The lovely young, raven haired woman and her equally sweet little boy had seemed pleasant, polite, and had been innocently seeking a special new treat from a vendor on the main promenade: cream made from sugar, and cows milk as well as a special ingredient fond in Tevinter - iced lyrium. It was a wonderful sunny day, full of promise; they hadn't even been harassed about the blood on her dress. Cormack loved being out in the open space, and respectfully watched as the mage's demonstrated their 'great powers' over the earthly plane. He made no attempt to diminish their abilities and was being politely appreciative of the their respective art; truth was the boy was enjoying the magic tricks, except one... The 'healer'.
The Tevinter had no cause to do it, to hurt and humiliate the elf girl, but that was the point, he did it because he could - even without cause. The poor slave girl had no choice, no recourse, and no voice to keep down as he scarred her naked flesh, then healed her, then scarred her again with flaming whips; and this he did in a public square to show his' healing' skills. He was a great healer, he could heal - completely - even cauterised wounds: still, it was an embarrassing humiliation, and unimaginably agonizing to the elf girl, and completely needless. but the laws of Tevinter were specific on ownership of slaves, and their treatment. Everything was permitted so long as it didn't interfere with the running of the day operations of commerce, or injured any other citizens, or in any way was seen as an embarrassment to the Imperium.
The laws in Tevinter were equally very specific on dueling: once a mage challenged another, and won; (regardless of who 'drew' first, or in how many pieces the looser lay,) all the property of the defeated went to the victor, even the slaves, even the blood and body of the defeated.
"Go on Darling," Morrigan said softly to her son, "slap the silly man in the face and laugh loud. It'll be fun."
"Ok mommy," Cormack said happily, and slapped the Tevinter across the square; cracking the wall of the chantry as the mage put up his shield.
"Whore!," the Tevinter screamed after retrieving his lower jaw and re-attaching it, "Your brats lucky I'm merciful."
"Afraid of a child?" another mage asked, which prompted laughter from the crowd
"Thats no child," the Tevinter muttered, and cut his palms, "fine malificar, lose your 'child'!" The earth around Cormack opened up, and huge spiked, solid earth masses formed around him, and threatened to skewer his tender young flesh.
Cormack looked up at them and smiled as they melted into mud.
The Tevinter staggered back as Cormack simply looked at him, waved his arms in his direction, and the mud spewed at him full force; it slammed him once more into the chantry wall; only this time without his shield. This was followed by no big surprise... an instant rage demon transformation.
"Yeah!" Cormack cheered to the astonishment of the surrounding mages, all of who were shielded.
The rage demon glided toward the boy.
"Darling," Morrigan said happily, "let's see if he can heal himself."
"Yes!," Cormack cheered, then stared at the encroaching Rage demon.
Mage in essence or not, the Tevinter had surrendered his will to his passions, his rage, and had become a mindless slave to them. He was now a puppet of Cormack; as surely as any darkspawn had been, when Cormack had been the arch-demon.
Morrigan had needed to train Cormack since birth to control his considerable powers; not so much the mind control, and control of the elements, but his Alpha high dragon nature - his god-like physical strength, and prowess.
Cormack could kill anything with a reasonably hard punch, or shout. Morrigan needed to teach him to control his power, and not get killed by accident. It took both time and power, but she had done it.
Cormack looked at the whipping post.
The Rage demon obeyed, and layed on the post - whimpering.
The boy didn't even try. He swung the flaming whips around and down casually... and cut the Rage demon into four cauterised chunks.
The Elf girl kissed Cormack's cheek, "thank you... master."
"No, your free," Morrigan said to the elf, "Now go before you bore me."
"Thank you," the elf said softly, "I'll tell all my people about what you have done for me, you'll be heroes."
"Right, you do that. Cormack, my sweet boy, come here," Morrigan sighed to her son, "I bet daddy will love hear about how you helped the elf girl. Let's go." The mother and son headed out into the bright light of day, and into myth.