Chapter 94
Kai schooled her face carefully while trying to read the female dwarf standing before her.
“The ‘Hero of Ferelden’ is dead, or haven’t you heard? He died killing the archdemon.” She
cocked an eyebrow.
The beautiful woman simply tilted her head back and laughed. “Nicely done. Vartag said you
could be clever.”
“Oh you meant the other hero, yes she ‘died’ too. Poisoned I believe, her ‘killer’ hasn’t
been brought to justice...yet.”
“But you hope to see that happen in the future, no doubt.” The dwarf was even more beautiful
when she smiled. “Let me get your food and drink.”
Kai watched her walk off, and scanning the tavern before turning to Zev, “Well, she threw out
Vartag’s name. I don’t think she did that on a whim.”
“Hm, no my dear Kaidana, I don’t think she did at that. I too saw our old friend Vartag’s
face, he recognized you, despite your state of dress. She may be his agent, but I am an ex-
Crow. Erring on the side of extreme caution has kept me alive this long. I would like to
keep on in this, ‘living condition’, for a while longer, no?” He leaned in, his fingers
rubbing along her thigh while his lips teased her earlobe, “Especially if you continue sharing
it with me.”
She turned her face towards him, giving him a long and lingering kiss. She could feel his
surprise, and his passion. She pulled her lips away, “You are a charmer, and I must say I
agree with you, caution is the best policy. Especially now, we have no idea what we are
facing. This is...”
“Unsettling? Yes, I agree. The strangers in the market, and in the palace. They are not
Fereldans. And the tension...”
Anything else Zev may have been about to say was interrupted by the return of their “barmaid”
and their food and drink. She smiled and placed it down in front of them. Kai placed coins
on the table for food, drink, and a tip.
The dwarva picked up the coins, running her fingers over them, her eyes suddenly getting wide.
One coin she held up and rubbed her fingers over, three crescents shown on the side that
faced Kai and Zev. Kai watched the woman’s thumb run the surface she couldn’t see, but knew
to have a griffon with wings unfurled emblazoned on it. And in a flash the “coin” disappeared
in an act of slight of hand that Kai found impressive. So, their friend was a thief, probably
a rogue like Kai herself.
The young woman grinned at her, “Thank you for the tip, my lady, is most generous.” She gave
Kai a slight bow, and backed into the shadows of the room. When she appeared again she was
dressed in leathers with a sword and daggers strapped on. She was a girl after Kai’s own
heart after all.
The dwarf sat down next to them, “Please eat, or it might look strange, and we don’t want our
unwanted guests getting suspicious.” She bobbed her dark head towards the front of the bar
where two humans had entered. They looked like one of the groups that Kai observed loitering
in the market area and the commons. She watched them sit down at a table in an area where
they could watch the front and the back of Tapsters.
Kai looked at Zev who gave his usual cocky grin before picking up the black iron utensils and
lifting food to those smiling lips. Kai did the same, and was pleasantly surprised that
Oghren’s Special was a flavorful and delicious dish. What was not surprising was that it
obviously had been cooked with ale; and from the taste of it, Oghren’s own special ale recipe
that he had given to Wynne in the Deep Roads oh so long ago, and later the rest of them.
Kai took a swig of her mead before addressing the dwarf, “So, you are no barmaid, but a rogue.
And a rogue who is casteless yet throws out Vartag Gavorn’s name as easily as dwarves throw
back beer.” Kai gave her a grin, “And now you know I work for the Silver Griffon, and the
group of shadows working on behalf of Ferelden. I have shown you my cards, now care to show
me yours?”
The young woman cocked a delicate eyebrow and gave her a saucy grin while reaching into a
leather pouch at her waist.
“When she says ‘show her yours’, it would be best to do that with the utmost care and caution
no?” Kai looked to see Zev slide a very sharp (and she had reason to know) poisoned dagger
against their new companion’s torso just under her armpit where the wound would not be seen
right away giving them time to leave if they needed to.
The rogue only grinned harder and held up the hand not occupied in supplication. She
continued to reach into the bag and gently pulled out a delicate, but heavy ring, issuing a
husky laugh, "Relax, salroka. I'm not in a hurry to die."
She handed it to Kai. It was obviously meant for a woman. Kai recognized the Aeducan royal
seal, a geometric bearded dwarf. Only Aeducans wore it. As this woman was without caste or
clan, she would have procured it in only one way...it was given to her. Kai grinned, running
a finger over the design before handing it back.
The young woman palmed it, and the ring disappeared into the dark interior of the leather
pouch once more. She chuckled again as Zev withdrew his dagger and resumed eating. Her green
eyes turned to Kai once more, while she offered her arm in a warrior’s grasp, “Salveiga
Brosca, sister to Queen Rica Aeducan.”
Kai grasped the proffered arm gripping the leather vambrace, “Kaidana Cousland, and as you
mentioned before, ‘Hero of Ferelden’. Though I really hate that term, Alistair Theirin was
the true hero, not I.”
“Ah, mi’ gra, we may have to argue that when you come to me in the dream Fade next.”
Alistair’s voice sounded in her ear.
“Oh, can we ‘argue’ so many things and then make up?” Kai gave him a cheeky mental grin.
“Hah! You have been around Zevran way too long, my love.” She could feel his smile.
She was interrupted by Salveiga, who released her grip on Kai’s arm to raise her hand and
motion to a barmaid for a drink. The girl nodded once at the dwarf rogue, and went to the
bar. Those beautiful green eyes were turned on Kai once more along with the saucy smirk,
“Pleased to meet you. I prefer, Sal, by the by. Salveiga is only when I am in trouble with
my mother.”
Kai burst out laughing, “I suffer from the same problem. Kaidana was only when I was in
trouble...”
She was interrupted when her fellow rogue said in a teasing tone, “Which was often?”
“You sound like someone who is familiar with that state, no?” Kai taunted her back, which
caused that lovely husky laughter to burst forth once more.
“Nicely done again! So, what do you prefer to be called?” Sal cocked an eyebrow at her.
“Kai.” She returned the raised eyebrow with one of her own, before forking up more of her
meal.
“Kai, I like that. Well then who is your handsome and oh so dangerous friend?” Sal shot an
appraising eye at Zevran who stopped eating to sip from his wine glass.
Zevran’s amber eyes assessed their companion while giving her a charming leer, “Ah, but I hope
you will forgive me. How rude of me not to introduce myself. I am Zevran Arainai, ex-Crow,
and fantastic lover. My friends call me Zev, and we are going to be friends, are we not?”
Kai rolled her eyes as the elf raised Sal’s hand to brush the knuckles with his lips, “Well at
least one of those things he said is true...he is an ex-Crow.” She wrinkled her nose at him
with a cheeky grin.
“Amiga, you wound me! I must endeavor to prove myself when we go to our bed this evening,
no?” Zev shot her a saucy grin, “I do love a woman that demands a man impress her.” He
winked and Kai and Sal chuckled.
“Ah Salroka, you are a smooth talker. Your lips talk charm, but your eyes are for only one,
and she would not be me.” Sal grinned at Zev, while cocking her head at Kai.
“You my dear, are a very observant woman. Remind me not to play ‘Wicked Grace’, with you;
unless, it was strip ‘Wicked Grace’.” Zev winked at Kai, who grinned and shook her head.
“I warn you, he is incorrigible.” Kai returned the wink.
Sal chuckled and nodded at the barmaid who brought her drink. The dwarf’s face became pensive
as she sipped from her tankard. “Being observant is a necessity when you’re born in my part
of town. You keep the dust out of your eyes or you die, the choice is simple.”
Zevran chuckled, “Ah, mi amiga, your childhood sounds similar to mine. I too know the value
in noticing what others may ignore or take for granted, no?” Zev shot Kai another smile,
“Especially traveling with Kai, Trouble knows where she is at all times.”
“Then you are in for a double dose of it, my friend. Trouble sticks to me like cave ticks
stick to nugs. And Trouble has decided to nest like a pit of Deep Stalkers all throughout
Orzammar; the palace, the city, even Dust Town; their packs are everywhere.”
“Yes, we noticed your guests, who dress like Fereldans but aren’t from Ferelden. And it seems
your latest tourists also make everyone very...uneasy, shall we say?” Kai cocked an eyebrow
at their companion.
Sal laughed, but she turned serious once more, “Since you are here, Salroka, I can only
surmise that Hegnar found you?” She sat forward more, her green eyes more intense. “When our
‘guests’ arrived nothing seemed amiss, then the palace started issuing strange orders, and
these people started hanging out in our market and the palace. There is a curfew now, dwarfs
have disappeared taken from their beds, or off the streets themselves. It started off small,
and almost before we knew it, any way to get some missive out to let those topside, to find
the ‘Griffon’ or the shadows that are working against Anora, became near impossible.”
Kai leaned back, smiling, sipping her mead, making it look as if they were just friends having
a friendly conversation, “I know this is a sensitive subject, but act as though you and I are
talking nothing more serious than...”
“Having pillow fights in your small clothes?” Zevran asked in a mockingly hopeful voice.
His comment had the proper effect, Sal tilted her head back and issued out a husky and lovely
bubble of laughter before clapping the elf hard enough on the shoulder to nearly topple him
from his chair. She grabbed her mug and belted it back before signalling the barmaid for
another tankard. “That is only a myth you males have invented.” She laughed again when Zev’s
face took on a crestfallen look.
Sal mimicked Kai and leaned back in her chair, adopting a casual pose. She waited until her
drink arrived before she began again, “Heg, Hegnar, he volunteered. We knew we needed the
help of the ‘Griffon’. Heg’s mother was engineering caste, his father warrior. His mother’s
family helped carve out the tunnels, and the air ducts. So Hegnar used the grappling hooks,
ropes and pulley system to use the air vents to get out of Orzammar without arousing the
suspicions of our less than welcome friends.”
“Why did you send him to Gwaren?” Kai queried.
“Well, before the shutdown of our city, we had been receiving word about Anora’s doings, and
the ‘Griffon’s’ exploits. Gwaren was the last large stronghold we had here in Ferelden with
access to the surface, and the Silver Griffon struck a nasty blow against Tevinter and Anora
there. Hegnar intended to scout around Gwaren, suss out any information on the new hero
working for Ferelden and where he might be. If no information could be found in Gwaren,
Hegnar was to travel to Denerim and hit The Gnawed Noble Tavern as Corra thought Cyril had
been helping the Griffon and his group.” Sal took another deep swig of brew before
continuing, “Since you are here, and the amulet you carried bore a rampant griffon...” In
another slight of hand the silver medallion appeared, as if from nowhere, in Sal’s fingers.
Kai watched as she flipped it across knuckles from thumb to pinkie and back again, “I guess he
found this burr in Anora’s side, and here you are. Vartag recognized you, and told me to
mention him. He too is trying to work against what is happening. And I supposed that Heg
told you who our guests are and what is going on.” Sal made the coin disappear once more and
lifted her shoulders, “So, what is your plan to deal with our problem?”
Kai felt a sinking feeling in her stomach, “I hate to say this, but I don’t know what the real
problem or problems are, other than these foreigners are scaring the Stone out of your
people.”
Sal’s eyebrows shot up, “But you are here, Heg must have told you...”
Kai looked down, while pulling out the ring the blighted dwarf they found in Gwaren wore. She
held it up and handed it to Sal, “I found him, in Gwaren, by chance. I happened to be there,
looking for some papers Anora would not want to get out. The town was savaged, a pit of dead
humans and dead darkspawn. We happened upon a male dwarf, he was so far gone with the
corruption of the darkspawn that he was almost a ghoul. He raved about Orzammar, the king,
something about demons; but it was all so jumbled, and he was making no sense. I caught that
there was trouble, but not what the trouble was. I am so sorry. I..I had to end it for him,
I know he was your friend.”
Kai kept her eyes on Sal’s face. She wasn’t sure what the dwarf’s reaction would be. Sal’s
face remained passive as she looked into her tankard, as if the answers to the universe might
be in it. She let out a huff of air, and rubbed a hand along her smooth forehead before
speaking, “He was my lover actually, but that doesn’t matter now. Well, better a quick death
than what would’ve happened. A warrior’s death as befits his caste, he deserved that. I am
glad you gave it to him. Thanks. ”
Kai nodded, “I am just glad that I found who he was, and that those who...cared for him will
not wonder what became of him.” Kai explained where they had put him in the Deep Roads.
“You buried him with the Stone?” Kai watched Sal swallow hard before knocking back the
remains of her tankard, while simultaneously motioning for another. “Thanks again. I will
inform his family, and when Orzammar is free again, we can collect his body and put him in his
family’s burial chambers.”
“And may I ask, just what are we freeing Orzammar from?” Kai tilted her towards Sal.
Again, the dwarf waited until the tankard hit the table and the server walked away. She
drained the mug of a good portion of its contents before turning a sardonic smile on Kai,
“The problem is an infestation of Navarran mages, my friend. Now aren’t you glad you came to
help?”
Soulmates~ Chapter 100 is finally up! ^_^ Sorry it took so long!
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, mars 06 2010 06:54
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Chapter 95
“Nevarran mages?” Kai flashed Zev a look while raising her eyebrow, “I would wonder that you
are joking, but I am sitting here watching two of them and how their presence effects
everyone.” Kai looked at Sal, “How would mages of any stripe control dwarves? You’re magic
resistant.”
“Ah therein lies the proverbial rub, along with the ‘which came first the Deep Stalker or the
egg’ puzzle.” Sal barked out a short burst of sarcastic anger. “We may be immune to magic
itself, but we are not resistant to being torn asunder by demons, salroka. These mages are
holding our royal line hostage, as well as our beloved city. They have some sort of device
which open portals to the Fade and pulls these creatures through. They have placed them in
the palace, in particular with my sister and my nephew. They also have them hidden in various
places around Orzammar, including Dust Town.”
Sal made a motion for more drinks for everyone and waited until the various beverages had been
placed on the table in front of them before continuing on. “I was on a mission at the time
for Bhelen, when these mages came to visit along with their dangerous toys. They gave a
little demonstration on the magical portal they snuck into Endrin, my nephew’s, room.”
It took every bit of discipline Kai had not to jump from her seat, “They didn’t use the child
as a sacrifice did they?”
“Easy, salroka, I’m no slick-tongued Shaper with stories. No, they didn’t sacrifice my
nephew, he was merely held at knife point, while the blood of the the guard they had
overpowered was used to fuel the portal. Endrin’s nanny was the ‘example’ on how it worked,
the poor duster. They used the portal to call up a demon made of flame and it tore her
apart.” Kai watched as Sal knocked back yet another mug. Kai smiled in amusement, the dwarf
wasn’t even tipsy yet. Kai would have been under the table by now.
“Needless to say, my nephew has a new ‘nanny’ now.” Sal motioned for a refill.
Kai snorted, “Let me guess, one of your less than welcome guests stepped in to take the
position.”
“You got it in one, salroka. Maybe you skyers aren’t as dim as they say you are.” Sal tossed
Kai a saucy grin and a wink.
“Their plan is devious to be sure, but how did they get close enough to the royal family to
implement it?” Zev’s voice startled both Kai and Sal as he had been sitting so quietly
observing that they had forgotten he was there. He chuckled at their expressions and
shrugged, “I used to spy and kill in my old life. Old talents die hard, no?” He flashed his
most charming smile making Sal laugh and causing Kai to grin and wrinkle her nose at him.
Sal answered him, “They came under the guise of negotiating lyrium, same as the Tower does
here in Ferelden. Obviously that was a lie.” Sal barked out a short laugh, “Well, not
entirely a lie, they have been taking bronto-sized amounts of lyrium into the Deep Roads, but
to what purpose?”
“You mean you don’t know?” Kai almost thought she was hearing things.
“I mean just that, salroka. It isn’t exactly safe to be in the palace, and it is Stone hard
to sneak in. When I have managed, I am only able to see my sister. Bhelen knows what is
going on, but seeing him is impossible, they are with him always.” Sal threw back yet another
tankard and asked for another round for the table. They waited until the barmaid returned
with a tray, leaving drinks, and clearing the empty mugs away, before continuing.
“I am sensing that this isn’t all of it. The disturbing happenings I mean.” Kai cocked an
eyebrow at the dwarva. Kai noticed the Nevarrans looking their way, “Laugh as if I just told
a joke. We mustn't look too serious or our friends over there may get suspicious.”
Sal threw back her head and laughed, slapping a hand on the table, “No it isn’t. A group of
our best dwarven engineers were taken with the first large shipment of lyrium into the Roads.
They also visited the Shaperate and removed books on Cairidin, his anvil, and golems. So, if
I had to guess, salroka, it has to do with recreating a golem army.”
“That would be my guess too. Thought there has to be more to all of this than that. Amassing
a golem army could take years. I don’t see the Navarran mages spending years to make one such
army, that would draw attention. Navarra has made its commerce and power by being a neutral
player in Thedas. They have done very well doing so. They remain outside the fray, and they
have the college for mages there. I suspect that someone is funding this group’s operation.
I also suspect it would not have the sanction of the Navarran government or the college. This
might be a rogue faction of the mages.” Kai absently ran a finger around the rim of her mug,
thinking. “I think someone else wants the army, and hired the mages, to help make it happen.”
Kai shot Zev a look.
“I think we need to speak to our delectably endowed Wynne about the college and the factions,
no?” Zev cocked an eyebrow with a saucy grin.
Kai nodded and chuckled, but grew pensive once more, “This is definitely more complex than
what first meets the eye.”
“When is it not, mi gra? Especially when you are involved.” Alistair’s voice teased in her
ear.
“Ha, very ha!” Kai huffed into her own head. “But so true.” She could feel him grinning.
She was startled out of her internal dialogue by Sal motioning to Corra. The hand motion for
drinks she recognized, but the other had her curious. Whatever it was, the barmaid nodded and
went to the back room behind the scarred counter. She wasn’t sure what to expect when Corra
returned with a tray which she placed on their table. The girl put down more drinks and a
leather bag along with a round wooden board with round divots on its surface.
Aha! Kai had seen that board many times during and after the Blight as Oghren taught all of
them to play his favorite way to pass time, besides drinking that is, dwarven checkers. She
laughed when Sal upended the leather bag and began placing the stone marbles on the board’s
surface.
Sal cocked an eyebrow at her, “I figured our nasty friends over there were watching us a
little too closely, the game might keep them from getting curious as to why we are still
sitting here. You cloud heads aren’t known for holding your drink.” Sal flashed them both a
smile, “This is...”
“Dwarven checkers, yes I know.” Kai cut in, while taking a piece and making the first move.
An aggressive move Oghren had taught her.
“Well, well, you are a skyer with unsuspected depths.” Sal gave Kai a look of respect.
“Oh, si, she is indeed. Shall we make bets? Who takes the first piece? Who takes the most
fastest, and who eventually wins?” Zev grinned and moved one of his pieces.
“Done, my pointy-eared friend!” Sal slapped Zev on the shoulder, almost toppling him again.
Kai waited for Sal to maker her move on the board, “We need to speak to Bhelen.”
“Easier said than done, salroka.” Sal moved her piece across the board, “As I said, there are
mages with him at all times. Even I can’t get in to see him, and I’m family. The only people
allowed an audience with the king are merchants or those involved with commerce or trade.”
Sal sat back and drank from her mug, “They are trying to keep what is going on from raising
the suspicion of surfacers as much as they can.”
Kai observed the game board,and spoke while maneuvering one of the stone pieces to an empty
space, “Would he see mages from the Tower?” She took one of Sal’s pieces.
“Sod!” Sal slapped a hand on the table, “Well first bet goes to you, salroka!” Sal leaned in
as if looking to see if Kai had cheated while pitching her voice low, “Well, yes. In keeping
with appearances to outsiders, including the Tower, Bhelen continues to negotiate trade
agreements himself. Why? Thinking of passing yourself off as a Tower mage? ”
“I was thinking more of passing myself off as a templar escorting two Tower mages.” Kai
waited for each of them to move the checkers before continuing, “Do you think I might be able
to get my hands on some templar armor? I know that the armor smiths here make and repair for
those at the Tower.”
Sal cocked an eyebrow, “They do, Janar in particular. He is one of the best armor smiths in
Orzammar. He usually has a standing order with them. I am sure he can fit you with a full set
of templar armor.”
“Yes, well that may prove a difficult hurdle for Kai.” Zev flashed her a grin while moving
one of his pieces.
Sal raised her eyebrow once again while grinning, “Oh? Do tell, skyer, I sense a story here.”
“Oh Si, not only does Trouble know exactly where Kai is at all times, she is often Trouble’s
most effective agent.” The elf only threw back his head and laughed when Kai wrinkled her
nose and stuck out her tongue at him.
“Isn’t that an understatement?” Alistair’s voice laughed into her ear. Kai gave a mental
groan which only made Alistair laugh harder.
She turned back to Sal who sat chuckling at the exchange as well, “When I visited Orzammar
during the Blight, I made a hole in Janar’s shop’s wall escaping from Jarvia’s hideout.”
“And?” Sal leaned in a wide grin on her face.
“There has to be an ‘and’?” Kai shrugged.
“With you, salroka, yes.” Sal’s smile flashed white teeth.
“Hmm, our beautiful dwarven friend is a fast learner, no?” Zev winked flashed the dwarva a
saucy grin.
Kai huffed out an explosion of breath while resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of her
nose, “Really, I ought to drop both of you into a lava channel.” This statement only elicited
more chuckles from the elf, the dwarf, and Alistair. “Fine! I also may have helped his
daughter leave Orzammar to go study with the mages. So, he doesn’t exactly hold me in the
highest of regards.”
“Oh ho! So you’re the one that helped Dagna with her dream. We all thought she was crazy as a
tick infested nug. Always waiting to talk to surfacers, counting out the time it would take
to reach the Tower from here. No stone sense, that one. Why study magic when we can’t do
magic?” Sal tossed back the rest of her mug and motioned for more. “Janar tried to talk
sense to her, and teach her to be a smith, but Dagna never stopped yearning. There was a rumor
running around Orzammar, including Dust Town, that some skyer had taken Dagna away to the
surface and given her to the Tower.”
“You make it sound like a kidnapping!” Kai shook her head, “I assure you, I didn’t have to
‘take’ her there.”
Sal threw up her hands in supplication, “Easy there, salroka! Everyone, knows that, even
Janar, though it embarrasses him to have a daughter who would rather be a surfacer studying an
art she can never practice.”
“Well, now you know why I can’t go and ask to borrow a suit of armor from him.” Kai shot Sal a
look of regret, “I know he isn’t happy about her life choice, but she is. I know what it is
like to have a life others think you should live that holds no joy. I had to help her with
her dream.”
“You don’t have to explain to me, salroka. As a Duster, I know about dreams that take you out
of a life not worth living. Even better if those dreams come true with help from someone who
really cares about you as a person. Unlike Leske, who peddled my sister as a noble hunter. He
wasn’t seeking to help her status from the goodness of his own heart.”
“It was that kind of practice, and the horror that is Dust Town, that had me choose your
brother-in-law over Harrowmont.” Kai gave a rueful shrug, “I hold no love for Bhelen and
Harrowmont was the better man, but Harrowmont believed in the status quo. I couldn’t see you
all surviving if things didn’t change. Bhelen wanted things to be different, he spoke of this
with the Shaper. No matter that I hold no love for the man himself, Bhelen was, and is,
strong enough to help save you all. Harromont on the other hand...”
“Harrowmont would have spent his time dealing with in-fighting. Orzammar and we dwarves as a
whole would have fallen, not by darkspawn invasion, but our own culture’s collapse.” Sal gave
sarcastic snort, “Then there is Bhelen, I always figured he was a selfish cave tick who only
loved power and himself; yet, he has improved Dust Town and the lives of the Dusters there. He
abolished the casteless class, and those that go top side are welcomed back. Before these
mages came, he was implementing reinstating Assembly with representation from Dust Town.” Sal
gave another bark of laughter and downed the last contents of her mug. “I know I have no love
for Bhelen, but my sister does, and my nephew too; and he seems to love my sister and my
nephew beyond all else, even the crown,which surprised me. He is willing to let whatever is
going on continue as long as they pose a threat to Rica and Endrin.”
Kai shot a glance under her lashes at the mages sitting in the middle of the room before
moving another checker, “Sal, I need your assistance with several things. I need you to get
templar armor from Janar, and I need you to get word to Bhelen through Vartag that I am
planning a visit. I want him to warn Bhelen, I don’t want him showing surprise.”
“Si, as no doubt he will be watched closely by his new, devoted ‘friends’.” Zevran grinned
and took one of Kai’s pieces with his.
They went on playing and drinking. More Navarrans joined the others as the tavern filled.
Kai took that as their cue to leave. They settled their bets over the game, paid their tab
and made their way out of the tavern. They said their good byes outside and parted company,
one to Dust Town and one group to the quarters Wynne and Anders had secured for them at the
inn around the way from Tapsters.
Kai and Zev wended their way past the statues of the Ancestors. As they passed them, Kai
wondered how Filda was doing. They had searched for the dwarf’s son, Ruck in the Deep Roads.
And that led her to wonder about the crazy blighter. When she saw him last he was turning into
a ghoul from eating darkspawn flesh. He had begged they tell his mother he was dead.
She let out a huff of breath, so many unpleasant memories. Everything she did when she
visited Orzammar seemed to be the choice of the lesser of two evils. Better hope it goes
better this time, she thought to herself.
Zevran sensing her mood grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. She gave him a smile and
leaned in to give him a quick kiss, “Just an unpleasant trip down memory lane.” She shrugged,
“So, where is this inn?”
Zev took her to an alcoved courtyard behind the statues, one she had never taken notice of
when she was there before. She looked up to see the stone sign carved over the door. Her
dwarven was a little rusty, but she needn’t have bothered. The picture below sported a carved
nug eating lichen. “The Hungry Nug?” Kai looked at Zev and laughed before pushing the door
open and walking inside.
“Nevarran mages?” Kai flashed Zev a look while raising her eyebrow, “I would wonder that you
are joking, but I am sitting here watching two of them and how their presence effects
everyone.” Kai looked at Sal, “How would mages of any stripe control dwarves? You’re magic
resistant.”
“Ah therein lies the proverbial rub, along with the ‘which came first the Deep Stalker or the
egg’ puzzle.” Sal barked out a short burst of sarcastic anger. “We may be immune to magic
itself, but we are not resistant to being torn asunder by demons, salroka. These mages are
holding our royal line hostage, as well as our beloved city. They have some sort of device
which open portals to the Fade and pulls these creatures through. They have placed them in
the palace, in particular with my sister and my nephew. They also have them hidden in various
places around Orzammar, including Dust Town.”
Sal made a motion for more drinks for everyone and waited until the various beverages had been
placed on the table in front of them before continuing on. “I was on a mission at the time
for Bhelen, when these mages came to visit along with their dangerous toys. They gave a
little demonstration on the magical portal they snuck into Endrin, my nephew’s, room.”
It took every bit of discipline Kai had not to jump from her seat, “They didn’t use the child
as a sacrifice did they?”
“Easy, salroka, I’m no slick-tongued Shaper with stories. No, they didn’t sacrifice my
nephew, he was merely held at knife point, while the blood of the the guard they had
overpowered was used to fuel the portal. Endrin’s nanny was the ‘example’ on how it worked,
the poor duster. They used the portal to call up a demon made of flame and it tore her
apart.” Kai watched as Sal knocked back yet another mug. Kai smiled in amusement, the dwarf
wasn’t even tipsy yet. Kai would have been under the table by now.
“Needless to say, my nephew has a new ‘nanny’ now.” Sal motioned for a refill.
Kai snorted, “Let me guess, one of your less than welcome guests stepped in to take the
position.”
“You got it in one, salroka. Maybe you skyers aren’t as dim as they say you are.” Sal tossed
Kai a saucy grin and a wink.
“Their plan is devious to be sure, but how did they get close enough to the royal family to
implement it?” Zev’s voice startled both Kai and Sal as he had been sitting so quietly
observing that they had forgotten he was there. He chuckled at their expressions and
shrugged, “I used to spy and kill in my old life. Old talents die hard, no?” He flashed his
most charming smile making Sal laugh and causing Kai to grin and wrinkle her nose at him.
Sal answered him, “They came under the guise of negotiating lyrium, same as the Tower does
here in Ferelden. Obviously that was a lie.” Sal barked out a short laugh, “Well, not
entirely a lie, they have been taking bronto-sized amounts of lyrium into the Deep Roads, but
to what purpose?”
“You mean you don’t know?” Kai almost thought she was hearing things.
“I mean just that, salroka. It isn’t exactly safe to be in the palace, and it is Stone hard
to sneak in. When I have managed, I am only able to see my sister. Bhelen knows what is
going on, but seeing him is impossible, they are with him always.” Sal threw back yet another
tankard and asked for another round for the table. They waited until the barmaid returned
with a tray, leaving drinks, and clearing the empty mugs away, before continuing.
“I am sensing that this isn’t all of it. The disturbing happenings I mean.” Kai cocked an
eyebrow at the dwarva. Kai noticed the Nevarrans looking their way, “Laugh as if I just told
a joke. We mustn't look too serious or our friends over there may get suspicious.”
Sal threw back her head and laughed, slapping a hand on the table, “No it isn’t. A group of
our best dwarven engineers were taken with the first large shipment of lyrium into the Roads.
They also visited the Shaperate and removed books on Cairidin, his anvil, and golems. So, if
I had to guess, salroka, it has to do with recreating a golem army.”
“That would be my guess too. Thought there has to be more to all of this than that. Amassing
a golem army could take years. I don’t see the Navarran mages spending years to make one such
army, that would draw attention. Navarra has made its commerce and power by being a neutral
player in Thedas. They have done very well doing so. They remain outside the fray, and they
have the college for mages there. I suspect that someone is funding this group’s operation.
I also suspect it would not have the sanction of the Navarran government or the college. This
might be a rogue faction of the mages.” Kai absently ran a finger around the rim of her mug,
thinking. “I think someone else wants the army, and hired the mages, to help make it happen.”
Kai shot Zev a look.
“I think we need to speak to our delectably endowed Wynne about the college and the factions,
no?” Zev cocked an eyebrow with a saucy grin.
Kai nodded and chuckled, but grew pensive once more, “This is definitely more complex than
what first meets the eye.”
“When is it not, mi gra? Especially when you are involved.” Alistair’s voice teased in her
ear.
“Ha, very ha!” Kai huffed into her own head. “But so true.” She could feel him grinning.
She was startled out of her internal dialogue by Sal motioning to Corra. The hand motion for
drinks she recognized, but the other had her curious. Whatever it was, the barmaid nodded and
went to the back room behind the scarred counter. She wasn’t sure what to expect when Corra
returned with a tray which she placed on their table. The girl put down more drinks and a
leather bag along with a round wooden board with round divots on its surface.
Aha! Kai had seen that board many times during and after the Blight as Oghren taught all of
them to play his favorite way to pass time, besides drinking that is, dwarven checkers. She
laughed when Sal upended the leather bag and began placing the stone marbles on the board’s
surface.
Sal cocked an eyebrow at her, “I figured our nasty friends over there were watching us a
little too closely, the game might keep them from getting curious as to why we are still
sitting here. You cloud heads aren’t known for holding your drink.” Sal flashed them both a
smile, “This is...”
“Dwarven checkers, yes I know.” Kai cut in, while taking a piece and making the first move.
An aggressive move Oghren had taught her.
“Well, well, you are a skyer with unsuspected depths.” Sal gave Kai a look of respect.
“Oh, si, she is indeed. Shall we make bets? Who takes the first piece? Who takes the most
fastest, and who eventually wins?” Zev grinned and moved one of his pieces.
“Done, my pointy-eared friend!” Sal slapped Zev on the shoulder, almost toppling him again.
Kai waited for Sal to maker her move on the board, “We need to speak to Bhelen.”
“Easier said than done, salroka.” Sal moved her piece across the board, “As I said, there are
mages with him at all times. Even I can’t get in to see him, and I’m family. The only people
allowed an audience with the king are merchants or those involved with commerce or trade.”
Sal sat back and drank from her mug, “They are trying to keep what is going on from raising
the suspicion of surfacers as much as they can.”
Kai observed the game board,and spoke while maneuvering one of the stone pieces to an empty
space, “Would he see mages from the Tower?” She took one of Sal’s pieces.
“Sod!” Sal slapped a hand on the table, “Well first bet goes to you, salroka!” Sal leaned in
as if looking to see if Kai had cheated while pitching her voice low, “Well, yes. In keeping
with appearances to outsiders, including the Tower, Bhelen continues to negotiate trade
agreements himself. Why? Thinking of passing yourself off as a Tower mage? ”
“I was thinking more of passing myself off as a templar escorting two Tower mages.” Kai
waited for each of them to move the checkers before continuing, “Do you think I might be able
to get my hands on some templar armor? I know that the armor smiths here make and repair for
those at the Tower.”
Sal cocked an eyebrow, “They do, Janar in particular. He is one of the best armor smiths in
Orzammar. He usually has a standing order with them. I am sure he can fit you with a full set
of templar armor.”
“Yes, well that may prove a difficult hurdle for Kai.” Zev flashed her a grin while moving
one of his pieces.
Sal raised her eyebrow once again while grinning, “Oh? Do tell, skyer, I sense a story here.”
“Oh Si, not only does Trouble know exactly where Kai is at all times, she is often Trouble’s
most effective agent.” The elf only threw back his head and laughed when Kai wrinkled her
nose and stuck out her tongue at him.
“Isn’t that an understatement?” Alistair’s voice laughed into her ear. Kai gave a mental
groan which only made Alistair laugh harder.
She turned back to Sal who sat chuckling at the exchange as well, “When I visited Orzammar
during the Blight, I made a hole in Janar’s shop’s wall escaping from Jarvia’s hideout.”
“And?” Sal leaned in a wide grin on her face.
“There has to be an ‘and’?” Kai shrugged.
“With you, salroka, yes.” Sal’s smile flashed white teeth.
“Hmm, our beautiful dwarven friend is a fast learner, no?” Zev winked flashed the dwarva a
saucy grin.
Kai huffed out an explosion of breath while resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of her
nose, “Really, I ought to drop both of you into a lava channel.” This statement only elicited
more chuckles from the elf, the dwarf, and Alistair. “Fine! I also may have helped his
daughter leave Orzammar to go study with the mages. So, he doesn’t exactly hold me in the
highest of regards.”
“Oh ho! So you’re the one that helped Dagna with her dream. We all thought she was crazy as a
tick infested nug. Always waiting to talk to surfacers, counting out the time it would take
to reach the Tower from here. No stone sense, that one. Why study magic when we can’t do
magic?” Sal tossed back the rest of her mug and motioned for more. “Janar tried to talk
sense to her, and teach her to be a smith, but Dagna never stopped yearning. There was a rumor
running around Orzammar, including Dust Town, that some skyer had taken Dagna away to the
surface and given her to the Tower.”
“You make it sound like a kidnapping!” Kai shook her head, “I assure you, I didn’t have to
‘take’ her there.”
Sal threw up her hands in supplication, “Easy there, salroka! Everyone, knows that, even
Janar, though it embarrasses him to have a daughter who would rather be a surfacer studying an
art she can never practice.”
“Well, now you know why I can’t go and ask to borrow a suit of armor from him.” Kai shot Sal a
look of regret, “I know he isn’t happy about her life choice, but she is. I know what it is
like to have a life others think you should live that holds no joy. I had to help her with
her dream.”
“You don’t have to explain to me, salroka. As a Duster, I know about dreams that take you out
of a life not worth living. Even better if those dreams come true with help from someone who
really cares about you as a person. Unlike Leske, who peddled my sister as a noble hunter. He
wasn’t seeking to help her status from the goodness of his own heart.”
“It was that kind of practice, and the horror that is Dust Town, that had me choose your
brother-in-law over Harrowmont.” Kai gave a rueful shrug, “I hold no love for Bhelen and
Harrowmont was the better man, but Harrowmont believed in the status quo. I couldn’t see you
all surviving if things didn’t change. Bhelen wanted things to be different, he spoke of this
with the Shaper. No matter that I hold no love for the man himself, Bhelen was, and is,
strong enough to help save you all. Harromont on the other hand...”
“Harrowmont would have spent his time dealing with in-fighting. Orzammar and we dwarves as a
whole would have fallen, not by darkspawn invasion, but our own culture’s collapse.” Sal gave
sarcastic snort, “Then there is Bhelen, I always figured he was a selfish cave tick who only
loved power and himself; yet, he has improved Dust Town and the lives of the Dusters there. He
abolished the casteless class, and those that go top side are welcomed back. Before these
mages came, he was implementing reinstating Assembly with representation from Dust Town.” Sal
gave another bark of laughter and downed the last contents of her mug. “I know I have no love
for Bhelen, but my sister does, and my nephew too; and he seems to love my sister and my
nephew beyond all else, even the crown,which surprised me. He is willing to let whatever is
going on continue as long as they pose a threat to Rica and Endrin.”
Kai shot a glance under her lashes at the mages sitting in the middle of the room before
moving another checker, “Sal, I need your assistance with several things. I need you to get
templar armor from Janar, and I need you to get word to Bhelen through Vartag that I am
planning a visit. I want him to warn Bhelen, I don’t want him showing surprise.”
“Si, as no doubt he will be watched closely by his new, devoted ‘friends’.” Zevran grinned
and took one of Kai’s pieces with his.
They went on playing and drinking. More Navarrans joined the others as the tavern filled.
Kai took that as their cue to leave. They settled their bets over the game, paid their tab
and made their way out of the tavern. They said their good byes outside and parted company,
one to Dust Town and one group to the quarters Wynne and Anders had secured for them at the
inn around the way from Tapsters.
Kai and Zev wended their way past the statues of the Ancestors. As they passed them, Kai
wondered how Filda was doing. They had searched for the dwarf’s son, Ruck in the Deep Roads.
And that led her to wonder about the crazy blighter. When she saw him last he was turning into
a ghoul from eating darkspawn flesh. He had begged they tell his mother he was dead.
She let out a huff of breath, so many unpleasant memories. Everything she did when she
visited Orzammar seemed to be the choice of the lesser of two evils. Better hope it goes
better this time, she thought to herself.
Zevran sensing her mood grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. She gave him a smile and
leaned in to give him a quick kiss, “Just an unpleasant trip down memory lane.” She shrugged,
“So, where is this inn?”
Zev took her to an alcoved courtyard behind the statues, one she had never taken notice of
when she was there before. She looked up to see the stone sign carved over the door. Her
dwarven was a little rusty, but she needn’t have bothered. The picture below sported a carved
nug eating lichen. “The Hungry Nug?” Kai looked at Zev and laughed before pushing the door
open and walking inside.
#328
Posté 30 novembre 2010 - 07:38
Lynn01
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- Members
- 280 messages
Oh nice another update on this story as well! Thanks Gil! I really love this story! Well, I guess I like all your stories 
Looking forward to more!
Looking forward to more!
#329
Posté 30 novembre 2010 - 10:27
Gilgamesh1138
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- Members
- 1 915 messages
Thanks Lynn! 
Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 05 janvier 2011 - 02:42 .
#330
Posté 05 janvier 2011 - 02:42
Gilgamesh1138
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- Members
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Chapter 96
Kai and Zev walked into the dimly lit interior of The Hungry Nug inn. The lobby floor was
covered with a thick woolen rug in a geometric pattern. The room itself was neat, dimly lit
by two torches, and some muted magical runes. It served to give the impression of twilight
and sleepy comfort.
There were stone benches and chairs, and not all built for dwarves either. It eased Kai’s
mind some, as it meant a bed that might fit a human. She didn’t relish dangling her feet over
the edge or sleeping caddy-cornered to get some shut-eye.
They made their way to a front desk made of carved stone, upon which stood a flat etched disk
of metal hanging from a metal bar suspending perpendicular to its stone base. A small stick
with a leather-covered padded end hung from a hook on the frame. Zevran picked up the stick
and applied the leather covered end to the plate of hanging metal which emitted a low
reverberating ‘bong’ sound.
A tapestry worked out in red, black, and white geometric designs bulged slightly before being
swept to the side to reveal a doorway Kai had no idea was there. The makeshift curtain swung
back into place as a male dwarf walked through to stand before them. His elaborately plaited
beard glowed like golden honey in the torchlight. “Ah! A young couple in love, I supposed
you’re needing a place to bunk down? As it so happens, I have a room with human sized
furniture still empty.”
He turned back to the wall to the side of the doorway through which he had just appeared. The
wall held square openings carved into the rock, and each cubby-hole sported a glyph and held
either an empty metal hook, or a hook with a heavy iron key. Kai noticed that some of the
spaces held what looked like parchment pieces. The dwarf reached for a key and pulled one
such piece of brownish paper from the space behind the hook. He sat the scrap of parchment
along with the key on the counter as Kai put coins down for the room.
“My lady, the occupants in the room next to yours have a missive. Would it be an imposition
if I were to ask you to deliver it? It is a couple of mages here from the tower about lyrium.
I think this note might be from their friends there?” The dwarf shoved coins for the change
Kai didn’t think they were entitled to. He winked at her with a grin before flashing a look
at the coins and back to Kai. “My cousin, Georig, he lives next to Lake Calenhad and the
tower. He tells me that the mages are ten feet tall and shoot lightening out of their
fingers, he is such a joker. They both looked as normal as cloud-heads can to me.” The
braids of the man’s beard wiggled with his laughter, “Georig loves his ale. He keeps trying
get me to go topside and visit The Spoiled Princess tavern there.”
Kai looked down at the pile of coins some copper bits and good amount of silver, sitting on
the paper beneath it. One coin was larger and bore a symbol Kai was very familiar with: three
crescent moons back to back joined by a triple knot. The ‘coin’ had writing not readable in
the dim light of the lobby, but Kai knew it said 'dileas go deo’. Without flipping it over she
knew a rampant griffin would adorn the other side.
“Yes, well your cousin is right, good ser. Topside has many fine ales to choose from. The
Spoiled Princess is well known for it’s selection.” Kai grinned at him, “And I would be happy
to deliver the message to the mages for you.” Kai leaned in close as she piled the coins into
her palm, “And I thank you for allowing yourself to be recruited by the Scath by way of
Georig.” Kai slapped some of the silver back on the stone counter, along with the Scath
medallion, “Your, tip.” She scooped up the key with a wink.
“I am Ruhe, my lady. It is a pleasure to serve.” He returned her wink with a grin at this,
“my wife Walpurga helps with the running of the inn and can attend to your needs as well.”
Ruhe made the medallion disappear into his pocket, and the coins into a metal lock box.
“Please don’t hesitate to call on us. You’ll find your room up the stairs and at the end of
the hall. Room three-oh-four. The mages are in room three-oh-three next door.”
Kai and Zevran made their way up the narrow stone step to the floors cut into the rock. Signs
at the corner of each corridor glowed softly with inset lyrium and pointed travelers to the
halls where their rooms were.
They found rooms three-oh-three and three-oh-four at the end of one long hall near a set of
back stairs. Zevran slipped the heavy key into a matching iron lock on the stone door with
the glowing glyph, giving it a twist. The mechanism was well oiled and tumblers slid back
with hardly any noise at all.
Kai watched as he placed one of his long fingered hands on the door and nudged it open
slightly. Like the lock, the great iron hinges on the door were well lubricated. Zevran must
have heard something in the room beyond as he drew one of his throwing daggers from its secret
sheath and readied it as he put himself into the shadows. Kai followed suit, cautiously
moving around the heavy door.
She had barely entered the room when she heard a familiar voice, “Now, mate, I have all the
holes a body needs to function. And while I appreciated a good poke, I am usually the one
doing the poking.”
Kai came into the room to find Zev standing over Anders who lay prone on the bed with his
kitten on his shoulder, Argus laying beside him and a plate of fruit and cheese in his lap.
Kai watched as Anders flashed the elf a saucy grin while feeding, first the cat, then Argus, a
bit of cheese before popping a grape into his own mouth.
“My sparkled fingered friend, it is truly amazing that you have not found yourself on the
sharpened end of a dagger while in bed before this.” Zevran grinned and shook his head while
making the blade disappear once more, “How did you manage to gain entrance into our room?”
Anders let out a deep chuckle, “Ah, it takes one to know one, does it not, my dangerous
friend? I have no doubt you know well the art of quick escapes from amorous romps gone
wrong.”
This statement caused Zevran to throw back his head and laugh, “Si, my magical mischief maker,
we have more in common than I would have guessed upon our first meeting.”
“Oh, perhaps even more than both of us realized, besides our good taste in women?” Anders
grinned at Kai before he winked at Zevran. “As to how I managed to enter your room, comfy bed
by the way, do you think it’s big enough for a threesome?” With this Anders flashed Kai a
hopeful look before turning back to Zev, “I picked the lock of the door between our rooms.”
He popped another grape into his mouth. When the kitten and Argus protested, he addressed
them while doling out more nibbles, “So sorry, my furry friends!”
“And it took him forever and an aye.” Wynne’s dry voice floated into the room as the mage
entered from the door in question, “I thought I would grow old and die here before he picked
it.” Kai turned to watch as Wynne walked in with a tray holding a bottle of wine, and four
mugs. The mage set it upon a low slung bureau that appeared to be carved from the stone
itself. Kai saw two more plates piled with more food. “I offered to go to the innkeeper as
he is on the side of The Silver Griffon, thanks to our Scath weapons-smith and his family, but
Anders insisted he show off his ‘skills with a lock pick.” Wynne cocked an eyebrow while a
smile played at the corner of her lips.
Anders’s voice took on a mock hurt tone, “My dear lady, you tease me! I admit that I am no
slick fingered rogue, and that perhaps it took longer than say, our talented friends here; but
believe me, picking locks has come in handy on several occasions and on several escape
attempts.” Anders flashed them all a cheeky smile, “ And I don’t mean just from the tower.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Came Wynne’s acerbic response as she poured burgundy wine into the
mugs.
“Why not just bust a lock with a freeze spell? Why take so much....time, with a mundane tool
when you have magic at your disposal?” Kai grinned and shrugged her shoulders as Wynne handed
her a mug of sweet smelling wine.
“My dear lady, Templars at the tower know when magic is being done, and they can suppress
mana. They saw fit to lock me away behind mundane, as you called it, doors; therefore, I
thought it prudent to learn how to use a lock pick.” Anders winked and grinned taking his own
proffered mug with a little bow of the head to Wynne. “I am nothing if not practical.”
“Young man, if you were practical, you would not continue to escape from the tower. And once
you had absconded, you would not have been caught over and over.” Wynne cocked an eyebrow at
the young mage while sipping her wine delicately, “Why do I suspect pursuit of female company
was to blame for your continued incarcerations?”
“My dear lady, if there was some irate husband on occasion who misconstrued his wife giving
aid and succor to a homeless and penniless mage, well that was not my fault. And if said
husband caught a man warming his wife’s bed, well, I didn’t do it.”
“Certainly not, you are a model of propriety, I’m sure.” Wynne raised an eyebrow while
stating drily, “Much in the way that Zevran is, no doubt.”
This drew a laugh from Kai and Anders, and a “My deliciously endowed Wynne, you wound me!” and
a chuckle from Zev.
Wynne snickered and shook her head, before sitting in one of the three chairs in the room.
Apparently she and Anders had brought them in, in anticipation of their meeting. Wynne waited
until Kai and Zevran settled themselves before she looked at them leaning forward, placing her
elbows on her knees. “So, what took you so long? You are hardly the type to sit in a tavern
drinking for drinking sake.”
“Except for that time at camp where you and Leliana got drunk off of Oghren’s stolen beer
stash at camp that one night.” Ali’s voice teased in her ear.
“Ugh! Don’t remind me! The headache the next morning was horrible, and Wynne wouldn’t heal it
as a reminder to us both.” Kai gave him a mental grimace.
She broke off with Alistair and addressed Wynne, “Well, we had a visitor.”
Zev gave Kai a cheeky grin, “A most beautiful, and interesting visitor, no?”
“Beautiful?” Anders’s face lit up with interest.
Kai laughed, “Yes, beautiful and deadly, so behave yourself when you meet her.”
“Oh, now I am even more intrigued!” Anders lips curved into a wide smile while he winked at
Zev conspiratorially, “I have always had a weakness for beauty and danger.”
This made Zev laugh and Kai throw up her hands shaking her head. “I give up on both of you,
two incorrigible reprobates! What am I supposed to do with you?”
“I could thi-” Zev began, before Kai stopped him by placing a finger on his lips.
“Yes, you could think of something. Both of you could, no doubt.” Kai flashed a look at
Anders who only smirked harder. “You two are so much alike, Maker help me.” Zev grinned and
kissed her finger’s tip before sipping more wine.
Kai turned back to the elder mage, “Our visitor was none other than the sister to Queen Rica
Aeducan herself. And Vartag Gavorn sent her to us. I expected to have a missive telling us
where you’d found us lodging, this is very nice by the way and in a good place close to the
front doors.” Kai pulled out a small tightly folded piece of parchment that had been stuck to
the bottom of one of her mugs, she unfolded it and it bore lettering on it in ink. “From this
childish scrawl, I take it you let Anders write the note.” This earned Kai a mock, hurt
‘hey’, from the mage in question.
Kai wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at him before continuing, “It seems Vartag
recognized me, and sent her to us.” Kai went on to explain what was going on at the palace
and around the city: the Nevarran mages, their demon portals, their holding Bhelen and his
family hostage, their disappearing to the Deep Roads with dwarves and information on Cairidin
(which led Kai and her companions from the Blight to fill Anders in on dwarven history and
golems).
“So, you tell us that Nevarra wishes to build a golem army?” Anders looked taken aback, “To
what dark purpose, I wonder?”
“I don’t know that the Nevarran government is itself involved, though, they do have their
constant battles with Orlais. If Nevarra had lost the war to own the mineral rich Blasted
hills to Orlais, well, then golems would indeed come in handy; but they didn’t.”
“No, young lady they didn’t lose that battle, but I can see why the Nevarran government might
agree to let some of the mages from the college in Cumberland help a certain little viper on
the Ferelden throne to amass an army of golems.” Wynne stood and went to the bureau to pour
more wine into her mug. “Nevarra feels about Orlais the same way that Loghain did. And I am
sure Anora used that as a manipulation. She probably promised them help against Orlais;
supplies, gold, weapons, armor, soldiers should they need them.”
“Why so many mages? Why not engineers and soldiers?” Kai shrugged.
“I suspect that they are of one of the mage factions that believe that magic should be
profitable, either monetarily or politically, or both, dear lady.” Anders shot Wynne a
knowing look.
“Hmm, our young troublemaker is probably right. Lucrosians, they are a small faction among
us. They do believe our talents should be for sale.” Wynne sipped delicately while staring
off into space, lost in thought. “They would be the mages to send. But I don’t like it. I
think you are right, Kai, something else is going on.”
They all sat in silence, each to their thoughts, before they bid each other good night and
went to their beds. Sleep, at least for Kai, did not come easily; her head so filled with
thoughts that she hardly noticed when she did slip into strange dreams.
Kai and Zev walked into the dimly lit interior of The Hungry Nug inn. The lobby floor was
covered with a thick woolen rug in a geometric pattern. The room itself was neat, dimly lit
by two torches, and some muted magical runes. It served to give the impression of twilight
and sleepy comfort.
There were stone benches and chairs, and not all built for dwarves either. It eased Kai’s
mind some, as it meant a bed that might fit a human. She didn’t relish dangling her feet over
the edge or sleeping caddy-cornered to get some shut-eye.
They made their way to a front desk made of carved stone, upon which stood a flat etched disk
of metal hanging from a metal bar suspending perpendicular to its stone base. A small stick
with a leather-covered padded end hung from a hook on the frame. Zevran picked up the stick
and applied the leather covered end to the plate of hanging metal which emitted a low
reverberating ‘bong’ sound.
A tapestry worked out in red, black, and white geometric designs bulged slightly before being
swept to the side to reveal a doorway Kai had no idea was there. The makeshift curtain swung
back into place as a male dwarf walked through to stand before them. His elaborately plaited
beard glowed like golden honey in the torchlight. “Ah! A young couple in love, I supposed
you’re needing a place to bunk down? As it so happens, I have a room with human sized
furniture still empty.”
He turned back to the wall to the side of the doorway through which he had just appeared. The
wall held square openings carved into the rock, and each cubby-hole sported a glyph and held
either an empty metal hook, or a hook with a heavy iron key. Kai noticed that some of the
spaces held what looked like parchment pieces. The dwarf reached for a key and pulled one
such piece of brownish paper from the space behind the hook. He sat the scrap of parchment
along with the key on the counter as Kai put coins down for the room.
“My lady, the occupants in the room next to yours have a missive. Would it be an imposition
if I were to ask you to deliver it? It is a couple of mages here from the tower about lyrium.
I think this note might be from their friends there?” The dwarf shoved coins for the change
Kai didn’t think they were entitled to. He winked at her with a grin before flashing a look
at the coins and back to Kai. “My cousin, Georig, he lives next to Lake Calenhad and the
tower. He tells me that the mages are ten feet tall and shoot lightening out of their
fingers, he is such a joker. They both looked as normal as cloud-heads can to me.” The
braids of the man’s beard wiggled with his laughter, “Georig loves his ale. He keeps trying
get me to go topside and visit The Spoiled Princess tavern there.”
Kai looked down at the pile of coins some copper bits and good amount of silver, sitting on
the paper beneath it. One coin was larger and bore a symbol Kai was very familiar with: three
crescent moons back to back joined by a triple knot. The ‘coin’ had writing not readable in
the dim light of the lobby, but Kai knew it said 'dileas go deo’. Without flipping it over she
knew a rampant griffin would adorn the other side.
“Yes, well your cousin is right, good ser. Topside has many fine ales to choose from. The
Spoiled Princess is well known for it’s selection.” Kai grinned at him, “And I would be happy
to deliver the message to the mages for you.” Kai leaned in close as she piled the coins into
her palm, “And I thank you for allowing yourself to be recruited by the Scath by way of
Georig.” Kai slapped some of the silver back on the stone counter, along with the Scath
medallion, “Your, tip.” She scooped up the key with a wink.
“I am Ruhe, my lady. It is a pleasure to serve.” He returned her wink with a grin at this,
“my wife Walpurga helps with the running of the inn and can attend to your needs as well.”
Ruhe made the medallion disappear into his pocket, and the coins into a metal lock box.
“Please don’t hesitate to call on us. You’ll find your room up the stairs and at the end of
the hall. Room three-oh-four. The mages are in room three-oh-three next door.”
Kai and Zevran made their way up the narrow stone step to the floors cut into the rock. Signs
at the corner of each corridor glowed softly with inset lyrium and pointed travelers to the
halls where their rooms were.
They found rooms three-oh-three and three-oh-four at the end of one long hall near a set of
back stairs. Zevran slipped the heavy key into a matching iron lock on the stone door with
the glowing glyph, giving it a twist. The mechanism was well oiled and tumblers slid back
with hardly any noise at all.
Kai watched as he placed one of his long fingered hands on the door and nudged it open
slightly. Like the lock, the great iron hinges on the door were well lubricated. Zevran must
have heard something in the room beyond as he drew one of his throwing daggers from its secret
sheath and readied it as he put himself into the shadows. Kai followed suit, cautiously
moving around the heavy door.
She had barely entered the room when she heard a familiar voice, “Now, mate, I have all the
holes a body needs to function. And while I appreciated a good poke, I am usually the one
doing the poking.”
Kai came into the room to find Zev standing over Anders who lay prone on the bed with his
kitten on his shoulder, Argus laying beside him and a plate of fruit and cheese in his lap.
Kai watched as Anders flashed the elf a saucy grin while feeding, first the cat, then Argus, a
bit of cheese before popping a grape into his own mouth.
“My sparkled fingered friend, it is truly amazing that you have not found yourself on the
sharpened end of a dagger while in bed before this.” Zevran grinned and shook his head while
making the blade disappear once more, “How did you manage to gain entrance into our room?”
Anders let out a deep chuckle, “Ah, it takes one to know one, does it not, my dangerous
friend? I have no doubt you know well the art of quick escapes from amorous romps gone
wrong.”
This statement caused Zevran to throw back his head and laugh, “Si, my magical mischief maker,
we have more in common than I would have guessed upon our first meeting.”
“Oh, perhaps even more than both of us realized, besides our good taste in women?” Anders
grinned at Kai before he winked at Zevran. “As to how I managed to enter your room, comfy bed
by the way, do you think it’s big enough for a threesome?” With this Anders flashed Kai a
hopeful look before turning back to Zev, “I picked the lock of the door between our rooms.”
He popped another grape into his mouth. When the kitten and Argus protested, he addressed
them while doling out more nibbles, “So sorry, my furry friends!”
“And it took him forever and an aye.” Wynne’s dry voice floated into the room as the mage
entered from the door in question, “I thought I would grow old and die here before he picked
it.” Kai turned to watch as Wynne walked in with a tray holding a bottle of wine, and four
mugs. The mage set it upon a low slung bureau that appeared to be carved from the stone
itself. Kai saw two more plates piled with more food. “I offered to go to the innkeeper as
he is on the side of The Silver Griffon, thanks to our Scath weapons-smith and his family, but
Anders insisted he show off his ‘skills with a lock pick.” Wynne cocked an eyebrow while a
smile played at the corner of her lips.
Anders’s voice took on a mock hurt tone, “My dear lady, you tease me! I admit that I am no
slick fingered rogue, and that perhaps it took longer than say, our talented friends here; but
believe me, picking locks has come in handy on several occasions and on several escape
attempts.” Anders flashed them all a cheeky smile, “ And I don’t mean just from the tower.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Came Wynne’s acerbic response as she poured burgundy wine into the
mugs.
“Why not just bust a lock with a freeze spell? Why take so much....time, with a mundane tool
when you have magic at your disposal?” Kai grinned and shrugged her shoulders as Wynne handed
her a mug of sweet smelling wine.
“My dear lady, Templars at the tower know when magic is being done, and they can suppress
mana. They saw fit to lock me away behind mundane, as you called it, doors; therefore, I
thought it prudent to learn how to use a lock pick.” Anders winked and grinned taking his own
proffered mug with a little bow of the head to Wynne. “I am nothing if not practical.”
“Young man, if you were practical, you would not continue to escape from the tower. And once
you had absconded, you would not have been caught over and over.” Wynne cocked an eyebrow at
the young mage while sipping her wine delicately, “Why do I suspect pursuit of female company
was to blame for your continued incarcerations?”
“My dear lady, if there was some irate husband on occasion who misconstrued his wife giving
aid and succor to a homeless and penniless mage, well that was not my fault. And if said
husband caught a man warming his wife’s bed, well, I didn’t do it.”
“Certainly not, you are a model of propriety, I’m sure.” Wynne raised an eyebrow while
stating drily, “Much in the way that Zevran is, no doubt.”
This drew a laugh from Kai and Anders, and a “My deliciously endowed Wynne, you wound me!” and
a chuckle from Zev.
Wynne snickered and shook her head, before sitting in one of the three chairs in the room.
Apparently she and Anders had brought them in, in anticipation of their meeting. Wynne waited
until Kai and Zevran settled themselves before she looked at them leaning forward, placing her
elbows on her knees. “So, what took you so long? You are hardly the type to sit in a tavern
drinking for drinking sake.”
“Except for that time at camp where you and Leliana got drunk off of Oghren’s stolen beer
stash at camp that one night.” Ali’s voice teased in her ear.
“Ugh! Don’t remind me! The headache the next morning was horrible, and Wynne wouldn’t heal it
as a reminder to us both.” Kai gave him a mental grimace.
She broke off with Alistair and addressed Wynne, “Well, we had a visitor.”
Zev gave Kai a cheeky grin, “A most beautiful, and interesting visitor, no?”
“Beautiful?” Anders’s face lit up with interest.
Kai laughed, “Yes, beautiful and deadly, so behave yourself when you meet her.”
“Oh, now I am even more intrigued!” Anders lips curved into a wide smile while he winked at
Zev conspiratorially, “I have always had a weakness for beauty and danger.”
This made Zev laugh and Kai throw up her hands shaking her head. “I give up on both of you,
two incorrigible reprobates! What am I supposed to do with you?”
“I could thi-” Zev began, before Kai stopped him by placing a finger on his lips.
“Yes, you could think of something. Both of you could, no doubt.” Kai flashed a look at
Anders who only smirked harder. “You two are so much alike, Maker help me.” Zev grinned and
kissed her finger’s tip before sipping more wine.
Kai turned back to the elder mage, “Our visitor was none other than the sister to Queen Rica
Aeducan herself. And Vartag Gavorn sent her to us. I expected to have a missive telling us
where you’d found us lodging, this is very nice by the way and in a good place close to the
front doors.” Kai pulled out a small tightly folded piece of parchment that had been stuck to
the bottom of one of her mugs, she unfolded it and it bore lettering on it in ink. “From this
childish scrawl, I take it you let Anders write the note.” This earned Kai a mock, hurt
‘hey’, from the mage in question.
Kai wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at him before continuing, “It seems Vartag
recognized me, and sent her to us.” Kai went on to explain what was going on at the palace
and around the city: the Nevarran mages, their demon portals, their holding Bhelen and his
family hostage, their disappearing to the Deep Roads with dwarves and information on Cairidin
(which led Kai and her companions from the Blight to fill Anders in on dwarven history and
golems).
“So, you tell us that Nevarra wishes to build a golem army?” Anders looked taken aback, “To
what dark purpose, I wonder?”
“I don’t know that the Nevarran government is itself involved, though, they do have their
constant battles with Orlais. If Nevarra had lost the war to own the mineral rich Blasted
hills to Orlais, well, then golems would indeed come in handy; but they didn’t.”
“No, young lady they didn’t lose that battle, but I can see why the Nevarran government might
agree to let some of the mages from the college in Cumberland help a certain little viper on
the Ferelden throne to amass an army of golems.” Wynne stood and went to the bureau to pour
more wine into her mug. “Nevarra feels about Orlais the same way that Loghain did. And I am
sure Anora used that as a manipulation. She probably promised them help against Orlais;
supplies, gold, weapons, armor, soldiers should they need them.”
“Why so many mages? Why not engineers and soldiers?” Kai shrugged.
“I suspect that they are of one of the mage factions that believe that magic should be
profitable, either monetarily or politically, or both, dear lady.” Anders shot Wynne a
knowing look.
“Hmm, our young troublemaker is probably right. Lucrosians, they are a small faction among
us. They do believe our talents should be for sale.” Wynne sipped delicately while staring
off into space, lost in thought. “They would be the mages to send. But I don’t like it. I
think you are right, Kai, something else is going on.”
They all sat in silence, each to their thoughts, before they bid each other good night and
went to their beds. Sleep, at least for Kai, did not come easily; her head so filled with
thoughts that she hardly noticed when she did slip into strange dreams.
#331
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 02:09
Gilgamesh1138
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- Members
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Chapter 97
Kai sat at a long wooden table covered with a lace tablecloth broken up with platters of
food, plates, teapots and tea cups. Various figures sat around the table, and when she looked
closely they were all different types of darkspawn clothed in fancy Ferelden clothing,
including dresses. Like some macabre social affair; they sipped tea and ate from plates, yet
their movements were jerky and awkward with elbows, necks, and wrists held at strangely
splayed angles.
She felt a hand on her arm and she turned to see Nissyan the hermit sitting next to her. He
smiled and pointed, indicating she should take a closer look. Kai leaned in towards the
hurlock sitting next to her, noting the clothing of a noble, and the way the fancy teacup and
saucer looked so ludicrous being held in a clawed and black skinned hand. “Look closer.”
Nissyan’s voice giggled into her ear. It took a moment and then it struck her; there were
strings attached to the darkspawn’s elbows and fingers as if it were nothing more than a
life-sized puppet.
Her gaze shot upwards following the strings to see what looked like a spiderweb of wires
attached to two giant wooden control bars, with the trailing wires allowing the controllers to
master each of the creatures sitting at the table. There were figures supposedly manipulating
the puppets, but she could not make them out as they seemed to be made of shadows and
silhouettes and there was a vast expanse of table between them.
Kai stood up and made to walk the length of one side; she knew she wanted a better look at one
of the puppet masters. The moment she took one step the table elongated, stretching out into
a vast distance carrying the puppeteer farther away. When she turned to walk towards the
other end again, the table elongated carrying the second puppeteer away as well.
Frustrated she sat down again speaking to Nissyan who had stuffed his cheeks with what looked
like a scone. Of all the participants in her dream, the hermit seemed to be real, much the way
Alistair was when they were together here. “Nissyan, is that really you? What is all of
this?”
Nissyan giggled, “Have a biscuit!” He shoved a plate of cookies towards her, “We have
biscuits! Not as good as mine, but still!”
Kai smiled and took a biscuit from the plate as the hermit poured tea into her teacup, adding
honey and milk. “Nissyan, I don’t understand, what is all of this?” Kai waved a hand down
the length of the table.
The hermit giggled, “Questions, questions, always with the questions! That is my favorite
thing! It is a puppet show of course, watch!”
Kai watched as two hurlocks, one from each side of the table, jumped on top scattering plates,
smashing food, and crushing teacups beneath booted feet. Kai found herself scooting back and
Nissyan grabbed the plate of biscuits and sat with them in his lap while chaos ensued as all
the darkspawn began fighting. “See, they fight! Remember this, it will be important later.”
Nissyan spoke with his mouth full, crumbs falling off his chin. Then he tilted his head much
the way Argus would hearing something far away, “The one who is a part of you is coming. Time
for you to go, yes, time to go. Remember this, friend, don’t forget! And eat biscuits,
they’re good!”
The world expanded as if Kai stood still and everything moved around her at such speed, the
entire scene became a blur. Just as suddenly as it started, the movement came to a sudden stop
and Alistair’s beloved voice rumbled behind her, “Well that was certainly strange.” He
chuckled into her ear, “About as strange as the hermit himself.”
Kai’s heart fluttered in her chest, an intense happiness swamped her as she spun around and
threw her arms around his neck her lips meeting his of their own accord; as they always seemed
to do when they were together. She pulled back to smile at him, “As strange as bread cats and
cheese mice?”
“Hey-y, that dream didn’t become strange until you made up the bread cat.” He gave her his
lopsided grin.
“Uh-huh, because a table full of nothing but cheese, including a bowl of live cheese mice is
completely normal.” Kai grinned at him, “Well, normal for a Grey Warden with a huge appetite,
especially for solid dairy products.”
“Hard and crumbly, soft and creamy, sharp or mild...mmm, I could really go for some right now.
I wonder if Nissyan’s table still has some or did the darkspawn stomp all of it into paste, do
you think?” Alistair gave her a cheeky grin.
“Oh, you have an appetite, do you? I think I have something to tempt your palate.” Kai
returned his grin with a smirk of her own.
“Real-lly? And what could possibly tempt me more than cheese?” He cocked an eyebrow at her,
his smile getting wider.
“Oh, I’m sure I can think of something you like more than cheese.” Kai pressed her lips to
his again, slowly nibbling first his top lip and then the bottom one before consuming his
mouth entirely, leaving them both breathless.
When they pulled apart, Alistair grabbed her hand tugging her along with him, “Yes, I see what
you mean.”
Kai took note of their surroundings, noticing that they were in a forest glade surrounded by
lush vegetation, the air carried the soft scent of flowers and birds sang. She expected to
see the bed in it’s usual place, instead it looked as though a stone bathtub lay sunken into
the ground, with green grass dotted with tiny flowers growing right up to the edge of it.
Kai cocked an eyebrow at him, and he blushed adorably, “I thought we could try something new.
Well, sort of. Remember the bathtub at Redcliffe, and that pond at camp during the Blight?”
She nodded, “Well, the pond was cold...”
“You didn’t seem to mind that back then.” Kai laughed when his skin flushed a darker shade of
pink.
“You are a bad person, and no I didn’t mind, but I thought we might have the best of both
worlds. Warm water and that beautiful area at camp.” He grinned and walked backwards down
stone steps into the water of the deep stone basin still grasping her hand.
“I see you took care of our clothes this time.” She flashed him a saucy look letting her
unoccupied hand follow the curve of her naked breast. “If I am a bad person, do you hate me?”
Kai grinned and followed him, finding the water a very pleasant temperature, unlike that pond
back in what seemed a lifetime ago.
He waited until she was standing in the tub with him, his fingertips caressed the side of her
face running down her throat to tease her breast. “Let me show you how much.” He released
his grip on her hand, cupping the nape of her neck in one large palm while his long fingers
massaged the back of her head sending waves of pleasure along her spine.
Her lips were fused to his as Ali backed into the water sitting on a bench ringing the basin
pulling her with him to sit on his lap facing him. His kisses pulsed throbbing shivers
throughout her body, while his hands roamed across her chest making her ache with longing.
Alistair pressed his lips at the corner of her jaw, peppering a fiery trail of kisses leading
down to her neck. Kai tilted her head back for his mouth to have better access, and his moans
echoed her own purring cries. He descended his ministrations between the valley of her
breasts, tenderly kissing each one until he took a hardened peak into his mouth. Kai’s hands
desperately reached behind his head as she laced her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer
to her tender flesh.
Reflexively, Kai's legs parted as the ache pooled exquisitely into her core. Ali slid his hand
between her thighs creating a tantalizing dance with his fingertips, his ministrations only
deepened the ache of her pleasure to agonizing levels. Kai’s back bowed back as her breath
came in gasps and cries, “Ali...” It was strangled cry that he forced from her as he sent
her flying with hands and his mouth alone.
Before her body had stopped shuddering, she slithered over him trapping him in warm wet spasms
of the pleasure he had brought her; she thought it only fair to share the wealth, so-to-speak.
She wanted to giggle at her own internal musings but refrained as it might be imprudent; she
had no intention of not returning the exquisite torture he bestowed upon her.
Kai rocked her hips slowly at first, while bracing her hands on his shoulders. Alistair’s
hands gripped her waist helping her movement, but when he sought to move more quickly she
stopped him, and he allowed her to set the pace; Kai wanted to torment him as sweetly as he
had her.
She watched his beloved face, and smiled; his eyes were closed as if their lovemaking took all
of his concentration. It reminded her of their first night together, when she suspected he
used his Templar training to prolong things despite it being his first time. It was one of
the things she loved about their times together...her breaking his resolve. It was a
delicious challenge, one he didn’t seem to mind her determination to overcome.
Kai focused on her muscles that surrounded him, fluttering them as she moved over him. His
eyes popped open as he gasped her name ending in a low growl. With a muffled “you are truly
evil”, he gave a deep sensuous bite into the tender flesh of her neck while his hands played
with the hard points of her breasts.
“And you think I’m the evil one?” Her breath left in a pant and it was all she could do to
concentrate.
They moved together sweetly, and as whenever they were together, the world began to spin
faster and faster their pleasure building on the other’s. Every cell felt alive, and she felt
herself trembling as her body released in an explosion of gratification; her breath expelling
as she cried out his name.
Alistair’s hands gripped her hips still moving her against him as she felt him convulse with
what she had brought him. His breath came in soft gasps as he groaned against her throat,
tickling her shoulder. “Kai, I miss you so.”
“And I miss you, mi’ gra, so very much.” Kai tilted her head to touch her lips to his once
more. She pulled back to smile into his beloved face when she felt herself leaving the Dream
Fade.
She woke with a start, her feelings of intense happiness and love colliding with the emptiness
and loss she always felt when the parted from each other in the Fade. It took a moment for
her to remember where she was, oh yes Orzammar and ‘The Hungry Nug Inn.’
The bed was empty on Zev’s side and the door between their room and Wynne’s and Anders’ was
open. Kai heard Zevran’s voice hiss, “Keep your voice down my sparkle fingered friend, Kai is
still sleeping. She tends not to get enough rest as it is, and this mission may see her have
even less. I would like her to remain asleep as long as possible, without your womanly
lamenting.”
Zevran’s comment made Kai giggle softly, but it was Anders’ whining, “But you want me to
dress in that?” that had her leaving the warmth of the blankets to go the doorway.
She couldn’t resist. Kai stood in the doorway, rubbing sleep from eyes that didn’t want to
focus properly. Zev flashed her a loving smile which turned to a scowl in short order as he
rounded on Anders, “Braska! Your obnoxious caterwauling woke her as I feared it would!”
Kai grinned, “Relax Zev, what are you all doing to Anders? You aren’t putting a vallaslin on
his forehead and stripping him naked to put on a ship to Rivain, are you?”
“That would be a treat, dear lady, in comparison.” came Anders’ sarcastic response.
“What’s the matter Anders, are they dressing you up as a woman? A Ceffyl?” Kai yawned and
blinked her eyes focusing on her companions standing in the room.
“Again, no dear lady, it is much, much worse than that.”
Kai shook her head and rubbed her eyes again to make sure what she was seeing was actually
real and not a dream in the Fade. Anders stood next to Wynne with a hang-dog look on his
face, his lips set in a pout. “They want to dress me as a bloody Templar!”
Kai couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing.
Kai sat at a long wooden table covered with a lace tablecloth broken up with platters of
food, plates, teapots and tea cups. Various figures sat around the table, and when she looked
closely they were all different types of darkspawn clothed in fancy Ferelden clothing,
including dresses. Like some macabre social affair; they sipped tea and ate from plates, yet
their movements were jerky and awkward with elbows, necks, and wrists held at strangely
splayed angles.
She felt a hand on her arm and she turned to see Nissyan the hermit sitting next to her. He
smiled and pointed, indicating she should take a closer look. Kai leaned in towards the
hurlock sitting next to her, noting the clothing of a noble, and the way the fancy teacup and
saucer looked so ludicrous being held in a clawed and black skinned hand. “Look closer.”
Nissyan’s voice giggled into her ear. It took a moment and then it struck her; there were
strings attached to the darkspawn’s elbows and fingers as if it were nothing more than a
life-sized puppet.
Her gaze shot upwards following the strings to see what looked like a spiderweb of wires
attached to two giant wooden control bars, with the trailing wires allowing the controllers to
master each of the creatures sitting at the table. There were figures supposedly manipulating
the puppets, but she could not make them out as they seemed to be made of shadows and
silhouettes and there was a vast expanse of table between them.
Kai stood up and made to walk the length of one side; she knew she wanted a better look at one
of the puppet masters. The moment she took one step the table elongated, stretching out into
a vast distance carrying the puppeteer farther away. When she turned to walk towards the
other end again, the table elongated carrying the second puppeteer away as well.
Frustrated she sat down again speaking to Nissyan who had stuffed his cheeks with what looked
like a scone. Of all the participants in her dream, the hermit seemed to be real, much the way
Alistair was when they were together here. “Nissyan, is that really you? What is all of
this?”
Nissyan giggled, “Have a biscuit!” He shoved a plate of cookies towards her, “We have
biscuits! Not as good as mine, but still!”
Kai smiled and took a biscuit from the plate as the hermit poured tea into her teacup, adding
honey and milk. “Nissyan, I don’t understand, what is all of this?” Kai waved a hand down
the length of the table.
The hermit giggled, “Questions, questions, always with the questions! That is my favorite
thing! It is a puppet show of course, watch!”
Kai watched as two hurlocks, one from each side of the table, jumped on top scattering plates,
smashing food, and crushing teacups beneath booted feet. Kai found herself scooting back and
Nissyan grabbed the plate of biscuits and sat with them in his lap while chaos ensued as all
the darkspawn began fighting. “See, they fight! Remember this, it will be important later.”
Nissyan spoke with his mouth full, crumbs falling off his chin. Then he tilted his head much
the way Argus would hearing something far away, “The one who is a part of you is coming. Time
for you to go, yes, time to go. Remember this, friend, don’t forget! And eat biscuits,
they’re good!”
The world expanded as if Kai stood still and everything moved around her at such speed, the
entire scene became a blur. Just as suddenly as it started, the movement came to a sudden stop
and Alistair’s beloved voice rumbled behind her, “Well that was certainly strange.” He
chuckled into her ear, “About as strange as the hermit himself.”
Kai’s heart fluttered in her chest, an intense happiness swamped her as she spun around and
threw her arms around his neck her lips meeting his of their own accord; as they always seemed
to do when they were together. She pulled back to smile at him, “As strange as bread cats and
cheese mice?”
“Hey-y, that dream didn’t become strange until you made up the bread cat.” He gave her his
lopsided grin.
“Uh-huh, because a table full of nothing but cheese, including a bowl of live cheese mice is
completely normal.” Kai grinned at him, “Well, normal for a Grey Warden with a huge appetite,
especially for solid dairy products.”
“Hard and crumbly, soft and creamy, sharp or mild...mmm, I could really go for some right now.
I wonder if Nissyan’s table still has some or did the darkspawn stomp all of it into paste, do
you think?” Alistair gave her a cheeky grin.
“Oh, you have an appetite, do you? I think I have something to tempt your palate.” Kai
returned his grin with a smirk of her own.
“Real-lly? And what could possibly tempt me more than cheese?” He cocked an eyebrow at her,
his smile getting wider.
“Oh, I’m sure I can think of something you like more than cheese.” Kai pressed her lips to
his again, slowly nibbling first his top lip and then the bottom one before consuming his
mouth entirely, leaving them both breathless.
When they pulled apart, Alistair grabbed her hand tugging her along with him, “Yes, I see what
you mean.”
Kai took note of their surroundings, noticing that they were in a forest glade surrounded by
lush vegetation, the air carried the soft scent of flowers and birds sang. She expected to
see the bed in it’s usual place, instead it looked as though a stone bathtub lay sunken into
the ground, with green grass dotted with tiny flowers growing right up to the edge of it.
Kai cocked an eyebrow at him, and he blushed adorably, “I thought we could try something new.
Well, sort of. Remember the bathtub at Redcliffe, and that pond at camp during the Blight?”
She nodded, “Well, the pond was cold...”
“You didn’t seem to mind that back then.” Kai laughed when his skin flushed a darker shade of
pink.
“You are a bad person, and no I didn’t mind, but I thought we might have the best of both
worlds. Warm water and that beautiful area at camp.” He grinned and walked backwards down
stone steps into the water of the deep stone basin still grasping her hand.
“I see you took care of our clothes this time.” She flashed him a saucy look letting her
unoccupied hand follow the curve of her naked breast. “If I am a bad person, do you hate me?”
Kai grinned and followed him, finding the water a very pleasant temperature, unlike that pond
back in what seemed a lifetime ago.
He waited until she was standing in the tub with him, his fingertips caressed the side of her
face running down her throat to tease her breast. “Let me show you how much.” He released
his grip on her hand, cupping the nape of her neck in one large palm while his long fingers
massaged the back of her head sending waves of pleasure along her spine.
Her lips were fused to his as Ali backed into the water sitting on a bench ringing the basin
pulling her with him to sit on his lap facing him. His kisses pulsed throbbing shivers
throughout her body, while his hands roamed across her chest making her ache with longing.
Alistair pressed his lips at the corner of her jaw, peppering a fiery trail of kisses leading
down to her neck. Kai tilted her head back for his mouth to have better access, and his moans
echoed her own purring cries. He descended his ministrations between the valley of her
breasts, tenderly kissing each one until he took a hardened peak into his mouth. Kai’s hands
desperately reached behind his head as she laced her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer
to her tender flesh.
Reflexively, Kai's legs parted as the ache pooled exquisitely into her core. Ali slid his hand
between her thighs creating a tantalizing dance with his fingertips, his ministrations only
deepened the ache of her pleasure to agonizing levels. Kai’s back bowed back as her breath
came in gasps and cries, “Ali...” It was strangled cry that he forced from her as he sent
her flying with hands and his mouth alone.
Before her body had stopped shuddering, she slithered over him trapping him in warm wet spasms
of the pleasure he had brought her; she thought it only fair to share the wealth, so-to-speak.
She wanted to giggle at her own internal musings but refrained as it might be imprudent; she
had no intention of not returning the exquisite torture he bestowed upon her.
Kai rocked her hips slowly at first, while bracing her hands on his shoulders. Alistair’s
hands gripped her waist helping her movement, but when he sought to move more quickly she
stopped him, and he allowed her to set the pace; Kai wanted to torment him as sweetly as he
had her.
She watched his beloved face, and smiled; his eyes were closed as if their lovemaking took all
of his concentration. It reminded her of their first night together, when she suspected he
used his Templar training to prolong things despite it being his first time. It was one of
the things she loved about their times together...her breaking his resolve. It was a
delicious challenge, one he didn’t seem to mind her determination to overcome.
Kai focused on her muscles that surrounded him, fluttering them as she moved over him. His
eyes popped open as he gasped her name ending in a low growl. With a muffled “you are truly
evil”, he gave a deep sensuous bite into the tender flesh of her neck while his hands played
with the hard points of her breasts.
“And you think I’m the evil one?” Her breath left in a pant and it was all she could do to
concentrate.
They moved together sweetly, and as whenever they were together, the world began to spin
faster and faster their pleasure building on the other’s. Every cell felt alive, and she felt
herself trembling as her body released in an explosion of gratification; her breath expelling
as she cried out his name.
Alistair’s hands gripped her hips still moving her against him as she felt him convulse with
what she had brought him. His breath came in soft gasps as he groaned against her throat,
tickling her shoulder. “Kai, I miss you so.”
“And I miss you, mi’ gra, so very much.” Kai tilted her head to touch her lips to his once
more. She pulled back to smile into his beloved face when she felt herself leaving the Dream
Fade.
She woke with a start, her feelings of intense happiness and love colliding with the emptiness
and loss she always felt when the parted from each other in the Fade. It took a moment for
her to remember where she was, oh yes Orzammar and ‘The Hungry Nug Inn.’
The bed was empty on Zev’s side and the door between their room and Wynne’s and Anders’ was
open. Kai heard Zevran’s voice hiss, “Keep your voice down my sparkle fingered friend, Kai is
still sleeping. She tends not to get enough rest as it is, and this mission may see her have
even less. I would like her to remain asleep as long as possible, without your womanly
lamenting.”
Zevran’s comment made Kai giggle softly, but it was Anders’ whining, “But you want me to
dress in that?” that had her leaving the warmth of the blankets to go the doorway.
She couldn’t resist. Kai stood in the doorway, rubbing sleep from eyes that didn’t want to
focus properly. Zev flashed her a loving smile which turned to a scowl in short order as he
rounded on Anders, “Braska! Your obnoxious caterwauling woke her as I feared it would!”
Kai grinned, “Relax Zev, what are you all doing to Anders? You aren’t putting a vallaslin on
his forehead and stripping him naked to put on a ship to Rivain, are you?”
“That would be a treat, dear lady, in comparison.” came Anders’ sarcastic response.
“What’s the matter Anders, are they dressing you up as a woman? A Ceffyl?” Kai yawned and
blinked her eyes focusing on her companions standing in the room.
“Again, no dear lady, it is much, much worse than that.”
Kai shook her head and rubbed her eyes again to make sure what she was seeing was actually
real and not a dream in the Fade. Anders stood next to Wynne with a hang-dog look on his
face, his lips set in a pout. “They want to dress me as a bloody Templar!”
Kai couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing.
Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 29 janvier 2011 - 02:11 .
#332
Posté 04 février 2011 - 09:43
Gilgamesh1138
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http://lady--elle.de...t/Kai-196168743
This was a birthday gift from Lynn01 here on the forum. Thanks, love! You rock my world!
This was a birthday gift from Lynn01 here on the forum. Thanks, love! You rock my world!
#333
Posté 04 février 2011 - 10:46
Lynn01
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- 280 messages
you're welcome sweetie. I enjoyed making it for you!
#335
Posté 11 février 2011 - 08:29
Lynn01
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This story needs more +LOVE!
Plus I haven't even told you how much I liked the latest chapter!
anders, make art where he's sad and dressed as a templar!!!!!!!
Plus I haven't even told you how much I liked the latest chapter!
anders, make art where he's sad and dressed as a templar!!!!!!!
#336
Posté 13 février 2011 - 10:38
Gilgamesh1138
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ROFL I will have to see if I can't draw him in his templar armor, just for you. ROFL!
#337
Posté 14 février 2011 - 08:53
Lynn01
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Haha ooooh I can already imagine how it would look
#338
Posté 16 février 2011 - 11:47
Gilgamesh1138
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ROFL! I need more practice on my drawing pad!
#339
Posté 07 mars 2011 - 03:25
erynnar
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Chapter 98
“I am so glad you find this amusing. I, for one, find this no laughing matter.” Anders’ voice
took on a hurt tone. “I thought your group might do some sort of hazing ritual, dear lady, but
I assumed it would be something along the lines of making me run through the village square
naked, with my smallclothes on my head.” Anders shrugged. “Or having me slather my naked body
in honey and throw myself into a pen of mabaris. But I never thought you and your little group
would come up with something so... heinous, and likely to chafe as well.”
The room erupted into peals of laughter, with Argus joining in with doggy barks. When quiet
settled once more into the room—save a few twitters, mostly from Wynne—Zevran clapped a hand
on the mage’s shoulder. “My sparkle-fingered friend, it occurs to me that most of your ideas
involve you being naked. I am sensing a pattern here, no? It has been a while since you were
graced with female companionship, hasn’t it?”
“What? No! I... oh, all right. It has been a while. I’ve been escaping the Tower, on the run,
looking for my phylactery.” Anders looked affronted. “What? It isn’t what you’re implying!
I’ve been a little busy!” Zevran chuckled and Anders huffed his breath. “Look, mate, ladies
don’t like when men in shiny suits of armor surround you. It can be intimidating no matter how
charming you are. Not to mention having those same wind up toys watching while you’re engaging
the lady’s affections. Surprisingly, most women don’t like an audience, and Biff and the boys
were hardly going to participate, nor would I want them to. Between you and me, Biff was a bit
on the hairy side. You would have thought his mother dallied with a dwarf.”
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing again. “Yes, well, I had no part in the plan to dress
you as a templar. I thought that privilege went to me.”
“Indeed, mi amada, you are still going to be a templar, but it is our well-endowed Wynne who
pointed out that the Revered Mother is the one who negotiates for lyrium with the dwarves.
While our common citizens may not be aware of that, these mages might. It would be unseemly
for a couple of magi, even if one is a senior enchanter, to speak to Bhelen about such things.
So Wynne will dress and present herself as...”
“As the obnoxious old bat?” Kai grinned at Wynne, who tsked at her. “Yes, we wouldn’t want
them to figure anything was amiss and kill Rica or their son. And I need to let him know we
are working on his problem, and perhaps averting one for Ferelden itself.” Kai flashed Anders
a saucy grin. “No matter how much our ‘sparkle fingered friend,’ as you call him, Zev,
dislikes the notion, I think it will suit our plans nicely. We’ll need to get word to Sal that
we’ll need not one suit of templar armor, but two, and one for—and I use this term loosely—a
gentleman.” The last comment elicited a hurt ‘hey’ from the mage in question. Kai smiled and
turned to Wynne. “Are there any accoutrements worn by the Maker’s fish wife that you need for
your part?”
Wynne let out a heavy, exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Really, young
lady, I wish you wouldn’t call her that.” Wynne shook her head before rolling her eyes at
Kai’s and Anders’ cheeky grins. “Actually, that does pose a bit of a problem. I will need a
set of revered vestments.”
“A bit of a problem? You might have mentioned this when we were still outside of Orzammar.”
Kai chewed her lower lip.
“I said a bit of a problem, young lady, as in very slight, or small. Brother Burkel, who
started a chantry here, thanks in no small part to you, has brought the making of robes and
chantry linens to Orzammar, and enlisted the dwarven tailors who make the cloth raiment for
templar armor.” Wynne shrugged. “The only issue is that we will need a legitimate reason to
visit Burkel so as not to arouse suspicion. The only probable reason for your going to the
Chantry would be for services.” Wynne’s lips quirked slightly at the corners as if in
controlled mirth at the look of horror on Kai’s face.
“Andraste’s flaming knickerweasels, you want me to go to services? Why me?” Kai couldn’t quite
keep the whine out of her voice, but Chantry services? Really? Wasn’t coming back from the
Fade enough?
“Ah, mi gra, what’s the matter? It’ll be good for your soul.” Alistair’s laughter-filled voice
teased her.
“Ha, very ha! Smart guy, you wait until I get back into the Fade.” Kai mock growled, though
she couldn’t help but smile with a cheeky mental chuckle. “If it is so good for the soul then
you can attend services with me, beloved.”
“Um, I think I hear your mother calling me! Bye, my love!” Alistair’s laughter faded out,
leaving Kai to huff into her own head.
“Yes, you, young lady. Burkel has great respect for you, and you can explain to him the
seriousness of the situation. He will believe you.” Wynne’s smile widened like a cat sitting
before an empty birdcage. “And you are the leader, after all.”
Kai rolled her eyes. “But as ‘leader’ I shouldn’t go. What if I get found out?” Her voice took
on the cajoling tone of a child trying to convince a parent that bedtime was not necessary.
“Why can’t you go, Wynne?”
Wynne’s lips quivered as she attempted to keep the mirth that was obviously trying to find an
outlet. “I can’t go, as I will be playing her Reverence, and I wouldn’t want to take the
chance on these humans seeing me. I suspect that not many dwarves make the services, nor have
been converted. I would certainly stand out, and I don’t want to be found out later.”
“Okay, Zev can go.” Kai flashed the elf a hopeful look.
Zevran gave her a cocky grin. “Ah, mi querida, I am afraid not. While I have been known to
pray to the Maker, and even attend services from time to time, I will not be able to attend in
your stead. I will be getting a message to the lovely and deadly Sal about armor for our
friend here. And for her to get a message to Vartag to prepare Bhelen for our visit. I think
it is best he act as if this trip was... expected, no?”
Kai then turned to Anders, who raised his hands and shook his head as he backed away. “As
loathe as I am to say ‘no’ to a beautiful woman... no! You’re dressing me in templar armor,
which is quite enough torture, thank you very much. Just thinking about templars gives me
hives, let alone being dressed as one. One second in that get up is one second too long, and
you will have me in it for far longer than that, no doubt.” Anders crossed his arms over his
chest. “Ask me to fight darkspawn, or templars, or even dragons, and I am yours to command. My
magic hands are at your disposal for any danger, including the dangers of the bedroom, but
attending services at the Chantry? Dear lady, in this, you are on your own.”
Kai resisted the urge to pout and stomp her feet... barely. “Fine, when are the next
services?”
“As it so happens, young lady, today, in about half an hour.” Wynne’s lips quirked with a
barely suppressed smile again. “Just enough time for you to dress and grab a quick bite to
eat. We wouldn’t want your stomach growling while Brother Burkel is giving the sermon, now
would we?”
Kai’s heavy sigh only caused more laughter to echo along the stone walls of the bedroom. “You
are all evil, evil people!” But she couldn’t help but smile along with them.
Kai took herself to the room she shared with Zev and put herself in the plain dress with a
kerchief over her hair that she had been wearing as a seller of apples. After making sure that
the tattoos on her face were covered with the makeup Leli had given her, she joined the others
in Wynne’s room before they journeyed downstairs and out of the inn to Tapsters.
Kai was surprised to see as many patrons in the morning as she did. Granted, the numbers did
not equal the evening crowds, but it was more than she expected given the early hour. The
astonishment must have registered on her face, because Anders leaned in with a hastily
whispered explanation. “I daresay, my pet, that the people you see here now were here last
night and have yet to go home.” Kai cocked an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. “If dwarven pubs
are anything like surface ones, that is.”
“Experienced with that sort of thing, are you?” Kai smiled sweetly.
“Let’s just say that I am not... unfamiliar with a breakfast of ‘the hair of the dog that bit
me,’ dear lady.” Anders grinned and motioned that she should precede him down the stairs to
the floor of the tavern.
They were greeted by a young male dwarf who, unlike his various clientele, looked as fresh as
a daisy—as Kai’s nanny used to say—and was also cheerful and friendly. He led them to the back
table they had occupied the night before, only to find it occupied by a dwarf whose snoring
sounded like an out of tune orchestra played by pigs.
The young man—who looked enough like Corra to be a close blood relative—buoyantly bounced the
heavily wheezing drunk to the stone floor of the tavern while whipping out a rag to wipe down
the table’s surface and gather the multiple mugs covering the table top. The freckles across
his nose danced as the grin never left his face.
The drunken dwarf, unperturbed by his sudden relocation, continued to snort, the sounds of
which echoed off every hard surface until a swift kick in the ribs from their host ceased the
bedlam as the prone dwarf rolled over to one side. “I am Crevak, and my apologies for the
noise!” This was followed by another kick by Crevak’s boot-clad foot to the unfortunate
drunk’s backside. “Please, allow me to tell you of today’s specials for the morning hour so
you may break your fast, after which I will have our sonorous friend here transferred to the
comfort of the street.”
“Someone has one of those ‘word a day’ calendars given out by the Chantry, no?” Zev’s voice
whispered in her ear, and Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing.
They seated themselves as Crevak motioned for two large dwarves, who had been moving kegs
behind the bar, to carry their inebriated fellow to the entrance. Once there, the door was
flung open, and the sloshed dwarf was swung back and forth before one final swing sent him
flying out the door. The porcine orchestral noises ended in a loud grunt with a moment of
silence before floating through the entrance once more, only to be fully silenced when the
great iron portal was slammed shut.
Anders coughed. “Remind me not to pass out in this place. Their exit policy leaves a little to
be desired.”
Zevran chuckled. “Indeed, my magical friend. They bring new meaning to ‘here’s your hat,
what’s your hurry,’ no?”
Crevak tittered a high, girlish sort of laugh before addressing the table. “For breakfast, we
have our usual assortment of fine wines, mead, liquors, and ales. We also offer the usual
breakfast items: porridge, sausages, bacon, bread with butter and honey, and eggs fried in a
variety of ways. Most of our morning crowd prefers porridge liberally thinned with the ale of
their choice. It seems to take the edge off from the night before and get them started on the
day.” They watched as the dwarf produced a small pad of paper hooked together by string, and a
stick of charcoal almost as if by magic. “I daresay that you all don’t have the need to ease
into the day in such a manner, so porridge with honey, perhaps?”
Crevak dutifully wrote down their orders before giving them a slight little bow with a
snapping of his heels, and whisked away with the perpetually happy grin gracing his features.
Anders cocked an eyebrow at Crevak’s departing back. “I want whatever our young server has
been imbibing. It might make wearing the armor more bearable.”
“It will certainly cut down on the whining that is sure to accompany your new wardrobe.” Kai
grinned at the mage.
“Then perhaps, dear lady, you should inquire after the source of his good humor for yourself?
After all, you are about to attend celestial services delivered in the bowels of the earth.
Your spirit could use the help to rise to the occasion, could it not?” Anders gave a saucy
wink, followed by a low chuckle when Kai wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue in
response.
Their food arrived in due time and they ate with occasional bursts of conversation around
mouthfuls of food. The motion of Kai’s fork slowed as the time for services drew nearer, like
a child who hopes to put off washing the dishes when the food is gone. And like a child, she
was caught at it by Wynne, much to the amusement of her companions.
Crevak took their plates away and brought a game board along with a bag of checker pieces.
Zev and Anders placed pieces while Wynne took bets. Kai slowly rose from the table and
shuffled towards the door, sighing all the way.
The Chantry wasn’t far from Tapsters, Kai figured this to be a very smart move after services
as she surely could not be the only one who would want to get blind drunk to have a break from
the sheer boredom of an hour of her life she would never get back.
Kai entered the stone doors inset with the stained glass with the Chantry’s stylized sun
glowing from the torchlight from within. She made her way down the aisle to find a seat close
to the front, but still in the shadows along one of the side aisles. She figured the close
proximity to the altar would make it easier to catch Burkel’s eye, and for her to set up a
meeting, which it turned out she didn’t need to do.
One hour later—which felt like ten—Kai waited for the small congregation to file out. In
between wishing for sticks to prop up her eyelids and stifling yawns, going to services made
her heart ache for her brother and her parents. It brought back memories of a time when her
family had been whole. When she was a child and made to go to services, she and Fergus used to
play different games they had invented using signals with their hands. The act of sitting in a
chantry flooded her with a wave of nostalgia and longing that surprised her.
She made sure to be last in the line of parishioners filing past the brother as he shook hands
and wished them the blessings of Andraste and the Maker. When it came her turn, she took his
hand accepting his blessing, and kept an eye on the Nevarrans. She noted their distance from
the chantry door before leaning in to speak to Burkel. As she suspected, some of the dwarves
headed straight for the pub.
A small group of Nevarrans stopped a slight ways off, and one turned just as Kai was saying to
the brother, “Burkel, it’s me, Kai Cousland. Pretend I am the one who sells you the beeswax
candles for the chantry.” She nodded and smiled at Burkel while keeping an eye on the group.
Burkel looked startled for the briefest of moments before recovering, smiling in return. “Ah,
my dear, so good to see you again! The recent shipment of candles you brought with you are in
beautiful condition, as always. I would like to place my next order with you, and maybe
discuss an idea I had for smaller prayer candles the patrons may take home and place on
personal shrines?” He waved a hand into the interior of the chantry while nodding at the mages
and smiling. The woman smiled and nodded before turning back to her compatriots, and then they
moved on.
Kai stepped back into the shadows of the atrium while Burkel closed they door. He turned back
to Kai with a look of astonishment on his face. “My child, I thought you were dead! I had word
that you were killed by an assassin’s trick. I am so grateful to the Maker, he and his bride
be praised, that it was not true.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her further into the
building, stopping in the nave. “Are you here about our recent... visitors to Orzammar, by any
chance?”
She grinned; the good brother was just as enthusiastic and cheerful as she remembered him.
“Yes, as it so happens. And I could use your help.”
She explained what they needed and where they were staying. Burkel was more than happy to
provide the garments they required, and he assured her that he could have the required outfit
in a few days’ time, and that he would send someone to discreetly visit Wynne and tailor it
for her. Kai thanked him and took a few candles, bundling them in a handkerchief before taking
her leave of the brother.
Once on the throughway, Kai played it casual, wandering over to a merchant’s stall and looking
over the wares. The Nevarrans seemed to be back in their usual places, looming over the
merchants and the citizens who were running their daily errands.
As she anticipated, the woman who watched her and Brother Burkel approached her. “Pardon me,
but did I hear you and the brother talking about candles?”
Kai gave the woman a shy smile while taking her measure from under lowered lashes. “Indeed, my
lady. The man I work for has an apple orchard, and they have beehives there. We make candles
from the wax of the bees. We are able to supply many markets.” Kai made a mental note to tell
Brannan about the new possibility for income. “The Chantry does love our candles, and the
taverns love our mead and cider.” Kai held up the cloth-wrapped bundle she had and opened it
to show the two golden candles inside. The scent of honey wafted up gently into the air
between them.
Kai wondered for a moment if the game would be up as the woman ran a finger down one of the
candles. “Yes, this is a lovely candle.” She watched as the woman picked it up and sniffed it
gently. “Would you mind if I were to purchase these from you? I’m afraid I am not used to the
smell of nug fat that they use for their torches here, and I find the... scents here a bit...
overwhelming.” The lady didn’t bother to wait for Kai’s response, rather she grabbed up the
handkerchief with the remaining candles while dropping a small pile of silver coins in Kai’s
now empty palm. She bundled up her purchase and waved dismissively to Kai before turning back
to her group.
Kai bowed sightly while letting her heart return to its normal beat, and huffed a quiet sigh
of relief. She was certainly glad she planned ahead with the candles.
She also felt it prudent not to be seen going into Tapsters in her role of modest merchant.
She took herself back to the room she shared with Zev at the inn. She was greeted by Argus and
Ser Pounce. After grabbing a book from her pack, she laid on the bed on the bed as the two
animals joined her.
She wasn’t sure if it was the steady sounds of Argus’ deep snores, along with the kitten’s
purring, that put her to sleep, but she was startled awake when her mabari let out a deep woof
as he jerked upright to stare at the door. It opened to reveal her companions, and Kai
realized the book was laying across her chest where it came to rest when her eyelids chose to
do the same.
She sat up and turned to sit at the edge of the bed as she greeted them. Anders came to sit
beside her, grabbing the kitten in a quick little snuggle, which had Kai giggling and the
kitten purring. Wynne sat behind them on the bed while Zev pulled up a chair.
“We made contact with our luscious friend Sal. She will see to it that there are two sets of
armor, and she will get word to Vartag.” Zevran grinned at her while petting Argus, who shoved
his big head under the elf’s hand.
Anders gave Zevran a grin. “Luscious, indeed! I am hoping for more opportunities to become
acquainted with the beautiful and deadly lady.”
Zev chuckled and shook his head while addressing Kai. “Ah, our conjuring friend here fell in
love when the lovely rogue put her dagger tip under his chin. I think he is smitten.”
“Well, you became ‘smitten,’ as you call it, with me after I put a dagger pommel to your skull
didn’t you?” Kai flashed him a wide grin. “You two are so much alike, it is truly
frightening.”
Anders laughed while raising an eyebrow at Zev. “Maybe it’s that we are men who appreciate a
woman who can make her... point so succinctly?”
Zevran’s response was one of deep throated laughter. Kai figured she had best interrupt them
lest they continued on with tales of past conquests, discussions of the female form, or the
allure of danger and beauty combined.
Maker, they really were two peas in a pod! Kai gave a mental eye roll at the thought. She told
them of her meeting with Burkel and his assurance of the revered vestments for Wynne. She also
told them of her meeting with the Navarran about the candles. “Luckily for me, she was self
absorbed and arrogant. She took no more notice of me than if I were a lamppost. When she had
what she wanted, she dismissed me with nary a second glance.”
The rest of her group seemed to give a collective sigh of relief. It was Wynne who spoke next.
“Well, we will have our costumes, it seems, so perhaps we had best work on our scripts for the
meeting with Bhelen?”
Kai grinned and turned sightly to look at the elder mage. "Speaking of our costumes, won't you
get thrown into an Oubliette for impersonating her Revered High-assedness?"
Wynne groaned. "Only if she ever finds out, young lady. And must you use that vulgar term?"
Anders winked and spoke out of the corner of his mouth at Kai, "High-assedness, indeed! You
couldn't shove a rock up her bum, the old bag. Her knickers are sucked in from all her
bloviating self-importance."
Anders’ comment was followed by a loud smack and an "Ow!" from the mage as Wynne’s hand shot
out and caught him in the back of the head.
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing as Anders rubbed his skull. She leaned in, and in a
conspiratorial tone from the corner of her mouth, said to Anders, "I’m surprised the lace
doesn't poke out of her mouth from the suction, the obnoxious old bat." Even though she was
expecting it, the loud smack and stinging blow elicited an "Ow!" from her lips as Wynne’s hand
connected with the back of her head, too.
Without missing a beat, Anders gave Kai a saucy grin. “Well, she certainly is a—”
“Legend in her own mind?” Kai finished saying for him. They both started laughing, which
ceased abruptly with exclamations of pain when the air was punctuated by a double ‘thwack’
sound along with mild groans of distress, followed by peals of laughter as everyone—including
Wynne—joined in.
“I am so glad you find this amusing. I, for one, find this no laughing matter.” Anders’ voice
took on a hurt tone. “I thought your group might do some sort of hazing ritual, dear lady, but
I assumed it would be something along the lines of making me run through the village square
naked, with my smallclothes on my head.” Anders shrugged. “Or having me slather my naked body
in honey and throw myself into a pen of mabaris. But I never thought you and your little group
would come up with something so... heinous, and likely to chafe as well.”
The room erupted into peals of laughter, with Argus joining in with doggy barks. When quiet
settled once more into the room—save a few twitters, mostly from Wynne—Zevran clapped a hand
on the mage’s shoulder. “My sparkle-fingered friend, it occurs to me that most of your ideas
involve you being naked. I am sensing a pattern here, no? It has been a while since you were
graced with female companionship, hasn’t it?”
“What? No! I... oh, all right. It has been a while. I’ve been escaping the Tower, on the run,
looking for my phylactery.” Anders looked affronted. “What? It isn’t what you’re implying!
I’ve been a little busy!” Zevran chuckled and Anders huffed his breath. “Look, mate, ladies
don’t like when men in shiny suits of armor surround you. It can be intimidating no matter how
charming you are. Not to mention having those same wind up toys watching while you’re engaging
the lady’s affections. Surprisingly, most women don’t like an audience, and Biff and the boys
were hardly going to participate, nor would I want them to. Between you and me, Biff was a bit
on the hairy side. You would have thought his mother dallied with a dwarf.”
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing again. “Yes, well, I had no part in the plan to dress
you as a templar. I thought that privilege went to me.”
“Indeed, mi amada, you are still going to be a templar, but it is our well-endowed Wynne who
pointed out that the Revered Mother is the one who negotiates for lyrium with the dwarves.
While our common citizens may not be aware of that, these mages might. It would be unseemly
for a couple of magi, even if one is a senior enchanter, to speak to Bhelen about such things.
So Wynne will dress and present herself as...”
“As the obnoxious old bat?” Kai grinned at Wynne, who tsked at her. “Yes, we wouldn’t want
them to figure anything was amiss and kill Rica or their son. And I need to let him know we
are working on his problem, and perhaps averting one for Ferelden itself.” Kai flashed Anders
a saucy grin. “No matter how much our ‘sparkle fingered friend,’ as you call him, Zev,
dislikes the notion, I think it will suit our plans nicely. We’ll need to get word to Sal that
we’ll need not one suit of templar armor, but two, and one for—and I use this term loosely—a
gentleman.” The last comment elicited a hurt ‘hey’ from the mage in question. Kai smiled and
turned to Wynne. “Are there any accoutrements worn by the Maker’s fish wife that you need for
your part?”
Wynne let out a heavy, exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Really, young
lady, I wish you wouldn’t call her that.” Wynne shook her head before rolling her eyes at
Kai’s and Anders’ cheeky grins. “Actually, that does pose a bit of a problem. I will need a
set of revered vestments.”
“A bit of a problem? You might have mentioned this when we were still outside of Orzammar.”
Kai chewed her lower lip.
“I said a bit of a problem, young lady, as in very slight, or small. Brother Burkel, who
started a chantry here, thanks in no small part to you, has brought the making of robes and
chantry linens to Orzammar, and enlisted the dwarven tailors who make the cloth raiment for
templar armor.” Wynne shrugged. “The only issue is that we will need a legitimate reason to
visit Burkel so as not to arouse suspicion. The only probable reason for your going to the
Chantry would be for services.” Wynne’s lips quirked slightly at the corners as if in
controlled mirth at the look of horror on Kai’s face.
“Andraste’s flaming knickerweasels, you want me to go to services? Why me?” Kai couldn’t quite
keep the whine out of her voice, but Chantry services? Really? Wasn’t coming back from the
Fade enough?
“Ah, mi gra, what’s the matter? It’ll be good for your soul.” Alistair’s laughter-filled voice
teased her.
“Ha, very ha! Smart guy, you wait until I get back into the Fade.” Kai mock growled, though
she couldn’t help but smile with a cheeky mental chuckle. “If it is so good for the soul then
you can attend services with me, beloved.”
“Um, I think I hear your mother calling me! Bye, my love!” Alistair’s laughter faded out,
leaving Kai to huff into her own head.
“Yes, you, young lady. Burkel has great respect for you, and you can explain to him the
seriousness of the situation. He will believe you.” Wynne’s smile widened like a cat sitting
before an empty birdcage. “And you are the leader, after all.”
Kai rolled her eyes. “But as ‘leader’ I shouldn’t go. What if I get found out?” Her voice took
on the cajoling tone of a child trying to convince a parent that bedtime was not necessary.
“Why can’t you go, Wynne?”
Wynne’s lips quivered as she attempted to keep the mirth that was obviously trying to find an
outlet. “I can’t go, as I will be playing her Reverence, and I wouldn’t want to take the
chance on these humans seeing me. I suspect that not many dwarves make the services, nor have
been converted. I would certainly stand out, and I don’t want to be found out later.”
“Okay, Zev can go.” Kai flashed the elf a hopeful look.
Zevran gave her a cocky grin. “Ah, mi querida, I am afraid not. While I have been known to
pray to the Maker, and even attend services from time to time, I will not be able to attend in
your stead. I will be getting a message to the lovely and deadly Sal about armor for our
friend here. And for her to get a message to Vartag to prepare Bhelen for our visit. I think
it is best he act as if this trip was... expected, no?”
Kai then turned to Anders, who raised his hands and shook his head as he backed away. “As
loathe as I am to say ‘no’ to a beautiful woman... no! You’re dressing me in templar armor,
which is quite enough torture, thank you very much. Just thinking about templars gives me
hives, let alone being dressed as one. One second in that get up is one second too long, and
you will have me in it for far longer than that, no doubt.” Anders crossed his arms over his
chest. “Ask me to fight darkspawn, or templars, or even dragons, and I am yours to command. My
magic hands are at your disposal for any danger, including the dangers of the bedroom, but
attending services at the Chantry? Dear lady, in this, you are on your own.”
Kai resisted the urge to pout and stomp her feet... barely. “Fine, when are the next
services?”
“As it so happens, young lady, today, in about half an hour.” Wynne’s lips quirked with a
barely suppressed smile again. “Just enough time for you to dress and grab a quick bite to
eat. We wouldn’t want your stomach growling while Brother Burkel is giving the sermon, now
would we?”
Kai’s heavy sigh only caused more laughter to echo along the stone walls of the bedroom. “You
are all evil, evil people!” But she couldn’t help but smile along with them.
Kai took herself to the room she shared with Zev and put herself in the plain dress with a
kerchief over her hair that she had been wearing as a seller of apples. After making sure that
the tattoos on her face were covered with the makeup Leli had given her, she joined the others
in Wynne’s room before they journeyed downstairs and out of the inn to Tapsters.
Kai was surprised to see as many patrons in the morning as she did. Granted, the numbers did
not equal the evening crowds, but it was more than she expected given the early hour. The
astonishment must have registered on her face, because Anders leaned in with a hastily
whispered explanation. “I daresay, my pet, that the people you see here now were here last
night and have yet to go home.” Kai cocked an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. “If dwarven pubs
are anything like surface ones, that is.”
“Experienced with that sort of thing, are you?” Kai smiled sweetly.
“Let’s just say that I am not... unfamiliar with a breakfast of ‘the hair of the dog that bit
me,’ dear lady.” Anders grinned and motioned that she should precede him down the stairs to
the floor of the tavern.
They were greeted by a young male dwarf who, unlike his various clientele, looked as fresh as
a daisy—as Kai’s nanny used to say—and was also cheerful and friendly. He led them to the back
table they had occupied the night before, only to find it occupied by a dwarf whose snoring
sounded like an out of tune orchestra played by pigs.
The young man—who looked enough like Corra to be a close blood relative—buoyantly bounced the
heavily wheezing drunk to the stone floor of the tavern while whipping out a rag to wipe down
the table’s surface and gather the multiple mugs covering the table top. The freckles across
his nose danced as the grin never left his face.
The drunken dwarf, unperturbed by his sudden relocation, continued to snort, the sounds of
which echoed off every hard surface until a swift kick in the ribs from their host ceased the
bedlam as the prone dwarf rolled over to one side. “I am Crevak, and my apologies for the
noise!” This was followed by another kick by Crevak’s boot-clad foot to the unfortunate
drunk’s backside. “Please, allow me to tell you of today’s specials for the morning hour so
you may break your fast, after which I will have our sonorous friend here transferred to the
comfort of the street.”
“Someone has one of those ‘word a day’ calendars given out by the Chantry, no?” Zev’s voice
whispered in her ear, and Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing.
They seated themselves as Crevak motioned for two large dwarves, who had been moving kegs
behind the bar, to carry their inebriated fellow to the entrance. Once there, the door was
flung open, and the sloshed dwarf was swung back and forth before one final swing sent him
flying out the door. The porcine orchestral noises ended in a loud grunt with a moment of
silence before floating through the entrance once more, only to be fully silenced when the
great iron portal was slammed shut.
Anders coughed. “Remind me not to pass out in this place. Their exit policy leaves a little to
be desired.”
Zevran chuckled. “Indeed, my magical friend. They bring new meaning to ‘here’s your hat,
what’s your hurry,’ no?”
Crevak tittered a high, girlish sort of laugh before addressing the table. “For breakfast, we
have our usual assortment of fine wines, mead, liquors, and ales. We also offer the usual
breakfast items: porridge, sausages, bacon, bread with butter and honey, and eggs fried in a
variety of ways. Most of our morning crowd prefers porridge liberally thinned with the ale of
their choice. It seems to take the edge off from the night before and get them started on the
day.” They watched as the dwarf produced a small pad of paper hooked together by string, and a
stick of charcoal almost as if by magic. “I daresay that you all don’t have the need to ease
into the day in such a manner, so porridge with honey, perhaps?”
Crevak dutifully wrote down their orders before giving them a slight little bow with a
snapping of his heels, and whisked away with the perpetually happy grin gracing his features.
Anders cocked an eyebrow at Crevak’s departing back. “I want whatever our young server has
been imbibing. It might make wearing the armor more bearable.”
“It will certainly cut down on the whining that is sure to accompany your new wardrobe.” Kai
grinned at the mage.
“Then perhaps, dear lady, you should inquire after the source of his good humor for yourself?
After all, you are about to attend celestial services delivered in the bowels of the earth.
Your spirit could use the help to rise to the occasion, could it not?” Anders gave a saucy
wink, followed by a low chuckle when Kai wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue in
response.
Their food arrived in due time and they ate with occasional bursts of conversation around
mouthfuls of food. The motion of Kai’s fork slowed as the time for services drew nearer, like
a child who hopes to put off washing the dishes when the food is gone. And like a child, she
was caught at it by Wynne, much to the amusement of her companions.
Crevak took their plates away and brought a game board along with a bag of checker pieces.
Zev and Anders placed pieces while Wynne took bets. Kai slowly rose from the table and
shuffled towards the door, sighing all the way.
The Chantry wasn’t far from Tapsters, Kai figured this to be a very smart move after services
as she surely could not be the only one who would want to get blind drunk to have a break from
the sheer boredom of an hour of her life she would never get back.
Kai entered the stone doors inset with the stained glass with the Chantry’s stylized sun
glowing from the torchlight from within. She made her way down the aisle to find a seat close
to the front, but still in the shadows along one of the side aisles. She figured the close
proximity to the altar would make it easier to catch Burkel’s eye, and for her to set up a
meeting, which it turned out she didn’t need to do.
One hour later—which felt like ten—Kai waited for the small congregation to file out. In
between wishing for sticks to prop up her eyelids and stifling yawns, going to services made
her heart ache for her brother and her parents. It brought back memories of a time when her
family had been whole. When she was a child and made to go to services, she and Fergus used to
play different games they had invented using signals with their hands. The act of sitting in a
chantry flooded her with a wave of nostalgia and longing that surprised her.
She made sure to be last in the line of parishioners filing past the brother as he shook hands
and wished them the blessings of Andraste and the Maker. When it came her turn, she took his
hand accepting his blessing, and kept an eye on the Nevarrans. She noted their distance from
the chantry door before leaning in to speak to Burkel. As she suspected, some of the dwarves
headed straight for the pub.
A small group of Nevarrans stopped a slight ways off, and one turned just as Kai was saying to
the brother, “Burkel, it’s me, Kai Cousland. Pretend I am the one who sells you the beeswax
candles for the chantry.” She nodded and smiled at Burkel while keeping an eye on the group.
Burkel looked startled for the briefest of moments before recovering, smiling in return. “Ah,
my dear, so good to see you again! The recent shipment of candles you brought with you are in
beautiful condition, as always. I would like to place my next order with you, and maybe
discuss an idea I had for smaller prayer candles the patrons may take home and place on
personal shrines?” He waved a hand into the interior of the chantry while nodding at the mages
and smiling. The woman smiled and nodded before turning back to her compatriots, and then they
moved on.
Kai stepped back into the shadows of the atrium while Burkel closed they door. He turned back
to Kai with a look of astonishment on his face. “My child, I thought you were dead! I had word
that you were killed by an assassin’s trick. I am so grateful to the Maker, he and his bride
be praised, that it was not true.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her further into the
building, stopping in the nave. “Are you here about our recent... visitors to Orzammar, by any
chance?”
She grinned; the good brother was just as enthusiastic and cheerful as she remembered him.
“Yes, as it so happens. And I could use your help.”
She explained what they needed and where they were staying. Burkel was more than happy to
provide the garments they required, and he assured her that he could have the required outfit
in a few days’ time, and that he would send someone to discreetly visit Wynne and tailor it
for her. Kai thanked him and took a few candles, bundling them in a handkerchief before taking
her leave of the brother.
Once on the throughway, Kai played it casual, wandering over to a merchant’s stall and looking
over the wares. The Nevarrans seemed to be back in their usual places, looming over the
merchants and the citizens who were running their daily errands.
As she anticipated, the woman who watched her and Brother Burkel approached her. “Pardon me,
but did I hear you and the brother talking about candles?”
Kai gave the woman a shy smile while taking her measure from under lowered lashes. “Indeed, my
lady. The man I work for has an apple orchard, and they have beehives there. We make candles
from the wax of the bees. We are able to supply many markets.” Kai made a mental note to tell
Brannan about the new possibility for income. “The Chantry does love our candles, and the
taverns love our mead and cider.” Kai held up the cloth-wrapped bundle she had and opened it
to show the two golden candles inside. The scent of honey wafted up gently into the air
between them.
Kai wondered for a moment if the game would be up as the woman ran a finger down one of the
candles. “Yes, this is a lovely candle.” She watched as the woman picked it up and sniffed it
gently. “Would you mind if I were to purchase these from you? I’m afraid I am not used to the
smell of nug fat that they use for their torches here, and I find the... scents here a bit...
overwhelming.” The lady didn’t bother to wait for Kai’s response, rather she grabbed up the
handkerchief with the remaining candles while dropping a small pile of silver coins in Kai’s
now empty palm. She bundled up her purchase and waved dismissively to Kai before turning back
to her group.
Kai bowed sightly while letting her heart return to its normal beat, and huffed a quiet sigh
of relief. She was certainly glad she planned ahead with the candles.
She also felt it prudent not to be seen going into Tapsters in her role of modest merchant.
She took herself back to the room she shared with Zev at the inn. She was greeted by Argus and
Ser Pounce. After grabbing a book from her pack, she laid on the bed on the bed as the two
animals joined her.
She wasn’t sure if it was the steady sounds of Argus’ deep snores, along with the kitten’s
purring, that put her to sleep, but she was startled awake when her mabari let out a deep woof
as he jerked upright to stare at the door. It opened to reveal her companions, and Kai
realized the book was laying across her chest where it came to rest when her eyelids chose to
do the same.
She sat up and turned to sit at the edge of the bed as she greeted them. Anders came to sit
beside her, grabbing the kitten in a quick little snuggle, which had Kai giggling and the
kitten purring. Wynne sat behind them on the bed while Zev pulled up a chair.
“We made contact with our luscious friend Sal. She will see to it that there are two sets of
armor, and she will get word to Vartag.” Zevran grinned at her while petting Argus, who shoved
his big head under the elf’s hand.
Anders gave Zevran a grin. “Luscious, indeed! I am hoping for more opportunities to become
acquainted with the beautiful and deadly lady.”
Zev chuckled and shook his head while addressing Kai. “Ah, our conjuring friend here fell in
love when the lovely rogue put her dagger tip under his chin. I think he is smitten.”
“Well, you became ‘smitten,’ as you call it, with me after I put a dagger pommel to your skull
didn’t you?” Kai flashed him a wide grin. “You two are so much alike, it is truly
frightening.”
Anders laughed while raising an eyebrow at Zev. “Maybe it’s that we are men who appreciate a
woman who can make her... point so succinctly?”
Zevran’s response was one of deep throated laughter. Kai figured she had best interrupt them
lest they continued on with tales of past conquests, discussions of the female form, or the
allure of danger and beauty combined.
Maker, they really were two peas in a pod! Kai gave a mental eye roll at the thought. She told
them of her meeting with Burkel and his assurance of the revered vestments for Wynne. She also
told them of her meeting with the Navarran about the candles. “Luckily for me, she was self
absorbed and arrogant. She took no more notice of me than if I were a lamppost. When she had
what she wanted, she dismissed me with nary a second glance.”
The rest of her group seemed to give a collective sigh of relief. It was Wynne who spoke next.
“Well, we will have our costumes, it seems, so perhaps we had best work on our scripts for the
meeting with Bhelen?”
Kai grinned and turned sightly to look at the elder mage. "Speaking of our costumes, won't you
get thrown into an Oubliette for impersonating her Revered High-assedness?"
Wynne groaned. "Only if she ever finds out, young lady. And must you use that vulgar term?"
Anders winked and spoke out of the corner of his mouth at Kai, "High-assedness, indeed! You
couldn't shove a rock up her bum, the old bag. Her knickers are sucked in from all her
bloviating self-importance."
Anders’ comment was followed by a loud smack and an "Ow!" from the mage as Wynne’s hand shot
out and caught him in the back of the head.
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing as Anders rubbed his skull. She leaned in, and in a
conspiratorial tone from the corner of her mouth, said to Anders, "I’m surprised the lace
doesn't poke out of her mouth from the suction, the obnoxious old bat." Even though she was
expecting it, the loud smack and stinging blow elicited an "Ow!" from her lips as Wynne’s hand
connected with the back of her head, too.
Without missing a beat, Anders gave Kai a saucy grin. “Well, she certainly is a—”
“Legend in her own mind?” Kai finished saying for him. They both started laughing, which
ceased abruptly with exclamations of pain when the air was punctuated by a double ‘thwack’
sound along with mild groans of distress, followed by peals of laughter as everyone—including
Wynne—joined in.
#340
Posté 07 mars 2011 - 03:33
Gilgamesh1138
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Chapter 98
“I am so glad you find this amusing. I, for one, find this no laughing matter.” Anders’ voice
took on a hurt tone. “I thought your group might do some sort of hazing ritual, dear lady, but
I assumed it would be something along the lines of making me run through the village square
naked, with my smallclothes on my head.” Anders shrugged. “Or having me slather my naked body
in honey and throw myself into a pen of mabaris. But I never thought you and your little group
would come up with something so... heinous, and likely to chafe as well.”
The room erupted into peals of laughter, with Argus joining in with doggy barks. When quiet
settled once more into the room—save a few twitters, mostly from Wynne—Zevran clapped a hand
on the mage’s shoulder. “My sparkle-fingered friend, it occurs to me that most of your ideas
involve you being naked. I am sensing a pattern here, no? It has been a while since you were
graced with female companionship, hasn’t it?”
“What? No! I... oh, all right. It has been a while. I’ve been escaping the Tower, on the run,
looking for my phylactery.” Anders looked affronted. “What? It isn’t what you’re implying!
I’ve been a little busy!” Zevran chuckled and Anders huffed his breath. “Look, mate, ladies
don’t like when men in shiny suits of armor surround you. It can be intimidating no matter how
charming you are. Not to mention having those same wind up toys watching while you’re engaging
the lady’s affections. Surprisingly, most women don’t like an audience, and Biff and the boys
were hardly going to participate, nor would I want them to. Between you and me, Biff was a bit
on the hairy side. You would have thought his mother dallied with a dwarf.”
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing again. “Yes, well, I had no part in the plan to dress
you as a templar. I thought that privilege went to me.”
“Indeed, mi amada, you are still going to be a templar, but it is our well-endowed Wynne who
pointed out that the Revered Mother is the one who negotiates for lyrium with the dwarves.
While our common citizens may not be aware of that, these mages might. It would be unseemly
for a couple of magi, even if one is a senior enchanter, to speak to Bhelen about such things.
So Wynne will dress and present herself as...”
“As the obnoxious old bat?” Kai grinned at Wynne, who tsked at her. “Yes, we wouldn’t want
them to figure anything was amiss and kill Rica or their son. And I need to let him know we
are working on his problem, and perhaps averting one for Ferelden itself.” Kai flashed Anders
a saucy grin. “No matter how much our ‘sparkle fingered friend,’ as you call him, Zev,
dislikes the notion, I think it will suit our plans nicely. We’ll need to get word to Sal that
we’ll need not one suit of templar armor, but two, and one for—and I use this term loosely—a
gentleman.” The last comment elicited a hurt ‘hey’ from the mage in question. Kai smiled and
turned to Wynne. “Are there any accoutrements worn by the Maker’s fish wife that you need for
your part?”
Wynne let out a heavy, exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Really, young
lady, I wish you wouldn’t call her that.” Wynne shook her head before rolling her eyes at
Kai’s and Anders’ cheeky grins. “Actually, that does pose a bit of a problem. I will need a
set of revered vestments.”
“A bit of a problem? You might have mentioned this when we were still outside of Orzammar.”
Kai chewed her lower lip.
“I said a bit of a problem, young lady, as in very slight, or small. Brother Burkel, who
started a chantry here, thanks in no small part to you, has brought the making of robes and
chantry linens to Orzammar, and enlisted the dwarven tailors who make the cloth raiment for
templar armor.” Wynne shrugged. “The only issue is that we will need a legitimate reason to
visit Burkel so as not to arouse suspicion. The only probable reason for your going to the
Chantry would be for services.” Wynne’s lips quirked slightly at the corners as if in
controlled mirth at the look of horror on Kai’s face.
“Andraste’s flaming knickerweasels, you want me to go to services? Why me?” Kai couldn’t quite
keep the whine out of her voice, but Chantry services? Really? Wasn’t coming back from the
Fade enough?
“Ah, mi gra, what’s the matter? It’ll be good for your soul.” Alistair’s laughter-filled voice
teased her.
“Ha, very ha! Smart guy, you wait until I get back into the Fade.” Kai mock growled, though
she couldn’t help but smile with a cheeky mental chuckle. “If it is so good for the soul then
you can attend services with me, beloved.”
“Um, I think I hear your mother calling me! Bye, my love!” Alistair’s laughter faded out,
leaving Kai to huff into her own head.
“Yes, you, young lady. Burkel has great respect for you, and you can explain to him the
seriousness of the situation. He will believe you.” Wynne’s smile widened like a cat sitting
before an empty birdcage. “And you are the leader, after all.”
Kai rolled her eyes. “But as ‘leader’ I shouldn’t go. What if I get found out?” Her voice took
on the cajoling tone of a child trying to convince a parent that bedtime was not necessary.
“Why can’t you go, Wynne?”
Wynne’s lips quivered as she attempted to keep the mirth that was obviously trying to find an
outlet. “I can’t go, as I will be playing her Reverence, and I wouldn’t want to take the
chance on these humans seeing me. I suspect that not many dwarves make the services, nor have
been converted. I would certainly stand out, and I don’t want to be found out later.”
“Okay, Zev can go.” Kai flashed the elf a hopeful look.
Zevran gave her a cocky grin. “Ah, mi querida, I am afraid not. While I have been known to
pray to the Maker, and even attend services from time to time, I will not be able to attend in
your stead. I will be getting a message to the lovely and deadly Sal about armor for our
friend here. And for her to get a message to Vartag to prepare Bhelen for our visit. I think
it is best he act as if this trip was... expected, no?”
Kai then turned to Anders, who raised his hands and shook his head as he backed away. “As
loathe as I am to say ‘no’ to a beautiful woman... no! You’re dressing me in templar armor,
which is quite enough torture, thank you very much. Just thinking about templars gives me
hives, let alone being dressed as one. One second in that get up is one second too long, and
you will have me in it for far longer than that, no doubt.” Anders crossed his arms over his
chest. “Ask me to fight darkspawn, or templars, or even dragons, and I am yours to command. My
magic hands are at your disposal for any danger, including the dangers of the bedroom, but
attending services at the Chantry? Dear lady, in this, you are on your own.”
Kai resisted the urge to pout and stomp her feet... barely. “Fine, when are the next
services?”
“As it so happens, young lady, today, in about half an hour.” Wynne’s lips quirked with a
barely suppressed smile again. “Just enough time for you to dress and grab a quick bite to
eat. We wouldn’t want your stomach growling while Brother Burkel is giving the sermon, now
would we?”
Kai’s heavy sigh only caused more laughter to echo along the stone walls of the bedroom. “You
are all evil, evil people!” But she couldn’t help but smile along with them.
Kai took herself to the room she shared with Zev and put herself in the plain dress with a
kerchief over her hair that she had been wearing as a seller of apples. After making sure that
the tattoos on her face were covered with the makeup Leli had given her, she joined the others
in Wynne’s room before they journeyed downstairs and out of the inn to Tapsters.
Kai was surprised to see as many patrons in the morning as she did. Granted, the numbers did
not equal the evening crowds, but it was more than she expected given the early hour. The
astonishment must have registered on her face, because Anders leaned in with a hastily
whispered explanation. “I daresay, my pet, that the people you see here now were here last
night and have yet to go home.” Kai cocked an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. “If dwarven pubs
are anything like surface ones, that is.”
“Experienced with that sort of thing, are you?” Kai smiled sweetly.
“Let’s just say that I am not... unfamiliar with a breakfast of ‘the hair of the dog that bit
me,’ dear lady.” Anders grinned and motioned that she should precede him down the stairs to
the floor of the tavern.
They were greeted by a young male dwarf who, unlike his various clientele, looked as fresh as
a daisy—as Kai’s nanny used to say—and was also cheerful and friendly. He led them to the back
table they had occupied the night before, only to find it occupied by a dwarf whose snoring
sounded like an out of tune orchestra played by pigs.
The young man—who looked enough like Corra to be a close blood relative—buoyantly bounced the
heavily wheezing drunk to the stone floor of the tavern while whipping out a rag to wipe down
the table’s surface and gather the multiple mugs covering the table top. The freckles across
his nose danced as the grin never left his face.
The drunken dwarf, unperturbed by his sudden relocation, continued to snort, the sounds of
which echoed off every hard surface until a swift kick in the ribs from their host ceased the
bedlam as the prone dwarf rolled over to one side. “I am Crevak, and my apologies for the
noise!” This was followed by another kick by Crevak’s boot-clad foot to the unfortunate
drunk’s backside. “Please, allow me to tell you of today’s specials for the morning hour so
you may break your fast, after which I will have our sonorous friend here transferred to the
comfort of the street.”
“Someone has one of those ‘word a day’ calendars given out by the Chantry, no?” Zev’s voice
whispered in her ear, and Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing.
They seated themselves as Crevak motioned for two large dwarves, who had been moving kegs
behind the bar, to carry their inebriated fellow to the entrance. Once there, the door was
flung open, and the sloshed dwarf was swung back and forth before one final swing sent him
flying out the door. The porcine orchestral noises ended in a loud grunt with a moment of
silence before floating through the entrance once more, only to be fully silenced when the
great iron portal was slammed shut.
Anders coughed. “Remind me not to pass out in this place. Their exit policy leaves a little to
be desired.”
Zevran chuckled. “Indeed, my magical friend. They bring new meaning to ‘here’s your hat,
what’s your hurry,’ no?”
Crevak tittered a high, girlish sort of laugh before addressing the table. “For breakfast, we
have our usual assortment of fine wines, mead, liquors, and ales. We also offer the usual
breakfast items: porridge, sausages, bacon, bread with butter and honey, and eggs fried in a
variety of ways. Most of our morning crowd prefers porridge liberally thinned with the ale of
their choice. It seems to take the edge off from the night before and get them started on the
day.” They watched as the dwarf produced a small pad of paper hooked together by string, and a
stick of charcoal almost as if by magic. “I daresay that you all don’t have the need to ease
into the day in such a manner, so porridge with honey, perhaps?”
Crevak dutifully wrote down their orders before giving them a slight little bow with a
snapping of his heels, and whisked away with the perpetually happy grin gracing his features.
Anders cocked an eyebrow at Crevak’s departing back. “I want whatever our young server has
been imbibing. It might make wearing the armor more bearable.”
“It will certainly cut down on the whining that is sure to accompany your new wardrobe.” Kai
grinned at the mage.
“Then perhaps, dear lady, you should inquire after the source of his good humor for yourself?
After all, you are about to attend celestial services delivered in the bowels of the earth.
Your spirit could use the help to rise to the occasion, could it not?” Anders gave a saucy
wink, followed by a low chuckle when Kai wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue in
response.
Their food arrived in due time and they ate with occasional bursts of conversation around
mouthfuls of food. The motion of Kai’s fork slowed as the time for services drew nearer, like
a child who hopes to put off washing the dishes when the food is gone. And like a child, she
was caught at it by Wynne, much to the amusement of her companions.
Crevak took their plates away and brought a game board along with a bag of checker pieces.
Zev and Anders placed pieces while Wynne took bets. Kai slowly rose from the table and
shuffled towards the door, sighing all the way.
The Chantry wasn’t far from Tapsters, Kai figured this to be a very smart move after services
as she surely could not be the only one who would want to get blind drunk to have a break from
the sheer boredom of an hour of her life she would never get back.
Kai entered the stone doors inset with the stained glass with the Chantry’s stylized sun
glowing from the torchlight from within. She made her way down the aisle to find a seat close
to the front, but still in the shadows along one of the side aisles. She figured the close
proximity to the altar would make it easier to catch Burkel’s eye, and for her to set up a
meeting, which it turned out she didn’t need to do.
One hour later—which felt like ten—Kai waited for the small congregation to file out. In
between wishing for sticks to prop up her eyelids and stifling yawns, going to services made
her heart ache for her brother and her parents. It brought back memories of a time when her
family had been whole. When she was a child and made to go to services, she and Fergus used to
play different games they had invented using signals with their hands. The act of sitting in a
chantry flooded her with a wave of nostalgia and longing that surprised her.
She made sure to be last in the line of parishioners filing past the brother as he shook hands
and wished them the blessings of Andraste and the Maker. When it came her turn, she took his
hand accepting his blessing, and kept an eye on the Nevarrans. She noted their distance from
the chantry door before leaning in to speak to Burkel. As she suspected, some of the dwarves
headed straight for the pub.
A small group of Nevarrans stopped a slight ways off, and one turned just as Kai was saying to
the brother, “Burkel, it’s me, Kai Cousland. Pretend I am the one who sells you the beeswax
candles for the chantry.” She nodded and smiled at Burkel while keeping an eye on the group.
Burkel looked startled for the briefest of moments before recovering, smiling in return. “Ah,
my dear, so good to see you again! The recent shipment of candles you brought with you are in
beautiful condition, as always. I would like to place my next order with you, and maybe
discuss an idea I had for smaller prayer candles the patrons may take home and place on
personal shrines?” He waved a hand into the interior of the chantry while nodding at the mages
and smiling. The woman smiled and nodded before turning back to her compatriots, and then they
moved on.
Kai stepped back into the shadows of the atrium while Burkel closed they door. He turned back
to Kai with a look of astonishment on his face. “My child, I thought you were dead! I had word
that you were killed by an assassin’s trick. I am so grateful to the Maker, he and his bride
be praised, that it was not true.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her further into the
building, stopping in the nave. “Are you here about our recent... visitors to Orzammar, by any
chance?”
She grinned; the good brother was just as enthusiastic and cheerful as she remembered him.
“Yes, as it so happens. And I could use your help.”
She explained what they needed and where they were staying. Burkel was more than happy to
provide the garments they required, and he assured her that he could have the required outfit
in a few days’ time, and that he would send someone to discreetly visit Wynne and tailor it
for her. Kai thanked him and took a few candles, bundling them in a handkerchief before taking
her leave of the brother.
Once on the throughway, Kai played it casual, wandering over to a merchant’s stall and looking
over the wares. The Nevarrans seemed to be back in their usual places, looming over the
merchants and the citizens who were running their daily errands.
As she anticipated, the woman who watched her and Brother Burkel approached her. “Pardon me,
but did I hear you and the brother talking about candles?”
Kai gave the woman a shy smile while taking her measure from under lowered lashes. “Indeed, my
lady. The man I work for has an apple orchard, and they have beehives there. We make candles
from the wax of the bees. We are able to supply many markets.” Kai made a mental note to tell
Brannan about the new possibility for income. “The Chantry does love our candles, and the
taverns love our mead and cider.” Kai held up the cloth-wrapped bundle she had and opened it
to show the two golden candles inside. The scent of honey wafted up gently into the air
between them.
Kai wondered for a moment if the game would be up as the woman ran a finger down one of the
candles. “Yes, this is a lovely candle.” She watched as the woman picked it up and sniffed it
gently. “Would you mind if I were to purchase these from you? I’m afraid I am not used to the
smell of nug fat that they use for their torches here, and I find the... scents here a bit...
overwhelming.” The lady didn’t bother to wait for Kai’s response, rather she grabbed up the
handkerchief with the remaining candles while dropping a small pile of silver coins in Kai’s
now empty palm. She bundled up her purchase and waved dismissively to Kai before turning back
to her group.
Kai bowed sightly while letting her heart return to its normal beat, and huffed a quiet sigh
of relief. She was certainly glad she planned ahead with the candles.
She also felt it prudent not to be seen going into Tapsters in her role of modest merchant.
She took herself back to the room she shared with Zev at the inn. She was greeted by Argus and
Ser Pounce. After grabbing a book from her pack, she laid on the bed on the bed as the two
animals joined her.
She wasn’t sure if it was the steady sounds of Argus’ deep snores, along with the kitten’s
purring, that put her to sleep, but she was startled awake when her mabari let out a deep woof
as he jerked upright to stare at the door. It opened to reveal her companions, and Kai
realized the book was laying across her chest where it came to rest when her eyelids chose to
do the same.
She sat up and turned to sit at the edge of the bed as she greeted them. Anders came to sit
beside her, grabbing the kitten in a quick little snuggle, which had Kai giggling and the
kitten purring. Wynne sat behind them on the bed while Zev pulled up a chair.
“We made contact with our luscious friend Sal. She will see to it that there are two sets of
armor, and she will get word to Vartag.” Zevran grinned at her while petting Argus, who shoved
his big head under the elf’s hand.
Anders gave Zevran a grin. “Luscious, indeed! I am hoping for more opportunities to become
acquainted with the beautiful and deadly lady.”
Zev chuckled and shook his head while addressing Kai. “Ah, our conjuring friend here fell in
love when the lovely rogue put her dagger tip under his chin. I think he is smitten.”
“Well, you became ‘smitten,’ as you call it, with me after I put a dagger pommel to your skull
didn’t you?” Kai flashed him a wide grin. “You two are so much alike, it is truly
frightening.”
Anders laughed while raising an eyebrow at Zev. “Maybe it’s that we are men who appreciate a
woman who can make her... point so succinctly?”
Zevran’s response was one of deep throated laughter. Kai figured she had best interrupt them
lest they continued on with tales of past conquests, discussions of the female form, or the
allure of danger and beauty combined.
Maker, they really were two peas in a pod! Kai gave a mental eye roll at the thought. She told
them of her meeting with Burkel and his assurance of the revered vestments for Wynne. She also
told them of her meeting with the Navarran about the candles. “Luckily for me, she was self
absorbed and arrogant. She took no more notice of me than if I were a lamppost. When she had
what she wanted, she dismissed me with nary a second glance.”
The rest of her group seemed to give a collective sigh of relief. It was Wynne who spoke next.
“Well, we will have our costumes, it seems, so perhaps we had best work on our scripts for the
meeting with Bhelen?”
Kai grinned and turned sightly to look at the elder mage. "Speaking of our costumes, won't you
get thrown into an Oubliette for impersonating her Revered High-assedness?"
Wynne groaned. "Only if she ever finds out, young lady. And must you use that vulgar term?"
Anders winked and spoke out of the corner of his mouth at Kai, "High-assedness, indeed! You
couldn't shove a rock up her bum, the old bag. Her knickers are sucked in from all her
bloviating self-importance."
Anders’ comment was followed by a loud smack and an "Ow!" from the mage as Wynne’s hand shot
out and caught him in the back of the head.
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing as Anders rubbed his skull. She leaned in, and in a
conspiratorial tone from the corner of her mouth, said to Anders, "I’m surprised the lace
doesn't poke out of her mouth from the suction, the obnoxious old bat." Even though she was
expecting it, the loud smack and stinging blow elicited an "Ow!" from her lips as Wynne’s hand
connected with the back of her head, too.
Without missing a beat, Anders gave Kai a saucy grin. “Well, she certainly is a—”
“Legend in her own mind?” Kai finished saying for him. They both started laughing, which
ceased abruptly with exclamations of pain when the air was punctuated by a double ‘thwack’
sound along with mild groans of distress, followed by peals of laughter as everyone—including
Wynne—joined in.
“I am so glad you find this amusing. I, for one, find this no laughing matter.” Anders’ voice
took on a hurt tone. “I thought your group might do some sort of hazing ritual, dear lady, but
I assumed it would be something along the lines of making me run through the village square
naked, with my smallclothes on my head.” Anders shrugged. “Or having me slather my naked body
in honey and throw myself into a pen of mabaris. But I never thought you and your little group
would come up with something so... heinous, and likely to chafe as well.”
The room erupted into peals of laughter, with Argus joining in with doggy barks. When quiet
settled once more into the room—save a few twitters, mostly from Wynne—Zevran clapped a hand
on the mage’s shoulder. “My sparkle-fingered friend, it occurs to me that most of your ideas
involve you being naked. I am sensing a pattern here, no? It has been a while since you were
graced with female companionship, hasn’t it?”
“What? No! I... oh, all right. It has been a while. I’ve been escaping the Tower, on the run,
looking for my phylactery.” Anders looked affronted. “What? It isn’t what you’re implying!
I’ve been a little busy!” Zevran chuckled and Anders huffed his breath. “Look, mate, ladies
don’t like when men in shiny suits of armor surround you. It can be intimidating no matter how
charming you are. Not to mention having those same wind up toys watching while you’re engaging
the lady’s affections. Surprisingly, most women don’t like an audience, and Biff and the boys
were hardly going to participate, nor would I want them to. Between you and me, Biff was a bit
on the hairy side. You would have thought his mother dallied with a dwarf.”
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing again. “Yes, well, I had no part in the plan to dress
you as a templar. I thought that privilege went to me.”
“Indeed, mi amada, you are still going to be a templar, but it is our well-endowed Wynne who
pointed out that the Revered Mother is the one who negotiates for lyrium with the dwarves.
While our common citizens may not be aware of that, these mages might. It would be unseemly
for a couple of magi, even if one is a senior enchanter, to speak to Bhelen about such things.
So Wynne will dress and present herself as...”
“As the obnoxious old bat?” Kai grinned at Wynne, who tsked at her. “Yes, we wouldn’t want
them to figure anything was amiss and kill Rica or their son. And I need to let him know we
are working on his problem, and perhaps averting one for Ferelden itself.” Kai flashed Anders
a saucy grin. “No matter how much our ‘sparkle fingered friend,’ as you call him, Zev,
dislikes the notion, I think it will suit our plans nicely. We’ll need to get word to Sal that
we’ll need not one suit of templar armor, but two, and one for—and I use this term loosely—a
gentleman.” The last comment elicited a hurt ‘hey’ from the mage in question. Kai smiled and
turned to Wynne. “Are there any accoutrements worn by the Maker’s fish wife that you need for
your part?”
Wynne let out a heavy, exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Really, young
lady, I wish you wouldn’t call her that.” Wynne shook her head before rolling her eyes at
Kai’s and Anders’ cheeky grins. “Actually, that does pose a bit of a problem. I will need a
set of revered vestments.”
“A bit of a problem? You might have mentioned this when we were still outside of Orzammar.”
Kai chewed her lower lip.
“I said a bit of a problem, young lady, as in very slight, or small. Brother Burkel, who
started a chantry here, thanks in no small part to you, has brought the making of robes and
chantry linens to Orzammar, and enlisted the dwarven tailors who make the cloth raiment for
templar armor.” Wynne shrugged. “The only issue is that we will need a legitimate reason to
visit Burkel so as not to arouse suspicion. The only probable reason for your going to the
Chantry would be for services.” Wynne’s lips quirked slightly at the corners as if in
controlled mirth at the look of horror on Kai’s face.
“Andraste’s flaming knickerweasels, you want me to go to services? Why me?” Kai couldn’t quite
keep the whine out of her voice, but Chantry services? Really? Wasn’t coming back from the
Fade enough?
“Ah, mi gra, what’s the matter? It’ll be good for your soul.” Alistair’s laughter-filled voice
teased her.
“Ha, very ha! Smart guy, you wait until I get back into the Fade.” Kai mock growled, though
she couldn’t help but smile with a cheeky mental chuckle. “If it is so good for the soul then
you can attend services with me, beloved.”
“Um, I think I hear your mother calling me! Bye, my love!” Alistair’s laughter faded out,
leaving Kai to huff into her own head.
“Yes, you, young lady. Burkel has great respect for you, and you can explain to him the
seriousness of the situation. He will believe you.” Wynne’s smile widened like a cat sitting
before an empty birdcage. “And you are the leader, after all.”
Kai rolled her eyes. “But as ‘leader’ I shouldn’t go. What if I get found out?” Her voice took
on the cajoling tone of a child trying to convince a parent that bedtime was not necessary.
“Why can’t you go, Wynne?”
Wynne’s lips quivered as she attempted to keep the mirth that was obviously trying to find an
outlet. “I can’t go, as I will be playing her Reverence, and I wouldn’t want to take the
chance on these humans seeing me. I suspect that not many dwarves make the services, nor have
been converted. I would certainly stand out, and I don’t want to be found out later.”
“Okay, Zev can go.” Kai flashed the elf a hopeful look.
Zevran gave her a cocky grin. “Ah, mi querida, I am afraid not. While I have been known to
pray to the Maker, and even attend services from time to time, I will not be able to attend in
your stead. I will be getting a message to the lovely and deadly Sal about armor for our
friend here. And for her to get a message to Vartag to prepare Bhelen for our visit. I think
it is best he act as if this trip was... expected, no?”
Kai then turned to Anders, who raised his hands and shook his head as he backed away. “As
loathe as I am to say ‘no’ to a beautiful woman... no! You’re dressing me in templar armor,
which is quite enough torture, thank you very much. Just thinking about templars gives me
hives, let alone being dressed as one. One second in that get up is one second too long, and
you will have me in it for far longer than that, no doubt.” Anders crossed his arms over his
chest. “Ask me to fight darkspawn, or templars, or even dragons, and I am yours to command. My
magic hands are at your disposal for any danger, including the dangers of the bedroom, but
attending services at the Chantry? Dear lady, in this, you are on your own.”
Kai resisted the urge to pout and stomp her feet... barely. “Fine, when are the next
services?”
“As it so happens, young lady, today, in about half an hour.” Wynne’s lips quirked with a
barely suppressed smile again. “Just enough time for you to dress and grab a quick bite to
eat. We wouldn’t want your stomach growling while Brother Burkel is giving the sermon, now
would we?”
Kai’s heavy sigh only caused more laughter to echo along the stone walls of the bedroom. “You
are all evil, evil people!” But she couldn’t help but smile along with them.
Kai took herself to the room she shared with Zev and put herself in the plain dress with a
kerchief over her hair that she had been wearing as a seller of apples. After making sure that
the tattoos on her face were covered with the makeup Leli had given her, she joined the others
in Wynne’s room before they journeyed downstairs and out of the inn to Tapsters.
Kai was surprised to see as many patrons in the morning as she did. Granted, the numbers did
not equal the evening crowds, but it was more than she expected given the early hour. The
astonishment must have registered on her face, because Anders leaned in with a hastily
whispered explanation. “I daresay, my pet, that the people you see here now were here last
night and have yet to go home.” Kai cocked an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. “If dwarven pubs
are anything like surface ones, that is.”
“Experienced with that sort of thing, are you?” Kai smiled sweetly.
“Let’s just say that I am not... unfamiliar with a breakfast of ‘the hair of the dog that bit
me,’ dear lady.” Anders grinned and motioned that she should precede him down the stairs to
the floor of the tavern.
They were greeted by a young male dwarf who, unlike his various clientele, looked as fresh as
a daisy—as Kai’s nanny used to say—and was also cheerful and friendly. He led them to the back
table they had occupied the night before, only to find it occupied by a dwarf whose snoring
sounded like an out of tune orchestra played by pigs.
The young man—who looked enough like Corra to be a close blood relative—buoyantly bounced the
heavily wheezing drunk to the stone floor of the tavern while whipping out a rag to wipe down
the table’s surface and gather the multiple mugs covering the table top. The freckles across
his nose danced as the grin never left his face.
The drunken dwarf, unperturbed by his sudden relocation, continued to snort, the sounds of
which echoed off every hard surface until a swift kick in the ribs from their host ceased the
bedlam as the prone dwarf rolled over to one side. “I am Crevak, and my apologies for the
noise!” This was followed by another kick by Crevak’s boot-clad foot to the unfortunate
drunk’s backside. “Please, allow me to tell you of today’s specials for the morning hour so
you may break your fast, after which I will have our sonorous friend here transferred to the
comfort of the street.”
“Someone has one of those ‘word a day’ calendars given out by the Chantry, no?” Zev’s voice
whispered in her ear, and Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing.
They seated themselves as Crevak motioned for two large dwarves, who had been moving kegs
behind the bar, to carry their inebriated fellow to the entrance. Once there, the door was
flung open, and the sloshed dwarf was swung back and forth before one final swing sent him
flying out the door. The porcine orchestral noises ended in a loud grunt with a moment of
silence before floating through the entrance once more, only to be fully silenced when the
great iron portal was slammed shut.
Anders coughed. “Remind me not to pass out in this place. Their exit policy leaves a little to
be desired.”
Zevran chuckled. “Indeed, my magical friend. They bring new meaning to ‘here’s your hat,
what’s your hurry,’ no?”
Crevak tittered a high, girlish sort of laugh before addressing the table. “For breakfast, we
have our usual assortment of fine wines, mead, liquors, and ales. We also offer the usual
breakfast items: porridge, sausages, bacon, bread with butter and honey, and eggs fried in a
variety of ways. Most of our morning crowd prefers porridge liberally thinned with the ale of
their choice. It seems to take the edge off from the night before and get them started on the
day.” They watched as the dwarf produced a small pad of paper hooked together by string, and a
stick of charcoal almost as if by magic. “I daresay that you all don’t have the need to ease
into the day in such a manner, so porridge with honey, perhaps?”
Crevak dutifully wrote down their orders before giving them a slight little bow with a
snapping of his heels, and whisked away with the perpetually happy grin gracing his features.
Anders cocked an eyebrow at Crevak’s departing back. “I want whatever our young server has
been imbibing. It might make wearing the armor more bearable.”
“It will certainly cut down on the whining that is sure to accompany your new wardrobe.” Kai
grinned at the mage.
“Then perhaps, dear lady, you should inquire after the source of his good humor for yourself?
After all, you are about to attend celestial services delivered in the bowels of the earth.
Your spirit could use the help to rise to the occasion, could it not?” Anders gave a saucy
wink, followed by a low chuckle when Kai wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue in
response.
Their food arrived in due time and they ate with occasional bursts of conversation around
mouthfuls of food. The motion of Kai’s fork slowed as the time for services drew nearer, like
a child who hopes to put off washing the dishes when the food is gone. And like a child, she
was caught at it by Wynne, much to the amusement of her companions.
Crevak took their plates away and brought a game board along with a bag of checker pieces.
Zev and Anders placed pieces while Wynne took bets. Kai slowly rose from the table and
shuffled towards the door, sighing all the way.
The Chantry wasn’t far from Tapsters, Kai figured this to be a very smart move after services
as she surely could not be the only one who would want to get blind drunk to have a break from
the sheer boredom of an hour of her life she would never get back.
Kai entered the stone doors inset with the stained glass with the Chantry’s stylized sun
glowing from the torchlight from within. She made her way down the aisle to find a seat close
to the front, but still in the shadows along one of the side aisles. She figured the close
proximity to the altar would make it easier to catch Burkel’s eye, and for her to set up a
meeting, which it turned out she didn’t need to do.
One hour later—which felt like ten—Kai waited for the small congregation to file out. In
between wishing for sticks to prop up her eyelids and stifling yawns, going to services made
her heart ache for her brother and her parents. It brought back memories of a time when her
family had been whole. When she was a child and made to go to services, she and Fergus used to
play different games they had invented using signals with their hands. The act of sitting in a
chantry flooded her with a wave of nostalgia and longing that surprised her.
She made sure to be last in the line of parishioners filing past the brother as he shook hands
and wished them the blessings of Andraste and the Maker. When it came her turn, she took his
hand accepting his blessing, and kept an eye on the Nevarrans. She noted their distance from
the chantry door before leaning in to speak to Burkel. As she suspected, some of the dwarves
headed straight for the pub.
A small group of Nevarrans stopped a slight ways off, and one turned just as Kai was saying to
the brother, “Burkel, it’s me, Kai Cousland. Pretend I am the one who sells you the beeswax
candles for the chantry.” She nodded and smiled at Burkel while keeping an eye on the group.
Burkel looked startled for the briefest of moments before recovering, smiling in return. “Ah,
my dear, so good to see you again! The recent shipment of candles you brought with you are in
beautiful condition, as always. I would like to place my next order with you, and maybe
discuss an idea I had for smaller prayer candles the patrons may take home and place on
personal shrines?” He waved a hand into the interior of the chantry while nodding at the mages
and smiling. The woman smiled and nodded before turning back to her compatriots, and then they
moved on.
Kai stepped back into the shadows of the atrium while Burkel closed they door. He turned back
to Kai with a look of astonishment on his face. “My child, I thought you were dead! I had word
that you were killed by an assassin’s trick. I am so grateful to the Maker, he and his bride
be praised, that it was not true.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her further into the
building, stopping in the nave. “Are you here about our recent... visitors to Orzammar, by any
chance?”
She grinned; the good brother was just as enthusiastic and cheerful as she remembered him.
“Yes, as it so happens. And I could use your help.”
She explained what they needed and where they were staying. Burkel was more than happy to
provide the garments they required, and he assured her that he could have the required outfit
in a few days’ time, and that he would send someone to discreetly visit Wynne and tailor it
for her. Kai thanked him and took a few candles, bundling them in a handkerchief before taking
her leave of the brother.
Once on the throughway, Kai played it casual, wandering over to a merchant’s stall and looking
over the wares. The Nevarrans seemed to be back in their usual places, looming over the
merchants and the citizens who were running their daily errands.
As she anticipated, the woman who watched her and Brother Burkel approached her. “Pardon me,
but did I hear you and the brother talking about candles?”
Kai gave the woman a shy smile while taking her measure from under lowered lashes. “Indeed, my
lady. The man I work for has an apple orchard, and they have beehives there. We make candles
from the wax of the bees. We are able to supply many markets.” Kai made a mental note to tell
Brannan about the new possibility for income. “The Chantry does love our candles, and the
taverns love our mead and cider.” Kai held up the cloth-wrapped bundle she had and opened it
to show the two golden candles inside. The scent of honey wafted up gently into the air
between them.
Kai wondered for a moment if the game would be up as the woman ran a finger down one of the
candles. “Yes, this is a lovely candle.” She watched as the woman picked it up and sniffed it
gently. “Would you mind if I were to purchase these from you? I’m afraid I am not used to the
smell of nug fat that they use for their torches here, and I find the... scents here a bit...
overwhelming.” The lady didn’t bother to wait for Kai’s response, rather she grabbed up the
handkerchief with the remaining candles while dropping a small pile of silver coins in Kai’s
now empty palm. She bundled up her purchase and waved dismissively to Kai before turning back
to her group.
Kai bowed sightly while letting her heart return to its normal beat, and huffed a quiet sigh
of relief. She was certainly glad she planned ahead with the candles.
She also felt it prudent not to be seen going into Tapsters in her role of modest merchant.
She took herself back to the room she shared with Zev at the inn. She was greeted by Argus and
Ser Pounce. After grabbing a book from her pack, she laid on the bed on the bed as the two
animals joined her.
She wasn’t sure if it was the steady sounds of Argus’ deep snores, along with the kitten’s
purring, that put her to sleep, but she was startled awake when her mabari let out a deep woof
as he jerked upright to stare at the door. It opened to reveal her companions, and Kai
realized the book was laying across her chest where it came to rest when her eyelids chose to
do the same.
She sat up and turned to sit at the edge of the bed as she greeted them. Anders came to sit
beside her, grabbing the kitten in a quick little snuggle, which had Kai giggling and the
kitten purring. Wynne sat behind them on the bed while Zev pulled up a chair.
“We made contact with our luscious friend Sal. She will see to it that there are two sets of
armor, and she will get word to Vartag.” Zevran grinned at her while petting Argus, who shoved
his big head under the elf’s hand.
Anders gave Zevran a grin. “Luscious, indeed! I am hoping for more opportunities to become
acquainted with the beautiful and deadly lady.”
Zev chuckled and shook his head while addressing Kai. “Ah, our conjuring friend here fell in
love when the lovely rogue put her dagger tip under his chin. I think he is smitten.”
“Well, you became ‘smitten,’ as you call it, with me after I put a dagger pommel to your skull
didn’t you?” Kai flashed him a wide grin. “You two are so much alike, it is truly
frightening.”
Anders laughed while raising an eyebrow at Zev. “Maybe it’s that we are men who appreciate a
woman who can make her... point so succinctly?”
Zevran’s response was one of deep throated laughter. Kai figured she had best interrupt them
lest they continued on with tales of past conquests, discussions of the female form, or the
allure of danger and beauty combined.
Maker, they really were two peas in a pod! Kai gave a mental eye roll at the thought. She told
them of her meeting with Burkel and his assurance of the revered vestments for Wynne. She also
told them of her meeting with the Navarran about the candles. “Luckily for me, she was self
absorbed and arrogant. She took no more notice of me than if I were a lamppost. When she had
what she wanted, she dismissed me with nary a second glance.”
The rest of her group seemed to give a collective sigh of relief. It was Wynne who spoke next.
“Well, we will have our costumes, it seems, so perhaps we had best work on our scripts for the
meeting with Bhelen?”
Kai grinned and turned sightly to look at the elder mage. "Speaking of our costumes, won't you
get thrown into an Oubliette for impersonating her Revered High-assedness?"
Wynne groaned. "Only if she ever finds out, young lady. And must you use that vulgar term?"
Anders winked and spoke out of the corner of his mouth at Kai, "High-assedness, indeed! You
couldn't shove a rock up her bum, the old bag. Her knickers are sucked in from all her
bloviating self-importance."
Anders’ comment was followed by a loud smack and an "Ow!" from the mage as Wynne’s hand shot
out and caught him in the back of the head.
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing as Anders rubbed his skull. She leaned in, and in a
conspiratorial tone from the corner of her mouth, said to Anders, "I’m surprised the lace
doesn't poke out of her mouth from the suction, the obnoxious old bat." Even though she was
expecting it, the loud smack and stinging blow elicited an "Ow!" from her lips as Wynne’s hand
connected with the back of her head, too.
Without missing a beat, Anders gave Kai a saucy grin. “Well, she certainly is a—”
“Legend in her own mind?” Kai finished saying for him. They both started laughing, which
ceased abruptly with exclamations of pain when the air was punctuated by a double ‘thwack’
sound along with mild groans of distress, followed by peals of laughter as everyone—including
Wynne—joined in.
#341
Posté 07 mars 2011 - 07:44
Lynn01
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- Members
- 280 messages
Great chapter Gil!.... and Erynnar ;-)
Nice to see an update
/hugs
Nice to see an update
/hugs
#342
Posté 07 mars 2011 - 11:26
erynnar
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- Members
- 3 010 messages
Aw! Thanks Lynn! I am so glad you enjoyed it. I had stupid writer's block and the Goblins of Self Doubt were eating my brain. I am glad it finally resolved itself.
#343
Posté 29 mai 2011 - 07:43
erynnar
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Chapter 99
As good as his word, Brother Burkel arranged for vestments for Wynne. A pair of dwarves, who
turned out to be lay sisters, arrived the following day with the required robes into which
they placed the elder mage. A flurry of pins later, and the clothing was whisked away to have
the adjustments made before the final fitting.
The templar armor would take longer, so Kai and her companions spent their days in their
rooms, in Tapsters, or even topside in the market. Kai figured they ought to enjoy time in the
sun and air while the getting was good. Who knew how long they would be in the Deep Roads.
It was one such day that Kai and Zev carried a blanket and lunch wrapped in cloth outside of
the city. They made their way to the large boulder that they had used to clean up once during
the Blight, and that Kai used as a clandestine meeting place for her and Wynne.
Zev shook out the blanket and laid it out beneath the overhang of the rock. Kai sat down,
unwrapping the bundle she carried while taking a deep and welcome breath of clean mountain
air. She handed Zev the wine bottle for him to open while she placed food and wooden mugs on
the blanket. He poured the ruby colored wine for them as Kai used a dagger to slice bread,
cheese, and apples into pieces. Zevran popped a grape into his mouth before taking the food
Kai handed him. They ate and sipped wine in comfortable silence.
She found herself watching the clouds and the way the wind blew through the branches of the
trees, and the birds picking through the detritus on the forest floor, as if memorizing them.
The Deep Roads would have no clouds, no birds, and very little light. There would be air from
the giant vents, but there would be no wind. Maker, how she hated the Deep Roads!
Her thoughts must have registered on her face, as she felt Zev’s fingers twine with her own
before giving them a squeeze. “My dear Kaidana, it does not do to dwell on the unpleasantness
of the future while immersed in the distraction from that future, no?”
Kai gave him a chagrined look while returning the pressure to his fingers before wrinkling her
nose and sticking out her tongue at him. This only caused him to throw back his head and laugh
before he turned to her and leaned in, the fingers of his other hand kneading her neck as his
lips touched hers lightly at first and deepening the contact until her heart was racing and
her breath came short.
“I think, mi amada, I can find something else to distract you with, no?” Zev’s amber eyes
sparkled as he gave her a cheeky grin. This time, as his lips met hers, his hand trailed down
her neck to untie the thongs in the front of her tunic, slipping it off of one shoulder. She
barely had time to imagine a lamppost in snow before his mouth left hers to trail kisses
across her cheek to her earlobe. His teeth nibbled the soft flesh there, making her groan at
the pleasurable sensations his mouth caused.
His hand trailed down her throat and across her shoulder before they found their way up her
tunic, skimming the edges of the band across her breasts before artfully undoing the ties and
removing it in one fluid motion. It made her want to giggle, knowing that he was that good due
to a lot of practice. Kai began to make a comment along those lines, but her breath was lost
in a gasp as his mouth gently bit her throat while his fingers teased along her front.
Her own hands roamed beneath his shirt, skimming muscled shoulders and running them across his
chest, causing him to rumble in deep in his throat and pull her shirt over her head. He licked
and nipped his way down to the valley between her breasts, trailing kisses between each
hardened peak, causing her to arch under him while hands worked feverishly to get his shirt
off.
He laughed a low laugh and stopped long enough to oblige her. His shirt lay on the ground next
to her abandoned clothing items in short order, as did the rest of their wardrobes, before
lowering his mouth to tease one breast, and then the other, before seeking out her lips again.
He broke off briefly to cup her face with his hands, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of
her cheekbone as his amber eyes gazed into her blue ones. She opened and he filled. They took
pleasure in each other, until the world stopped as their bodies plunged relentlessly onwards,
pushing them both towards the precipice.
With a triumphant cry of his name, she fell over the edge as she wrapped her legs around him
and took him with her. She felt his body’s shudders match her own as he nuzzled her neck,
whispering her name.
He rolled to the side, pulling her to him, and resting her head on his chest. Kai realized she
was dozing off when she startled slightly as she felt Zevran shiver under her. She couldn’t
help but take the opportunity to tease him. “What, Zev, shivering on a fine warm day like
this? Ah, mighty assassin and former Crow, laid low by a balmy summer’s day.”
Laughter burst from her lips as his fingers tickled her ribs. “What passes for summer in
Ferelden would be considered the first warm days after winter in Antiva. How you can claim
this is warm I will never know, my dear Kaidana.”
He rolled over, pinning her beneath him, his amber eyes sparkling with mischief and lust. “But
I can think of ways to stay warm, no?” His nose nuzzled hers before his lips were plastered to
hers as his hands cupped her face.
She could feel his arousal pressing into her belly. She didn’t know if Zev felt warmer, but
she knew she did. She was picturing a lamppost in snow once more and enjoying the thought of
round two when she heard a plaintive, yet loud cough from above them on the rock overhang,
followed by a distressed sounding “hello” and a loud “woof.”
Kai jumped and practically threw Zev down the mountain to sit up, putting her back to the rock
face, curling her knees to her chest while wrapping her arms around them. Zevran, never one to
be embarrassed by a lack of clothing, or anything else for that matter, simply picked himself
up much the way a cat would after being booted across a floor by accident, while throwing back
his head and laughing, slowly gathering their clothing and handing Kai hers with a smirk.
She could feel the the heat rising in her face as she wrinkled her nose and stuck out her
tongue at him. Kai fumbled to put on her clothing as fast as she could. Zevran took a more
leisurely approach and managed leggings before calling for their company to join them.
A gleeful “woof” could be heard and Kai watched Argus race around the rock to barrel into her
as she sat on the blanket to pull her boots back on. She found herself flat on her back while
receiving doggy kisses. As always, Argus’s exuberant affections made her giggle and laugh as
she pretended to fend them off while tickling the mabari’s ribs.
“So, does she giggle like that for you, too?” Kai shot a look to her left to see the edge of
Anders’ booted feet. She tilted her head up, her line of vision following upwards to see pants
tucked into the boots and a cotton shirt covering his muscular torso—for a mage, Anders was in
very good shape—with the fuzzy marmalade striped head of Ser Pounce-A-Lot peeking out from
under the laces. Part of Kai wanted to giggle, because broad muscles with a soft little kitten
sitting nestled there would be sure to make most ladies swoon. It must be all the running the
man did from the Circle that kept him so fit.
He told them he preferred normal clothes instead of the robes the Circle made mages wear.
Except, he told Oghren when the dwarf teased the mage about wearing a man dress, when a mage
might need to perform in a quick and quiet tryst—say in the Circle library under the nose of
the templars—one could be done, skirt down with none the wiser. Kai still blushed furiously
thinking of that conversation.
Apparently, Anders had his own set of ‘civilian’ clothing he used to evade capture, pointing
out that the robe he wore when they met him was one the templars forced him wear while taking
him back to the tower. So, he was more than happy to dress as if the staff he wore was nothing
more than a walking stick or quarterstaff.
She looked up to see him and Zevran exchanging smirks with one another as Zevran’s shirt still
dangled from his fingers. “I can elicit many different sounds from our luscious leader, I
assure you, my sparkle-fingered friend. Had you come down a bit sooner, or just a bit later,
you could have learned about such delightful melodies.”
“Zev!” Kai practically squeaked his name while she felt her ears were burning along with her
face. Maker! Sometimes she swore those two just did it to see if her head would explode from
embarrassment.
They all looked at her—even Argus and the kitten—with curiosity. “Indeed, I see what you
mean.” Anders cocked an eyebrow and winked at her. “Alas, the dog had other ideas. I think he
heard the... interesting sounds before I did. He herded me to the top of the rock and growled
if I made a move to go down the path.”
“So, oh magical one, what has you running to fetch us in such haste?” Zev chuckled as he
slipped on his shirt before nudging Argus over so he could sit on the blankets and pull on his
Antivan leather boots.
Kai sat up, turning so she could brace her back against Argus and face the mage who sat down
on the soft pine needles littering the ground. She watched as Anders ran a hand through his
hair, which he wore loose from the confinements of its usual ponytail. He looked younger with
it down.
He also reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t place who, exactly. That little gremlin in
her head was jumping up and down, practically begging her to figure it out. She gave herself a
mental head slap hoping to quiet the little goblin, as it was doing somersaults now, and
focused on the mage who did wear a decidedly distressed look.
Anders’ long fingers began plucking pine needles off the ground around him, which he used to
tickle the kitten’s nose while little furry paws batted playfully in retaliation. Kai nodded
to Zev to pour some wine into one of their mugs for the mage; she hoped it might relax him
some to get what ever it was off his chest.
Zev handed the mug to him, which Anders took with a small pained smile of thanks. Kai waited
until he downed a large swallow before cocking an eyebrow at him and leaning forward. “So,
what seems to be the trouble? And please don’t tell me it has to do with chafing and wearing a
certain outfit.”
Kai’s joke didn’t even garner a smile. Rather, the mage looked sheepishly into the mug resting
in his lap. Well, this can’t be good.
“I find it is often best to just cut to the heart of things, no?” Zevran shot Kai a cheeky
grin. “Is it female troubles? Is the lovely Sal proving immune to your rakish good looks and
not so subtle charms?”
“I have no problems with wooing women! I...” Anders blew out a huff of air. “Right, I see what
you did there. You’re far too slick.” He held out the mug for more wine. “No, it isn’t about
the blasted templar armor.” He gave a shudder. “And no, it isn’t about Sal. It’s... it’s
about my phylactery.”
“I thought you told us while we were at the ‘Hunter’s Horn’ that you destroyed it?” Kai cut
bread and cheese and handed them to Anders as well. She figured he might need something on his
stomach to go with the wine or he might pitch forwards and crush Ser Pounce.
Anders set the mug down, took the bread and cheese, setting it on his knee before running a
hand through his hair once more and giving her a embarrassed look. “No, dear lady, what I said
was that I destroyed the cruor talisman they used to track me because they have my phylactery
still. The talisman is a lodestone with some blood from my phylactery in a container. It makes
a compass, if you will, that points those buggering templars in the direction of their prey.”
The mage looked a little sick. “It doesn’t take a lot of blood for it to work, so they have
plenty to work with in hunting down the mage in question. That mage, of course, being me in
this case.”
“That smacks of blood magic. It is interesting, no? That the Chantry preaches against such
things, but employs something of that same nature.” Zevran winked at the mage.
Kai rolled her eyes. “To err is human, to be a mage is to be a monster, and to be a hypocrite
is divine, or so the Chantry would have us believe, apparently.”
Anders gave a weak laugh and a smile. He then picked at the cheese and fed little pieces to
the kitten who had crawled from his shirt to sit in his lap. “You might have been a little far
into your cups when I explained it. Well, we all were, truth be told. Let me try and explain.
The phylactery is—”
“A vial of blood taken from the magi at the Circle. That much I do know from traveling with
Wynne and talking to Irving and Greagoir.” Kai shrugged. “But I never had much cause to go
into more detail with them. Wynne is allowed to travel where she wills by decree of both
Irving and Greagoir, and through them, has the permission of the Chantry. That has not been
revoked as of yet, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon. I figure that with what all that
is going on, Wynne has fallen through the cracks, so to speak, or they feel she’s too old to
worry about. Though that would be a grave mistake for anyone to make, friend or foe.”
Kai took the remaining mug and held it up for Zevran to fill. “The only other mage I have
spent a lot of time with is an apostate. I can safely say the Chantry and the Circle would
rather try and beard the Black City than put a collar on Morrigan.”
“Yes, your brother’s lovely companion did strike me as an even more difficult personality than
myself, shall we say.” Anders flashed her a slight grin. “Well, the phylactery is a good
amount of our blood mixed with lyrium, herbs, and other things only the templars and the
Chantry are privy to.” He gave a short bark of cynical laughter. “After all, if mages knew
what it was that they used, we might be able to counter it.”
The kitten, perhaps sensing Anders’ discomfort, jumped up and put a paw on the man’s chest
with a plaintive ‘meow.’ Anders scooped up the kitten, cuddling Ser Pounce under his chin.
“Sorry, little one, I’ll be all right.” He addressed Kai and Zev once more. “Anyways, they
take that blood and keep it, using it as a collar and leash, and to track us should we seek
the freedom due any—”
“Due any sentient being. Yes, I quite agree with you. So did Alistair Theirin. Had he been
king, he would have freed the Circle and made the templars a guard force to track mages who
were using magic against others or for improper reasons. And, of course, those demons or
abominations that are wont to pop up from time to time. But not to cage or imprison. It is a
sentiment my companions and myself share.” Kai shrugged. “Well, save Wynne, perhaps. But she
has more freedom than most, so I think she forgets what it is like to have someone in armor
looking at you as if you might turn evil at any moment. I think she forgets what a strain that
kind of scrutiny causes.”
“Yes, I got the distinct impression she thinks the Circle does more good than harm. And on one
level I agree, as it is a good place to learn, to refine, to gain control over what we have,
and under the tutelage of more experienced magi. And then...” Anders grimaced.
“And then there are the templars and the abuses that can happen when those who have power get
corrupted by it. That also goes for the mages themselves, like Uldred.” Kai flashed him a
sympathetic smile.
Anders pounded the ground next to his knee with his free hand, sending up a puff of dust that
glittered in a dappled beam of sunshine. The scent of dust and pine wafted in the air. Pounce
gave a startled mewl then sneezed. “Sorry, little one!” The mage cuddled the kitten once more
and seemed to regain his calm. “Like that poor girl Drysi, the one I helped escape. Bloody
bastard templar and his friend. They took their cues from Biff and company. They were some of
the ones who liked to kick me in the head or ribs to wake me up, too.”
He placed the kitten back down in his lap before grabbing the mug and emptying it and asking
for more. Zev poured the last of the bottle into it as Anders continued. “I knew how to get to
Drysi’s phylactery, you see. She hadn’t been through her Harrowing yet, so it was still at the
tower. I picked the lock and stole it, re-locking the door behind me so they would be none the
wiser about her, I hoped.”
“What about your phylactery? Wasn’t it in the same place as Drysi’s?” Kai grabbed an apple,
polished it and bit in while waiting for Anders to feel comfortable and take up his tale once
more.
“Unfortunately, no. After we pass the Harrowing, our phylacteries are sent off to Denerim.
During the Blight, as you will recall, Denerim was attacked by the darkspawn and the
Archdemon. Thanks, also to you, there was forewarning of the event and Denerim was mostly
evacuated.” Anders tickled Ser Pounce’s belly and she waited for him to continue at his own
pace, content that he would confess what it was that he felt he needed to.
“And also thanks to you, my phylactery, along with countless other Harrowed magi’s vials, were
moved to a safe place away from the path of the Blight.” He grimaced. “After my sixth escape
attempt and my year of solitary confinement, I broke into Irving’s office, and his bastard
cohort Greagoir’s too, and found out that the phylacteries had been moved to Amaranthine.”
Kai grinned and gave him a friendly nudge with her boot. “If this is your way of asking me if
I will help you track down your phylactery because it’s my fault it didn’t get destroyed in
the attack, the answer is yes. Feel better now?”
Instead of looking relieved, Anders blushed furiously and ducked his head while concentrating
on stroking the kitten who had fallen asleep in his lap.
Kai cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, so I take it that isn’t what is bothering you. Care to enlighten
me, Anders?”
Anders’ hazel eyes locked on hers, though his skin remained darkened and he chewed his lower
lip. “The templars will be coming for me. They will make other talismans and they will
continue to come for me.” He cupped the sleeping Ser Pounce and nuzzled the kitten’s fur. “I
had no right to take this little one, or to endanger other people, especially not people I
have come to like so well. I—”
Kai put up a hand to stop him. “Yes, I figured they might. My scath have been keeping their
ears to the ground about the Revered Witch and her minions.”
“You... wait, you what?” Anders’ eyes widened.
“I have been keeping a special eye on the Revered Mother, the Chantry of Ferelden, and the
templars ever since our visit to the tower after we met Drysi. Greagoire, Irving, and Ser
Cullen have been against Anora. They pay a heavy price for their defiance, as the Tower is now
the repository for the rejects who are mostly just under-trained templars. Most seem to be
nothing more than children. Some are the spoiled bastards of the nobility, like Veyryl.
Basically, they’re the rejects of the ones Anora does not use for her personal brute squad.”
Kai grinned as Anders’ confused look mimicked the one on Argus’ face when he was confounded.
“After meeting Drysi, and informing Iriving and Greagoir... well, let’s just say that Greagoir
took care of Drysi’s attacker and his friend.” Kai went onto explain Veyryl’s untimely demise
after attempting to learn how to fly, and his friend’s subsequent banishment from the templars
and his shunning by all there.
Anders’ eyes widened. “I never knew the old goat had it in him.” His eyebrows drew down in a
scowl. “I suppose that spineless slug Irving disapproved. He seems to like being a Chantry
dishrag.”
“Actually, Irving wanted to make sure that Drysi’s phylactery had been destroyed. If you
hadn’t, he would have. The fact that Drysi and her son are still near the lake with friends
safe and sound should tell you something.” Kai raised her eyebrows. “And, by the by, Irving
has kept Wynne from being ordered back to the tower, and he came to our aid any time we have
needed him. He has been loyal and stalwart. He has kept my secret and aids us at great
personal risk to himself. Both he and Greagoir.”
Anders skin flushed once more and he shrugged his shoulders. “I would apologize, but I haven’t
seen the side of them that you speak of.”
Kai shook her head. “Has it ever occurred to you that they have managed to keep you from being
executed? Six previous escape attempts? And then finally you get put in solitary confinement?”
Kai rolled her eyes. “I know Irving and Greagoir, and I suspect they both worked hard to keep
them from killing you outright after, say, the third attempt? What were you punished with
before?”
Anders blushed harder this time. “Kitchen duties, cleaning out chamber pots, cleaning out the
magic labs after the newest apprentice's lessons, and then solitary for at most a week. I—”
“You never thought that perhaps that they were trying not to punish you as the Chantry would
have demanded? That solitary confinement, for longer than a week, came after your sixth
attempt, surprises me. I thought they would have claimed you an abomination by the fourth and
summarily had you put down like a rabid dog.” Kai gave a cynical laugh. “I wonder if their
troubles with the new untrained templars and rejects might not be part and parcel to do with
advocating on a certain stubborn mage’s behalf. Food for thought, maybe?”
“They put me in solitary for a year!” Anders’ voice rose. “If it hadn’t been for Mr.
Wigglesworth, I would have gone insane!”
“And did you ever think, young man, that it was neither Irving nor Greagoir’s idea?” Wynne’s
acerbic tone broke in as the elder mage appeared from around the rock. “Think, young man, use
the brains the Maker gave you for something other than keeping your ears from clanking
together. Do try, at any rate.” They all turned to see Wynne with her arms crossed over her
chest. “I happened to have a long talk with Irving about you while we were at the tower
looking into the whole affair. Irving is mightily worried over you. He told me that he would
not have put you in solitary confinement but for Anora and the Revered Mother’s threats
towards the tower.”
Wynne cocked an eyebrow at Anders. “I have it on good authority that Anora and the Revered
Mother were calling for you to either be executed or made tranquil, despite passing your
Harrowing. Anora has been making motions of having Irving and Greagoir replaced with people
more suitable to the positions. They begged and pleaded on your behalf. In other words—”
“In other words, having those that might be more in line with Anora and the Revered Mother’s
agendas.” Anders looked chagrined. “Yes, I see. They were trying to keep the rest of the tower
safe, as well as myself.”
“Indeed. So, you can see, young man, that your perceptions may not be exactly correct. And we
are well aware of others coming for you. Irving mentioned a certain Rylock by name, the
personal templar to her Reverence, and one who harbors an apparently large amount of hatred
for you.” Wynne rocked on her heels.
“Rylock? Bloody hell! She would send that ****.” Kai and the rest looked intently at the
young mage, who shrugged when he noticed their looks. “Rylock was the one, along with her
bully boys, to come and take my best friend Karl from the Circle in Ferelden and send him to
Kirkwall. Karl was another thorn in the Revered Mother’s side, writing manifestos about mage
freedom.” Anders focused on petting the kitten, stroking soft fur, the memory obviously
painful for him. “I told her off as they were taking him away, and embarrassed her in front of
her men. Besides the fact that she takes her cues from the old dingbat, thinking for oneself
and being a templar don’t seem to go hand in hand.”
“Yes, well, you may wish to start emulating that, young man.” Wynne gave Anders a cheeky grin.
“Your armor was just delivered to our rooms. I came out here to let you all know.”
Anders groaned loudly and put his face in his hands. “Great, just sodding great! I feel the
hives forming already!”
Zev got to his feet and clapped a hand on the mage’s shoulder. “Come, my sparkle-fingered
friend, the sooner we see Bhelen, the sooner we have you out of that armor, no?” Zev winked.
“And who knows, maybe the delightful and deadly Sal will soften and coat you in salve. Women
do love a man in distress.”
Anders only groaned louder while they gathered the blanket and the remains of the picnic and
headed towards the gates in cheerful laughter.
As good as his word, Brother Burkel arranged for vestments for Wynne. A pair of dwarves, who
turned out to be lay sisters, arrived the following day with the required robes into which
they placed the elder mage. A flurry of pins later, and the clothing was whisked away to have
the adjustments made before the final fitting.
The templar armor would take longer, so Kai and her companions spent their days in their
rooms, in Tapsters, or even topside in the market. Kai figured they ought to enjoy time in the
sun and air while the getting was good. Who knew how long they would be in the Deep Roads.
It was one such day that Kai and Zev carried a blanket and lunch wrapped in cloth outside of
the city. They made their way to the large boulder that they had used to clean up once during
the Blight, and that Kai used as a clandestine meeting place for her and Wynne.
Zev shook out the blanket and laid it out beneath the overhang of the rock. Kai sat down,
unwrapping the bundle she carried while taking a deep and welcome breath of clean mountain
air. She handed Zev the wine bottle for him to open while she placed food and wooden mugs on
the blanket. He poured the ruby colored wine for them as Kai used a dagger to slice bread,
cheese, and apples into pieces. Zevran popped a grape into his mouth before taking the food
Kai handed him. They ate and sipped wine in comfortable silence.
She found herself watching the clouds and the way the wind blew through the branches of the
trees, and the birds picking through the detritus on the forest floor, as if memorizing them.
The Deep Roads would have no clouds, no birds, and very little light. There would be air from
the giant vents, but there would be no wind. Maker, how she hated the Deep Roads!
Her thoughts must have registered on her face, as she felt Zev’s fingers twine with her own
before giving them a squeeze. “My dear Kaidana, it does not do to dwell on the unpleasantness
of the future while immersed in the distraction from that future, no?”
Kai gave him a chagrined look while returning the pressure to his fingers before wrinkling her
nose and sticking out her tongue at him. This only caused him to throw back his head and laugh
before he turned to her and leaned in, the fingers of his other hand kneading her neck as his
lips touched hers lightly at first and deepening the contact until her heart was racing and
her breath came short.
“I think, mi amada, I can find something else to distract you with, no?” Zev’s amber eyes
sparkled as he gave her a cheeky grin. This time, as his lips met hers, his hand trailed down
her neck to untie the thongs in the front of her tunic, slipping it off of one shoulder. She
barely had time to imagine a lamppost in snow before his mouth left hers to trail kisses
across her cheek to her earlobe. His teeth nibbled the soft flesh there, making her groan at
the pleasurable sensations his mouth caused.
His hand trailed down her throat and across her shoulder before they found their way up her
tunic, skimming the edges of the band across her breasts before artfully undoing the ties and
removing it in one fluid motion. It made her want to giggle, knowing that he was that good due
to a lot of practice. Kai began to make a comment along those lines, but her breath was lost
in a gasp as his mouth gently bit her throat while his fingers teased along her front.
Her own hands roamed beneath his shirt, skimming muscled shoulders and running them across his
chest, causing him to rumble in deep in his throat and pull her shirt over her head. He licked
and nipped his way down to the valley between her breasts, trailing kisses between each
hardened peak, causing her to arch under him while hands worked feverishly to get his shirt
off.
He laughed a low laugh and stopped long enough to oblige her. His shirt lay on the ground next
to her abandoned clothing items in short order, as did the rest of their wardrobes, before
lowering his mouth to tease one breast, and then the other, before seeking out her lips again.
He broke off briefly to cup her face with his hands, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of
her cheekbone as his amber eyes gazed into her blue ones. She opened and he filled. They took
pleasure in each other, until the world stopped as their bodies plunged relentlessly onwards,
pushing them both towards the precipice.
With a triumphant cry of his name, she fell over the edge as she wrapped her legs around him
and took him with her. She felt his body’s shudders match her own as he nuzzled her neck,
whispering her name.
He rolled to the side, pulling her to him, and resting her head on his chest. Kai realized she
was dozing off when she startled slightly as she felt Zevran shiver under her. She couldn’t
help but take the opportunity to tease him. “What, Zev, shivering on a fine warm day like
this? Ah, mighty assassin and former Crow, laid low by a balmy summer’s day.”
Laughter burst from her lips as his fingers tickled her ribs. “What passes for summer in
Ferelden would be considered the first warm days after winter in Antiva. How you can claim
this is warm I will never know, my dear Kaidana.”
He rolled over, pinning her beneath him, his amber eyes sparkling with mischief and lust. “But
I can think of ways to stay warm, no?” His nose nuzzled hers before his lips were plastered to
hers as his hands cupped her face.
She could feel his arousal pressing into her belly. She didn’t know if Zev felt warmer, but
she knew she did. She was picturing a lamppost in snow once more and enjoying the thought of
round two when she heard a plaintive, yet loud cough from above them on the rock overhang,
followed by a distressed sounding “hello” and a loud “woof.”
Kai jumped and practically threw Zev down the mountain to sit up, putting her back to the rock
face, curling her knees to her chest while wrapping her arms around them. Zevran, never one to
be embarrassed by a lack of clothing, or anything else for that matter, simply picked himself
up much the way a cat would after being booted across a floor by accident, while throwing back
his head and laughing, slowly gathering their clothing and handing Kai hers with a smirk.
She could feel the the heat rising in her face as she wrinkled her nose and stuck out her
tongue at him. Kai fumbled to put on her clothing as fast as she could. Zevran took a more
leisurely approach and managed leggings before calling for their company to join them.
A gleeful “woof” could be heard and Kai watched Argus race around the rock to barrel into her
as she sat on the blanket to pull her boots back on. She found herself flat on her back while
receiving doggy kisses. As always, Argus’s exuberant affections made her giggle and laugh as
she pretended to fend them off while tickling the mabari’s ribs.
“So, does she giggle like that for you, too?” Kai shot a look to her left to see the edge of
Anders’ booted feet. She tilted her head up, her line of vision following upwards to see pants
tucked into the boots and a cotton shirt covering his muscular torso—for a mage, Anders was in
very good shape—with the fuzzy marmalade striped head of Ser Pounce-A-Lot peeking out from
under the laces. Part of Kai wanted to giggle, because broad muscles with a soft little kitten
sitting nestled there would be sure to make most ladies swoon. It must be all the running the
man did from the Circle that kept him so fit.
He told them he preferred normal clothes instead of the robes the Circle made mages wear.
Except, he told Oghren when the dwarf teased the mage about wearing a man dress, when a mage
might need to perform in a quick and quiet tryst—say in the Circle library under the nose of
the templars—one could be done, skirt down with none the wiser. Kai still blushed furiously
thinking of that conversation.
Apparently, Anders had his own set of ‘civilian’ clothing he used to evade capture, pointing
out that the robe he wore when they met him was one the templars forced him wear while taking
him back to the tower. So, he was more than happy to dress as if the staff he wore was nothing
more than a walking stick or quarterstaff.
She looked up to see him and Zevran exchanging smirks with one another as Zevran’s shirt still
dangled from his fingers. “I can elicit many different sounds from our luscious leader, I
assure you, my sparkle-fingered friend. Had you come down a bit sooner, or just a bit later,
you could have learned about such delightful melodies.”
“Zev!” Kai practically squeaked his name while she felt her ears were burning along with her
face. Maker! Sometimes she swore those two just did it to see if her head would explode from
embarrassment.
They all looked at her—even Argus and the kitten—with curiosity. “Indeed, I see what you
mean.” Anders cocked an eyebrow and winked at her. “Alas, the dog had other ideas. I think he
heard the... interesting sounds before I did. He herded me to the top of the rock and growled
if I made a move to go down the path.”
“So, oh magical one, what has you running to fetch us in such haste?” Zev chuckled as he
slipped on his shirt before nudging Argus over so he could sit on the blankets and pull on his
Antivan leather boots.
Kai sat up, turning so she could brace her back against Argus and face the mage who sat down
on the soft pine needles littering the ground. She watched as Anders ran a hand through his
hair, which he wore loose from the confinements of its usual ponytail. He looked younger with
it down.
He also reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t place who, exactly. That little gremlin in
her head was jumping up and down, practically begging her to figure it out. She gave herself a
mental head slap hoping to quiet the little goblin, as it was doing somersaults now, and
focused on the mage who did wear a decidedly distressed look.
Anders’ long fingers began plucking pine needles off the ground around him, which he used to
tickle the kitten’s nose while little furry paws batted playfully in retaliation. Kai nodded
to Zev to pour some wine into one of their mugs for the mage; she hoped it might relax him
some to get what ever it was off his chest.
Zev handed the mug to him, which Anders took with a small pained smile of thanks. Kai waited
until he downed a large swallow before cocking an eyebrow at him and leaning forward. “So,
what seems to be the trouble? And please don’t tell me it has to do with chafing and wearing a
certain outfit.”
Kai’s joke didn’t even garner a smile. Rather, the mage looked sheepishly into the mug resting
in his lap. Well, this can’t be good.
“I find it is often best to just cut to the heart of things, no?” Zevran shot Kai a cheeky
grin. “Is it female troubles? Is the lovely Sal proving immune to your rakish good looks and
not so subtle charms?”
“I have no problems with wooing women! I...” Anders blew out a huff of air. “Right, I see what
you did there. You’re far too slick.” He held out the mug for more wine. “No, it isn’t about
the blasted templar armor.” He gave a shudder. “And no, it isn’t about Sal. It’s... it’s
about my phylactery.”
“I thought you told us while we were at the ‘Hunter’s Horn’ that you destroyed it?” Kai cut
bread and cheese and handed them to Anders as well. She figured he might need something on his
stomach to go with the wine or he might pitch forwards and crush Ser Pounce.
Anders set the mug down, took the bread and cheese, setting it on his knee before running a
hand through his hair once more and giving her a embarrassed look. “No, dear lady, what I said
was that I destroyed the cruor talisman they used to track me because they have my phylactery
still. The talisman is a lodestone with some blood from my phylactery in a container. It makes
a compass, if you will, that points those buggering templars in the direction of their prey.”
The mage looked a little sick. “It doesn’t take a lot of blood for it to work, so they have
plenty to work with in hunting down the mage in question. That mage, of course, being me in
this case.”
“That smacks of blood magic. It is interesting, no? That the Chantry preaches against such
things, but employs something of that same nature.” Zevran winked at the mage.
Kai rolled her eyes. “To err is human, to be a mage is to be a monster, and to be a hypocrite
is divine, or so the Chantry would have us believe, apparently.”
Anders gave a weak laugh and a smile. He then picked at the cheese and fed little pieces to
the kitten who had crawled from his shirt to sit in his lap. “You might have been a little far
into your cups when I explained it. Well, we all were, truth be told. Let me try and explain.
The phylactery is—”
“A vial of blood taken from the magi at the Circle. That much I do know from traveling with
Wynne and talking to Irving and Greagoir.” Kai shrugged. “But I never had much cause to go
into more detail with them. Wynne is allowed to travel where she wills by decree of both
Irving and Greagoir, and through them, has the permission of the Chantry. That has not been
revoked as of yet, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon. I figure that with what all that
is going on, Wynne has fallen through the cracks, so to speak, or they feel she’s too old to
worry about. Though that would be a grave mistake for anyone to make, friend or foe.”
Kai took the remaining mug and held it up for Zevran to fill. “The only other mage I have
spent a lot of time with is an apostate. I can safely say the Chantry and the Circle would
rather try and beard the Black City than put a collar on Morrigan.”
“Yes, your brother’s lovely companion did strike me as an even more difficult personality than
myself, shall we say.” Anders flashed her a slight grin. “Well, the phylactery is a good
amount of our blood mixed with lyrium, herbs, and other things only the templars and the
Chantry are privy to.” He gave a short bark of cynical laughter. “After all, if mages knew
what it was that they used, we might be able to counter it.”
The kitten, perhaps sensing Anders’ discomfort, jumped up and put a paw on the man’s chest
with a plaintive ‘meow.’ Anders scooped up the kitten, cuddling Ser Pounce under his chin.
“Sorry, little one, I’ll be all right.” He addressed Kai and Zev once more. “Anyways, they
take that blood and keep it, using it as a collar and leash, and to track us should we seek
the freedom due any—”
“Due any sentient being. Yes, I quite agree with you. So did Alistair Theirin. Had he been
king, he would have freed the Circle and made the templars a guard force to track mages who
were using magic against others or for improper reasons. And, of course, those demons or
abominations that are wont to pop up from time to time. But not to cage or imprison. It is a
sentiment my companions and myself share.” Kai shrugged. “Well, save Wynne, perhaps. But she
has more freedom than most, so I think she forgets what it is like to have someone in armor
looking at you as if you might turn evil at any moment. I think she forgets what a strain that
kind of scrutiny causes.”
“Yes, I got the distinct impression she thinks the Circle does more good than harm. And on one
level I agree, as it is a good place to learn, to refine, to gain control over what we have,
and under the tutelage of more experienced magi. And then...” Anders grimaced.
“And then there are the templars and the abuses that can happen when those who have power get
corrupted by it. That also goes for the mages themselves, like Uldred.” Kai flashed him a
sympathetic smile.
Anders pounded the ground next to his knee with his free hand, sending up a puff of dust that
glittered in a dappled beam of sunshine. The scent of dust and pine wafted in the air. Pounce
gave a startled mewl then sneezed. “Sorry, little one!” The mage cuddled the kitten once more
and seemed to regain his calm. “Like that poor girl Drysi, the one I helped escape. Bloody
bastard templar and his friend. They took their cues from Biff and company. They were some of
the ones who liked to kick me in the head or ribs to wake me up, too.”
He placed the kitten back down in his lap before grabbing the mug and emptying it and asking
for more. Zev poured the last of the bottle into it as Anders continued. “I knew how to get to
Drysi’s phylactery, you see. She hadn’t been through her Harrowing yet, so it was still at the
tower. I picked the lock and stole it, re-locking the door behind me so they would be none the
wiser about her, I hoped.”
“What about your phylactery? Wasn’t it in the same place as Drysi’s?” Kai grabbed an apple,
polished it and bit in while waiting for Anders to feel comfortable and take up his tale once
more.
“Unfortunately, no. After we pass the Harrowing, our phylacteries are sent off to Denerim.
During the Blight, as you will recall, Denerim was attacked by the darkspawn and the
Archdemon. Thanks, also to you, there was forewarning of the event and Denerim was mostly
evacuated.” Anders tickled Ser Pounce’s belly and she waited for him to continue at his own
pace, content that he would confess what it was that he felt he needed to.
“And also thanks to you, my phylactery, along with countless other Harrowed magi’s vials, were
moved to a safe place away from the path of the Blight.” He grimaced. “After my sixth escape
attempt and my year of solitary confinement, I broke into Irving’s office, and his bastard
cohort Greagoir’s too, and found out that the phylacteries had been moved to Amaranthine.”
Kai grinned and gave him a friendly nudge with her boot. “If this is your way of asking me if
I will help you track down your phylactery because it’s my fault it didn’t get destroyed in
the attack, the answer is yes. Feel better now?”
Instead of looking relieved, Anders blushed furiously and ducked his head while concentrating
on stroking the kitten who had fallen asleep in his lap.
Kai cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, so I take it that isn’t what is bothering you. Care to enlighten
me, Anders?”
Anders’ hazel eyes locked on hers, though his skin remained darkened and he chewed his lower
lip. “The templars will be coming for me. They will make other talismans and they will
continue to come for me.” He cupped the sleeping Ser Pounce and nuzzled the kitten’s fur. “I
had no right to take this little one, or to endanger other people, especially not people I
have come to like so well. I—”
Kai put up a hand to stop him. “Yes, I figured they might. My scath have been keeping their
ears to the ground about the Revered Witch and her minions.”
“You... wait, you what?” Anders’ eyes widened.
“I have been keeping a special eye on the Revered Mother, the Chantry of Ferelden, and the
templars ever since our visit to the tower after we met Drysi. Greagoire, Irving, and Ser
Cullen have been against Anora. They pay a heavy price for their defiance, as the Tower is now
the repository for the rejects who are mostly just under-trained templars. Most seem to be
nothing more than children. Some are the spoiled bastards of the nobility, like Veyryl.
Basically, they’re the rejects of the ones Anora does not use for her personal brute squad.”
Kai grinned as Anders’ confused look mimicked the one on Argus’ face when he was confounded.
“After meeting Drysi, and informing Iriving and Greagoir... well, let’s just say that Greagoir
took care of Drysi’s attacker and his friend.” Kai went onto explain Veyryl’s untimely demise
after attempting to learn how to fly, and his friend’s subsequent banishment from the templars
and his shunning by all there.
Anders’ eyes widened. “I never knew the old goat had it in him.” His eyebrows drew down in a
scowl. “I suppose that spineless slug Irving disapproved. He seems to like being a Chantry
dishrag.”
“Actually, Irving wanted to make sure that Drysi’s phylactery had been destroyed. If you
hadn’t, he would have. The fact that Drysi and her son are still near the lake with friends
safe and sound should tell you something.” Kai raised her eyebrows. “And, by the by, Irving
has kept Wynne from being ordered back to the tower, and he came to our aid any time we have
needed him. He has been loyal and stalwart. He has kept my secret and aids us at great
personal risk to himself. Both he and Greagoir.”
Anders skin flushed once more and he shrugged his shoulders. “I would apologize, but I haven’t
seen the side of them that you speak of.”
Kai shook her head. “Has it ever occurred to you that they have managed to keep you from being
executed? Six previous escape attempts? And then finally you get put in solitary confinement?”
Kai rolled her eyes. “I know Irving and Greagoir, and I suspect they both worked hard to keep
them from killing you outright after, say, the third attempt? What were you punished with
before?”
Anders blushed harder this time. “Kitchen duties, cleaning out chamber pots, cleaning out the
magic labs after the newest apprentice's lessons, and then solitary for at most a week. I—”
“You never thought that perhaps that they were trying not to punish you as the Chantry would
have demanded? That solitary confinement, for longer than a week, came after your sixth
attempt, surprises me. I thought they would have claimed you an abomination by the fourth and
summarily had you put down like a rabid dog.” Kai gave a cynical laugh. “I wonder if their
troubles with the new untrained templars and rejects might not be part and parcel to do with
advocating on a certain stubborn mage’s behalf. Food for thought, maybe?”
“They put me in solitary for a year!” Anders’ voice rose. “If it hadn’t been for Mr.
Wigglesworth, I would have gone insane!”
“And did you ever think, young man, that it was neither Irving nor Greagoir’s idea?” Wynne’s
acerbic tone broke in as the elder mage appeared from around the rock. “Think, young man, use
the brains the Maker gave you for something other than keeping your ears from clanking
together. Do try, at any rate.” They all turned to see Wynne with her arms crossed over her
chest. “I happened to have a long talk with Irving about you while we were at the tower
looking into the whole affair. Irving is mightily worried over you. He told me that he would
not have put you in solitary confinement but for Anora and the Revered Mother’s threats
towards the tower.”
Wynne cocked an eyebrow at Anders. “I have it on good authority that Anora and the Revered
Mother were calling for you to either be executed or made tranquil, despite passing your
Harrowing. Anora has been making motions of having Irving and Greagoir replaced with people
more suitable to the positions. They begged and pleaded on your behalf. In other words—”
“In other words, having those that might be more in line with Anora and the Revered Mother’s
agendas.” Anders looked chagrined. “Yes, I see. They were trying to keep the rest of the tower
safe, as well as myself.”
“Indeed. So, you can see, young man, that your perceptions may not be exactly correct. And we
are well aware of others coming for you. Irving mentioned a certain Rylock by name, the
personal templar to her Reverence, and one who harbors an apparently large amount of hatred
for you.” Wynne rocked on her heels.
“Rylock? Bloody hell! She would send that ****.” Kai and the rest looked intently at the
young mage, who shrugged when he noticed their looks. “Rylock was the one, along with her
bully boys, to come and take my best friend Karl from the Circle in Ferelden and send him to
Kirkwall. Karl was another thorn in the Revered Mother’s side, writing manifestos about mage
freedom.” Anders focused on petting the kitten, stroking soft fur, the memory obviously
painful for him. “I told her off as they were taking him away, and embarrassed her in front of
her men. Besides the fact that she takes her cues from the old dingbat, thinking for oneself
and being a templar don’t seem to go hand in hand.”
“Yes, well, you may wish to start emulating that, young man.” Wynne gave Anders a cheeky grin.
“Your armor was just delivered to our rooms. I came out here to let you all know.”
Anders groaned loudly and put his face in his hands. “Great, just sodding great! I feel the
hives forming already!”
Zev got to his feet and clapped a hand on the mage’s shoulder. “Come, my sparkle-fingered
friend, the sooner we see Bhelen, the sooner we have you out of that armor, no?” Zev winked.
“And who knows, maybe the delightful and deadly Sal will soften and coat you in salve. Women
do love a man in distress.”
Anders only groaned louder while they gathered the blanket and the remains of the picnic and
headed towards the gates in cheerful laughter.
Modifié par erynnar, 29 mai 2011 - 07:45 .
#344
Posté 27 janvier 2012 - 09:21
Gilgamesh1138
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Chapter 100~
They arrived back at their rooms at the Hungry Nug inn to find Sal sitting in a chair in Kai
and Zev’s room, feet propped up on the stone bureau, swigging ale from a tankard while
occasionally popping a bit of greasy sausage into her mouth from a plate piled with more of
the same.
The dwarva had a book propped in her lap that looked familiar to Kai, and apparently to Wynne
as well. “You’d best not be getting greasy fingerprints on those pages, young lady.” Wynne
cocked an eyebrow at the rogue.
Sal grinned and shut the book closed with the hand holding it and carefully placed the tome
down on the bureau away from the ale and sausages. “I may come from the dust, but I do have
some manners. Not to mention that I just learned how to read, so books are...precious, shall
we say?”
Sal swigged more ale followed by more sausage. She chewed and swallowed ending in a swipe with
her hand across her mouth. “This book in particular is precious, for more than one reason. I
didn’t know that it was possible to do what is described on page fifty-six without some help
from elaborate dwarven mechanical devices.” The rogue glanced at the binding as if memorizing
the letters embossed there. “The Rose of Orlais, must remember to find a copy.”
“Oh si, my dear, fellow rogue, mechanical devices can be such fun. And that particular book
has many delightful ideas within its pages .” Zev winked at Sal as he sat with Kai on the bed
facing their friend while Wynne went to fetch more chairs. “I myself have a fondness for rope.
Of course there is something to be said for the amorous effects the outdoors can induce. Why
Kai and I-”
Kai stopped him with a finger to his lips while her face flushed which only caused Zev to kiss
its tip and laugh. She wrinkled her nose at him and turned to Sal. “Yes, well, we need not go
into that.”
There was a loud clomp noise as Wynne grabbed ‘The Rose of Orlais’ shutting it smartly having
removed it from Anders who had been flipping through its pages with a look of energetic
concentration. “Really, young man, I would think that you don’t need any more ideas put into
that fevered mind of yours.”
Anders blushed causing the room to erupt with laughter.
Kai turned back to Sal. “So, Wynne says that the armor has arrived?”
Sal nodded and flashed a grin at Anders. “Yes, and it’s some of the smith’s best work. It
awaits you in the church. Brother Burkel thought you might all find it more convenient, and
less likely to arouse suspicion, if you appeared from the church. The Nevarrans seem to only
watch the merchants not the church.” Sal leaned forward grabbed the mug next to her plate and
drained its contents before swiping her hand across her mouth. “And I have brought cleaning
supplies for you to carry with you as volunteers cleaning the place, in case they are
looking.”
This elicited a moan from Anders followed by an ‘ow’ as Wynne smacked the mage on the back of
the head. “Put on your big boy pants, young man. It isn’t as if you’ll be the only one in
uncomfortable clothing.” Wynne cocked an eyebrow while crossing her arms over her chest.
“I wouldn’t be groaning if it were pants I’d be wearing instead of that metal monstrosity
along with a skirt.” Anders grumbled. “It’s worse than the man dress for magi.”
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing as she waved a hand to stop Wynne from retorting the
younger man. The elder mage turned to Kai, “My clothing arrived from its final alterations by
way of Brother Burkel as well.”
Kai turned back to Sal. “So when do we gain an audience with King Bhelen?”
“I had Vartag schedule you all to appear at the hour of betting.” Sal pointed to the dwarven
lyrium clock and the glowing rune on it’s surface for the word bet. “I thought you might like
to have the meeting as soon as possible so you know what awaits you in the Deep Roads. And I
thought a certain handsome mage, might appreciate having the time spent in armor as short as
possible.” Sal winked at Anders. “I also thought that a certain mage, might show his
appreciation, privately, for such thoughtfulness?”
Anders grinned. “I think I could work myself up to long periods of gratitude for you, dove.”
Kai rolled her eyes at them both before setting them on the clock. Kai was grateful for the
timepiece in their room, as one used to using the sun to tell time, the perpetual “twilight”
of Orzammar always threw her off. If she hadn’t just been on the surface with Zev enjoying
lunch and well, other activities, she would have sworn that the hour of betting had long since
passed or was still a long way off. “So,” Kai glanced at the glowing rune showing the time,
“This being the ‘hour of sharpening,’ we have an hour, if I’m reading that correctly.”
Sal grinned and nodded. “Aye, weapons are being honed, armor is being oiled and soaped in
readiness for the Proving later. The king will of course attend the Proving to keep up
appearances that all is well. Vartag and I figured that The Revered Mother would know no one
comes before the king during the hour of Proving.”
Kai nodded. “Well then, we’d best get ourselves dressed and made presentable to appear before
royal company.”
She heard a groan and watched Anders flinch and give the elder mage a cheeky grin before
Wynne’s hand could be employed to the back of his head again. Kai smiled and shook her head.
Sal only laughed and rose to take her leave, placing the plate of sausages on the floor for
Argus and Pounce, with a friendly pat for each. As she made her way to the door, she stroked
Ander’s arm while batting her eyelashes. “Don’t worry handsome, I have some salve and very
nimble fingers that are good at buckles. I’m sure I can help ease the pain. I’ll be at
Tapsters, and if you find you have the energy, we can practice page fifty-six from that book.”
Zev chuckled. “That should give you something delightful to focus on rather than the armor, my
sparkle fingered friend, no?” He clapped the mage on the shoulder before opening the door for
Sal who winked, saluted, and disappeared into the shadows of the hallway. “Such a delightful
creature.”
“Hah, she reminds me of you!” Kai grinned at him.
“Oh, si, and I am delightful, am I not? Or did our lunch not prove that, my dear Kai?” Zev
winked while giving her a lusty smile, making Kai blush and roll her eyes and the others to
laugh.
“I walked into that. You are too slick, Zevran, you’ll slide out of your coffin.” Kai shook
her head and indicated they should collect the armor and Wynne’s costume and dress for their
meeting with Bhelen.
After the long ride on the lift back to the Diamond Quarter--with Kai barely refraining from
humming “The Girl from Emponeema Thaig” under her breath--it left only ten minutes until their
appointment to spare, Kai wondered if they shouldn’t have made the meeting with Bhelen for the
hour of singing. It wasn’t just Anders’ grumbling, but she found herself trying to learn to
walk and move in heavy metal armor, accustomed as she was to lighter leather. She felt like a
bronto lumbering around and only hoped that her awkwardness wouldn’t show and give the game
away. More time to wear get used to the weight of metal might not have been amiss. Add, add to
that, the helmet was hot, stuffy, and severely limited her vision--something that could prove
deadly for a rogue used to lighter leather armor and open helmets.
“I think you look sexy in templar armor, mi gra.” Alistair’s voice had a teasing tone. “If you
wear it in the Fade we can play Templar and naughty mage.”
Kai gave him a mental eye roll. “You have been around Zev way too much.”
Alistair only laughed. “Yes well, I still couldn’t say that without blushing. Which your
father finds amusing, by the way. Just glad your mother isn’t here to ask me why I’m turning
red.”
Kai laughed and then sobered immediately. “Really, how did you move in this armor? I feel like
a salted fish packed in a barrel.” She huffed into the helmet and regretted it. “And this
helmet is stifling and I can’t see a thing!”
“Well, metal armor is all I have ever worn, so you get used to it. I know I would feel naked
in leather armor.”
“Naked huh?” Kai gave him a mental grin. “I think I can arrange a much more fun way of
feeling naked the next time we meet in the Fade.”
She could sense him blushing and shuffling his feet. “Oh you are evil, you’re a bad person!”
“Do you hate me?” Kai gave him a mental smile.
“Yes, and I’ll show you how much when you come to the Fade, cheeky monkey!” She could feel his
smile. “Uh oh, your mother just showed up and asked me why I’m blushing, thank you so much!
Must go, bye, my love!”
Kai turned her attention back to trying to walk as if she had worn restrictive metal armor
most of her life instead of supple leather. She wondered if Anders, walking in front of Wynne,
was having the same difficulties. They surrounded the elder mage, pretending as they were, to
be an honor guard for “The Revered Mother”.
One good thing about the metal armor Kai found, distracted as she was with just walking, she
passed by Harrowmont’s estate without feeling the usual wave of guilt over the man.
She made note of the small pockets of Nevarrans throughout the corridor, noticing there were
fewer here than in the market and performing mental arithmetic on the possible numbers
overall, depending on how many were at Caridin’s Cross in the Deep Roads. With groups ranging
in number from one to three, and no larger than three, she estimated their overall number to
not exceed fifteen, maybe twenty-five at the most here in Orzammar itself. At least she hoped
it would be more in the fifteen range. If the Nevarrans were building a golem army in the
Deep Roads, surely it wouldn’t require more people than that to watch and set off the traps
here in the city.
Sure Kai, keep telling yourself that. And if nugs had wings, they’d be pigeons. Let’s face
facts, we’re running blind. She could only hope that Bhelen would, Maker please, somehow be
able to tell them more despite his extra surveillance. Her mental tirade at herself was
interrupted when she almost tripped, as the thick metal toe of her boot caught a crack in a
flagstone.
Luckily there weren’t eyes to see her stumble--distant as they were from the few merchant
stalls allowed in the Diamond Quarter, and its well-to-do citizens were indoors probably
eating--what passed for a light meal and dressing for the Proving--though Wynne did look over
her shoulder with a cocked eyebrow. Kai shrugged slightly as Wynne could not see her a rueful
grin.
They walked up the stone steps to the level of the palace and more steps lead them to the
doors of same, with a brief stop as guards enquired as to their business there. The waiting
room was filled with more dwarven nobles. Kai watched the guard give a sidelong glance to the
side of the room where some of the Nevarran’s sat on a bench talking with each other. She
watched one of the human strangers nod slightly in the affirmative and tilt their head towards
the throne room doors. Kai also noted that her scath Tam and Hugh were in the room as well.
She didn’t see Sten.
The guard huffed under his breath and spoke to Anders. “Wait here, I will announce your
arrival to the king.” They watched the man walk to the thick, dwarven iron, throne room doors
decorated with the squared spiral design and Aeducan family seal. He knocked, stuck his head
inside, and engaged in a brief discussion with someone behind the door before turning his gaze
towards them and nodding his head indicating that they should proceed on.
They moved forward through the doorway filing into the spacious room, the sound of the door
shutting behind them echoing off the stone walls as all conversations had stopped with all
eyes in the room trained on them, before their measure was taken note and conversations
started up once more. The only eyes that kept sliding towards them were from the Nevarrans and
they were being discrete about it.
The room remained as Kai remembered it from their last visit, one long rectangular space with
the throne on a dais at one end and the doors they entered in at the other. A long woolen rug
woven with more geometric designs in black, white and red bisected the room leading to the
throne. Long stone tables, with benches on either side, held various people in attendance.
Kai noted the Nevarrans seated at those tables--along with various dwarven nobility-- and on
the benches along the walls. She also made note how some of their strange visitors sat at the
tables closest to dais where they could, no doubt, keep their eyes and ears on the king and
any visitors.
Sten stood behind and to the right of Vartag who stood right behind the throne . The giant
Qunari was in the shadows but not hard to miss.
They walked single file toward the throne, and stood on either side of Wynne, once they
reached it. Kai observed Bhelen as they moved toward him, she noted the dark circles under his
eyes and the deepening of the lines around his mouth. Dwarves being stout, and muscular
folk--with Bhelen being no exception--the dwarven king looked a few stone thinner, as though
not only had he not been sleeping, but not eating as well. Not that it surprised her, she
doubted she would feel like sleeping or eating if the twins were under constant threat of
being dismembered by demons.
Kai’s eyes slid toward Vartag Gavorn, Bhelen’s right-hand man, best friend, and go to man for
dirty deeds done dirt cheap--should the need arise.
Kai’s vallaslin were covered by Leli’s makeup, and she had pulled her dark curling locks into
a severe bun to fit under the helmet--not a hairstyle she favored--yet she knew that Vartag
would have recognized her if she removed the headgear, even without the heads up from Sal
about her and her team’s arrival.
The man was too sharp by half, and his skills, including excellent powers of observation, were
part and parcel of what made him such an affective operative in dwarven politics. Kai
suspected that Vartag helped procure Bhelen’s siblings’ downfalls so that the youngest of the
Aeducans might have a clear and unhindered path to the very seat on which he now sat. Kai had
a moment to wonder if Bhelen was regretting his ambitions for the first time.
Bhelen rose and gave Wynne a short bow which the mage returned. Vartag waved a hand and a
couple of servants brought padded wooden chair and small table which they sat on the dais next
to the throne. A third servant appeared with a tray containing a bottle of wine, one bottle
of--what Kai guessed to be--ale, a mug, a glass, and a plate of fruit. Wynne placed herself
in the chair while Kai and Anders took up defensive positions.
Vartag put a stack of parchment, a dwarven ink pen, and a small chest, which he lifted the lid
of, to show glowing chunks of lyrium. The ‘conversation’ began between Bhelen and Wynne in
earnest. From what snippets of conversation Kai caught, she was glad Wynne was on their side.
She also had insight as to how they obtained so many items for such good prices when it was
the elder mage’s turn to buy supplies during their Blight days--Wynne was quite the
negotiator. Kai would have felt sorry for Bhelen, if this had been a real negotiation that is.
She bit her lower lip to keep from laughing at the thought and sobered immediately. Nothing
she had overheard so far seemed to be any sort of code or clue as to the Nevarran mage problem
awaiting them in the Deep Roads.
Kai hoped, with the advanced notice, that Vartag and Bhelen would have designed some plan to
let them know more about what was going on. But neither the conversation nor the papers--
which Vartag took back after Wynne signed them, nor the chest of lyrium--which was also
summarily removed--appeared to have any message. In their place Vartag set a carved wooden box
on the table opening it to reveal a beautiful chess board inlaid with different colored stone.
The pieces matched the board squares and were intricately carved squat pieces in the dwarven
style.
Bhelen waved a hand at Vartag, once all the pieces were placed on the board. “Your Reverence,
I hope you don’t mind if we start our new game in person after our last finished via letter.
And I had this set made especially for you after our last meeting.”
Bhelen leaned forward with cocked eyebrow while offering Wynne her pick of light or dark
pieces, letting the elder mage decide to go first. “It has been thoroughly inspected for
quality, I assure you.” Bhelen’s eyes darted very subtly towards one of the groups of
Nevarrans. “In your last letter, you asked me to teach you the strategy that allowed me to
checkmate you in twelve moves, did you not?
Bhelen began moving pieces around the board, occasionally asking Wynne to move one of her
pieces as well, again nothing in his conversation with the mage gave Kai any clues. She was
beginning to wonder if the dwarven king was being watched so closely he dared not send any
message their way. If that was the case, it was going to make the trip to the Deep Roads even
more tricky and dangerous with what little information they had.
It was as Kai stood worrying into her own skull that the doors to the throne room burst open
followed by the sounds of voices raised in argument. One of those voices was extremely
familiar...Oghren!
Oghren’s cover story, one that the dwarf had come up with on his own--much to everyone’s
surprise and awe--that having helped stop the Blight, and traveling with the “Hero of
Ferelden,” being a hero in his own right--and now that Kai was supposedly dead--wanted to re-
establish his house in Orzamar.
Oghren’s insane, and very dead wife, Branka, ironically enough, had been obsessed with finding
the Anvil of the Void and rebuilding a golem army to fight dark spawn and restore the might of
the dwarven empire. She had taken their entire house into the Deep Roads, all save Oghren.
Branka’s obsession drove her to madness and cruelty, she had used the people of their house,
from family members to servants--after the soldiers were dead--as cannon fodder for the
darkspawn and the traps Caridin left to deter anyone getting to the anvil. That “fodder”
include Branka’s lover, Hespeth, who had been tainted and who was slowly becoming a
broodmother when they found her. Kai shuddered at the memory of the poor “blighter”--as Oghren
would have said--with a second shudder at the horrific process required to make a human, elf,
Qunari, or dwarf into one by means of violation and eating the flesh of darkspawn That
discovery had caused Kai months of nightmares added to the ones that already occurred due to
the taint.
And here she was, putting herself back in the Deep Roads and darkspawn territory. “Mi gra.”
Alistair’s soothing voice echoed in her head and she gave him a wan mental smile.
In the end, Branka had forced Kai to kill her, once the knowledge of how golems were made--
using live dwarves against their will when volunteers were lacking--was revealed by Caridin
who had been turned into a golem himself for protesting. He exposed the dwarven empire’s
embarrassing secret past and Kai had taken Caridin’s hammer, and with his blessing, destroyed
the anvil--or so she’d thought--smashing it into pieces. Caridn thanked her, then threw
himself into a lava channel lest anyone try and pry the secret of its making from is creator.
Now here they were again, waiting to go back to the Deep Roads and the very anvil which should
not exist--Kai having thrown the anvil’s rubble in after Caridin.
Oghren made his way towards the dais weaving slightly and his odor arrived at the throne
before he did. He smelled as if he had fallen in a vat of lichen ale. He pointed a finger
drunkenly at Bhelen as the guards tried unsuccessfully to restrain him. “Oi, you sodding nug
humper, you promised me a meeting!”
Bhelen waved the guards off. “I was hoping you’d be sober Oghren, though I should have known
that to be wishful thinking.” Bhelen crossed his arms over his chest. “Traveling with the
‘Hero of Ferelden’ apparently did nothing for you. Still the same drunken lout you were before
Branka up and left you behind.”
Oghren roared and stumbled forwards reaching for Bhelen but the small table was in the way
which he bounced off of scattering the chess pieces. Kai leapt forward grabbing Oghren with
both hands by the front of his shirt, under the pretense of protecting Wynne, while Anders
jumped in front of the mage doing the same.
The dwarf smelled even worse up close, but his breath was clean--at least of alcohol--when he
bellowed and protested at her. He winked at her before he slapped at the metal chest of her
armor as if trying to get away. Kai obliged and shoved him backwards where he fell as if in a
drunken heap.
True to his part, Oghren grumbled as he picked himself up. “Sodding cloud head! I am a warrior
and a hero!” He swayed on his feet.
Bhelen merely motioned to Sten, who nodded and grabbed Oghren by the scruff of the neck. “You
are here without an appointment, Oghren. You’re a loud and lousy drunk. Your ‘hero’ status
went the way of that woman you fought the Blight with. I decide if you are a hero, and I
decide if you get your house back.” Bhelen motioned to Vartag who handed him a fresh mug of
ale--the other having rolled across the floor spilling its contents.
Bhelen took a long gulp before handing it back. “I have a job for you Oghren. If you complete
your task, I’ll restore your name, your house, and your money.” Bhelen gave a harsh bark of
laughter. “I might even make you a paragon.”
Oghren shot Bhelen a resentful look. “And what task would that be?”
“I need an envoy to visit Kal-Sharok.” Bhelen nodded to Sten. “Make sure he packs and escort
him to the Deep Roads. Take Tam and Hugh with you. He may be a drunkard but he does know how
to fight, as long as he can stay standing.”
Sten nodded and simply used his large hand on Oghren’s neck to “steer” the protesting dwarf
towards the door. Once closed, all noise was cut off, throwing the room into a sort of
stunned silence before soft conversation resumed once more.
Vartag motioned for a servant to come and retrieve fallen chess pieces, and for another to
clean the spilled ale and wine that splattered the floor.
Once the table had been righted and the box for the chess pieces and board placed on it, Wynne
scooped pieces out of her lap with an air of affronted dignity and placed them back into their
slots. With the board and pieces safely tucked away Wynne handed the box to Kai with a
dismissive wave of her hand.
Bhelen apologized and arranged for Wynne to be served a fresh glass of wine while he and she
chatted, looking nothing so much more than a couple of political heavy hitters having a
conversation to smooth ruffled feathers.
Kai schooled herself to hold the box as if it held nothing of real importance, though she
realized that Oghren must have created a diversion for Bhelen or Vartag to get a message to
them and it probably rested in her hands.
It took all of her rogue discipline not to squirm with impatience to leave and not leap
forward when Wynne finally rose to extend her hand to Bhelen in farewell. Bhelen made mouths
about the palace being at her disposal for the night or as long as she cared to stay. Wynne
demurred saying that her meeting with Bhelen had been a convenient stop on her way to the
mage tower for pressing business regarding the templars there--for which she thanked him for
allowing her to arrange short notice.They would stay in Watersedge before taking a ship to
Kinloch Hold the following morning--and this all said for the convenience of the prying eyes
and ears in the room.
Bhelen merely nodded and motioned for one of the guards by the door to escort them from the
throne room and back to the corridor in front of the palace. They made their way to the lift
and back down to the Market area.
The doors opened and Brother Burkel appeared on cue to escort Wynne back to the church for a
final blessing. They passed all the Nevarrans in the market before ducking into the church to
change into civilian clothing.
As they exited the church doors loud shouting could be heard echoing of the stone walls and
high ceiling of the market area. Oghren’s shouts filling the large open room as he was
escorted to the Deep Roads. Dwarves ran past gathering in a crowd to watch, as did the
Nevarrans. Kai and her group followed suit and pretended to give up when they couldn’t see
through the crowd already there. They took themselves back to the inn with the box with the
chessboard and pieces safely wrapped in the rags and stuffed in the basket with the cleaning
supplies used as their excuse for being in the church for such a long time. Kai made a mental
note to thank Sal for being such a devious person. That is, Kai would thank her when Sal and
Anders emerged from enjoying the pleasures of each others’ company. Kai shook her head and
laughed as Anders took his leave of them and disappeared into Tapsters in search of their
delightful friend.
They arrived back at their rooms at the Hungry Nug inn to find Sal sitting in a chair in Kai
and Zev’s room, feet propped up on the stone bureau, swigging ale from a tankard while
occasionally popping a bit of greasy sausage into her mouth from a plate piled with more of
the same.
The dwarva had a book propped in her lap that looked familiar to Kai, and apparently to Wynne
as well. “You’d best not be getting greasy fingerprints on those pages, young lady.” Wynne
cocked an eyebrow at the rogue.
Sal grinned and shut the book closed with the hand holding it and carefully placed the tome
down on the bureau away from the ale and sausages. “I may come from the dust, but I do have
some manners. Not to mention that I just learned how to read, so books are...precious, shall
we say?”
Sal swigged more ale followed by more sausage. She chewed and swallowed ending in a swipe with
her hand across her mouth. “This book in particular is precious, for more than one reason. I
didn’t know that it was possible to do what is described on page fifty-six without some help
from elaborate dwarven mechanical devices.” The rogue glanced at the binding as if memorizing
the letters embossed there. “The Rose of Orlais, must remember to find a copy.”
“Oh si, my dear, fellow rogue, mechanical devices can be such fun. And that particular book
has many delightful ideas within its pages .” Zev winked at Sal as he sat with Kai on the bed
facing their friend while Wynne went to fetch more chairs. “I myself have a fondness for rope.
Of course there is something to be said for the amorous effects the outdoors can induce. Why
Kai and I-”
Kai stopped him with a finger to his lips while her face flushed which only caused Zev to kiss
its tip and laugh. She wrinkled her nose at him and turned to Sal. “Yes, well, we need not go
into that.”
There was a loud clomp noise as Wynne grabbed ‘The Rose of Orlais’ shutting it smartly having
removed it from Anders who had been flipping through its pages with a look of energetic
concentration. “Really, young man, I would think that you don’t need any more ideas put into
that fevered mind of yours.”
Anders blushed causing the room to erupt with laughter.
Kai turned back to Sal. “So, Wynne says that the armor has arrived?”
Sal nodded and flashed a grin at Anders. “Yes, and it’s some of the smith’s best work. It
awaits you in the church. Brother Burkel thought you might all find it more convenient, and
less likely to arouse suspicion, if you appeared from the church. The Nevarrans seem to only
watch the merchants not the church.” Sal leaned forward grabbed the mug next to her plate and
drained its contents before swiping her hand across her mouth. “And I have brought cleaning
supplies for you to carry with you as volunteers cleaning the place, in case they are
looking.”
This elicited a moan from Anders followed by an ‘ow’ as Wynne smacked the mage on the back of
the head. “Put on your big boy pants, young man. It isn’t as if you’ll be the only one in
uncomfortable clothing.” Wynne cocked an eyebrow while crossing her arms over her chest.
“I wouldn’t be groaning if it were pants I’d be wearing instead of that metal monstrosity
along with a skirt.” Anders grumbled. “It’s worse than the man dress for magi.”
Kai bit her lip to keep from laughing as she waved a hand to stop Wynne from retorting the
younger man. The elder mage turned to Kai, “My clothing arrived from its final alterations by
way of Brother Burkel as well.”
Kai turned back to Sal. “So when do we gain an audience with King Bhelen?”
“I had Vartag schedule you all to appear at the hour of betting.” Sal pointed to the dwarven
lyrium clock and the glowing rune on it’s surface for the word bet. “I thought you might like
to have the meeting as soon as possible so you know what awaits you in the Deep Roads. And I
thought a certain handsome mage, might appreciate having the time spent in armor as short as
possible.” Sal winked at Anders. “I also thought that a certain mage, might show his
appreciation, privately, for such thoughtfulness?”
Anders grinned. “I think I could work myself up to long periods of gratitude for you, dove.”
Kai rolled her eyes at them both before setting them on the clock. Kai was grateful for the
timepiece in their room, as one used to using the sun to tell time, the perpetual “twilight”
of Orzammar always threw her off. If she hadn’t just been on the surface with Zev enjoying
lunch and well, other activities, she would have sworn that the hour of betting had long since
passed or was still a long way off. “So,” Kai glanced at the glowing rune showing the time,
“This being the ‘hour of sharpening,’ we have an hour, if I’m reading that correctly.”
Sal grinned and nodded. “Aye, weapons are being honed, armor is being oiled and soaped in
readiness for the Proving later. The king will of course attend the Proving to keep up
appearances that all is well. Vartag and I figured that The Revered Mother would know no one
comes before the king during the hour of Proving.”
Kai nodded. “Well then, we’d best get ourselves dressed and made presentable to appear before
royal company.”
She heard a groan and watched Anders flinch and give the elder mage a cheeky grin before
Wynne’s hand could be employed to the back of his head again. Kai smiled and shook her head.
Sal only laughed and rose to take her leave, placing the plate of sausages on the floor for
Argus and Pounce, with a friendly pat for each. As she made her way to the door, she stroked
Ander’s arm while batting her eyelashes. “Don’t worry handsome, I have some salve and very
nimble fingers that are good at buckles. I’m sure I can help ease the pain. I’ll be at
Tapsters, and if you find you have the energy, we can practice page fifty-six from that book.”
Zev chuckled. “That should give you something delightful to focus on rather than the armor, my
sparkle fingered friend, no?” He clapped the mage on the shoulder before opening the door for
Sal who winked, saluted, and disappeared into the shadows of the hallway. “Such a delightful
creature.”
“Hah, she reminds me of you!” Kai grinned at him.
“Oh, si, and I am delightful, am I not? Or did our lunch not prove that, my dear Kai?” Zev
winked while giving her a lusty smile, making Kai blush and roll her eyes and the others to
laugh.
“I walked into that. You are too slick, Zevran, you’ll slide out of your coffin.” Kai shook
her head and indicated they should collect the armor and Wynne’s costume and dress for their
meeting with Bhelen.
After the long ride on the lift back to the Diamond Quarter--with Kai barely refraining from
humming “The Girl from Emponeema Thaig” under her breath--it left only ten minutes until their
appointment to spare, Kai wondered if they shouldn’t have made the meeting with Bhelen for the
hour of singing. It wasn’t just Anders’ grumbling, but she found herself trying to learn to
walk and move in heavy metal armor, accustomed as she was to lighter leather. She felt like a
bronto lumbering around and only hoped that her awkwardness wouldn’t show and give the game
away. More time to wear get used to the weight of metal might not have been amiss. Add, add to
that, the helmet was hot, stuffy, and severely limited her vision--something that could prove
deadly for a rogue used to lighter leather armor and open helmets.
“I think you look sexy in templar armor, mi gra.” Alistair’s voice had a teasing tone. “If you
wear it in the Fade we can play Templar and naughty mage.”
Kai gave him a mental eye roll. “You have been around Zev way too much.”
Alistair only laughed. “Yes well, I still couldn’t say that without blushing. Which your
father finds amusing, by the way. Just glad your mother isn’t here to ask me why I’m turning
red.”
Kai laughed and then sobered immediately. “Really, how did you move in this armor? I feel like
a salted fish packed in a barrel.” She huffed into the helmet and regretted it. “And this
helmet is stifling and I can’t see a thing!”
“Well, metal armor is all I have ever worn, so you get used to it. I know I would feel naked
in leather armor.”
“Naked huh?” Kai gave him a mental grin. “I think I can arrange a much more fun way of
feeling naked the next time we meet in the Fade.”
She could sense him blushing and shuffling his feet. “Oh you are evil, you’re a bad person!”
“Do you hate me?” Kai gave him a mental smile.
“Yes, and I’ll show you how much when you come to the Fade, cheeky monkey!” She could feel his
smile. “Uh oh, your mother just showed up and asked me why I’m blushing, thank you so much!
Must go, bye, my love!”
Kai turned her attention back to trying to walk as if she had worn restrictive metal armor
most of her life instead of supple leather. She wondered if Anders, walking in front of Wynne,
was having the same difficulties. They surrounded the elder mage, pretending as they were, to
be an honor guard for “The Revered Mother”.
One good thing about the metal armor Kai found, distracted as she was with just walking, she
passed by Harrowmont’s estate without feeling the usual wave of guilt over the man.
She made note of the small pockets of Nevarrans throughout the corridor, noticing there were
fewer here than in the market and performing mental arithmetic on the possible numbers
overall, depending on how many were at Caridin’s Cross in the Deep Roads. With groups ranging
in number from one to three, and no larger than three, she estimated their overall number to
not exceed fifteen, maybe twenty-five at the most here in Orzammar itself. At least she hoped
it would be more in the fifteen range. If the Nevarrans were building a golem army in the
Deep Roads, surely it wouldn’t require more people than that to watch and set off the traps
here in the city.
Sure Kai, keep telling yourself that. And if nugs had wings, they’d be pigeons. Let’s face
facts, we’re running blind. She could only hope that Bhelen would, Maker please, somehow be
able to tell them more despite his extra surveillance. Her mental tirade at herself was
interrupted when she almost tripped, as the thick metal toe of her boot caught a crack in a
flagstone.
Luckily there weren’t eyes to see her stumble--distant as they were from the few merchant
stalls allowed in the Diamond Quarter, and its well-to-do citizens were indoors probably
eating--what passed for a light meal and dressing for the Proving--though Wynne did look over
her shoulder with a cocked eyebrow. Kai shrugged slightly as Wynne could not see her a rueful
grin.
They walked up the stone steps to the level of the palace and more steps lead them to the
doors of same, with a brief stop as guards enquired as to their business there. The waiting
room was filled with more dwarven nobles. Kai watched the guard give a sidelong glance to the
side of the room where some of the Nevarran’s sat on a bench talking with each other. She
watched one of the human strangers nod slightly in the affirmative and tilt their head towards
the throne room doors. Kai also noted that her scath Tam and Hugh were in the room as well.
She didn’t see Sten.
The guard huffed under his breath and spoke to Anders. “Wait here, I will announce your
arrival to the king.” They watched the man walk to the thick, dwarven iron, throne room doors
decorated with the squared spiral design and Aeducan family seal. He knocked, stuck his head
inside, and engaged in a brief discussion with someone behind the door before turning his gaze
towards them and nodding his head indicating that they should proceed on.
They moved forward through the doorway filing into the spacious room, the sound of the door
shutting behind them echoing off the stone walls as all conversations had stopped with all
eyes in the room trained on them, before their measure was taken note and conversations
started up once more. The only eyes that kept sliding towards them were from the Nevarrans and
they were being discrete about it.
The room remained as Kai remembered it from their last visit, one long rectangular space with
the throne on a dais at one end and the doors they entered in at the other. A long woolen rug
woven with more geometric designs in black, white and red bisected the room leading to the
throne. Long stone tables, with benches on either side, held various people in attendance.
Kai noted the Nevarrans seated at those tables--along with various dwarven nobility-- and on
the benches along the walls. She also made note how some of their strange visitors sat at the
tables closest to dais where they could, no doubt, keep their eyes and ears on the king and
any visitors.
Sten stood behind and to the right of Vartag who stood right behind the throne . The giant
Qunari was in the shadows but not hard to miss.
They walked single file toward the throne, and stood on either side of Wynne, once they
reached it. Kai observed Bhelen as they moved toward him, she noted the dark circles under his
eyes and the deepening of the lines around his mouth. Dwarves being stout, and muscular
folk--with Bhelen being no exception--the dwarven king looked a few stone thinner, as though
not only had he not been sleeping, but not eating as well. Not that it surprised her, she
doubted she would feel like sleeping or eating if the twins were under constant threat of
being dismembered by demons.
Kai’s eyes slid toward Vartag Gavorn, Bhelen’s right-hand man, best friend, and go to man for
dirty deeds done dirt cheap--should the need arise.
Kai’s vallaslin were covered by Leli’s makeup, and she had pulled her dark curling locks into
a severe bun to fit under the helmet--not a hairstyle she favored--yet she knew that Vartag
would have recognized her if she removed the headgear, even without the heads up from Sal
about her and her team’s arrival.
The man was too sharp by half, and his skills, including excellent powers of observation, were
part and parcel of what made him such an affective operative in dwarven politics. Kai
suspected that Vartag helped procure Bhelen’s siblings’ downfalls so that the youngest of the
Aeducans might have a clear and unhindered path to the very seat on which he now sat. Kai had
a moment to wonder if Bhelen was regretting his ambitions for the first time.
Bhelen rose and gave Wynne a short bow which the mage returned. Vartag waved a hand and a
couple of servants brought padded wooden chair and small table which they sat on the dais next
to the throne. A third servant appeared with a tray containing a bottle of wine, one bottle
of--what Kai guessed to be--ale, a mug, a glass, and a plate of fruit. Wynne placed herself
in the chair while Kai and Anders took up defensive positions.
Vartag put a stack of parchment, a dwarven ink pen, and a small chest, which he lifted the lid
of, to show glowing chunks of lyrium. The ‘conversation’ began between Bhelen and Wynne in
earnest. From what snippets of conversation Kai caught, she was glad Wynne was on their side.
She also had insight as to how they obtained so many items for such good prices when it was
the elder mage’s turn to buy supplies during their Blight days--Wynne was quite the
negotiator. Kai would have felt sorry for Bhelen, if this had been a real negotiation that is.
She bit her lower lip to keep from laughing at the thought and sobered immediately. Nothing
she had overheard so far seemed to be any sort of code or clue as to the Nevarran mage problem
awaiting them in the Deep Roads.
Kai hoped, with the advanced notice, that Vartag and Bhelen would have designed some plan to
let them know more about what was going on. But neither the conversation nor the papers--
which Vartag took back after Wynne signed them, nor the chest of lyrium--which was also
summarily removed--appeared to have any message. In their place Vartag set a carved wooden box
on the table opening it to reveal a beautiful chess board inlaid with different colored stone.
The pieces matched the board squares and were intricately carved squat pieces in the dwarven
style.
Bhelen waved a hand at Vartag, once all the pieces were placed on the board. “Your Reverence,
I hope you don’t mind if we start our new game in person after our last finished via letter.
And I had this set made especially for you after our last meeting.”
Bhelen leaned forward with cocked eyebrow while offering Wynne her pick of light or dark
pieces, letting the elder mage decide to go first. “It has been thoroughly inspected for
quality, I assure you.” Bhelen’s eyes darted very subtly towards one of the groups of
Nevarrans. “In your last letter, you asked me to teach you the strategy that allowed me to
checkmate you in twelve moves, did you not?
Bhelen began moving pieces around the board, occasionally asking Wynne to move one of her
pieces as well, again nothing in his conversation with the mage gave Kai any clues. She was
beginning to wonder if the dwarven king was being watched so closely he dared not send any
message their way. If that was the case, it was going to make the trip to the Deep Roads even
more tricky and dangerous with what little information they had.
It was as Kai stood worrying into her own skull that the doors to the throne room burst open
followed by the sounds of voices raised in argument. One of those voices was extremely
familiar...Oghren!
Oghren’s cover story, one that the dwarf had come up with on his own--much to everyone’s
surprise and awe--that having helped stop the Blight, and traveling with the “Hero of
Ferelden,” being a hero in his own right--and now that Kai was supposedly dead--wanted to re-
establish his house in Orzamar.
Oghren’s insane, and very dead wife, Branka, ironically enough, had been obsessed with finding
the Anvil of the Void and rebuilding a golem army to fight dark spawn and restore the might of
the dwarven empire. She had taken their entire house into the Deep Roads, all save Oghren.
Branka’s obsession drove her to madness and cruelty, she had used the people of their house,
from family members to servants--after the soldiers were dead--as cannon fodder for the
darkspawn and the traps Caridin left to deter anyone getting to the anvil. That “fodder”
include Branka’s lover, Hespeth, who had been tainted and who was slowly becoming a
broodmother when they found her. Kai shuddered at the memory of the poor “blighter”--as Oghren
would have said--with a second shudder at the horrific process required to make a human, elf,
Qunari, or dwarf into one by means of violation and eating the flesh of darkspawn That
discovery had caused Kai months of nightmares added to the ones that already occurred due to
the taint.
And here she was, putting herself back in the Deep Roads and darkspawn territory. “Mi gra.”
Alistair’s soothing voice echoed in her head and she gave him a wan mental smile.
In the end, Branka had forced Kai to kill her, once the knowledge of how golems were made--
using live dwarves against their will when volunteers were lacking--was revealed by Caridin
who had been turned into a golem himself for protesting. He exposed the dwarven empire’s
embarrassing secret past and Kai had taken Caridin’s hammer, and with his blessing, destroyed
the anvil--or so she’d thought--smashing it into pieces. Caridn thanked her, then threw
himself into a lava channel lest anyone try and pry the secret of its making from is creator.
Now here they were again, waiting to go back to the Deep Roads and the very anvil which should
not exist--Kai having thrown the anvil’s rubble in after Caridin.
Oghren made his way towards the dais weaving slightly and his odor arrived at the throne
before he did. He smelled as if he had fallen in a vat of lichen ale. He pointed a finger
drunkenly at Bhelen as the guards tried unsuccessfully to restrain him. “Oi, you sodding nug
humper, you promised me a meeting!”
Bhelen waved the guards off. “I was hoping you’d be sober Oghren, though I should have known
that to be wishful thinking.” Bhelen crossed his arms over his chest. “Traveling with the
‘Hero of Ferelden’ apparently did nothing for you. Still the same drunken lout you were before
Branka up and left you behind.”
Oghren roared and stumbled forwards reaching for Bhelen but the small table was in the way
which he bounced off of scattering the chess pieces. Kai leapt forward grabbing Oghren with
both hands by the front of his shirt, under the pretense of protecting Wynne, while Anders
jumped in front of the mage doing the same.
The dwarf smelled even worse up close, but his breath was clean--at least of alcohol--when he
bellowed and protested at her. He winked at her before he slapped at the metal chest of her
armor as if trying to get away. Kai obliged and shoved him backwards where he fell as if in a
drunken heap.
True to his part, Oghren grumbled as he picked himself up. “Sodding cloud head! I am a warrior
and a hero!” He swayed on his feet.
Bhelen merely motioned to Sten, who nodded and grabbed Oghren by the scruff of the neck. “You
are here without an appointment, Oghren. You’re a loud and lousy drunk. Your ‘hero’ status
went the way of that woman you fought the Blight with. I decide if you are a hero, and I
decide if you get your house back.” Bhelen motioned to Vartag who handed him a fresh mug of
ale--the other having rolled across the floor spilling its contents.
Bhelen took a long gulp before handing it back. “I have a job for you Oghren. If you complete
your task, I’ll restore your name, your house, and your money.” Bhelen gave a harsh bark of
laughter. “I might even make you a paragon.”
Oghren shot Bhelen a resentful look. “And what task would that be?”
“I need an envoy to visit Kal-Sharok.” Bhelen nodded to Sten. “Make sure he packs and escort
him to the Deep Roads. Take Tam and Hugh with you. He may be a drunkard but he does know how
to fight, as long as he can stay standing.”
Sten nodded and simply used his large hand on Oghren’s neck to “steer” the protesting dwarf
towards the door. Once closed, all noise was cut off, throwing the room into a sort of
stunned silence before soft conversation resumed once more.
Vartag motioned for a servant to come and retrieve fallen chess pieces, and for another to
clean the spilled ale and wine that splattered the floor.
Once the table had been righted and the box for the chess pieces and board placed on it, Wynne
scooped pieces out of her lap with an air of affronted dignity and placed them back into their
slots. With the board and pieces safely tucked away Wynne handed the box to Kai with a
dismissive wave of her hand.
Bhelen apologized and arranged for Wynne to be served a fresh glass of wine while he and she
chatted, looking nothing so much more than a couple of political heavy hitters having a
conversation to smooth ruffled feathers.
Kai schooled herself to hold the box as if it held nothing of real importance, though she
realized that Oghren must have created a diversion for Bhelen or Vartag to get a message to
them and it probably rested in her hands.
It took all of her rogue discipline not to squirm with impatience to leave and not leap
forward when Wynne finally rose to extend her hand to Bhelen in farewell. Bhelen made mouths
about the palace being at her disposal for the night or as long as she cared to stay. Wynne
demurred saying that her meeting with Bhelen had been a convenient stop on her way to the
mage tower for pressing business regarding the templars there--for which she thanked him for
allowing her to arrange short notice.They would stay in Watersedge before taking a ship to
Kinloch Hold the following morning--and this all said for the convenience of the prying eyes
and ears in the room.
Bhelen merely nodded and motioned for one of the guards by the door to escort them from the
throne room and back to the corridor in front of the palace. They made their way to the lift
and back down to the Market area.
The doors opened and Brother Burkel appeared on cue to escort Wynne back to the church for a
final blessing. They passed all the Nevarrans in the market before ducking into the church to
change into civilian clothing.
As they exited the church doors loud shouting could be heard echoing of the stone walls and
high ceiling of the market area. Oghren’s shouts filling the large open room as he was
escorted to the Deep Roads. Dwarves ran past gathering in a crowd to watch, as did the
Nevarrans. Kai and her group followed suit and pretended to give up when they couldn’t see
through the crowd already there. They took themselves back to the inn with the box with the
chessboard and pieces safely wrapped in the rags and stuffed in the basket with the cleaning
supplies used as their excuse for being in the church for such a long time. Kai made a mental
note to thank Sal for being such a devious person. That is, Kai would thank her when Sal and
Anders emerged from enjoying the pleasures of each others’ company. Kai shook her head and
laughed as Anders took his leave of them and disappeared into Tapsters in search of their
delightful friend.
