Chapter 3: Discovered

When Drustin woke on the third morning to the lingering scent of Alana on his pillow he smiled. He had used her thoroughly since it was the final night to indulge himself with her. The amount of coin he paid out would be considered more than an outrageous sum. But the money that would be coming from his half brother was well worth Alana's nightly fee. Such a shame that the enticing creature with all the skills of well trained courtesan was a wanted apostate. He would have loved taking her away from here and with him. Not for love of course but for the female company she would provide nightly. "Sex slave, yes that she would a very good one at that." He thought a little on the remorseful side. Perhaps until she was taken to the tower he could come to an arrangement with Draven before she had sword shoved into her gut. Still smiling he rose and dressed quickly. Draven arrived at the camp last night as his courier had brought him the message directly to the inn. When he walked into camp, he saw Draven no longer in Templar armor but an ordinary leather Cuirass. "Draven my brother good to see you!" Drustin called out clasping Draven's arm then pulling the man forward into quick hug. Draven returned the hug with full force and grinning. "And you as well brother. Maker's ass you and the Wolves are a sight for sore eyes."

Drustin laughed leading him towards the camp fire where the morning meal was being prepared. Draven recognized several other Wolves that had been with the merc group when he had joined up as a young boy. He gave those he knew quick arm clasp and embrace before sitting down with his brother and entourage of Templars. Draven made quick introductions then got right to the point. "So what information do you have for me?"

Drustin handed Draven a bowl of morning stew, some bread and a chunk of cheese. "Well other than she is exquisite in the bed, I think we found your mage. Her hair is not blonde, goes by the name Alana, not Vivian. She has a daughter around age of thirteen looks to be in her upper twentieswith her. Apparently they came from Lothering to escape the Blight but again a story that can be fabricated. I have doubts the young girl is her daughter, the mage cannot be more than thirty years old . But then again looks can be deceiving. She has taken no husband or man and I have located the house where she lives in town. But overall she seems to fit the profile."

Draven chewed thoughtfully trying to figure out his next step. "I need to see what she looks like. My gut is telling me this is who I am looking for. I will go into town with you and dressed in merc leathers. No one will know me for a Templar. I will be able to tell you if it is her without a doubt. If she is not at the tavern maybe she will be out in the street."

Drustin nodded. "Actually we will be going into town this afternoon for supplies and then a drink at the tavern. If we are lucky she should be working tonight. If not then we will find a way to snatch her and the girl up without causing a scene."

Draven grinned. "By the time we have them, that apostate bitch won't know what hit her."

Denar stood at his usual spot by the stairs that evening. The merc had returned with some of his company in tow. However the new man with the group had his senses on alert. He was dressed like a merc but something about him did not fit. The more Denar studied the more he looked familiar. They had asked after Alana but went about drinking when Corbit said she was not working tonight. Denar searched his memory trying to place where he had seen the newcomer. As he did his mind flashed back to Ostagar and then it hit him. The man had been in charge of the Templars and the mages. He remembered seeing him talking with Loghain and Cailan where the mages were to be placed. Loghain had called him Knight-Lieutenant when he was being addressed. So why was a high ranking Templar dressed like a merc and here? Did this have something to do with Alana? Was she hiding something? His instincts told him something was not right, not right at all.

Denar began to feel uneasy wondering if they had more on their minds than just a night between the sheets with her. The more he thought on this the more he did not like it. At the first opportunity, he slipped out of the tavern and made his way to Alana's house. The town activity was winding down as the late hour approached. Not many people were on the street only those night owls who were making their way to the tavern or elsewhere. He left through the kitchen door of the tavern and took a back alley to where Alana lived. If she and Janna were in some sort of trouble he did not want to be seen heading towards her house. He knocked on the door and called out "Alana? It is Denar. Are you home?" Inside Vivian was testing Kora on her control of both the fire and ice spells she had been learning. Kora was doing an excellent job of control and Vivian felt it was time to move her onto more defensive spells. A knock at the door startled them both and flames leapt up the chimney. The knock came again and Vivian heard Denar's voice calling out once more. She quickly waived the flames in the open fireplace under control before opening the door. Vivian motioned him inside smiling at him. "This is a pleasant unexpected visit. What brings you here?"

She led Denar in offering him a seat but he declined. "I can't stay long but you should know that the merc leader and a friend were asking after you tonight. No doubt you know what they intended but the new man is someone I recognized. It could be something, it could be nothing but the man is a Templar, a Knight-Lieutenant at that. I remember him from Ostagar he was in charge of the mages. He is dressed in a merc outfit which is odd and when they asked for you it made me uneasy." Denar watched as Vivian turned pale, fear and panic showing in her eyes. He looked to Kora whose face had the same expression. Perplexed Denar asked. "What is going on? Are they after you for something?"

Vivian was at a loss for words of where to begin. She would not tell him anything about their real lives. The less he knew the safer he would be and the farther away they could get from here. In a shaking voice she said. "You are certain he is Templar? How long has he been at the tavern?"

Denar was utterly perplexed. "A few hours now. Why? What is going on and what are you not telling me?"

Vivian shook her head as she turned to Kora saying "Go get the packs and make sure we have everything in them including the map. We are leaving tonight." Kora rushed into the small bedroom and Denar heard the sounds of furniture being pushed around. "I am sorry Denar I will not tell you. For your own safety and the town's but we have to leave tonight. Please don't ask any more questions just trust me."

Denar shook his head. "Leave? What tonight on the road by yourselves? Why not wait until daylight and I will accompany you out of town. I don't understand this Alana." By this time he noticed Vivian was trying to keep her panic under control as her tone turned desperate and was near tears. "Denar please trust me!"

He could feel terror radiating off of her and he pulled her into his arms. "Okay, okay. I am sorry; I won't ask any more questions. But if you have to leave tonight at least let me see you get out of town."

Vivian held on to him forcing herself to calm down and think clearly. Maker's ass and all that is holy he had found them. If he was with the merc she had slept with they had to have been tracked somehow. With the mercs camped on the western outskirts of town she needed to plan their route. They could cut across the north fields which take them a good distance away from the camp. They could move in safety along the tree line and catch the main road further down that led towards the Imperial Highway. With the money she could buy horses if the opportunity presented itself. Horses would get them away faster and afford them time to stop and plan their route.

As her plans came into focus Vivian began to calm down and released herself from Denar's grasp. Kora had returned by this time with both packs, mage staffs, a sword and shield as well as a bow and quiver full of arrows. Vivian went over to the closet and pulled out the second hand armor she had bought the day before. While she and Kora put it on she asked. "Can you settle things with the landlady for me? Make excuses or whatever that we wanted to get an early start to Highever to catch a ship." Denar nodded watching as she got herself outfitted then helped Kora with her armor. Whatever was going on it was best not to delay her or attempt to ask more questions. When they were ready they slipped through the back alleys out of town and towards the main road. Reaching the northern farm fields belonging to Farmer Cuthbert Vivian stopped. She turned to Denar. "Thank you for all you have done for us and for me. If only things had been different for us…"

He took her hands in his caressing them. This would be the last time he would see her. Regret and sorrow filled him so he gave her the one last thing he could offer. He seized her face kissing her on the lips. Vivian was taken completely by surprise but returned her own. She could feel her body wanting to melt onto his but Kora was standing right there and the urge to run was becoming overpowering. Denar released her lips then hugged her tightly. "Send me a letter when you can letting me know you are safe wherever you end up."

Vivian squeezed back then let him go. "I will though it may be months or longer but I promise I will send you one to you." Denar hugged Kora then stroked Vivian's cheek. Tugging at her hand Kora said. "Come on we need to go." Reluctantly she gave Denar one last smile then hurried off across the fields. Denar wanted to stay but he had to get back to the tavern. He watched as the night swallowed their bodies, praying they made it safely to wherever they were going.

It took Vivian and Kora well into late morning before they reached a farmstead that turned out to be a dairy farm. To their relief they found that the farm had several horses and prayed that they would be able to spare two of them. Vivian put on her most charming manner and explained that they were in need of horses to get to the coast. The farmer was reluctant to sell as all his horses were used for herding and rather valuable animals. But when Vivian offered three times the price of what the farmer paid for them he gladly handed them over two of them complete with bridle, saddle and pack bags.

The farmer's wife, however, was in utter disbelief to see that the two young women intended to ride alone north towards the coast. She protested and fussed over them like a mother hen until Vivian showed her that they had weapons and reassured the kind woman that they knew how to use them. Seeing that she could not dissuade the girls from leaving; however she loaded their bags up with dried goods and fruit preserves from the larder. Vivian paid the woman several sovereigns regardless of the fact she refused it the first time around. A few miles away, the girls stopped and pulled out the map. They unrolled the sheep skin parchment between them and studied. Vivian pointed towards the Waking Sea saying. "Our best bet is to follow the coast towards Jader. To the west we are blocked by the mountains behind Orzammar. We will have more access to towns along the coast than if we go through Gherlin's Pass." Kora nodded running her finger over the Imperial Highway that connected to the Pass and west towards Orlais. "The highway takes us too close to the Circle Tower. Last thing we need is more Templars on our backs."

Kora squinted looking more closely at the map. "Part of the mountains around Orzammar would impede us too. We would be easy pickings for pursuers. How long do you think it will take us to get to Jader?" Vivian bit her lip calculating in her head. "Perhaps a little over a week or so if we keep the pace at a canter for a few hours each day. We could change out horses when these become tired. Sangria's Port is the next town I think we will hit. Several more are dotted along the way but our best bet it so move as quickly as possible during the day." Rolling the map she handed it to Kora who put into her saddle bag. Kora looked at the long road in front of them. Trepidation and fear filled her as the reality of them forever leaving Ferelden sank in. "Aunt Vivi, will we ever return here?" she asked patting her horse's neck. Vivian looked around at the contrasts of greens, browns and white rocks that made up the outer reaches. She would miss Ferelden sorely, the only home they had known. "I do not know my girl. Perhaps someday when those who hunt us are long dead and we are but a memory. But there is always hope we will return in the future."