that direction, lifting her hands to cast a lightning bolt just as he appeared. He waved his hand and dispelled her bolt as if it were merely an annoying gnat. She was about to cast a fire mine where he was standing when he hit her with a bolt so powerful, it burned right through her barrier. She screamed involuntarily as it scorched through her sleeve and into her left arm. Shaken, she fade-stepped out of range and used precious mana to heal the worst of the electric burn. ‘Score one for the Master,’ she thought, gritting her teeth in determination.

 

She didn’t have enough mana for firestorm, so she decided to cast Winter’s Grasp to give herself time to regenerate. But she had to get closer. She strengthened her barrier and dashed toward him. Then she hit some sort of field surrounding him. It felt like she was walking through mud – each step was torturous. He just stood there, smiling at her as she felt her limbs becoming heavier and heavier. Blast him!

 

She reached slowly up with her right hand and tore off the shreds of her left sleeve. Her wound was still raw and bloody – she hadn’t wanted to waste mana on a strong healing spell. He was maintaining his entropic field with seemingly limitless mana. She needed to damage his barrier. She sent out a blast of fire, then dug into her own wound, ripping the flesh and making the blood flow. The power of her own blood surged through her, and she redirected it at him in a rage of force that hit his entropic field and folded it back onto him. He staggered as it hit him, then blasted the clutching black energy back out. Elowyn fell to her knees, drained. The pain in her arm was excruciating. ‘This is it for me,’ she thought, ‘I’ve lost.’

 

She saw his boots striding up to her and tried to raise her head. “What do you call that?” he asked her.

 

“Defeat,” she replied.

 

“No, the spell you just used.”

 

“I don’t know… desperation?”

 

He laughed. “I need to teach you Sleep so that you can use your somniara abilities.”

 

“You ordered me not to enter your dreams, Master,” she said. He muttered something that sounded like, ‘already in there,’ but she wasn’t quite sure.

 

“Come,” he lifted her up. Elowyn looked around and realized some of the other apprentices had been watching. The Magister nodded at one of them, who hurried over and cast a healing spell on her arm.

 

“Thanks,” she said, looking at the apprentice gratefully as the pain lessened. She knew the bout had been child’s play for the Magister and felt angry with herself for her poor performance. She’d wasted so many years reading books when she could have been practicing spells, but after the last Blight ended, few resources had been put into training mages. She had a lot to learn.

 

She was looking down at her hands, her brow furrowed. The Magister put a hand under her chin and lifted it so that she met his dark gaze. “You did well,” he said. “You have great potential, and you are in the right place to make full use of your gifts. I want you out here practicing every day. Venerandus will draw up a schedule for you to train with the other apprentices.”

 

“Thank you, Master,” she said. Her eyes stung. The Magister nodded and turned away to tackle the next issue on his busy schedule.

 

As she headed back to her room to change out of the torn robe, she thought about what Publius had said to her. ‘Caius’ wife?’ she thought to herself, ‘That’s ridiculous!’ She was like a child compared to the Master. She felt an undeniable attraction to him, but she wasn’t sure it had anything to do with romance. She’d tried to avoid thinking about it in the past. This time, she dug into the idea, examining it as if it were some strange, glittering gem. “It’s his power that I want,’ she realized. She remembered the horrible sense of powerlessness she’d felt when Hervé, another menacing man, had her in his control. Her mind must be connecting the two men. She’d been conditioned to submit to Hervé, to deny her own will. Her uninvited sexual fantasties about the Magister must be a twisted version of this loss of self, an act which had a comforting familiarity to it. It was time to shed the skin of her old self. The opportunity to transcend the narrow limitations of her existence had appeared, and she was determined to grab onto it and rise.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor - Elowyn's Room

 

Spoiler

Elowyn was pinning up her hair, and Vel was playing a rogue trick: as soon as Elowyn pinned up a piece, he'd sneak the pin away with sleight of hand, and her hair would come tumbling down again.

 

"I'm going to freeze you!" she warned.

 

He stopped and put his head next to hers, watching them both together in the mirror, his long black hair the coal on which burned her fiery red tresses. "We should braid our hair in one braid, and then we'll always be together," he said.

 

She smiled. "What if we wanted to do different things? It would be a tug of war."

 

"I will go where you go, my lady," he said, kissing her cheek. "Speaking of which, where are you going?"

 

"I'm going out with Aminia," she replied.

 

"Did you clear that with the Magister?" he asked.

 

Elowyn sighed. "I'm sure he'll find out," she said.

 

"You'd better watch your step with him. I've seen the way he looks at you."

 

"What do you mean?" she asked sharply.

 

"He watches you," said Vel slowly, playing with her hair," like some rare artifact he can't wait to play with."

 

"Caius, Caius Caius!" she said irritably, "Can't people talk about anything else? Publius has got it into his head that my evil scheme is to marry Caius and become a Magister's wife. As if I spent all those years in the Circle wishing that I could preside over functions of the Ladies' Auxiliary! Besides, he prefers tall women. Really tall women."

 

"Just be careful, my darling. I don't want to have to fight the Magister for you."

 

Elowyn slammed down her hairbrush. "Why must every relationship between a man and a woman involve sex?" she asked exasperatedly. "He's my mentor. I'm interested in what he can teach me about magic. I don't want to marry him!"

 

“I'm sorry I upset you, " said Vel contritely.

 

"Is this what jealousy looks like?"

 

"I just worry about you. Can I come with you tonight?"

 

"It's a girl thing," Elowyn mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

 

Vel touched her cheek. "Look at me," he said. "Tell me where you're going."

 

“I’ve been thinking about unrequited love,” she said.

 

“Don’t change the subject!”

 

“But why does it happen?” she asked. “What’s the point of it?”

 

“The minstrels need something to write songs about,” he said.

 

“It just doesn’t make sense! And people obsessing over what they can’t have. I suppose it’s a demon thing. But it happens to all sorts of people – not just mages. What about you, Vel? You must have left a trail of women pining after you.”

 

“I always leave my women satisfied,” he said smugly.

 

“Well, I’m not satisfied yet,” she replied.

 

“Mmm,” he murmured, nibbling her ear, “I did that on purpose, so you would keep wanting me.” She turned her head and kissed his mouth. “Delicious!” he exclaimed, “but I still want to know where you’re going.”

 

“How do you feel about slaves, Vel?”

 

He thought a moment. “I guess they’ve always been there. There are wars. The victors have to do something with the conquered. They need someone to do the jobs no citizens want to do.”

 

“But they could pay them!”

 

“Why pay workers when you don’t have to?”

 

“It’s evil though!”

 

“Is it? It works – that’s all that matters.”

 

“I’m a slave. The Magister could sell my contract if he wanted to.”

 

“You’re a very privileged slave. No one’s going to waste you in the kitchen.”

 

“I happen to be a very good cook.”

 

“Among other things.” Vel smiled and stroked her waist, tickling her. “I know what I’d do with you if you were my slave,” he said suggestively.

 

“What if I didn’t want to? Would you beat me?”

 

“I wouldn’t have to. By the time I was done breaking you in, you’d be begging me for it.”

 

“Such boastful men in Tevinter!”

 

“Who else has been boasting?”

 

“Just this man in the slave market. A friend of Aminia’s.”

 

“Where is he? I’ll slit his throat for you.” Elowyn was silent, and Vel gave her a penetrating look. “No! Don’t tell me you’re going to see him! You are, aren’t you. That’s it, I’m coming with you.”

 

“Vel… I want to help the people who don’t want to be slaves. The people who weren’t given any choice.”

 

Vel sighed. “You can’t save them all, Elowyn. Slavery is entrenched in Tevinter.”

 

“There are people here who want to change that!”

 

“And what happens when you get caught? Do you think the Magister is going to bail you out?”

 

“It won’t be his problem. And I’m not going to get caught.” 

 

“It will be his problem, and he won’t be happy with you – it could cause a lot of trouble for him in the Senate if it comes out that he’s harboring abolitionists.”

 

“I’m going to do this, Vel.”

 

“Then I’m coming with you to make sure you don’t get caught.”

 

“I’ll have Aminia and that other guy with me, all accomplished mages.”

 

Vel snorted. “Three mages? If you’re going to do anything secretive, you need a rogue. Who’s going to pick your locks?”

 

“You can always pick my lock, darling.”

 

“Now you’re talking,” he said, giving her a pinch. Elowyn smiled and went to put the last pin in her hair, only it was no longer in her hand.

[Serelir]

Minrathous and Environs

by Uccio

 

Spoiler

*The first rain drops fell after sunset from the dark clouds watering the dry city. Last of the decent people had disappeared indoors to avoid the streets and alleys, along with the things that thrived in the night under the cover of darkness.

 

A lone figure stumbled forward in a dark alley hunched down. It bumbed into crates and piles of dirt fumbling to find a way forward. It reached for support as it´s progress was arduous. At times it stopped curling in a bundle and wailing softly. Hoarse cough broke occasionally the wailing. Then just when it seemed to fall down it somehow found strength from somewhere starting to move again.

 

"Elowyn.. " Vel croaked caughing. Blood dripped from his lips staining his shirt but he was too weak to care. More blood would stream down his back each moment winning in comparison.

 

---

 

"Where are we going?" Elowyn asked smiling at him as Vel held her arm in his walking down the pier. The harbour was bustling with activity. Under the scorching mid day sun workers scurried around loading goods into ships, and unloading them. All kinds of merchant ships and trade cogs coming and going to Minrathous. Along with a number of fishing ships. A normal day in the Minrathous harbour.

 

"Boss is not the only one who can impress ladies", Vel smirked at her. "I have a favour I can cash and this is the perfect day for it".

 

They passed the "Pride of the Imperium", a gigantic war galley docked on the pier. "This is one of the ships boss funds", Vel gestured towards the ship while some of the marines leaning on the railing watched them passing. A number of smirks could be seen and whistles were heard when the marines spotted Elowyn. Vel threw an obscene gesture at them causing laughter to erupt.

 

"Such a bunch of gentlemen", Elowyn laughed. "Hey Vel! Who´s the new bird?" someone shouted from the ship. Vel blushed, glancing at Elowyn, "They don´t know what they are talking about. Bunch of inbreds".

 

"New bird?", Elowyn squinted her eyes. "Like I said, they know nothing. Morons, never mind them", Vel dowplayed it hastily.

 

He sped up his pace pulling her after him. After they had passed the "Pride of the Imperium," they came across a small trireme. It had the house Vaellanius crest on its sails. Word "Somnoborium" was written on its side.

 

"This is a scout ship," Vel said pointing at it. "My friend is the captain, and he owes me big time". The smile on his face was almost as wide as the harbour.

 

"Hey Vel, is it time yet?" an auburn haired man with sunburn on his face popped his head over the railing. He saw Elowyn and smirked, "I think it is. Good day my lady, welcome aboard".

 

Vel escorted Elowyn to the ship through the creaky plank. "Let´s get going then, Cossus," he said to the captain, gesturing nobly. "Aye aye my lord!" Cossus replied with a wide smile.

 

In a few moments the little trireme had left from the pier heading out to the coast. Vel and Elowyn stood on the rear deck enjoying the hot sea breeze. "This is so wonderful!", Elowyn gasped. "How did you manage this?".

 

"He owes me a favour, so he will transport us while going to training," Vel said wrapping his hands on her waist. "He will pick us up in a few hours"."Pick us up?" Elowyn wondered, "from where?"

 

"From there!" Vel pointed to a small island by the coast. They could see an ancient ruin dominating the little island. She gasped, and Vel took the opportunity to kiss her. Elowyn wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss.

 

After Cossus had dropped them off on the little pier by the island, Vel took her hand again. "Come with me," he whispered. They slowly walked through a small forest into a clearing. There, surrounded by the ancient ruins, was a table made ready under a cote. A smiling bard stood by with a lute.

 

They walked by the table. Vel took the wine cups poured ready and handed her one. Elowyn took a sip of the wine, her eyes widened. "This is the same wine master had!" Vel nodded smiling, "So it is, I wonder how it is possible".

 

He took a sip of the wine looking into her eyes. "And now, my lady," Vel said placing his cup on the table. "May I have this dance?" He bowed, "I regret missing the opportunity when I first saw you".

 

Elowyn giggled, "oh you certainly may my lord." She dropped a perfect court curtsey. The bard started to play while they danced on the ancient marble yard.

 

One dinner later they lay in the tower ruins watching the sea. "I need to tell you", Vel said looking into her eyes. "I am serious with you. You are not just another fling". He gently touched Elowyn´s cheek, "the moment I saw you, I knew there was something different about you."

 

Then his expression turned plaintive. "But in a world of mages I have little to offer to you. Except myself." He smiled softly, "I hope that is enough."

 

Elowyn smiled at him, "I come from a world where I was nothing, being an elf and a mage meant being at the bottom of everything." She gave him a soft kiss, "You don´t have to fear anything".

 

They fell on the platform pulling their clothes off hastily. Elowyn touched his naked body, releasing a tiny power surge. Vel twitched with pleasure. He pulled her on him, the air around them both heated up, causing it to ripple.

 

The bard was finishing packing up the dishes when suddenly a powerful ripple crossed the little square. Trees and grass swung for a moment restlessly. He gazed around concerned until the wind carried Vel´s groan filled with pleasure to his ears. With a wry smile he returned to packing.

 

"Be careful with those abolitionists" Vel whispered in Elowyn´s ear as she lay her head against his chest. "I know the darkside of life. I know what those people are capable of doing. And willing. I have seen it. You need to be really careful even you are a mage". He stroked Elowyn´s hair, twirling it around his fingers, "Death is yet another tool for them, too. And you work for one of the biggest slave owners in Minrathous". He kissed her head, "I have things to do tonight. A mission for boss, but I will find you after it. I will not take no for an answer".

 

---

 

The mission had gone awry. Their little team had been ambushed. Vel had run, but someone had thrown a dagger at him, striking Vel in his back.

 

He had been able to shake off the pursuers, but now it seemed a useless effort. He felt so weak, each step required a tremendous amount of strength. An alley and a knife in my back, a wry smiled crossed Vel´s face. I should have become a fortune teller.

 

He took a tottery step hitting his knee in a crate. With a curse, he fell on his stomach on the dirty alley floor.Where is Publius when you need him? An irritated thought crossed his mind. Vel tried to stand up, taking support from the crate next to him, but his hands gave up, causing him to fall down on his face. Some dirt with a deceptively feces-like smell smeared his cheek.

 

Figures, he reached out trying to pull himself forward his hands slipping on the wet alley ground. Rain drops fell on him in a faster pace washing his blood on the cobblestones.

 

"Son, I am disappointed in you".

 

The familiar voice made Vel peer through the rain. A figure walked towards him through the alley. He sat down on the crate next to Vel. It can´t be, he thought.

 

"You are dead," Vel whispered.

 

 "And will you be, very soon, my son," his father said. "Look at yourself. Is this the end you wanted for yourself? How low you have fallen my boy." The man shook his head with a plaintive look on his face. Vel glared at him, he had still the same clothes on him as he had in the last day Vel saw him.

 

Vel croaked with laughter, "As I recall, you ended up in the alley, too, stabbed to death". His father just shook his head again, "I tried to teach you to be a good man. A respectable man. To have a profession you could be proud off. What happened to you?"

 

"A respectable profession?" Vel groaned, "did it help you when those alley rats stabbed you to death?"

 

"I taught you to be a productive member of the Tevinter society. Not to be like this. Maybe we were poor, but at least we had dignity".

 

Vel spat blood on the ground, "That dignity did squat for mom and me." He tried to raise himself up, but slipped back down. Vel tilted his head to see him better as the water poured down his face, "I took care of mother, I did that! You left us broke, penniless. Because you didn´t want to pay. All because of dignity.F*** you!"

 

"And now you are here", his father said with sadness in his voice. "You have done bad things, my son."

 

"I took care of mother!" Vel roared. "I took care of her, better than you ever could!". He coughed blood, "I've killed, yes, but I've never killed a man who had not started it."

 

"I hope that gives you comfort."

 

"Get the void out of here!" Vel raised his head from the dirt. "I don´t want you here, if I am going to die I want Elowyn with me!"

 

The pouring rain slowly washed his father away, his plaintive face melted into the rain. Vel placed his cheek against the cobblestones. Bloody hypocrite. Water poured on the silent figure in the dark alley.*

[Serelir]

Minrathous - The Hanged Man; a burnt warehouse; a fetid alleyway

 

Spoiler

What a busy day! Vel had taken Elowyn on a surprise outing complete with a cruise to an island aboard a trireme, a picnic dinner, a bard and, for dessert, a tryst in an ancient ruin. It was the first and only date she’d ever been on, just like one of the romances she’d hidden inside her textbooks at the Circle, and she felt like she was floating. She felt like she’d been dead during her time in the Circle, condemned to a life of celibacy and childlessness and loneliness. As it turned out, the dissolution of the Circles had been the best thing that had ever happened in her life.

 

Vel told her that he had to go on a mission for the Master and couldn’t accompany her on the raid with Aminia and Red. She’d been looking forward to fighting alongside him. She still felt untested, despite training every day and learning whole new spell trees that had never been taught in Orlais. So she was only mildly disappointed when she arrived at the Hanged Man to find a note from Aminia postponing the raid.

 

She saw Dio there, sitting with another man. She waved, and Dio beckoned her to come sit with them.

 

“I didn’t know you came to this pub!” Elowyn exclaimed.

 

“Of course! There are more of us than you think,” Dio replied. “This is my friend, Stefano.” Elowyn greeted Dio’s friend, who asked her if she was from Orlais.

 

“The accent gave me away, didn’t it?” she said.

 

“Your Tevene is very good! It sounds beautiful with an Orlesian accent,” said Stefano. “How do you like Minrathous?”

 

“I love it!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know why any mages would choose to stay in Southern Thedas if they could come here.”

 

“Elowyn is Magister Vaellanius’ newest apprentice,” explained Dio. “I hadn’t congratulated you yet, Elowyn. I envy you!”

 

“Did you hear that Caius just pulled off a major coup in the Senate?” asked Stefano. “You’re with a fortunate house, indeed.”

 

“Which Magister do you serve, Stefano? If you don’t mind my asking,” said Elowyn.

 

“House Duronia, though I am completing my training at the Circle.”

 

“Stefano will face his Harrowing soon,” added Dio.

 

“Did you undergo the Harrowing in Orlais?” Stefano asked Elowyn.

 

“Yes, I did, shortly before I came here.”

 

“Can you tell me about it?” asked Stefano. “Dio’s told me about his – I’ve heard each mage’s Harrowing is different, though the basic test is the same.”

 

“Which kind of demon did you face, Dio?” Elowyn asked.

 

“Ah, it was Fear,” he said sheepishly.

 

“That is unusual!” said Elowyn. “Though I think more mages in Orlais have to confront Fear than they do in Tevinter.”

 

“Well, you’ve seen my uncle. Growing up with Fuficius as the head of the family was good training in confronting Fear,” said Dio.

 

“I would have thought it'd be an exercise in Annoyance, though I don’t think there’s a demon for that!” joked Elowyn. Dio and Stefano laughed. Elowyn went on, “I expected to face Desire, but Pride came instead. I’d always been a star student. Being an elf, it led to a lot of bullying by the noble human mages. But there were some who were kind. The funny thing about fighting Pride is that one must humble one’s self – it’s too big to confront head-on, at least for a newly-trained mage. I had to make good use of the terrain available.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Stefano.

 

“I’m sure you’ll do fine!” said Elowyn. Stefano blushed. He was a charming young man. Elowyn noticed that Dio grasped Stefano’s hand under the table. ‘So that’s how it is!’ she thought to herself. ‘No wonder he fears his uncle and hates him for forcing him seduce women.’

 

Elowyn bought another round of drinks, and they passed around the latest gossip. Elowyn wasn’t surprised to learn that Caius had been pulling strings in the government, but she hadn’t yet heard that he’d been acting with noblesse oblige toward the poor. She wondered what he was up to. It couldn’t be out of the goodness of his heart, because she wasn’t sure he had one.

 

“Well, I’d better get Stefano back to the Circle before they come looking for him!” Dio joked, swigging the last of his Imperial Gose.

 

“Oh, it’s late!” Elowyn jumped up. “The time just flew by – they’ll be sending the guards after me.” Elowyn took her leave of the two young mages and headed back to Vaellanius Manor.

 

***

She was stopped on the way to her room by none other than her nemesis, Publius. She was prepared to face another insult, but instead, he grabbed her arm, a worried expression furrowing his brow.

 

“Have you seen Vel? Wasn’t he going out with you tonight?” he asked.

 

“No, he had some errand to run for the Master,” she replied. “He hasn’t returned?”

 

“The others came back hours ago! They don’t know what happened to him – something went wrong.”

 

Elowyn blanched at the news. “Hasn’t the Master sent out a search party?” she asked.

 

“They haven’t found him!” Publius bit his lip. Elowyn had never seen him this distressed. ‘He can’t be all bad,’ she thought, ‘if he cares this much for his friend.’

 

“We have to go look for him!” she exclaimed. “Where was he last seen?”

 

“They were going to a warehouse down by the docks – come on!”

 

She and Publius took two horses from the stables. It had been a long time since Elowyn had ridden – not since she’d arrived in Minrathous, but she was a natural. Publius was having a little trouble with his mount. “Go on ahead!” he shouted. She rose in her stirrups and urged her horse forward, praying it wouldn’t fall on the slippery cobblestones.

 

The palaces gave way to more modest laetan and soporati homes, and these in turn petered out into a series of dive bars and dubious noodle shops as she drew closer to the waterfront. She recalled the men who had whistled at her earlier in the day and shuddered. Then again, she could simply set anyone who bothered her on fire, and she’d probably face no repercussions, protected as she was by the Magister’s might.

 

She smelled smoke on the wind and arrived at the warehouse location only to find a blackened ruin. She dismounted and led her horse carefully toward the building. The charred wood was still hot. Her horse balked at the smell of burnt flesh. ‘Please, please, don’t let it be Vel,’ Elowyn pleaded with whatever gods were listening. She felt a surge of anger at the Master for sending Vel into this fiasco.

 

Letting emotions cloud her mind would not help her find Vel. She moved away from the building and inhaled the slightly cleaner air. She pushed away the thought that Vel could have gone into the harbor and drowned. ‘If he had run, which way would he have gone?’ she thought, looking around at the empty streets. She kindled veilfire – there, by those broken crates, some drops of blood.

 

Elowyn was examining the trail of blood when she heard the sound of boots approaching. “Publius?” she asked, looking up. Not Publius. A group of thugs out looking for trouble. ‘Not now!’ she grumbled. She would have to take acre of this problem quickly.

 

“What have we here? Out for a little stroll all by yourself, knife-ear?” The men spread out. Elowyn dropped the reins of her horse and slapped it on the rump. It charged toward one of the men, who jumped aside. Elowyn put her back to the wall of the building and cast one of her new spells, a glyph of paralysis. Let them try to close on her, and they’d be trapped. If they were mages, they were dressed poorly. It was likely they were just drunken ruffians.

 

“Oh, lookee! It’s a baby mage! Thought you’d get out of the Circle for a bit of fun, eh? Well, here it is!” the man grabbed his crotch and stuck his tongue lewdly between his teeth. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the others edging closer on her left. He had drawn a blade and was twirling it, trying to frighten her. She cast a Misdirection Hex at him, then surrounded herself with a cloud of miasma. The attackers hesitated as they were hit. They shook their heads, trying to clear their vision. It was time to try out her best weapon: she sent them all to sleep.

 

She stepped into the Fade. The trail of blood called to her, but she turned away from it, seeking the skeins of her attackers’ dreams. There, like a ribbon swirling from the man with the knife. She picked it up and walked into his dream.

 

She found herself in a factory. Rows of benches and worktables stretched out in front of her, each staffed by children. They were painfully thin, and many coughed wretchedly. One of the boys whimpered. Elowyn saw a tall, black-garbed figure approaching. The feeble light glinted off a monocle as the overseer caught sight of the boy. “Slacking off?” it cackled, and brandished a switch. The boy cowered in fear.

 

‘Don’t feel sorry for the boy!’ Elowyn admonished herself. Everyone had nightmares, and the meanest people were the most full of fear. She pulled herself partway out of the dream and grabbed the dream skein of the second man, winding it up and shaping it into the overseer. She then thrust it back into the first man’s dream. “Wakey wakey!” she called, and snapped her fingers.

 

The man screamed and drove his knife into the chest of the overseer, not realizing it was his buddy who simply wore the form of the man’s worst nightmare. The second man whipped out a truncheon and belted the knave across the face, crushing his nose. Blood spurted out. While they were fighting each other, Elowyn turned to the third man, the crotch-grabber.

 

This man was standing in a shop, surrounded by high shelves filled with bobbins and spools of threads in every color. Elowyn saw him slip a pack of needles into his pocket. He smirked, pleased he was getting away with stealing, even if was only in his dream. No secret how he’d ended up hanging around the docks. Elowyn pulled out a drawer, rooting around in his imagination for something she could use. The man startled – there it was, crawling away into a shadowy corner. He looked around fearfully. Ahhh, one of her favorites! This was going to be fun.

 

Elowyn pulled on the threads and wove them into spiders of every kind: elegant orbweavers, practical cobweb spiders, cute bouncy jumping spiders, ferocious wolf spiders, furry tarantulas and gleaming black widows. Tiny spiders and giant spiders, each with eight legs and eight eyes, miraculous spinnerets, spiky chelicerae and some with swollen pedipalps. The man saw the spiders swarming him and opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out – his throat had been blocked by a giant bird-eating spider, Theraphosa blondi. Luckily, it was only a dream-spider, so Elowyn didn’t feel bad about its sacrifice. Her work accomplished, she opened the shop door and stepped out of the Fade. The man was scratching and swatting at himself. The two other men were corpses.

 

She followed the trail of blood, hoping the stupid thugs hadn’t taken up too much time. She sensed a dream ahead of her. She was becoming attuned to dreams and felt them all around her. This one was a painful dream, a dream filled with anguish and regret. It became so strong that she could hear it through the Veil:

 

"I don´t want you here, if I am going to die I want Elowyn with me!"

 

It was Vel! She’d found him! She rushed into the alleyway. There, slumped against a pile of refuse.

 

“Vel! Vel!” she cried, “I’m here!” She crouched down and reached for him. He was still breathing, but had passed out. He was mumbling in his sleep, arguing with someone. His hands felt cold, and his pulse was slow. She kindled veilfire and gasped when it revealed the pool of blood he was lying in. His breath became labored. She had to do something. Where was Publius? He was better at healing than she was. She needed to be with Vel – if he was going to die, he had to know the comfort of her arms. She stepped into his terrible dream.

 

There was a demon standing over Vel, berating him over and over, telling him he was a failure, he’d never been good enough, a terrible disappointment to his family, that he should just die, because no one would miss him. “Elowyn would miss me,” he mumbled feebly. Every word out of the demon’s mouth ate away at dream-Vel, sapping his will to live. He was losing strength, going transparent.

 

“Get away from him, demon!” she shouted angrily. The demon slowly twisted its head toward her. It reached into her mind and plucked out one of her worst fears, taking the form of a Templar.

 

“**** YOU!” she screamed, and shaped a great blade out of the Fade. She put into it all the love she felt for Vel, all of the happiness she felt when they were together, the strength that formed her bond with him. She swung it over her head with both arms and drove it straight through the demon’s throat, severing its head. She ran to Vel’s form and cradled his body, breathing her mana into him. His face took on a little color.

 

“Is it you? You came for me!” His big brown eyes met hers, and her tears dropped down onto his skin. The Veil shimmered around them.

 

“I’m here,” she said, coming back through the Veil into the dark alley, bringing his spirit with her. Vel reached up and touched her face. “I’ll always find you,” she said.

 

Just then, Publius strode up. “You found him!” he yelled, and rushed over.

 

“It’s about time,” said Vel weakly.

 

“Had a little trouble with my horse,” muttered Publius.

 

“Let’s get him back to the manor – give me a hand,” said Elowyn. Publius put Vel’s arm over his shoulder, and Elowyn supported him on the other side. In this awkward fashion, the three of them made their way back into the light to find transport home.

[Uccio]

There is a new power rising in the house Vaellanius. 

[Serelir]

You know, I thought perhaps this was too easy for her, but I was kind of in a hurry to find Vel!

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

by Uccio

Spoiler

*Caius twiddled the elegant white staff in his hands. It was made from Ironbark, the wood dalish cherished so much. Tiny dalish carvings decorated it, circling around the staff towards the top. Hallas running, hunters chasing their prey. Illustrations of elven gods. The staff ended in a stylized Halla head with a pair of smooth Halla horns touching each other from the tip, leaving a space between them where a tiny crystal wren flew with its little wings spread.

Appropriate, Caius smiled in his thoughts. He heard light footsteps from behind him.

"You asked for me, Master?".

He turned around. Elowyn stood there watching him with that expectant yet slightly scared look on her face. Do I look that intimidating, all the time? Caius thought.

Yes, I called you here for a reason," he said calmly. He turned to gesture with his hand at the hall, "This is the memorial hall of the Vaellanius family. It holds items my forefathers owned during the millenia when Tevinter ruled the known world".

Elowyn gazed around, interested, "There are several magical items here. I can feel it".

"Indeed there are," Caius said, pleased. "You are very sensitive to magic. Like me". Elowyn blushed, "Thank you, Master."

"I wanted to tell you, your first training was a success. Despite what you might think, you did extremely well against me. Most of my students end up on the floor weeping in less than few moments the first time". Elowyn smiled at that, he could see it cheered her up. "And you didn´t give up," Caius nodded. "You have spirit".

Elowyn shifted her feet with a shy look on her face. Caius sighed with delight in his mind.

"But the reason I called you here is because there is something I want to give to you." He took the staff from the pedestal, showing it to her. "This a dreamer staff, it belonged to one of my ancestors almost a millenium ago. She was a dreamer and shaped this staff to amplify her talents".

Caius leaned forward and placed the staff in Elowyn´s hands. "Claudia Vaellanius. She had elven blood in her, thus the dalish theme. The staff is in tune with elven blood. She was a bastard child, but was taken into the family. She turned the contempt on her heritage into her strength. You can find her story in the library history books. She died battling the first Archdemon himself at the gates of Minrathous, holding this staff".

He smiled at her, "and now I will give you her staff".

Elowyn gasped, "I can´t... why?"

 

"Because I want to,"Caius said softly. "Besides, there aren´t any elven-born dreamers here to use it."

"What does it do?" Elowyn couldn´t take her eyes off the staff. She could feel the hidden power in it, as if it called out to her.

"Like most staves created for the user, it will amplify your talents. It can also heal you, faster than healing spell and it doesn´t drain your mana while doing so. It can create a strong barrier around you, and it also prevents anyone using blood magic mind control on you passively. All you need to do is hold it. Very handy in Tevinter. We can talk about that specific magic later."

Elowyn looked at him with her eyes wide open. "Blood magic I mean," Caius said. "You used your blood without thinking of it. I need to make sure you do it right. I don´t want you to get hurt".

"But, back on the issue. Despite its slender form, it is a powerful staff. There are also few other abilities in the staff. Those I will let you find out on your own". Caius smiled, "little wren".

Elowyn just stared at him with her mouth open, is this the same Magister she had come to know or did someone replace him? Caius laughed from the bottom of his heart at her dumbfounded look.

A plaintive smile lingered on his face for a short moment as old memories surfaced in his mind, then he continued. "There will be a time soon when I will ask you to join me in my dreams, in a specific place actually. There is a issue I need to solve. But before that you need to train. You and I need to meet in dreams."

"All in due time, of course," he continued smiling. "Should you have a need to talk to me, feel free to do so." Caius paused for a moment, continuing with a slight hesitation in his voice "... about anything. You can leave now if you so wish."*

 

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

by Serelír

Spoiler

Elowyn gazed adoringly at the staff: it fit her hands perfectly, as if it had been made for her. She twirled it experimentally, gave Caius a quick glance and decided from his genial expression that she could get away with surprising him: she cast a halo of tiny ice crystals around him. They caught the light and sparkled. She laughed at Caius' bemused expression.

 

"I won't win any battles with that spell, but it delights the children!" Caius started laughing, too. It was enchanting to see his expression soften as the haunted look left his eyes. Elowyn wanted to hug him, but she didn't dare.

 

"I'm glad that staff will be getting some use, and I'm looking forward to seeing how you use it the next time we train together," Caius told her.

 

"I will treasure it, Master, and I won't let you down. You'd better keep your barrier strong, because I'm going to find a way through it!" Elowyn winked at the Master. She couldn't wait to experiment with her new staff.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

by Uccio

Spoiler

*Caius ran, faster than he had ever run. His heart pounded, threatening to break though his chest. He could only hear the beat of his heart and his own deep panting. Across the room, across the hallway. Passing an elderly slave woman, she turned her eyes down. Caius could see the sorrow in her eyes, she knew. Those eyes, how many times he had seen them?

 

Faster, faster! It is not too late yet! His mind screamed to him. Down the stairs. Caius leaped several steps at the time. Across the hall. How many times he had done this? Signs of struggle, he could see tablecloth on the floor with cups.

 

Here, they went through here! Run! he picked up speed. I am coming my love! An elven slave girl, her friend, cowered in the corner. Weeping.

 

Caius smashed into a closed door at full speed, forcing it open with his body. To the catacombs, horror crept into his heart. No! Caius stood in the corner watching himself ran by, so many times. He ran around the corner to the steps leading into the old part of the tower.

 

Down there in the ancient catacombs where the sacrifice chamber was. Where his destiny waited him.

 

Dark and dank tunnel. He ran through the darkness where shadows called out to him wailing. There were signs of struggle and dragging in the dusty stone floor. Caius was out of his mind with fear, but he didn't falter. I can´t be too late! Maker please help me!

 

Her distant scream, "Caius, help me!" Her voice echoed through the tunnels carrying her desperate plead to him. "Help me!" it echoed calling out to him. I failed you.

 

"Hold on my love!" Caius roared, not knowing if she heard him. These old tunnels had a habit of carrying sound through long distances. Sometimes strange sounds. Down the steps he ran, strange whispers at his heels. Across a hallway where ancient dungeons stood empty and silent.

 

There, at the end of the stone corridor, the chamber. How long it was, the corridor. It felt like he had run through it all his life. Caius knew this place, inside out. He ran through it, his footsteps echoing from the cold stone walls. The place where everything would end.

 

Deep ominous chanting could be heard from the chamber. That sound, Caius would never forget it. He ran the last steps and stormed into the chamber. Then the world turned into madness.

 

Pain. So much pain he could not bear it. There was no measure for it. He was the pain and agony. He had been living the pain and agony all the time. There was nothing else but that. He was no more, only pain.

 

And then he was in another place. No pain anymore. Nazlik was there, holding him in her arms sweeping his hair. "Rest easy my love, I will take your pain away", she whispered softly, and the world was full of flowery scent. Caius sighed, closing his eyes, he was happy. Then Caius opened his eyes looking into Elowyn´s.*

 

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

by Serelír 

Spoiler

Elowyn was wandering the Fade version of the manor again. She needed to practice Shaping, and the Master had given his tacit permission to explore the dreams of his minions as long as she stayed out of his own dreams. Her goal was to be subtle – it wouldn’t do to be a heavy-handed somniara. If she were obvious, she’d be discovered and quickly executed. So she had to blend in to each dream she entered. It required some quick thinking to change her own shape and take on the color and texture of each person’s dream.

 

She’d start with Publius – his dreams were usually straightforward, filled with ambitions and irritations. She’d encountered his dream version of herself – he’d transformed her in his mind into a grasping monster. She noticed that he’d made her female attributes larger and given her a silly walk. One time she’d even seen a version of herself wearing ridiculously scanty armor. She’d quickly exited his dream after she caught him licking the shiny breastplate – some dream-fantasies were better left unexplored.

 

Before she reached his room, however, she was distracted by a scent. One of the hounds was dreaming, twitching its legs, chasing after something. She walked into a forest – everything was shades of blue, green and yellow – no red anywhere. But the colors paled in comparison to the scents! Her nose twitched as they came crowding in. She felt her hands turn into paws. Her ears pricked up and her mouth and nose stretched into a muzzle. She heard the baying and began running – such speed! Such joy as her haunches propelled her forward. She was catching up to the pack.

 

The intoxicating scent was growing stronger. She could smell the fear and panic of the creature. She was with the pack now, moving into the lead as the other members peeled off to surround the quarry. She could smell each footprint as its steps faltered and staggered with weariness. Then she saw it ahead of her as it turned to face her. Other dogs would have backed down at its fearsome expression, but not she! She leapt straight for its throat and felt her sharp, white teeth tear into its tender flesh, its hot blood spurting into her mouth. She gripped hard and wouldn’t let go though the two-legger flailed at her with its arms. She held on, dragging it down with her weight. In her anticipation of the feast ahead, she could almost taste its juicy thighs.

 

The dog whose dream it was joined her, biting at the man’s haunches. Another pack member closed its jaws on the man’s ankle and twisted. Their efforts combined pulled the quarry down, and they tore into its soft belly, dragging out its steaming entrails. She raised her muzzle to the sky and howled joyfully for the rest of her family to join her.

 

Elowyn suddenly recalled who she was and recoiled out of the dream in horror. The dog snored peacefully at her feet. She would remember its dream the next time she scratched its ears and wonder if it was imagining tearing her face off.

 

She almost decided to call it a night, but there was a dream beckoning to her insistently. The Fade shifted, and she found herself in the family bedrooms. A young man ran past her toward the entrance to the dungeon. There was something familiar about him. She changed herself into a humble servant and ran after him.

 

Dark tunnels closed about them. She felt dread pressing in upon her. Something absolutely terrible was ahead of them. She felt the young man’s anxiety fill her – too late, he’d always be too late to prevent it from happening.

 

The sound of chanting was growing louder and louder like the insistent boom of a shaman’s drum. The man flung open the door of the chamber. So much blood! The floor ran with it. Red spattered the walls and the faces of the mages gathered around the circle. The young man collapsed, weeping.

 

Too late, Elowyn realized she’d been drawn yet again into Caius’ dreams. What horrors he’d endured! Fearful of being caught, she transformed herself into Nazlik and flung her arms around him. She pressed his face into her chest so he couldn’t see the body of his beloved eviscerated on the table.

 

“Shhh, don’t look. It was never your fault. This evil was done to you to bind you to his will.” She reached out into the Fade and surrounded him with light, banishing the horrid gathering. The figures turned to ashes and blew away. She reached inside him for the pain and drew it out, slivers of agony, each one lacerating his soul as they sliced through him. She transformed them into dandelion fluff and watched them waft into the sky. “Let them grow weeds in your neighbors’ gardens,” she said, “One for each slave sacrificed.”

 

He opened his eyes to watch his suffering released. Her blue eyes met his, the black of his pain and anger transformed into the sweet dark of the evening sky.

 

“Elowyn,” he said, reaching up to touch her hair. Her eyes widened and she felt the blood drain from her cheeks with the realization that she’d dropped her cover. He’d recognized her, in his dreams once again, where she’d been forbidden to go. She gasped, her heart speeding up in incipient panic.

 

He drew her toward him and kissed her. Their mana surged together, joining and swirling. Two powerful mages, their magic combining and rippling outward to shape not only the Fade, but stretching across the Veil to transform the physical world as well.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

Spoiler

Elowyn had finally received a letter from her brother, Venyanen. It had been opened and re-sealed several times, bore a large red stamp from the Minrathous Censorship Office, and someone had scribbled a dirty limerick about elves and dwarves sideways on the edge:

 

yours of the 6th of Pluitanus came to hand the twelfth of Molioris. I should have written you before, but for the want of a safe conveyance to your cittye, as People are apt to peeke into letters let the subject be ever so shifting. Not long ago mother directed a letter to me, but falling into the hands of some curious person, it has never as yet come to hand, nor do I ever expect it will, though the contents are of no consequence…

 

… contracted for the shipment of █████ from Gunvor, he is ███████ █████ the carta…

 

have been atte studye of the vocalizations of large crittures, sych as those which swim near the Isle of Estwatch and dragyns varius and sundrye. By means of a dwarven device – I shall not trouble you with the mode of its construction – tho’ I flatter myself th’improvements I made have increased the range of its measuring, and have reveal’d sounds below the purview of most hearing, shemlen at least, tho’ as you know, our people are more gifted in this fashyun. I have read in Genitivi’s book there are helevants in Min’thous would that you could examine one for me and send its description in yr next letter.

 

Hope this finds you well and am, as ever, yr mst affectionate brother,

Venyanen

 

Elowyn had completely forgotten that there were elephants in Tevinter! She’d heard of them, certainly, but had yet to see one of the mythical creatures. She would have to ask the Master to show her one.

 

Spoiler

Notes in Elowyn’s Journal:

 

Developing theory on demonic possession: Occurs at time of crisis – why? Mages strong in willpower – willpower allows shaping of Fade. Crisis=Diminishment of willpower. Ergo: Mage losing concept of self allows demon to cross over. Possession=survival of mage? Must check. Monkai possessed – common practice in Rivain.  See Genitivi’s book., re: abominations

Lyrium – allows travel across Veil. Templars – disruption of magic. Dwarves – no magic. Possession of Templars – how? Dispossession without death of mage – possible? Case of Redcliffe: enter Fade, kill demon

Soporati/Mundanes/Tranquil – disconnection from Fade. Low willpower, no possession – why?

Free will – willpower – self-control – crisis – possession

No crisis? Demons drawn simply to willpower?

 

Who am I when I encounter myself in the dreams of others???

 

What is the Veil?

 

***

Elowyn closed Bader’s The Maker's First Children and sighed. She was having trouble concentrating. The incident with the ruffians in the alley was on her conscience. Would it have been possible to approach their dreams a different way? She felt the terror of the man having the dream about the orphanage workhouse. His childhood experience had twisted him into a hateful person – not so different from the way demons could twist mages into abominations.

 

Was it possible to heal that kind of damage by removing or changing memories? What sort of repercussions would that have? If one could remove bad memories… She thought about what had happened to her in the Circle… Would that not be like being made Tranquil? Maybe that’s what Tranquility actually was: a disconnection from memories. No, it was more complicated.

 

She stopped herself from shredding her quill – good pens were expensive, and her allowance was running low. What about Caius’ dream? She’d tried to remove his pain in the Fade. In the days since, he had seemed lighter of spirit. But was the pain important? Did he draw on that pain for his power? She rubbed her forehead. What about the kiss? It had been so beautiful, so healing, for both of them. It had dispelled her fear of him, for one thing.

 

People kept confusing her interest in him as a crass attempt to gain power by seduction. Elowyn thought this was an over-simplification, though perhaps she was deluding herself. She got up and paced around, wringing her hands, which were cramped from writing.

 

Caius… her Master… the Magister. He drew her to him in so many ways. He was like a demon possessing her mind. What was the nature of the connection between them? She knew he had “acquired” her because of her ability as a somniara – he must hope to use her to consolidate his political power. She had acquiesced because of what he could teach her and the protection he offered.

 

This business relationship had become something more. The kiss… she wanted to make light of it: a dream kiss, that was all. Everyone had dreams they never acted upon. She sighed deeply and looked out the window at the sun wending its inevitable way to the horizon, its lengthening rays becoming golden and orange in their death throws. The sun’s death - well, that was a dramatic way of putting it! Still, she felt sorrow at the ending of another day. She had spent all day studying, her head bent over dusty tomes, searching for answers. She longed to jump out the window and run into the night, to feel the heat and the cold on her skin, to plunge into icy water, to hide among blackened branches and sing at the moon. She felt trapped by words, fencing her in on all sides, forcing their conclusions on her. “This is the way it is; there can be no other way.” She wanted to scream.

[Serelir]

This next bit is a diversion: Uccio asked us to write an erotic story about his character, Caius. I was intrigued by stories of Caius' military service, so I chose to set my offering in the past. 

 

I originally had a racy section in the story, but I've decided to censor it for public posting. You'll have to use your imagination. Just fill in your own words, like Mad Libs! Kind of silly, but I really don't want to deal with getting a warning. There are a couple of anachronisms as well. 

 

Seheron

Spoiler

Caius hacked off the corpse’s left horn with his blade and placed the trophy in his satchel. He and his buddy had a running kill count. He’d just upped his total to twenty-eight personal kills, and it was time to celebrate. “Hey Caius, hurry up! Cart’s leaving for Alam!” Caius strode away from the battlefield, knowing they wouldn’t leave without him.

 

He’d left home and joined the fighting after his father had annihilated the one joy in his life. In the months since, he’d discovered an unusual capacity for slaughter. Contrary to the public’s view of war, most soldiers found ways to avoid killing each other. The taboo against murder was strong, especially when the enemy was face to face. Those who had the nerve to overcome this natural hesitation were rare, and most of those natural born killers couldn’t handle the discipline required to follow orders. Once Caius’ superiors had discovered his talent, they’d placed him in a special unit fittingly called Darinius’ Dragons, or DD for short.

 

The DDs were off for a bit of RnR in Alam, a frontier town in Seheron. It was a town that catered to the needs of soldiers on leave and rebuilt itself each time the enemy razed it: an ugly phoenix of a town rising from the ashes of misery. The whorehouses were stocked with slaves, prisoners of war mostly, elves taken off the streets of alienages throughout Thedas, runaways to the frontier given a Hobson’s choice of conversion or death, and other dregs washed up on the shores of Seheron.

 

Caius wasn’t looking forward to his enforced holiday. He enjoyed the frontlines – the fighting didn’t give him much time to think. When facing the Qunari bastards, the choice was easy: kill or be killed. A week in Alam? Too much time to get into trouble, that’s all it was.

 

They picked an ugly bar with a pretty name: Mairi’s Roses, named after a dead girl. Fitting. Caius played a couple hands of Wicked Grace, watching his mates get steadily drunker while his own eyes remained pertinaciously clear. He almost wished he could find oblivion in a bottle, but through some miracle of nature, his body refused the kindly succor of the spirits.

 

The game had devolved into a display of maudlin fandangle that Caius could no longer tolerate. He excused himself to his incognizant comrades and went outside for a smoke. The filthy habit was a mannerism he’d picked up to get through long nights on watch. Despite Seheron’s tropical climate, a chill wind blew in off the ocean: cyclone weather.

 

A sultry voice spoke out of the darkness: “Give a lady a light?” Caius snapped his fingers, a mage’s trick, and lit the lady’s pipe. The glow of the flames revealed a form startling to a man used to the despondent weariness of slave hookers: she was as out of place as a blooded dracolith in a pasture of nugs. Tall as a qunari Tamassran, she had the svelte build of an elf, skin white as a halla, and night-black hair down to her waist.

“What’s a princess like you doing in a town like this?” Caius asked in his deep, husky voice.

 

“Funny you should ask,” she said, blowing a smoke ring, drawing Caius’ attention to her red, sexy mouth. He noticed he was being drawn into her seductive spell and wasn’t sure he cared. “I’m looking for a mage, and you fit the bill.”

 

“So you asked for a light just to check out my tinderbox, huh,” said Caius, “and I fell for it.”

 

“Something like that,” she said cryptically. “You look like an adventurous sort.”

 

“What’s in it for me?”

 

She put her hands on her hips and thrust out her audacious bosom. “That depends. What do you want?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. Caius chuckled.

 

“Alright, lady, lead the way.”

 

Caius was surprised when the lady took his hand in hers and led him away from the seedy establishments and toward the outskirts of town. “Hey, I have a room at the inn if you-“

 

“No need!” she said, waving off the idea. “We’re headed to a different place.”

 

Bemused, Caius walked along with her. It’d been a long time since he’d felt a woman’s touch, and holding her hand was surprisingly intimate. A curious feeling bubbled through his chest. She led him out of town and down a narrow path through a grassy meadow. The wind soughed in the long grass, and the moons cast conflicting shadows. Despite the weirdness of the moonlight, Caius felt calm. He was an experienced soldier – there was little that fazed him.

 

The path rose and petered out at the top of a rise on which rested a flat rock shaped like a black table. “Lie down,” she said.

 

“What? Hell no, lady. This has ‘sacrifice’ written all over it!” he protested, readying his mana to fry her if necessary.

 

She looked into his eyes, and he found himself lost in the serpentine gyrations of their swirling hues. Mesmerized, he found himself shedding his clothes and lying meekly down on the stone.

 

“That’s better,” she said. “Now call the storm!”

 

He lifted his hands and brought thunder while she sang, dancing around him in a sinuous pattern. The wind blew harder, and pillars of lightning cracked around them.

 

“Now ice!” she cried, and he cast hailstones and spears of glistening ice that coated everything in gleaming frost. Her dancing grew wilder, she howled like a banshee. The hairs stood up all over Caius’ body. His skin prickled with gooseflesh.

 

“Bring the fire!” she urged, and great gouts of flame leapt from his hands, shimmering on the ice. She leapt on the stone table and stood over him, flinging off her robe. Her naked body shone and gleamed in the icy firelight, the lightning flashing now black, now bright. She stretched out her hands, nails like claws, and raked down the length of his body, her touch searing him with pain. He arched his back, screaming, and she straddled him, kneeling, her hair hanging down over his face like a curtain.

 

Gazing into the coil of her eyes, he confronted the face of Death herself and welcomed it.

 

“Silly man,” she said, “what we make tonight is Life.” She kissed him, her lips cold and her mouth hot, and he felt the fire spread through his body and coalesce in his crotch, his ████ straining up, lightning-struck rigid. Her  ████  hung down, their  ████  teasing his skin, and he felt her slide her moist  ████  over the tip of his  ████. A frisson of pleasure pulsated through his  ████  and  ████. He wanted to plunge himself inside her, consequences be damned.

 

“Wait,” she said, smiling. She reached beside her and picked up a dagger, its silver edge glinting. He anticipated the pain of it cutting into his skin and arched his back, pushing himself toward her. But she reversed the blade and drew it down the smooth whiteness of her body, from the wings of her collarbones through the softness of her belly, drawing a line that beaded dark with blood. In shock, he felt her blood drip down on his skin. She laughed and reached behind her and gripped his  ████ and plunged it into her  ████ .His eyes bulged and his breath came in short gasps as he felt her hot, tight  ████ close around him.

 

She rode him, her arms lifted to the wind and rain, singing in a forgotten tongue, his bass roar pushing the crystalline notes of her voice into the womb of the night sky. He was covered in her blood and it sizzled and fizzed as his mana fed on it. He felt the force of his mana building, his legs quivering involuntarily as his  ████ lacerated his body like lightning and his bloody mana poured into her vessel, his  ████  swelling and subsiding over and over, racking his body with exquisite torment.

 

Just before he passed out, she kissed him and whispered in his ear, “This is how you make an Old God. Now you know.”

[Uccio]

And still it is awesome my lady . *bows with a kiss at the back of your hand*

[Serelir]

Even if I hadn't ever met you, I would have fallen in love with your character. There is so much depth to Caius - so many more stories to tell! I wish I could have told this one better (I think I was a little nervous taking him out for a spin!)

[Serelir]

The Slave Market, Minrathous

Spoiler

Elowyn, Aminia and Vel had gathered at Galatea’s office to go over the plans for the raid. Elowyn was surprised to see Monkai and Zera there. “I didn’t think you got actively involved, Monkai,” Elowyn said.

 

“Galatea is persuasive,” he said gloomily. Elowyn smiled sympathetically and stopped herself from patting him on the shoulder. He flinched as she drew back her hand. He seemed a little twitchy. There were dark circles under his eyes. Zera didn’t look so good, either. Elowyn wondered what was going on with them.

 

She noticed that Galatea was checking Vel out, and Vel was eating it up. He seemed to bloom with female attention. His dimples got deeper, the cleft in his chin more pronounced, his voice more seductive. It was fascinating to watch. ‘Being jealous would kill him,’ Elowyn thought to herself. ‘He’d wither without all that flirting and those appreciative looks and compliments.” She had also noticed that any time he got to flirt with other women, he became more affectionate with her as well. It got his blood moving, she supposed.

 

She brought her attention back to what Galatea was saying. “The brothel is the Juggernaut’s Pizzle. The proprietor traffics in young girls and children, most of them elves, but a few of the other races as well. Whatever he can get his hands on. There are guards at both the front and back entrances.”

 

“What about customers?” Aminia asked.

 

“Concentrate on the guards. If customers cause problems, you have my permission to deal with them. Nothing like getting caught with your pants down to put the fear of the Maker into the hoi polloi. Zera and Monkai will cause a distraction and deal with the guards in the front. Aminia and Vel will take out the guards at the back.”

 

“What about me?” Elowyn asked.

 

“You go in through the back and send the slaves out to the alley – I’ll be waiting with a cart. You might have to go through the private rooms to clear everyone. The others will back you up, but you can slip in while they’re keeping the guards occupied.”

 

“What about the proprietor?”

 

“Vel will handle him. Keep him alive and bring him out to me – we can get a good ransom for him.”

 

“What should we do if any of the slaves don’t want to leave?”

 

“Knock ‘em out. If they’re kids, bring them out to the cart. If they’re adults, leave ‘em to their fates. Everyone’s got their assignments. Let’s move out.”

[Serelir]

A Seedy Brothel, Minrathous

Note: this one contains a Perilous Situation, though I have excised most of the naughty bits for public consumption.

Spoiler

The Juggernaut’s Pizzle was in the meat district. Most of the neighborhood was deserted at night. The brothel itself was in a nondescript building that blended in with its neighbors – it didn’t even have a sign, just a large object hung up under the eaves. Elowyn didn’t examine it too closely. The neighborhood smelled disgusting. Blood and offal ran through the open sewers.

 

Monkai and Zera peeled off – they planned to pose as a drunken couple getting into a shouting match in the street at the front entrance. Galatea dropped Aminia, Vel and Elowyn off at the end of a narrow alley. Vel squeezed Elowyn’s hand. “Ready?” he asked.

 

“I’m glad you’re with me,” Elowyn replied, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

 

Aminia took out a magical device. “It can sense living creatures,” she said, looking through it. “There are only two guards in the back – normal-sized. Probably elves or humans.”

 

The two mages hung back while Vel stealthed and slipped behind one of the guards and slit his throat. “Hey!” yelled the other guard, but Elowyn cast paralysis on him, and Vel dispatched him straightaway. The back door was locked. “Easy peasy,” said Vel, taking out a set of lockpicks. They could hear a commotion at the front of the building, Monkai and Zera yelling obscenities. Elowyn was sorry she was missing the show. Vel got the door open, and she slipped inside, staff in hand. There were a couple of unoccupied storage rooms off the back hallway. Vel did a sweep and pocketed a few items. They headed up the hallway and peeked through a curtain at the large reception room. Most of its occupants had jumped up and were trying to see what was going on at the front of the building.

 

Elowyn tapped an elven boy on the shoulder. He jumped, and she put her finger to her lips. “We’re liberating you – go out the back way,” she said to him quietly. He looked suspicious. Elowyn took his hand and traced a symbol on it, Shartan’s Arrow, with her finger. The boy nodded and headed quickly for the back door.

 

One of the customers was giving Aminia a hard time. “See here, you blackamoor, what’s all this?” Vel appeared behind him and silenced him.

 

“Did you kill him?” Elowyn whispered.

 

“Nope, he’s just unconscious – Crow technique,” said Vel.

 

“Elowyn, check the upstairs rooms – I’ll get these kids out,” said Aminia. Elowyn nodded and went to the stairs, while Vel headed to the office to find the proprietor. Galatea had assured them that the proprietor was a coward and wouldn’t offer any resistance once his guards were dealt with.

 

The first room Elowyn entered contained a man in a diaper being spanked by a boy dressed in a pair of high heels and a feather snake. The man blubbered when he saw the mage. Elowyn picked up a cloak and threw it at the boy. “Freedom is out back,” she said, and he kicked the man in the diaper and ran out of the room. Elowyn trapped the customer in the room with a fire glyph. “Don’t cross that!” she warned. “Someone will get you out… eventually.” The man nodded mutely and hid behind the bed.

 

The second room contained a customer who was trussed to a frame. Two women were taking turns whacking him with riding crops and gossiping with each other in Orlesian. “Liberation time,” Elowyn told them. One of them raised her eyebrow, but they grabbed some satchels, took the customer’s coin purse and left. “Mmmmmmpppfff mmff!” said the man through his gag. Elowyn went close to him and looked him in the eye, but a stream of urine ran down the man’s leg. ‘Am I really that frightening?’ Elowyn asked herself, amused.

 

She moved on to a room at the end of the corridor. There was a tiny sliding window set into the door. She carefully slid it open and peeked through. She gasped as an eye peered back at her. The door was flung open. A male mage stood there wearing only a hooded black cloak.

 

“Ah, they’ve outdone themselves this time!” he exclaimed, grabbing Elowyn’s wrist and pulling her into the room. He slammed the door.

 

“I’m not –“ she started to protest, but he put a finger to her lips and pointed. Suspended from the ceiling were two people. They appeared to be caught in a giant spiderweb, but upon closer inspection, Elowyn realized that the people were tied together in an intricate series of knotted ropes. Elowyn was transfixed: it was like an artwork with the people as living sculptures. She felt the mage put a hand on her shoulder. He turned her around and put a hand under her chin, inspecting her face.

 

“Perfect! Perfect!” he exclaimed. “Now, disrobe please, and we’ll get started.”

 

“You don’t understand,” said Elowyn. “I’m here to take these slaves away.”

 

“I’ve paid for this room through tomorrow,” said the mage.

 

“I’m afraid there’s no reimbursement,” Elowyn said prettily and smiled. “Take them down, please.”

 

“I’m afraid you don’t understand, elf,” said the mage, casting a paralysis spell at Elowyn. She raised her staff and blocked the spell, a neat little trick she’d discovered it could do. Before he could attack her again, she put him to sleep. She looked around for a knife to free the captives. One of them spoke to her, “There’s one key knot which will unravel the whole, but only he knows which knot it is.”

 

Elowyn doubted the mage would be cooperative if she woke him up. She would have to enter his dream and find the answer as quickly as she could. She could feel a curious kind of magic in this room, as if it had been used for many rituals. The Veil was thin. She barely felt it as she entered.

 

In the Fade, the room transformed into a forest of blackened trees. Bodies hung in the trees, suspended every which way. It was completely silent. Each person was missing their eyes, and their tongues had been cut out. Their mouths were crusted with dried blood. When Elowyn put her hand on one of the trees, she could feel screams trapped inside. She needed to find the mage’s dream.

 

There was a faint path through the trees. A bloody red sun was setting, casting its light through the black lace of the branches. Elowyn came upon a mansion standing in a clearing. The red light reflected in its windows like flames. This must be the mage’s dream.

 

She climbed the steps and pushed open the front door, which swung inward silently. The front hall was dark and empty. Rooms opened off to the sides, and a grand staircase led up, twisting once in its flight. Elowyn felt a presence above her and went up the stairs. She gripped her staff, kindling veilfire at its end. The white wood shone in the darkness, revealing a long hallway. Black doors lined each side, but Elowyn could feel that the dreaming mage was all the way at the end of the hallway. She pushed open the doors and entered the room. The walls were covered in red silk, the floors in plush carpets. A fire burned in the fireplace. It would have been cozy if the hairs hadn’t been prickling on the back of Elowyn’s neck. At the center of the room was a reading stand with a large book set upon it.

 

Elowyn approached it. The book was covered with fine-grained burgundy leather. The title was embossed in gold: The Binding Staff

 

She looked around. Where was the mage? He should be within his dream somewhere. She turned back to the book. Her fingers itched to open its cover. She touched the leather. It was soft and buttery. She leaned down and smelled the book – after all, there was no one to see her. She loved the scent of old books. It couldn’t hurt to peek, could it?

 

She opened the book. Her eyes widened as they took in the richly-colored illuminations. They depicted all sorts of people, clothed and unclothed, in various positions and situations. “I didn’t know people could bend that way!” she exclaimed. She turned a page, and there was a picture of a female elf stretched out on a red velvet chaise longue, her arms and legs bound with silken cords. The elf’s long, red hair hung down over the edge of the chaise. Her white skin gleamed against the velvet. Elowyn looked closer and gasped! The elf looked just like her.

 

“What trick is this?” she asked the empty room, and started to close the book. But she couldn’t move her hands. She was lying on a red velvet chaise longue, her arms and legs bound with silken cords. Her legs were stretched apart, exposing her. She attempted to call up fire to burn her bindings. But even though she could feel her mana swirling around her, nothing happened. Her hair hung down, loosed from its pins. Her staff was missing.

 

She heard a door open and looked up. The mage! He came in holding her own staff in his hands. He was stroking it. Fury rose in her that he was touching the staff Caius had given her. She tried to shape the Fade to free herself and cried in frustration when she couldn’t change anything. The mage contemplated her, a satisfied smile on his face.

 

“How is it that you see me? Are you a somniarus?” she asked him.

 

“I? No, not I. Did you not feel the thinness of the Veil when you entered? Why do you think a squalid brothel contains such a special room?”

 

“Was it built on an ancient ruin?” she asked.

 

“Good guess, but wrong. Do you know what happens when the living experience extreme emotions?”

 

“If they are mages, the demons grow curious.”

 

“Indeed. And if one such as myself, a person with certain… skills… practices those skills frequently, he begins living partially in the Fade.”

 

“Not dreamer skills?” asked Elowyn, confused. “Are you here physically? How did you capture me?”

 

“So many questions,” said the mage, sitting on the end of the chaise and fondling her naked body. She flinched and tried to pull away.

 

“Stop touching me!” she yelled.

 

“But you have such beautiful skin. It would be a shame for it to remain untouched.” 

 

~The mage proceeded to do unspeakable things to her.~

 

Humiliated, Elowyn writhed, trying to loosen the cords that bound her. The mage admonished her. He walked over to her head and grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back. He took out a small silver dagger and traced the tip over her throat. Elowyn held completely still, lest the dagger pierce her. A wound here would kill her, because it would plunge into her physical body. She looked into his eyes, hoping to find a trace of humanity in them. His green eyes gazed back at her. She realized with a shock that he was elf-blooded.

 

“Who are you?” she whispered.

 

The mage smiled. “Your new Master,” he said, cutting a symbol into the skin of her throat.

[Serelir]

Minrathous

Spoiler

Vel manhandled the proprietor into the wagon. The slaves waiting inside kicked and spit on the proprietor, who protested, “Don’t put me in here with them!”

 

“Shut up!” said Galatea.

 

Aminia came running up. “That’s the last of them!” she said.

 

“Where’s Elowyn?!” Vel demanded.

 

“I don’t know – she went upstairs, but I didn’t see her come down.” Just then, Monkai and Zera came running around the corner.

 

“We have to scoot!” said Galatea. “Elowyn can find her own way home.”

 

“I’m not leaving without her!” shouted Vel.

 

“Ely’s missing?” asked Monkai.

 

“You go on,” Vel said to Galatea, “I’m going back to find her.”

 

“I’ll come with you,” said Monkai. “You and Aminia should go with Galatea,” he directed Zera. The women looked strained, but obeyed his command.

 

Vel and Monkai went back down the alley and inside the building. Any customers still alive had cleared out. They went upstairs and freed the diapered man and the gagged man and told them to skedaddle if they knew what was good for them.

 

“Did you see a red-haired elf?” Vel asked them. They told him she’d come in and freed the slaves, but had left again. Vel’s mouth dropped open when he saw the intricate binding in the third room. Monkai seemed unfazed. “Cut them down,” he told Vel, who hastened to slice through the ropes with his razor-sharp daggers. The slaves fell to the floor and rubbed their limbs to bring back circulation, then limped out of the room.

 

Monkai had found the sleeping mage. Interesting! Said Scorn. I like this one. “Another poncy Vint,” snarled Monkai, noting the man’s aquiline features and long hair. He shook the man, but couldn’t wake him. “Is she in the Fade?” He asked Scorn.

 

“Why would she be in the Fade?” asked Vel. “Wouldn’t we see her body here?”

 

Monkai realized that Vel didn’t know Elowyn was a Dreamer. He must have thought she’d traveled into the Fade in the usual manner when she’d rescued him from his demon-father.

 

Scorn took a cursory look around. She hated Elowyn and was glad she was gone. She’s not here she told Monkai. He didn’t have to know that Scorn hadn’t looked very hard.

 

“We are so f*****,” said Monkai. Caius was going to kill all of them. They’d been hoping to keep the raid secret from him, but if they returned without Elowyn, he’d demand answers.

 

“I’m not leaving until we find her! She has to be here somewhere,” said Vel angrily.

 

“She must have gone out another door,” said Monkai. “We have to go – the city guards will be here any moment, and I refuse to spend another night in the Archon’s prison.”

 

Vel felt his eyes fill with tears of frustration. They’d checked the entire building – she wasn’t there. She must have left on her own. Why would she have gone without him? Was she angry that he’d been flirting with Galatea? Vel cursed under his breath.

 

“We’re going to have to tell the Magister,” he said.

 

“You can do that,” said Monkai, “I’m going home with Zera. Vel sighed.

 

***

“You did WHAT?” Caius roared. Vel shrunk before the Magister’s wrath.

 

“I- I thought she’d be here when we got back. She wasn’t anywhere in the building,” he said.

 

“Go to your quarters, before I kill you myself,” Caius said menacingly. Vel scurried out. Caius called for his guards and marched them to the brothel, Archon be damned. What a mess! Vel hadn’t told him the name of the abolitionist ringleader, but Caius would get it out of him one way or another. He had to find Elowyn first.

 

He marched his guards down to the brothel, but it was completely empty, Even the sleeping mage was gone.

 

Caius takes charge

by Uccio

Spoiler

*"Bring Vel here!" Caius shouted at the empty hall. Couple of men left to fetch him.

 

"Sulla," Caius turned to his Optio, Sestius Sulla. The old mage veteran stared at him with indifferent eyes. "Bring my praetorians, march them to Galatea's office. Bring her here, alive, that is all I require. How you do it, I don´t care".

 

Sulla nodded, a slight smile appeared on his scarred lips as he left.  "Guard Captain!" Caius roared, captain Aellos rushed to him. "Secure this building, set a perimeter around it. No one leaves, no one enters". "Yes my lord!", the man bolted to work.

 

Caius walked around the building searching. He climbed the stairs to the second floor stopping by the hallway. Caius turned slowly around, "there is something here... ". He closed his eyes, reached out touching a ring on his right arm. It was secretly enchanted to be in connection with one of Elowyn´s jewels. I hope she had it on, just a small ring.

 

Elowyn, Caius let his thought flow concentrating on her with closed eyes. Where are you? Was there something?  He tilted his head, a slight feeling. Here but not still here. Fade? Caius opened his eyes.

 

In the end of the corridor there was a door with small sliding window. Caius walked slowly towards the door. The Veil was thin. He could feel it. His black hooded form walked in the middle of the room. What is this? Ropes... anyone residing here likes to make knots it seems. His eyes wondered around the room. This was the center of his feeling, of that he was sure.

 

Caius raised his arms calling for his power closing his eyes, he pulled more and more power to himself causing small electric ripples to run across his skin. Then power ripples started to flash around him with lightning arcs crackling and illuminating the room. Slowly his feet raised from the floor, Elowyn! His thought expanded to all direction.

 

Power died down and his feet touched the floor. Caius stood there contemplating for a moment, now he was sure. She had been here. And she was present, but in the Fade.

 

"My lord, we have her!" A shout echoed from downstairs.

 

Caius turned around and walked out of the door. In the hall, a group of soldiers stood around a tied and gagged woman. Her fiery eyes followed Caius as he walked down the stairs. "So you are Galatea", Caius said softly, "we have so much to talk about".  A cold smiled appeared slowly on his face.

 

"Take her to the backroom, with precautions," he said to Sulla. The Optio nodded and they dragged her away, she screamed something under the gag.

 

Vel walked into the hall. He had a cautious look on his face, "boss, you wanted to talk to me?".

 

"Not really", Caius said turning to him. "I just wanted to tell you. You have made your point, now live with it". He gestured to the praetorians who grabbed Vel by the arms. "Strip him of his items and throw him into the dungeon".

 

"But boss... I..."

 

"I don´t care", Caius said turning his back on him. Caius whispered to Sulla, "make sure an anti-magic ward is placed on him so that he cannot be found by any magical means".

 

The guards took Vel away.

 

Galatea tried to struggle with the ropes she was bound with but quickly noticed that there was no escape. She glanced around the room, it was one of those little rooms most shady people had where silent affairs were conducted. Couple of chairs, a table. No windows, nothing more.

 

Caius' men had stormed into her office taking her into custody despite her resistance. These men were professionals, they knew exactly what to do. Scarred men with blank stare, probably veterans from Qunari wars. She had given one of them a bloody nose though, with a nice headbutt.

 

The door opened, and Magister Vaellanius stood there looking at her silently. She stared back at him. Caius stepped in to the room closing the door behind him. "You and me, we will talk now", Caius said walking before her. He pulled the gag out of her mouth.

 

"You f**king as**ole! Release me!" she screamed right away. "A small smile lingered on Caius lips for a while. "That is not going to happen, and if you keep shouting profanities I will gag you again. Understood?". Galatea thought quickly, she knew Caius by his reputation.

 

She was now in dangerous waters. Galatea took a deep breath, "at least you could untie me. This is uncomfortable as you can see".

 

Caius shook his head, "first you start telling me everything that has transpired here. What were you doing here with your merry little band of misfits, and Elowyn, Abolitionist?" Caius snorted.

 

"How do you know that?", she asked suspiciously.

 

"I know you run this little freedom group and raid slavers at times," Caius leaned forward. "Yes, did you think I would not know what is going on in my city?"

 

Caius folded his arms behind his back, "I have allowed your actions because it has been a nuisance to my adversaries. The moment you would have become a nuisance to me, I would have disposed of you". His cold eyes locked with hers, "just like now."

 

"I.. Archon protects me", she couldn´t find anything more concrete.

 

"Do you really think I care?" Caius walked slowly around her. "Your life means nothing to me, your actions are the buzz of an insect." He stopped behind her. After a moment of silence he leaned forward and said into her ear, "and now I am annoyed about the buzzing".

 

Caius walked before her, he leaned forward looking into her eyes and whispered, "where is Elowyn?" Galatea leaned fast forward trying to bite Caius in the face. A surge of power threw her against the wall with her chair. "Really?" Caius said tilting his head.

 

He gestured and Galatea's seat rolled back before him.

 

Galatea stared into Caius' black eyes and swallowed, "I don´t know. I really don´t".

 

"Do you really want to go down that road?" Caius asked smiling.

 

"I swear to you, I do not know!".

 

Caius straightened his back and stroked his goatee looking at her. Then he gazed around the room. "Alright then, we will do it the hard way". "I really don´t know" Galatea screamed.

 

Caius started gesturing and an energy bubble surrounded them. "I don´t want them to hear all," Caius said calmly. Galatea ground her teeth, a rush of memories filled her mind, "do your worst, bastard!"

 

"I will do something, that is sure," Caius said walking next to her pulling his sleeve up. He drew a silver dagger from his belt. With a smooth move he drew the blade across his arm. Red bloodstream started to flow down his arm. Bright red drops of blood fell on the floor.

 

"We are in a hurry so I will just start," Caius said with apoplectic voice. He started chanting in ancient Tevene. Caius placed his arm on Galatea´s head. She tried to shake it off but it was useless. "What are you doing?" she screamed feeling the power of the spell.

 

The blood flowed down Caius' arm in the rhythm of the chant. Then it started to move. Each stream formed a small tentacle feeling their way across Galatea´s face, looking for way to enter her head. Through her ears, eye sockets, nostrils and mouth blood tentacles forced their way inside her.

 

Then the pain begun. A primal scream filled the air.

 

After he was done, Caius transformed the spell healing his own arm. "How are you feeling?" he asked her casually rolling his sleeves back down after he had released her from ropes.

 

"Strange, but alright otherwise" Galatea said calmly looking at him. There was no anger, no anguish. She just loved this man. "I never realized but.. I love you".

 

Caius smiled softly, "you can start now by telling me everything you have done here and how Elowyn is connected to it. And Monkai and Zera. And I want to know where Elowyn is now".

 

Caius listened her story standing silently before her. When she started to tell him what she had done to Monkai and Zera, Caius took a deep breath. His stare deepened into something pitch black, a twitching muscle appeared on his cheek. Caius rushed forward his hand pulsating with power. He grabbed Galatea by her throat lifting her in the air. With a couple of steps he walked to the wall slamming her against it, several times. His grip tightened around her throat.

 

"IF YOU EVER TOUCH MY DAUGHTER AGAIN I WILL DISEMBOWEL YOU!" Caius' face was twisted with rage, "YOU HEAR ME NOW, NEVER AGAIN!" he roared against her face.

 

Galatea made gagging sounds, her feet drummed against the wall. She tried to hold onto Caius' wrist but his grip was made of stone. Her eyes started to turn around.

 

Caius took a deep breath and released her. She fell down to the floor slumping against the wall gagging and trying to gasp for air. Caius paced around the room like a caged beast his eyes locked in her. "You will continue your life as you have so far. But you will never endanger or intervene in the life of my daughter, any daughter, again. You will report all your activities to me, monthly. That is a command".

 

Galatea gasped and nodded whispering, "I understand master".

 

Now get out of my sight", Caius said turning his back on her. Galatea stumbled out of the room holding her throat.

 

Sulla knocked at the door, "We have rounded up the people working in this establishment. Those we could find. What shall we do?".

 

Caius twisted his neck for a while, then relaxed his shoulders. "Find out who has been living in the room at the end of the corridor in the second floor". He turned to look at Sulla, "there is a little window in the door, it is unique." Sulla nodded, "what then?".

 

Caius walked out of the room, "Dispose of them, all".

 

He stopped at the main hall looking at the wall paintings. A sudden creaking sound from the second floor caught his attention. Darkness twirled around Caius and he appeared in the room at the end of the hall.

 

A man was there, he was rummaging through a wooden chest muttering, "Where is it?" He had Elowyn´s staff in his hand.

 

"That is not your staff," Caius said with a deep cold ominous voice. The man twitched and turned around, he had aquiline features. Long hair flowed freely down his back. "How did you..? I thought I locked the door".

 

Caius took a silent step forward his dark eyes gleaming in the dim room, "Where is the owner of that staff?" he whispered.

 

"What do you care?" the man exclaimed chagrined. "I am Magister Vaellanius and I already asked you a question," Caius whispered taking another silent step towards him. "There will not be a second".

 

The man panicked and started gesturing, he understood the elven girl had some connection to this Magister. Maybe even his favorite slave. Air started to ripple around him, something was coming. Caius raised his arm and a volley of massive lightning arcs shot at the man. The staff generated a shield around him when the lightning struck it blocking most of it. But the massive power of the spell penetrated the shield partially cutting his arm, making him drop the staff with a scream.

 

A demon appeared next to him roaring, "Kill him!" the man shouted. Caius smiled coldly and struck his staff on the ground. A massive desire demon appeared to his side, "Play with that one," Caius said to the demon. It charged with a roar grabbing the one this mage had summoned. Demons crashed through the wall into the next room.

 

The mage tried to grab the staff from the ground but a gesture from Caius threw it out of the room. "Final question, where is she?" Caius said stepping forward, this time power twirled around him crackling in a form of several lightning arcs.

 

Mage gestured and Caius could feel how Waking Nightmare fell on him. He grunted shrugging it off him, and a bolt of lightning was shot at him by the retreating man. Caius raised him arm and waved sending it back to him.

 

"That is it," Caius said, a mana clash exploded from him in all directions disrupting the mage just as he had started to become translucent. Caius raised his hand and a single massive arc of lightning struck the man into his chest carving its way through him. His body flew through the air slamming against the wall.

 

Silence fell into the room, Sulla with several guards ran in weapons ready. "It is over" Caius said looking at the man. "Take the staff and leave this room." Sulla nodded and left with his men. Caius walked to the mage turning his smoking body into his back with his foot. "Who are you?" he whispered.

 

Caius stood there for a while contemplating. The he turned to the body, "Let´s find out".

 

He started gesturing with a complicated series of moves, his fingers weaving a peculiar pattern in the air leaving the air rippling with power. He enforced the spell with a low chant in ancient Tevene. Ominous words which seemed to make the air move with each syllable. The air started to feel colder and it seemed to get darker. Chill wind blew through the room. Suddenly the man twitched.

 

Caius crouched beside him, "Now, tell me everything. Who you are, what are you doing here and where is Elowyn? And how can I get her back?"

 

A eerie voice filled the air as the man started speaking.

 

Elowyn felt like it had been forever since the man had left. She tried to struggle with her ropes but they were immovable. Had to be the book. How could she be so careless, walking straight into a trap? What would happen now?

 

Suddenly a tiny spark appeared in the air by the book. It twirled and pulsed softly. With a humming sound it started to expand, slowly first but then the pace grew faster. It grew into a massive hole, and in the other side stood Caius in darkness. Drenched in blood. He took a few steps through the hole struggling with strange pull trying to throw him back where he came from. "Elowyn!" Caius roared.

 

"I´m here!" she screamed forgetting her situation. He had come for her! Caius turned to her, for a moment he gazed at her then moved forward. "I will release you" he shouted to overcome the roar caused by the air running through the opening. Step by step he got closer to the book on a pedestal. A hurricane strength pulled his robes sending a shower of blood through the opening.

 

Caius reached the book. Power started to glow around him as he opened it. A bloody quill in his hand glowed like a bright red star. Caius reached out and started drawing on the page. From distance Elowyn could see movement, demons. The opening called out to them like a beacon.

 

"Hurry up!" she screamed. Caius finished his sketch. He concentrated and power started to twirl around him raising a vortex of bloody mist off him and into the book. The bed where Elowyn was tied to started shaking, then a massive explosion threw her in the air. "I´m free!" she was overjoyed despite her trip through the air. Caius raised his arm and Elowyn was pulled to him. He took her arm with a firm grip, "We have to leave now. The opening needs to be closed".

 

He turned around running towards the opening Elowyn at his heels. With a flash they traveled through to the other side. Darkness was almost impervious after the bright Fade. Caius turned to the opening chanting and gesturing with haste. It curled up and disappeared.

 

Elowyn tried to see her surroundings but it was too dark, she felt like she had stepped into something soft so she called for light. And was struck speechless. Under her foot was a pawn of a woman. And her glazed eyes stared at her. Dozens of bodies lay around the ancient altar, drained of their blood. Pale and dead.

 

Caius turned to her, "That is the price I was willing to pay for your salvation". He looked into Elowyn´s eyes, "Think about that, since it was the only way to bring you back. Was it worth it? My answer you already know".

 

A small light appeared over Caius, he took a firm grip of his staff. "Come, we have to go now," his voice echoed in the ancient space as he started walking forward.

 

Elowyn followed him dazed of the sight she had seen. So many lives. They walked across the dark and dusty ancient hall.*

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

Spoiler

Elowyn leaned on Caius as he led her out of the Fade. Her legs felt wobbly, and she stumbled. She felt wretched. “Was it worth it?” Caius had asked. He should have left her in the book. All those lives sacrificed for her. Her efforts to save the brothel slaves had been for naught – the good she had done had been canceled out, and it was all her fault for entering the mage’s dream. Damn her curiosity!

 

Caius let go of her, and she followed him into his study. He poured her a stiff drink. Her hand shook when she took it, and she spilled a little. Her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment.

 

“Drink that up, then we must talk,” Caius told her.

 

Elowyn wasn’t used to strong drink. She rarely had more than half a glass of wine. The drink burned her throat, and she gasped. She couldn’t meet her Master’s gaze. Her hand gripped her staff. She didn’t deserve it. She was having trouble holding back her tears. She felt filthy where the mage had touched her and wished she could scrub her skin until it bled.

 

It was an effort for her to speak. “I’m s-sorry, Master, I’ve failed you.”

 

Caius sighed. “Why did you feel you had to go behind my back? Why didn’t you come to me with your concerns? You let Galatea lead you into a trap. How could you choose to trust a stranger instead of your own Master? Have I failed you in some way?”

 

Tears poured out of Elowyn’s eyes and ran down her cheeks – she couldn’t stop them. “I was afraid to speak to you, Master. I wanted to help the slaves. Instead, I have caused the death of innocents.”

 

Caius waved this aside. “They were the brothel workers. They would have been put to death anyway for illegal smuggling. At least their blood saved your life.”

 

“Master, you should have left me there. I don’t deserve to be rescued.”

 

Caius looked at her with kindness in his eyes. “Do you think you’re the only one who has made a mistake? You’ve been in my dreams. If you don’t deserve another chance, I don’t, either.”

 

Elowyn looked at him with astonishment. Was this the same man who effortlessly sucked the life out of his enemies? She knew his inner pain, and how he punished himself. She’d been such a fool, caught up in an idealistic fervor. Caius had been balancing benevolence with expedience for years. She should have gone to him with her concerns. He had the means to shut down the brothel with a few words. Had she trusted him, she would never have been raped by that twisted man.

 

“Is it possible that you can forgive me?” she asked him incredulously.

 

He stepped closer to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You made a mistake not coming to me about the brothel,” he said, looking into her eyes, “but what that mage did to you was not your fault. It was a very clever trap that anyone could have fallen for. If you hadn’t been trapped in his book, he might have gotten away and gone on to abuse and destroy more lives. Do you think you’re the first one he has caught?”

 

Elowyn gasped in horror that there could be more spirits trapped the way she had been. Though other mages couldn’t walk physically in the Fade, if anything befell their spirit-forms while they were fadewalking, their physical bodies could remain unconscious or mentally damaged. Could she find the trapped spirits and free them?

 

Caius seemed to know what she was thinking. “You need to rest and recover. If you want to search for lost spirits, I will accompany you.”

 

“Do you mean that?” she asked joyfully. “You would come with me?”

 

“Of course. I can’t let anything happen to you. You are too precious to me.”

 

Her heart filled with gladness. She grasped his hand in both of hers. “You are too good to me, Master.”

 

He smiled and patted her on the head with his other hand. “I am relieved to have you back, safe.”

 

“Master, may I ask… where is Vel?”

 

The Master’s expression hardened. “I am dealing with him. He must pay for his disobedience. Unlike you, he knows better.”

 

Elowyn fell to her knees. “Please, Master, I implore you: spare his life. If you care for me, don’t harm him.”

 

Caius raised her up. “He doesn’t deserve your concern. You are worth a hundred rogues. But I will go easier on him, for your sake.”

 

Elowyn threw her arms around Caius and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, thank you! You are the best Master in Thedas!” she said joyfully.

 

Caius actually blushed. He cradled her head in his hands. “I haven’t forgotten what you did for me,” he said hoarsely, and he kissed her, slowly and softly and tenderly.

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor, Minrathous

Spoiler

After the incident with the abolitionist raid, Elowyn retreated from the outside world. “Licking your wounds,” as Publius so kindly put it when Elowyn couldn’t avoid running into him. The manor was a small pond, and news of Elowyn’s disobedience and subsequent humiliation had quickly spread among the apprentices. Her relationship with Vel had cooled as well. Though she had saved his life, her shame at what the mage at the brothel had done to her came between them. Vel was spending a lot of time away on assignment for the Magister, trying to get back in his good graces by working hard and keeping his head down.

 

Elowyn used the time to study and train. She had a facility for the Entropy branch of magic. Her garden thrived, no doubt because her Dalish forbears had passed down a bit of nature magic to her, and entropy was the flipside of growth. One needed both, and Elowyn practiced turning one into the other: she called forth vines and prickly, poisonous plants and flowers with itchy pollen that could make an enemy cough and sneeze and become blinded with watery eyes. She raised clouds of biting and stinging insects of various kinds. Then she flipped the magic and transformed life into death and decay. Back and forth, one into the other. When she created an especially vicious plant, one with razor-sharp thorns, she imagined it growing through the body of the book-mage, his blood running down to fertilize its roots.

 

Caius found her in the manor’s library one afternoon. She was reading an ancient liber herbalis. Caius’ collection astounded her – many of the manor’s texts were unique.

 

“Master, have you thought about getting a copyist for these works? It would be a tragedy if some misfortune should befall them,” she said, thinking about the explosion Monkai had caused shortly before she became part of Caius’ household.

 

“I would need to hire every illuminator in the city to copy the books in this library,” Caius said. “But I will instruct the scribes to make copies of the texts. I need to purchase a new librarian now that Monkai has moved out,” Caius laughed. Elowyn winced slightly at the thought of “purchasing” a librarian. She supposed any kind of person could be bought here in Tevinter. Caius took the book from her hands and placed it on the table, then took her hands in his own.

 

“How have you been, my apprentice? I’m concerned that your fire has dimmed.” She looked at him, her eyes ringed by dark circles. That kiss he had given her! It had contained more emotion than simple relief at her rescue. There was something in Caius that hungered, like a plant thirsty for water. He was an entropic force that craved the light and beauty of her nature magic. Could she fulfill his need without sacrificing herself? She thought about his dreams: did he need her blood to fuel his ambitions?

 

He stroked her cheek. “No words? Has your voice gone silent as well? If I could kill that man again, I’d kill him a thousand times for robbing you of your spirit!”

 

“Master, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

 

“Anything! What is it you wish to know?”

 

“How did you do that spell? The blood spell with the tentacles?”

 

“How do you know about that?” Caius demanded.

 

Elowyn looked troubled. “I could see things within the Fade. Words appeared in the book – pictures. You know that time behaves strangely on the other side of the Veil. I was there for days. I saw – and experienced – many things.”

 

Caius went to take her in his arms, but she stepped back. “Tell me,” she said.

 

“I will teach you,” he said, “but not today. You need to heal, inside as well as out.”

 

“About that,” she said, turning her face away, “There’s something you need to know.”

 

“What is it?” he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

 

“There were consequences… what the mage did to me.”

 

“What do you mean? If you need healers, I have them. Anything, please, just ask.”

 

“It’s not that kind of injury,” she said, giving him a long look. “I carry that evil man’s child.”

[Serelir]

Vaellanius Manor

by Uccio

Spoiler

*I carry that evil man´s child. Caius struck his fist into his trainer's chin sending him staggering backwards. He followed the man quickly with a series of strikes raining on the man keeping him off balance. Trainer tried to find his balance but Caius moved right inside his defense finishing the match with a tight left hook sending him flat on his face with a twirl.

 

"I think we are done for tonight", Caius whispered turning his back on the trainer. He took the towel from the slave wiping his face as he left. After he had been dressed he headed towards his study. The fight had been good but he was still tense, his jaw line felt like steel, shoulders locked. The look on her face haunted him for some reason. Caius took a deep breath, why do I care? He walked to the silver tray in the side table pouring himself wine, a lot of it. Second cup followed. Caius walked across the shelves looking for a specific tome. There. 

 

Still pining after women of different race? A voice whispered in his mind. Nothing is good enough for you ever, is it? You went against my wishes then and you still do. You are such a shame for your family. "Get lost!" Caius grunted. His will still lingered in Caius mind, like a restless ghost. 

 

He stormed out of the office and left for the library. This should be done now. He saw Elowyn reading a tome in one of the tables. Caius stopped before her, he glanced around. "Everyone leave" Caius shouted to the other apprentices. As the room cleared he looked at Elowyn, it seemed as she had years on her. Dark rings around her eyes spoke of serious stress. It made Caius feel sad, her spirit seemed to be broken.

 

Caius sat next to her placing the tome on the table. He took her hand. "Elowyn" Caius whispered at her turned face, "look at me". Slowly she turned her head looking at him. "So now you are going to kick me out, aren´t you?". She whispered.

 

"No", Caius shook his head, "I am not". He tapped the tome on the table, "I have a solution for you. This is the easiest way out for you my little vren".

Caius brushed gently her cheek, "seeing you like this feels like a knife of an assassin. You did not deserve this violence, and you shouldn´t bear the consequences. There is a spell in this tome, the page is marked. Easy spell, you will have no problem casting it. And you will be free. No repercussions". 

 

He stood up turning gently her chin so that she looked into his eyes. "I will not force my will on you. The decision is yours". He gazed her with soft eyes, "but I think you need to be free, of all the evil things done to you". He looked into her eyes for a moment with plaintive smile, then left.*

 

Vaellanius Manor

by Serelír

Spoiler

Elowyn held the tome in her hands, trying to bring herself to open it to the page with the spell that would free her from this burden. Her Master’s words had touched her. ‘He does care about me,’ she thought. ‘More than as a useful weapon.’ She thought about the potential child. She had come to accept that she would never had children, then events had turned her world upside down. Everything changed. There was hope.

 

But this child? Conceived in pain and torment? How could she love her own child knowing it was fathered by a monster? Would she not always fear that his insanity would emerge? What sort of life would it have, a half-elf child of a slave and a dead man? No one in Minrathous would adopt such a child, and she couldn’t keep it here at the Manor. She could barely take care of the slaves she had rescued.

 

She contemplated the spell tome. If only there were a spell for turning back the clock! She could never cleanse herself of the evil that man had done to her. She needed time to think. She put the tome down and took up her quill.

 

Master, forgive me. I must go away for a while. Don’t try to find me. I am not running away from you. Please believe I intend no disobedience. It is difficult to live with myself, and I must find space to think about my decision. Thank you for not imposing your will upon me, but letting me choose my own path.

 

She left the note next to the spellbook and vanished.