Hi,

clarification only: For me MWarden in this story is non-canon Cousland. On the other hand I tried to write this character as universal as I was able. So almost everybody can put his own character to this story.

Anyway, enjoy this chapter. Short one.

-ooo-

The Inquisitor and her companions were standing at the beginning of the passage in tense silence digesting harsh words a black-armored stranger had directed at them. He turned his attention to the tunnel ignoring them completely. The Inquisitor had first good look at him since they had met.

Roughly 30 years old, he was no less than 6' high. The frame of the man was muscular, it was apparent even with his massive armor on that he was in excellent shape. A chiselled face was covered with light stubble on his cheeks with perfectly trimmed beard. A sharp nose emphasized his commanding presence and a long scar on the left side of his forehead added a flavour of a dangerous look. His hairstyle was a short black tuft. Though it appeared as if it had been dyed because a silver colour bleeded through. However the most prominent features were his captivating deep brown eyes. They told a story about the man with experience beyond his years. The story of a great loss, struggling for survival, hardships, but also about strong friendships and an everlasting love.

Scary and sexy.

If you are that type of person who likes a bad boy persona.

Equipment of the stranger was in top-notch quality. A black armored set was forged from very rare and extremely expensive metal - volcanic aurum. Two wicked longswords were attached on his back. The bigger one had been obviously made from dragonbone and some unfamiliar azure-glowing metal, the sabre-like one from silverite was vibrating slightly in its sheath. From a knight's left boot sticked out a dragonbone-made dagger, unmistakably Orlesian - the blade of someone who knew or had known the Game.

And at last his loyal mabari that just returned and communicated mentally with his master once again. The intelligent war hounds exclusively bred in inhospitable and harsh land Ferelden.

Who is this guy? The armor from some dwarf mastersmith. The sword from an unknown metal. The sabre with ability to cast spells. The dagger from Orlais. The mabari from Ferelden. All instruments in top quality enhanced with runes of the best Grandmasters in Thedas.

The respite was evidently over. The sullen warrior and his hound entered the passageway and headed to the main gate slightly jogging. It was an impressive feat on his part. Dressed in massive armor and carefully carrying an Orlesian redhead, he didn't show any signs of discomfort. The rest didn't have any other choice but follow.

After few minutes of running to their destination, they were hearing faint sounds of a battle, in all probability, near the gate. Immediately the atmosphere tensed but the knight accelerated his speed even more.

It means we are to late. Fighting indicates that troops are already here.

Well, I am curious what we are going to do next.

Finally they reached their destination. The sight wasn't exactly what they had been expecting. The grille in the gate was lowered and behind it they saw the remainder of the Venatori battalion trying to climb ladders and overhelm the defenders of Radcliffe Castle. What made the situation unnatural was the fact that defenders on ramparts were also the Venatori soldiers guarding the entry to the castle.

Their de facto leader evaluated that situation dispassionately not in the least bothered by a bizarre view. From belt he took out a lyrium potion and handed it over to Dorian. "Drink." He instructed. "Then cast an Earthquake outside, righ alongside the ramparts." He added.

"You can't do that?" Dorian asked puzzled. After what had the Inquisitor told them about him, Dorian thought that he was a One Man Army.

"I can but I won't." Came his reply as he indicated to the woman in his arms.

Dorian grasped his meaning and nodded slowly drinking blue liquid from a flask. He lifted his stave and started whispering an enchantment formula.

The mysterious man turned to Sera and asked. "You are rogue, right?" When she nodded, he questioned. "Smoke bombs?" She nodded again and he explained her. "I and him."He pointed at Dorian. " We cast our spells and you throw enough smoke bombs that it will cloud the view through the grille, understood?"

"All right." Sera agreed. "Another tossing." She murmured dejectedly. Iron Bull playfully nudged her to ribs.

Arcane Warrior joined Dorian and closed his eyes in concentration to cast the complex spell outside, righ alongside ramparts.

The result was incredible. The spell from Tevinter shattered ladders of attackers and the Inferno that followed from the warrior ensured that Venatori would certainly be delayed with a siege of the castle. Sera quickly followed and smoke quickly covered the grille reducing visibility there to zero.

I don't get it. What is the plan? How this will help us to get out of the castle?

The Inquisitor's musing was disrupted by gasp from Sera. The rogue blurted. "These Venatori protecting the walls of the fortress are dead."

They all turned their attention to undead soldiers trying to figure out from distance if Sera was right, but an authoritative voice stopped them in their tracks. "Of course they are. I used advanced reanimation on fallen soldiers. Than I warded them against all spells and commanded them to protect the walls. I destroyed the grill mechanism in the first place, to prevent anyone from entrance." The warrior stated as all of them stared at him in awe and disbelief.

"But the requirement of mana pool to cast such powerful spells and sustain them for so long must be enormous. No person has such reserve at their disposal." Tevinter mage protested.

"You are right. If you need to use the mana pool. Which I don't." The warrior retorted. "A disadvantage of torn veil of the Fade are demons pouring through to our world. However there is probably one unintended side effect of it. If you are powerful enough to handle a connection to the raw Fade, you can completely bypass your mana pool and tap beyond directly. I connected dead troops with it, I am sustaining them indefinitely and having them guard the gate with a low effort thanks to the rifts in the veil." He calmly explained to the Tevinter who stared at him like he saw Andraste herself.

The warrior stopped his conversation after that, turned and headed to the left side of the courtyard. Others were watching him in puzzlement, when he continued to the place that was surrounded with high walls all around. Their confusion turned to understanding when he touched a tiny brick in the Guerrin crest built in the walls of the castle revealing a fake door masterfully hidden there. His hound leaned on it with its forelegs and pushed.

A secret exit from the castle.

Clever. Very clever. How did he know about that?

The Venatori won't have any idea where we have disseapered.

The Inquisitor's team quickly followed and closed a hidden door behind them, effectively covered their escape. The path led them through a spacious cellar and around darkened dungeons. It seemed they were heading constantly downwards. Soon they passed through some kind of an out of order pit. After some time they were walking up again and felt a breath of fresh air from the way out ahead of them. They exited the passage and ended inside a round stone building.

A windmill, perhaps?

Outside the mill, the realization hit them. They appeared on cliffs next to the lake Calenhad nearby Redcliffe village. Across the lake, the castle towered above all.

Their guide quickly headed to a small grove next to the windmill and emerged a moment later leading a black horse with a small cart behind, where he had deposited an injured woman into comfy furs and covered her with a soft blanket.

It seems he thought of everything, after all.

Immediately after that the warrior made for a road that runned outside of Redcliffe. The Inquisitor and her companions were trying to keep pace with speed he set. They were in rush to get out of a dangerous area as soon as possible. Luckily it appeared that the location of the main conflict was already behind them.

The Inquisitor summoned her courage and queried a black armored knight beside her. "Where are we heading?"

"Haven." Came a short answer.

"You know of Haven? Not many do." Aria noted puzzled.

"It is your temporary base of operations, isn't it? The stranger almost snorted in response. "And so much more." He added in an afterthought.

"Besides Haven is the nearest place from Redcliffe with at least some resemblance of stability. And she needs a proper medical care and the rest urgently." He pointed at an uncounscious woman laying at the cart.

"We should be there in two days."

-ooo-