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[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 17

Kai wanted to comfort her brother; she made a vain attempt to pat him on the back, but her skin felt like the

thinnest of silks and if it tore, her spirit would just go back to the Fade.  And she was not about to try and come

back a second time.  Fergus leaned her gently back, still grasping her by the arms and holding her upright so he

could look at her.

"OK, new rule everyone."  Her voice sounded like a whisper, she cleared her throat.  "No more letting the Warden go

into a coma.  No going unconsciousness unless it's sleep related.  M'k?  Everyone got that?"  She smiled at them

"Hah, you stop by for a short visit, and I am a bad influence," Alistair's beloved voice sounded in her ear. 

Relief washed over her.  Fergus looked furious, and she thought he was about to shake her, but he simply laid her

back on the pillows Zev had been piling behind her so she could sit up.  Fergus had tears in his eyes and looked

caught between fury and relief.

"Hmm, your joke seems to have gone over as well as mine used to."  Used to, you mean usually, right? "Hey-y."  She

did a mental smile.

Then it struck her, Wynne.  "Is Wynne all right?"  She tried to raise herself up but was gently pushed back onto

the pillows by Zev.  Not that it took much.  He could have used his pinky to get the job done.

"My dear Gray Warden, Wynne is fine."  She went to get more broth, as it seems that is what you like to eat, since

you seem to keep going into comas."  Zev smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I do wish it would cease this obsessive need to be unconscious for days as I am always the one who gets put on

guard duty," Shale growled from her corner.  "One would think that it would understand I spent quite enough time

standing in one place to last even a golem's lifetime.  One would also think it is part pigeon the way it likes to

toy with me."

"Sorry Shale, I will try to do better, really," Kai mumbled, her face flushing.

"Huh!" Shale growled.

"Kadan" was all that Sten had to say, which was almost worse than having Shale rant at her, as his tone implied

anger tinged concern.  And fear?  Fear for her?  Oh, my.

Leliana just wiped her very swollen and red eyes with what looked like a very wet handkerchief and came over and

planted a kiss on her forehead.  "Oh, I am so happy, I am going to tell Wynne!"  And she left the room almost

skipping.

Argus jumped up on the other side of the bed and barked at her before lying down and shoving his nose under her

hand.  She obliged by rubbing his head.  "So, how long this time?" Kai asked.

"Almost two weeks this time, little sister." Fergus looked down at the covers, trying to get control of himself. 

Kai reached out and grabbed his hand.  She just squeezed it while he sobbed and choked out her name.

"You could slap me if you want."  She jiggled his hand.

Fergus wiped his eyes and obliged her with a little choked laugh.  "I wish I could, but Wynne would have my head on

a pike, sister dear."  Fergus leaned down and kissed her hand and put his other hand over hers.

The door suddenly swung open as if a great wind had blown through, and Wynn practically ran through the opening and

right to her bedside.  Kai just stared at her.  "Feeling your oats Wynne?"  Kai's laugh was cut off when Wynne

scooped her up and hugged her so tightly she couldn't breathe.  When Wynne finally released her, she stepped back

and put a hand on Fergus's shoulder.  Fergus hadn't let go of her hand through that entire exchange, and he

continued to stroke it as if she might disappear.  Apparently, she had been giving people that impression lately.

Kai felt guilty for all the fuss she seemed to be causing everyone.  "I am so sorry, everyone, really."  Kai felt

tears forming in her eyes, and she chose to focus on hers and Fergus's linked hands.

Zev just brushed her hair back from her forehead.  "My dear Warden, it was not entirely your fault.  You were

poisoned after all."

"Hey, where is my food?" she joked at Wynne, giving her a pointed look and a sly smile.

"Watch it, young lady, or I will turn you into a frog," Wynn retorted back.  But, she was smiling with her eyes

bright.  "Leli is bringing it.  When she told me you were finally awake, I handed her the tray and sent her back to

the kitchen to get bread to go with the broth.  We get to start all over again with you, young lady.  It seems you

like keeping us on our toes."

Kai realized that they were missing a dwarf.  "Hey, where's Oghren?"

"Ah, the dwarf has been drunk ever since you took ill,” Sten explained.  “I shall go and fetch him.  Though whether

or not he is sober enough to understand when I tell him you are awake remains to be seen, Kadan."  Sten simply

touched her face and turned to leave, almost running into Leliana with the tray causing Leli to giggle and Sten to

growl.  Touching her face was the equivalent of Wynne’s tight, rib cracking hug.  Wow, I really must have

frightened them very badly.  It was hard to feel any concern for that in the Fade.  Now, she felt terribly guilty.

Leliana set the tray down on Kai's lap and put a napkin across her chest.  "Do you think you have enough energy to

eat on your own?"

"I think I can manage, thanks," she smiled at the pretty bard.  "I am so sorry to have made you worry, Leli." 

Leliana only smiled at her and made shushing motions with her hands.

"I think the rest of you should all go get some sleep, and Shale can stretch her legs."  I will stay with her since

I was next on the “Kai rotation.”  Wynne looked at Leli and patted the bard's cheek.

"OK, but wake me if she needs anything, promise?"  Leliana kissed Kai's forehead again and turned and left.

"I am glad it is awake."  Shale touched the bed and smiled – well, it was as close as her stone features would

allow – and walked out, her steps shaking the floor.

"I am not going, I can't.  I just need to stay."  Fergus just continued to hold her hand in both of his.

Wynne shrugged at him.  "You and Zev are exhausted, but you have to make up your own minds." Wynne's look

encompassed both of the men still sitting in the room with the look of a mother facing two stubborn children.

She sighed and brought over another chair.  Kai noticed that there seemed to be quite a large grouping of chairs. 

"Sorry, Argus old boy, I need this hand."  She patted him once before picking up the horn spoon next to the bowl. 

Argus gave a soft woof of approval before laying his head back down on the bed.  This is familiar, Kai thought as

she soaked bread and spooned up broth.  But she got full faster than before and set the spoon down next to the

bowl.  "Maybe I can eat more later?"  Kai looked at Wynne, who took the tray and removed the napkin, setting them

both on a table in the corner.  "Where are we?  This isn't the castle at Denerim."  Kai took a good look around the

room, it wasn't at Highever either.

"Ban Teagan's home, for now," Zev said.  "Though that might have to change so Anora doesn't find out the truth."

"So Anora doesn't find out what, Zev?" Kai asked him.

"That you are alive."

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 12:26 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 18

"Perhaps we should go back to when you remember, before you decided on another feat of daring-do by sleeping for

days.  And then we can go from there, no?" Zev offered.

"Yes, that would probably be a very good idea," Kai smiled at him.  "The last thing I remember is giving a speech

and then almost pitching face forward.  Oh, and you were trying to get me naked and take advantage of me in

public."  Kai grinned.  Zev didn't smile in return, but instead gripped her arms with both of his hands, squeezing

gently.  Oh boy, it must have looked really bad from their point of view.  Kai flushed again with guilt.

They took turns telling her what happened.  When she had touched Zev, he had suspected poison was at work, but Kai

had been called forward to Anora's side.  It was then he had left the hall to go to their quarters.  Fergus, who

also had suspected something, followed Zev.

"I suspected that a poison called 'The Burning Heart' had been used.  It is a thick concoction and takes time to

move into and through the blood.  Anora wanted that particular poison because it can cause violent behavior in its

victims.  She probably hoped you would do something to disgrace yourself, thus ruining your reputation or giving

her reason to have her guards kill you outright, or both.  Such events would have been bonuses to Anora."  Zev's

voice got raspy and he looked away from her.

"He climbed the ivy on the castle wall like a monkey; it was amazing," Fergus broke in, grinning at the elf, giving

Zev time to collect himself.

"Amazing he didn't break his neck," Wynne retorted.

"My dear Wynne, I was a Crow; we are the best," Zev smiled at her.  "I was going after my antidotes," Zev

explained.  "From the heat of your hand and your behavior, I didn't think we had much time," Zev's voice caught,

and he cleared it.

"'The Burning Heart?'" Kai snorted.  "More like the burning everything.  I thought I was on fire on the inside." 

Kai's free hand flew to her still flat belly.  "Maker, Wynne?"

Wynne only looked at her in surprise.  "The babe is fine, the poison did not reach it, and I used...."

"Your spirit helper?  Oh Wynne, you need to be careful."  Kai felt fear for her friend.

"I need to be careful?  Young lady, I am not the one who got poisoned."  Wynne's face started to crumple, but she

breathed deeply and set it to neutral again.  "I did not know you knew.  That was what I wanted to discuss with you

after the coronation."

"I learned of it in the...the Fade.  Let’s just say a little birdie told me," Kai looked down.

"A creepy little birdie," came Alistair's retort, which cause her lips to quirk slightly.

She hoped they wouldn't ask questions about her knowledge.  Not yet, she wasn't ready.  Perhaps sensing this, they

let the statement go unremarked.  "How did you know, Wynne?  I didn't have a clue myself.  Since the Joining as a

Warden and since I tend to be athletic..."

"And far too thin, especially recently," broke in Wynne with a mother's reproachful tone of voice.

"My cycles have not exactly been regular," Kai finished.  "So, how did you know?"

"After Fort Drakon, when you were, unconscious...."  Kai reached out as a huge wave of guilt swamped her.  "No,

child, don't be sorry.  I forgave you already, remember?"  Wynne smiled at her and gave her hand a tug before

releasing it.  "I was going to heal you.  But, I didn't have a lot of mana left, and I was recharging and using

potions.  I needed help.  Anora offered the help of the mage assigned to the castle; Mordyth, I think his name was.

 He was doing a magical diagnostic of sorts so that we could tell how far your injuries went.  He is the one who

discovered it.  The pregnancy was in such an early stage you wouldn't have had any signs.  We only caught it

because we were performing a detailed inspection.  He must have told Anora."

"Well, that explains her cryptic remark at the funeral then."  Kai patted Argus absently.  "So, what happened after

you climbed the castle.  You must have retrieved the antidote, I remember you making me drink something.  It tasted

awful, but it helped."

Zev told how he had tossed down the bag containing the antidotes to Fergus so he could climb down quickly.  How

they had both raced back to the hall to find that she had gone out to the balcony.  How they had all opened the

doors to find her about to fall face forward.  It had been Zev's quick hands that had saved her yet again from

breaking her nose.  How Zev had poured his antidote down her throat praying that they were in time.  "But you were

dying, and we could tell it.  Your cheeks were so red, and then they were pale as snow and your breathing got

shallow, and you wouldn't respond when we called to you," Fergus's voice broke, and he started sobbing in earnest

as he bent his face over their linked hands, his tears wetting them.

Kai just stroked his head with her free hand as tears slid down her own cheeks.  "Oh Fergus, I am so sorry..."

"It is that **** who should be sorry!" Wynne's voice burst out.

"Wynne!" Kai gasped, never having heard Wynne use any exclamation stronger than “horse feathers.”  She couldn't

help it, she burst out laughing, which caused both Fergus and Zevran to join in.  It was a tension reliever sorely

needed.

Wynne continued nonplussed, "I was trying to use healing magic, but I could feel you, your soul, slipping away into

the Fade.  So my spirit helper latched on before you slipped through entirely."  Wynne just patted Fergus on the

back.  "But you still looked like death."

Well, that confirmed what Andraste had said. "Gee, thanks a lot," Kai grinned.  "I take it that is how you passed

me off to Anora as dead, though?"

"That, and I tracked down our little assassin."  Zev's face had gone very hard and very cold.  "It seems Anora was

not willing to pay for the best.  She was not a Crow, for which we should be grateful.  But I do have a contract

signed by Anora and a letter with instructions for your demise.  Anora wanted it to be as painful as possible, as

well as making you sully your reputation in public, if she could get it.  The assassin confessed all to me and gave

me the evidence."

Kai looked at him; his face was unreadable.  It was his assassin's face.  He knew she did not approve of torture,

though Zev had other pleasant, though no less deadly means of getting information.  Don't ask, don't tell, Kai

figured.  Zev wasn't about to be penitent about whatever happened, since he no doubt felt it was justified.  Maric

was right, she had very loving and loyal friends.  How did she get so lucky?

"I gave her the same poison she gave you.  Then, I hid the body and came up with a plan."  Zev reached up and

stroked her cheek briefly.

"When we carried you back through the hall, you looked dead.  We did not realize that taking you through the hall

past witnesses would be an advantage at the time.  We were just trying to get you to your room," Fergus broke in. 

"But when Zev came back after tracking that killer down, it worked with his plan perfectly."

"We used the dead assassin as a substitute for you," Wynne put in.

"You used the assassin as a...a body double?"  Kai felt her eyebrows shooting up her forehead.  "And that worked?"

"We cut her hair.  Luckily, it was almost same color as yours.  We dressed her in your clothes and laid her in your

bed.  Then, we smuggled you out of the castle," Zevran went on.  "Apparently, Anora is a little squeamish about

seeing the results of her handiwork.  She looked at the body briefly from the bedroom door when we spread news of

your demise.  Anora had a chamberlain confirm the body on the bed indeed had no pulse."

"Then, she made a big show of announcing your 'death' to the people of Ferelden with tears falling down her cheeks

and vowed to find and bring to justice the person or persons responsible.  Little viper," Fergus put in.

The door to the bedroom suddenly blew back on its hinges a second time, startling them all.  Oghren strode in,

actually “staggered” would be more appropriate.  He smelled as if he had fallen into a barrel of beer.  He just

walked up to the side of the bed and put his face in Kai's, looking into her eyes as if to make sure that she was

indeed awake.

"Hey, Oghren," Kai greeted him, not sure what else to say as he continued to squint at her.

"He is probably squinting, my love, because in his inebriated state, he sees six of you," Alistair's voice was

tinged with amusement.

"Warden," Oghren grumbled before he swayed back and forth and passed out.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 12:42 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 19


 Fergus and Zev each grabbed one of Oghren’s arms and half carried, half drug the heavy drunken dwarf to his room,

promising to make sure he would be all right.  Kai still felt badly for causing them all such misery and worry. 

Oghren hadn't been that drunk in a long time, and it was due to her letting her guard down.

Wynne had pulled all the pillows from behind her back and gently laid her down, tucking the blankets around her and

kissing her forehead.  "Sleep. You will have a big day tomorrow.  Teagan and Eamon will want to see you, and we

will need to make plans."  Argus got down off the bed to sleep by Wynne's feet.

Wynne sat down in the chair Zev had occupied and pulled out some small needles and fine yarn.  As Kai felt her lids

starting to droop into sleep, she realized that Wynne was knitting a little bootie while humming under her breath.

When Kai awoke the next morning, the chair that had held Wynne was empty.  And when she turned over, it was to find

Zev, wrapped in a blanket, asleep on top of the covers next to her.  She figured that he would be shadowing her

even more closely now.

His face was relaxed and as peaceful as she had ever seen it.  The mask of control that he wore, even when joking

and lighthearted, was gone.  Kai wished that he could have that peace more often, his life had been so hard.  The

Crows had not beaten or tortured the little boy out of him completely.  Almost as if he knew she was thinking about

him, his pale eyes flew open and stared into hers.  The mask was automatic and settled like a second skin.  "Good

morning, Zev," she smiled at him.  "I trust you, you know.  You could sleep under the covers."

"My dear Gray Warden, your trust in me has always been misplaced, or have you not learned this by now?"  He gave a

slight smile, but she sensed he was only half joking.  Kai gave him a puzzled look and reached out to tug his

earlobe playfully, hoping he would explain.  He simply caught her hand in his and set it down on the bed before

releasing it to untangle himself from his blanket and rise.

Kai felt her cheeks flushing and found herself feeling stung and a little embarrassed.  It was as if she had

propositioned him and he had rejected her.  He was angry with her, not that she really blamed him.  The poisoning

was her own stupid fault for not keeping her senses on the alert.  She had let her nervousness about meeting Wynne

cloud her thoughts.  She hadn't been as wary as she should have been.  Had she been, she might have been more

suspicious of the servant’s sudden illness and her replacement.  She felt herself sighing and biting her lower lip.

 She didn't know how she was going to make it up to all of them.  She supposed one way might be to survive and not

get knocked out again.

She grunted and rolled over the other way, throwing back the covers and attempting to stand.  The world tilted and

spun, another familiar feeling.  She really needed to stop getting herself into situations where she was out of it

for days or weeks.

Zev caught her and angrily gave her a little shake. "What is it you think you are doing, my dear Warden?"  His tone

was even and cool, as if he wanted to yell at her and was keeping control, barely.  Kai felt her eyes tearing up of

their own volition, and her lip wanted to tremble.  What was the matter with her?  She seemed to be so raw

emotionally and not like herself at all.

Suddenly, she found herself crushed in his arms as he whispered her name over and over again.  He leaned her away

from him with another little shake and laid her back in bed, piling pillows behind her and pulling the covers over

her lap.  When he sat down and finally looked at her, she saw tears in the corners of his eyes.  She touched his

shoulder this time, and he did not push her hand away.  "I am so sorry, Zev, I know it was my fault.  I should have

been more wary, less trusting.  I knew Anora was clever, but not that sneaky.  I..."

His cynical laugh interrupted her babbling.  He grabbed her hand and held it under his chin for a moment.  "I

should be asking your forgiveness, my friend.  I am the assassin.  I should have been there to watch for such

things. I know too well the art of death, and the people who employ it.  It is I who should have seen what was

happening and either stopped it or gotten the antidote more quickly."  He put his head down on the bed, his

forehead resting on her hand.  "It is because I was not where I should have been that I almost lost my only true

friend."

Well, aren't we just a pair?  Both taking the weight of the world onto their shoulders, and all the guilt of their

decisions.  The should haves and the could haves.  Kai was struck by how alike they were.  She had become what she

hated to save what she loved.  Zev, poor Zev, hadn't even had that luxury.  He had become what he hated, no matter

how much he said he liked being an assassin, because he had been forced to do so.  Just to survive.  Neither of

them had had a choice.  Suddenly, part of her wanted to find and kill the person who sold him into slavery to the

Crows, if they weren't dead already.

She started to ball up a fist in anger, but instead made herself place it on his head in comfort.  She decided to

take his usual tack, humor, "Let's face it.  You just wanted to see me in my small clothes while they dressed me

like a doll, and you are sorry you missed it."  And she was glad when he played along, even if it was obvious that

he was still upset.

"Si, I love seeing beautiful women get dressed.  It can be as enticing as watching one get undressed.  They have

this place in Antiva City where the women start off with tassels and..."  Kai put a finger on his lips and stopped

him.

"You are incorrigible."  He kissed her fingertip, but she could tell his heart wasn't in their usual friendly

flirting.  A part of her hurt for him, but she knew he would have to work through it himself.

"I am going to go get Teagan and Eamon.  They wanted to speak to you when you woke up."  Zev turned to go.

"You mean if the Ashes of Andraste worked?" Kai asked him.

"You know about that?"  He turned to her with a surprised look on his face.

"Remind me to tell you about the Fade sometime," she smiled at him.  "So, would you fetch Lady Isolde, too?  I owe

her my thanks."  Zev just nodded and left the room.

Kai touched her flat stomach.  She was still having trouble getting used to the idea of being pregnant.  A mother,

her.  She was suddenly attacked by panic.  What if she was horrible at it?  What if she messed it up?  She couldn't

even keep herself out of trouble, how was she supposed to raise a child?  Added to that, she was going to have to

do it without Alistair here?  Her heart wanted to claw its way out of her throat.

"Well not completely without me, love, calm down," Alistair's voice sounded in her ear.

"Wondering how you can be a mother?" Wynne's amused voice asked her.  Kai jumped.  She hadn't heard her come in.

"I think there has been a big mistake, Wynne, I can't do this," Kai gulped big snatches of air.

Wynne just placed the tray she had brought on Kai's lap and stroked her hair.  "Ah, I'm afraid it's a little late

for that.  You can't send it back to the shop," Wynne laughed.

Kai found herself crying again.  "What is wrong with me?  Is it my coming back from the Fade?  I can't seem to keep

my emotions steady.  I cry or get really mad or both.  I thought it was grief at Alistair's death, but it isn't

just that.  I feel so raw; I don't feel like myself!"

Wynne only smiled and handed her a napkin to wipe her eyes and nose with.  "My dear, you aren't yourself, you are

going to be a mother.  And I am afraid this is all part of it.  The body goes through many changes, and those

changes have been happening whether you were awake for them or not.  You know, it isn't like the Chantry tells

you."  Wynne continued to smile as she poured Kai a cup of water.

"I don't just dream of my baby, and the good Fade spirits don't put it in my arms?" Kai laughed, remembering when

Wynne had made Alistair blush and get flustered with that “where babies really come from” conversation.

"That is because you and Wynne are both evil people,"  he spoke in her ear.  She could hear the smile in his voice.

She felt marginally better.  Well, at least she wasn't going crazy.  It didn't change how easily she felt like

crying, but it was a small relief to know why.  She had never had the chance to talk to her mother about pregnancy

or babies.  It was good she had Wynne who could tell her these things.  She still did a mental squirm when she

thought “pregnancy.”  OK, she really needed to stop now, or the panic would come back.

There was a knock at the door, and Wynne answered it while Kai looked at the tray.  It had a thinned stew and a

piece of toasted bread with cheese on it.  She took her spoon and began to eat.

Teagan came in the door first and sat in the chair closest to her head, taking her hand and brushing it with his

lips, "Dear lady, you frightened us."  The “yet again” was implied in his tone and had Kai blushing as she set down

the spoon.

Isolde had followed Teagan with Eamon coming behind.  "Lady Isolde, I am told I owe you my gratitude and my thanks.

 It was your thinking of the Ashes of Andraste that saved me.  I can't thank you enough."  Kai felt herself

blushing harder.  She held out a hand to Isolde and was pleased to find that she received the woman's hand in her

own.

Isolde bent down and hugged her, whispering in her ear, "I am so sorry about what I said.  You were right; he was a

better person than I am, and I can never make up for what I did."

"You did make up for it and more by saving me and his child, Isolde.  And I will never forget that. Thank you." 

Kai kissed the cheek she had slapped once.  My, how we travel in circles.

Eamon smiled at her and grazed her knuckles with his lips after Isolde sat down.  "I am so glad to see you awake,"

he smiled at her.  As if anticipating her next question, Eamon took some papers from the inside of his shirt and

handed them to Kai.  They were the letter and the contract signed by Anora arranging her death.  Kai skimmed them.

"These will not be enough to get Anora off the throne, will they?" Kai sighed.

"I am afraid not, Warden.  We need the 'why' she would want you dead.  And we have some months to go before that

proof arrives, yes?"  Eamon gestured towards her.  They all smiled at her.

"May I say congratulations, dear lady?" Teagan gave her hand a friendly tug.

"Well, I guess you are all aware that we don't have to go searching far and wide for another Theirin after all." 

Kai just laid a hand on her belly and smiled.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 12:54 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 20


 Kai stayed ducked behind the crenelation of the wall overlooking the Alienage in Denerim with her Dalish longbow

across her knees.  Leliana, with her own longbow, was crouched further down and to her left, and Wynne was to her

right.  Shianni, the spunky young elf and new elder who had helped them in a battle against the archdemon's

general, was sitting next to Wynne.  Eamon's and Teagan’s archers fanned out to either side of her along with the

elven citizens who knew how to use a bow of any kind.  The stone was cool despite its being the dog days of Summer

when even the nights stayed muggy and hot after the sun had gone down.

Kai was stifling in a light cloak with the hood pulled up, which she was wearing over her leathers.  As she was

“dead,” she really couldn't afford for anyone to see her; she was a little too solid to be a ghost.  Somewhere down

below, hidden amongst the houses of the Alienage, were more of Eamon's and Teagan's men along with Zev, Sten,

Shale, Oghren and Argus as well as more of the elves fit and willing to fight.  Some of the elves were armed with

weapons compliments of Eamon and Teagan.  Others were armed with whatever weapons they could make out of garden

tools, kitchen implements, pieces of buildings, even rocks.  What ever might gouge, stab or bludgeon.

Thanks to Zev and his assassin skills, which included spying, not just killing, he had obtained information that

Anora was sending an armed contingent into the Alienage on this night to "quell a rebellion against humans" brought

on by the food shortage and the ill treatment the elves had received for years.  Except, there was no uprising. 

The elves were hungry, but they were not starting a rebellion.  At least they weren't until Kai and her group had

talked to the hahren, the elder Shianni, and told her of Anora's plans.  Those plans included using the excuse of a

rebellion to sell the elves into slavery to the Tevinters just as her father, Loghain, had done.  But unlike her

father, Anora was more clever.  A rebellion would give Anora the reason she needed to make slavery more palatable

for the nobles and the people of Ferelden, plus give Anora an income.  This income was not to be used helping the

Ferelden people rebuild, mind you, but to continue the construction of a monument to her father, the regicide, who

had almost sacrificed Ferelden to the Blight.  Kai shook her head in disgust. 

Eamon, Teagan and her group of friends had protested strongly when she insisted she was coming. I don't blame them,

she thought, as she rested a hand on the small swelling of her belly beneath her tightening leathers.  It fluttered

as though in response to her touch.  But, she had convinced them that she would stay cloaked and at a distance

firing arrows from cover, not wielding her blades in close combat.  That, coupled with Wynne at her side in case of

any injury, had finally convinced them.  Well, it was that or they would have had to truss her like a pig and lock

her in a closet. Still, she was here.  Kai allowed a small smile to play on her lips.

"You can be the most pig headed, stubborn person in all of Ferelden," Alistair's exasperated voice sounded in her

ear.  I prefer “implacable,” it sounds classier, she thought into her own head, to which she got a deep sigh in

response.  She gave a mental smile.  What am I supposed to do, sit around the various castles and safe houses we

move to, eating sticky buns and getting fat?  His only reply was a grumble.  She laughed into her own skull and

called him a worry wart.

Her internal conversation with Alistair was broken off by the sounds of the back gate to the Alienage being opened.

 Kai had anticipated Anora’s men would lock the gate leading to the long narrow bridge which had still not been

repaired since the battle with the archdemon.  The elves had done a makeshift repair with boards which created a

wobbley but serviceable shortcut to the gate to the marketplace, but the soldiers would not want any elves to

escape, so that gate would be locked.  Furthermore, no large number of heavily armored soldiers was willing to

cross tottering boards, which had left them only one gate to come in by.

The plan was to have the Alienage look as normal as possible.  Lanterns glowed, candles shone in windows.  Some of

the citizens, those who were too old or feeble to fight or those whose weapons were everyday items, stood around in

various places to make it look as though it was a night like any other. Those too young or unable to fight were

hidden in safety.

Everything was designed to lull the soldiers into thinking the elves were unaware.  The soldiers were to be allowed

to come in until the last man was behind the gate, and one of Eamon's men disguised as a dirty drunken beggar would

wait outside to close and lock the gate, cutting off the soldiers' escape route.  Kai and those on the wall would

rain down arrows on the armored men, which would mostly be a distraction, as the arrows would more than likely be

stopped by their armor.  However, this would give those below a chance to take most of them down, they hoped with

minimum of casualties for their side.

Kai allowed herself a furtive look down below and watched as the armor clad men walked into the Alienage, their

metallic footsteps echoing off the stone walls.  Kai signed with her hand for the archers to nock their bows.  When

she heard the gate close behind the soldiers with a loud clank, she stood up and took careful aim, letting her

arrow fly and lodging it in her target's throat between his helmet and his breastplate.  He gurgled and went down. 

Before the man even finished falling, she was nocking her second arrow and looking for another target.

As with anytime she was in battle, Kai's senses became acute and her adrenaline sang in her veins.  As master

archers, Kai and Leli would actually be aiming for openings to incapacitate or kill.  Others who were not as

skilled were told to fire at the soldiers and try not to hit their own.  She put another arrow though an eye socket

as one man looked up to see where the arrows were coming from.  He went down like a sack of beans.  Part of her

brain was horrified that she was killing other living human beings, but she had learned to tune it out.  Later, she

would probably empty her stomach in disgust, but right now she focused on her task.

It was then that she saw a soldier she recognized, Sergeant Kylon.  He was the poor man who had been stuck with all

the nobles' bastards to keep the peace in the marketplace.  She and her group had done some work for him.  He was a

kind and honorable man who had spread the word that the Wardens were to be trusted.

"HOLD!" Kai yelled down into the fracas.  "HOLD!"  But she could not yell loudly enough.  "Wynne, I need to get

their attention, think you can help?" Kai raised an eyebrow at the mage.  Wynne just nodded and began to cast an

earthquake spell, aiming it at the middle of the crowd of fighting men and women below.  There was a deep rumble as

the earth trembled beneath the seething mass of people.  The ground rippled like water in a pond when a pebble has

been dropped into it, causing friend and foe alike to concentrate on standing rather than fighting as some people

began to fall.

When the trembling stopped, Kai had her fellow archers quickly move the long ladder they had used to get to their

perch into position against the wall so she could climb back down into the square.  "Leli, cover me," Kai told the

bard as she began to climb down hand over hand.

Kai reached the ground, strode to Sergeant Kylon and helped him to his feet.  "Please tell your men to hold, ser. 

I think you and I have much to discuss and I would like to stop the bloodshed."  Kylon looked at her as if she had

gone mad, and she realized he didn't recognize her due to her hooded cloak.

"Why should I do that?" Kylon continued to look at her as if she were a snake about to strike.

"Because you know my intentions are honorable, as you know me."  Kai lifted her hood away to let him see her face. 

Kylon's eyes got wide, and he smiled and grasped Kai's outstretched forearm in friendship as she gripped his.

"By Andraste's knickers, I believe I do, good lady!"  He turned to his men and gave the order to stand down.  "We

were told you were murdered by persons unknown."

"As you can see, news of my demise has been greatly exaggerated.  Kylon, by the Maker, why are you helping the

pretty little viper against innocents?"

"Because those who don't do what she says have their families disappear, or they themselves disappear if they have

no families to be threatened," Kylon looked down, abashed.

"So I had heard, but I did not have confirmation until now.  It has gotten as bad as that?"

"Yes, Warden.  The disappearances are subtle.  She hides her true face from the people, and so far they are

fooled."  Kylon looked at her with a guilt shining in his eyes.  "We haven't had much of a choice."

"Kylon, you cowardly fool!  How dare you give the order to stand down.  I am in charge here!  And why do you tell

this, this traitor, such lies?" a high pitched male voice shrilled from behind Kai.  She turned to find a thin man

with a face like a ferret.  His hair was slicked back, and he had a mustache with the ends waxed in the Orlesian

fashion.  His armor was expensive and well made and had Anora's coat of arms on it.  Ah, a sycophant then.

"This is no traitor, she is the Hero of Ferelden.  You are not worthy to lick her shoes, Wadeth!  And I only tell

her the truth," Kylon snarled back.

"The truth is that Queen Anora has power, and she has the right to use it and to give it to those she favors.  The

Hero of Ferelden is dead, all two of them, or they are supposed to be.  This little guttersnipe is a traitor to our

queen.  I will personally find it a pleasure to run her through and make her death a reality.  I wonder what kind

of favors Anora will give me when I present your head to her, little ****?"  Wadeth’s last words barely passed his

lips before his eyes widened in shock and a cough brought blood to his lips as he fell forward.  His body landed

with a dull thud on the ground, the dirt turning into mud as his blood soaked into it.

Zev stood calmly where Wadeth had been, wiping off a dagger. "Ah, that was the wrong thing to say," he murmured.

Kai turned back to Kylon, motioning for Eamon and Teagan to join her.  "Wynne, keep an eye on things, use whatever

spells you think you need.  Archers, stay alert!" Kai shouted up to figures on the wall.  She took Eamon, Teagan

and Kylon inside one of the houses and closed the door.  She turned and leaned against it trying to look casual as

she faced the men in the room.  Both Eamon and Teagan were furious with her for exposing herself, but were hiding

it behind neutral masks.  She could still feel the disapproval rolling off of them in waves.

"Truth be told, my love, I am not happy with you either," Alistair's angry voice said into her ear.  She made

mental shushing noises.

"Arl Eamon and Ban Teagan, may I introduce Ser Kylon?" she motioned toward the two men.  "Ser Kylon, Arl Eamon and

Ban Teagan.  Now that the introductions are out of the way, may I propose a plan?"

"I certainly hope you have a plan, dear lady, or any one of those men you exposed yourself to will tell Anora you

are alive and well," Teagan's voice broke in fear for her.

Kai made a dismissive gesture with her hand.  "Kylon, you say your men and their families are threatened.  Well,

then I propose we give them an out.  How many of the men are loyal to you, and what number were that little dead

weasel's flotsam?"

"That is easy my lady.  All but four of the men out there hated that worthless piece of trash.  The four I

mentioned were part of his 'gang'.  In fact, Gwydion in particular would kill the little maggot again if he could. 

Wadeth and his four supporters raped his sister, and he could do nothing to stop it."  Kylon looked at her.  "Why,

dear lady?"  Kai just put up a staying hand, opened the door and motioned to Zev.

Once Zev was inside, Kai turned back to Kylon. "I want you to describe where they are and what they look like, the

four men who were friends of our dear departed maggot, to Zev here.  Zev let me know when you have their positions

in the crowd, please."  Kylon and Zev made their way to the window.  Kylon stood looking out the window where he

could be seen.  Zev looked while staying out of view. Kylon, to his credit, acted calmly as if he were just looking

out the window while talking to those inside.

Zev nodded to Kai.  "Zev, get Leli, Shale, Sten, Oghren and yourself on those men.  Try to do it without drawing

too much attention to yourselves, if you can.  And let Wynne and Shianni know what is going on."  Zev smiled and

slipped out the door.

Kylon turned his back to the window, "Now what, dear lady?"

"Now we give Zev and the rest a moment to get into place," she smiled grimly.  It only took a few minutes. and

there was a soft knock on the door.  One of the elves poked her head in and gestured to Kai.

Kai walked out, and the others followed.  She noted where in the crowd her people were.  "Men, I understand you and

your families are being threatened.  I would like to offer you a way out and a way to take back Ferelden when the

time comes.  If you join us, we will help you get your families safely out of Denerim.  You will be able to

disperse among some arlings and bannorns loyal to the Theirin line. We ask you to hide your weapons and armor until

we have called you."

"The Theirin line is dead!" a voice shouted out from the crowd.

Kai took a deep breath.  "The Theirin line lives in me," she placed a hand on her belly for emphasis.  "What is

happening now should not be happening in Ferelden.  Her people are hungry, nothing has been rebuilt, your families

are threatened, and your honor sullied by the petulant orders of a spoiled woman.  I am asking you to stand with me

when the times comes.  Those who feel they either can't or won't join, I give you my word on the blood of my father

Bryce Cousland and by Andraste's grace that  neither you nor your families be harmed."  Kai watched the faces in

the crowds carefully for any sign of more men, other than the four they knew of, who would not go along. It seemed

Kylon still knew his men; in fact all of them save the four looked hopeful and relieved.

One young man walked up and bowed on one knee in front of her.  "For killing that bastard Wadeth, I would follow

you and fight demons in the Fade.  You have my sword and my life, my lady."

"Your name, good ser?" Kai asked him as he started to rise.

"Gwydion, my lady."

"I am sorry to hear about your sister."  Kai looked him in the eyes.  Gwydion bowed his head.  Kai motioned for her

group members to bring the four men forward.  Three of the four looked terrified and kept looking to the dark

haired one who wore a feral smirk.  Ah, the second in command of the gang.  One of the men broke as if to run,

though where he meant to go she had no idea since they were all locked in.  He took two paces before one of Leli's

arrow took him in the back.  As his hand reached reflexively for it, two more followed.  He fell with a sickening

thump.  The second man took one terrified look at his fallen fellow before stumbling only a step or two; Argus lept

on him, knocking him down and ripping out his throat.

Kai looked at Gwydion.  "Are these the men who abused her?" she gestured towards the two that had fallen and the

two still remaining.  Gwydion nodded.  "Does anyone here think they are not being given proper justice?” Kai asked

the crowd.  There were no dissenting voices raised.  In fact if anything, they looked as if they wanted to be the

ones who handed out the justice themselves.

Kai turned to the one with the smirk.  He had greasy black hair and stubble.  He might have been considered

handsome except for the cold, arrogant eyes and the scar running up from one corner of his mouth.  His smirk had

been replaced by fear.  "I will not run, Warden. They were cowards," he growled with false bravado while fingering

the sword strapped to his side.

"And you think raping a woman who was powerless to stop you is brave?" Kai asked him coldly.

"She was a toy.  Why pay for it when you can have it for free?  The strong take what they want."  Anything else he

might have said got cut off when Gwydion ran his sword through the man’s belly, up to the hilt.

"She was not a toy!"  He pushed the man's body off his sword with his boot.

The last man, a greasy faced fellow with thin blonde hair, stared at them with eyes that bugged from his head in

fright, "Puh...Please, I...."

Kai cocked her head at him, "Please? Did she ask you to please stop?  Did she beg?  And did you stop?  Did you try

and stop them?  No?  I thought not.  You are a disgusting coward."

"I...," whatever the man was going to say didn't get finished; Kai planted her two daggers into the man's chest up

to their hilts.  She turned away from him, took two steps and then spun back, yanking the daggers out.  With a

double-handed sweep, she sent his head flying in a fountain of blood.  Before his head had even hit the ground, she

turned back to the sergeant, "Kylon, get your men and get their families moving.  Go to the bannorns to the north

and the Terynship of Highever.  Tell your men to hide their armor as they carry it with them; they are not to wear

it.  They should wear civilian clothes.  Their families should only take the clothes and provisions they need.  And

one toy per child.  Leave the rest.  They only have a few hours before sunrise, and they need to be out of here

before then.  Split the men up into small groups, deciding who goes where.  We don't want to arouse suspicion. 

They must disappear like smoke.  Tell them that word will be sent to the teryn and banns so they will be expected. 

They will have a home," Kai nodded to him.

"Yes, Warden.  May I say how grateful I am to be in your company again?"  Kylon grasped her forearm in a soldier's

shake once more before turning to his men.  "You heard her, move out!"  Kylon and his men turned toward the gate

which was opened once again.  One of the others must have given word to their accomplice outside.

Kai turned towards Shianni, who had come down from the wall. "We need to strip the bodies of anything useful and

then get rid of them and clean up the blood.  I want the Alienage to look as if nothing happened, as if the men

never were here at all.  Is that understood?"

Shianni just nodded, feigning innocence.  "What soldiers?" she asked Kai with a feral grin.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 01:14 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 21

 
Kai sat with her back leaning against Alistair’s muscled chest while he read aloud from a book.  They were leaning up against a tree while sitting on a blanket in the grass in the garden.  She could smell the scent of him, the grass and the apple blossoms. The bees hummed back and forth, and it felt so good. "You know you are going to have to help me up from the ground; I'm as big and unwieldy as a bronto." She felt rather than saw him set the book down, and the arm that he had draped around her moved so his hand could rest on her large rounded belly, caressing it.  The baby moved under it in response to his touch.

"I think you look beautiful." She could feel his grin in the back of her head as he smiled into her hair.

"My belly button may never go back in at this rate.  My whole body is so round so you would think I never wielded a weapon.  And despite using the creams Leli and Wynne made for me, I have stretch marks because your child keeps getting bigger.  It also seems to take after its father and have this huge appetite."

"And?" She could feel him grinning more.

"And I am so completely happy," she laughed and leaned back so she could look at him.  He bent down and kissed her lingeringly, one hand supporting her head and the other still stroking her rounded stomach.  Then someone started knocking on the gate in the garden wall.  She tried to ignore the sound, as Alistair's tongue was doing very enticing and arousing things to her mouth, but the knocking didn't stop.  "By Andraste's flaming knickers, come in!" Kai found herself yelling out loud, and then she woke up.  Kai groaned as the feelings of intense love and happiness following her from the Fade collided with reality.  Her eyes teared up with an agonizing longing, and she felt her heart would break.

"Damn, just when we were getting to the good part," Alistair's voice spoke in her ear, and she couldn't help but laugh.  His humor always soothed her.

She took a deep breath and realized that a servant had stuck his head into the room. "My lady?  I am so sorry to wake you, but we have an unexpected visitor?  And Arl Eamon and Ban Teagan asked me to fetch you?  They know you need your rest, my lady, but they said it was very important?"  The servant looked positively horrified at having woken her, so every statement came out as a question.

"Very well, I will get dressed and come down.  Are they in the dining hall?"

"Yes, my lady!  I will tell them you will be on your way."  The poor man closed the door.

Kai felt a hand on her belly over the covers, Zev's hand.  His face was buried in her hair as he breathed into the side of her neck.  Just as she had expected after her visit to the Fade, Zev continued to shadow her closely.  That is, when he wasn't training a core group of volunteers in the finer arts of spying and the ways of the assassin.  Or practicing those same arts.  He told her he wanted to have more feelers out and more people to protect her.  It was a plan that Eamon and Teagan supported wholeheartedly for multiple reasons, the most important being to protect Kai and the last of the Theirin line.

Zev still slept on top of the covers wrapped in a blanket.  Well, now a feather filled duvet due to the Winter chill, almost as if he were afraid she would take advantage of him.  This thought caused her to smile.  He had snuggled close, probably for warmth.  Fereldan Winters were hard on people from places like Antiva.  Kai remembered her sister-in-law's first Fereldan Winter and how miserable she had been.  Kai wished he would just get under the covers; it would make him more comfortable.  In her state, she couldn't take advantage of anyone even if she wanted to.  All they would have to do is walk  at a normal pace to get away from her.  Her lips curved in a rueful smile.  When walking, she thought she must look like a ship under sail.

Zev had come in late last night through heavy snow after a mission in Denerim.  He had been gone over a week and had caused Kai to worry herself into a state thinking he had gotten caught, tortured, and/or killed.  She had almost gone out the door herself to find him and had to be restrained and convinced to wait.  It had only been Leli's promise that she, herself, would go after him if he didn't show after the Solstice celebration tomorrow.  Fortunately, he had shown, dragging himself in with a goodly amount of snow.  He had been exhausted and half frozen.  He had promised to debrief them, but Kai had insisted he get warm, dry, and rested before he did.

She tried to move his hand gently without waking him, grasping his wrist and lifting his arm up so she could slide out of bed.  The only problem was that her sliding out days were long gone.  All the fluid grace she had as an athletic rogue had disappeared as her belly had gotten bigger and bigger.  Had she said she was a bronto in her dream?  More like a drunken bronto.

"You're still beautiful, for a drunken bronto," Alistair's voice teased in her ear.  Gee, thanks so much. Next time I meet you in a dream I am going to smack you. But she said it with a mental smile.
Kai couldn't sleep on her side anymore, so she was lying on her back.  In fact her lower back was killing her, and she couldn't get comfortable.  Rolling over to get out of bed was not an option.  She tried to scoot sideways, like a crab, gently pushing on the down filled mattress with her other arm, but she wasn't making much progress.  Zev’s hand grabbed her wrist and gave it a gentle tug. "You do not need to struggle so, I am awake, my dear Gray Warden."  He removed his hand and used it to rub his eyes.

"I am so sorry, Zev, I was trying not to wake you."

"Are you well?  Is the baby coming?"  Suddenly, Zev was sitting bolt upright.  Kai laughed at him.  All of her friends kept watching her like hawks.  If she made any kind of motion of distress, they all descended on her asking her if she were in pain, did she need anything, was the baby coming.  The only two who didn't were Sten and Shale.  They would just stare at her until she told them she was OK, and that didn't always convince them, sometimes they would continue to stare.

"I am fine, Zev, no labor pains."  She started to tick off on her fingers, "Just a sore lower back, a constant need to use the privy, heartburn, oh and my lungs are being squeezed while the child kicks my kidneys.  And I swear this infant is going to have me eat the woodwork.  But no, nothing you need to worry about.  Apparently, we have an important visitor and Eamon wants me there.  Go back to sleep, you need it."  Kai did a half roll and grunted as she tried to twist herself upwards over her expanded abdomen.  She felt a hand under her upper arm pulling her forward.  Nimble Zev had come to her side of the bed without making a sound.  Kai looked at him with envy.
Zev laughed, "My dear Gray Warden, you will get your agility back when you no longer look like a child stealing a watermelon." 

"Ugh, thank you so much," Kai gasped as he pulled her to her feet.  She touched his face.  "Now go back to sleep.  You scared me half to death taking so long and you were half frozen.  And Zev, it is too blasted cold for you to be sleeping on top of the covers.  Just get under the bloody duvet from now on."

"Is that an order, my dear Warden?" he asked with a smirk.

"And if I said yes?"  She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Then I would say I love to take orders from beautiful women.  Do we have any rope and perhaps a whi..." she stopped him with a finger tip to his lips.

"Really, I am so pregnant I can hardly move and you are making sexual innuendos?  I don't know whether I should be flattered or disturbed,” Kai laughed at him.

"Disturbed, definitely disturbed," came Alistair's voice in response to her statement.  Considering what you were doing in the dream, you're just as bad, she replied. "Hey-y, that was different."  She could hear him smiling.  Uh huh, sure it was.  She laughed again.

Zev kissed her fingertip, but did not get back in bed.  He pulled out a simple robe, similar to the ones worn by mages, along with some doeskin slippers for her feet and helped her get dressed.  The robe was even more snug around her belly if that were possible.  Any bigger and she would pop.  This infant was going to have broad shoulders and a barrel chest like Alistair, of that she was certain.  She had a momentary flutter of fear.  How was she going to get it out of her?  Oh my, not going there, panic time.  Instead, she concentrated on Zev.

"Zev, I know you will tell everyone about your trip, but are you OK?  Was everything all right?  You took so long, it really frightened me."  Kai watched as he pulled on pants and boots.

"The gold got distributed where it belonged.  Many families will have a good Wintersday and a good Winter, and they know it is thanks to you.  Or at least thanks to the 'Silver Griffon'.  Your idea of doing as the 'Black Fox' did was inspired.  It is a good thing you read so much, no?"  He gave her a reassuring smile and continued, "It took so long because I was caught in a blizzard outside Lake Calenhad and had to stay at The Spoiled Princess for more days than I liked.  Ceffyls are hardy but a blizzard is not good for them either."  Zev tossed off his sleep shirt and put on a cotton shirt, a thick woolen shirt, and a second woolen shirt on top of that one.  Kai suppressed a giggle.


"In fact, Rhia has more sense than most people, and elves apparently.  She started acting strangely and would not stay on the road.  Finally, I just let her go where she pleased.  She bypassed the road, taking a shorter route overland to the lake.  We made it to the Princess just in time."  Zev smiled, "She is very clever, my Rhia; she knew the storm was coming.  I think another storm is following me inward from the Waking Sea.  After the snow started falling more slowly, I went out to see that she was being cared for, and she was all but breaking down the stall door.  She grabbed the bridle in her teeth and shook it at me.  It was obvious she wished to set out.  Her insistence is why I showed up so late last night."

Kai went and hugged him as best she could with her belly in the way.  "I am glad you made it.  Remind me to give Rhia an extra apple as a thank you," Kai smiled at him.  "Shall we go see who this important visitor is?  It’s someone so important they woke us before the sun has come up."  Zev smiled and offered her his arm.

They made their way downstairs to the dining hall of the hunting lodge they were currently using as a safe house.  As Anora's mind seemed to be slipping further and further into insanity, the banns and arls had started to look to Arl Eamon for help.  Only the most trusted of these had been let in on the secret of Kai's being alive and her carrying the Theirin bloodline that could make Anora's spiraling-out-of-control rule collapse.  They offered their homes and hunting lodges and even trusted freeholder's homes as places for her safe houses.  Anora still did not know she was alive, and they meant to keep it that way.

This particular lodge was close enough to Highever that her brother Fergus had been able to come to visit for the Solstice celebration without rousing suspicion.  It had been hard having to stay away from him now that she had him back in her life again, but his visit was making up for it.  She smiled and hugged Zev's arm, thinking that she and Fergus should go out in the snow today and sled down the hill behind the hunting lodge as they had when they were children.  Of course the sled she got on might just sink into the snow and not move.  Perhaps she would just let Fergus sled and she would watch.  Not to mention that all of her very protective friends and Eamon and Teagan would put the kibosh on any such possible dangerous activity.  Kai sighed to herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she and Zev walked through the door of the dining hall to see Eamon and Teagan, as well as her brother, which surprised her.  They were speaking to a figure Kai couldn't see standing on the other side of the doorway.  As she and Zev entered, Fergus came forward to take her hand.  His face didn't look alarmed but it did look...grim?  Zev picked up on that and stayed close in behind her, probably making ready to pull one of his daggers if necessary.

Both Teagan and Eamon also looked worried and nodded in greeting as she came further into the room. Kai turned towards the visitor, seeing a small elven women looking at her.  She was beautiful, and age had only made her more so rather than diminishing or softening her beauty in any way.  Her eyes were a startling dark brown or black.  Kai was drawn to them; most elves seemed to have exotically colored eyes like Zev's amber ones.  But this woman’s eyes were dark pools in her almost unlined skin.  She had dainty, softly tapered ears that kept back her silver white hair.  Kai also noted she was a mage carrying a staff of white wood, well used.  She wore a grey cloak pinned with a brooch with a rampant griffon on it.  A Grey Warden, then.

Kai moved forward, her hand outstretched, "Greetings, Grey Warden.  Since I know Anora has denied the Wardens leave to come to Ferelden, despite her earlier promises, I take it you slipped in?"  Kai smiled.  This woman must have come from Orlais or Weisshaupt.  She was going to guess Orlais as Weisshaupt was a journey of thousands of miles, and she doubted they sent a Warden from so far away simply to see what was going on in Ferelden.  "So they sent someone to find out what has been happening?  I take it you have heard that all the Grey Wardens in Ferelden are dead?" Kai was not about to blow her cover to some stranger just because she was wearing the griffon on her clothes.  Kai watched the mage give a sardonic little twist of her lips. 

"Actually, my fellow Grey Warden, I am here looking for my son, Alistair."

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 10:06 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 22


Kai felt as if she had had the breath knocked out of her, and the room started to spin for a moment.  Fergus,

sensing her shock, tightened his grip on her arm.  She heard her voice from far away, "Your son, Alistair?"  Kai

couldn't quite believe she got the words out.

"Perhaps we all should sit down?  Especially, Kai," Teagan spoke from behind her.  Fergus guided Kai to one of the

benches for the long dining table in the room.  The elven woman went around to the other side to sit across from

Kai.  Zev followed the mage and stood behind her; Kai knew it was his way of keeping an eye on their visitor. 

Mages couldn't cast spells if they couldn't speak.  Kai knew Zev would have the woman's throat slit inside of a

second if she so much as twitched with the beginnings of a casting.

Fergus sat himself next to Kai on her right and Teagan on her left.  Eamon sat next to the Grey Warden mage.  Kai

felt her hands balled up on the table and made a conscious effort to flatten them out, looking at the softly

tapered nails as if they belonged to someone else.  "I have some very bad news for you then, fellow Grey Warden. 

The man you are looking for is dead.  He died a hero, killing the archdemon and saving us from the Blight.  Or did

The Grey not hear of this?"  Kai thought to be as blunt as possible to see the woman's reaction.  She looked at the

elf across from her, whose face remained neutral except for the tears escaping the corners of her eyes.

"It confirms what I had heard around Ferelden.  I knew there were two Gray Wardens against the Blight.  But none

from Orlais were allowed to come in after Loghain took over.  The reports told us Riordan had snuck in, and then we

lost track of him.  We knew that one Gray Warden must have stopped the Blight, as it is only a Warden who can.  But

we have heard nothing further, and Anora ignores our requests for information or to be allowed into Ferelden.  The

reports mentioned one of the Wardens was named Alistair.  That was the name Maric and I gave him, it means

'people’s defender.'” The elf's voice choked, and she looked away for a moment.  "It isn't a common name.  I

thought it might be him.  I had hoped that Riordan, as the senior Warden, would have taken the blow.  I see that is

not the case."  Her tears continued to fall unabated.

"I know not know whether to believe you or not.  I live under a cloud of danger, constantly moving and trying to

keep myself, my child, and those I love alive.  How do I know you aren't some tool sent by the pretty little viper

on the throne?  Wearing a grey cloak with a griffon on it means so very little, and then you throw out a...a name

that you could have heard anywhere in Ferelden?" Kai let one corner of her mouth quirk as the question tapered off.

"Kai..." Eamon began, but he cut off when the woman simply put a hand on his arm.  Kai watched as she reached

beneath the tunic she wore to take out a pendant, identical to the one Kai wore around her neck.

"There are only two of these in all of Thedas.  I had them made especially by a jewelry crafter in Weisshaupt.  I

put one around my infant son's neck and the other I wear, always."  She placed the pendant on the table in front of

Kai's hands.  Kai took off her own pendant, her lips brushing it before she took the other to hold them side by

side.  "If you know what to look for, there is lettering worked into the design.  Mine says 'mathair' or 'mother.' 

His says 'mioruilt' or 'miracle' because he was my miracle."  Kai looked up to see the elf was crying steadily now,

tears pouring down her face making her cheeks wet.  Kai felt her own tears as well.

"She is my mother?  So Goldana's not my sister?  Bloody hell, I am glad I that harpy wasn't related to me after

all," Alistair's voice sounded amazed and relieved at the same time.  He was taking this better than she was.

"Riordan died trying to get the archdemon to the top of Fort Drakon.  I was going to take the final blow, Alistair

stopped me," Kai's voice hitched.  She still couldn't talk about it, even now.  The woman reached over and grasped

her hand, squeezing it.

"Mi' gra, my love," Alistair's voice sounded with regret for her pain.

"Perhaps someone should explain why Alistair, and thus I, myself, have been lied to?"  She directed this in

particular to Eamon, who looked uncomfortable.  Kai could hear the cold anger in her own voice, "Eamon, why did you

lie to Alistair about his mother?"

Eamon looked at his hands, and then at Kai.  "Maric asked me to take care of him.  To raise him."  Kai carefully

schooled her face at this statement, considering how Alistair had been raised.  "His mother, no offense dear lady,

was an elf and a mage and a Gray Warden.  There was a cleaning woman, pregnant with a daughter.  The woman gave

birth, and she and the baby died.  It seemed like the perfect solution. We would simply say that she was the

mother.  If any of the other nobles knew that the mother was a mage and an elf, it would have made more trouble for

Maric.  It would have made it almost impossible for him to rule.  He would have spent his time being twisted around

by any noble trying to use the information against him, and Ferelden would have suffered."
"And I asked Maric not to tell him who his mother was.  That was part of my request," Fiona broke in.

"Perhaps you would like to explain that?" Kai nodded at the woman in front of her.  "Oh, and I don't believe we

have been introduced, how rude, I hope you will forgive me?"  She found herself reverting to her training as a

noble.  It helped her have some control, otherwise she felt she might not be able to handle the emotional

overload.  "I am Kaidana Cousland, your son's lover and mother to his child.  And you are?" Kai smiled.

"Fiona."

"Fiona."  Kai tried the name out as if it were a foreign language.  She felt her lips curving in a smile.  "So,

please tell me the story of how Alistair came to be, since the story he had was not even close."  Fergus just

reached for her hand and held it.

Fiona explained the trip to the Deep Roads, what had happened there, The Architect.  Fiona told her how she and

Maric had come to care for each other, love each other there.  How the taint, for whatever reason, had left her

blood.  How she had found herself pregnant and how Grey Wardens were not allowed to raise children, any more than

the mages at The Circle were allowed to do so.  How she told them she had a good home for him.  How she had taken

him to his father, Maric, and asked him to make sure their son would not be stuck living a life without choices. 

Kai barely held back a cynical laugh at that, considering the choices Eamon made for him.  He was not to be raised

as competition for Cailan to the throne.  Not like Maric, stuck being king when he didn't want it.  Again Kai

almost laughed, How things do go the way we don't want them to.  Not like Fiona’s being first a slave, then a mage,

then a Grey Warden to escape The Circle.  How she had wanted more for her son, and she worried he would not have it

if anyone knew that not only was he Maric's bastard, but also who and what his mother was.  Fiona just looked at

Kai with tears running down her face.
Kai reached out a hand to comfort Fiona, until her mind latched onto something Fiona had said. Kai's fist hit the

table with a loud crack, causing everyone to jump.  "Gray Wardens aren't allowed to raise their own children?  Is

that what I am hearing?  That the Gray Wardens won't let me keep and raise my child?  Kai felt her blood flushing

her face in anger.  This was like no anger she had ever felt; it was a mother bear protecting her cub.  "I am not

about to hand over my child for someone else to raise because the Gray Wardens say so.  I lost Alistair, I will not

lose his baby too.  So, you can go back to Weisshaupt and tell them they can go to hell.  And by the by, my blood

is no longer tainted anymore, so I don't know that I can be considered a proper Gray Warden.

Furthermore, if they try to take my child from me, I will quit the Wardens; and if they come for me, I will flood

Thedas in rivers of their blood!" Kai's face was a mask of fury.

They all stared at her.  It was Fiona who broke the silence.  "I would never allow it.  It was the worst thing I

ever did in my life.  And I am not about to let that happen to my grandchild.  I daresay that the people in this

room wouldn't let it happen, either.  You do have advantages I didn't have.  You are not a mage or an elf.  Have no

fear, daughter."  And Fiona reached for her hand and squeezed it.  Kai returned the pressure, calming herself.

Kai picked up both necklaces and heaved herself up to go and stand by the fireplace, looking into the flames.  She

studied them, and now that she knew what she was looking for, she saw the script easily.  'Miracle,' yes he was, in

so many ways.

"Beloved," was all Alistair said in her ear.  "You are mine."  She smiled and brushed it with her lips again before

she slipped it over her neck and turned her aching lower back to the flames, rubbing the muscles there.  Kai

watched Eamon, Teagan, Fergus and Fiona all speaking quietly together.  She walked back to sit down at the table

next to Fergus once again.  She took Fiona's hand and kissed it before opening it and placing her necklace back in

her hand.

"I am pleased to meet you, mother?" Kai smiled.  I am sorry for my rather rude and abrupt manner, but raising an

army to stop the Blight only to lose...to lose him has been difficult.  Then for someone to show up claiming to be

his mother when that was not the story we were told, well it is a little much to take in.  I ask your forgiveness

for my harsh behavior and my assumption that you meant to make me give up my child."  Kai felt herself flushing

with embarrassment.  Being pregnant really made her emotional.

Fiona seemed to read her thoughts.  "I remember what it was like to be heavy with child.  Your emotions get

very..."

"Heightened?" Kai asked giving a laugh.  She was pleased when Fiona joined in.

"Yes, that is one way to put it."  Fiona smiled.

"Maybe you two would like to sit and talk for a while?  I think Fiona would like to hear about him." Teagan just

smiled at them both.  Ah, Teagan always so thoughtful, Kai smiled at him.  Fergus helped her rise from the bench

this time and led her to one of the big cushioned chairs sitting in front of the fire.  Zev brought more pillows to

put behind her aching back, but she found she had to get up again before she barely sat down.  Her back was just

aching so badly and sitting was not comfortable at all.  She stood and put her back to the fireplace again, hoping

the heat would ease the muscles.

Kai could see the pink edge of the dawn starting outside the windows.  Before she could say anything it was as if a

fist hit her in the stomach and left her gasping.  "Kai!" Fergus yelled.  Zev grabbed one of her arms.  She felt

water running down her legs and pooling at her feet.

"Um, Fiona, I think we are going to have to postpone our chat."  But Fiona was already gesturing for the men in the

room to come and help get Kai back upstairs.  Fiona just put her shoulder under Kai's arm, while Zev propped her up

on the other side, and they began walking her out of the dining hall.

"Looks like I showed up just in time to see my grandchild born," she smiled at Kai.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 10:17 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 23

"Push, Kai!" Wynne's voice urged her as a guttural cry escaped Kai's lips.  She had been at this since sunrise, and

it had been dark again for hours.  The storm that Zev had said was following him had arrived.  Kai could see the

snow in a little pile on the floor in front of the window she had opened so she could stand and get some relief. 

Sweat as pouring off of her, slicking her skin.  She was sitting on a birthing stool while Fiona and Leli and a

female elven servant all took turns letting her lean again them or giving her words of encouragement.

The room had been especially set up for this purpose.  It was devoid of any rugs.  It had a bed and one small table

where a pitcher and a bowl of water sat along with clean cloths and a cup for Kai to drink from.  There were a

couple of chairs for the women in the room with her and the birthing stool.  It had room for Kai to walk, which

Wynne said was essential; gravity helped pull the babe down and made it easier for the mother.

Another contraction hit her, and she wondered what constituted easier.  It wasn't so much the pain, after all she

had been shot with arrows and crossbow bolts, stabbed, sliced, burned, frozen, crushed, hit with lightning, and had

all manner of bones broken.  She had even been poisoned.  There were varying degrees of pain, and she figured she

had probably run into most.  The pain was livable.  It was the intense pressure coupled with the pain.  It was as

if her body were trying to squeeze her in half, and yet the pressure kept building.

It had started off easily enough with lower back pain, which while uncomfortable was not that bad.  The squeezing

and pressure started in the early stages of her labor, but she had time to rest between contractions. To walk, to

even eat and drink a little, play chess, or read a book.  Leli had played her lute and sung songs.  Occasionally,

one of the others would come by to check on her, say hello.  Her brother Fergus had come in with snow drizzled with

honey from outside, something they had as a treat as children.  But as time wore on, the contractions had come in

waves closer and closer together, like the tide coming in from the ocean.

"Leliana, get me another wet cloth please," Fiona directed the pretty bard sitting in the corner strumming a soft

tune on her lute.  The bard started to dip a cloth into the basin, when Fiona stopped her.  "Leli, use some of that

snow over there," the mage waved toward the pile in front of the open window.  "It will be cooler, and I think Kai

would like it better."  The bard complied and handed her the cloth with snow cupped in it.  The cold felt divine on

Kai's hot skin.
"OK, time to walk some more I think, young lady."  Wynne gripped Kai under one arm and pulled her up.  Fiona got on

her other side.

It was getting harder to walk, the pressure seemed to be pressing down on her legs and her hips.  Another

contraction had her bowing up forward, crouching as it rolled in.  Kai felt the cold stones under her feet as she

tried to grip them with her toes.  Her whole body wanted to contract everywhere.  Sweat poured into her eyes, and

her breath was coming in bursts.

Kai was exhausted, even though she had kept up with her rogue training.  She had stayed active during her pregnancy

and had managed to do so up until the eighth month or so.  She was not in bad shape by any stretch of the

imagination, but this seemed to be taking an awfully long time, longer than was healthy.  She had been at this for

hours upon hours.

They put her back on the u-shaped birthing stool as another contraction rolled in.  Kai felt more pressure as Wynne

checked her progress.  Kai didn't want to know; it was enough that she was being squeezed in half.  Kai caught the

worried look Wynne flashed Fiona.  "Wynne, is the baby all right?" Kai tried to keep panic from her voice.

Wynne's hand glowed with magic, and she placed it on Kai's swollen belly.  "The babe is fine, the heartbeat is

still strong," Wynne put a cool hand on Kai's forehead brushing back sweaty locks of hair.  "But the contractions

don't seem to be moving it further down.  You need to push with them as hard as you can.  I know you are tired."

Kai bowed forward again as her womb contracted, and she tried to push along with it, but she was so tired she felt

her muscles trembling with exhaustion.  "Leli, go to Zev; get one of his sharpest daggers." Leliana's pale skin

went whiter.

"You can't mean to..." Leli couldn't finish.  Her eyes were wide.

"I do mean it, go!"  Kai gasped at her as another contraction squeezed her causing her breath to expel in a gust.

"That could kill you.  We may not be able to perform enough healing magic to save you," Fiona's voice came from

behind her tinged with concern.

"I know that, but I am getting more tired by the minute.  I want to use it as a last resort, believe me.  But, the

baby is all that is important.  Do you understand?" Kai pleaded with them as yet another spasm hit her.  They both

just nodded.

And so it went for another hour or maybe two, it was hard for Kai to tell.  Her world had narrowed in focus to

contractions and pushing.  Nothing else existed.  Wynne checked again.  While she had made progress, it was not

much.  "Wynne, get the dagger."  Kai just leaned against Leliana, who was giving Fiona a break.

"No, my love, please wait!" Alistair's voice pleaded with her.  "You must not!"

"My beloved, Wynne and your mother may not keep me alive, but the babe must live.  If they don't save me, they save

it, and I will be with you again in the Fade," Kai said into her own head.

"No!  You must not, you must raise our baby.  I don't want it to wind up raised like me," his voice was crying and

begging her in her head,  "Please, wait."

"Ali, I am undone; I can't keep on," she responded tiredly.  She wanted to comfort him, she could hear him sobbing,

and it was breaking her heart.  "It will be all right," she told him.

Wynne had taken the dagger from Leliana, and Fiona's hands glowed ready with healing magic.  Alistair's voice just

kept pleading,“No” into her ear.  "Do it, Wynne."  Kai looked her in the face and smiled a reassuring smile,

nodding.  Just then a familiar voice rang out from behind Wynne.

"Oh yes, do gut her like a fish.  ‘Tis always her way, to sacrifice herself, even for the fool Templar's brat.  Do

you suppose it will be as stupid as its father?"  All eyes turned toward the window where a beautiful brunette with

the golden eyes of a hawk stood frowning.

"Hello, Morrigan," Wynne's acerbic tone greeted the witch.  "Just like a bad coin, you always show up."

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 10:29 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 24


Kai looked at Morrigan. So many emotions – love, happiness, anger, guilt, surprise – all collided and she couldn’t

hold onto any of them as another contraction bowed her in half.  Morrigan merely smiled a cold smile at Wynne and

the rest of the group.

"I never did comprehend what you saw in your idiot Gray Warden, save that you told me he was good in bed, Kai.  But

really, you could have slept with him without letting him get you with his progeny as well. There are ways of

preventing it."  Morrigan leaned herself against the wall crossing her arms and her ankles, her face drawing up in

a disdainful grin.

"Morrigan, where have you been?  Why didn't you stay..." Kai began, but another spasm effectively cut her off as

she focused on trying to push and breath.

"I didn't stay because I didn't want to.  ‘Tis enough, to be sure.  I owed that fool and you nothing.  You turned

down my perfectly reasonable offer as repayment for my mother.  A child was all I required in return.  It was up to

you to take it.  Why should I stay for the likes of you or that besotted cretin you chose to tie yourself to?" 

Morrigan continued to look on with cold golden eyes.

"You always were a cold one, Morrigan.  Did you come just to insult Kai, the woman you called friend?  The woman

who helped you against your mother?" Wynne's voice was icy.  "You always had a tongue as sharp as any blade,

witch."

"Oh ho, we are going to discuss blades are we, old woman?" Morrigan gave the slightest nod toward the dagger in

Wynne's hand.  "How interesting since you are the one about to gut her."

Fiona stayed silent, looking between Morrigan and Kai, her face neutral.

"You are so...so evil!" Leliana spit at the witch standing before them.

"Ah, so the tongue-tied bard finally puts her two coppers in?  My, my I am so-o hurt.  Really, you are going to

make me weep," Morrigan mocked the red head and wiped away an imaginary tear.  "So, Kai once again makes the big

decisions, the hard choices, unlike the fool Templar, a man with few brains and no balls at all.  Although, he

apparently had balls enough to get you fat with his idiot seed.  Otherwise, he would not have left the saving of

the world to an untrained junior Warden and then taken the coward's way out.  He couldn't live without his precious

Kai so he killed himself," Morrigan purred.

"Stop insulting Alistair!" Kai could feel the heat in her face as her anger rose.  When the contraction hit, Kai

bore down.

"Stop insulting him?  I only speak the truth.  The man was not worth the energy his parents put into making him. 

To be sure, the world is a better place without him in it."  Morrigan’s smile played on her lips as she looked at

Kai.

"You cold-hearted ****!" Kai yelled as yet another spasm hit her womb.

"’Cold-hearted ****’ am I?  I am not the one who had the means to save the man she loved but was too arrogant and

selfish to use it."  Morrigan peeled herself away from the wall and slunk forward the way a hunting cat moves. 

"’Twas not I who let the man I supposedly loved with all of my heart and soul, my very being," she mocked, "die on

top of a tower when I could have saved him.  ‘Tis you who are the 'cold-hearted ****' Kai, not I."  Morrigan put

one hand to her chest delicately and smiled a slow smile with one corner of her mouth quirked up to go with her

raised eyebrow.

"I am going to kill you, Morrigan.  I am going to wrap my hands around that skinny throat of yours and squeeze

until that viper's tongue pops out from between your teeth and then I am going to cut it out and wear it as a

necklace!" Kai shouted at her through yet another contraction.

"Really, if you are going to do that, then you had best push that fool Templar's flotsam into the world. 

Otherwise, I will take great pleasure in watching Wynne cut you open and take it from you.  Perhaps it can be

raised by Arl Eamon just like its idiot father."  Morrigan smiled more widely and crossed her arms in front of her

chest as she stood before Kai.

Kai bore down as hard as she could, a guttural scream leaving her lips, as her fury drove her.  Kai felt the

pressure increase then recede as her child slipped from her.  Wynne took the tiny infant, cleaned out its mouth,

and gently thumped the babe's tiny feet.  The little face turned bright red as the mouth opened letting out a

thunderous squall which reminded Kai of Alistair's war cry.  Maybe it would be a shield warrior, too.  Kai leaned

back against Leli, relief and love swamping her.  She thought she had already loved someone as much as she could

with Alistair, but she apparently had so much more to give, it surprised her.

"It's a girl."  Wynne just smiled at Kai while she put the wet and bloody babe on Kai's chest.  Wynne took string

and tied off the umbilical cord so she could cut it.

"Well, I was praying and hoping that would work," Wynne looked up at Morrigan and smiled.

"So you figured it out, did you?" Morrigan looked pointedly at Wynne.

"Well, you aren't a frog are you?" Wynne laughed at Morrigan.

Morrigan only laughed and waved a hand dismissively at Wynne.

"You did that on purpose?" Kai whispered as she continued to look at her tiny daughter who had stopped crying and

whose eyes had opened to look at hers.  The babe had dark down on her head and the blue eyes of a newborn.  Kai

wondered what color they would be later.  She felt herself smiling through tears of joy.  It all threatened to

overwhelm her.

"Mi' gra, she is beautiful; I am so proud of you," Alistair's voice spoke into her ear, tinged with awe, and love.

"’Tis true, you always did have a temper.  ‘Twas easy enough to put it to use."  Morrigan walked forward and knelt

down in front of Kai, actually reaching out to touch the baby lying on her chest.

"Aw, she is so cute!" Leliana exclaimed.  "I can't wait until she is old enough to go shopping for shoes!" Morrigan

snorted under her breath.  Fiona just put a hand on the baby's head and stroked it.
 
"I think she looks like Alistair," Kai said looking at Fiona, who had tears running down her cheeks.
 
"More's the pity," came Morrigan's retort, but she smiled a genuine smile and shrugged when Kai looked at her.  The

baby just used her balled up fists to wipe at her face.

"I think someone needs her first bath."  And Fiona picked up her granddaughter, walking to the table to fill the

basin with water that had been warming over the fire.

Kai just sat grinning, and then she felt as if her body was being squeezed in half again.  She grunted as her

breath was cut off.  Leliana grabbed her shoulders. "Wynne what is the matter with her?"

Wynne bent down in front of Kai next to Morrigan and looked at the witch.

"It looks like the fool Templar got her not with just one babe, but two."  Morrigan’s mouth twisted in a wry smile.

"I hope you have a Plan C to help her, I don't think getting her angry will work this time."  Wynne and Morrigan

looked at each other.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 10:40 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 25

Morrigan reached into a pouch on her belt and pulled out a small bottle.  "Plan C is this.  It is a poison in large

amounts but in tiny doses gives one great energy and stamina.  But you have to know how much to use, and we don't

want the babe affected.  ‘Tis a double edged sword.  No?"

"We can't use that, if it is a poison, we could kill them both!" Wynne's voice rose a decibel.

"’Tis better than the dagger, no?  For that will surely kill her, even with all the mages in the room."  Morrigan

looked at Wynne.  "’Tis Kai who should decide.  Dagger or potion?"

Kai knew that the underlying question was also whether or not Kai trust Morrigan as she used to.  This was a test

of faith and love.  Kai went with her gut.  Morrigan had been there so many times, had come now in her hour of

need, though she knew not how Morrigan had known.  But the act that sealed it for Kai was that Morrigan had shown

up at Alistair's funeral.

"Let's use the potion."  Kai looked at Morrigan, hoping the witch saw the love and trust shining in her eyes.  She

had missed her “sister.”  She hadn't realized how much until now.  Kai expected Alistair's voice to protest, but it

remained silent.

Morrigan took a deep breath, unstopped the bottle and dipped her pinky into its depths.  With the barest hint of a

liquid shimmering on her fingertip, she bent forward and kissed Kai on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "If this

kills you, my sister, I shall drink the rest."  Kai looked into yellow eyes that glistened with pain, loneliness,

regret, sorrow, worry, and love.  Kai had only a moment to register all of this before the shutters went down in

Morrigan's eyes again, and she felt the sweet concoction brushed across her lips.

Kai didn't know what the potion was called or what it was made from, and it was probably best she didn't know.  It

was as if someone had started a storm inside her.  It was like the electrical current that crackled in the air when

lightening hit.  Kai felt as if she could throw Sten or even Shale over the hunting lodge's roof.  When the

contractions came, she found herself bearing down as if she had just started, not as if she had been at it all day

and into the night.  Her womb convulsed, and she rode it like swimming on waves in the ocean.  Even as dangerous as

this potion supposedly was, she almost wished she had had it from the beginning.  Eventually, the pressure she was

now familiar with built up again.

"One last push, Kai, come on, my child, you can do it!" Wynne's voice called to her as if from a distance.  Kai

found herself growling as she bore down hard.  The pressure built and lessened as her second child slipped into the

world.

Wynne did the same procedure with this babe as its sibling.  She cleared its mouth, and thumped its feet, but no

cry came this time.  Wynne gave a little giggle and thumped it again.  Still nothing. "Wynne?" Kai felt her heart

start to beat so hard in fear she thought it would burst through her rib cage and fall out of her chest to flop

around the room Her breath constricted in her throat.  Wynne only waved a hand at her.

"It is all right, child, this little one apparently doesn't feel the need to cry like his sister."  Wynne simply

smiled and placed the second babe on her chest so she could tie off the cord.

"Did you say ‘his’?"  Kai looked at her second child with the same awe and love she had the first.  Two in one?  A

girl and a boy?  How could she be so lucky?  Her son looked at her the same way her daughter had, but he had a more

serious look on his face.  Kai felt a happy little flush in saying that even in her own head – her daughter, her

son.  Then, the babe chirped at her and put his tiny fist in his mouth.  His little head had fuzz the color of

Alistair's, but even squished from his journey into this world, he reminded her of Fergus and her father.  His dark

eyes looked like Fiona's.  He chirped again as if he wanted to tell her all about what had happened, and Kai

reached for him, his little fist grabbing her finger.

"Ah, my beloved, I am the happiest man to ever live, or be dead," Alistair's voice laughed in her ear.  It was a

giddy sound, and she found her own laugh echoing it.

"Let's get Kai and the new arrival washed off, and then we can probably get them all safely put to bed." Wynne's

brisk voice brought everyone out of whatever thoughts they were in.  Morrigan helped Kai wash off with a cloth and

water.  It wasn't as good as a soak in a tub, but it made Kai feel better.  That and a clean dry shift made her

feel almost human again.  Morrigan tucked her in and sat on the covers next to her.  Fiona and Wynne brought the

babies over to the bed swaddled and wrapped up tightly in blankets, which seemed to have soothed them to sleep. 

They placed them between Morrigan and herself.

Kai was so tired, but her system was still singing from the potion.  And she couldn't stop looking at the little

faces in the bed with her.  Tears poured down her cheeks.  Wynne just kissed her and stroked her still wet hair

before stepping back.  Fiona too came forward and looked once again at her grandchildren, before stroking Kai's

cheek and smiling a sad smile.  Leliana too gave Kai a hug and a kiss before addressing Morrigan. "I am sorry I

called you evil."  Morrigan only raised her hand in a shooing motion.  The three women all walked out of the room,

closing the door behind them.
Kai looked at Morrigan to find the witch looking at the twins with love and sadness in her eyes.  She had reached

out a hand and was stroking the tiny cheek of first one, then the other.  Kai caught something glistening on

Morrigan's cheek, a tear?  Kai reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Morrigan, I have missed you. Sister.  I am sorry I made you feel unwanted by refusing your offer.  I just couldn't

take the chance on that Old God coming back to bite us all in the arse.  It was the most painful decision I have

ever made, and for so many reasons.  I lost you and Alistair to it."  Kai felt tears again running down her cheeks.

Morrigan just grabbed her hand and held it to her own cheek, "You have hardly lost the fool Templar completely." 

And Kai knew Morrigan did not mean the twins.

"You know about my hearing him?  That he talks to me from the Fade?" Kai felt her eyes getting wide and her

eyebrows shooting up.  She didn't think anyone knew about that.

"Ugh, that annoying man!  He came crying to me in the Fade while I dreamt.  He babbled in his usual idiot way and

would not let me alone.  Kept saying you were going to use a dagger and kill yourself.  It took me forever to get

him to calm down and to explain.  When he did, I turned myself into an owl and flew here as fast as I could. 

Fool."  Morrigan's voice was tinged with annoyance and an underlying affection that would be hard for anyone else

to hear if they didn't know her.  "And now you are stuck with me again, so it seems you have not lost as much as

you thought.  Unless you wish me to go?" Morrigan's voice held both hope and despair.

"I have you back," Kai smiled at her.  "But, why did you leave?"  Morrigan looked away.
"I always told you love is a weakness.  When you refused my offer, part of me admired you for your strength, and

another was angry at you.  I thought you were being a fool.  I knew in my bones that Riordan was not going to be

the one to make the sacrifice.  And I knew, my sister, you would be the one.  And I felt fear.  I have never felt

fear before."

"You felt fear?  For whom?"  Kai looked Morrigan’s profile as the glow from the fireplace lit the planes and

contours of it.

"For me.  I felt fear because I could not bear to watch you die.  You are the only person who had given of

themselves to me, asking or demanding nothing in return.  You are the only person who wanted me around for me.  My

own mother wanted me as a sack to fill."

"And still does, no doubt."  Kai reached out and grabbed Morrigan’s hand.
"No doubt."  Morrigan squeezed back.

"Men always looked at me and just wanted this body.  The Templars wanted me because I am an apostate.  Only you

have ever loved me, my lack of social graces and all.  And I realized that what Wynne said was true, the old

biddy."

"What did Wynne say?"  Kai had heard Wynne give advice on many topics.

"She said I would come to the end of my life and no one would mourn me.  I knew the only person who would mourn me

was you, and you were going to be dead on top of Fort Drakon.  So, I left.  I could not watch the only person who

had loved me and whom I had loved back, die.  Love is a weakness, so I ran.  It would seem the fool Templar and I

have more in common than I thought.  He couldn't live without you and neither could I."  Kai watched another tear

slide down Morrigan’s cheek.  Kai reached up and brushed it away.

"And yet, you returned.  You returned for Alistair's funeral.  And you returned to help me.  I would say it is what

we do with love that makes it strong or weak.  You are one of the strongest people I know."  Kai stroked her cheek

and smiled.

"Ugh, sleep now, or you may annoy me and make me wonder why I returned."  And she put Kai's hand across the twins

and stood, smiling down at her.  Kai had only a moment to groan to herself as the potion seemed to be wearing off,

and she felt a familiar blackness engulfing her.  And she had been doing so well, too.  She hadn't gone comatose in

months!  Sod it, the others were going to kill her for sure.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 22 mai 2010 - 10:50 .

[Avaraen]

I've really enjoyed this story on FF, but yeah, the formatting issues with copy/paste on these boards are annoying to fix, eh? Something that might help you is to paste your text into Notepad, make sure word wrap is turned off, copy the text back out of Notepad and then post it - that should strip all the funky formatting that gets imported from word processing software.

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL that is exactly what I did to fix the first three chapters! ROFL! But I thank you for following it in FF and for posting here to help me! Big *hugs.* And for Shadow of Light Dragon too. I have bugged the tar out of her, the poor sweetie.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 26


 Kai woke up to gray murky light coming through the bedroom windows.  She was still in the birthing room, so maybe

she hadn't done the “let's go comatose” routine she seemed so fond of, for which she was extremely grateful.  She

didn't think the others would be able to tolerate pouring broth down her throat again.  She rolled over to see the

twins both awake and making little chirping noises as they tried to suck on Zev's fingers.  Apparently, he had

taken Morrigan's place sometime in the night.  He was laying under, Maker finally, the covers while leaning on one

elbow while watching them.  Kai took a moment to enjoy watching one of her best friends in the world with a look of

awe and wonder on his usually guarded face. 

"I can't believe they're mine, either."  Kai watched him start as he had not heard her rouse.

"I can, they are beautiful like their mother," Zev smiled at her.

"On that we can completely agree," Alistair's voice held love and pride.  "I'm glad I got Morrigan to come.  I

didn't think she would, since we never liked each other.  I may have to change my mind on that now.  Not a raging

****, just a ****."  Alistair laughed.

"She will be heartbroken to hear it I am sure," Kai retorted with a mental smile of her own.

"Kai, I...," Zev voice cracked.  "I am glad you did not use my dagger after all, dear friend."  And Zev touched her

cheek.  She had such good friends, how blessed she was.  She knew what it must have cost Zev to hand the blade over

to Leliana, knowing what it was for.

"I am glad we didn't use it either, Zev."  She put her hand over his on her cheek and gave him a smile.

"I think they are hungry, no?  I will fetch Wynne or Fiona, since this is your first try at this?" Zev threw back

the covers and got out of bed to get dressed.  Before leaving to fetch Wynne or Fiona, he gently pulled her up and

piled pillows behind her back so she could sit up.  She felt as if her body had been beaten with a pillow with

rocks in it.  Zev kissed her forehead and left the room.

Feeding babies was quite a learning experience.  Kai was so grateful that she had Fiona and Wynne helping her, or

she didn't know what she would have done.  The twins could have starved before she figured it out.  Kai did have a

moment of intense sadness that her own mother was not the one helping her, Maker that was difficult.  This sadness

was the only blight on an otherwise very blissful and happy moment.

When it seemed the little ones had had their fill, been burped, changed and re-wrapped in blankets only to fall

asleep once again, Wynne had suggested that Kai get dressed and walk downstairs.  It was Winter Solstice, and by

Wynne's calculations the twins had arrived on and little after midnight today. So, it was a birthday and a holiday

all in one.  The others were all downstairs waiting to see her and the babies and to celebrate.

Kai put on the same sort of simple woolen robe she had been wearing since her belly got too big to be comfortable

in leggings and a tunic.  That and doeskin slippers for her feet, and she was ready to go.  She leaned on Wynne

taking careful steps, as she just felt tender all over.  Fiona followed carrying one baby in each arm.

She could smell the wonderful smells filling the hunting lodge from the kitchen, and they made her realize just how

hungry she was.  She hadn't eaten much since yesterday morning, and her stomach grumbled to let her know it.  They

made their way downstairs to the dining hall where she had been introduced to Fiona.

The hall had been decorated with evergreen branches and holly.  Candles glowed and the fire roaring in the

fireplace kept out the chill of the snow still falling outside the windows of the lodge, making faint hissing

noises as the flakes brushed against the glass. She walked in the doorway to see those she loved, her extended

family.  They were all here.  It made her heart swell.  She just wanted to grab this moment when all their eyes

turned towards her, and she could look on each beloved face.

Her brother came forward first and caught her in a big bear hug.  "If I had known that having a little sister was

going to scare the years off of me, I would have told Mother and Father to adopt a Mabari." She could feel him

grinning into her hair.

"Ah, but then you wouldn't get to play doting uncle, now would you?" Kai snuggled into his chest.
"Always a catch."  He laughed and grabbed her chin tilting her face upwards so he could look her in the eye.  "I am

so proud of you, little sister."  He kissed her before releasing her to help her sit in one of the big chairs by

the fire.  Kai laughed, it was the same chair they had tried to sit her in before, but this time she was able to

settle into it.  Fergus covered her legs with a blanket, and Zev put pillows behind her back yet again.

Fiona sat in the chair across from her as she had done just yesterday.  Really, just yesterday?  It felt much

longer to Kai.  Oghren came and looked at each infant and turned to her, "Why is it that all newborns look like

old, bald dwarves?  This calls for a celebration, Warden; let's bring out a keg and some mugs!  Come on, 'Uncle

Fergus!'"  Oghren smacked Fergus on the back before winking and walking away towards the kitchens.  Fergus shrugged

at her and grinned before following the dwarf with Zev quietly slipping in behind.

Shale came next and put a giant stone finger out with surprising gentleness to touch each baby.  "It has done well,

I think, for something squishy."  And with that Shale put herself behind Fiona's chair in a sort of guard stance.

Sten came next and looked down at them and then at Kai.  "Kadan, you have done well, but I am not surprised."  He

simply stood with his hand on her chair.  Leliana bounced up and kissed Kai with a big smacking kiss then wrapped

her arms around Sten, who was too taken aback to do anything but grumble under his breath.

Wynne placed herself next to Leli who was still gripping Sten, and he seemed to be, if not comfortable with the

bard's hug, at least getting used to it.  Argus, her Mabari, gently snuffled the little bundles and quietly woofed

at Kai.  "Thanks, Argus, I think they are great too."  She patted him before he lay down in front of the fire.  It

was Morrigan who walked to Kai's chair and sat herself on the floor next to it, settling with the boneless grace of

a cat.  She said nothing, she just tilted her head to lean on the arm of the chair, and Kai stroked her hair.

Teagan spoke next, "May I say, they are beautiful like you, dear lady?".  He took her hand and brushed it with his

lips, casting a look of longing? at her.  Oh, boy.  Teagan had been very attentive and caring, and he seemed to

want more from her.  She was going to have to do something about that.  He deserved a person who could give him her

whole heart.  Kai's heart was already given, she would only disappoint them both.  She gave an internal sigh. 

However, this was a holiday, and that problem could wait for another day.  Today was for living, laughter, and

love, as the saying on her family's garden gate went.

Eamon came and looked at both babies, touching each gently.  He looked at Kai and smiled.  Isolde had followed her

husband but asked if she might hold one of them.  When Kai nodded, Fiona let her take one of the twins.  Kai could

see the longing on Isolde's face and knew that Isolde was missing her own son, Connor, who had been sent to the

Mages’ Circle for training.  Kai now understood why Isolde did what she did and why she wanted to keep her son with

her.  Kai didn't think she could bear to part with her children, either.  Kai made a mental note to tell Isolde

again how much she appreciated her saving her with the Ashes and how she understood the woman more.  Apparently,

the darkspawn would be holding ballroom dances in the Deep Roads, Kai gave a mental snort.
Fergus and Oghren returned toting a couple of kegs, and Zev followed with a tray of wine, mugs, and... cookies. 

Kai laughed.  It was all so wonderful, like old times, except they weren't stuck outdoors in tents.  Everyone was

here even if not in physical form.

"Come to the Fade in your dreams tonight, and I will show you physical," came Alistair's teasing voice. Letch, she

told him, but his voice made her tingle with love.

Fergus and Oghren proceeded to pour mugs of ale or wine.  Wynne snatched one mug of ale and pressed it into Kai's

hands.  When she raised an eyebrow in question, Wynne simply told her the hops in beer were good for milk for

growing babies.

It was Morrigan who broke the silence.  "I see you all staring at me, I am not blind.  Nor am I a dream from the

Fade.  Yes, I have returned and yes, I mean to stay.  So do not let your eyes linger over long, I will not be

ogled," Morrigan spoke as Wynne handed her some wine.

"Since the swamp witch came back and helped the Warden, I have no problem with not squishing its head like a

lemon.  But I will keep an eye on it as it can apparently turn into a bird.  If I see one feather, then squi-ssh,"

Shale growled from behind Fiona's chair.  Sten merely touched Morrigan briefly on the head before Leliana bent down

and wrapped her arms around Morrigan's neck and hugged her like she had hugged Sten.  Morrigan's face registered

annoyance, but her hand came up to pat one of the bard's arms encircling her neck.

"Oh, I am so glad we are all together again!" Leli wiggled with glee, causing Morrigan to roll her eyes and snort. 

Kai figured she should make introductions to Fergus who had not met the witch yet.
"Fergus, may I introduce a really good friend, Morrigan.  If it weren't for her, I might not be sitting here, and

not just because of yesterday, either.  Morrigan, my brother Fergus."  Kai pointed to her brother.

Fergus bent down to kiss Morrigan's hand.  "Then I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my little sister, dear

lady."

"Did the witch actually blush?" Alistair's voice sounded incredulous.  "Oh, my!"  Kai merely laughed at him, but it

was something to think about.  Morrigan seemed at a loss for words or even for a dismissive motion, she simply

nodded.  Kai cast a sideways glance at Fergus and Morrigan, smiling to herself.

Kai was roused from her musings when Oghren's gruff voice broke the silence.  "So, what are you going to name the

little ankle biters, Warden?"  Kai did a check with Alistair, and all he had to say was “perfect.”  "My son is

Duncan Bryce Maric Theirin, and his sister, if this is ok with their grandmother, will be Fiona Eleanore Theirin." 

Kai looked at Fiona for confirmation.

"I would be honored," Fiona's voice broke as tears formed, but she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Well a toast, then, to the little pike twirler’s and the Warden's progeny!" And with that Oghren raised his mug,

downed it and belched, wiping his face with his sleeve.  Everyone looked at him for a moment and then laughed. 

“Cheers!” resounded across the hall, and they drank a toast to the newest members of the Theirin line.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 23 mai 2010 - 10:35 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 27

 
Winter had come in with a howl and a flurry following Zev in from the Waking Sea, settling in on the twins' birth,

and it was but one of many such storms that would keep them bound to the hunting lodge until almost all of the

month of the Moon of Snow's Flowers had gone.  It was both a blessing and a curse.  It gave Kai and her extended

family plenty of time with the new arrivals.  Giving her, in particular, a chance to play “mommy” and bond with her

little ones.  Plus, Anora could do no mischief with all the snow.  But the other side of that blade, the weather

also meant Kai and her cohorts could do nothing to help the people of Ferelden by playing the Silver Griffon.  So,

they tried to make the best of  the situation and enjoy each others' company.  They were able to forget, for a

time, the dangerous world outside.

Kai put her time indoors to good use, getting back into shape by learning Zev's Antivan Crow skills and even

Leliana's bard skills.  She had plenty of time to hone her rogue skills and limber up her body again by teaching

Zev the unarmed martial arts style she learned from a follower of the Qun who had visited Highever once.  That and

breastfeeding two babies with appetites like Alistair's made her almost as thin as she had been when she was in a

coma for two weeks.  This situation made Wynne nag at her to eat more, which was something that secretly pleased

the mage.

Zev had made these training sessions of utmost importance, as she was the head of the growing new group of spies

and assassins for Ferelden called “The Scath,” which meant “shadows” or “shades.”  The group was meant to be spies

like the bards of Orlais rather than killers like the Crows.  Not that the bards were squeamish about killing, but

the Crows were almost nothing but assassins.  Zev had said that both talents were necessary, so he and Leliana

trained the Scath recruits together, including those volunteers at the lodge who were stuck in the snow with them. 

Her title, as the leader, was Scathach, or “The Shadowy One.”  When Zevran had proposed this, she had laughed and

teased him that it was quite literary and poetic, and he had no reason to say she was the only one who ever read

too much.

Some of the Scath had infiltrated the castle at Denerim as servants before the big storm, and its subsequent

smaller sisters, had hit.  Of course, they had had no word from these Scath, nor had they been able to get any word

to them.  So when the first Snowdrops thrust their green shoots through the snow, they knew that Spring was on its

way.

When the weather had stayed sunny for a week with no overcast days, Zev had taken off for Denerim once again to

check on the Scaths there.  The rest of them moved from the hunting lodge to Redcliffe.  They had put Kai and the

twins in Connor's old room, and Isolde had even been able to pull out some of his old baby clothes, nappies, and

toys.  Staying at Redcliffe brought back all sorts of memories for Kai, including her last night making love with

Alistair here before they had marched on Denerim to slay the Archdemon.  Now that she thought of it, it was

probably the night the twins were conceived.  It was a painful place for her, and so she spent most of her time in

the village, walking around with the twins, now three months old.  The exception was “mommy's day off,” which gave

Kai a little time out from being a mother.  Kai had protested this at first, but Wynne had said such time away was

necessary.  Truthfully, Kai had found it did help her keep her perspective when the twins woke her in the night.

This particular day, Teagan was visiting, as he seemed to do more and more lately.  Kai really was going to have to

find a way to let the man down easily, if she could.  She had no desire to hurt him.  He was a handsome man and a

good man, and at times she was tempted.  It was hard only seeing Alistair in the Fade, in her dreams.  Not that

dream sex wasn't wonderful, but it always left her real body achy when she was back on this plane.  Teagan would

make a good father, but he deserved more.  He would expect to have someone who could give of themselves as he would

give of himself, completely.  Kai knew that wasn't possible for her.  Unfortunately, her reticence didn't seem to

stop Teagan from trying.

They were walking around the lake together in companionable silence.  Kai had stopped to watch the wind waking

waves across the water.  "Kai."  She sensed Teagan turning towards her, she thought to say something more but

instead she found his hand cupping her cheek as he bent forward to place his lips on hers.  She had a momentary

sense of panic, when bless the Maker, they were interrupted by a female voice.

"My lady?  Warden?"  A pretty young blonde woman was calling to her.  Teagan dropped his hand as if it were on fire

and jumped guiltily.  Kai just looked down a moment, trying not to let Teagan see her relief.  The young woman

looked familiar though it took her a moment to recognize her.  It was Kaitlyn.  Kai had looked for her little

brother Bevin the day before one of the nightly attacks of undead on the village.  She had found Bevin hiding in

the closet in their home.  He had wanted to use the family sword and fight, to be brave, but it was too big for

him.  Kai had convinced him to go back to Kaitlyn, and he had given her the key to a chest to fetch the sword.  It

was a fine blade, and Kai had paid Kaitlyn for it.  She had thought Kaitlyn left Redcliffe to go to family in the

city.
"Kaitlyn!  How are you?  I thought you had gone to Denerim."  Kai hugged the young woman.
"I was going to, my lady, but Redcliffe is our home.  Once you killed off the darkspawn, Bevin and I came back.  We

opened up a refinery here with the money you gave us.  And because of you, we are now helping those in need under

Anora's rule.  I could do no less to honor your example," Kaitlyn beamed at her.

"Kai is quite the influence on us all it seems."  Teagan flashed a smile at Kai, before turning to Kaitlyn.  "You

look familiar, my lady. Have we met?"  Kaitlyn's eyes got very bright and she blushed, her cheeks getting more pink

than the chill wind would account for.

"My brother and I were in the Chantry under your brave keeping, ser, when Redcliffe was being attacked."  Kaitlyn

held out her hand, and Teagan took it and brushed his lips over it.  Kai noticed Kaitlyn blushed even more, and she

seemed to be breathing faster.

"It seems, Ban Teagan, I am not the only one to make an impression."  Kai smiled at Kaitlyn, who looked down at her

toes.

"Ban Teagan was so brave and comforting in such a frightening time.  Just seeing him there watching out for us made

us feel safe when all the fighting was going on outside."  Teagan blushed and looked flattered and embarrassed.

"I assure you, dear lady, it is Kai who deserves all your praise."  Teagan looked to Kai again, but she was not

letting him off the hook.  It was perfectly obvious that Kaitlyn was enamored of Teagan.  Kai felt a little

together time with Kaitlyn was just what he needed.

"Teagan is far too modest.  Why don't you come for supper at the castle tonight and bring Bevin?"  Kai gave Kaitlyn

a smile while plotting in her head to get Leliana to help her play matchmaker.
"I would love that, and Bevvie would too," Kaitlyn stammered while looking at Teagan with unabashed adoration. 

Teagan smiled at Kaitlyn while Kai shot them a sideways glance.

"Perfect, come when the bells of the chantry ring five times.  We shall have extra places set."  Kai found herself

almost being ignored as Kaitlyn looked at Teagan smiling.

"My lady, I look forward to it."  Teagan again brushed Kaitlyn's hand with his lips before the poor blushing girl

walked away, looking over her shoulder periodically.

"Well, we had better get to the castle to warn the cook that there will be two more for supper."  Kai felt a small

glow of satisfaction which was short lived, as Teagan turned her around and crushed his lips to hers.  A small

spurt of need rushed through her, but it was other lips she longed to have.  He gently let go of her, then stepped

back and offered her his arm.  Oh, boy was all her mind could come up with. This might not be as easy as I thought

it was going to be, Kai huffed to herself as they walked back to the castle.

When they arrived, Kai asked Teagan to tell the cook about their impending guests, all the while making desperate

hand motions at Leliana.  Blessings of Andraste, the motions were not caught by Oghren who would have made some

embarrassing comment about them, drawing Teagan's attention to her actions.

Luckily, Oghren was playing a dwarven game that involved a board with little divots in it where players jumped

little round rocks over the others to capture pieces and try and get to the other side of the board before their

opponent did.  Oghren had been trying to teach Sten and Shale the game.  Shale kept trying to say the boulders

should smash each other and had to be reminded not to crush the pieces between her fingers when she captured them.

The giant Qunari was sitting across from Oghren holding Fiona as her little face kept alternating between mimicking

the giant’s serious features and gurgling coos at him while smiling.  Sten kept tickling her tummy with a bronzed

finger.  He looked more interested in the baby than the game.  Kai was reminded of the time when Leliana had caught

Sten dangling a string for a kitten. 

"I knew it, Sten is a big old feather pillow on the inside!" Alistair's voice crowed with glee in her ear.
Luckily, Leliana caught Kai’s frantic motions; so did Wynne who was reading to Duncan as he sat on Morrigan's lap. 

All three women had looked up when Duncan's eyes lit on his mother.  They must have thought she had seen an

archdemon, the way their faces all registered concern.  Teagan, who had been looking at her hopefully and

longingly, finally left to go tell the cook of their guests.
Wynne moved to say something to Sten, nodding towards Kai and taking Fiona out of his lap.  Wynne walked towards

Kai with Leli and Morrigan following, Morrigan still holding Duncan.  Kai waited until they had all returned to her

room and shut the door before she started pacing back and forth running her fingers through her hair.

"Whatever is the matter with you, child?" Wynne asked as she took a squirming Duncan from Morrigan.  "You look like

a horde of darkspawn are on your tail."

Kai stopped pacing and looked at the three women before her.  "Teagan kissed me!"  Kai started pacing again.

"Oh, how wonderful!" Leliana smiled.

"No, Leli, it isn't wonderful, it is awful," Kai shot back.

"Why ever would you say that, child?" Wynne looked at her with confusion.  "It is about time, and he is a good

man.  And if he likes you...," Wynne let that trail off.

"It just isn't a good thing, Wynne, trust me.  I...I can't be with Teagan."  Kai felt even more horrified.  She

looked desperately at Morrigan.

"She can't be with Teagan because she still has Alistair," Morrigan stated calmly while keeping her golden eyes

focused on Kai.  Her pronouncement caused Leli and Wynne to looked at Morrigan as if she had grown another head.

Finally, it was Wynne who broke the silence, "What do you mean, she still has Alistair?"  Wynne looked at the

witch, raising an eyebrow.  Morrigan's gaze never wavered from Kai's.

"She means I can talk to him.  And I have been doing so since the day after the battle on top of Fort Drakon."  Kai

felt tears rolling down her cheeks.  It was the squall of a hungry Fiona, who started her sibling crying as well,

that broke the shocked silence in the room.  Kai felt her body responding to their cries for food, so she

immediately piled up pillows and sat on the bed.  She fetched the two blankets rolled to support them as they fed

from nearby.  Wynne, obviously disturbed by the news, busied herself putting the twins in place.  When they had

been settled, she turned and grabbed a chair to sit facing Kai.  Morrigan walked over and laid herself next to Kai

on the bed, giving her support.

"I think you have some explaining to do, young lady."  Wynne's voice was neutral like a mother who wants to yell at

her child, but refrains from doing so only with extreme self-control.

"Uh oh, somebody's in trouble."  Alistair's tone was like a little boy making fun of a sibling.  Kai, whose body

responded to feeding the twins by washing her in calm, did a mental smile.  "Just don't mention how you jumped me.

I know how you and Wynne like to make me blush," he admonished her.  Kai wanted to laugh.

Kai found herself explaining about hearing him after she woke up.  Of how close she came to being lost at the

funeral and how it was his voice that had saved her.  She told them of her visit to the Fade and all that had

happened there.  How Andraste had told her of their two souls being made from one.  How she had agreed to leave him

only to save Ferelden once again and to give birth to their children.

It was here that Morrigan broke in, telling Wynne and Leli of Alistair’s visiting her in the Fade in her dreams. 

How he had known what Kai knew.  How he knew she intended to use the dagger to save the babes and sacrifice

herself.  And because of that, she had known to come to Kai's side and do what she did.  Morrigan looked at Kai and

stroked her cheek.  "So you see, she cannot be with Teagan, it would be unfair to the man."

"Well, that does answer some questions I had about your turning up when you did, Morrigan.  It seemed very

fortuitous.  As to Alistair, you tell him thank you for saving you at the funeral.  I wouldn't have wanted another

Aneirin on my record.  But why couldn't you tell us, young lady?" Wynne's voice sounded hurt.

"Oh, Wynne, Leli, I thought I might have been going mad.  I didn't feel crazy, at least not crazy crazy, just crazy

with grief.  I wanted to hear him.  I needed to hear him.  It was the only thing that kept me going after his

death.  I felt as if my soul had been ripped in two."  Kai pleaded with her to understand, tears of remorse falling

down her cheeks.  "And according to Andraste in the Fade, it had been."  Kai looked down at her nursing children,

Alistair's children.  They were falling asleep, their little cheeks stopping then starting again as they woke

briefly to suckle a little more.
 
"Oh Kai, of course you had to do what you did!  This will make a wonderful ballad.  A knight who sacrifices himself

to save his lady love, and yet their love survives death!  I can't wait to start writing it!" Leli just grinned at

her, causing Morrigan to roll her eyes.  Wynne got up from her chair and stroked Kai's hair before taking one

sleeping twin and then the other, placing them on the bed between Kai and Morrigan.

"I understand, I would have done the same thing in your shoes.  And I understand why you have been reluctant to

return Teagan's affections.  What can we do to help?” Wynne smiled at her.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 23 mai 2010 - 10:42 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 28


Kaitlyn and her little brother Bevin showed up promptly at five.  Kaitlyn was wearing in a very pretty dress and

had obviously washed her hair with flower water, as it glowed in the candlelight and she smelled lovely.  Kaitlyn's

eyes were glowing too, when she looked at Teagan, which she did frequently.  On the other hand, Teagan's eyes for

the first half of the conversation before the meal seemed to be for Kai.

Kai kept moving from group to group and studiously avoided Teagan as much as she could without making it obvious. 

Luckily, she had Leliana aiding and abetting in getting Teagan and Kaitlyn together. Whenever Teagan would start to

approach Kai, Leliana would call his attention back to herself and then  smoothly back to Kaitlyn.  Kai likened it

to a dance.  When Leli couldn't get his attention, Wynne would step in.

Poor Fiona, who had been making potions all day and had missed the conversation, was at first confused and then

amused.  At one point Wynne must have explained what was going on, since Fiona started to help if she could by

engaging Teagan in conversation if he looked to be straying in Kai's direction.

When they retired to the hall to eat, Kai found herself far down the table while Teagan sat with Bevin on one side

and Kaitlyn on the other.  Leliana and Wynne sat with them.  Kai had no idea what the conversation was, but Teagan

seemed to enjoy talking to Bevin at least.

After dinner, the dance began again as Teagan kept trying to get Kai alone, and Leliana and Wynne found themselves

working double time.  It was Morrigan who came to her rescue and suggested Kai needed to go see to the twins.  She

flashed a grateful look at Morrigan and quietly excused herself to escape upstairs.  Kai would have found the

evening amusing if it hadn't been so exhausting.

"Who knew Teagan had it in him?  No woman has ever been good enough.  Just shows he has excellent taste,"

Alistair's voice sounded in her ear as she walked down the hallway to her room.

"Huh, you are no help at all.  And you have been peculiarly quiet about the whole thing.  I would almost wonder if

you weren't considering having us get together."  When Alistair's voice didn't sound back right away, Kai stopped

dead in her tracks.  "You weren't thinking that were you?  Were you?" she asked him, waiting for an answer while

her heart beat painfully in her chest.  She finished crossing to her room and shut herself away behind the sturdy

door after the servant who had been watching the twins left. "Really, Teagan, poor Teagan being stuck with a woman

who will never love in the way he deserves?  Is that what you would really want for the poor man?  I thought you

liked him, Alistair," Kai spoke into her own head.

"I do, and no, I know you will never love him.  What you feel for him is respect and caring, but not love." 

Alistair's tone of voice was hard to read, as if he were hiding something, some deep thought.
 
"What are you thinking Alistair?"

"Could it turn into love?  Couldn't it grow into love, later?" Alistair asked her.

Kai groaned, "I would have to have more of a foundation of real affection than I have for Teagan.  Or would you

rather we get together and make each other miserable when I can't give him what he wants?  What he will expect,

what he deserves to expect, Alistair.  He will want more than I can give, and you only have to look to Loghain and

Anora's mother to see how that kind of relationship works out for all involved.  Added to that, Teagan will want,

and should want, children of his own.  I don't want anymore children.  I have all the children I could ever want,

from the only man I share my heart and soul with.  They were more than I expected and more than I deserve."

"Now, if you can find me a man who will understand I cannot love him with all of my heart and soul.  A man who will

not want children of his own.  A man who will not love me with all of his heart and soul, so I won't feel guilty

because we don't expect it of each other," Kai ticked off the list mentally. "Then sure, I will gladly bed that man

if it will make you happy.  Until then, my beloved, my heart, my soul, we will just have to keep meeting in my

dreams until I slip this mortal shell and can be with you again.  I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to

Andraste's little game of 'Wicked Grace.'"  She tried to give him a mental smile, but Alistair remained ominously

silent.

"Why this sudden urge to see me go to bed with someone?  You know that is all it would be," she asked him.

"If that were all, my love, you would have no problem getting any man you crooked your finger at.  But I know it

has always been more than an act for you, your heart has to be in it as well."  And then it was as if Alistair hit

her in the head with a blacksmith’s hammer.  "I don't want you to be lonely anymore."

"You don't want me to be lonely anymore?  Who says I am lonely?" Kai protested.  "I have good friends.  Fergus is

alive.  I have our children.  How can you say I am lonely?"

"I say you are lonely, because I feel what you feel, my love.  I know you are."  She heard the sadness in his

voice, and it only made her angry.

"Then perhaps you should have let me be the one to die on top of Fort Drakon!  I am not having this discussion with

you, Alistair."  He remained silent.  Kai wanted nothing more than to throw something across the room, but knowing

she’d wake a set of sleeping twins stopped her.

Kai found herself another servant to watch the twins and decided to go outside and practice with throwing daggers. 

She stepped out into the cold night air.  The ground still had snow drifts in places, especially in corners.  Her

footsteps crunched across the yard as the frost on the gravel broke.  She toed the line, started lining up her

target, aimed and let her blade fly.  She threw slowly at first and then increased her speed as if tossing the

blades might stop her thoughts.  It was when she went to pick out the daggers from the target dummy that she

realized someone was standing there.  It was Teagan.  Not the person she really wanted to see when she was so

emotionally raw.
"My lady, isn't it a little cold out here for target practice?"  He walked towards her with a smile, holding a

cloak.  She went to take it from him to find he had stepped up close, facing her, and was wrapping it around her

shoulders as his lips once again found hers.  She stepped back, her face flaming.  Kai had never before felt this

awkward.  She wanted to keep Teagan as a friend; he was a good man.  She ventured a look at him and saw his hurt

and confused expression.  "You are still in love with Alistair."  He made it a statement, not a question.  Kai bit

her lip and gave a slight nod.  "And time will not lessen that."  Again a statement, not a question.  He turned to

go, and she could see the hurt in his shoulders. 

"Bann Teagan, wait," Kai begged him.
 
"To what end, dear lady?"  Teagan's voice was so soft.  Kai grabbed his hand and drug him inside where they could

at least be warm while she tried to explain.  She had killed darkspawn, she had faced a broodmother, she had faced

the Archdemon.  This shouldn't be any harder right?

Kai sat him down on a bench in the ante room leading from the courtyard.  She took a deep breath and told him about

what had happened to her when she had been poisoned and comatose.  She told him of the Fade and what happened

there.  She told him of her heartrending choice to come back.  She told him about Andraste and Alistair.  "Don't

you see?  You are such a good man, a deserving man.  I can't give you what you need, being with me would be a ruin

for you."  Kai felt tears coursing down her cheeks.  Why must her every action have to be so damn important to

someone?  She felt the familiar guilt, that all her ways seemed to lead to death and or destruction.  Here she was

hurting a perfectly good man.  What by Andraste's flaming sword was she supposed to do?

She turned away from Teagan and tried to choke back a sob, and dammit Alistair was right – she was so lonely.  She

just wasn’t lonely enough to mess up both their lives.  He turned her back to face him and lifted her chin.  He

smiled, a sad smile, but a smile, "Sweet lady, why do you turn yourself inside out so?  You have to be one of the

most generous, strongest women I know.  But you do take too much on yourself."  He brushed away her tears and

kissed her on the forehead.
 
They went back into the hall.  Wynne cocked an eyebrow at Kai, and she just shook her head.  She tried to keep up a

brave front for a while, but even that just tired her out.  Finally, she bid everyone a good night and made her way

back to her room.  She let the servant go and got into a shift, ready for bed. The twins stirred.  First, Fiona

looked at her and smiled while chewing on a tiny fist. Then, Duncan  woke wanting to know what all the excitement

was about.  She just stroked their cheeks and cooed at them.  Unfortunately, she found herself crying in great

choking gasps, and the twins decided to join in. That was how Fiona's namesake found her.  She came in and put a

hand on Kai's back and stroked it while simultaneously patting first one child, then the other.

"Mi’ gra, my love, I know you are mad at me, but please don't cry," Alistair's voice spoke to her in a soothing

tone.

"I am not mad at you.  OK, I am, but only for being right."

"Oh, I should have Andraste mark this moment down, it's historical.  I am right!  Probably won't happen again

though, never fear."  His voice held laughter.

"Hah, very hah," she grumbled at him.

Finally, Kai and the twins quieted, and the babies wanted to be fed.  Fiona helped her get situated to feed them. 

When they were settled and sitting quietly, each of them lost to her own thoughts, it was Fiona who broke the

silence.  "Kai, I...Wynne told me that you and my son, you and Alistair, are connected?"  Fiona blushed and looked

down at the bed.

"Fiona, I am so sorry, I should have told you...," Kai began, but Fiona interrupted her with a quick hand on her

arm and a shaking of her head.

"You don't have to be sorry.  We have hardly begun to get to know each other.  I just, well..." Fiona flushed and

looked at her grandchildren.  Tears formed in her eyes.  "I was just wondering if you could let him know – the next

time you, well, the next time you two talk – how much I loved him.  How much I love him now and how giving him up

was the hardest thing I ever did.  Ask him if he can ever forgive me."  Fiona just looked at Kai with tears

slipping down her cheeks.

"Of course I forgive her, tell her that was never in question.  It was worth it if for no other reason than 

finding out that harpy Goldana isn't related to me after all," Alistair joked.

"Shall I say the part about Goldana then, my love?" Kai teased him back.

"Maker, don't you dare woman, or I shall tickle you senseless in your dreams!" Alistair's sounded horrified.

Kai smiled at Fiona.  "His forgiveness was never in doubt, dear lady.  One thing you should know about your son, he

is one of the most forgiving souls to ever live."  Fiona put her hand to her mouth to stifle a half laugh half sob,

before moving the twins.  Once they were burped, changed, and back to sleep, Kai patted the bed next to her.  "You

know we never did have that chat about Alistair.  Would you like to know the man he became?"  Fiona nodded and lay

down next to Kai, putting her hands across the twins and patting their bellies.

Kai and Fiona talked long into the night.  She told Fiona all the stories, starting from when she met Alistair. 

She let her hold the rose he had given her.  There were laughter and tears on both sides until they were both

nodding off.  Fiona thanked her and kissed her before going to her own room.  And Kai lay down to sleep.

She found herself in the Hall of Highever, where she had sat talking to Andraste.  She felt Alistair grab her hand

and she turned, her lips seeking his as they always did.  Ah, this is bliss, she thought.  She wrapped her legs

around him.  "So the hall in Highever?  Not the forest glade or the waterfall or any of our usual places?  Feeling

like you want to take a chance on someone’s seeing us?  I'm game."  She pressed her lips to his, nipping and

licking.  It took her a moment to realize he wasn't responding the way he usually did.

"Kai, about earlier, with Teagan," he spoke against her lips as his hands roamed her body.  Even though he was

trying to make this a conversation, he was having trouble with it.  She wanted to laugh.

"Enough about that, I hurt the man, I am not proud of that.  And I am with the one I want to be with right now. 

And how long before I get woken up by the twins, or someone else?"  She started taking off her shirt letting her

naked breasts brush against the thin shirt he had on.

"You are not making this easy.  Kai, really I want to talk to you."  He was half kissing her and half stroking her

naked skin.

"Talk is cheap, we can talk when I get back to the physical world.  Right now I want you naked."  She ripped at the

thin fabric of his shirt and nibbled on his earlobe, pleased when she got low grumbling moan.

"No, I need to talk to you."  He grabbed her chin and made her look at him.  "I need to get this out now or I may

never get it out.  I think you should sleep with Zevran."  He flushed but continued to look at her.

"Um, come again?"  Kai couldn't believe what he was saying.  "You want me to sleep with Zev?  The Antivan assassin,

the bloke you didn't want to take along after he attacked us, the one you got pissy about?  The gent you had your

knickers in a twist over because he flirted too much?  That guy?  I just want to make sure that it isn't some other

Zevran we are talking about."  Kai felt her cheeks turning pink and her temper rising.  "Why in the bloody hell

would you suggest such a thing?  Are you mad?  What has gotten into you?  What is this need to see me shagging

someone?  Have you developed a penchant for watching?"  Kai just stared at him.  Alistair flushed harder, but he

didn't look away.

"What is this place?" he asked her in a serious tone.

"It is the sodding Fade, is what this is.  What does that have to do with anything?"  The angrier she got, the more

her language skills deteriorated.  She was glad her mother wasn't here.  Well for that, and the fact she was half

naked.  Part of her wanted to giggle, while the other part remained shocked and angry.

He set her down and walked her to the window and made her look out, pointing to the sky.  In it the Black City was

visible as it always was in the dream side of the Fade.  "This is a dream, Kai.  It isn't the Fade beyond the Black

City where your parents and I dwell.  This is a dream, and what we do here is wonderful, but it isn't real.  You

know this, you feel this.  You know what the Fade in death feels like.  The more you are there, the more real it

is, because it is a real place.  But you are back in the physical world.  It doesn't do to live in the world of

dreams, my love.  You have a real life, and you promised to live it.  Living means fulfilling all the physical

needs, including companionship."  He turned her around and brushed his fingers against the side of her face, giving

her his lopsided smile.  He continued in a rush.  "What we have, beloved, no one can touch or come close to.  You

are right in that.  You asked me if I could find you a man who would not be hurt that you could not love him the

way you love me.      Zev loves his Rinna, and you love me, and you both love each other."

"Yes, I love Zev, but...."

Alistair bent his lips to hers.  "I am not threatened by your love for Zev, it is the love of a really dear

friend.  And has he not proven his love for you in the same way?  He stayed, he could have left.  The Crows may be

searching for him, but he overrides his own instincts for survival to stay with you.  He kept my body from being

dressed up as a Cailan look-alike.  He has done everything for you Kai, because you are his only true friend."  He

kissed her.  "You have a long physical life ahead of you, remember?  Promise me you will think on it?  I want you

to be happy and fulfilled before you come back to me in the Fade beyond the Black City.  I don’t want you bitter

because of loneliness.  I love you more than anything, and your happiness is most important to me."  He started

nibbling on her earlobe.

"I will think on it."  His lips were moving down her throat.  But she startled when a thought hit her. "You aren't

going away are you?  You are still going to talk to me, to meet me here?"  For a moment she thought her heart would

fly out of her throat.  He simply brushed her hair away from her face and smiled that smile of his.

"You don't think I could do that to you, do you, or myself?  And miss out on our children through your eyes?  Or

miss out on this?"  And he started nibbling her neck again while his hands roamed across her breasts, causing her

to arch against him.  "This may be just a dream, but it is a damn good one."  His mouth claimed hers again as he

picked her up to carry her to the couch.  At just that moment, someone started knocking on the front gate.  Kai

tried to ignore the knocking again as Alistair's mouth was wandering in wonderful ways across her torso, but it

didn't stop.

"Andraste's holy knickers, come in!"  And she woke herself up by shouting in her dream again.
 "Sod it!" she pounded her pillow in frustration.  Now she needed to go dunk herself in Lake Calenhad.  "Nug

humping bastard, you are lucky you didn't wake the babies," Kai grumbled under breath.  A servant stuck her head in

the door.

"Um, my lady. I hate to wake you, but you have an impor...."

"Let me guess, an important visitor?  Yes, they only seem to come in the wee hours of the morning and interrupt

dreams," Kai groused.

"Especially dreams where people are about to lick lamposts in Winter," came Alistair's cheeky retort. She gave a

rueful mental laugh.

"I will be down in a few minutes.  Would you get Wynne to come and stay with the twins, please?"  The servant only

nodded and closed the door again.  She looked over to the bed as she got dressed looking not at the twins, but at

where Zev would usually be.  She missed him and wondered what he would say to all of this.  She had to admit that

his physical presence was a great comfort.  He would have gotten dressed and shadowed her, protecting her,

supporting her.  Add to everything else the fact that even with all the usual sexual flirting, Zev had never really

been anything but tender and caring towards her.  She was going to have to do some uncomfortable, heavy thinking. 

Because of Alistair, part of her soul was in the Fade, and it was hard to reconcile the two planes.  Throw in the

dream plane, and it was like trying to juggle three shelled-boiled eggs.

Wynne showed up in a robe and bleary eyed.  "We have a visitor, apparently, that I need to see.  Would you mind

watching the twins?" Kai hugged Wynne.

"No, of course not, child.  I got Morrigan and Leli up so that you would have some protection since Zev isn't here

to supply it.  They are waiting in the hall."  Wynne smiled and brushed her hair back before lying on the bed next

to the twins.

Kai made her way into the hall after she had dressed in a tunic, leggings and boots.  Morrigan looked alert and

wide awake.  Leli looked a like a little girl, her hair still rumpled on one side and eyes blurry with sleep.  Kai

knew that was a facade.  The bard had used that trick before on unwary enemies.  Kai smiled at them both, and they

all turned and walked down the hallway to the great hall.

When they entered, it was to find one of the Scath recruits, a platinum blonde with a pixie cut and big blue eyes. 

Take her out of the unrelieved black leathers and put her in a dress, and she would have looked like any wholesome

milk maid or simple castle servant, not anything like the killer and spy she was.  In fact, servant was the role

she had been playing in Denerim.  Kai remembered her name as Lelyth.

Lelyth turned towards her and came forward to grab Kai's forearm in a warrior's grasp which Kai returned.  "So,

what news?  With the storms, we figured you all were continuing to gather intel and waiting for a break."

"Indeed we were, Scathach, and Zevran arrived to gather what we had and make new plans if needed."  Lelyth looked

uncomfortable.  Kai sensed the next news she was about to hear was not going to be good.  Her instincts were

screaming at her that it had something to do with Zev.  She kept her face neutral.

"Go on, Lelyth."  Kai watched the spy's features become shadowed.

"Zev received a message the night he was going to return here.  He wouldn't say what it was.  He just told us our

assignments and then he put the parchment in his shirt and armed himself.  As he was leaving I..." Lelyth looked

ashamed, and blushed.

"What did you do, Lelyth?"  Kai was having a harder time keeping her face and voice neutral. Everything inside her

was screaming, Not right!

"I picked his pocket, Scathach.  I know that was wrong, but he acted so strangely.  I retrieved the note, and

this."  Lelyth put a jeweled earring in her hand along with a piece of parchment.  Kai opened it up to read:

The Crows send their regards,

We need to have a chat, Zevran Arainai, about so many things, do we not?  Gnawed Noble Tavern, back room on the  left. Come alone.

Master Vimaro

Kai felt her face go pale, and she ignored the urge to crumple the note in her fist and throw the earring across

the room at the wall. Stupid Zev, stupid, stupid, stupid.  You let your emotions over-rule your brains. Kai

recognized the earring.  Zev had its mate.  It was his Rinna's.

Leliana broke into her internal tirade.  "What is it?  What is wrong?”

"Zev has been taken by the Crows."

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 23 mai 2010 - 10:58 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 29

Kai had been spurred into action. She sent Lelyth back to Denerim after she had rested.  The poor girl and her

Ceffyl had ridden all night to Redcliffe as soon as Zev had left and she had read the note.  Not only was she to go

back to her assignment but to inform the rest of the Scath to be ready should they be called.  Her mind had been

going more swiftly than an arrow, planning what and who she would need for this journey.  The “who” would have to

be completely voluntary.  So, Kai had the servant who had woken her wake all of her compatriots up and have them

meet her in the great hall.

Morrigan and Leliana just watched her pace, rereading the parchment as if it would give her more information.  Kai

knew it wouldn't but she couldn't help it.  She also preferred to stay angry at the foolish elf, because underneath

she felt fear, and a whole lot of it too.  Sten, Oghren, Shale, Argus, and Wynne walked into the room, followed by

Eamon and Teagan.  Kai groaned inwardly.  She was hoping to avoid a confrontation with Eamon, who no doubt would

argue against her going.  But, she kept her face neutral and turned to address all of them.

"Zevran has been taken by The Crows.  I intend to find him," Kai swallowed and clenched her fist, "alive or dead. 

I am hoping alive, of course.  He was taken in Denerim, and I only have this note for him to meet someone in a room

in the Gnawed Noble Tavern."  Kai looked them each in the face before she began again.  "I am going, there is no

argument that will sway me."  She held up a hand to Eamon whose mouth had started to open.  "But I could use help.

We have fought together, and you have all stayed by my side, I could not ask for better friends.  I know you

consider me the leader, but I am not telling you that you have to go.  I am, however, asking, one friend to

another.  But if you feel that putting your lives on the line for Zev is too much, I understand.  There will be no

shame, no recriminations, no guilt.  This is for me to do."  Kai fell silent and let them think on it.
 
"You are really going to do this?" Alistair asked in her ear.

"Hey, you are the one who wants me to sleep with him remember?"  Kai tried to make her query light, even though her

throat wanted to close up, her heart was banging in her chest, and her stomach felt like ice.  "I can't very well

sleep with him if he is dead, now can I?"

"Ha, very ha," Alistair's voice sounded scared too.  "I know nothing I say will sway you anyway.  You are the most

pig-headed woman in all of Thedas."

"I prefer ‘implacable,’ remember?"  She gave him a mental smile.

"Just, please be careful.  I know you can handle yourself, but you are a mother," Alistair's voice admonished.

"Yes, I am quite aware I am a mother, since I am the one who went though about twenty-three hours of sweating and

pushing and almost dying.  That is something really hard to forget."  Kai retorted back.  She felt him sigh, so she

relented.  "I know, my beloved, but Zev would not leave me.  Can I do any less for him?  For any of them?"

"I know, just please keep our babies in mind, no pulling any of your usual crazy death defying stunts like going

comatose, OK?" Alistair's voice teased her.

It was Shale who broke into Kai's internal conversation.  "Since the painted elf has never turned into a bird or

shown any inclination towards the feathered fiends, then I will go."

"Oh, I suppose that means if ever I were in trouble, the great stone statue would leave me to dangle?" Morrigan

asked the golem with a wry smile.  "Well, ‘tis no matter.  I too will be going."

Sten merely watched their exchange with a slight hint of amusement on his otherwise immobile features before

turning to her.  "I hear there is a bakery finally running again in Denerim.  I wish to sample its cookies."  And

then he shrugged.

"Did Sten just try and make a funny?" Alistair's voice asked with laughter.  "Oh my, hanging out with you lot is

totally ruining him!"  Kai gave a mental snort.

"I don't care about the pointed eared, poncing git, Warden, I am just going for the beer.  I hear the Gnawed Noble

Tavern has some really fine stout.  I’ve been meaning to try it out," Oghren clapped Kai on the back.

"I think we have figured out with who our giant friend has been spending too much time," Alistair quipped to her.

"With whom, dearest, with whom." Kai corrected him in her head.

"With whom, meh meh meh," Alistair's voice said sarcastically back.  Kai laughed.

Kai looked at Leli and Wynne, the only two who hadn't spoken up.  Leliana smiled, "I didn't think I had to say

anything, you know I am going.  Saving Zev and shoe shopping, what more could a girl ask for?"

"Yes, well I can't go shoe shopping with you unless I am in disguise.  Anora thinks I am dead, I mean to keep it

that way for a while longer."  Kai smiled at the red head.  "In fact a disguise will be necessary."

"You could go as a dwarf." Oghren joked.

"Thanks Oghren, but unless we cut off my legs, then I am a little tall to pass as one," Kai laughed back at him.

"An old woman," Wynne broke in.  "We can dust your hair with flour, make it whiter.  Carefully drawn on wrinkles,

even a pebble in your shoe to give you a limp.  Plus a small pillow tied around your middle will make you look

fatter."  Wynne just smiled when they all turned to stare at her in amazement.  "What, you all don't think I’ve

picked up things here and there at my age?" Wynne chuckled.  "And since I am the one to come up with the idea, I

guess I had better go."
Argus gave a loud "woof!" before bouncing around in front of Kai.

Kai patted him on the head and smiled.  "Thanks, boy, I didn't just want to assume you would go too."

"All right then, we need to pack, and Eamon," Kai turned to the, so far, silent Arl, "We need to use the safe house

close to Denerim if we can.”

It was Teagan who spoke, "I will ride ahead right now, dear lady, to let them know you are coming." Teagan bowed

and left the room to going towards the stables.

"Eamon, may I ask that you and Lady Isolde bring the twins to the safe house?  I know that you were due to go to

Denerim in a day for your monthly meeting with the other arls, banns, teyrns and Anora."  Kai kept her face

neutral; she didn't want to give Eamon an opening to start a protest.  "Also, we need a wet nurse, just in case."

Eamon looked furious, worried and resigned all at the same time.  "Yes, dear lady.  Of course."  He simply

continued to look at her.  "But...."

"But nothing Eamon.  I hate to pull rank, but technically even though I am 'dead', I outrank you.  I am the Teyrna

of Highever, second only to the throne.  And Eamon, if I should fall, I expect you to take care of the twins.  No

sending them to the Chantry, is that understood?"  She smiled to take some of the sting out of her words.

"You will not fall."  Eamon made it sound like a command, though he tried to smile.

"I am a practical woman, Eamon.  And a realist."  Kai smiled again.  "Well folks, let’s go find us an Antivan

troublemaker.  Get packed and meet me down here.  We ride to the safe house and then Denerim."

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 23 mai 2010 - 11:06 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 30


Kai slouched down on the bar stool in the Gnawed Noble Tavern trying to act like a drunk old woman. Wynne's ideas had worked, except for the pebble in her shoe – that had driven her buggy inside of a minute.  She did however chew on the small onions she carried with her so her breath was fragrant and tended to keep people at a distance.  This ploy was so they wouldn't notice that the holes where teeth should be were actually not holes, but black wax over perfectly good teeth.  Leliana’s love of makeup didn't just extend to enhancing one's beauty, but also came in handy in drawing on wrinkles and moles.  By the time they got done with her, she looked gap-toothed, ugly and old.  With the makeup, a ratty old dress and holey shoes, not even her own mother would have recognized her.

Kai and Oghren sat “drinking” on their bar stools next to each other.  Kai was fake hitting on Oghren and was trying to fake drink, occasionally dribbling most of a mouthful down her front, adding to the wonderful aroma that already surrounded her, while really only drinking a sip.  Oghren, whose tolerance was higher, actually managed to drink, and was still sober.  Or rather, sober enough.

They were being careful, as they didn't know who from the Crows might be watching the Gnawed Noble Tavern or the room in question to see who might show up.  The Crows were not known for being all soft and fuzzy.  They had a penchant for torture, even to test new recruits.

Everyone talked under torture, everyone, though it was very unreliable as a source of information. Especially with someone like Zev who’d had it practiced on him from an early age and had been trained to fight it.  He knew to tell lies until the pain becomes unbearable and you tell the truth.  By then, your capturers wouldn't know which was which.  Add to that, someone trained to fight torture would make getting information a long and time consuming process.  Still, Kai didn't know what they might have gotten from him or what questions, if any, this Master Vimaro might have been asking or even on what topics.  For all Kai knew, Vimaro had just killed Zev outright for daring to leave the Crows.  The thought made her heart hurt.

Master Vimaro was the nasty piece of work who had sent Zevran and his fellow Crows, Taliesen and Rinna, on the job before Zev's job for Loghain in Ferelden.  His Rinna was the only woman he had ever loved, in complete disregard of his training as an assassin.  It was job that led to his Rinna’s dying at the Taliesin’s hands for a betrayal she had not committed.  Zev had watched while Taliesen slit her throat and had mocked her, he said.  Mocked her while she pleaded her innocence and told him of her love for him.  He believed the lies about her.  He had thought she had betrayed not only the Crows, but him.  As life had so often betrayed him.  When Zev and Taliesen had completed the mission, they had found that Rinna had indeed been telling the truth.  Zev had gone to Master Vimaro and confronted him, told him that Rinna was not a traitor after all.  According to what Zev had told her, Master Vimaro knew Rinna was not a traitor and didn't care.  He had told Zev he didn't matter, either.  It, they, he were all irrelevant.  It was then that Zevran had signed on for the suicidal mission of killing the last Grey Wardens in Ferelden for Loghain.  Zev had confessed to her he had not expected to survive.  It was his way of punishing himself for Rinna.
That Zev could love after all the torture and beatings and the training to make him a cold-blooded killer had only cemented Kai's belief that she had done one thing right when she had spared Zevran and brought him into her group.  For Zev to be so strong after all he had been through in his childhood in the ****house and after being sold into slavery to the Crows, then the man with that kind of heart surely made the world a better place, despite his ability to kill.  Maker, if she had caused nothing but death and destruction with her decisions, this had to be one of the few good things she had brought to the world.

She remembered his telling her Rinna’s part in his story after killing Taliesen in a Denerim back alley.  The same back alley where Zev's true test of loyalty had taken place.  Taliesen had offered Zevran his place back with the Crows.  Kai remembered her cheeky answer at the time, "That would, of course, mean I would have to be dead."  Kai did not know what Zev's answer was going to be then, truth be told.  She had gotten to know him, found out what he liked.  Had given him tokens as she had all their party, because she enjoyed seeing their faces when she did.  It was one of her joys in a horrible situation.  He had accepted and enjoyed her gifts just like the others seemed to.  He had made plenty of sexual innuendos, and even tried seduction.  And, he had acted disappointed when she refused his offer of sex to just be his friend.

Kai had always wondered if the seduction was only part of a plan to later kill her and get back in with the Crows.  He had been hard to read, had always kept something back, hidden from her.  He was a killer who was jovial, lighthearted and said he took life as it presented itself, asking for nothing more.  She had thought he might accept life’s presenting him with a way back to his beloved Antiva and the only career that he could see himself pursuing right there in that ally by siding with Taliesen.

She remembered well her surprise at his response to Taliesen, "I am afraid that is not going to happen."  She remembered the relief that had washed over her.  Her faith in that one crucial decision to spare him had been one of the foundations that had kept her from jumping off the nearest cliff when she seemed to have brought nothing but ruin to everything she touched while trying to fix it.  That and her love of Alistair.  These two men kept her sane when the world was going into madness and she had wanted to go with it.

And then came the real surprise.  After Taliesin's defeat, he had told her his story and showed her the earring, Rinna's earring.  Had asked her if his duty was done now, if she would release him.  The Crows would think him dead.  She had given him permission to go, but had asked him to stay to help her.  To stay as a friend.  She had not told him how much she loved him as a friend.  She had not wanted to pressure him into staying.  He had never had much choice in life.  She was determined not to take away his freedom to choose in this matter.  She had watched his face then, keeping hers neutral, hiding her sadness and the fear that he would walk away.  But he had agreed to stay, making a flippant remark as always.

She had never told him that his story had broken her heart, how she had cried for him and his Rinna in camp.  How she had cried because he never had.  He had buried it as she had buried her pain for her parents and her brother.  Buried her tears for Duncan and Cailan and Alistair's hurt over their deaths at Ostagar and Loghain's betrayal.  All of these things hidden because she had to be the leader, and she had so much to do.  But for Zev, she had allowed herself to mourn.  For a friend, mourning was allowed.  For herself, it would have been wallowing in self pity.  Or so she told herself; it was just easier to mourn someone else's losses than to mourn her own.

So here she was, back in Denerim, sitting on a hard and uncomfortable bar stool, reeking of body odor, onions, and beer, slouching so much her back hurt and pretending to seduce Oghren so they would have an excuse to rent the back left room.  She was hoping and praying to the Maker that Zev was still alive.  Praying that this time the Crows didn't succeed in breaking him just as they had not been able to do before.  She felt fear clawing in her gut that Zev would assume no one knew about the letter, and therefore he had not left any clues, that he might be thinking no one would know where to go or how to start looking for him.

"Come on, deary, give us a whirl.  You are such a muscular strapping fella' and I love that beard.  I bet it can tickle in just the right places," Kai cackled at Oghren.  "We could take our beer to a more private place, and you can show me how your height can give a human girl a good time standing up!"  She slapped him on the back hard enough to make his beer tankard slosh.

"Well lady, you do have a nice rump roast. Let’s go put some sauce on it."  Oghren chucked her under the chin with a knuckle of his finger, making her teeth clank together and causing her to roll her eyes. He slapped coins on the bar for the beers and leaned over to the barkeep, "Listen, I got a date, and I’m feelin' kinda anxious, if you know what I mean.  I need a room.  Back room would be best, I have a feelin' she's a screamer."  Oghren winked at the barkeep and smiled while he put more coins on the wood next to the others, including a couple extra as a tip.

The barkeep merely, putting a key on the bar.  "Last on the left is as far as you can get."  And when Oghren started to hop off the stool, the man grabbed his arm.  "Are you sure, mate, you really want to...well...um...have a date with her?  The Pearl has...well...less pungent and younger companions."
Oghren squinted at Kai.  "She reminds me of my mother.  Heh, heh, heh, HAH, HAH!"  The barkeeper just blanched and shook his head.  Kai hooked her arm in over Oghren's shoulders while he put his around her waist and pinched her arse.  It took everything Kai had to laugh and playfully swat at his hand instead of pouring her mug over his head.  They made their way down the hall slowly, weaving like two drunks until they got to the last room on the left.  Oghren took out the key, fumbling with it a few times as if he was having trouble finding the keyhole.  Kai giggled and cackled and made lewd remarks for effect.

"I hope you don't have trouble finding other openings, deary!" Kai was starting to worry that Oghren really was that drunk.  They had been at it all day, scoping the place out, keeping an eye out for any overly curious people.  Finally, Maker be praised, Oghren got the key in the lock and opened the door. They went inside and locked it behind them.

The room Kai remembered well.  She had done a theft job for Slim Coudry here.  It had one little sitting room and then the large bedroom in the back.  The sitting room was furnished with a desk, bookcase and couches.  The bedroom held an armoire, several chests and a bathtub.  "Well, Warden, where do we start lookin’?" Oghren's voice was stone cold sober.  Kai just shook her head in amazement.

"Why don't you start in here. I will check the bedroom."  Kai left Oghren to his search and entered the bedroom.  She started by looking in the armoire and the chests, even though she knew the Crows would have left nothing behind in any obvious places.  But, she wanted to leave no stone unturned.
Kai heard Oghren come in. "Warden, I found this book."  He handed it to her.  Kai recognized it immediately.  It was the little leather bound copy of The Black Fox she had given Zev as a present at Winter Solstice.  He had told her of how he had taught himself to read and write as a child in the ****house.  How he would steal books off the men who came there and put them back before they left.  How, because of that, he had trained his mind to remember every word he read as if he were looking at the page.  This was one of his favorite stories; when she had given it to him, his face had lit up.  She had inscribed the fly leaf page:

Zev,
My best friend, and cohort.  May the adventures of the 'Silver Griffon' be written of as well one day.
 I am grateful every morning when I wake and every night before I go to sleep that you decided to stay.
Thank you, you are a blessing.
Kai

"Where was it Oghren?" Kai's hand shook as she held it.

"It was slipped into the bookshelf, like all the other books.  I only found it because there was sodding nothing else as a clue in there, so I started looking at the bookshelf.  All the books were standing upright and but this one was lying on top of the others and slightly out.  Not so much you would notice. But I thought it looked familiar.  This is the book you gave him at Solstice, right?"  Kai nodded.  "The gold leaf and blue cover I remembered."

Kai handed the book back to Oghren to hold.  Her eyes searched the room.  There had to be something else here.  Zev left the book on purpose.  He knew they would come looking after all.  Kai decided to search the bed.  The cover was clean, it was made up.  She felt under the mattress, nothing. Sod it! she huffed to herself.  She then started to run her hand between the headboard and the mattress.  It was while doing so that she saw a raw spot on the wood of the bed post as if someone had been shackled there and what looked like a drops of dried blood.  Her heart started to pound in her ears and her stomach felt queasy.  Oh Zev!  When she pulled her hand away to get off the bed she noticed it was dusted with flakes of dried blood where she had been holding on to the bed post.  But that wouldn't make any sense.  Blood wouldn't be high on the post like that.  It should be where the shackle was.  Kai got back on the mattress and looked more closely at the bedpost.
"Oghren, grab a quill, ink and parchment from the desk and bring it in here!  And hurry!"  Kai looked at the post and was able to make out letters and numbers written in blood.  They were a little hard to read at first, but Kai figured them out.  Oghren readied the quill and parchment.  "TBF. 10,12,3.  23,5,6. 37,2,8.  Did you get that?"

Oghren dutifully repeated the code back to her.  "But what in the nug humping universe does it mean, Warden?"

Kai grabbed the book from next to Oghren.  “It is a simple cypher Zev told me about once. TBF is The Black Fox.  The numbers correspond to pages, paragraphs, and words in those paragraphs.”
Kai scrabbled to find the pages, the paragraphs, and the words. "Oghren write this down. ‘blood.’” Kai flipped more pages, "sorcerer."  And again she turned the pages, the paper smooth under her fingertip as she used it to scan the last page, "hideout."  The Crows had apparently taken over that abandoned warehouse the blood mages used to live in, before she and her compatriots had killed them all.  Zev, we are on our way, my friend, please hold on, Kai prayed.

"I think our 'date' is over Oghren.  Time to get back to the others and call the Scath.  We have a friend to rescue."

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 23 mai 2010 - 11:12 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 31


  Kai and her group made their way into the into the innocuous looking building. It has survived the hordes of

darkspawn like many of the back alley areas.  Apparently with an archdemon's intelligence to guide them, they

didn't bother with inconsequential locations.  Otherwise darkspawn where mindless destroyers. 

  The building looked much like she remembered it the first time.  It looked like an occupied home, and probably

was.  The last time she was here children's toys had littered the floor, but it looked to be occupied by adults

only this time.  Kai had some Scath hanging out in civilian clothes keeping an eye on the doorway to this building

and on the rooftops out front. And since Kai had the advantage of having been here before, she left Scath on

rooftops and around the back alley exit at the end of this labyrinthine maze.

  Kai went to the bookcase which slid back to reveal a hidden doorway which lead to a staircase leading downwards. 

Kai wasn't sure how many Crows from Master Vimaro's cell were here from Antiva, so she thought it best to be

cautious.  Some of the Scath who were rogues went first, insisting that the leader should not put herself into

danger unless absolutely necessary.  Kai wanted to protest, after all she was a Grey Warden who had survived the

Blight and the horde.  But they would not hear of it.  Eamon and Teagan must have spoken to them, blast it!

  “It is just as well my love.  I know I would have, if I thought you would relay the message.”  Alistair's voice

had a hint of sarcasm.  Kai gave a mental snort. She was hardly defenseless.  “Be that as it may, I would not have

you join me in the Fade before the twins are at least old enough to take care of themselves.”  He admonished her. 

“As much as I miss you.”  Kai gave him a mental chuckle.

  One of the Scath returned to signal all was clear to the first few rooms.  Kai made her way down the steps and

walked through the doorway to a small rectangular room.  Kai saw one unmoving body laying on the floor.  She shut

off the part of her mind that wanted to empty her stomach.  No matter how many, she still never got to the point

where it didn't bother her.  She supposed that was a good thing.  The day she stopped caring, was the day she

should hope for a crossbow bolt in the eye. 

  They continued to wend their way through the building following behind the scouting Scaths. So far they had met

with minimal amounts of Crows all wearing the herald of the house of Master Vimaro.  There had been plenty of

traps, but those were all disarmed with ease.  Perhaps Vimaro hadn't brought the main body of his house after all.

It turned out to be wishful thinking.  The first large room they ran into had been converted into a training room. 

Targets, chests full of weapons, tables laden with poisons, and all the accoutrements of a well supplied band of

killers greeted them.  That along with a large group of the killers themselves lead to an all out nasty close in

fight. 

  Kai found herself fighting two while backed up against the wooden wall.  It would have been three, but Argus had

knocked the third person down and was savaging the Crow, tossing them about like a rag doll.  Kai's mind only had a

moment to register their terrified and pained screams before a blade cut through the leather of her armor making a

shallow cut on her shoulder. 

  Kai grunted, she felt the slow seep of blood sliding under her leathers along her arm.  Thank goodness she was

wearing all black, it didn't show blood as much.  The part of her mind that remained detached  wanted to giggle. 

Kai used her boot to kick the man in the daddy bags, as Oghren had once called them, while blocking her second

opponent's blade with her own.  The man she so inelegantly kicked in the stones started to take in great gasping

gulps of air as his eyes got wide.  Kai's boots had a toe of Dwarven steel in them.  She grabbed his hand holding

his blade while he was occupied with trying to breathe and deftly caught her second opponent in the rib cage

sliding the blade between bones and into their heart.  Blood coursed out of their mouth as they too began to gasp,

eyes wide.  Kai merely kicked the impaled Crow off the blade and jammed the same blade her opponent still held,

into the man's own gaping mouth driving it up and through his soft palate into his brain with a sickening crunch of

bone.  Hot blood fountained over her hand running down her black clad leather arm.

  Kai immediately pulled the blade out letting the man's own weight and falling back do most of the pulling.  She

pushed herself away from the wall and found herself facing an elven woman with sleek black hair pulled back from

her pretty face.  She had a small scar under her right eye which was a pretty green, and the other eye was a

lavender blue.  She had  no emotion on her face, but her eyes were deadly serious.  This one would make no foolish

moves from the start.  This one was cautious.  Kai continued to size her newest foe up.  The girl kept crouched,

but fluid.  She rested on the balls of her feet and kept her shoulders relaxed.

  Nope, she was not going to make this easy.  “Kill that **** Naseel, she is their leader!”  Kai heard a voice

yell out her from behind.  She watched the girl's eyes spark.  Aha,  this young one had one thing that was a

possible weakness, she wanted to prove herself, and from the looks of it badly.  Kai waited to circling the girl

with the same stance.  Kai was older and had more battle experience and she had no need to prove she was the best,

so she waited.  Naseel gave a feral growl and  struck out when it was apparent that Kai was not going to do so

first.  With the dagger in her right hand, she swiped at Kai's face.  Kai raised her left arm and allowed the

leather clad arm to brush off the swing to her eyes, while using her right to slice down on Naseel's left arm that

was the real threat.  Kai knew that move, she had used it many times herself.  Distract with one blade come in with

the other. 

  Naseel's only indication of the deep cut Kai had given her was a sharp intake of breath in a hiss.  The girl did

not let it distract her.  So, she was very disciplined as well.  Kai was certainly more impressed with this

opponent than her last two.  She also, like Kai, did not let the extremely loud sounds of the battle; along with

the screams and moans of the wounded and dying, break her focus in any way.  For all intents and purposes they

could have been alone in the room.  Kai and Naseel continued to dance and feint with each other and it was soon

very clear that they were evenly matched.  They were both sporting shallow and some deeper cuts in their little

dance but neither had the advantage. 

  It was then that Kai decided to take a chance that her opponent was not schooled in the open handed martial arts

of the Qun monks.  Kai had been taught their style by a follower of the Qun, a Rivanni man, visiting Highever

caught when the Spring rains had flooded most of Ferelden one year when she was young.  The monk had told her that

their priests and monks were not allowed to carry weapons, but they had trouble with bandits and even the

Tal'Vashoth, those that abandoned the Qun and became mercs.  Because only soldiers were allowed to carry weapons,

the monks or priests had developed a weaponless fighting style using kicks, blocks, punches, and acrobatics to

disarm opponents and incapacitate or kill them if necessary.

  Kai simply sheathed her blades and stood watching Naseel. She could see the shock then the curiosity in the

girl's different colored eyes.  Again Naseel feinted with her her right blade,  Kai merely leapt out of the way,

from it.  While the blade rushed past her front, Kai knew the left blade was headed towards her kidneys, so she

back flipped up and over the second blade.  When Kai hit the ground she came up with her right boot and caught

Naseel in the ribs with a bone crunching kick. 

  Naseel's eyes widened in shock as she cried out and started to go down on one knee but but quickly recovered and

turned to face Kai once again.  Kai had guessed right, she wasn't aware of this fighting style.  Naseel's  lips

pulled back from her teeth in a feral grimace etched with pain.  Still she did not drop her blade, just gripped her

upper arm more closely to her injured side.  This girl was tough.  Kai couldn't help have one part of her mind that

admired the her for it.  She reminded Kai of herself. 

  “Yes, another you.  Just don't let this you kill you while you admire her.”  Alistair's voice sounded in her ear.

  “Huh!”  Kai just huffed into her own head.  “I have other plans for her, if they work.” 

  “Oh no, you aren't going to do what I think-”  Alistair's voice got cut off as Kai sprung into motion.  She

charged Naseel and used her left arm to block the girl's attempt to stab her charging opponent.  With her right in

an openhanded punch, she aimed it at the girl's chest,  the power  generated by it caused more sickening bone

crunching sounds while pushing Naseel against the wall with so much force it knocked dust from the ceiling.  Before

the girl could get in one gasp of breath, Kai had lashed out with her right boot and crunched Naseel's left hand

under it causing her to drop the blade.  Kai  continued forward and she reached out with her left hand grabbing

Naseel's still armed right hand.  She pulled the girl forward by it, and past her before swinging her around by it

as Kai's right had slid into the crook of Naseels elbow while Kai used the girl's momentum to swing her around like

a dance partner.  Naseel found herself with her back to Kai's chest and her own dagger held by her own hand held to

her own throat. 

  “Are you quite done dancing Kadan?”  Sten's stoic voice asked.  Kai looked at the room to find that all of her

group. And most of the Scath were standing and watching her and Naseel.   

   Kai just grinned at him.  “I am if Naseel is.”  Kai allowed the blade to ****** the girl's neck, just enough that

a drop of blood ran down her delicate neck.  Kai could smell the lavender soap the girl had used and the girl's

sweat.  “Naseel, I need to ask you a few questions.” 

  “And why should I answer them?  You will just kill me anyways, what is the point?” Kai could feel the girl's

breath on her hand.

 “What if I told you I would rather not kill you?  What if I told you I hate your master as much as you probably

do, maybe even more?”

  She could hear the girl smirk.  “And why would you think I hate my master?  I am a Crow, I have a reputation.  He

trained me.  He supplies me with weapons, and poisons, and work.  What is not to like?”  But Kai could hear a hint

of doubt in her voice. 

  “Yes, but does he give you a choice?  Could you walk away whenever you wanted, or are you nothing more than a

well armed slave?” Kai spoke into a softly tapered ear.  “I know of the masters of the various houses of The Crows,

some are better than others.  I have worked with The Crows myself. Your master and his cruelty are even beyond the

usual.  Is that not true?”

  Kai felt the girl nod.  “Yes, and he plays with all of us in one manner or another, no matter how young you are. 

We have no choice.” Kai felt Naseel shudder at a bad memory.  “So again I say, what does it matter?  He will not

let me go, no more than your foolish friend.  We belong to him until such time as he chooses to dispose of us.” 

Kai felt her heart beat faster at the mention of Zev.  “He will always find me, and his vengeance is great.”

  “What do you mean?” Kai's voice felt like it wanted to get caught in her throat.

  “Master Vimaro plays with your friend like a cat does a mouse. He toys with him to punish him, and to remind us

all that he owns us.  To remind us who really has the control.  He uses your friend as an example.  In this case,

he will play until he gets bored and then your friend will be dead.”  Kai's arm involuntarily tightened, causing

Naseel to gasp as the point of the dagger dug a little deeper.  Kai relaxed her arm.

  “Your master cannot hurt you if he is dead.”  Kai  made her voice calm and cold.  “I offer you a choice Naseel. 

Something you have never had before now.  I offer you the chance to join a group of spies and assassins local to

Ferelden.  I offer you the chance to join such a group of your free will and to leave it at any time as you should

wish.  Or I offer you the chance to limp out of here, alive.  Do with your life what you will.  If it is to go back

to The Crows in Antiva, so be it.  We will not heal you and you will be on your own, but you have my word that none

of mine will harm you. If that is your choice, one of mine will escort you so those outside don't shoot you in the

back.  What say you?”

  “Why would you do this?”  Naseel's voice held suspicion and hope?

  “Because your life should belong to you, not another.  No one has the right to own anyone else.  And power can

only be given away, not taken.”  Kai  released Naseel and bent  down to pick up the girl's fallen dagger so she

could hand it back to her.  She flipped the dagger over offering it to Naseel pommel first while looking her in the

eye. 

  The elven girl merely looked at Kai for a moment and took the dagger and sheathed it.  She bowed slightly.  “I

will join you then.  I swear on my blood, and my life, to serve you until such time as I-”   Here Naseel stumbled

over unfamiliar words.  “Until such time as I chose to leave.  Until that time, my life is yours.”  Naseel blushed

and made another bow.  “As know, I am Naseel, and you are?” 

  “Kai, welcome to The Scaths.”  Kai grinned at her.  She then directed Wynne to heal Naseel and any of the other

that potions wouldn't do for, and having those healthy enough to  scavenge the room and bodies for any and all

useful items.  She had the Scath  rogues scout ahead again to disarm traps and count the the opposition.  She was

surprised that they hadn't had more Crows show up with all the fighting. 

  “Ugh, I knew it!  You are taking her in just like you did with Zevran!  You don't even know you can trust her!” 

Alistair's voice fumed in her head.  “At least the last time you convinced me because we really needed the help.

But you don't this time!” 

“Calm yourself my love.  I find that extending a hand of friendship works best when it is put as an example to the

cruelty they have been given.  I have good instincts do I not?  Look how it worked out with Zev.”  Kai soothed 

him.  “Trust me.”

  “Ugh, trust me, you always say that.”

  “Yes, and how did that thing with Loghain and the Archdemon work out again?” She asked him sweetly.

  “Point taken.”  His voice grumbled and them went quiet. 
 
  “Naseel, I am familiar with this place, but I don't know how many from your former house there will be here.  And

where is Vimaro holding Zev?”  Kai watched while Wynne's glowing hands healed Naseel's broken wrist.  The elven

girl was fascinated by the bones knitting together while she watched, but she answered readily enough. 

  “Master Vimaro has him here, further in the hideout, in the rooms closer to the Master's bedroom and the dining

hall that leads to the back alley. Since you are familiar, the room he keeps him locked in is after that U- shaped

portion.  We found dog cages in it, he holds him in one of those. “

   Kai felt her rage turning from hot anger into ice. It was the kind of anger that touched the cold dark abyss in

every soul.  The one that would have no pity, no mercy, and no compassion.  The very ugly darkest kind.  Sister

Moilol the priest at Highever's chapel had likened it to the darkest shadow called the penumbra, the same color of

the Black City in the Fade.  Kai felt it for Master Vimaro. 

  “He brought most of his house of assassins, and though is a smaller one, it still is formidable, even though the

other masters try not to let him have many of the new recruits.  They only give him enough to keep the politics

between all of the houses of The Crows running smoothly.  Since what affects us, affects the nobles who are our

patrons.  It would not do well for us to have in- fighting and give the nobles of Antiva a chance to take the true

power of the body politic back.”  Naseel smiled a cynical little smile at this. 

  “I would say you have killed about a fourth of those he brought here.  There will another fourth when last I saw

my fellows, spread throughout the rest of the hideout.  The other half are protecting the noble who is our patron,

still in Antiva.  Master Vimaro got word about Zevran Araini being alive and living in Ferelden.  He was livid, and

embarrassed.  He had been made a fool of.  He wanted to come here personally.  So he got 'permission' from our

patron to come here to attend to his personal business as he called it.”  Naseel looked at Wynne and smiled. 

“Thank you mage.” 

  Wynne smiled and patted the girl's hand “You are welcome child.”  But the look that Wynne shot was not so

friendly.

  Kai looked at Wynne as well.  “Is she good to go?”  Wynne simply nodded.  She could tell Wynne was dubious about

taking Naseel along, but she was willing to wait until they were in private to say to.  For now Kai knew, she would

defer to her judgment. 

  Kai rounded up the rest of her group along with Scaths still able to continue.  Those that were not, went back

out the front the way they had to come to inform those on the street what was going on.  They made their way

forwards through the twisted rooms.  The resistance they did run into was light, only one or two people, easily

handled by the rogues scouting ahead. 

  Sod it, sod it, sod it! Kai fumed to herself.  The closer they got to the room where Zev was supposed to be held,

and the less they came across any Crows to offer any fight, led her to believe that Master Vimaro had gotten word

and had taken off.  The only question was did he take Zev with him or kill him? 

  Kai's hear thumped in her chest when she opened the door to that room, steeling herself to find the bloody corpse

of her dear friend.  But the room was empty.  The cage was indeed open.  A pile of filthy blankets covered in old

and new blood was a makeshift bed, and a used chamber pot, and a plate of greasy fatty meat sat on the floor of the

cage.  So he was alive. 

  She let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.  It took everything her to buckle down her

emotions which were all roiling inside of her like the Waking Sea in a storm.  Fear, disgust, and that cold, cold

rage all warred in her.  Finally when she had her face set into a neutral mask she turned back to the others.  They

all took a step back.  Her face must not be as 'neutral' as she thought. 

  The scouts came back with word that they had only run across three more Crows who had been dispatched with

relatively no problem.  Apparently they were young new untried recruits who had wanted to prove themselves, and

whose practice with real battle had not ended well for them.  Kai caught one of the Scaths whispering to Sten while

casting worried looks at Kai out of the corner of her eye.  “What is it?”  Kai asked casually as she could.  Sten

looked at her his face immobile as always. 

  “Kadan-”

  “What is it!?”  Kai felt hands going into fists.  Maybe they found his body after all..

  “They found another room, he is not in it. It, but I do not think you want to see it.”  Sten continued to look at

her with his lavender colored eyes. 

  “Show me.”  Kai stared back at him.

   The Scath let Kai to another long rectangular room across from the room they had held Zev in.  When the blood

mages had it, they had used it for spell work and it had been covered in blood then too.  This time it had a rack,

a brazier with hot coals and branding irons, and a table with all kinds of implements Kai didn't even want to look

at.  Along with shackles to keep prisoners immobile. 

  Her vision went dark and the room started to tilt.  She put her hand against the wall and bent over an emptied

her stomach.  She didn't care who saw it.  When she was done and bile covered her throat, it was Naseel who spoke. 

“All of this blood doesn't belong to Zevran, lady.  Master Vimaro had taken other jobs here in Denerim.  And he,

and his lover Concha, like to well, torture others to add to their own thrill for love making.  They take the poor,

which because of how Anora rules, is so easy to do.  No one missed them.  Zevran he has been healing and keeping

alive so he can continue to make him an example.  I know that is small consolation, but most of this is from other

people he has taken for his sick pleasure.”

  Kai wanted to be sick again, even as relief washed over her for Zev, along with a goodly amount of guilt for

feeling relief that it was others who had suffered so much and not him.  Kai turned to Naseel.  “Who is this

Concha, besides being a sick and perverted lover of your former master?” 
 
  “She is a Crow, lady.  But not a rogue. She is beautiful, cruel, and completely without a conscience.  She and

Vimaro feed each other.  Her skills lie in seduction and the art of poison, not fighting.  She does keep several

daggers secreted around her person, but she can be easily disarmed.  She relies on beauty and charm.  “  Naseel put

a hand on Kai's arm.  “And she was not here when you raided the place.  I believe she went shopping.  She should be

returning, provided of course she does not spot your people.” 

  Great, an evil version of Leliana.  A cruel shop-a-holic. “She won't spot them.  They are that good.”  Kai told

Naseel.  “Will she use the front or back door?” 

  “Neither.  Master had this place modified slightly.  He had a secret door put into his bedroom as an escape

route.  He is paranoid, and with good reason.”  Naseel added. 

  “How much does Vimaro value this lady?” Kai looked at Naseel.

  “As much as anyone as cold as he can.  She is a toy and a possession, but he seems to hold her above us all.  She

shares the same sick tastes and the same black heart.” 

 “Then let us wait for the lovely Concha, shall we?  We might just have a bargaining chip.”  Kai smiled a cold and

grim smile.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 32

Naseel had agreed to position herself on the bed which faced the secret entrance to the room.  She would be the

first thing Concha saw when she came in, which Kai hoped would prevent her from noticing her and one of the other

Scath waiting on either side of the door.

The unfortunate part of this ambush was that Concha could apparently spend hours shopping.  She eventually sent

most of her group, all but Wynne and Sten, back out to wait on the rooftops and inform the other Scath whom they

were watching for, having gotten a description of the woman in question.  They were all to cover the exits in case

the woman should bolt for it.  Sten, Morrigan and Wynne were waiting outside the room.  Several times Kai almost

found herself dozing.  With the adrenaline rush gone, her body wanted to recharge.  Naseel was having a harder

time, lying on a soft, comfortable bed.  [[Concha’s no lady, so I’ve substituted “woman”.  Feel free to change it

back, if you like.]]

Finally, Maker be praised, a bookshelf slid back and an auburn head peeked around the opening.  "My darling, I have

found the most exquisite dress maker, despite this being a backwater country.  And her shop didn't even smell of

wet dog, imagine that!"  The woman stopped in her tracks, staring at Naseel who had posed herself on the bed. 

"What are you doing here in our bed you little piece of elven trash?" a haughty voice demanded of Naseel.

Kai waited until the woman had come all the way through the doorway.  "You forgot the smell of rotting garbage." 

Kai put her dagger under the woman's chin.  "Allow me to introduce myself. I am The Scathach."  Kai smiled a cold

smile.  "Naseel, where does she hide her daggers?"  Naseel came forward with a small smile and carefully removed

the daggers strapped to the Crow's leg, her forearm, and tucked in the cleavage of her bodice.

"You little elven **** of a traitor!  Vimaro will make you beg for death, and we shall make love over your cooling

corpse!" Concha hissed at Naseel.  Naseel only smiled and walked over to open the door.

Kai yanked Concha's head back by her waving auburn tresses. "It is not well done to talk like a sniping gutter

wench to those in my employ," Kai purred in the woman's ear.  "You forget yourself.  This is my party.  As I said,

I am The Scathach.  I run the group called The Scath here.  Your Master Vimaro has taken a man under my protection.

 I want him back, and you are going to help."

"You mean that little Antivan son of an elven ****?" Concha laughed.  "You would do better to find another lover,

dear.  I hear The Pearl has plenty to chose from."  Kai watched the rosy lips pull back in laughter over perfect

white button teeth.  She whirled Concha around by her hair and gave her an openhanded slap across the face, hard

enough to make her pitch towards the bed.  The woman showed feral anger at first then posed seductively while

licking the blood from the corner of her mouth.  "Really, this is foreplay.  All you are doing, ****, is getting

me excited," Concha laughed.  "You will have to do better."

Kai smiled a tight little smile.  Considering Concha's tastes, she had figured it would have to get ugly.  But

Naseel had provided some insight into this nasty little piece of work.  Kai figured her plan would work.  Rather,

it had better work, or Zev was as good as dead.

Kai worked on shutting off that part of her mind which was horrified at what she was thinking of doing, screaming

at her that she couldn't be serious; and tapping into that abyss, the penumbra of her soul, she walked forward and

grabbed the woman by that lovely, long, auburn hair and dragged her from the bedroom.  Once out in the hallway, she

picked her up and once again put her dagger to a smooth creamy throat, walking her back up a small set of stairs

and through other rooms until they came to the room with the torture devices.

"You like this room don't you, Concha?  I think you and I are going to have a really good time in here together. 

Don't you?"  Kai pushed the woman to her knees and then kicked her into the room causing her to fall face forward

in the blood on the floor.  "Oops, sorry about the dress."  Kai gave her a cruel smile from the doorway before

turning to Sten, Wynne, Naseel and the Scath with her.  "Wynne, I want you to stay out here, no matter what you

hear behind that door.  Do you hear me?" Kai grasped Wynne's arm.  Wynne opened her mouth in protest, but shut it

abruptly.  Kai nodded to Sten, Morrigan, and the Scath, then at Concha, and cocked an eyebrow.  Sten merely nodded

and went into the room to stand over the woman followed by the Scath.

Kai took Wynn around the corner where Concha couldn't overhear.  "Wynne, I need you to trust me, and to stay out

here."

"Why, child?  You aren't thinking of doing what I think you are doing?  You have always been against such things! 

How could you...now?" Wynne's voice was rising in decibels.

"I am not thinking of it!  Wynne, torture is unreliable, but if you know what buttons to push, intimidation isn't. 

Concha doesn't know what I am willing to do or not do.  But if she sees your face, the game is up.  You may know

beer but, my dear mage, I could beat you at Wicked Grace easily," Kai smiled to take any sting out of her words.

"I will stay here, then; I trust you, child."  Wynne stroked her cheek.  "We have been through too much for me not

to."

Kai turned back towards the room, opened the door and stepped inside.  "Follow my lead."  Kai whispered to Sten and

Morrigan.

"Really, princess, you think this room holds any terror for me?  This room only makes me squirm in delight.  All

the fun Vimaro and I have enjoyed here."  The tip of Concha's pink tongue darted over her lips.  "Oh yes, this room

is so delicious.  Including what we did to your Antivan lover."  Concha let out a low, seductive laugh.

Kai only paced toward the woman, touching that cold abyss inside herself.  She put her face into Concha's and

smiled a grin that was all snow and ice.  She ran her finger down the perfect and flawless skin on Concha's face,

running it down her throat and to the tops of her breasts peeking out over the neckline of her dress.  Kai took her

time, like a lover, smiling her cold smile, shutting off the part of her brain that was wanting to throw up again. 

She then whipped her hand out and gripped Concha by her hair again, dragging her to a chair with the shackles.

Kai grabbed the woman by the front of her bodice and slammed her into the chair, keeping one hand on her chest

while shackling first one hand then the other.  Her feet came next, and then Kai grabbed Concha's chin.  "Torture

is so crude and ineffective.  Really, Concha, allow me to prove how much more inventive I am.  I know we haven't

know each other long, but I am hurt that you think me so crass," Kai purred at her.

Kai went to the brazier and used a poker to stir the live coals in it to the surface and then employed the bellows

to blow them into life.  Kai placed a saw-toothed sword in the coals so it could get red hot.  While she did all

this, she spoke over her shoulder in a perfectly conversational tone, "Concha, someone as beautiful as you are, and

all you can think is that I might whip you or cut you.  Such wounds can be healed easily by any mage with the

skills, if you have enough gold, and I am sure you have used such talents before.  Wounds can be made to disappear

as if they never happened.  And I am not here to give you pleasure, which is all torture would do for you,

considering your tastes.  What I have in mind is so much more about pleasing me."  Kai smiled over at Concha while

continuing to use the bellows.

Morrigan let out a quiet chuckle while keeping her golden eyes trained on the woman in the chair. "Oh, this should

be fun."

Sten, being Sten, simply crossed his arms and arranged his already intimidating features into a harsher look.  His

silence rolled off of him in waves.

"Naseel told me you aren't much of a fighter, and from our little interlude, that much is true.  She said you

prefer to use seduction and poison."  Kai walked back over to stand in front of Concha with the now red bladed

sword.  "I intend so much more for you.  First, I am going to cut off your feet below the ankles.  Next, your hands

at the wrists.  Then, your nose and your tongue.  Finally, I’ll put out your left eye followed by your right eye. 

But your ears, your ears I am going to let you keep, Concha.  I want every scream of every person who looks at your

hideousness to sing in those perfect, shell like ears." Kai allowed a slow, sinister chuckle to escape her lips

while she grabbed Concha's chin and brushed her lips over hers.  "I am sure the seduction of your contracts will be

so much easier with my... modifications, no?"  Kai pulled back so Concha could see the abyss looking out from her

eyes.  [[Nice reference to “The Princess Bride.”  Do I get a cookie?]]

Concha's eyes widened in fear.  "You ****, you ****, you can't do that!  Vimaro will hunt you to the ends of

Thedas!"

"Oh, he won't have to hunt me to the ends of Thedas.  I won't be running.  I want him to find me.  I figure if I

damage his favorite toy, he will want to find me sooner.  It is really a simple stratagem, don't you think?  You

might want to answer now.  I am about to get started, and I don't think you and I will be doing much talking."  Kai

merely gestured casually with the sword.  "No?  Nothing else you want to say?  Well then.  I guess we should get

started, this could take awhile."  Kai swung back with the sword aiming at one of Concha's delicately slippered

feet.

"NO!  Don't...you...I can tell you how to contact him.  We have a code and a way of relaying messages!  If you want

your little Antivan bastard, you need me as I am!"  Concha was squirming in the chair, tears running down her

beautiful face.  Kai could have almost felt sympathy, except for the knowledge that Concha only felt bad for

herself at this moment.  Once she was released, she would be the same  soulless abyss walking on two legs that she

was before.  Kai shoved her own abyss back into place behind all that made her human.  She looked at Concha with a

cold smile.  "Well, we shall see.  If what you tell me doesn't work, then I am afraid we go back to Plan A, my

dearest Concha."  And she threw the sword back into the brazier, turning to the door to fetch Wynne and her supply

of parchment, pen and ink.  They had a message to deliver.  The hunt was still on.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 26 mai 2010 - 12:53 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 33


Concha's information had been good after all, and Kai found herself walking into a small chapel in one of the

poorest parts of Denerim.  The chapel was, like so much of the city, run down and dilapidated.  As Anora's mind

seemed to be spiraling further into madness after her father's death, she was raiding the country’s coffers now to

build a university in her father's name.  Instead of rebuilding the city itself, she seemed to be rebuilding her

father with stone and masonry.

This little chapel to Andraste was no different.  It had been allowed to fall into disrepair as the homes around it

were abandoned when no one could live in them any longer.  The statue of Andraste holding a bowl was in residence,

but no altar, no pews decorated the small space.  The light filling the chapel came from the brazier in front of

the statue and the torches along the walls.

When they had received word back from Vimaro about the meeting place, Kai had sent Scath to scout it out and give

her the layout of their meeting place.  It was a simple, architecturally speaking – a rectangle with a U-shaped

inner balcony running along the tops of the walls supported by columns underneath.  Opposite the doors, the wall

that held the statue had two doorways leading into what would have been the rectory for the priest.  The rectory

itself had only one exit, and access to the balconies was on the inside of the chapel.  The place was so poor when

it was built that there were raw beams across a ceiling that had never been closed off and plastered.

Kai had also left Scath around the hideout in case anyone came back to look at the bodies.  So far, no one had, so

Naseel was still Kai's secret weapon. For the benefit of the remaining Scath and her friends, Kai debriefed Naseel

on Vimaro and the remaining Crows in his cell.  Kai was hoping that others would be willing to leave Master

Vimaro's 'employ,' as Naseel had done.  If she could do so, she figured she could kill two birds with one stone. 

If it were possible, and it was a gamble.  If she succeeded, she would not have to fight as many in the battle she

was sure was in the making.  And, she would have that much more talent at her disposal in dealing with Anora.  Kai

chuckled mentally.  It was almost like old times, trying to amass an army while dealing with and avoiding a foe. 

Granted, Anora was no archdemon, but she was a deadly little viper, a lot like her father, who was made more

dangerous by her deeper slip into her delusions.

Master Vimaro did not know about The Scath, or the Scathach, so Naseel had pointed out that Vimaro probably figured

Kai was just saving her lover as Concha had assumed, as Naseel herself had assumed.  He would be expecting Kai to

bring only a small group for protection, so he would feel he had the advantage.

Kai had overheard Leliana talking to Naseel, telling the elf that Zevran was her friend, not her lover, and that

she would be doing this for any of them.  She had watched Naseel's surprised, even stunned, expression and her odd

colored eyes had sparked, but with what, Kai could not say.

Kai's boots made no sound on the worn rug that ran up the center of the chapel.  Kai had asked if Naseel was up for

the task of being Concha's escort and thus revealing herself and her defection.  Kai was hoping it would help

further her goal of having others defect, thereby unnerving Vimaro.  Any advantage Kai could get, she wanted to

use.

Kai had worn her regular rogue leathers, instead of the all black uniform of the Scath.  Let Vimaro continue to

think she was nothing but a fellow thief and rogue who had partnered up with Zev.  Naseel followed Kai, pushing a

tied and gagged Concha ahead of her, giving the woman encouraging pokes with the point of her dagger whenever she

started to slow.  Concha would occasionally look over her shoulder and glare at Naseel, her eyes shooting hateful

daggers at the former Crow.  Three of the Scath were behind Naseel, again dressed in regular, if not beaten up

armor, looking like the kind of mercenary bodyguards anyone with enough coin could hire.

Kai stopped in the middle of the chapel and casually looked around for the Crows she knew would be hiding in the

shadows.  They were good, she didn't see them.  "So, you raid my home away from home and kill my employees.  Yet,

you bring me my Concha back.  And all in exchange for one Zevran Arainai.  If you ask me, it doesn't seem a fair

exchange."  A male voice echoed off the walls as a shadow from the doorway of the rectory detached itself and came

forward into the light to stand in front of the statue.  "It does seem a lot of trouble for such a trifling elven

bastard, even if he is a delightful bedfellow."

Master Vimaro was as handsome as Concha was beautiful.  He had black curling hair and dark eyes set into a chiseled

face.  His lips were full, but not feminine, and drawn up into a charming smile.  His Antivan accent made his voice

pitch deep and, like Zev's voice, made everything sound seductive.  Unlike with Zev, Kai was immediately repulsed. 

Vimaro's eyes, like Concha's, had nothing but the abyss staring out of them.

Kai carefully schooled her face into an indifferent mask.  After time spent on the road haggling with traders of

various races, Kai had learned the one thing you didn't do.  You didn't let them know just how badly you wanted

something.  "Zevran is a valued partner.  We have jobs that need to be brought to completion, and he has certain

skills needed to do that," Kai shrugged.  "We have been paid well, and my reputation would suffer if I left them

unfinished."

"Ah, skills, yes.  And they would have nothing to do with his capturing your heart or warming your bed perhaps? 

After all, I know how charming he can be," Vimaro smirked at her.  "One does not usually go to so much trouble to

get a working partner back."

"You mean like the trouble you have gone to?  Perhaps we have the same issues with our delightful playfellow."  Kai

allowed a small smile to curve her lips.

"He belongs to me, but not in the way you think!"  Vimaro's face shifted into an ugly scowl as his voice rose in a

snarl.  "He is my tool, my toy.  He is to do what he is meant to do.  I own him, body and soul.  I have the papers

to prove it."  Vimaro's face suddenly smoothed back into a pleasant smile that didn't meet his eyes as he made an

open gesture with his hands.  "He was sent on a job, he failed.  For that alone he should be beaten and, if lucky,

left to live if only to make up for his failure.  But not only did he fail, he killed my other tools, one of them a

very valuable one at that.  Taliesin was worth twenty of the toys I have left.  Add to that he, himself, is a

valuable tool, or at least he was."  Vimaro let out a low chuckle.  "I will admit he isn't very light on his feet

at the moment."  Vimaro snapped his fingers, and two Crows dragged in a limp, filthy, bloody body whose hands were

shackled.  They dumped Zevran unceremoniously on the floor.  He was covered in bruises, cuts, blood, and filth; Kai

could hardly tell it was Zev at all.  In fact it was hard to tell if he was even alive, but for the soft moan he

let out when he hit the floor.

Vimaro continued, "But more than that, he embarrassed me!  He made me a laughing stock amongst the other Crows and

their noble houses!  Me!  For that alone he should beg for death!" Vimaro's voice snarled again, his face a

monstrous mask before it once again became the jovial devil-may-care smile.

It took all of her discipline to keep her face set in stone.  Her heart began to race, and bile was trying to edge

its way up her throat from a stomach which felt as if it had shards of glass in it.  She felt her own shadow of the

soul trying to break its leash.  She knew that Vimaro had meant to test her, to provoke her.  It hurt to lock it

all down, to present Vimaro with nothing.

"Watch her carefully, Naseel," Kai whispered to the elf before striding over to Zev and crouching down beside him. 

Her hooded cloak obscured them both partly from view.  It hurt even more to see him up close.  Gently as she could,

she raised him up by the shoulders to cradle him a moment.  His one good eye opened to look at her, and he tried to

grin that cocky grin of his.  Kai smoothed his filthy hair back and tried to give him a pointed look before she

grasped his face and gave him a long and lingering kiss.  Kai then gently laid him back down on his stomach so he

could rest his hands on his arms.  She only hoped he had gotten the message, or the game would be up.

Kai smiled coolly at Vimaro again, "Well, it seems I was too easy on your pretty little playmate, then."  Kai spun

around, stalked over, and grabbed Concha by her auburn tresses.  Kai made a mental note to get her own hair cut as

it was getting a little long.  She dragged Concha forward and put a knife to her long, lovely throat.  Kai watched

Vimaro's eyes widen in surprise, not because of the threat to his woman, but because he could see Naseel standing

there.  The elven woman, being shorter than the human, had remained unnoticed.  Kai watched his already olive skin

turn almost purple with rage.  So, Kai knew what made him livid – toys that wouldn't do what he wanted.  Perceived

or actual betrayal was one of his pet peeves, apparently.

"You little ****!  Did you think this **** could offer you freedom and safety?"  Vimaro's lips twisted, making

his handsome features into something ugly.  "You only have to look at what she came for to see how foolish a notion

that is," Vimaro gestured toward Zevran

Naseel, to her credit, didn't blanch or show any signs of distress.  She pitched her voice so it carried the length

of the chapel.  "This woman is a better leader than you will ever be.  With her, I am free.  Even if only for a few

hours.  She gave me a choice; there is power and strength in choice, Vimaro.  She is truly strong, and it is you

who are weak.  She showed me that.  And if I die tonight, I will die free and go where you cannot touch me." 

Naseel smiled a thin little smile.

"Weak?  You are nothing!  I took you from nothing and made you into a Crow.  You are the weak one, Naseel.  You

could have had real power.  You have had a taste of power, the power to hold another's life in your hands.  But the

power to torment, to oppress, to control, to hold others powerless.  That is true power, you stupid little ****,"

Vimaro scoffed at the elf.

"Power can only be given away, not taken."  Naseel looked at Kai as she stepped to stand next to her.

"You are both pitiful fools," Vimaro spat at them.

"And yet, here we are.  So, do you want your little friend or not?  If not, why am I here?" Kai cocked an eyebrow

at Vimaro.

"Fine, give me my Concha."  Vimaro held out his hand.  Kai pushed the woman forward, and Vimaro caught her and

removed her gag, kissing her face.

"Kill her Vimaro!  She wanted to maim me!  She was going to cut off my hands and feet, and make me ugly.  I want

that **** dead!  And as for the elven chit, I want to take special time with her!" Concha turned a burning glare

on Kai and Naseel.

"Hush, my darling, all will be taken care of."  Vimaro stroked a porcelain cheek with one finger before fisting his

hand in Concha's hair and covering her mouth with his.  Kai nodded at Naseel to go get Zev, but before Naseel had

taken a step Vimaro had forced Concha onto her knees and put a blade to her throat.

"What are you doing?  Vimaro?  What...."  Anything else Concha was going to say was lost in a sick, wet, gurgling

sound as Vimaro severed her throat.  Kai felt hot red blood as it sprayed out and then spilled down the woman's

front, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief before she fell forward on the floor.

"Sweet Concha, you were such fun, you shared my hobbies.  But you gave this little troublemaker our codes.  You

gave her a way to reach me.  That was your mistake, my love."  The way Vimaro said “my love” made Kai’s skin crawl.

 His actions, while not unexpected, were still shocking to a part of her brain.  Again, Kai carefully schooled her

face, shrugging at Vimaro and smiling a little. "And now,” Vimaro continued, “We can finish our business here.  You

really didn't expect me to just let you walk out of here, now did you?”  And with that, the Crows who had been

hiding in the darkest shadows of the walls and lying on the floors of the balconies stood up.

Kai only continued her own smile and let her voice carry the length and breadth of the chapel.  "I would make the

same offer to any here that I made to Naseel.  Join me.  I have a group called The Scath that runs in Ferelden.  I

can't guarantee the same prestige, but you will never have to worry about the retirement package."  Kai grinned

more widely and gestured with her hands.  "You may join of your free will and leave of your own volition.  Your

life won't always be easy, but it will be your own.  To come or go.  If you feel you can't join, then you may leave

and go back to Antiva if you wish.  Provided you just leave and don't fight for Vimaro tonight."

"And who are you, Fereldan ****, to offer anything to my people?  They know how the world works.  I own them.  And

since I count your number as five and since your lover is in no shape to help, what with the shackles and the

torture and all," Vimaro gave a laugh at that, "Then it would seem you are the one dying tonight."  Kai started to

laugh; it started in her belly and burst from her lips causing her to bend over and put her hands on her knees. 

When she rose up, she had tears rolling down her cheeks. "Brasca!  What is so funny, little ****?  Perhaps you

would like to let me in on the joke before you die?"

"The fact that a puffed up little toad like you could scare me, that is what is so funny!" Kai gasped out.  She

could feel Naseel looking at her, wondering if she had lost her mind.

"You dare insult me?  Do you have any idea what I can do to you?  What I have done to others?" Vimaro's handsome

face turned purple again.  "You ****, you ****, you chit, you harlot, tramp..." Vimaro was absolutely sputtering

now, spittle liberally coating his chin in his rage and inability to come up with another epithet to throw at her.

"Strumpet?" Kai laughed in his face again and wiped her eyes.  "I would say I am sorry, but that would be a lie.  I

mean, it is just so hard to feel fear of some stupid poppinjay like yourself after facing darkspawn and the

Archdemon.  I mean, you must see how comedic this situation is, don't you?"  Kai watched while the information

processed in his brain.

"You are a Grey War...."

"The Grey Warden, one of the ones on the contract with Loghain?  Yes, I am afraid I am guilty as charged," Kai gave

Vimaro a cold hard smile, offering him a small bow.  "One and the same.  And if Zevran Arainai was willing to join

me and stay despite knowing the Crows were looking for him.  And Naseel is willing.  Then, I ask you all to

consider is this.  Is a man who tortures others just to bring any thrill into his own empty life really a strong

leader?  Or is he weak?" Kai let that hang in the air of the chapel.

"You lie, the Grey Wardens of Ferelden are dead!" Vimaro growled.  "And even if she and these Scath are so strong,

then why is she recruiting and why only show with so few?" Virmaro's accented voice tried bravado.

"Oh, did I give the impression that I only showed with four?  Not counting Zevran, as you so helpfully pointed out

earlier.  My mistake, I apologize for the deception.  Scath, to me!" Kai gave a yell, and Scath who had been hiding

on the open beams in the church began to descend ropes to the balconies and to the chapel floor.  More poured in

from the rectory as they had snuck in from the back, incapacitating any Crows hiding there.  The front doors were

opened by Naseel, and more Scath, followed by her friends and her Mabari, ran in.

Vimaro's olive face became a sickly pale green.  "Fight you ill bred curs, obey me.  Fight, you children of ****s

and cast outs!  Your master orders you!" Vimaro's voice rose like a child throwing a temper tantrum.

Kai watched as the Crows she could see dropped their weapons, even going so far as to take off weapons secreted on

their persons.  "Guess tonight is not your night, Master Vimaro."  Kai had a moment to smirk at the man before he

gasped and fell forward with an arrow in his eye.  She spun to find a Zevran tottering on his feet and holding a

bow.

"Not tonight, or any night, I am afraid," Zev managed to get out before he started to fall forwards.  This time it

was her turn to keep him from breaking his nose on the floor.

"Wynne!" Kai yelled in desperation as she lowered him gently as she could to rest in her lap.  Wynne came forward,

her hands already glowing.  Many of his fingers looked dislocated.  How he had used the lock pick she had passed to

him in the kiss, let alone held a bow and fired an arrow, made her heart hurt.  It must have been excruciating,

even setting aside what it must have taken just for him to stand.

He looked even worse up close now that she had time to catalog the outside injuries she could see.  She wanted to

cry.  One of his amber eyes, the one that wasn't swollen shut, opened, and he tried to smile at her again.  He must

have read her expression, "No, don't my dear, dear, frien...."  But what he was saying got cut off by a cough as

his breathing got shallow and raspy.  He was also going very pale under his usually warm, honey brown skin.  It was

a sickly color that made Kai's heart leap in panic.

She looked to Wynne, whose face was grim as she worked feverishly.  "Dammit, Zevran, I did not do all of this to

let you die on me!  Don't you do this to me!  Don't you dare!"  But his breath got even shallower.  Kai felt tears

streaming from her eyes as they had for Alistair, and they fell on his battered face.  Sod it!  This was not

happening again!  Kai bent down and whispered in his ear, "Alistair wants us to make love, Zev.  You can't die

now."  She smiled at him through her tears.  Suddenly Zev's breathing got stronger and the horrid pallid color

started leaving his skin.  His one good amber eye opened and looked at her again.

"Did you say ‘make love’?" and he smiled at her. 

Apparently, Wynne was the only one close enough to hear what she had said to him and his response.  "Unbelievable!"

 The mage just shook her head and laughed while she continued healing his major injuries.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 26 mai 2010 - 01:02 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 34

When Wynne had given the go ahead to move Zev, Kai had Sten carry him back to the stables where they could get

their Ceffyls and get him to the safe house out of the city.  Wynne and Morrigan followed Sten, along with Argus. 

Kai turned to the rest including the Crows.

"Oghren, you and Shale get back with Bodhan and Sandal.  Get your armor hidden away, wear your civilian clothes. 

Don't forget you need to have that broken control rod out when you are on the road in case Shale is spotted before

you leave the main road to go to the farm hold.  I don't want word leaking out that an unchecked golem was seen

roaming the roads outside of Denerim and risk letting it get back to Anora."  Kai looked at Shale and smiled. 

"Remember if you come across anyone who is curious, play like the rod works."  Shale only sighed and nodded.  "And

you know the back story of why you have a golem."  Kai looked back at Oghren.

"Aye, Warden!" Oghren smiled back at her.

Kai directed some of the Scath to go with Oghren and collect all the items they had raided at the hideout from the

warehouse where they had been hidden.  Bodhan and Sandal could safely carry all the loot in his wagon making it

look like nothing more than things he had for sale.  Kai also gave special instructions for the disposal of Master

Vimaro and Concha.  She had plans involving their remains and speaking to a certain Crow master named Ignacio.  Kai

had learned he and his brother were back in Ferelden, though they had left before the Blight came to Denerim.

Kai turned back to Naseel.  "Thank you Naseel.  You and your fellow Crows may stay and help me, if you wish, or you

may go back to Antiva.  The choice is still yours.  I know you told me you would stay, but I still want you to be

able to change your mind, especially after tonight."  Kai pressed a bag of coins into the elven girl's hands. 

"Leliana will escort you to the docks.  Sten will meet you back at the docks after he drops off my other friends at

the stables.  He will help any who wish it to book safe passage back to Antiva with a reliable captain we know, he

has the coin for the passage.  This coin is for the rest of you.  I know your Master only pays you when a job is

done, if at all, so no doubt you all have nothing to your names."  Kai remembered Zev explaining this system when

she first found him and he was talking her out of killing him.  "I will not have any of you selling your armor or

weapons."  Kai looked at Naseel and then the rest.  "You are free, the choice is yours."

"I did not change my mind about serving the Grey Warden who defeated a whole band of Crows and who killed Master

Vimaro.  What more could I ask for in a leader, except for that leader to teach me the fighting style she used to

defeat me?"  Kai studied Naseel's eager face; she looked like a child asking for a sweet.  She couldn't help but

laugh.

"I think that could be arranged."  Kai smiled at her.  "Those who wish to stay, please go with Leliana to the docks

to send off your fellows.  And because Leli is part of the Scath, she will help you all get settled in with places

to stay and food before she leaves.  Now if you will forgive me, I have dear friend to tend to."  Kai strode out of

the chapel drawing her hood up to cover her face.  Lelyth and one other Scath followed her as an escort.

Kai stopped when she heard footsteps behind her, and she and the other Scath drew their weapons. "Wait!"  Kai

turned to see Naseel walking towards her.  "I am coming with you."  Naseel's face seemed set.  Kai smiled and

nodded; she had given the girl the use of her free will.  She couldn't very well stop her from exercising it now. 

Kai chuckled quietly as they all made their way down the now deserted and dark streets.

They made it to the stables with no trouble.  Kai had not really expected any.  There was no real law and order

under Anora's rule.  Decent, law-abiding citizens locked themselves inside when the sun went down.  The taverns and

brothels, which had rebuilt quickly, were the only real businesses open at this hour.  Since they weren't traveling

in those neighborhoods, Denerim gave the impression of being a dead city.

The air was soft at this time of early morning, when the sun has been set for some time and dawn is still far away.

 Her father had called it the 'dark hour of the soul,' the time when most old or sick people seemed to die.  It

made Kai hurry her footsteps; Zev had perked up after her offer of making love, but she didn't want to test how far

only an offer might keep him going.  Of course with Zev, that alone might keep him alive even with a dagger

sticking out of his heart, the outrageous flirt.

They got to the stable to find Sten still holding Zev while Wynne saddled one of the Ceffyls and tried to direct

Morrigan on the procedure at the same time.  Lelyth went to rescue Morrigan.  Zev looked like a child in the giant

Qunari's arms.  Kai walked over to them. "He is breathing, Kadan."  Sten met her gaze with his lavender eyes.

Kai smiled at him in thanks and put a hand on Zev's forehead.  "When we get saddled up, I will ride with him in

front of me.  Rhia can pretty much direct herself, so I won't have to hold the reins.  I will just need you to put

him up there.  You know to get back to the docks.  Book passage for any Crows who wish to leave.  Help Leliana get

those that stay situated, then start out.  The less you stay in Denerim, the better."  Sten just nodded.

Kai turned to start saddling her Ceffyl, Luna Negra.  Luna was one of Rhia’s fillies.  It was Zev who had given the

Ferelden Ceffyl an Antivan name.  She was all black except for a small, crescent-shaped white spot on her forehead.

 The filly had refused every name that anyone tried to give her, until Zev.  Both Rhia and Luna adored Zev and

would follow him around a paddock or field if he went out.  Kai wondered if it had anything to do with his being a

Dalish elf, but Wynne's stallion didn't do the same thing.  Kai teased Zev that it had to do with females and his

charm.  Kai fisted a hand in the mare's mane.  Maker, don't let him die now.

"Naseel, how good are you at riding a horse?" Kai turned to the elven woman.

"I am a good rider, why?" Naseel was rubbing Luna's soft nose while the mare lipped at her face in affection. 

Well, that’s a good sign; the mare liked the girl right off.

"Because Morrigan is not, and I want you to ride Luna, here.  Morrigan can ride behind you, which is how we rode

together.  I need to hold onto Zev.  I will be riding his horse, Rhia.  Also, these horses are not your regular

Chevals from Orlais or the Caballo from Antiva, so this may be a little different from what you are used to," Kai

smiled

"What do you mean?" Naseel looked at Kai curiosly.

"Better to demonstrate.  Ceffyls are smart, like Mabari."  Argus barked in agreement.  "Luna, pick up Naseel. 

Gently, please," Kai directed the mare.  Luna stopped snuffling Naseel's face and grasped the elven girl by the

front of her leathers and lifted her off her feet.  Naseel's face wore a momentary look of panic before the mare

put her back to earth again.  Luna let out a whinny and lipped at Naseel in comfort.

"I see what you mean."  Naseel stroked the crescent white spot on the Ceffyl's forehead, scratching until the

mare's eyes closed with pleasure.

"We are going to be traveling off the roads.  Luckily, it is a full moon, or we would have to wait until dawn.  The

Ceffyls work best when given their head to pick out the path.  So, just go with Luna's lead, OK?"  Kai patted the

mare's neck.  Kai had Naseel get into the saddle so she could adjust the stirrups.  She then turned and gave

Morrigan a leg up behind Naseel.  Wynne was already on Bran, a big dark chestnut stallion with a cream colored mane

and tail with a blaze of white bisecting his big head.  He and Wynne headed out of the stable into the yard first

with Argus following.  Luna went after carrying her two charges.

Kai turned and spoke to Rhia, "Our friend is badly hurt, my lady.  We need to be speedy, but go as gently as we

can.  I will be holding him, so I can only ride with my legs."  Kai stroked Rhia's dappled gray forehead.  The mare

snorted and nodded her head up and down in understanding.

Kai jumped up and swung herself into the saddle.  Rhia walked over to where Sten stood and snuffled Zev gently. 

Kai motioned for Sten to put Zev in front of her.  He did so, and Kai panicked momentarily when Zev made no sound

even as Sten moved him.  But as Sten said, he was still breathing.  Kai kept her hood pulled up, but she wrapped

her cloak around them both and her arms around Zev.  "Be careful, Sten, you and Leli.  We won't move to Highever

until everyone is together.  I will see you both at the safe house."

"It is a couple of days’ walk.  We will be there."  Sten left through the doorway of the stable to the yard.  Rhia

followed.  When they were outside, Sten turned to go.

"Sten, thank you."  Kai smiled at him.

"Kadan."  He nodded and walked off into the darkness towards the docks with Lelyth and the other Scath following

him.  Kai watched until they disappeared around the corner, before urging Rhia in the opposite direction towards

the city gate.  The gates themselves had one of her Scath in the position of night guard.  He smiled, gave Kai a

crossed arm salute and opened the doors to allow them all to leave.  Once the gates closed again and they were

clear, Kai told Ria to take them back to the farm hold where they had all been staying.  Rhia and the other Ceffyls

started off down the road and traveled about a mile out of the city before leaving the road to travel overland.

Kai spent her time just gripping Rhia with her knees and checking to see if Zev was still breathing.  He smelled

like blood and a privy, and when she sniffed again, like a Mabari.  She supposed it had to do with the cage he was

kept in.

"No doubt he would tell you that it reminded him of one of his amusing times in a brothel in Antiva.  Well, except

for the Mabari part," Alistair's voice spoke into her head.

"There could have been a dog involved, you never know with Zev," Kai teased him back.  "And where have you been?"

Kai asked him.  "You have been awfully quiet since I told you I was recruiting Naseel.  I thought you were mad at

me."  Kai heard him sigh.

"For the record, I am not mad.  Irked maybe, but you can be the most irksome woman I have ever met.  I have been

trying to cover my eyes and not look at what you are doing lest I have to explain to your mother.  You do remember

that I am here with her and with other concerned people who want to know how you are doing?  And who do they ask I

wonder?  Oh yes, ME!" Alistair grumped.

"My mother?  O-oh, my mother," Kai did a mental squirm.  "Yes...hm...well, I don't supposed she really needs to

know...."

"To know about how her daughter has been putting herself in more danger than she is in already by bearding a bunch

of assassins in their den no less?  Oh, and then confronting more of said assassins and their leader?  All the

while leaving our children, her grandchildren, her words not mine, behind to be possibly orphaned?  Oh no, we

wouldn't want her to find out that.  Too late!" Alistair's voice dripped sarcasm.  "But you do forget who it is who

gets interrogated by your mother, and I am no good at telling her everything is fine and not to worry.  Maker, she

just stares at you and whittles you down until you beg to confess." 

"Add to that the fact that every feeling you have shows on that handsome but dopey face of yours, and yes, my

mother gets to know all," Kai retorted.

"But it isn't just that you could lose everything you're wearing in a game of Wicked Grace, my love," Alistair

answered.  

Kai paused.  "I remember the night in camp Zev had you down to your small clothes and then to nothing at all!"  Kai

laughed at the memory.

"Yes, and I tried to explain it was cold that night!" Alistair's voice pouted, making Kai laugh harder. "Hey, no

changing the subject!"

"Sorry, I just meant to say, don't feel too bad.  Fergus and I could never get away with anything either.  She

always found out."  Kai couldn't help but give him another mental laugh.

"Oh yes, laugh now, but someone has some explaining to do when she gets back to the Fade," Alistair's voice

chuckled evilly into her ear.

"Ha, very ha, always a catch."  Then, Kai gave another mental grin.  "Just think, it could be you here now, and I

could be in the Fade," Kai teased him.

"Oh no, thank you!  Then I would have to make love to Zevran.  He pinched me on the arse after that game of Wicked

Grace, the pointed-eared scamp," Alistair teased back.  "I am just glad you, and he, are safe.  I did like him when

it became apparent he wasn't going to kill you, or me for that matter.  And he has been nothing but loyal.  I hope

he will be all right, my love.  I have to say he did spring back when you told him my proposal, the opportunist. 

You might have to keep repeating it, though, just to be safe," Alistair laughed.  "I love you, Kai.  Now, just try

not to fall off Rhia and break your neck.  Uh oh, your mother is calling me."  And then his voice went silent once

again.

Kai sighed, she missed him so much.  She tried talking to Zev, "Zev, Zevran, please dear friend, talk to me."  All

she got was a low moan.  She felt his breath on her hand, and his chest was moving.  She had a moment to wonder if

this was what it was like for Zev and the others when she was busy being comatose.  Well, it serves me right, she

supposed.

Because they weren't forced to travel the road, the Ceffyls made good time, much better than Oghren and Shale

would.  The sky was just taking on a pink tinge when they finally got to the farm hold.  The house was bigger than

the usual farm hold, as it was a minor bann's home.  It had belonged to Ser Gilmore's family before the Blight, if

she remembered correctly.  Kai couldn't remember which bann had it, now.  A distant cousin she thought.

They rode into the cobbled yard surrounding the house and up to the stables.  Wynne dismounted and went to wake a

very sleepy and surprised stable boy.  He looked to be about twelve years old and had been sleeping in the hay, Kai

guessed, from the stalks of it sticking out of his hair.  He had apparently been told to wait for them no matter

when that might be.  He helped them all dismount, including helping Wynne and Morrigan handle Zev so Kai could get

down.  Kai went into the house to fetch a couple of more servants and a blanket to make a stretcher for Zev.

He still looked pale, but it was not that horrid deathly pallor of earlier, and his breathing was still steady. 

Wynne directed them to take him upstairs to the room Kai had used earlier and to heat water for a bath so that they

could clean him up and get his outer wounds assessed and tended to.

Kai was exhausted.  It had been one really long day and night.  Kai's breasts were swollen and very tender. 

Besides wanting to see the twins just because she had missed them terribly, her body was practically screaming at

her to do so for very physical reasons.

Kai made her way upstairs to her room and gently opened the door to find Fiona sleeping with the twins in the bed. 

When Kai went and gently touched Fiona on the shoulder, the woman started and grabbed for her staff.  She stopped

quickly enough, for which Kai was grateful, as she didn't relish the idea of being a toad.  Fiona jumped up and

gave her a hug. "Did you find him?"  Fiona pulled back with a smile while brushing back Kai's hair with her hand. 

"You look exhausted."

"We did, they are bringing up now."  Kai had to look down as tears started.  "It isn't pretty Fiona.  I...would you

mind helping Wynne?  She healed his major injuries, but he has so many more.  I just wanted to get him out of

Denerim and somewhere safe."  Kai looked at her and smiled.  "How are Fi and Duncan?"  Kai went over and looked at

their sweet faces.  Looking at them helped erase some of the ugliness she had seen recently.  She touched them, and

they woke.  When they saw her, they smiled and then started voicing their displeasure at being left without Mommy

and hungry.  Life was not fair at all!

"Of course I will help.  Here, let’s get you and them situated." Fiona help Kai get herself and the twins on the

bed and get them feeding.  She almost wanted to weep with relief as the pressure in her breasts eased.

They brought Zev up on his makeshift stretcher, and Wynne directed them to lay him on the floor next to the tub. 

They took pillows from the bed and put them under his head until the bath could be filled with warm water.  Fiona

went to bend down next to him and Wynne.  Morrigan had come in with Naseel.

"Wynne, could you make sure the servants get Naseel a place to sleep?"  Wynne nodded at her.  "Naseel, get some

rest.  It has been a really long day for all of us."  Kai smiled at her, and Naseel gave a small grin and bowed,

then left with a servant who would take her to her room.

When the twins were done feeding, she kissed them both on their round little cheeks, burped them and changed them. 

She put them on the bed and just watched them fall back to sleep, studiously avoiding watching Wynne and Fiona

discuss Zev's visible signs of torture.  She wanted to be sick all over again, and she was also feeling the effects

of a day spent fighting.  Her wounds were itching or, in the case of the one on her shoulder where the bandage had

moved, burning.  She felt sweaty, gritty and sore from fighting and riding.  The adrenaline she had called on had

taken its toll, leaving her drained, limp and headachey.

Morrigan, who had been crouching next to Wynne and Fiona, rose and came over to the bed just as the last bucket of

water was poured into the large stone tub in the room.  "I will watch the children.  You will not be satisfied

until you have helped clean him up and tend to his injuries."  Morrigan's yellow eyes gave Kai comfort.  "I know

you, sister; best get it done so you can have your wounds looked at as well.  Do not think I have not seen you get

hurt.  ‘Twas not I who had to dance with that rogue today."  She smiled at Kai and laid herself down on the bed

next to the twins.

Kai stripped down, removed her bandages, and got into the tub.  Wynne and Fiona carried Zev over and placed him

gently in the water with her.  Kai held his head above water while all three of them, as gently as they could,

removed the caked-on blood and filth that covered him.  Kai realized early that some of the marks which seemed to

be dirt were actually several-day-old bruises underneath newer ones.  Restraint marks, cuts, scratches, marks of

whips and branding irons – it took everything she had not to throw up again.  Instead, her plan for taking the

Crows out of his life cemented itself in her head.

She must have looked murderous because Wynne touched her gently on the shoulder and gave her a concerned look. 

Fiona, though she was far better at keeping her face neutral, also had a slight crimping around her eyes and a

certain set to her mouth.  Kai glanced down to find the water completely murky, grayish brown and tinged pink from

blood.  It really needed to be drained and fresh water put in, but this would have to do for now.

Kai smiled and joked as Zev would have done.  "I was just thinking how disappointed he will be that he missed out

on three women bathing him."  Wynne and Fiona both grinned because they knew she wanted them to.  They helped her

get him out of the filthy water; at least he was cleaner.  Kai drained the tub and stepped out to dry off, letting

Morrigan put new poultices and bandages on her own wounds.  She then got into a shift before helping Wynne and

Fiona, who had dried Zev off and were working on bandaging him as well.

Kai held his head in her lap and handed Wynne and Fiona bandages and poultices as they asked for them.  She stroked

his forehead and watched the steady rise and fall of his chest.  It seemed an eternity before they got every

scratch, cut and wound tended to.  She was just starting to nod off herself when Fiona roused her and had her lift

him up so they could slip a sleep shirt and small clothes on him. Wynne and Fiona lifted him off her lap, and Kai

went to pull back the bed covers so they could put him in bed.  As she stood out of the way at the end of the bed,

she discovered dark, bluish purple bruises on the bottoms of his feet where they had been beaten.  Kai couldn't

control her stomach this time.  She went to the window and only had a second to hope no servant was walking down

below at some early morning chore before she emptied her stomach of the only thing in it, the water that she had

drunk.

There has been enough throwing up lately, really.  She turned to find three sympathetic faces looking toward her. 

Morrigan walked over and led her to the other side of the bed.  She put Kai in it and with the help of Fiona

arranged the twins so that Kai could put her head near Zev's and her hand on his chest with the twins in between

them.  Then, all three women left the room.  Kai only had a moment to kiss Zevran on the forehead before her head

hit the pillow and she plunged into that exhausted sleep where no dreams followed her.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 26 mai 2010 - 01:07 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 35


 Kai woke when the twins stirred and wanted to be fed once again.  She had no idea how late in the day it was.  She

had fallen asleep at dawn.  As she was trying to get everything set up, she gave Zev a quick once over.  He was

still breathing, but unresponsive to his name or her hand on his forehead.  He felt a little feverish; she made a

mental note to tell Wynne.

If anything his bruises looked worse.  His swollen eye and cheek had turned a darker shade of blackish purple,

obscuring the elegant lines of the tattoo there.  She could see more bruises under the edges of the shirt they had

put him in and the lumps of bandages.  Kai didn't look more than that, just thinking about it made her stomach

queasy again.  Such thinking also tugged at that cold, cold place of shadows inside her.  She might go practice

throwing daggers or archery or just beating the stuffing out of a dummy later.

She piled up pillows, grabbed the rolled blankets and got first one twin, then the other settled in.  It was a good

thing that breastfeeding gave her a sense of calm and bliss.  Wynne said it was the chemicals released by her

brain.  It helped her stay centered while she finalized her plan for the Crows.  She had left special instructions

with the Scath about Vimaro’s and Concha's remains.  She was developing a better idea about how she was going to

use them.  Kai would be able to put the finishing touches on the plan after she had a talk with Naseel.  She was

going to send the Crows a message they wouldn't be able to ignore and an offer they couldn’t refuse.

"Oh boy, I don't even want to explain what you are planning to your mother," Alistair's worried voice sounded in

her ear.

"Then don't.  The Crows like to send their regards; time for them to feel how much regard I have for them."

"You know it is kind of scary when you talk like that, and really hot,"  Alistair quipped in her ear.  She gave him

a mental chuckle.

"They are going to find out how scary I can be," Kai told him.  "Their days of playing with Zevran are done; they

made a mistake by not reining Vimaro in.  They are known for never giving up, but they need to learn that never is

a long, long time.  And perhaps they should learn that there are some things they need to let go of, or the

consequences can be brutal."

Kai got the twins re-settled on the bed, stroking their little fat bellies and listening to them make 'ahh' sounds

at her and each other.  Kai kissed them and played with them awhile before putting on a robe and getting a servant

to take them downstairs to play.  She also asked the girl to send someone up with some broth and water for Zev. 

Who knew when he had really eaten last?  What had been in the cage could hardly be considered food.

Kai was tired, but could not shut off her brain to sleep, even though she realized she had not had as much rest as

she should have.  Now that she had a detailed but flexible plan, she was going over it again in her head.  There

was no way she would sleep now.

Kai went to a drawer in the nightstand and took out two jeweled earrings, holding them up to the light from the

window so they glimmered.  Kai hugged them to her chest a moment and took out a leather thong usually used to tie

up armor and laced it through them.  She put them around Zev's neck so they rested on his gently rising and falling

chest, before placing her hand over them for a moment.

Kai kissed him on the unbruised side of his face and gently on the lips before sitting down to watch him while her

brain went over her plan yet again.  She sat that way until she heard the door opening.  "Ah, this looks familiar. 

Except you were where he is and he was where you are," Wynne's voice sounded from behind her.  Kai turned and

smiled at her.

"Well, I figured it was only fair."  Kai turned back and lifted one of his long fingered hands.  Other than some

bruising, the fingers were all back in place.  She simply cupped it in one of hers and rested her cheek on the back

of it.  "Wynne, he is a little feverish, at least he feels so to me."

"I will have a look, a little willow bark tea may be in order.  It isn't unusual after such..."  Wynne left the

comment unfinished.  She just shook her head.  Wynne cleared her throat to get Kai’s attention and nodded towards

the table where a tray of food sat. "Young lady, I will not have you eating like a bird just because he is on your

preferred diet of broth and water.  You haven't eaten much either in these last few days."

"Ugh, don't remind me.  Beer and onions don't mix well.  What goes in must come out, and not always with pleasant

results," Kai grimaced as she walked over to the table to see what Wynne had brought.  The bowl held hot porridge

stirred with cream and spices.  A jar of honey glowed golden in the sun coming through the window.  A plate of

sticky buns sat to one side.  She smiled and sat down to drizzle honey into the bowl of porridge while stirring it

with a horn spoon.  Holding the bowl, she turned in her chair to watch as Wynne sat and cradled Zev's head and

carefully spoon fed him broth, using a napkin to catch any that didn't make it before he swallowed.  "That looks

like a long and tedious process," Kai observed.

"Indeed, young woman.  Hopefully he won't make me do this for six days as you did," Wynne bit back sarcastically.

"And two weeks," Kai teased the mage. "Don't forget the two weeks."

"I was trying to forget that part," Wynne wrinkled her nose at her.

"He will if he finds out he is resting his head on your bosom.  You know how he has dreamed of doing that," Kai

laughed at her.  "Shall I tell him if he stirs?" Kai asked sweetly.

"Absolutely not, I will never hear the end of it," Wynne laughed back.  "Kai, help me a moment."  Kai set her bowl

down and went to help the mage.  "Hold him up by the shoulders; I want to get some water in him.  He is dehydrated,

and with a fever, that isn't going to help.  I need leverage to tip the glass." Kai went to the other side of the

bed and crawled across until she could rest him on her chest this time.  She lifted his head gently by the chin and

held a napkin under it.  Wynne carefully tilted the glass, slowly sliding water in his mouth.  Kai felt a wave of

guilt and gratitude that they had done this for her.

"Twice," Alistair teased her.

Kai just huffed at him.  "Hush, you."

"OK, let’s put him down for now."  Wynne lay her hand on his forehead.  "I am going to get a tea pot and my herbs,

medicines and bandages, and be right back.  You go back and eat more."  And with that, Wynne left the room.

Kai wasn't hungry, really, but Wynne would skin her alive if she didn't make more food disappear.  So she went back

to the table and grabbed a couple of sticky buns, popping one in her mouth to chew on and licking her fingers.  She

wondered if Naseel had gotten enough sleep yet or if she should let the girl sleep some more.  Kai was anxious to

set her plan in motion today, if possible, as it might take some time to implement parts of it.

She popped the other bun in her mouth and went to grab the saddlebags someone had brought up to the room last

night.  Kai had stripped Vimaro's body of any seemingly valuable items while not really having the time to look at

anything closely.  She had simply tossed it all into a pouch; Zev had been her priority.  She turned the saddlebag

upside down, dumping out its contents onto the table.  A fancy dagger with a wavy blade and a twisted hilt with

jewels in the pommel clanked on to the wood.  A heavy gold ring with the heraldry of the noble House of Cresconio

and Vimaro's House of Crows landed next to it.  The symbols of both houses were intricately set with gems. 

Apparently, Vimaro liked showy.  Kai snorted, typical of his personality.  A velvet drawstring bag with a heavy,

round ball about the size of an orange had also been on his person, along with an envelope. The envelope had been

sealed with wax pressed with House Cresconio’s seal and opened already.  Kai removed it from the envelope to read:

Master Vimaro,

I want you to take care of this problem personally.  You have my leave to do so, but quickly!  We are the laughing

stock of all the houses of Antiva.  This is unacceptable!

I have always supported and enjoyed your hobbies.  And I am deeply grateful you helped me rise to the head of my

house.  But don't make me regret helping to make you, Master.  Take care of the problem, make him suffer for both

of us.  Bring his head back, I demand it!

Your Lord,

Adulfo

Kai felt her face getting hot.  Yes, her plan needed to be put into motion, today.  There would be a head sent to

Antiva, just not the one that was expected.  Kai put the letter back in its envelope and reached for the velvet

bag.  Whatever was in it was perfectly round and heavy.  She was just putting her hand in to pull it out, her

fingertips touching the smooth, cool, polished surface, when Wynne came in followed by Morrigan and Naseel.  "My

lady, don't!" Naseel leaped forward and stopped Kai before she could take the object out of the bag.

Kai pulled her hand back as if a snake were going to bite.  "What in the blast it!  Is it poison?  A trap?  What?" 

Kai stared at Naseel, breathing hard.  Naseel just gripped the bag closed and set it back down carefully.

"No, it isn't dangerous in that way.  But...." Kai nodded to the chairs and Naseel sat down.  "It is a well kept

secret of the Crows.  It is a procul globe, a tool we use to coordinate large group attacks or to communicate long

distances quickly.  When you take it out of the bag, it is activated.  Without the proper set of taps, it would

have shown the other Crows in Antiva that it was not Vimaro or one of us holding it.  They would have then

destroyed the globe that is linked to this one, and you would have nothing but a pretty gemstone to sell."

"’Tis magic, no?" Morrigan asked the girl with a raised eyebrow.  Wynne shook her head and started water to boil

for the tea.

Naseel nodded. "Tevinter magic, made specially for the Crows and only the Crows, per a binding contract.  It is a

big part of our power to be in many places.  There is a special way of communicating with taps and covering it with

your hand.  The globe has a limited range of vision.  It only allows you to see who is holding it."  Naseel looked

at Kai and blushed.  "I had hoped we might contact the other Crows in Antiva, those still guarding Lord Crescenio. 

I wanted to see if you might offer them the same deal, lady.  Technically, all the Crows of Vimaro's house belong

to you now, their papers of ownership are yours.  That is how houses often get new masters."

"I don't own anyone, Naseel, I told you that," Kai smiled at her.  "And I certainly don't intend to be the 'Master'

of a cell of Crows.  But this could come in handy with a little plan I have been working on."  Kai told Naseel what

she had in mind.

"You want to do what, young woman?" Wynne's eyes got wide.  "You want to destroy the Crows?"

Morrigan just laughed a low delighted chuckle.

"Not all of the Crows.  Just one cell and the noble that runs it," Kai explained to Wynne.  She walked over to

stroke Zev's cheek before turning back to look at them.  "For what they did to him, they deserve so much more.  But

this will do.  And it will get a message to the Crows and their Antivan lords and ladies.  There is a new game in

Ferelden, and they had better make nice, or I will rain down destruction on any Crow that gets caught in Ferelden. 

And I am very good at raining down destruction.  I want them to be afraid of and respect the Scath, and I am poised

in a golden moment to do just that."  Kai’s face hardened.  "But most importantly I will free Zev and the rest once

and for all.  Oh yes, and get a pound of flesh back for what they did to him."  Kai smiled a grim smile.

"Lady..." Naseel was cut off by Kai.

"Kai, not my lady."  And she grinned at Naseel.

"Kai, what I am proposing is this.  You may not feel you own my fellow Crows still in Antiva, but you should direct

them as if you do or as if Vimaro were still alive.  At least until your plan is put into action.  Otherwise, they

might be too easily influenced by Lord Crescenio.  They have not tasted the sweetness of choice yet.  They can have

that taste when you do what you mean to do and call them here, no?"  Naseel shrugged.

"I would rather not lie to them.  That is not the start of a good relationship.  Will they believe I am the new

master if I show them Vimaro's ring?" Kai picked up the heavy square of metal.

"Yes, Vimaro was never without it, not even in the bath or, when doing other things."  Naseel shuddered.  "The only

way to get it was off his cold, dead hand."

"Or not so cold, dead hand as the case was."  Kai gave a harsh laugh.  "Well then, I think we need to speak to my

Crows."  Kai gave a snort.

Naseel nodded and took the ring and the dagger.  She picked up the velvet bag and reached in and removed the orb. 

It was a beautiful, pale blue gemstone, like a clear aquamarine with a slight sheen of iridescence.  Naseel gently

tapped the surface with her fingertips it in a pattern of some kind.  The inside of the ball started to look as if

it were filling with water, and the iridescence coalesced into the image of a male face.  The face smiled when it

saw Naseel.  She smiled back and then began covering the ball with her hand in quick and slow motions.  It must

have made sense as the face nodded and frowned.  Naseel held up the ring so the man could see it, then the dagger. 

She then held up the orb so he could see Kai's face.  Kai just nodded.  The man's face contorted briefly as if he

were bowing. "Tell him that I don't want Lord Crescenio to know that Vimaro is dead.  He is to tell the others, but

they are to act as though nothing has changed."

Kai watched as Naseel made long and short motions over the ball again.  "Tell him I wish to see Master Ignacio. 

Tell him I know he and his brother are back in Ferelden.  I wish to meet then in Denerim, the Gnawed Noble Tavern. 

Tell him to let us know when the message has been received and what the reply is."

Naseel nodded and did the code.  The face in the ball nodded and made motions over the ball.  “Zaeed says, ‘Your

will be done, Master.’ And he says he is your dagger to be plunged into whatever heart you choose."

"Tell him he will have a heart to stab soon enough, I will let him know whose and when."  Kai smiled at Naseel. 

The girl smiled back and made motions over the ball again. Oh yes, Kai thought, things are about to get

interesting.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 26 mai 2010 - 01:30 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 36


 Much to the annoyance of her compatriots, who had all finally straggled back to the safe house, Kai was right back

in Denerim.  Furthermore, she was back in the Gnawed Noble Tavern, this time in the room where Master Ignacio had

once assigned her jobs when she was making coin for the army she had been raising.  At least this time there were

no hard bar stools, smelly clothes, or onions and beer.

Kai found it delightfully ironic in a twisted-and-dangerous-game sort of way.  She smiled behind the black cloth

attached to the hood of her black cloak.  The cloth covered the lower half of her face when she pulled up the hood,

which she done despite the roaring fire behind her.  She was dressed in the black leathers of the Scath.  She had

every intention of keeping her identity hidden until the maximum moment of impact, since she and Ignacio had met

before.  Kai felt it was just one more advantage to unbalance him and keep the tally in her favor.

Kai, Leliana and three Scath were in the room.  Leli and two of the Scath were visible, one was not.  Since she had

called this meeting, she figured it was her prerogative to show early.  She had the chest with her 'gift' for

Ignacio sitting beside the empty chair waiting for him, her booted foot resting on it.  Kai heard a knock on the

door, and the Scath named Jarren, one of Vimaro's former Crows, went to greet Ignacio and lead him in.  Kai had

been amazed.  Not one of the Crows had wanted to leave.  In fact, all had become Scath and, Leli said, without

hesitation too.

Ignacio looked much as Kai remembered him. His receding hairline was shaved close to a well shaped head, his blue

eyes were intense and observant.  He was still dressed in a rich merchant's outfit.  In fact, he and his brother

posed as rich merchants, as indeed they were.  But mostly, they were Crows and assassins.  So, Ignacio was a

dangerous man.  Add to that, he was master of a cell of Crows working for the oldest noble house in Antiva, the

House of Serracino.  To become a master, Ignacio had to be the best, but at least he wasn't a walking abyss on two

legs like Vimaro had been.  Oh, he was cold and ruthless, he had to be.  However, he wasn't a complete monster,

which is why Kai was giving him the offer she had and not another master.  How many were like Vimaro, and how many

were like Ignacio? Better the enemy you know than the one you didn't, her father always used to say.

"And still does," Alistair's voice said into her ear.

Kai groaned. "You haven't been being interrogated by him, too?"

"No, your father takes what you get up to much better than your mother does.  He is actually proud and calls you

his 'fierce girl.'  It drives your mother loop dee loo.  I think he does it partially to take the heat off of me,

bless him," Alistair's voice chuckled.  "I really like him, you know."

"He really likes you too, apparently, if he is willing to draw Mother's ire for you."  Kai gave a mental laugh.

Kai broke off her exchange with Alistair when Ignacio and his fellow Crows walked into the room.  The Crows flanked

their master and continued to do so as he sat down in the chair in front of Kai, facing the fire.  Kai pitched her

voice lower, "Greetings, Master Ignacio.  I am the Scathach, and I run the Scath here in Ferelden.  As you have

obviously heard, I have made most of Vimaro's Crows disappear while they were visiting our fair city."  Kai allowed

herself a smile that Ignacio could only see by the crinkling of her eyes.

"Yes, when I got the message from Zaeed, I had to admit I was..." Ignacio paused as if looking for the right word,

" Intrigued.  So here I sit, curious, which is usually a dangerous thing for those in our positions, no?"  Ignacio

shrugged slightly.

"Ah, yes it can be.  But sometimes it can bring, certain rewards?"  Kai rose from her seat to walk to a table where

a smaller chest sat.  She opened it.  The interior of the box had been fitted in velvet to cradle four, mouth-

blown, full-bellied glasses and a beautifully decorated brown bottle.  Kai removed the bottle and handed it to

Ignacio.  "Please inspect the bottle, Master Ignacio.  I want you to be comfortable that I have not broken the

seal, nor are there any puncture marks.  I have no intention of poisoning you, but with our work..." Kai lifted an

eyebrow.

Ignacio dutifully took the bottle and gave it a close examination.  "I doubt you would have called for me to meet

with you, dear lady, if you had only intended to poison me."  He gave her a chuckle while handing it back. 

"Especially not if that is the Calvados apple cognac, I think it is.  It comes from Orlais and is very expensive. 

I am honored."  Kai smiled so he could see her eyes crinkle again above the black veil.  Kai broke the wax seal on

the bottle's cork and popped it open so the smell of smoked wood and apple wafted to her nose.  She turned and

pulled out two of the glasses from the chest.  She poured the smoky, amber liquor and turned to hand Ignacio his

glass.

He took his glass and Kai watched his eyes widen slightly.  The glass was empty, save for a woman's well preserved

finger wearing a ring with the heraldry of the noble House of Cresconio and the House of Crows.  It was a daintier

version of the ring Kai had in her pouch at present.  "Oh my, I am so sorry Master Ignacio.  How impolite of me and

what a terrible hostess I am.  I gave you a dirty glass.  Please, take mine."  Kai reached for his glass while

holding out the other with the amber liquor in it.  Ignacio removed the finger before handing the glass back to Kai

and taking the proffered one.  He calmly held the finger and inspected the ring closely, even removing it so he

could turn it in the firelight.

Kai poured yet another glass of the cognac and got a burning taper from the fireplace.  She held out the taper to

Ignacio who smiled and swirled liquor in the belly of his glass while holding it over the flame to warm it.  When

he was done he sniffed the glass before taking a sip.  "Ah, wonderful.  Truly a product of the Maker, no?"  Kai

smiled as she repeated his actions with her own glass before throwing the taper into the fire and removing the veil

from her face, then turning around and sitting back down again.

Ignacio's eyes got wider this time when he saw her face lit by the fire before it was once again shadowed as she

returned her chair.  She casually propped her booted foot on the chest next to Ignacio once again. "Warden, so good

to see you again."  His voice sounded casual with an undercurrent of surprise, wariness and respect.  Kai saluted

him with her glass before sniffing the brandy and then taking a sip.  It tasted of honey, apples and smoked wooden

barrels.  It also burned her mouth and all the way down her throat before creating a pleasant little explosion of

warmth in her belly that spread throughout her body.

"We had always hoped to recruit you to our cell of Crows, but I see we should have guessed that one as talented as

yourself would not serve, but lead."  Ignacio grinned a real smile this time and downed the rest of his cognac.  He

cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head towards the brandy on the table.  Kai merely smiled and nodded.  "So, you

have defeated the nasty, ophidian Concha.  Brava!"  Ignacio smiled and poured more of the liquor into his glass

going behind her to get a new taper.  "You do realize that this means Vimaro will hunt you down?  He does not

appreciate someone who interferes with his toys, and you made a good number of them disappear, a formidable job

indeed.  In addition, Concha was the favorite among his toys.  They shared certain...."

"Certain interests?" Kai interrupted with a smile.  "Yes, I am aware of their extracurricular activities.  But what

if I were to tell you, Master Ignacio, that Master Vimaro will not be a problem for me?" Kai smiled at him.

"I would say you are very brave, which I know you are, but I would also tell you that Vimaro is unhinged," Ignacio

gave a little chuckle. "Even more unhinged than most people have to be to do what we do, dear lady."

"And what if I told you that not only will Master Vimaro not be a problem, but that I am poised to take out one of

the oldest noble houses in Antiva?"  Kai sipped her brandy again letting the burn swirl in her mouth as the flavor

of smoky apples and honey burst in the back of her throat.  Kai twirled the glass casually holding it up so the

firelight turned the amber liquid gold, tinged with orange flame.

Ignacio came back around her chair, blowing out the taper by shaking his hand rapidly while scrutinizing Kai's face

to see if she was telling the truth.  She met his gaze squarely while cocking an eyebrow at him and allowing a

small smile to play over her lips.  When he saw she was not lying, he looked disturbed.

"Our way of government has been in place for almost a thousand years.  The vacuum of power such a fall would

cause...its destructive power would be incalculable.  If you destroy a cell of Crows and the noble house it serves,

you could cause anarchy, chaos.  There would be blood running down the streets in rivers turning the sea crimson." 

Ignacio's normally calm demeanor was the most alarmed she had ever seen.  The man paced back and forth.  Even his

Crows gave each other wide-eyed looks.

Kai took out Vimaro's ring from her belt pouch and held it up to the firelight for Ignacio to see.  "I assure you,

Vimaro is no longer an issue."  She kicked the chest next to the chair to draw his attention to it.  Ignacio went

to the chest and picked it up with effort at its weight.  He sat it in his chair and opened it, pulling out a huge

glass jar sealed with wax so its contents wouldn't leak.  The liquid glowed golden amber, much like the brandy, but

the liquid was decidedly more viscous.  And in the thick golden liquid sat Vimaro's severed head with the one

staring eye and one bloody hole where the other should have been, glaring out at Ignacio.  He stared at it for a

long moment before putting it back in the chest and setting the chest back on the floor.  Kai just sipped her

brandy and watched as Ignacio slumped back into the chair in front of her.

"I am afraid that is not all the bad news I have to share, Ignacio.  You should steel yourself." Kai reached

forwards and pressed Ignacio's brandy glass back into his hand.  She then rose and grabbed the bottle from the

little chest and poured a generous dollop into his glass, almost filling it. "Would you like me to get a taper?"

she inquired sweetly.  Ignacio shook his head and took a generous swallow.

Kai sat back down and drew out the velvet bag from her belt pouch.  Setting her own glass on the arm of the chair,

she reached in and pulled out the procul globe, or “far orb,” as Naseel had told her it was called.  She held it

out for Ignacio to see.  She tapped the pattern Naseel had taught her onto its surface.  She and Ignacio watched as

it looked as if it filled with water and the iridescence coalesced into the face of Zaeed again.  Kai smiled at the

image and then held the globe out to Ignacio so Zaeed could bow to him.  Kai then did a series of short and long

hand motions; Zaeed’s grin widened, and he bowed again.   She finally tapped the orb, making the “water” recede and

Zaeed's face go away.  Kai started doing tricks with the orb, rolling it up her arms and back to her fingertips

with dexterous rogue hands.  Up and back again, mesmerizing Ignacio who was looking positively pale now.

"As I understand it, these globes are not only handy, made for and used exclusively by the Crows, but each house

also has its own code to use when communicating on them.  It makes it difficult for one house to know what another

house sent as a message.  So, you have no idea what I just told Zaeed to do."  Kai gave Ignacio one of her most

winning smiles. "I could have told him to kill Lord Cresconio.  Or I could have given him a grocery list."  Ignacio

just stared at her with a look of horror.  "I also understand that I am now master of Vimaro's cell of Crows.  They

belong to me.  All of them.  That also means certain Crows throughout Thedas.  Ones with fingers in very big and

very involved pies, all over the globe.  Some of them even working on projects with other houses?  I could use this

to call all of them to me, here.  And they would have to come, no?  Abandoning said projects." Kai made tsking

noises.

Ignacio looked positively sick now.  "Granted, you could try and kill me to stop me."  Kai sipped her brandy again

before slipping the globe back in its bag and into her belt pouch.  "Please notice that I said try, not do.  But

should you even manage to succeed, you would have no idea what plans I have set in motion or what orders I have

already given.  You see, I didn't kill all of Vimaro's Crows.  Hardly any, in fact.  I have given proper burials to

only seven.  They were collateral damage when I raided Vimaro's hideout here in Denerim.  Unfortunate, but

necessary damage, alas."  Kai set her glass down and steepled her fingertips in front of her chest.  She gave him a

moment to digest all she had told him.

"But, what if I told you I do not wish the destruction of Antiva?  What if I told you I have a proposal to help

cement both our bases of power, even broaden them?"  Kai smiled at him over her hands before reaching for more of

that magnificent cognac.  Ignacio gulped his entire glass down and indicated that she should fill it again.

"I would say, dear lady, ‘What do you propose?’" Ignacio took another big swallow of what she had poured into his

glass.

"What I propose is this.  Your cell and your noble's house will be the ones to negotiate a contract.  A contract

with a thousand-year term with all the Crow cell and noble houses.  Perhaps even a four-hundred year contract. 

This contract will cement an alliance between Antiva and Ferelden.  It is a contract that will allow Crows to

operate in Ferelden with certain quid pro quos.  One of which would be that no Crow take a job which might put them

in conflict with the Scath.  It is a contract which also changes the way the Crows get recruits.  No more slavery,

Ignacio, none.  There are plenty whose lives are hard enough who would be fine with joining your ranks of their own

free will.  There are even those who will join because they just enjoy what you do.  They should be able to leave

anytime they wish to do so."  Kai shrugged and smiled again.  "The way you all have been doing business has to

change.  I propose that your cell and your noble's house be the catalyst for that change."

"But my lady, the other houses will never agree to it!" Ignacio was sweating.

"Oh, but they will agree to it.  Or I will bring all of Antiva crashing into the sea."  Kai sipped delicately. 

"Your cell and its noble will just have to be extra convincing, no?  And if any of the other houses even think

about raiding the house of Cresconio to attempt a 'rescue,' I will have Adulpho’s throat slit before they can get

to him.  Vimaro's cell has produced exceptional Crows, I will say that for his unbridled cruelty."  Kai's mouth

straightened into a grim line.

Ignacio gulped more cognac and asked for yet another refill. "I really hate to do this to you, Ignacio, but I must

ask for more."  Kai handed him the bottle, and he uncorked it and drank straight from the bottle.  "I want all the

papers for my Crows; they belong to me, and I am not going to Antiva to get them.  You can understand why."  She

smiled again.  "And the word is to go out, Zevran Arainai is to be left alone, as are all my Crows.  They are Scath

now, and with the new contracts I am anticipating from all the houses in Antiva, that will be part of and parcel of

our agreement.  Still, I thought I should expressly make this point so that there is no...confusion."  Kai made her

voice very cold and very hard.

Ignacio continued to take swigs from the bottle and was looking as if he were starting to sway a little.  "Also,

part of the contract will have House Cresconio absorbed by House Serracino.  And when I say “absorbed,” Ignacio, I

mean that I want proof that it and Lord Cresconio have been brought firmly under Serracino’s control.  Proof that I

can hand to one Zevran Arainai.  But think on this, old friend."  Ignacio shuddered slightly at that word.  "Your

house will be the savior of Antiva.  I expect that you can negotiate some bonuses and perks, no?  Subject to my

approval, of course.  Oh, take Concha's ring and Vimaro's head with you.  Show them to the representatives of the

other houses, they should help the negotiation process.  I will keep Vimaro's ring as a trophy for Zevran."

"The head is in a jar of honey, in case you were wondering."  Kai smiled and rose.  She clapped her hand on

Ignacio's shoulder.  Ignacio looked startled.  "Yes, I know it is an ostentatious display of wealth considering how

expensive honey is.  But it retards rotting, such that if Antiva lives another thousand years you could eat that

honey then.  Not that I would recommend it of course, considering what has been sitting in it.  Another small

message.  I will spend what it takes, do what it takes.  Never forget that," Kai gave him another icy smile.

"It might also help the peace process if you tell them this.  For what Virmaro did to Zevran, it took everything in

me not to seek the ultimate revenge and watch all of Antiva burn.  And one false move, one little thing that causes

me to look at what he did to Zevran a little more closely – whether it be dragging their feet or trying any tricks

– and I will set a firestorm into motion with a mere flick of my fingers across my procul globe."  Kai grabbed

Ignacio's chin and forced him to look her in the eyes as she let the abyss come to the surface.  "I am so very

tempted, Ignacio.  I would love to have a reason, it won't take much of one.  Tell them that, won't you?"  Kai

shuttered the abyss and shoved it back down again.  She let his chin go and clapped him on the shoulder again.

"Cheer up, all may yet be very well.  Oh, you may keep the cognac.  I have more.  Vimaro was absolutely addicted to

the stuff apparently.  Just leave word with the barkeep here at the Gnawed Noble and with Sanga at the Pearl when

you have word back.  I have Scath everywhere, they will let me know."  Kai saluted him and started to walk to the

door.  The Scath hiding in the tub emerged to follow her with Leliana and the remaining two Scath falling in

behind.  Kai turned at the door.  “Oh, and Ignacio?"  Kai thought the man was going to have a heart attack. 

"Relax, I was just going to say I look forward to my discount at your brother's booth in the square here."  Kai's

laughter followed her out of the door into the tavern hallway.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 26 mai 2010 - 01:56 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 37



Kai sat by Zev's bedside reading out loud to him from the book about The Black Fox she had given him on Solstice. 

He was still unconscious, but at least the fever was gone.  Kai felt edgy.  Zev was still down and out, and she was

having to wait for word back from the Crows.  When she had voiced her worry about how long Zev was staying

unconscious to Wynne, the mage pointed out that Kai had taken six days and had endured considerably less trauma to

her body and different trauma to her psyche.  Zev was only on day five.  "It isn't all bing, magic did it, and it's

done, dear.  I can fix the major things, but the rest just needs time."

So here she sat, reading aloud to him during the day when the others weren't forcing her to play chess, cards, or

to go outside and get some air.  Or, when she wasn't training Naseel in the martial art of the Qun.  Well, Naseel

and those of her former Crows turned Scath.  She snuggled next to him at night hoping he would, on some level,

sense her presence and know she wasn't going anywhere.  Know that he was safe.

She supposed they had all felt the same way about her when she went through this.  Granted, they hadn't been

waiting on word from one of Thedas's deadliest run governments.  Kai kept using the procul globe to check with

Zaeed.  So far, the other houses and their Crows were taking her at her word; that she would, if they did anything,

bring all of Antiva down in one bloody, firey mess.  This belief was very, very good.  Kai wasn't so sure the abyss

in her wouldn't take over and do it.  Every time she helped change Zev's bandages; every time she looked at the

bruises, which were finally changing color, lessening in intensity, her fingers would stoke the outside of the

velvet bag holding the globe.  Antiva had better be grateful when this was all over.  She only hoped Master Ignacio

and Lady Serracino brought that point eloquently and clearly home.

She knew it would take time for Master Ignacio to physically travel back to Antiva.  After all, it had only been

three days since she spoke to him.  She knew even if he had the fastest ship at his disposal, it could take at

least two days, maybe three, to cross the Waking Sea to the Free Marches’ seaside city of Ostwick, provided the

currents were in his favor and the weather as well.  This was Spring, so the weather was iffy.  From Ostwick,

Ignacio had a choice.  Travel inland to Antiva, which he would only do if he really wanted fire and brimstone to

rain down on his home city.  His best option would be to stay on or secure another fast ship following the coast

past several ports, which included Wycome and Rialto, into Rialto Bay and lovely Antiva City.  Kai also figured

Ignacio had spread the word via his own procul globe about what was going on.

She did not envy Ignacio.  She only hoped the man didn't have ulcers before he got home.  She liked Ignacio on one

level.  He was not Vimaro, but he was one of the Masters who had looked the other way when Vimaro, the walking

abyss, had a free hand with his cruelty even, and especially, against his own Crows like Zevran and Rinna.  As far

as Kai was concerned, the Crows and their nobles had sown the seeds of their own destruction by playing along to

get along.  It was one thing to tap the abyss for what you had to do, it was another thing entirely to let someone

who had not only let the abyss swallow him whole but probably actively sought to do so run a business where murder

was the product.  Such monsters needed to be fed constantly, and they only grew, drawing attention to themselves

and their 'establishment.'  The Crows were business people at the heart of it, brokers of a service, even if that

service was death.  They should have done a cost/benefit analysis of the likes of Vimaro.

Kai set the book down in frustration.  "It is not nice to stop reading in the middle of a sentence, my dear

Warden," Zev's voice sounded hoarse and raspy, and his eyes were still closed while he spoke.  "Also, you should

change the voices so you make the characters come alive, no?"  She saw a slight smile form on his lips.

"People who are comatose have no reason to complain."  Kai wanted to hug him, but she refrained as he was still a

mass of healing injuries.  She opted, instead, to stroke his cheek and forehead.  He opened his pale amber eyes to

look at her.  The swelling of his injured eye had finally gone down enough so that he could open it to a wide

slit.  She grinned at him, but she couldn't help the tears in her eyes either.  "I was about to start describing

sexual positions in your ear just to see if that would wake you up."

"That you may still do, my dear Warden.  We can make a game of it.  Has Zevran done that position?  There is a

certain book that I recommend you use, 'The Rose of Orlais.'  I am sure you would run out of positions, my dear

Grey Warden, before I stopped answering yes."  Kai laughed and kissed him.

"Do you think you can sit up?"  Kai stroked his cheek.  "Maybe eat something?  It is about feeding time for you

anyway."

"You make it sound as if I am one of your babies," Zev smiled at her.

"Well, you have been cradled in several bosoms while we poured broth down your throat."  Kai teased him.  His amber

eyes opened wider and his grin got more cocky.

"Even the delectable Wynne’s?" his voice pitched higher in hope.

"She will kill me if she finds out I told you.  But yes, your head has even been cradled on her bosom."  Kai

laughed.

"I should pretend to still be unconscious, no?" Zev chuckled as he looked at the doorway.

"No, you should not, young man!" came Wynne's voice from the doorway as she carried in a tray with a bowl and cup

on it.  She grinned at Kai and Zev as she came forward.

"But my dear, beautiful Wynne, I could still die, I feel so poorly.  Would you want me to pass into the Fade

without having first-hand knowledge of that magnificent bosom of yours?"

"I am afraid, young man, it will just have to remain a mystery for you.  That and the fact you missed out on being

bathed by three women." Wynne put the tray on the nightstand and went to help Kai prop him up against the pillows.

"Now you are just being cruel, lovely Wynne.  Typical of women."  Kai laughed at him as she grasped him gently

under his arms and lifted him to a sitting position on the pillows Wynne had arranged.

"Besides, I believe you had a much more enticing and more suitable offer from Kai in the chapel."  Wynne winked. 

"I am going to get some bread to go with that broth.  Maker, this is so familiar.  And I will tell the others that

you are awake.  They keep asking for status reports when they aren't in here."  With that, Wynne turned on her heel

and left the room shutting the door.

Kai felt her face flaming and looked down.  Her eyes settled on the tray, and she grabbed it like a shield and put

it on Zevran’s lap.  She grabbed the napkin and lay it on his chest, but she didn't look at his face.  She was

blushing so hard her ears were burning uncomfortably.  Kai found herself as awkward as she had been with the

adolescent stable boy, Joss, with whom she had lost her virginity.  She mentally cursed herself a fool and went

over to the table to gather the items she had taken off Vimaro's body and to give herself time to calm down.  She

strode back over to the bed and sat herself in the chair again, but still couldn't look Zev in the eye.  She found

herself looking at his neck or the napkin or his chin.

"So, I took these things off of Vimaro.  I thought you might like to have this in particular."  Kai held up the

heavy square ring.  “It really belongs to you, as do the Crows in his employ.  I mean, I didn't kill him, you did,

but the Crows think I did it, and I had to let them because you were comatose...."
"My dear Grey Warden," Zev laughed, "Did you offer to make love to me because you thought you wouldn't have to make

good on it?"  She bit her lip and blushed more, but she shook her head.
"No, I couldn't think of anything else.  I was watching my best friend die.  I couldn't stand it, it was like Fort

Drakon all over again.  I just blurted it out."  Kai felt the tears running down her cheeks again.  "I really

didn't know what else to do.  You always make sexual innuendo, so I made an offer I thought you couldn't refuse." 

Kai tried to joke.  "It was either that or offer you Wynne's bosom for a month as a pillow."  Kai still found she

couldn't quite look at him.

"Look at me, my friend."  She looked up to see him smiling gently at her.  "I will admit, the idea is enticing. 

But at the moment, I assure you I am in no shape to do anything more strenuous than eat broth, though I would

appreciate it if you did not let that get around, as I have a reputation to maintain."  He winked his good eye at

her and grinned harder, making her blush deeper.  He took up the spoon and started to sip broth.  "But what I

believe you said was that Alistair wanted us to make love together.  Did he tell you this before he died?"  Kai

cursed herself as a barrel full of fools.  She had said that, hadn't she?  And dammit Zev, even dying, was an

observant rogue.

So Kai explained to Zev about hearing Alistair's voice and how Alistair had helped her at the funeral and what had

happened in the Fade when she was technically dead.  She told him how Morrigan had saved her from using his dagger

after all because Alistair had known her plans and fetched the witch.  And then she told him the hardest part,

about Alistair saying that she and Zev should get together.  She couldn't even say “make love” this time.  She was

afraid if she did her head would explode with all the blood rushing to it yet again.  He didn't say anything for

the longest time, so Kai ventured a look.  Zev had gone completely still, and his face was unreadable.  Then, he

cocked an eyebrow at her.

"So, I am your best friend, am I, Warden?  But you tell me that you hear your dead lover's voice only now?  And

then you tell me that he would like me to peddle my services to you, as an Antivan **** perhaps?  Because I

appreciate the art of love, I can be used to pleasure you and then kill for you too?  I told you once, Warden, that

I only removed my clothes on an amateur basis."  His voice was flat.

Kai felt her face go pale.  "Oh Zev, I didn't mean it that way at all!  I didn't tell you about hearing him,

because I...."

"Because you didn't trust me."  Zev's amber eyes were cold.  "It is that simple, is it not?"  He continued to stare

at her pointedly.  Kai felt as if he had slapped her, and she felt ashamed because he was right.  She hadn't

trusted him or the others with this.  She was no better than all the others in his past.  She had betrayed him too,

even in this small way.  The others would probably forgive her, but for Zev, she was just one more betrayal on a

long list starting with his very birth.  She didn't blame him, she was entirely to blame.  She didn't think she

could even forgive herself.  What had I done?  Stupid, stupid, stupid! She got up from the chair so fast that she

tipped it over.  Her hands were shaking, she felt sick to her stomach, and her vision was getting blurry from

unshed tears.  She turned and almost ran into Wynne who had come back with bread.

"Sorry, Wynne, I have to go get Naseel; it is time for her lesson."  Then, she practically ran out of the room and

down the back stairs, hoping she wouldn't run into anyone else.  She managed to get outside to the back of the

house.  She decided she would saddle Luna and let her run, go so fast that her tears would dry before they fell. 

She marched towards the stables.  Argus came bounding up from the field where he had been doing who knows what. 

She patted him absently.  "Want to go for a run with me and Luna?"  Kai tried to smile at him.  He gave her a

concerned whine, then an affirmative bark.

"Scathach!" the voice of one of her Crows-made-Scath came from the shadow of the stables.  Erys was her name, if

Kai remembered correctly; she was still learning them all.  So, her luck at not meeting anyone else was not to hold

after all.  "I was just about to come to the house.  Important news, Anora is hiring a band of mercenaries from the

Free Marches.  They are due to arrive at the docks in the dead of night three days from now.  We got an intercept

from some of our Crows in Ostwick.  Vimaro had them posted in Ostwick on another assignment.  The ship of mercs

leaves there tonight.  Now that we work for you, our brethren all over Thedas are keeping their eyes and ears open

for anything to do with Anora."  The young woman's black hair glistened in the sun against her black Scath

leathers, dusty from the road.  Kai nodded at her, and they went back in the front door of the house.

Kai immediately grabbed a servant and asked them to gather everyone but Wynne, since she was tending Zev.  She

would tell Wynne when she went to get her armor.  Sod it, it was in the room with Zev.  Kai had Erys debrief them. 

It looked like they would be going to the docks of Denerim to try to thwart Anora's newest attempt at raising an

army and hopefully stop it literally before it got onto dry land.  They would need all hands on deck, Kai wanted to

giggle at her own pun, for this one.  Minus one recovering assassin of course, one assassin who would probably

never speak to her again.  These mercs were not going to go down easy, nor did she think they would join her.
Kai sent everyone off to get equipped and ready to go.  Sten was going to have to ride in the back of a hay wagon

and Shale would have to run if they were going to make it.  Kai thanked the Maker that they hadn't moved on to

Highever yet.

She and Argus made their way back upstairs to her room.  She opened the door and steeled herself, putting her face

and her voice in a neutral.  "Sorry to bother you, but I need to get my armor.  And I need you, Wynne."  Wynne

looked as if she had been having an uncomfortable conversation with Zevran.  Kai huffed to herself mentally, I just

make everyone's lives so much fun, don't I?  Zevran just regarded her coolly with his mask in place.  Kai gulped. 

"We have news that Anora has hired mercs from The Free Marches.  They leave Ostwick by ship tonight.  They will be

here in roughly three days.  I want to get to the docks and give them a proper welcome."  Kai wanted to shuffle her

feet.  "Wynne, I need you to be there with your healing skills, and I recruited Fiona as well.  This group isn't

likely to jo...be as agreeable as some of the others we have run across."  Kai gave Wynne a small smile.

"Of course. I will make sure a servant takes care of Zevran."  Wynne's voice dripped disapproval at his name, which

made Kai flush and look away.  The disapproval should be for her, not him.  She turned to cross the room to the

chest containing her black Scath armor.  She slipped off the leather shirt she was wearing to slip on the cotton

one she usually wore under her leathers.
"Before you put that on, I want to re-bandage that shoulder, young lady.  It was already infected once."  Wynne

grabbed her bandages and poultices.  Kai felt self-conscious standing there in her small clothes while waiting for

Wynne, and she deliberately didn’t look in Zev's direction.  Wynne removed the bandage and studied the long red

gash running down along the rounded part of her shoulder.  It was slightly puckered and still inflamed.  Wynne

stepped aside to put a poultice in a clean bandage, and Zevran must have seen it.

"When did she get that?"  Kai started to answer but Wynne broke in.

"She got that, young man, while raiding Master Vimaro's hideout trying to rescue you.  She was fighting three

Crows."  Two Crows, Kai thought. Only two, Argus got the other.  But she didn't say it aloud.

"It is nothing, really.  It got infected only because the bandage moved and my leathers rubbed it."  Kai felt Wynne

putting the cool poultice covered bandage back on her wound.  "The damn thing itches like the blazes, but otherwise

it is fine."  Kai was mentally squirming.  She wished Wynne would hurry up so she could take her armor to Leli's

room and have her help her buckle up.  There was no way she was going to stay here and let Wynne do it while Zev

stared at her with a cold mask on his face.

"You should take better care should you not, Warden?"  Zev's voice had a cold bite to it, as if he were saying it

just let her know he really didn't care despite the words.  Kai flinched.

"For your information, she didn't tend to it because she was too busy carrying your sorry carcass on horseback in

the dead of night to get you safely out of Denerim.  She wouldn't stop until she got here, even though it was

painful and I asked her to stop and take care of it.  Furthermore, she insisted on taking care of your wounds first

once she did get here."  Wynne's voice cracked like a whip.  Kai flushed and looked at the ground.  Finally, the

bandage was in place.

"I am going to get Leli to help me in my armor."  Kai started to walk to the door.

"I am going with you," Zev's cold voice told her as she walked by.  She looked at him in disbelief.
 
"Like hell you are.  You just woke up after a five day nap.  Argus, guard Zev.  Don't let him leave the bed unless

it is to use the chamber pot.  Lay on him if you have to.  He does not leave this room."  Argus jumped on the bed

and laid on Zevran, looking him in the eye.  Kai turned and walked out the door.  In for a penny, in for a pound. 

Zev was already mad at her, he would be furious now.  She went to get ready for her ride back to Denerim.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 30 mai 2010 - 06:57 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 38

Kai sat in her black leathers with her black hood pulled up and the black veil covering her nose and mouth.  All

the Scath were dressed the same.  Only Sten, Oghren, and the mages were not.

 Morrigan always had on dark clothes, just less than most.  They all wore dark cloaks to soften their forms and

conceal themselves, especially Sten and Oghren who wore plate mail.  They sat hunched low as their small boats

quietly made their way across the water to the ship called “Wave's Promise” that had anchored just outside the

harbor leading to the docks in Denerim.  Anora, still spiraling into insanity, albeit a clever insanity, had not

wanted to have a lot of heavily armed mercs disembarking a ship in broad daylight.  Such a sight might cause the

people of Ferelden to get a little nervous and upset.  So, the ship had anchored outside of the shipping traffic

waiting for midnight.

Kai and her compatriots had made it to Denerim with two days to spare.  They camped outside the city then snuck

through the gates in the dead of night the day after they had left the farm hold.  They had spent their time since

at one of the Scath hideouts.  It had given them time for Kai to get to know some of her newest recruits and for

her to use the procul globe to let them speak to their fellows still in Antiva and, as it turned out, elsewhere. 

Apparently along with the Crows, Kai had inherited six of the globes, which were in the hands of her ex-Crows as

far away as Par Vollen.
Kai wanted them to be a cohesive group that had more than just being Scath in common.  Vimaro had desired them to

be in competition with each other so they didn't think to compete for his place as Master, just one of the man's

many paranoid charms.  Kai was the opposite and made sure they all knew it.  Her biggest requirements were honor

and loyalty.  Honor for themselves as individuals and to their fellows and the group as a whole, and loyalty to

their fellows and the Scath.  Again, none, even the ones far abroad, had declined to be a Scath rather than a Crow

when given their freedom.  This communication was the reason Kai had wanted her new Scath to talk to their fellows,

so they would believe it when they were told they had a real choice.  Apparently, those conversations had helped a

great deal, according to Naseel, because they had been able to talk to those here who had first-hand experience of

their new leader.

And according to Zaeed, all was quiet in the house of Cresconio.  In fact, Zaeed informed her that everything was

going as it always did.  Zaeed was continuing to feed Lord Cresconio false information regarding the trials and

travails of catching one Zevran Arainai, who had been the best in Vimaro's house and poised to become a master of

it.  This position was why Vimaro had set up Rinna and manipulated Zev into believing she was a traitor.  Vimaro

had been jealous and had hoped to break Zev, plus stop a very real competitor.  Kai's heart had hurt at that, her

cold fury had returned for a moment, and she was very tempted to just destroy them all once again.  She had stopped

herself, as always, but she had also realized part of her fury was guilt at her own betrayal.
Zaeed also assured her that Lord Cresconio was currently too occupied with a new male lover whom they had managed

to help him cross paths with.  “He is obsessed in his affections,” Zaeed told her with a grin.  He would, as

always, keep her informed about what was happening in Antiva.
"Kai, about Zevran."  Alistair's voice sounded in her ear.  "I am sorry, my love, I didn't think he would get so

upset."

Kai huffed into her own head.  "He wasn't upset about the sex, he was upset that I didn't trust him enough to tell

him about you."

"What were you supposed to do?  I mean, how do you tell someone that kind of thing anyways?  ‘Oh, by the way, I'm

hearing my dead lover's voice in my head.  He wants me to sleep with you.  Is that okay?’  Meh."  Alistair’s tone

faded into a grumble.

Despite the shame curdling in her belly which she felt every time she thought about her last conversation with Zev,

and she had been thinking of it a lot, she had to laugh at Alistair's joke, though she sobered immediately.  "I

should have told them all the same day I started hearing you.  Even though I didn't know if I was just crazy."  Kai

felt tears starting.  "And I definitely should have told them all after I came back from the Fade."  Kai sighed and

swallowed the tears back.  "It doesn't matter now.  I may have lost Zev, and who knows what the Sten, Shale, or

Oghren will think when I tell them."  Ice settled in her belly along with the shame. "It doesn't matter how I tell

them, just that I do it."

"I am so sorry, my love."  Alistair's tone was comforting.  "Just be safe tonight."

"I will do my best, beloved, as always.  Although my best seems to just wreak havoc in some way or another."  Kai

gave a mental grimace.  Before Alistair could offer a comment, the boat she was in bumped gently against the side

near the prow of the ship.  "Time for me to go to work."

One of the Scath armed a crossbow with a small metal grappling hook. The hook was made of black dwarven steel, like

Alistair's Dead Legion Armor, so it wouldn't shine in any ambient light.  All the Scath’s weapons were made with

it.  Attached to the grappling hook was a black rope with knots so they could climb up the side of the ship.  The

idea was the Scath would go first and incapacitate the crew.  Kai wanted them tied up and put on the boats,

blindfolded and gagged.  She intended to keep the civilian casualties to a minimum.  They would drop the crew off

on land and scuttle the ship after dealing with the mercenaries, making it disappear.  The more confused she could

keep Anora, the better.

Kai watched as Erys climbed the rope ladder quiet as a shadow, sticking her head over the side of the ship to see

where the crew was.  She made hand signals in a form of sign language developed by Vimaro's house, which they were

now all using.  She then disappeared over the edge, and it was a moment before they saw her again making more hand

gestures.  They watched as a man's tied, blindfolded and gagged form was lowered into the boat by a rope.  One of

the crew, then.  Erys also lowered a rope ladder stored on board the ship on the other side to the boat holding

Sten, Ogrhren and the mages. They couldn't very well climb a thin rope in heavy plate.

Kai grabbed the rope Erys had used and climbed hand over hand putting her toes on the knots in the rope, then made

her way to the edge of the prow, her fingers hitting wood gritty with salt from the sea.  Kai took a quick look

around before leaning over to help Morrigan up.  They went to join Erys in the shadows of some crates tied down

with rope netting over them.  Naseel and Lelyth joined her, along with other Scath from a second boat next to

theirs on the port side of the ship.  Only handful of Scath would stay behind, collecting crew members and manning

the boats down below.

Kai watched Sten, Oghren, the mages, and the rest of her Scath climb over the starboard side and hunker down behind

more barrels and crates.  The Scath practically disappeared in the shadows.  Kai and her group had decided to hit

the ship at supper time when most of the crew and the mercs, they hoped, would be busy eating, not armored and

armed to the gills.  Added to that, some of the Scath and a certain pretty redheaded bard had managed to convince

the ship's captain, when he had shown up on land to order supplies, that an evening of entertainment from minstrels

would make his tired crew much more amenable after a long hard sail against storm-tossed Spring seas.  Leliana and

her fellow “musicians” would be entertaining them all and keeping them distracted.  The downside to their plan was

the possibility of being seen so early in the evening with the night traffic in the harbor.

As with Vimaro's hideout, her Scath rogues went ahead of her; it seemed to be an unspoken rule now, no doubt

Eamon's doing.  They would quietly steal back and motion them all forward.  Kai saw crew members knocked out so

far.  Scath coming behind her would be the clean up crew, ensuring those still breathing bodies made it onto the

small boats belonging to 'Wave's Promise' and onto dry land.

Kai and her group continued down the stairway to the next level, which would have the dining hall and kitchen and

the rooms for the crew and those who booked passage.  'Waves Promise' was exclusively a transport ship for people

crossing the Waking Sea from Orlais, The Free Marches and Nevarra.  So, the main body of the ship was a place for

travelers to eat and sleep.  It had only a small cargo hold for baggage and some small amounts of goods.

They ran across their first mercenary coming out of the privy on the ship.  He had been buttoning his trousers and

looked up with wide eyes before a dagger stuck in his chest and blood bubbled out of his mouth.  His body got

stuffed into a closet with mops and buckets.

As they got closer to the dining hall, Kai heard Leliana's beautiful voice leading the mercs and the crew in a

bawdy song called "The Clean Song."  Kai could hear multiple male voices as Leliana lead them in the lyrics, "There

was a young sailor who looked through the glass, and spied a fair mermaid with scales on her...island!"  Leli's

voice sang, and the sailors laughed and catcalled.  "Where seagulls fly over their nests, she combed the long hair

that hung over her...shoulders!"  And so the music strummed and the men all sounded, if not drunk, at least relaxed

and having a good time.  Kai made the signal for them to charge.

Kai and her group burst into a dining room full of surprised faces.  The mercenaries were shocked at first but, as

she suspected, being trained soldiers the element of surprise didn't last long.  The crew of the ship, including

the cook and a little wire-haired mutt belonging to the cook, were all incapacitated and kept out of the way well

enough.  But the mercs, even with the added surprise of the minstrels turned assassins, did not give more than a

momentary pause.  These fighters were disciplined and well trained.  It brought home to Kai the importance of

making sure they didn't reach Ferelden soil, as much as a part of her mind hated killing other human beings,

dwarves, and even a few elves.

Kai found herself fighting a big brute of a man, hairy like a bear and built like the same animal.  He had a

generously fat belly, but it was muscled underneath as she found out when she tried some of the skills from her Qun

arts.  The man apparently slept, bathed and ate with his weapons as well because he, unlike his fellow mercs, had

kept his two axes with him.  They were surprisingly small for such a big man.  They looked almost like daggers in

his big meaty fists, but he wielded them with the grace of a dancer.  He knew what he was doing with them, and he

had gotten in a few shallow cuts with his blades.  They were so sharp she didn't feel them slice her skin.  He was

very good, and he was twice her size and three times her strength.  If she didn't take care of him soon, he would

fell her with a thousand cuts, the bleeding weakening her and slowing her reflexes.  He got in one good swipe at

her abdomen and her reflexes had her tumbling backwards to avoid it, but not fast enough to avoid it completely. 

The man was good!  Kai came back to her feet and waited until he made a move to swipe at her torso.  She bent

forward, rolled under the swipe between the man's legs, slashing with her dagger into his groin, severing an

artery.  Hot blood hit her with a fine spray before it started pouring down the man's tree trunk leg.  She came up

and spun around to the man's back and stuck both her daggers in, leaning on the dining room table and kicking him

forward with all the strength in her legs, while shouting for Sten.  The giant Qunari turned and with Asala took

the man's head off in a double-handed stroke, causing it to spin across the dining hall table before landing in a

plate.

The other mercs were not as difficult as that one, thank the Maker.  Soon the room was quiet after what seemed like

hours of mayhem, which in truth was really only a matter of minutes.  Kai did a head count of her friends and her

Scath.  All were standing.  All sported various injuries, which Fiona and Wynne were looking at.  More serious

wounds would be taken care of here, then the rest back at the hideout.  Kai tried to look at the wound in her

abdomen.  She only felt a trickle of blood, and the split in the leather was thin.  She figured it wasn't that bad.

Once healed, the Scath who had come in behind the main group took the crew back up deck.  Others went from room to

room and into the cargo hold gathering anything that might be useful.  Kai and the others went back up into the

night air on the upper deck to wait.

"Scathach, we found something that might interest you!"  Lelyth and Naseel came forward carrying a heavy chest

between them, and Erys followed with documents.  "We found five of these in the cargo hold."  Lelyth lifted the lid

to reveal a chest full of coins – gold, silver and copper, mostly gold and silver.  The documents Erys held were

letters and instructions from Anora, with her seal, for the hiring of the mercenaries and plans for their

employment in implementing martial law.  The letters were the ravings of a paranoid and deluded mind.  Kai shook

her head.  Where was she getting this kind of money?  Kai needed to find out, definitely.  She nodded and indicated

that they were to take all that they could, the chests especially.

Kai and the rest all climbed back down into the boats and rowed out into the harbor some distance to wait.  When

they saw the rest of the boats rowing out to meet them, Kai knew her Scath had scuttled the ship.  She watched

until 'Wave's Promise' sank before she had her Scath row her back to shore.
They all made their way back to the hideout.  Her Scath would see to the safety of the crew; luckily, she would

only have two on her conscience.  They would also hide away the treasure they found in one of the warehouses they

were using.  Kai wanted nothing more than a long hot bath, some poultices and to get back to the twins for physical

and emotional reasons both.  She missed them so when she was away from them.  The thought of them had her smiling

as she asked Leliana to help her unbuckle herself from her armor.  Leliana helped her get her cuirass off, sliding

it over her head.  As Kai raised her arms to help, she felt a hot wetness spreading rapidly down her leg.  When she

looked down, she saw that the cut on her abdomen she thought wasn't so bad was causing the white cotton shirt she

wore to bloom a crimson that began to spread rapidly and drip from the hem.  Kai clapped a hand to the cut, feeling

hot blood flowing between her fingers.  "Um, Leliana, I think you better call Wynne or Fiona or both.  And

quickly."  Kai's vision started to go gray around the edges as she sank towards the floor.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 30 mai 2010 - 07:08 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 39


 
She was on top of Fort Drakon.  The air was sharp as if it were made of hot glass, and the sky was black and purple

like a bruise.  There were dead bodies everywhere floating in blood.  Blood pooled at her feet up to her knees and

ran down the sides of the tower in multiple waterfalls.  She was holding the great sword that Alistair had used to

kill the Archdemon, and he was lying there on the higher platform where the Archdemon had been.  But instead of the

great dragon, a group of people were standing in silhouette against the angry sky.  She couldn't stop herself; she

moved forward, though she didn't want to see the crowd.  She sloshed through the blood, slipping and sliding until

she was covered in it.  The people in the crowd included her parents – her mother with her throat slit, her father

with his intestines hanging of his gaping belly wound.  There were the men from Lothering who had wanted nothing

more than money to buy food for their families, all had wounds from her killing them.  The mercenaries on the ship,

the men and women who died at Ostagar, Cailan, Duncan, Branka.  All the people dead at the end battle.  Even

Riordan.  All looked at her with accusing eyes.  And then the form of Alistair moved, and he wasn't Alistair at

all, but Zevran.  He walked to stand in front of her.  "You betrayed me, you betrayed us all."  And then she was

being pushed to her knees in the blood as her head was drug backward, and she heard Taliesin's voice laugh as Zev

joined in.  A blade was at her throat, and Zev spit on her and laughed again.  She could feel the blade being drawn

across her skin....

"KAI, it is a nightmare, wake up!"  Alistair's voice yelled at her.

Kai started as she realized she was in the back of Bodahn's and Sandal's wagon, hidden cleverly behind boxes of

items.  She was on a makeshift pallet of blankets with a sack of beans for a pillow.  She was sweaty and slightly

feverish.  Wynne just placed a cool hand on her forehead, and Fiona gave her more of the bitter willow bark tea to

drink while making soothing noises.

Those axes that mercenary used had been sharper than she thought.  Wynne said it was a miracle, as the slice had

happened in such a way that her leathers had actually kept the wound together until she had taken off her armor. 

Her blood loss had worried them at first, but they had managed to staunch it with the aid of an herb called yarrow,

whose leaves had been crushed to a powder and poured into the wound.  Naseel had been the one to bring it to both

the mages’ attention; it was something all the Crows carried to help stop wounds from bleeding.  It had given them

the time to get the healing magic started.  Now, she was wrapped up tight, and Wynne told her no heavy lifting,

which meant getting help with the twins.  And no horseback riding.  So, she had been forced to ride in the wagon of

their favorite wandering merchant and rebel in the cause.

She felt the wagon slowing and then stopping.  She had spent much of the journey sleeping so she had no idea they

were so close to the farm hold.  She heard the back of the wagon open, and then Bodahn's friendly dwarven face

appeared as he pulled the boxes hiding her away.  He smiled at her.  "We are here my lady!"  And the hole got

bigger.  Wynne and Fiona helped her to sit up and slide herself forward to where Bodahn could grab her hand and

help her the rest of the way out of the wagon.  Kai put her feet carefully on the ground and took a nice deep

breath of fresh night air.  Wynne wanted to get servants to bring a blanket and make a stretcher, but Kai put the

kibosh on that.  She could walk if she did so carefully.  Shale and Oghren came around from the front of the

wagon.  Oghren was wearing his civilian clothes with an old, battered, stained floppy hat.  Where Oghren had found,

it she would not hazard a guess, but he thought it made his disguise better.  Kai was not about to disabuse him of

the notion.  He carried the broken control rod in his hands as per their ruse.

Sten and Leli were walking again. Kai figured they may have beaten them, as they didn't have to stick to the

roads.  Morrigan had wanted to stay with Kai, but she had had the witch go with Naseel riding a Ceffyl.  She had

pointed out to her sister that while she was one hell of an ass kicker, she wasn't much in the healing arts.  Added

to this was the fact that Kai wanted more protection for the twins since Zev was still recovering himself, not to

mention that he was probably buried under two hundred and forty pounds of muscled Mabari, cursing her name, no

doubt.

Just thinking of the twins made her chest twinge, as well as her heart.  She hated having a wet nurse feed them. 

She was determined that she was not going anywhere until Master Ignacio got word to her.  Not that she could

anyway.  She had been wounded, and though it was well on its way to healing, she was still weak and the wound could

be broken open easily.  For once, she was not sorry to have a good excuse to take things easy.

"Finally, is that all it took?  Being away from the twins for too long?  If I thought you would relay the message,

I would tell Eamon to give you only one safe house to use.  The one farthest from Denerim!"  Alistair's voice

quipped into her ear.

"Ha, very ha.  Aren't you just a barrel full of pickled fish tonight?" Kai laughed at him.

"Well, let’s see, your almost bleeding to death has a tendency to make me a little jumpy.  So, yeah.  Oh, and it

has the same effect on your mother." Alistair's voice held a smile at least.

"Oh dirty pool, very dirty pool."  Kai gave a mental squirm.

Kai made her way to the house with Wynne and Fiona helping.  She walked in the door and into the main hall. 

Leliana was there already, as she had suspected, with Sten.  The pretty bard sat with her lute on her lap and the

tip of her tongue sticking out from between her teeth, brow furrowed in concentration as she wrote notes of music

on lined paper.  Kai groaned inwardly.  No doubt the redhead was composing a ballad about Kai’s killing a Crow

master or the rescue or her meeting with Ignacio.  Leliana had been practically been bursting at the seams when she

told Kai she wanted to begin composing a book of songs about Kai and all of their adventures from before the fall

of the Archdemon on.  Leli had told her that her working the Crows over for Zevran had really inspired her even

more.  Kai sighed.  One day she feared she would be hearing these songs in a tavern or the castle in Denerim, if

she ever got Anora out of it.

Sten sat reading with a book on his lap while occasionally eating a cookie from a plate with a glass of milk

sitting near by.  Morrigan also sat reading, but she would periodically grab a bunch of dried plants and hold them

up to the book, probably comparing them to the pictures there.  Kai smiled.  It always warmed her heart to see

them, her extended family.  She felt herself flush.  She needed to tell them about Alistair's voice.  Kai waited

until Oghren and Shale came in and cleared her throat.  "Um, Oghren, Shale, Sten.  I have something I need to tell

you."  All eyes turned to her.  She took a deep breath and explained about Alistair's voice, the funeral, her trip

to the Fade, Morrigan’s knowing, having to tell Wynne and Leli, Zev’s finding out and his displeasure.  She felt

her cheeks getting hot, but she looked them in the eyes.  "I am sorry I didn't tell you all sooner.  And I didn't

tell the others in the group ahead of you out of favoritism.  I would never do that, I love you all.  It is just

that..." Kai flushed and looked down.  "I have no excuse.  I don't.  I lied by omission.  I understand if you feel

hurt and if you can't trust me anymore.  Really, I didn't expect you all to stay after the Archdemon, but you did. 

I know I am not worthy of your...," Kai broke off, she didn't want to say ‘love’, "loyalty."  Who knew what they

felt for her?  Sometimes she wondered why they stayed, as she had a penchant for mucking things up.  "Anyway, I

figure you need time to digest it and make up your minds.  I can't ask you to forgive me, though I hope you will." 

Kai flushed harder and found her hands balled in fists to go with the cold ball in her stomach.

"Talking to the 'little pike twirler' still, huh?" Oghren grinned at her.  "Well, I’m just glad I can't hear

Branka.  But then you and he always had a better relationship than we had, eh?  Except for the make up sex, you

really are missing something there, Warden."  With that Oghren clapped her on the back and grinned.  "I am going to

go get a keg or two to wash out the dust from the road and see if I can get Sten to play dwarven checkers with me. 

Tell the other Warden I said 'hi.'"  And Oghren took off for the kitchen and its subsequent cold cellar, whistling

the tune to "The Clean Song."

Sten just stared at her with his lavender eyes, his face immobile.  "I stay because of you and will continue to

stay because of you, kadan."  Kai flushed harder.  She had once asked him what the word meant, thinking it was his

way of pronouncing her full name.  That was until she had heard him call Shale that as well.  He had simply looked

at her as he had just now, his look more intense, and told her it meant something of great value.  She had cocked

her head at that, not sure what he meant.  She was like an object?  He had frowned and tried again pointing to the

middle of his chest.  “Where the heart lies,” he told her.  It was then that Kai knew how important she was to

him.  She really didn't deserve them all.  Maker, how lucky she was.  Sten merely nodded and returned to his

cookies and book.

Only Shale hadn't spoken up at this point.  Kai looked at the golem.  Shale stared back.  "At least you do not have

to put up with its terrible hygiene in person anymore.  Though I suspect it still tries to be funny?  Will the

Warden be sharing these attempts at jocularity?"  The golem just raised a stone eyebrow at Kai.

"Um, no I won't try and share any...erm...jocularity from Alistair with you." Kai tried not to let her lips twitch.

"Hey-y, that hurts my manly feelings!" Alistair's voice sounded with mock pain in her ear.
 
"All one of them?" Kai asked with a mental laugh.

"I still say that Shale knows a lot of big words for a walking pile of rock."  Alistair laughed into her ear.

"Thank you.  I don't deserve you all, but I promise to try and always be worthy."  Kai blushed again.  "I am going

to see the twins and...."  Kai gave a mental groan.  And release one very angry Antivan assassin from his prison. 

"Yeah, upstairs, to see the twins."  Wynne and Fiona helped her walk the rest of the way and up the stairs.  When

they were in the hallway, a servant girl was coming out of Kai's and, technically, Zev's room, probably after

dropping off food for him.  Or maybe tending to other physical pursuits, after all he was handsome and charming. 

Kai felt ill for a second, but she smiled at the girl as she walked past and drew her attention.  "What room are

the twins in?"
"Why, they are in your room, my lady.  They have been since you left.  The dog won't let the gentleman there leave,

but he insisted the babes sleep with him as always.  The dog sleeps on the floor next to the door.  It is quite

funny, though the elven gentleman isn't amused.  He has argued with the dog quite a lot, and the dog refuses to

listen, even barking back to answer him."  The girl giggled behind a hand. Wynne only grimaced and asked the girl

to fetch her poultices and bandages if they hadn't been left in the room already.

Kai was surprised, though she figured Zev felt he was protecting the twins no matter how he felt about their

mother.  The man was so damn loyal and trustworthy.  She should have told him, and yet again she cursed herself for

the world's biggest fool.  She nodded at the girl, and Fiona paused with her hand on the door knob, giving Kai a

moment to school herself.  She heard Argus snuffle the door, catching her scent and starting to bark.

"Hush, you large smelly flea bag, you'll wake the babies!" Zev's annoyed voice chided Argus as Fiona opened the

door.  Wynne helped her limp into the room following Fiona.  She steeled herself to walk around the door.  The

Mabari helped.  He was so happy to see her.  Though with a quick word from Wynne, he did not jump up as he normally

would have to put paws up on her shoulders to lick her face.

"No boy, I can't have you do that." Argus whined at her and cocked his head.  "Yes, I got hurt, and it isn't that

bad.  But I can't take the chance of ripping it open, ok?"  She smiled at the big dog's grinning mouth as it barked

an affirmative.  She patted him.  "You may also let Zev out of the room now."

"Well that is good to hear, Warden; I thought perhaps you decided to use the dog to keep me chained to the bed so

you could use me."  Zev's voice normally would have been warm and laughing when he said this, but it was cold and

hard as a slap.  Kai flinched.

"No, only keep you from following us until you had healed.  You are a free man."  Kai limped over to the other side

of the bed, not looking at Zev.  She focused on the little round bellies rising and falling while the twins slept. 

She touched them and started to bend over to kiss them, but pain from her wounded side had a small cry issuing

involuntarily from her lips along with a sharp intake of breath.  Fiona came over immediately as Wynne was by the

fireplace setting up a teapot for more of the bitter willow bark tea.  At least she would have honey to sweeten it

here.  It would make it a little more tolerable gong down.

The twins, hearing Mommy's voice even in distress, woke up and started fussing.  Fiona helped her get situated and

gently placed the twins for Kai.  The usual bliss infused her being, along with the happiness of being with them

again.  That was until she looked up to see that Zev had left the room without even a comment. 

Kai felt a tear slide down her cheek.  Wynne walked over and brushed it away while feeding her the cup of tea. 

"Not too much, the twins don't need it."  Wynne stroked her hair while she sipped from the cup Wynne held for her. 

"He is at war with himself, child, give him some time."

"Ha, I doubt that."  Kai felt another tear slide down.

"You didn't see what I saw, child.  When you gasped in pain, he started towards you.  He is at war with himself."

"Oh Wynne, I hurt him on a level I don't think anyone else has, not even his Rinna.  All the others have been

strangers or Crows.  Crows he expected it from, it was how Vimaro ran his house.  Rinna, too, was raised to be a

cold-hearted killer like him.  He thought better of me on a lot of levels, I suppose.  Why he should I don't really

know, and now he finds I am no better."  Kai gasped back a sob.

"Don't say that!" Wynne's voice was all fury.  It broke Kai out of her self loathing by startling her with its

vehemence.  "Don't ever compare yourself to that walking monster and his snake of a lover!  And if he can't see

that you are different, then he is the one with the problem!  But don't ever let me hear you say such a thing

again.  Especially not after all you went through to get him back when he was foolish enough to go running after

Vimaro in the first place."  Wynne started to pace.  "What is it with young people?"  The mage looked over at

Fiona, who only shrugged and shook her head, but she had a quirk to her lips like she was trying not to smile. 

Wynne turned back to her.  "Did you hear me, young woman?"

Kai blushed. "Yes, mom...erm...ma'am!" Kai grinned at her.  Wynne just huffed and gestured for Fiona to help her

take the twins so Wynne could put fresh bandages on her wounds.  Fiona took care of burping, changing, and getting

the twins back to sleep.  Kai allowed Wynne to minister to her wounds, including a new bandage for her shoulder

which was still healing as well.  Kai felt like a quilt.  When it was all done, they convinced her to go downstairs

so they could all get something to eat, especially her.  They reversed their earlier slow trek down the hallway and

down the stairs to the main hall.

They were all sitting as they had before, but Sten and Oghren and Shale were playing checkers.  Zev was now there

as well, his face completely expressionless, sitting at the table with Leliana.  Kai just looked away and placed

herself carefully in a chair next to Morrigan, lowering herself gingerly with Wynne's help.  Fiona went off to find

some food.  Kai found she wasn't hungry at all.  In fact, she still had ice in her stomach, and Zev's cold gaze

wasn't helping.  She watched everyone except Zev and Leli, since the bard was too close to him and her gaze might

fall on him by accident.  Finally, she started watching the flames in the fireplace dance.

Fiona came back and pressed a plate with cheese, bread, and some fruit on it into her hands before going back

upstairs to watch the twins.  Kai smiled her appreciation.  She began to spread the creamy cheese on the bread and

take bites along with slices of pear and apple, but the food just seemed to have a hard time going down and what

did just sat there.  She put the plate aside on the little table between her and Morrigan.  "You should be mindful

of eating, Warden, we wouldn't want your health to fail so you wind up back to the Fade, now would we?" Zev's voice

was neutral to anyone who didn't know him, but it had an undercurrent of coldness.  Kai flinched again.

Before Wynne could say anything, it was Leliana who broke in.  "Oh, since we are all here, I want to tell a story. 

I am working on Kai's exploits.  This is a story you all don't know.  It’s about what happened when Kai met with

Master Ignacio at the Gnawed Noble Tavern.  I don't have all the background music to the tale yet, but I have the

telling of it down."  The pretty bard smiled at everyone in the room, lingering on Zev.

"Leliana, really, I gave them the basics, it isn't necessary...," Kai trailed off as the bard began to pout

slightly

“But Zev hasn't heard, he has been comatose.  And, I would like the feedback."  Leliana brightened again.

"Well, I was there, so if you don't mind, I will skip it and go to bed." Kai flushed and started to try to get

herself out of the chair.

"What is the matter, my dear Warden, too modest to hear of your own exploits?" Zev asked her.  Kai blushed harder.

"Oh but you can't go, you were there, and I want you to make sure I got my facts straight."  Leliana flashed Kai a

brilliant smile.  Kai just blushed harder and looked away.  "So there was Kai all dressed in black with her face

covered waiting like a big black cat for the mouse to come to the doorway."

Kai snorted.  "Leli, please, a big black cat?"  Kai blushed even more.  "More like I was sweltering in my cloak to

keep my appearance hidden."

"Oh you take all the romance out of it," Leli chastised her.  "I said correct me if I got the facts wrong, not if I

embellished, Kai."  And Leliana went on, and with each sentence she had Kai's cheeks burning and her shoulders

hunching, and she wished she could be anywhere, well except The Deep Roads, but here.  Kai kept trying to tune

Leli's voice out and scrunch down, as much as her wounded belly would allow her, into the chair making herself

small as possible.  She also wished she was well enough to get up and get some cognac.  She wanted to swig it like

Ignacio had.  Leliana went on to describe how she had started off friendly enough, but had placed Concha's finger

in the glass.  She continued with Kai’s revealing herself as the Grey Warden, and now Scathach.  How Kai had showed

Ignacio Vimaro's ring then given him the man's head in a huge glass jar of honey sealed with wax.  How Kai had

threatened to bring down not only The House of Crows, but also the nobility they served, effectively crippling all

of Antiva.

Kai just wished Leli would stop.  She couldn't even risk a look to see what Zev's expression was.  When he still

liked her, he probably would have been equal parts angry and impressed.  But now?   So she just stared at her own

hands sitting in her lap.  "Oh our Kai was masterful.  She kept twisting the knife until I actually felt sorry for

poor Master Ignacio.  Well only a little, but it was pure artistry."

"Leli, really," was all Kai could manage to mumble.  Her ears felt very hot, and her cheeks were burning.  Plus,

she was biting her bottom lip so hard she might draw blood.  "It wasn't that, um, well it was just..." Kai again

trailed off at a loss for words.  “Cruel and vicious” came to mind, but she didn't say them.  Leli was making it

sound far more romantic than it was.

"I will admit I almost laughed when she told him to steel himself, it wasn't all the bad news.  She pulled out that

procul globe and spoke to Zaeed.  Ignacio looked positively ill!" Leliana laughed her bubbling, beautiful laugh. 

"She negotiated a four-hundred year contract between the Antivan Crows and Ferelden Scath.  No more slavery in the

Crows.  All the Crows in House Vimaro belong to Kai and now the Scaths, but of their own free will.  Oh, and it was

made clear, and in no uncertain terms, that you were off limits, dear Zev.  She was very, very clear about that. 

Cresconio and his house are to be, what was that word you used, Kai?  Oh yes, 'absorbed' by House Serracino.  Her

threat at the end was a stroke of genius!  It had poor Ignacio swigging really excellent cognac straight from the

bottle.  Let me see if I can get this exactly."  Leliana pursed her lips and put a fingertip to them in thought. 

Then she pitched her voice and mimicked Kai's accent, "It might also help the peace process if you tell them this. 

For what Vimaro did to Zevran, it took everything in me not to seek the ultimate revenge and watch all of Antiva

burn.  And one false move, one little thing that causes me to look at what he did to Zevran a little more closely –

whether it be dragging their feet or trying any tricks – and I will set a firestorm into motion with a mere flick

of my fingers across my procul globe."  Leliana laughed.  "Isn't that just the best?  Then she told him she would

love a reason, and it wouldn't take much of one."  Leliana let out a delighted giggle.  "I thought I would fall

over laughing when she turned around at the door and Ignacio jumped.  She told him to relax, she just looked

forward to her discount at their booth in the marketplace!"  Leliana grinned wider.  "I will admit I never had as

much fun when I was a bard in Orlais."

Kai couldn't look up.  Her face was still flaming, and she just wanted to crawl away and disappear.  It was Zev's

voice, quiet and without any inflection, that broke the silence.  "You took over Vimaro's cell of Crows?"

Kai felt her shoulders hunching again.  "Yes. Well, all but the seven we had to kill at the hideout."
"And they joined you without hesitation?" Zev's voice, again with no inflection.

"Yes, they did, as did I.  I don't believe we’ve met."  Kai turned carefully to see Naseel coming forward from the

stairway.  "I was one of the novices in the house, too low ranking for you to ever have any assignments with me.  I

was taken off 'probation' shortly after you left."  The young woman came and stood by Kai's chair.  Her odd-colored

eyes fixed on Zevran.  "I am Naseel.  And I assure you, Zevran Arainai, we did swear to follow her.  All of us.  We

are all Scath now."  Naseel offered a cold smile to Zev.  "I believe our Scathach is still waiting on word from

Ignacio, though."  Naseel simply cocked an eyebrow at Zevran.

"I brought you the globe, Scathach.  I thought you might want to check with Zaeed yourself?  I told him of your

injury and that you would check in as soon as possible."  Naseel handed Kai the velvet bag.  "I had thought to give

you some time with your friends," Naseel directed a cold look at Zevran,  "And to have some rest and refreshment

before I bothered you.  I was waiting nearby."
Kai took the globe out and tapped with her fingers.  Zaeed's face appeared, and he bowed and smiled. He made

motions with his hands.  Ignacio had arrived in Antiva, and the negotiations were underway.  Lord Cresconio was

still occupied and unaware.  Zaeed would keep her informed on the negotiation process as he heard news.  He had

people watching the talks, he assured her, it would be amusing.  Kai smiled and made motions back, thanking him. 

Then Zaeed did something that surprised her, he asked her if she was all right from her injury.  Kai only had a

moment to pause, slightly stunned, before she answered that yes, all was well, she was healing.  And she thanked

him again.  Zaeed bowed and smiled at her before his face disappeared.  Kai put the globe back in its bag and

handed it to Naseel, before translating, for everyone but Zev and Naseel, what Zaeed had to say.
"So, depending on how long it takes them to argue with each other and if I don't have to remind them that time is

of the essence, then maybe nine to ten days before we get Ignacio back here in Ferelden?  Unless he runs into bad

currents or storms while sailing back."  Kai tried to figure in her head.

"Could be less, the currents flow this way from Rialto Bay," Zev's voice interjected quietly.  She couldn't hazard

a guess as to what he was thinking, and quite frankly she was too tired to try.  Suddenly, she felt like she could

just sleep in the chair.  She looked at Naseel, who gave her an arm and helped her rise.

"Well, I, for one, have had a really long last couple of days.  I am going to go to bed."  Kai smiled around the

room vaguely.  It kept her from having to look at Zev or Leli.  Bloody bards and their stories! Kai fumed.  Kai

waved off any offers from the others to help her up the stairs.  She just took them one step at a time like an old

woman.

She finally, thank the Maker, made it to the door to the room and went in.  She kissed Fiona, who was reading Zev's

copy of "The Black Fox," on the cheek.  Fiona put the book down and kissed her back.  "I don’t believe he hates you

as much as you think.”  Fiona held up the book and then showed her the inscribed fly leaf with her handwriting

still on it.  “It was the book on top of the pile of books.”  Fiona then smiled, hugged Kai, kissed the twins and

left the room.

Kai put on a clean shift to sleep in and started to get into bed when she had a thought.  Maybe Zev wouldn't want

her in here.  She should sleep with Leli.  The bard wouldn't mind, and Leli owed her after that fiasco downstairs. 

One problem, Kai was not allowed to lift anything heavy, and the twins were off limits according to Wynne and

Fiona.  Fiona – Kai only hoped she had gone back to her room.  Kai started to make her way to the door and almost

ran into Zev coming in as she was going out.  Her trying to jump back out of the way quickly caused the wound in

her belly to wrench painfully, making Kai grasp it with a hand and gasp a sharp intake of breath.

Zev reached out and grabbed her arm, but the grasp was neither friendly or cold.  "Sorry, I was going to go get

Fiona to help me put the twins in Leliana's room.  I figured you wouldn't want me in here, so I was going to sleep

with her."  Kai still couldn't look him in the face.  Seeing his indifference hurt too much.

"Wouldn't it be easier if Leliana just moved in here?  One is easier to move than three, no?"  Oh that hurt, a

twisting little pain around her heart.  She felt tears stinging her eyes, but kept her head bowed and nodded.  He

walked her around to the other side of the bed and stood her next to it, then he moved away and she heard the door

shut.  Kai just sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders hunched.  She wanted to sob, but it would wake the

twins.  So, she got under the covers and kept her back to them.  She turned her head into her pillow and let the

tears come.  It surprised her to feel a quick touch of fingers in her hair, and then they were gone as Zev rolled

over and blew out the candle.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 30 mai 2010 - 07:33 .