It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Chapter 2
Marianna cantered through Minrathous, her eyes intent on the path ahead of her. She slowed Mercy to a trot as she reached the outskirts of the city. She could see tracks of large boots and then smaller shoes. The wearer of the shoes seemed to have been dragging their feet, as if trying to resist being pulled, but moving steadily along.
Hugo barked ferociously as Marianna looked up and saw the smoke of a distant campfire.
Those damned Templars have no idea what they're in for. Marianna thought to herself, a smirk slowly forming on her face.
She urged her horse on and Hugo followed faithfully as they neared the camp and could smell the meat its inhabitants were cooking. Hugo growled as they approached. "Easy, boy. No need for that now."
A voice called out as she spoke to her dog. "Who comes? State your business!"
"I come in peace, Templars." Marianna called out in the direction the voice came from.
Just as she dismounted Mercy, a wolf sprang out into the clearing. Obviously mad, the creature was frothing at the mouth and snarling. Mercy reared and Marianna nearly fell down. Nearly.
Gentle hands broke her fall and helped her back onto her feet. Then their owner strode over to Mercy and began to try to calm her while two of the Templars fought off and quickly killed the wolf. It was very dark, and had it not been for the rattling of chains and the glow of the Lyrium bindings, Mari would never have known the man who broke her fall and calmed her horse was none other than the prisoner she had set upon herself to rescue.
He turned back to her and abruptly handed her the reins. Then he returned to his Templar escorts. Mari didn't have a good look at him until they all sat around a campfire, Hugo close at his mistress's side to protect her if necessary. He was tall and thin with black hair and very tan skin. His brown eyes shone in the fire's reflecting light.
The oldest of the Templars was the first to speak. "You travel at an interesting time, stranger. You wear the robes of a Magister. You should go back to Minrathous, before we reach the Free Marches, or we will have no choice but to take you into custody."
"As you took him?" Mari said, eyeing the strange prisoner who was now fussing uncomfortably with his bindings, only to receive a nasty shock when he touched them.
The boy's head shot up when she referred to him.
"This mage has violated Chantry laws. He is an apostate. You are a Magister. Until you cross the border, we cannot arrest you. You'd be wise to turn back now, Magister."
"Perhaps I would." Marianna said, raising an eyebrow at the Templar's unruly nerve. "Perhaps you would be wise to release this man. He is a legal apprentice in Minrathous. I know the Magister he works with. Augustus is quite powerful and this apprentice must be pretty talented to have earned a place under him."
"Release the mage? Are you mad?" Said one of the Templars. "The lad's lucky we didn't decide to kill him to save the time and trouble of bringin' him back!"
"Besides the point." Said the oldest Templar. "Augustus permitted us to take this man into custody."
"He what?" Marianna and the prisoner blurted out at the same time. The dark skinned mage's eyes shone bright, anger and despair evident in his features. Mari locked eyes with him, trying to channel calmness through her eyes to his, and failing miserably.
"Have you so little honor that you would allow such a betrayal?" Mari said, still shocked they had both interjected at the same time.
"I…don't know what to say…why would he betray me? Why?" said the mage.
"It is none of your concern." Said a Templar. Now this Templar stood up and took the mage's chains, leading him to a nearby tree and attaching the shackles to a chain wrapped around the tree.
"This is my future, I should absolutely have a say in it!" the mage screamed, hysterical now, struggling against his bonds like a caged beast.
"You'd best be on your way, Magister, or we may have some trouble."
"Please, don't leave me here!" cried the mage, using the last of his strength to break his fall to the ground, as struggling so much had tangled his bonds.
"Aye, shut up, mage!" said one of the younger Templars, a recruit, whose duty it was to watch their prisoner while the others slept.
"Look," Mari said after she shushed Hugo, who barked as a result of the mage screaming. "I only want to help the apprentice. Just let me talk to him. Please. Just for a few minutes?"
"Very well. Just a few moments and don't try anything or I'll smite you myself."The head Templar ordered. Marianna nodded and walked over to the tree where the tan mage was shackled.
"What's your name, friend?" Marianna smiled, a gentle expression on her face. He smiled back, half heartedly.
"Alain. Yours?" he said.
"My name is Marianna Ravenclaw. I free slaves." Then she lowered her voice so only Alain could hear. "And I can free you, but you have to be patient."