A/N Here is the next chapter... So I must point out that I hate this chapter... it is almost useless and nothing really happens until the last lines of the story. Still it was necessary. Just to make it clear so it doesn't seem confusing... when they are retaining their slave persona they are Kallian and Darrian. Otherwise they are Zevran and Kaelyn. Disclaimer stands and hope you continue enjoying this story. Comments are always welcomed :D
They had risen early that day… it was time to say goodbye to Leliana and assume their identities of Kallian and Darrian. The dingy inn where they had taken residence gave them some privacy and the Warden was able to exchange a few words with Leliana without worry. Zevran was already dressed in his dirty and used armor, twin knives residing on his back. His bow and arrows would also accompany them to Danarius.
She on the other hand, had opted for a worn white tunic and black leggings. She missed her robes and her leather boots, but there was no way a slave could wear something like that. Their charade had to be complete. Leliana was wearing another Orlesian dress she had bought from the marketplace. It amazed Kaelyn how the bard could look even more beautiful when wearing a dress.
"I so wish you didn't have to do this, cherie," the bard said sadly, "I fear something bad is going to happen to you."
"It is the only way, unfortunately," the Warden sighed. "Leli, we are going to find the antidote, but the rest is up to you. You have to find out who wanted to murder the King and why. Tevintar has no dealings with Ferelden, they think of us of nothing more than barbarians. Why would they attack a country that had no relation whatsoever with theirs? You must infiltrate among these magisters, pretend to be horrified of going back home and find our answers. Hopefully we will learn the truth before the end of our 30 days."
There were no farewells between them, no goodbyes, because they were sure that once the 30 days were up they would meet once more in the same small inn and leave towards Ferelden with the antidote in their hands and the knowledge of who targeted King Alistair. The two elves quickly slipped in their slave personas just as the slavers came to take them to the mansion.
Danarius' manor was as grand as it was imposing. The courtyard was completely made of stone and marble, not one speck of green marred the whiteness of the surroundings. A huge fountain stood in its center, while next to it, on a huge column, the embalmed head of a dragon glared menacingly.
'The dragon I killed was bigger than this one,' Kaelyn found herself thinking, then promptly blushed. What was she doing, comparing dragon kills with a magister of the Imperium?
The inside of the manor was even grander than the outside. If the outside had been fashioned like a huge temple, the inside was fit for the castle of a King. Tapestries adorned the walls, velvet chairs and armchairs were set next to roaring fireplaces, huge tables made of solid oak fit to welcome dozens of men occupied the center of many rooms. The slavers took them directly to the magister's office where he was expecting them.
"Ah, I see you have brought my new pets," he smiled almost madly, "Very well. You may depart now." Danarius watched Kallian with a leering look and for a few moments the elf felt exposed, as is she was naked. The magister then turned his attention to Darrian who appear a bit subdued as compared to his expression at the auction. Still, the arrogance was still there… he was the best at his job and he knew it… "Ah, my personal assassin. I am a fortunate man…"
The magister rang a small silver bell and a young elf girl rushed in the room. She had a doll like appearance, with long blonde hair and icy blue eyes. Her belly was swollen, pointing to the fact that she was expecting, but whose child Kallian did not know.
"Flora, do no tarry so much," the magister snapped although the girl had arrived in the room within seconds.
"I am sorry, Master, so sorry," she sniveled, bowing her head and lowering her eyes in the ground. Kallian pitied her and the life she lead.
"Take the assassin to the former guard's room. It should be enough for him."
The girl nodded once more and left, Darrian following close by. The slavers too left and Kallian found herself alone with the magister who was once more eying her hungrily.
"Your former Mistress said you were trained with the Dalish and that you know herbalism. How good do you claim to be?"
"Mistress said I was very good," she said in a scared voice,"mistress asked me to prepare her medicine. Mistress said they were well made." Kallian started fidgeting nervously, clasping her hands together and unconsciously revealing the silver bracelet that adorned her wrist.
"What is that?" Danarius asked eyeing the bracelet with disdain. "Slaves are not allowed any personal properties, take it off!"
"I can't," she lowered her eyes to the ground and whispered with fear.
"What?" Danarius thundered. "You dare defy me?"
"No, Master," she sniveled and tugged at her bracelet, trying to get it off, "but it won't come off. Mistress put it there, said it was a symbol that I was her property. Mistress said only she could take it off, but Mistress died and the bracelet did not come off."
Danarius watched the elf tug at the bracelet relentlessly until the skin around it turned raw. He loved seeing their pain and suffering, he loved to toy with them and see the desperation in their eyes and the hope that flickered and died.
"Fenris," he called out calmly and waited. Kallian stopped her blubbering and watched in awe as another elf seemed to appear from the shadows. She was able to see him properly for the first time and noticed how much taller he was. His skin was very tan and braded with swirling white tattoos. He was clad wholly in a heavy armor and a huge, two handed sword was latched to his back. His green eyes appeared to be made of steel, such coldness lay in them.
"Take her to the slave's quarters," Danarius motioned dismissively towards Kallian. "I have no further use of her today."
"Come!" Fenris said sharply and strode out of the rood with Kallian hot on his tail. Now that she was out of the Magister's office, Kallian allowed her persona to slip a bit in order to study the man in front of her. The tattoos etched in his skin looked almost familiar, she was sure she had seen something similar in a book from the Circle Tower. They looked almost like…lyrium… she gasped out loud when she understood that was what they truly where…
"What?" Fenris turned around and glared at her with such ferocity that Kallian took a step back and started apologizing.
"I'm sorry, so sorry! Something startled me! Sorry!"
He turned around, no longer paying any attention to her and wondered who this slave truly was. At the auction, when she had been alone with her brother, she looked as she could tackle a High Dragon and emerge victorious. Here, she was a blubbering fool that was scared of her shadow. Who was the real one and who was the fake one?
He led her towards the ground floor where an almost hidden corridor stood. There Danarius had set up the slaves' quarters, a row of small, box-like rooms with only a small cot and a worn blanket. Kallian stepped in the room, keeping her eyes lowered firmly in the ground. Fenris merely grunted at her and said:
"Your Master will call for you when he has need of you. Until there you are to remain here and make yourself unseen."
"He is as much my Master as he is yours," she said quietly startling Fenris. He looked at her trying to understand the meaning of her words. Was she acknowledging her slavery? No, he understood shocked. She was pointing out something else, something that was too terrifying to admit. And if he was right, she was stronger than him. He left the room fast, not bothering to glance back at her.
Kallian smirked to herself… you do not need more than a few words to plant the seeds of doubt and she had done that. Settling herself on the cot, she reached in her worn up boot and removed a small dagger, the same she had used for the ritual. A few drops of blood had dried on it, but otherwise it looked untouched.
'I am Kaelyn Surana, Grey Warden and Chancellor of Ferelden. I am here to help my friend, Alistair Theirin, King of Ferelden. I will not lose myself nor will I succumb to this life,' she thought to herself, starting a mantra that would sustain her in the days to come.
"In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice," she muttered to herself and set herself on the small cot remembering all she knew about herbs.