Trail of the Crows
Coyote warrior elf and Zevran romance
After the Arch Demon is killed; Zevran is taken back by the crows by force and Coyote goes after him
The Arch demon was dead, the blight had been averted for now, but Coyote the Dalish Elf Warrior's life hadn't slowed down. Foolish for him, still a Grey Warden to think he would have a bit of time to take a breather, to be with the man he loved for a short reprieve from the insanity of fighting dark spawn. On the contrary, he had just left Denirum again after the pomp and circumstance of the coronation ceremony for Alistair, bound for Antiva. This time it wasn't Dark spawn he was hunting it was the Antivan Crows.
Zevran, his love had warned that if he stayed in one place for any amount of time that they would possibly come to get him; Coyote had again foolishly hoped they would have sometime to themselves. They had grown close, so close that Coyote could say he loved the other elf; and he didn't push Zevran to actively admit his love for he knew that it was hard for the assassin to admit. Coyote's hand went to his ear where he wore the earring Zevran gave him; that showed him that the assassin did indeed love him in his own way.
He thought back to what had happened and it had happened so fast that if he was in the right state of mind he would have been able to…he sighed and pushed the thought down for what's done is done what he needed to think about now is how he was going to get Zevran back alive.
Thankfully the Crows are sticklers for specifics; when they have a mark they only take care of that mark. Of course in Coyote's eyes that would leave open a lot of pain to come back to them. Like now, like him, like when he gets to Antiva and his love is hurt or dead then Antiva better have all the Crows ready for a blood bath for this Dalish Warrior was ready to give it to them. Really, he thought to himself, he just stabbed the arch demon in the head, killing the corrupted high dragon and sending it's essence to Morrigan and his child to cleanse, so a few Crow assassins didn't scare him. Of course, he wasn't going to be complacent around them, he knew they were good at what they did but they should also realize there's always someone better and when it came to getting Zevran back safe he was going to be better.
He and Zevran, had ordered a drink at the local tavern that was open, because the Gnarled Noble was well gnarled due to the dark spawn invasion. They thought they were alone, he was even going to tell Zevran how he had survived the killing of the Arch demon, but the Crows had been watching, waiting…they drugged the ale. Then when he awoke Zevran was gone. He knew instinctively it was the Crows since one time before when he spoke with Zevran at camp he was told he more then likely would be taken back to Antiva for punishment not a swift death. They would want to show him as an example and not just kill him out right. Since Coyote had taken care of so much in the city for Ignacio that was probably why he was still breathing or they had respect for the Grey Warden that ended the blight. Either way he was bound for another fight, one that he had to win as well.
The boat tossed a bit; yes a boat first time for him to be on the sea. The smell and the movement made him want to hurl for it was totally different then the solid ground under his feet and the smell of fresh earth and trees. He would brave it, for Zevran; he looked around and made sure that he was alone, no one to disturb him in his small cabin he laid back on the small bunk and rested thinking back on his first days with the Antivan. He remembered right after defeating Zevran; the assassin had offered his services in various forms to the Grey warden and his crew, from jokes to massage techniques to being good at parties. Coyote didn't think he was serious but one night the warden was luckily proven wrong.
They had all pitched camp; gotten settled down and the watches had been called for the night. Zevran went to Liliana and asked her if she knew of a certain Antivan dance song; of course she did but they all wondered why. He turned to all of them gathered around the fire and smiled his seductive smile.
"I will entertain you all this night with a special dance, to celebrate my still breathing; one that was taught to me by a master of the blades" he turned to Liliana and told her to start the beginning of the song so he can go and prepare; he couldn't very well do it in his full leather armor. They all looked at each other, each intrigued in their own way as to what this was going to be like. Liliana's song lulled them to watch in anticipation for what was to come. They heard the rustling of armor being taken off; which in itself made Coyote's mouth water. He had in his thoughts wondered what was under that armor. Then another sound that made it more intriguing the sound of light bells and clinking of metal.
Suddenly, the flap of Zevran's tent flipped open to reveal the Antivan in a new light. There in all his sensual glory stood Zevran; the elf clad only in a leather loin cloth that hung low on his hips; two gold arm bands high on his muscled biceps, gold earrings in his ears and on each of his thighs strapped a blade in their sheaths. He moved with the song, spinning and dancing with the beat. To Coyote the world fell away at the moment when he saw him, Zevran was lust in the flesh, deadly and sensual. When the song started to get faster that was when the assassin pulled out his blades, they only accented the movements. The song increased it's intensity and feeling; up to a climax had Zevran end right in front of Coyote, if he were the only one there he would have taken his fellow elf right then but he knew the others were watching and in their own way were effected by the dance.
Sten had missed it he was on first watch so he was patrolling the perimeter of the camp. Ohgren belched and made some excuse to go into his tent; Liliana was blushing and moved away to be quiet; Morrigan hid her face and moved to her own fire; Wynne just smiled she may be old but she wasn't dead yet; Alistair was the funniest for he was a virgin and it seemed that the dance inspired feelings that he never experienced especially for the same sex. As for Coyote, he had always been attracted to both sexes and now specifically Zevran. That night Zevran asked him if he needed a massage and if the opportunity would arise for anything further that it could go that way. Coyote was waiting trying not to jump the poor man's bones right when he first met him so this was for the best; it showed Zevran that Coyote thought more of him then just a toss in the fur and it showed Coyote Zevran wanted him as well.
The memory of that night put a smile on his face, but it quickly faded because of the thoughts of what Zevran may go through once he was delivered back to the crows. Coyote took the next ship out, not knowing if they took Zevran back by ship or they went over land but he believed this was the fastest way to Antiva. Now he could only wait…
Antiva
Zevran fought the bonds that held him to the amusement of the other crows, cursing within his mind for being so easy to be caught.
"Look the famous Zevran thinks he can get out of the ropes"
"Aren't you glad you gagged him? If looks could kill you'd be dead right now mate"
"I don't know about the gagging I'm sure I could come up with a use for that mouth"
That thought didn't sit well with Zevran, he had been taken by force before but now…now that he had love he didn't want to go through that. For if he was lucky enough to get back to his love Coyote, he didn't want to go back tainted like that. So he settled back in the carriage to await their arrival at the Crows base where his master awaited them, trying to still himself for what was to come.
"That stopped him, I don't think he likes you" the smaller crow said.
"I'll wait to see what the master says then I may see how talented he is, I mean Taliesen did brag ya know" Zevran looked up to the human wanting to kill him; for the death of Talisen even if it was needed, still stung.
Once they arrived he was dragged out of the carriage, and taken to the main hall of the Crows as he knew the Master was there waiting as if a bastard king ruling over his court. Zevran was thrown down to kneel at the man's feet.
"So Zevran, are you glad to be back in Antiva?" he motioned for the others to take the gag from the elf.
He moved his mouth to get the stiffness out due to the gag. "I am glad to be back in my beautiful Antiva but the trip over my travel companions were less to be desired; no tour guides they" he smiled
The two that had brought him, the larger one came forward but was stopped "Why you little…" he was also stopped by the wave of the Master's hand.
"Same as always Zevran; as you know you failed in your contract. I brought you back here to show the others that contracts need to be fulfilled"
"So helping to save the world from a full scale blight doesn't count as a reprieve for failure? So harsh"
"You are telling me you helped end the blight?"
"I was there by the Grey Warden as he sunk his blade into the brain of the Arch Demon; if you'd like why not ask the Grey Warden"
"Maybe we will once he gets here" the Master smiled.
"What?" his own smile faded fast.
"Come now Zevran, your 'friend' will come for you don't you think? Or don't you think you are worth anything to him?"
"Don't hurt him Master; he is a Grey Warden, who saved Fereldan. I am thankful that I failed in killing him for that reason alone, for if Fereldan goes Antiva would have been next"
"Admirable Zevran, but is that the only reason?"
Zevran stayed silent. He knew what the Master was getting at and he wasn't about to give the man any more ammunition against him.
"Then we wait mm? Now what kind of condition should he find you in?"
Zevran thought "Do I have a choice if so, well bathed, dressed and rested but …it's not up to me is it?"
"No it isn't" he waved to the others "Take him to the cells don't hurt him yet"
Zevran was pulled up and taken to a cell; one that he had been in once before after the incident with Rinna. They had untied him and tossed him in, the cold stone of the floor was actually soothing to his wrists and body so he laid there for a moment thinking. Half of him hoped that his beloved would not come to get him; but the other would want to see him standing there in the open doorway saying come…we have dark spawn to kill. He got up and went over to the cot and laid down hoping that when Coyote did come, and he knew he would, that the Crows underestimated the Warden as he did when they first met.
At the dock
Coyote took his time getting off the boat; he needed to get to dry land, now it was official he hated sea trips. He tossed his pack over his shoulder, the clanking sounds made some look over but he kept going for he wasn't about to let them stop him and look to see that all of his armor and weapons were in there. Right now he was in simple leather armor for traveling.
His mind went to the stories that Zevran told him of the small rooms over a whorehouse where they stored their young recruits of the crows. How the young Antivan got used to the smell of the leather making process. He was going to walk around a bit to and use his nose…first stop the leather district.
Almost right out of the gate his instinct told him that he was being followed ~I guess being stalked by dark spawn was a useful thing made my senses a bit stronger, well let them follow let them think I can't sense them~
He found his way to a small inn and checked in to a room; there he put on all of his warden armor and made sure that he had all of his weapons on. As he put on his last glove there was a smudge of blood on it from the arch demon. It hadn't been that long since him killing the dark spawn but now in this place it felt like a life time past. He wiped it off knowing if the crows didn't give Zevran back that the smudge would return due to either their blood or his.
To be continued...
