Chapter 4
"You are the first uninhibited Ferelden I've encountered." Zevran rolled her rolled onto his back. Looking up at Byron, he reached up and touched his cheek and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Yes we do tend to be a bit on the repressed side." Byron chuckled.
They lay together, wrapped in the covers enjoying the quiet.
Zevran sat up and Byron moved to sit next to him.
Just then a knock on the door broke the silence.
"Are you decent?" Madeline called.
"Yes." Byron laughed.
Madeline came in the room holding a tray and placed it on the bed.
"I thought I'd bring you two some breakfast. It's going to be a big day today. Teagan should be here with all the supplies I requested."
"You are too good us my dear lady." Zevran grinned at Madeline as he reached for the plate.
The minute Madeline had him on the ground; he planned to stay at Harpers Ford.
Zevran not only wanted to learn more about her; he wanted to befriend her. Elissa had given him so much, never asking for anything in return and he thought the least he could do was become a friend to her sister. What he did not anticipate was Byron. It had been awhile since he shared his bed and how could he deny someone who was just as brazen he was?
"The next time you have a lover, we'll bring you breakfast in bed." Byron offered.
"That may take awhile; you know how picky I get when it comes to sharing my bed." Madeline laughed. "I'll see you later."
Zevran watched her saunter out the room and shut the door.
"Madeline is much more liberated than her sister." Zevran set the plate down. "You never did say how you became friends."
"We've been best friends since we were children. My father and her aunt were…. close. My father died when I was thirteen and Lydia let me stay here and raised me along with Maddie." Byron said between bites.
"We were told that she could not walk." Zevran set the plate down. "If that's the case then her recovery is remarkable."
"Lydia pushed and pushed, she would not give up on her."
In the few weeks he'd been there, he's learned something about Madeline almost everyday. There were many layers to her and in many ways she was like Elissa while other ways she wasn't. She did have Elissa's generosity for one thing. Zevran could not believe it when one of the servants told him she pays them three sovereign a month. And like her sister, Madeline also had no tolerance for any sort of racism. She treated everyone as equals. Madeline was also far less conservative than her sister was in regards to relationships. She had no issues or objections to his relationship with Byron. Madeline said life was meant to be enjoyed and it was not her place to interfere in what people do in the privacy of their bedroom.
She was a gracious host and easy to get along with as long as you put it in a hard day's work. As for the jobs Madeline gave him, most of the time he was either on bandit patrol with some of the militia she employed or he worked in the tavern. He preferred the tavern because working there usually consisted of only dealing with the drunks and the occasional seedy vendor who would try to sell substandard spirits.
"So tell me about Elissa." Byron set the tray down on the table. "Was she a lot like Maddie?"
"I really am not ready to discuss her fully yet." Zevran sighed. "I will say this; Elissa was my best friend and she saved my life."
"I understand." Byron put an arm around him. "It's obvious she was as special to you as Maddie is to me."
"That she was." Zevran leaned against Byron and closed his eyes.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Madeline, Zevran, and Byron saw the crowd around the market as they were coming to the village to wait for Teagan's caravan. Madeline immediately noticed the unfamiliar wagon parked nearby and a small booth set up.
"Now is your chance to possess a portrait of your former teyrn."
Zevran watched Madeline's face grow pale.
"What's going on?" She pushed her way through the crowd.
Some of the villagers gasped when seeing her while many of them left.
"Maddie." Byron put a hand on her shoulder.
The man who had spoken to the crowd was setting up more items to be sold and had not seen her yet.
Zevran watched her as she looked at the portrait of the teyrn that was obviously looted from the castle. It was obvious by Madeline's expression that this was the first time she saw what her father looked like. Zevran could see hint of longing on her face as she look at the portrait.
Regaining her composure, she waited for the man to stand up.
"Excuse me."
"Can I interest you in some of my wares?" Madeline noticed as he struggled to tighten the belt on his unusually baggy pants."
"This is Bann Madeline." Byron said. "She is the sister of the hero of Ferelden and she does not take kindly to stolen property being sold on her lands."
"He is definitely no ordinary traveling salesman." Zevran pulled a shield out of the wagon. "This bears the Howe crest. He probably was one of the men Howe left in charge of the castle. Once learning Howe was dead, he decided to loot what he could before fleeing. Look at his clothes. He probably took them from the real merchant that owned this wagon."
"I thought he looked odd to be a merchant." Madeline turned to see the man lunge at her with a dagger. She kicked him in the knee and drew her swords. He came back at her again and she knocked the dagger out his hand when blocking his blow. Zevran and Byron watched as she forced him against the wall with one of her swords strategically placed against his groin, and the other pointed against his chest."
"What else is he selling?"
Zevran and Byron rummage through the booth, then the wagon pulling out some silver bowls, a crystal vase, and some children's toys.
Madeline looked at the toy horse Byron was holding. "I had a nephew."
"His name was Oren." Zevran drew his dagger and moved closer to them. "He was only eight years old when he was killed."
"Zeyran, did my sister get satisfaction when she killed Howe?" Madeline's eyes were fixed on the man.
"She did Madeline." Zevran didn't know whether he should help her or continue to observe.
The man started to tremble and the smell of urine suddenly permeated around them. Madeline looked down to see a wet spot on the crotch of his pants and a puddle at his feet.
"You know I don't hold much esteem for my family but when I see a vile disgusting excuse for a human being trying to profit by selling toys from a murdered child it really angers me. For all I know you could have been the one that killed him."
"Please…I was part of a unit that was left to the guard the castle. We fled as soon as we heard Howe was dead. I just want to get out of here."
"But not before plundering and looting what remained." Byron unsheathed his sword.
"You know some of your comrades in arms tried to kill me." Madeline seethed. "They didn't survive the attempt."
"Please!" The man cried. "I did not kill any of the Couslands but I know where their remains are."
"Take him to the jail in the barracks! Teagan can take him back to Denerim where he can get the justice he deserves."
"I'm here Madeline."
Madeline turned to see Teagan standing with his guards.
"I'll be happy to escort him back to Denerim" Teagan gave the man a scowl. "Your brother will want to see one of the men who helped destroy your family as well get the information about…where their remains are located."
"My brother? You mean they found him?" Madeline tried to hide her surprise.
"Yes, it turned out Fergus was seriously wounded while scouting in the Wilds with his men. The Chasind rescued him but his injuries took a long time to heal and he was trapped there. When well enough he managed to escape the Wilds and was picked up by some travelers who were on their way to Denerim. They told him about Alistair being king and his family's… massacre. When Fergus showed up at the palace, Alistair told him about your sister as well as restored the teyrnir to him."
"That is good news." Madeline watched the man being taken away. "He can have his family's belongings back."
"The king will want to reward you for this Madeline. This was a wonderful thing you did, exposing that criminal for his deeds."
"I had help." Madeline stared at her father's portrait. "And I seek no reward. An innocent little boy was killed and that fiend was trying to profit from it."
"Fergus will truly appreciate what you've done." Teagan looked at Madeline gratefully.
"I'll get these things packed up for you to take back to him." Madeline turned to look at Teagan. "Now on to other things; I trust you had a safe journey."
"Thank you and yes the trip went smoothly. Your equipment and livestock are outside the city gates."
"Byron will you go to the barracks and get some of the off duty men to help?" Madeline handed him the list. "This will tell you who gets what."
"I'll get right on it." Byron turned and headed to the barracks.
"I'll help." Zevran said, sensing that Teagan had more to discuss with Madeline."
"I have your room already prepared." Madeline said as she looked at her father's portrait again.
"You know your brother wants to meet you Madeline." Teagan said.
"He knows about me?" Madeline turned to Teagan.
"Fergus wants to get to know you. He wants to make up for the time lost."
"While I am sorry for his loss, I have lived twenty two years without a brother. I think it's for the best we don't meet."
"Oh for the love of the Maker!" Teagan exclaimed. "Fergus was only six years old when you were sent away. There is no reason to blame him for you parents' actions."
"Harpers Ford is thirty two miles from Highever Castle. He could have seen me anytime he wanted."
"I don't believe you!" Teagan glared. "The man has lost everything, including his son and you want to deny him the chance of meeting the only blood relative he has! Where is your compassion? Can't you find it in your heart to put your anger aside if only for a day?"
Madeline watched as Teagan turned and walked away from her.