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Anders managed to reach forward and heal his ankle. He flexed his foot and gave Cori a thumbs-up then buttoned up his robes.
"We need some lyrium. "I'm down to 2," Cori said. She went over and searched the corpses of the darkspawn mages. No potions, but she did find ample ingredients and empty bottles to make some.
"Where is the Warden?" asked Mhairi.
"Through there" replied Cori, pointing to the door to the battlements.
"Shouldn't we go then?"
"Not yet" Cori said, shaking her head. We'll be no good to the Warden if we go charging in unprepared. I don't think he's in immediate danger – well I think it's a man. They're keeping him alive for our benefit."
"How do you know that, though?" asked Mhairi, sounding exasperated. "I don't mean to question you, but…surely we shouldn't linger?"
Oghren fielded the question. "We've dealt with these bastards long enough to know how they operate. They're not very smart. They thought they'd laid a cunning trap for us but Cori knew what they were up to as soon as she sensed the Warden. And the Commander's right. Something I learned from her. Never go into battle unprepared. You can't help anyone if you're dead."
Anders had got up to walk around and make sure his ankle was sound. "Hey, Cori!" he shouted. "Do you fancy a game of skittles?" Oghren and Mhairi looked at him as though he'd grown another head.
Cori laughed. "Knock yourself out. Some of us are busy making potions. You know – to keep us alive?"
"Good for you! Your loss, then. Hey, Oghren and Mhairi, come and keep score."
The warriors got to their feet, not quite knowing what was going on. Anders was excited. "Watch this!"
He called a giant boulder into existence and sent it hurtling towards the group of frozen darkspawn. 3 of them shattered. "Yes! A personal best!"
Oghren chuckled. "Let me have a go at that." He walked up to the frozen statues and raised Yusaris above his head. With a yell, he brought it savagely down on one of the Shrieks. Sparks flew from the sword as the Shriek split in two and smashed upon the ground.
"You bloody cheat! Cori, Oghren's ruining the game!" Anders pouted.
"Play nicely, you two" Cori warned.
Mhairi, not wanting to feel left out, walked up to a frozen Hurlock and kicked it over. It fell to the ground, its arm breaking off.
"No, woman!" Anders shook his head. "That was rubbish!" Mhairi was giggling. Anders laughed with her, noticing what a pretty smile she had. He intended to make her smile more often from now on.
"Right, get out my way. Destructive forces of nature coming right up!" He summoned a massive boulder. "Right. Let's go for the record." He hurled the boulder at close range. The remaining 3 darkspawn and Mhairi's failed attempt all shattered on impact. "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss! Four! A new record!" Anders punched the air in victory.
Oghren snorted. "Three and a half."
Anders put his hand on his hip. "Four. Having one arm doesn't make you any less of a person."
Cori had finished making her potions. "Right, you lot. Come over here. Let's talk strategy."
They walked over and sat down on the ground with Cori.
"You seem concerned, Cori" Anders observed.
"I am." She sighed, handing Anders 4 of the lyrium potions, and the warriors some stamina draughts she'd made. "Before we came up onto the roof I could sense most of the darkspawn up here. There was one I couldn't identify. When we got out here, I'd thought it was the Necromancer. I've only ever come across one of them before, and I thought that was why I'd had trouble sensing it.
But…I was wrong. The one I couldn't identify is still here. Through there." She nodded to the door. "I sensed the Necromancer while I was quite a distance from it. This one though" - she pointed at the door again – " I should be able to sense. We're right on top of it. I've never felt anything like this before. I don't know what to make of it."
"I know this is probably a really stupid question," said Anders, "but you couldn't be getting it mixed up with the Warden, could you? If that makes any sense?"
Cori squeezed his hand. "Never be afraid to ask questions, Anders. Any of you. No. I couldn't get a Warden mixed up with a darkspawn. It's hard to explain why, but when I sense darkspawn, it's an…unwholesome feeling. Dirty, you know? With a Warden it's…different. It just is. I can't really put it into words."
"How many darkspawn are up there?" asked Anders again.
"Two." The others looked confused. Cori continued. "One of them is just a piece of shit Hurlock. That's their trap? I just don't understand it. Maybe the darkspawn have finally outwitted us? They had to get lucky one day."
"Bull" scoffed Oghren.
"Does it have any magic?" asked Anders.
Cori held her palms up and shrugged. "I really don't know. I can't read it at all. It is darkspawn. There's a Hurlock and a male Warden up there as well. Definitely male. And he's been a Warden a long time. The taint is very strong in him. I'm hoping he'll be able to help us."
Anders didn't know what she meant by 'taint', but he didn't want to sound more stupid, so he stayed silent.
"Whatever's up there, I'm confident that we can deal with it" said Cori, standing up. "I think you're all brilliant. Seriously. I'm proud to have you all with me."
"Flatterer" laughed Oghren, as the other three stood up. "Didn't you say that once to the Blighters?"
"I might have," laughed Cori, "but I was drunk at the time. This is more meaningful." They both laughed as they shared a private joke.
"The Blighters?" asked Mhairi.
Cori rolled her eyes, looking embarrassed. "That's what we called ourselves during the blight. Me, Aedan, Oghren, Sten, Zev, Leliana, and…um…Alistair. Y-You know, the King." She cleared her throat. Anders watched Cori closely.
"Anybody that drank with us could join. Even Bann Teagan of Rainesfere became an honorary Blighter. He asked to after Aedan's funeral. It was helpful when we were drunk and couldn't remember each other's names. We were all Blighters."
"I think we'd better have a name, then!" demanded Anders. "What about the Amaranthians?"
Cori puffed her cheeks. "Bit of a mouthful. Could you say that when you were drunk? Ease of use is a prerequisite."
Mhairi was thinking. "Well, we all met at Vigil's Keep. How about The Vigilant? Or The Keepers?"
Everyone nodded in approval. Anders and Oghren liked The Vigilant, but changed it slightly to The Vigilantes, while the ladies liked the sound of The Keepers.
"Tell you what," said Cori. "Whoever kills this bastard, decides."
Cori wanted to get going. She felt that they had lingered too long.
A little self-doubt crept into her mind as they approached the door. She hoped she was up to this job. Being in charge of people. Being responsible for their lives. Little did she realise how much she inspired her new companions.
After the mages cast their shields and Anders cast Cleansing Aura, they went through the door. Another corner. Cori peered around it just in time to see a tall, well-built figure wearing fancy armour kick a soldier off the rampart.
Maker forgive me. If we'd just got here a few seconds before.
The figure turned around to reveal a hideous, skull-like face. Cori craned her neck further and saw it walk towards a Hurlock holding a scimitar to the throat of the Warden.
"Be taking this one gently. We are wishing no more death than is necessary." The darkspawn spoke.
Cori felt her blood turn to ice. Roland was right.
"Necessary?" retorted the Warden, "as if your kind has ever done anything else."
The Warden's eyes met Cori's. He realised who she was. She put a finger to her lips. She didn't know why she was being quiet – surely they could sense her? Were they putting on a little play for her? Trying to intimidate her?
Cori motioned for Mhairi to come closer. Cori pointed to the crossbow on her back. Mhairi understood and stood ready just out of sight, the bow trained directly between the Hurlock's eyes. Good girl, Cori thought.
The talking darkspawn continued. "You are thinking you know of our kind, human? It is understandable. But that will be soon be changed."
Cori took that as direct threat to the Warden's life. She motioned for everyone to advance. Mhairi was still trained on the Hurlock.
"Others will come, creature. They will stop you." Said the Warden as they came round the corner into view.
The talking darkspawn turned towards them. "It seems your words be true. More than you are guessing" it hissed.
"It is talking!" gasped Anders.
"Well, let's shut it up, already!" boomed Oghren as they advanced.
"Capture the Warden Commander" the talking darkspawn instructed the Hurlock. "These others…they may be killed."
A whistle pierced the air. The scimitar clattered to the ground as the Hurlock fell, a bolt through its left eye. Mhairi whipped out her Longsword and engaged the talking creature with Oghren. Cori cast a Misdirection Hex, Death Hex and Curse of Mortality upon it. Anders moved like a dancer as he cast multiple spells on his comrades – Heroic Offense, Heroic Defence, Glyph of Warding, Mass Rejuvenation.
The Warden got to his feet and limped over, taking his sword out. "Get back! You're in no condition to fight!" yelled Cori.
"But, Commander…"
"That's an order, Warden!" The man nodded and retreated.
Anders cast a rejuvenate spell on him. He'd heal him later. Oghren and Mhairi were getting stuck in while the mages alternated Arcane Bolt and Lightning. The creature didn't appear to have any magic, Cori noted with relief. Anders drank a greater lyrium potion and continued to cast enhancement spells. Realising she was low on mana, Cori did the same.
The creature seemed to be weakening and getting tired. Let's finish this. Cori's hands glowed white and became coated with powder. Tiny shards of ice peppered her palms. "Stand clear!" she shouted.
Cone of cold. The creature froze in mid-swing.
"Anders, you wanted to be a Vigilante. Be my guest."
Anders bowed. "My pleasure, Commander." He called forth a boulder and launched it at the creature. The creature fell, but sadly did not shatter. It started to sit up, though with great difficulty.
Mhairi seized her chance and ran it through with her sword.
"For the Keepers!" she cried.
The creature finally expired. "Yeah!" yelled Cori. "For the Keepers!" She ran up to Mhairi and hugged her warmly. She felt like they'd bonded at last.
Anders and Oghren went over to the Warden, who shook hands with them. Cori thought she heard something. "Ssh. What was that?"
A herald sounded in the distance. They all walked over to the edge of the wall.
"Travellers on the road, Commander" the Warden pointed out. "Let's hope they're friendlier than our previous guests."
Cori strained to see them in the gloom. As they came nearer, she spotted the banners bearing a rose, thistle and shamrock underneath a crown. Her shoulders sagged. "They're the Yeomen of the Guard. The King is here."