Chapter 1

"So are you going to teach me how to be a coldblooded assassin like you yet?" I asked. I've been bugging Zevran about this ever since he told me stories about his time in the Antivan Crows, a world renowned assassins guild. I've only heard little rumors and stories here and there, but ever since I decided to spare Zev's life I've been interrogating him for more information on the Crows; what it was like to be part of them and how truly effective they are. Sometimes he has some amusing stories to tell, but most of the time I can tell there's another anecdote behind those amber eyes that he wants to let out, but instead of telling me he merely says, "it seems as though I cannot think of any right now, but perhaps it will come to me later." I know he's just making that up to spare either me or him pain, I can see how much whatever he's hiding is hurting him.

"Ah but coldblooded you already are!" he said with a laugh. "I've told you a million times before my dear Kallian," Zevran said with his Antivan accent, "I cannot educate you in the art of the Crows no matter how much you desire it, my little elf. They would become even more angry with me than they already are, which would cause more danger to threaten us all." He caressed my ear, trying to seduce me again.

"But how will they be angered if they don't find out?" I responded wittily as I ducked out of his touch.

With fake sadness in his eyes, he thought about it. "I don't know; if you fight like a Crow during a battle against them they are likely to figure out I had something to do with it." He bent down to inspect his favored blade. As he examined it in the campfire he said, "However, you are most likely right about that though, and they are already furious with me as it is, so why not add a little more to the fire, hmm?" He finished with a smirk.

His muscles tensed as my senses tingled at the same time. We are being attacked. "Ah but we might have to start the training another time," he announced, wielding both his daggers while I withdrew mine, going into my favorite stance. I grinned at my victory. Finally I get some extra training! I'm not improving much by killing mere Genlocks or Hurlocks all the time. Sure there are Ogres sometimes – they really get my adrenaline going – but we don't encounter many of them.

"WE'RE BEING ATTACKED!" I heard Alistair yell from his tent, which was located across the camp, just as five Shrieks appeared before Zevran and me, surrounding us.

"You ready?" I asked.

"But of course" Was his response.

We both disappeared from sight, leaving the Shrieks in our wake dazed and confused. I barely registered Morrigan using her frost magic to freeze three of the Darkspawn on the other side of the camp as I reappeared, stabbing two of the Shrieks in the back as Zevran backstabbed two others, leaving one to tend to. I smiled. Who will win this time? I caught Zevran's eye, dropping both my blades on the ground. He did the same.

"One," I started.

"Two," he said we a huge grin.

"Three!" We shouted in unison, confusing the remaining Darkspawn.

We both ducked down to retrieve our blades as fast as we could. I picked mine up and had them slashed through the Darkspawn's throat before anyone even had a chance to blink. Zevran barely had his daggers in his hands before he registered that I had won. I smiled triumphantly. "Looks like I win again. What does that make it now? Ten to one?"

"I do not understand how someone can be so fast," he said to himself while shaking his head. "I believe that if I teach you the ways of the Crows I will never have a chance at winning ever again," He said with a laugh. "My skills doubled with the skills Isabela taught you, will most certainly create you into a weapon of mass destruction."

"Oh? And am I not already a weapon of mass destruction?" I asked with a sultry smile and a bat of my lashes. I crouched back into my ambush stance, hiding in some nearby bushes. There are more coming, either many small Darkspawn or one really big one. I hope it's the latter; I really want to stretch my muscles tonight.

"But of course, I have been mistaken," Zevran apologized from an unknown location. He already disappeared for the next encounter. "Not only are you more dangerous and ferocious in battle than a Dragon, but you are also the most beautiful, radiant woman I have ever met, and I do meet many women." He said with a lustful expression in his voice. He actually sounded truthful, but usually he just toys with me. I wonder what's gotten into him…

A rustle in the forest sounded behind the camp. Here it comes. "Look out!" Leliana yelled from the other side of the camp. I felt an arrow whiz past my ear, nearly taking it off. I made a mental note to joke about that later. Her arrow landed right in a Genlock's heart. She is such an amazing archer. It was hiding in the bushes, right behind me. Why didn't I notice him?

"Oh Zevran, take me away to your tent," I called in response, with fake pleading and a roll of my eyes. "I can see right through your façade Zev, haven't I told you this before?"

"Yes but what is the harm in trying once more?" He replied with a smile in his voice as he slashed through an Emissary to my left. Its blood splattered all over the ground, staining the earth with sticky, black plasma from the underworld.

I glanced over to Morrigan and Oghren from across the camp. They just defeated another three Hurlocks. There was still one more. But where is it? I closed my eyes and let my senses roam free. Not in the forest. Not on the top of the cliff on the northern side of the camp. Then where… Maker's breath!

My eyes shot open as a rumbling started beneath my feet. It was coming from underground! Before I had a chance to act a demonic hand shot up from beneath me. Of course, if I can sense them they can sense me. I struggled against its grasp, trying to break free but to no avail. Sure I was faster than everyone else here, but I wasn't the strongest by any means. "Damn it!" I grunted. I was so stupid, so, so stupid. I should have realized he was beneath me. He was right under my feet and I couldn't sense him, and now I am going to die because of it. I closed my eyes and allowed death to come. I hope Alistair would be able to defeat the Blight without me. I set everything up for him; obtaining aid from the elves, dwarves and mages, constructing a group that can go up against anything and collecting enough resources to continue this journey. All he needed to do was get Loghain out of the way and kill the Archdemon. He could do it, I know he can. Deep down inside that naïve, dense exterior is a true warrior waiting to come out, even if he doesn't realize it.

The Ogre lifted me up for its final blow. My daggers were long gone in the process of struggling against him earlier. All I had were my bare hands, which weren't much. I was going to die.