They had camp pulled and were on the road before the sun peaked over the mountains. By Brother Genitivi's notes, Haven should be only half a day's travel west. Azriæl had tried her best to stay quiet and get them all moving, but…
"And why not?" Alistair whined and she knew what it was about… again. They had setup camp south of Redcliffe and close to the road, but had no intent on stopping.
"And what would that accomplish? We have everything and going there would prove fruitless." Morrigan stated, "We have no news besides where we are going, which if I remember is exactly, was where most of the others disappeared."
"Don't Alistair." Azriæl cut in, "Morrigan's right. We will return as soon as we can." Her tone warned the ex-Templar not to go further and he understood, but not without a pouting look. She gave her own blank stare back at him, which made the man go to Leliana for sympathy. Azriæl couldn't hear what the bard had said, but apparently she hadn't taken his side either.
The time was passed with jaunts and banter amongst a few of the companions. Mostly between Morrigan and Alistair, which Morrigan was getting the upper hand, also between Zevran and Oghren.
"I would have thought saving the surface would have involved less walking." Oghren said in a huff.
Zevran smiled, "Little legs getting tired?"
Oghren looked at the elf before looking towards the rest of the group, "I thought these people had animals, horses and such."
"In Orlais, perhaps, but not here. If you like, I could hoist you up on my back." Zevran offered, which made nearly the entire group to watch the pair.
"Hey now, don't start with the…" Oghren stumbled as Zevran crouched down.
"Yes, climb up, and I'll cart you around like a child! Marvelous fun!"
Azriæl and Leliana couldn't keep the smile from their faces, though they did try to stifle their laughter.
"You knife-eared pipe-cleaner… you couldn't carry me on your best day."
Zevran thought a moment as he stood again, "Mmmm, perhaps if you left behind the spirits, all the weapons, and lost about two feet of beard..."
"Ach. I give up, just keep walking." The dwarf said, stomping past the group.
Azriæl watched as the dwarf stomped ahead of her before suddenly stopping when the path split, "Not really sure where we're going..." Oghren said, turning towards her.
She smiled, pointing the dwarf to the left path and followed Oghren as he began marching again. Though it was only a mile before he started to fall from the lead to the rear. Azriæl gave Zevran a warning look and the dwarf fell in line next to the elf. Zevran gave her a sly smile, almost saying, I promise I won't aggravate him, too much... Five minutes hadn't gone by before Oghren was yelling some profanities.
Hours passed and Azriæl began to notice that the further they traveled into the forest, the thicker the trees seemed to be and the path was disappearing. They had to be getting close, she thought as they came upon a steep incline.
"I've never heard of any village out this way, is this place even on a proper map?" Alistair stated, looking around.
"Strange... a perfect little place. Almost too perfect." Zevran added.
"It is nice, be nicer if they had a tavern." Oghren muttered.
"I don't like this, something's not right here. I can feel it." Leliana added with a shiver.
"Where is everyone?" Wynne noticed the lack of movement ahead of them, save a guard who looked really pissed off.
"What are you doing? There is nothing here for the likes of you." The guard stated.
Azriæl was taken back a second before she found her voice, "We were hoping to look around." She looked towards the others for backup.
"We are not some zoo for low-landers…" The guard warned, "You may go trade at the shop, but I suggest you and your companions leave soon."
"Very well, excuse us." Azriæl replied as they made their way passed the guard.
"Did it get a lot colder around here, or is it just me?" Alistair said quietly.
"They are hiding something. 'Tis obvious, is it not?" Morrigan added, glaring back at the guard before Azriæl nudged her.
"Ah, quiet insular communities. There's always something nasty going on behind closed doors. I hope it involves chains… I hope they ask me to join."
Azriæl just stared at the elf for a second before blinking and walking away. That wasn't going to help them in anyway and she really didn't want this harder than it obviously was going to be. She began carefully looking around the village, trying to find the shop.
So far she had only found what appeared to be abandon houses. They walked around more, but the guard didn't seem to notice or care about the anymore. Azriæl was waiting for something to attack them at any moment.
"Come, come, bonny Lynne; tell us, tell us where you've been…"
A voice drifted in the air. That wasn't exactly what she was expecting, but she began to look for the owner of the voice. Walking towards the lake, the group saw a young boy standing just out of nowhere and singing that little chant. Though it was creepy, just as everything else was within the village.
The boy noticed the group and stopped the rhyme, "You shouldn't be here, lowlanders don't belong in Haven."
"Where is everyone else?" Azriæl asked.
"Up in the chantry. I hate it there and soon as I get older, I can go up in the mountains." The boy replied.
"I bet you're a smart young man. Do you know anything about Haven?" Azriæl smiled, leaning down on her knees.
"Haven is Haven. I have a secret, want to see it?"
Azriæl nodded and watched as the boy pulled out a finger bone that had been bleached by the sun and looked polished. She resisted the urge to gag, but smiled as the boy put it back in his pocket.
"It's my secret I found by the mountains, don't tell anyone." The boy said and ran off towards the mountain, up another steep incline.
"I guess there is more to this town." Azriæl sighed and lead the way.
The next tier had fewer houses, but one was clearly marked as a shop, but they also saw another steep incline and what appeared as a chapel at the top.
"Is everyone in the chantry? These villagers are a remarkably pious bunch." Wynne said, sounding astonished.
"How lovely for them." Morrigan rolled her eyes.
"They are remarkably in-tune." Oghren added.
"Sounds like they are singing the Chant, we should have a look." Leliana begged.
"Just once I'd like to walk into one of those places and discover a lively dance, or a drinking festival. Or an orgy, but alas, no." Zevran stated.
Azriæl just stared at the elf, though she knew better. He made comments like that all the time, but never in a place where one inch could cost them, "You're not helping, but if they are having an orgy, I will leave you here."
"And miss the ones with you, never." Zevran shot back with a smile.
"We will go and see what is up there after we visit the shop. At least get some supplies before we may be run out of town." She sighed, walking towards the shop. They entered with hesitancy, but the owner still gave them a weary look as the approached the counter.
"Who are you; you're not from Haven…"
"I know that, but you all keep reminding me for some reason." Azriæl shot back, "I just wanted to trade if this was a shop."
"We just don't get many… visitors. I don't have much, but you may look if you like."
Azriæl and the shopkeeper were doing business as the others looked around. Her mabari, Hound was sniffing at the air and growled softly, alerting her enough that something was bothering him. She shushed him without anyone noticing, but it didn't last long. Once she and the shopkeeper were done, he noticed the mabari close to a doorway.
"That's private, what is that thing doing?" The shopkeeper yelled.
"I apologize. Hound, get over here." Azriæl commanded, but the mabari ignored her and went through the doorway and began barking.
"You have no right!"
The next thing she knew, she was battling the man though she knew it was no fair fight. She didn't even want to, but he was dead in no time. Azriæl was angry. She stormed to her mabari, intent on finding out why he disobeyed her. He was still barking when she rounded the corner, but stopped dead in her tracks.
On the ground, hidden from sight, was a bloodied soldier. He was dead and had been for some time, but it was Alistair who found his voice first.
"I know that armor… this was a knight from Redcliffe, one of Eamon's."
Azriæl sighed and rubbed her face, her mind blazing with confusion, "Come, we go to the Chantry and find out what the HELL is going on."