If she hadn't experienced that spell before, she would have been caught off guard. Thankfully, she had, and her blades had been enchanted to handle it as well. In an instant magic was flying from both sides as a group of Venatori circled around them. She could already see that some of her men had begun to fall.
She made to move towards a cluster of fighting when a certain pair of eyes caught her attention. "Viviana." Aiden's voice was foul, just as his magic was.
The rogue woman had survived many things in her still short life. She had survived falling out a tree when she was only six. She had survived her initiation into the Grey Wardens, a military force constantly reminded of mortality. She had even survived the morning after a long night out at a tavern, where she had been repeatedly challenged to empty her pint. Therefore, Viviana Beauvois was damn well certain she could survive the battle against a man she once considered a friend.
The betrayal she had felt was nothing compared to the anger that stirred around in her heart, almost as if any moment it would boil over and burn down through her body. As her steely blue eyes stared into his viciously brown ones, Viviana ignored what they used to be to one another. Her mind refused to think on the nights they shared a tent and the moments which they saved each other from near death.
"Did you miss me, love?" Aiden's words leaked from his lips and she very much wished in that moment to just cut his head off and be done with it. The female rogue refused to respond so he continued, "Do you see the empire I'm rebuilding?"
"Many men have tried to do the same and have lost, I don't see how now could be any different."
Responding was worth it when she saw the way his curled lips turn downwards. Just as she remembered, the vein on the side of his forehead began to pop out from under his tanned skin. She once thought it attractive, but now she could only focus on the malice and darkness he had brought into the world with his magic.
As his hands gripped his staff tighter, her body didn't hesitate to shift stance in order to prepare for a battle that would test more than her physical limits.
That was exactly what she got. With every chance he had, Aiden was spouting out spells and insults in the form of memories from their time together.
"Do they all know how weak you are? Do they know what you whisper out in the middle of the night? Your dreams? Your memories?" Viviana was ashamed to admit that he was getting through her mental guards, as she used more force than thought possible against his attack.
She despised the man with everything in her. "How little did it take for Corypheus to convince to sign up?" Their faces were closer together than they had been in years, "Tell me, did you sign over the small amount of soul you had left or did he see how worthless you are and not even bother asking?"
It was clear she hit a nerve as his next spell held enough energy to knock her down, a blade falling from her grip. "You'd be surprised how much I've learned in the past few years, Vivi." He walked closer to her, using his magic to hold her down against the ground. "Magic you wouldn't even dream of. And after I get the book, you'll be the first to experience my power, I promise."
Before he could render her unconscious, a large form tackled him to the group. Bran, with the help of Lanna, engaged with Aiden. However, he wanted nothing to do with either of them. Noticing that most of his group was beginning to fall, the mage forced his way out of combat, sacrificing two Venatori on the way.
In an instant he was gone. Jarri made his way over to Viviana, her hands still gripping her weapons. Her wounds were superficial but Lanna forced Jarri to hold her still.
"I'm fine."
"I don't care," she tersely used her magic to check her over, and only after two minutes of poking and prodding, did she let Viviana move on her own.
Lanna gave Bran and Jarri a look that caused them both to move away towards the rest of their group. "What did he say?" Viviana was silent, all thoughts had fallen to the battle she just fought. "Viv." Lanna's hand on her cheek pulled her back. All Viviana could do was shake her head, words not ready to come back yet.
And they didn't come back until nearly two hours later after the camp had been packed up and the bodies disposed of. As she pulled her bag over her shoulders, Bran's form appeared in her peripheral. She cautiously approached him. "How many?"
"Not enough to hinder us." His voice was low and his hands gripped his horse's reins tighter. "We're nearly there."
"We are." Together the group rode out. Sticking around the same place of a battle was not only unsafe, but generally believed to be unlucky.
"We need to prevent that from happening again," Preston, one of Bran's Saviors spoke up.
"It won't," Lanna spoke up with a resolute voice.
"What do you mean?" Viviana asked.
"I slipped a tracking amulet into Aiden's robes before he scurried off."
"Where did you-" But Viviana didn't have to finish her question as she noted Lanna no longer had a necklace she normally wore. "We'll get it back.
"There are more important things at stake."
"We'll get it back," Viviana promised, and there was no further discussion on it.
Bran rode up beside her. Jarri and Preston realized to give them some space to talk, so they slowed their own horses a bit.
"Did he say anything of use?" he whispered. One glance at the warrior told Viviana that he had debated for some time on asking anything about the mage.
"He did. A book, we're looking for a book."
He nodded and muttered to himself, "An elvish book."
"It has magic in it. I'm unsure if it's the ritual kind or simply forgotten spells, but it's enough to make Aiden crave it and Corypheus to not want it in the Inquisition's hands."
"S'ppose we'll have to wait to find out."
"Or the Dalish will know of it."
Bran glanced to Lanna quickly, "Does Lanna not know anything of those type of things?"
"She doesn't." He left it at that. At least he'd let go of his constant questioning that was common back at Skyhold.
It had taken a whole day longer than they planned to find the Dalish camp. There was an all around feeling that they may not get any information from the nomadic elves, but Viviana was determined to try. In an effort to both keep their goal a secret and to seem unthreatening to the Dalish, only Viviana and Bran went to the camp. Both leaders left someone in charge. Stopping at the border, Viviana spotted two elves watching them. Which grew to three, four, then six. All approached slowly, sizing up the intruders.
"What do you want, outsiders?" one asked, his hand on his bow.
"We want to speak to your Keeper," Bran announced.
None of them moved. Bran wasn't being aggressive, but he also was Ferelden and it permeated off him.
Viviana took a small step forward, squaring her shoulders, "We are from the Inquisition. We come seeking counsel from your Keeper." She softened her look, "We mean no harm." There was a long pause and both Vivi and Bran exchanged a look that expressed their slight impatience and concern.
"Follow me," one of the elves said. As they began to follow him, two others trailed behind. The Dalish were always so suspicious. Vivi had grown up in Tevinter, she'd seen and lived what the Tevinter elves suffered. It made her wonder just how different Ferelden elves could be.
Walking through the Dalish camp, they came upon two female elves talking closely with one another. They both turned their attention to the new arrivals, neither seemed surprised by them.
"That is all, Sormen. Return to your duties." He nodded and returned from where he came. "Warden Commander and Leader Rutherford." She offered a warm smile. "You're a day late." They both glanced at each to her then back to her.
"I'm sorry?" Vivi said.
"My name is Keeper Namalle. This is my sister Valysa." The other elf nodded, "She's a seer and told me of your coming."
"Then you know why we're here?"
"You seek something of great ancient power. I'm afraid we Dalish have not seen it for a long time. Any traces of it were lost with our kin."
Vivi's shoulder's sagged in defeat. "Can you tell us nothing of it?"
"Not much more than you already figured out." She motioned for them to sit. "The book was once belonged to Dirthamen, the ke-"
"Keeper of Secrets," Bran whispered.
"You know the Evanuris?" Keeper Namalle asked. "I did not expect a human to know of our beliefs."
He gave an awkward shrug, "I read. Sorry to interrupt."
"Fret not." She cleared her throat and continued, "This book had the name Parvortur once. Book of Power. It holds many secrets of magic."
"Could it-" Viviana cut herself off, unsure how to phrase her question.
"It has what you seek...and more."
"But where can we find it?"
"The mountains," Valysa finally spoke. Her voice crackled through the air.
"The mountains?"
"Before Arlathan. Find the city of ravens and varterral."
Viviana had heard tales of the varterral creatures from the elves that grew up around her in Tevinter. She nodded at Valysa, whose eyes weren't focused on anything in the natural world.
"That is all we have to give you," Keeper Namalle said. She stood up and all followed. Viviana and Bran gave small bows of gratitude.
"Thank you Keeper."
Just as they were about to go, Valysa grabbed Vivi's arm. The elf's grip was tight around her bicep, but then she snatched her hand back against her chest, staring down at it as if it had been burned.
"Be careful who you trust. You will be betrayed. There is more at stake than the battle with Corypheus." Then her eyes stared into Viviana's. "You will have to make a sacrifice. A big decision. Yes?" The question seemed to be directed to the air around them. "Yes. Both. A sacrifice. A decision." Valysa's body sagged in on itself as she sank down onto a stump.