Chapter 2

~Five years later ~

The fire crackled before me. The warmth was enveloping me as I drew close to the camp fire. It had been days' worth of traveling, and my small group and I were exhausted. We were close to our destination – Kirkwall, yet it still seemed miles away. I sighed, according to a well known, and reliable dwarven source, the man I was searching for had been in Kirkwall these past two days. We needed to move quickly to the Hanged Man, a tavern were my informant was going to meet us.

Our new target was a noble man in the city, Harriman I believed his name was, that had caused some up rises in his dealings with Ferelden. He had been accused of convincing the Viscount of the city to send help to Ferelden during the blight. This normally wouldn't be our kind of kill, but The Crows had decided to take on the Free Marches as a new base of their actions. They were becoming too big and my organization needed a solid name to hide behind if we were going to be able to make some coin to pay for protection from the Coeterie.

I needed all six of my ladies with me this time. Normally I wouldn't bother and would bring my two trusted girls Swift and Silence; but, in order to appear like a performing group I needed a large number. Unfortunately, for being the Six Merry Murderesses there happened to be only six of us – imagine that.

Plus; this assassination was a high bid, and with how easily The Crows seemed get around, for us to get something of this calibre was astounding. I wasn't about to screw this up.

"So, is this really worth it? I heard Kirkwall has a nasty reputation with all 'em Templars and such." An Orlesian accent said from behind. It was Art; why the weird name? It was because she murdered her husband for attempts at using her for an exhibition piece in some Antivan art gallery. She would have looked pretty good for a dead piece of art though.

Her luscious blonde curls, sweetly curved jaw, soft lines, and hazel eyes gave her a look of innocence that none of us possessed.

"Are you really asking me that question Art?" She looked steadily at me and I huffed in frustration. "The Crows have taken up most of our business with claims of recruits training from a young age. We, on the other hand, are not but a group of banded misfits from Ferelden, Antiva, Orlais and Tevinter. They have a professional attitude and claim; all of us are wanted within certain parts of the country. I'm sure Antiva is pulling their hair looking for the woman who murdered their best artist, no? Plus, I hear the city of chains has an excellent tavern with a handsome dwarven host full of information, and other things as I have heard. Especially chest hair!" I wiggled my eyebrows.

"You're a pig!" Swift exlaimed, her long red hair bouncing as she laughed at my antics.

"What? My last lay was that lovely pirate queen Isabella! I need some man now!"

"Maybe his parts are as small as his frame. You may be out of luck," Silence remarked. Her hair was as dark as the night itself and here white eyes beamed like a lighthouse beacon. She was certainly a remarkable woman for her standing. She was brought up among nobility, only to have her parents arrange a marriage with a perverted man. It was a wonder she didn't kill him sooner than she did.

She got her name because she cut his tongue so he couldn't scream before she finished her work on him. If there was an artist to be found among us, it was Silence, not Art.

"Only as lucky as you're ever going to get," I huffed. I stood from out little campfire. "I'm calling it a night. Who's on watch?"

"| am." I turned to Swift, her pin straight red hair and green eyes illuminated with mischief.

"Just don't do anything reckless and get us all killed Swift."

"No worries, my late husband didn't even get a word out before he hit the ground dead on impact."

"That's suppose to make us feel better?" Art exclaimed, her blonde curls cutting the air as she turned to Swift.

A coy smile played on Swift's sly face, "well, I could think of ways to make you feel better."

Art sighed in frustration, stood up and stalked off without a backwards glance at Swift. I shook my head, "You really don't need to goad her as much as you do. You know she doesn't swing that way."

"It makes it more fun Arsenic!"

"Whatever I..." I felt eyes on me. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes darted side to side. The bushes rustled slightly which wouldn't normal set alarm bells. It did when there was no wind whipping my face – a small animal perhaps? No, too large.

I nodded to Swift. She stood. No sounds, no footsteps; only small crackle of twigs. Then the throwing of a blade, the small rushing sound as it whipped through the air and then a thud. Dead; on impact – no, not dead. The rustling still continued.

I pounded my way to the bush, grabbed a small man whose eyes were widened with fear. All I could see were his pupils darting from one side to another. "Art?"

"What now?" She exclaimed.

"Would you like to make our visitor, more...? Shall we say, at home?"

"Ooh! I could do that!" A smile played upon her face as she grabbed the man by his collar. Her blonde curls bouncing as she carried the man and thrust him at Silence's feet. She just stared down at him, with that intimidating glare she gave all man who pretended to have balls.

"So, you were spying on us? Think you could get away that easily?" I stated as I walked from the bush he had been hiding in. He looked nervously around. "What? Thought that we were only women and meant no harm? Do you know who we are?"

"N-n-n-n-n-no!" he stuttered.

I shook my head, kicked his stomach, turned him onto his back. A grunt of pain was heard, my adrenalin was beginning to pump through my veins. My eyes began switching colour to pitch black. "You don't sound so sure." I straddled his hips as I sat on him. "We can, however, do this two different ways... The first way, would be the easy way. This would be where I would ask any question I wish and you give me an honest answer, I'll know if you lie. After which I kill you with no mess, no blood and no pain." I paused as I had pulled a dagger out and had begun to toy with it in my finger tips. "Or... Option number two would be excruciating pain, where my little friend here would actually get some exercise," I dragged the dagger across his skin without marking it, making an efficient effect. His eyes almost seemed to bulge out of their sockets – gross. "With a little bit of maiming, torture, disfigurement and well, needless to say lots of blood. I like blood."

"As do I!" another of my girls exited her tent, her chestnut hair gleaming under the moon. Not to put too fine a point on it, but when we bestowed the name Glory on her it had nothing to do with honour or admiration. Rather it had everything to do with her utter enjoyment of blood and gore. If she had magical talent she would have been a blood mage, probably – no definitely. Her late lover may not have agreed with this analogy but I believed it fit her well.

"Nice of you to join," I muttered, still straddling our intruder.

"Yeah well I was nicely asleep until I heard some threats being uttered by none other than you Arsenic, and you did bring up my favourite topic." She paused slightly looking down at the man with bright, stunning blue eyes. "Do we really have to give him a choice?"

I paused, peering down at the man. His eyes still darting between us girls, not knowing whether he should revel in this moment of being surrounded by the opposite sex; or to be completely terrified. I preferred the latter. Ignoring Glory I stared down at him with slight interest. Looking at his face I saw a tattoo, barely noticeable in the darkness.

I snapped my fingers looking at Silence, my breath started to become pants, hoping to god it wasn't who I thought it was. "Torch, please."

Silence quickly grabbed one and lit it; handing it to me only seconds after I had asked. I brought it down to the man's face. A curse escaped my lips as I sat up. Lyrium tattoo. A snarl exploded from my lips, the hate boiling my veins as what seemed like fire burned the pit of my stomach. No!

"Kill him!" I yelled.

"Torture or maiming allowed?" Glory asked.

"I don't care just get him out of my sight!" I stomped away from the clearing. Not here, not now!

"Arsenic?" Swift had stepped slightly behind me; her voice hesitant. I didn't blame her, the last time I acted out like this I lashed out. I looked at her though; my face probably pale and my eyes illuminating like a ghost.

"They are his", I spat. "We can't stay here; we pack up and finish out trip to Kirkwall." Swift nodded as I could hear blades ripping into skin and agonizing shrieks of misery.

I walked up to Glory and removed the dagger from her hand. She smirked, but I paid no heed. My target was simple. "Don't let her kill me! I have information I'll spare for my life!" He was crying form pain, his body shuddering from the over exertion of staying awake and the adrenalin rush from the bloody now pouring from his body.

"What information would be of any good to me? That vermin has lost his two best pets, I will not see him or myself handed over willingly."

"Your elf lives in Kirkwall!" My eyes widened. "You want to see him? I'll tell you exactly where to find him."

Green piercing, wonderful, eyes... The name that wreaked havoc on my emotions. A tear stung my eyes and threatened to fall. It had been five years since Fenris's escape from that wretched man, and mine had not been two years. Three years I had been forced to deal with Danarius on my own, three years I had begged for death, three years I had begged for insanity or the means to deal with that monster. I sighed; a wave of depression hit me like a rock slamming into me. Fenris had left me to that thing, why search for him?

'Because he was the best thing that happened to you...'

Damned voices in my head; truth never sounded so horrendous when it was your own voice speaking to you. Sad, really.

I was told the story from the other slaves countless times. There was no room on carriage for a slave on the way back from his mission. Danarius had left him by no choice. Still... that didn't ease the pain any. Either way I had to focus, the dagger still in my hand. I looked up at this little man. His tears were spilling down his face – the coward. He didn't have the balls to even live up to his own depravity.

I let one tear slip as I gripped the dagger with all I had. One quick movement, blood began to pour from his neck. The life seeping from his eyes, I spat in his face, "You chose the wrong master!"

Silence.

Not even the Maker could comfort me now. Fenris was only hours away. Would he recall me? No I was not longer the pitiful slave he left behind. "Pull up camp, we leave now." I choked as I started to gather my things.

My girls talked amongst themselves; they knew better then to bother me.

Better yet, when the group moved, they even let me venture forth without them. The Sundermount Mountains, were so peaceful.

So peaceful that they left me to my thoughts of a time were those green eyes were all I knew.

"The smell of stale piss, vomit and desperation; what more could a girl want in her life?" Art said, her accent adding a flavour of distaste that only she could pull off.

"I hear it's the best Tavern in Kirkwall," I scoffed at her, my eyes dancing under the low light. She rolled her eyes at me as we looked at our surroundings. The light brown walls, dirty floors and the noises of drunken men filled my senses. There were only a few people I knew to watch out for.

One, a man with feathered pauldrons accompanied by a woman with middle length ginger hair. She definitely didn't seem the type to hang in a place like this. Three, a man decked out in shinning white armour, his chestnut hair pulled back and his bright blue eyes shining against his tan. I was impressed his armour stayed so clean.

They were all sitting at a table with a deck of cards in hand. Diamondback? Probably.

Four; at the head of the table though was a dwarf. His blonde hair was a striking contrast against his tanned skin. He was definitely a surface dwarf. A crossbow sheathed at his back. My informant, maybe; more likely Carta or mercenary.

"Art, Glory, and Red go to the bar, order a drink, not too many! Keep an eye out, I don't want any unnecessary trouble."

They nodded and giggled their way over to the bar, no doubt to amass attention onto them. Wouldn't be the first time, but it would give me the stealth I needed. "Silence, Swift, come with me." They nodded as I went around to the other side of the bar. My eyes began to survey the tavern. The more I didn't see anything the more my instincts screamed at me.

I looked at the bartender and waved him over. "I'm supposed to be meeting a Varric Tethras, Would you know where to find him?" The man looked incredulous at me, "I'm knew to this city, just point me in the right direction," I snapped.

The man pointed a finger to the dwarf surrounded by his weapon wielding and armoured friends playing Diamondback. Just great; my day seemed to be getting that much better – not. I sighed in defeat. I didn't know how I was going to approach these people. I looked at Silence and Swift as I turned back to the bar to talk to them.

"Any suggestions?" I asked looking at the two of them.

"You could make sexual jokes about the chest hair on that dwarf?"

"Yeah, and that would go so well! A touch of flirting never hurt with idle threats about impending doom and death Swift. Good thinking!"

"You were the one excited about it earlier!"

"It was a joke Swift," I muttered shaking my head.

"But most women find my chest hair simply irresistible; especially Bianca!" My face paled, my eyes turned and there, standing not five feet in height was Varric Tethras, surrounded by his weapon wielding, armour plated friends.

"Well, shit." I stated.