Chapter 7: Chaos and Opportunity
Blood magic filled the ballroom, the screams of panicked guests and howls of agony echoed off the high ceilings as the crowd tried to find some kind of escape or cover…
Solona Amell did not have that luxury.
She stood her ground, reinforcing her magical shields and tried to end this before it got any worse. This was not the first time someone had tried to assassinate her, though it was the first time that a mage was the sole culprit.
She had never realized just how powerful a circle mage was…until now.
The Viscountess' eyes narrowed, the spells the man was using were dangerously unstable, and he was pushing himself far beyond the limits of any mage. His eyes glowed red as he directed his foul spell to lash out like a whip at anyone who tried to get near him. The man's disguise was burning away, the noble finery dissolving in the face of such dark power.
She could feel the veil starting to buckle; the man had shown he was beyond reason. How long before he let a demon in? How long before he gave himself over and became an abomination?
If he did that, things would get worse.
"YOU ARE NOTHING!" he shrieked, "YOU ARE A TRAITOR TO YOUR OWN KIND! LET MY SACRIFICE HERE BE REMEMBERED FOREVER!"
He pushed forward with renewed vigor, her shield started to falter, her pale skin blistering where what little of the blood magic got through, scorching her skin like some foul acid.
Solona gritted her teeth. Simply defending herself wasn't working! She needed to go on the attack, but if she dropped her shield…?
Sebastian was still behind her, he would be caught up in it as well, and he was unarmed, plus, if the shield fell her attacker might be able to direct his magic towards the royal table, the place where Leandra and the children were sitting…
The Viscountess snarled in fury.
She would not let that happen, too many had died already in this foolish attack.
Several of the guests had been caught up in the man's spell when he had first cast it; the magic had burned the very flesh from their bones. Twitching skeletons lay on the ground at the blood mage's feet. More party guests had been trampled in the stampede to escape the assassin's spell, those dead bodies also showed signs of starting to dissolve…
She could only imagine what the foul spell would have done to her had she not shielded herself when she did.
Despite the screams and shrieking of the foul magics, the sounds of armored feet could be heard approaching, the Viscountess' guard, and city guardsmen outside had been barred from entering thanks to the panicked crowd trying to escape. Finally, things had cleared out enough that Farris and his people could finally get in.
Her Tevinter born captain's words rang out loudly for all to hear.
"PROTECT THE LIONESS!"
"NO," She shouted back, magic making her voice boom like thunder.
"PROTECT MY FAMILY! LEAVE THIS ASSASSIN TO ME!"
Whether the guards heard or not she could not say, the blood mage redirected his attack his magic pulsed outward, her men raised their shields, but steel could only protect so much from magic. It scorched and hissed under the assault.
The blood mage laughed.
You could have made this city a paradise for our people. You could have given us home, now you will die here, witch. The flesh melted from your bones. Nothing will stop us! We will be free of the chantry! WE WILL ALL BE FREE!"
He gestured green fire sprang from his fingertips, it settled on the burned bodies.
They twitched and begin to rise.
"Defend me," the mage shrieked, "Death to the mundanes!"
Living corpses, twisted by his magic, hissed and tried to attack her advancing guards.
Solona had seen enough.
Her eyes flared with blue flame!
She had had enough!
It was exhausting summoning magic without a staff, but she managed.
Blue light leapt from her finger tips, forming knights of pure arcane power.
They attacked the corpses, pushing them back.
She sent out a second wave of power, a pulse of pure magical force.
It flung the assassin back, throwing him back into his own foul spell.
The man howled. His pain weakened his ability to command the spell.
It was the chance they all needed.
The guards were finally able to advance. They cut down several undirected corpses, Farris, with Stark and Fenris at his side, scooped up the children, her three little ones were wailing in fear. Leandra fled after them. Bethany had backed into the farthest corner, Carver hidden behind her; no doubt she shielded him from the worst of the magic with her own more subtle spells.
The Viscountess was a little envious. She was sweating now, exhausted from the sheer effort of shielding herself, and casting without a staff. She had not brought it; she had thought she had not needed it.
That had been a mistake.
One of the guards tossed Sebastian a bow. Her lord husband sent an arrow into the assassin's shoulder, causing him to spin around. One of the guards struck him in the knee with a mace, forcing him to his knees.
The blood mage spat curses as his spell dissipated; it seemed he had reached the limits of his own strength.
Solona did not relax.
Even a fatally wounded animal could be dangerous.
She stepped forward, directing her own magic to dispel the foul acidic cloud the fool had summoned. Her guards had been wise not to slay this man, yet. He should never have gotten this far into the keep undetected.
She intended to find out how he had, and if anyone had put him up to this.
He glared up at her, the mask he wore was pitted with acid burns, his finery was now rags, blisters and burns covered his pale skin.
She glared down at him.
"How did you get in here?" she demanded.
The mage laughed.
Two of her Viscountess' guards raised their spears to his throat, the points just enough to draw blood.
The man glared hatefully at her.
"I will ask again," she said coldly, her voice as grim and as hard as the cliffs of her home.
Blue flame played across her fingers, a small ball formed, a ball that would end the man if he tried anything else.
Who. Let. You. In. Here?"
He spat blood at her.
"You haven't won," he hissed, "We are legion, traitor! You will pay for betraying your people! FREEDOM!"
As quick as a snake, he shoved his head to the side; one of her guard's spears pierced his throat.
"Free…dom…" he mouthed, no longer able to speak.
Solona could say nothing she just stood there, staring in horror.
He struggled for a moment as the blood drained from his body.
Then…he was still.
Solona's knees buckled, she sank to the floor, gasping for breath, and everything hurt.
She stared at the body of the fool, and shook her head.
The stupid fool, she thought.
That stupid damn fool!
IOI
"Lean on me, love."
Sebastian put his arm around Lona's waist; slowly he guided her out of the ballroom, and from there out of the keep. Farris had returned a few moments earlier, letting them both know that Leandra, the children, and the rest of their family were safe. There had been a few scrapes and burns, but for the most part, House Amell had emerged unscathed.
Though pleased with that news, the lord consort also burned with a controlled fury, a black rage that he did not often let out.
Not again, he thought, never again!
It seemed the past was trying to repeat itself.
He would not let them happen.
Several years ago, the bulk of his family in Starkhaven had been slaughtered in their own palace, his mother, his father, his brothers; the Vaels had almost been exterminated, down to the last child. Now assassins dared to come into the keep here and attempt to harm his wife, to murder her in front of her own children!
It was a nightmare, one he had thought of many times over the years, what would happen if someone came here, if they tried to take away his new family…?
No! He would not allow that!
Such an insult should not be forgiven!
He would see whoever was responsible punished!
Of course, justice would need to wait. First they needed to see to the survivors, and he needed to see to Solona.
He looked over at his wife, Solona was pale and winded. Her white hair, usually so immaculate hung in loose strands around her black crown, her face and bare hands were blistered and covered with red burns.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She chuckled mirthlessly.
"I've been better," she confessed.
The lord consort shook his head.
His wife was in pain, and there was nothing he could do about it, he could not even protect her.
The very thought was extremely galling.
This was the second time in the last few months that their home had been violated.
He did not intend for there to be a third.
IOI
Solona groaned as Sebastian helped her sit down on the hard cold steps of the keep, all around them stood the wedding guests, some sobbing, others shouting in vain for people who had died inside. She felt sympathy for these, they had only come here to be seen, to honor the champion and his new bride, they were simply men and women who had come here to honor House Amell, and witness the strength of their family reborn…
What they had gotten was something else, a massacre, twelve people dead, including the Orlesian Marquis who the mage had replaced. The ballroom in shambles, the fires and damage the man had caused would take months to repair, but worse than the damage to the keep and loss of life was the damage to House Amell's reputation. Many would know doubt see this chaos as an opportunity.
The Viscountess coughed.
She wondered if that had been the whole point.
The man was clearly a fanatic; he had had no chance of escape, but had accepted that fact. She was not concerned about him, he was dead, but those that had helped him enter the keep were likely still alive.
They worried her far more.
Sebastian sank down beside her, the children had been taken back upstairs, frightened and wailing, she wanted to go them, but her husband would not allow it, at least not until a healer arrived to take a look at her.
Word had been sent to the circle, to try to figure out who the man was, and if he might have any allies remaining nearby. City guards kept watch while Farris and his people saw to her safety and that of the children.
The Viscountess shook her head. She could only imagine what Knight Commander Meredith was going to see about all this. The Jackal would no doubt be salivating at the chance to have her men searching the keep like deranged blood hounds, they would…
Solona frowned, a thought had just occurred to her.
She blinked as her eyes searched the crowd, not finding what she sought.
The look on her face was enough to get her husband's attentions.
"Is something wrong, love?"
She looked at Sebastian.
"Where are the Templars?" she asked.
"What?" he replied?
"The Templars," she repeated, "We have had at least three Templars in the keep since that business with the Qunari. A Templar could have ended that assassination attempt before it had even begun!"
Her husband blinked.
He glanced around, as did she, Solona remembered seeing at least two of the order standing outside the ballroom when Hawke and Aveline had entered, but now…there was no sign of them, not tending to the wounded, to interviewing witnesses, nothing.
The Viscountess frowned deeply.
Wasn't that a strange coincidence?
As she had said, a Templar could have saved many lives tonight. A Templar could have dispelled that mage's attack, drained his mana before he had even had a chance to cast. Instead the order was strangely absent, not a single knight in sight.
The very thought made her angry.
No doubt the Jackal would be coming, even if it was far too late. No doubt she would have many words for the Viscountess.
That is fine, Solona thought.
"I'll have many words for her as well. She will…
"Viscountess Amell, how nice to see you again."
She and Sebastian looked up. A balding, heavy set man stood before them, his hands hidden within the folds of his robes. The belt drawn across his wide belly marked him as a member of the circle of magi, but even if he had not been wearing such robes she would have recognized him.
After all, the peace that Kirkwall had enjoyed until tonight had been part of his doing.
Despite the pain and exhaustion she felt, she managed a smile.
"Enchanter Tobias," she said softly, "Fancy meeting you here."
Tobias had been…instrumental in convincing her brother to surrender to her, it was he that had first brought the peace accord to Death's Hand, and convinced him to make the journey to Tantervale for peace talks.
Now…in their moment of peril, he was here…again.
She could not help but wonder why,
The portly mage gave her a fawning smile; he bowed his head slightly in respect, a smile that faded slight at the sight of her burns.
"Allow me, Your Excellency," he cooed.
Tobias raised his hand, a slight blue glow flowed from it and into Solona's skin, the blisters faded somewhat and the burns became pink healed skin.
"There," he said brightly, "A minor spell, I know, but hopefully it will do much to ease your pain in such a troubled time."
Solona rubbed her forehead; she could not deny the feeling of relief.
Still, it did not explain the man's presence here. He still served the Teyrn of Ostwick as far as she knew, and the Teyrn was still host to Baron Lafaille, the Orlesian who still sought to usurp her crown and seize Kirkwall for himself.
Enchanter Tobias might not be an enemy, but he was certainly not a friend.
"Such a shame," he said clicking his tongue, "It was such a lovely ceremony. I do hope the bride and groom are safe?"
Solona wondered how best to answer. Was this mere curiosity, or had the man had something to do with this? It was possible she supposed.
Fortunately her husband handled the matter himself.
"No need to worry about that, Serah," Sebastian said, "Hawke and his wife had taken ship before the attack even began. They are no doubt already under sail by now, on their way to their honeymoon."
The portly mage gave them a sly smile.
"So the assassin waited until after Lord Hawke and Lady Aveline were out of the way, wise of him I suppose, but such people do seem to make the best of such opportunities."
Solona glared at the man, as grateful as she was for Tobias' healing spell that did not explain his presence here.
She wanted that answer, now.
"So you were here for the wedding then?" she inquired.
"I'm here on behalf of House Trevelyan of Ostwick," he said, "Bann Aliza had a deal she wished to discuss with you. I was hoping to gain a private audience after the feast but…"
The mage paused.
He glanced up, in fact most of the wedding guests turned to look down Viscount's Way. All eyes were drawn by the sound of many booted feet, that and the clanking of heavy plate.
Solona looked up, not surprised by the sight coming up the way.
Knight Commander Meredith led a company of at least fifty Templars, Knight Captain Cullen at her side, looking as grim as always. The Jackal's face was stern, but her blue eyes were alight with cruel triumph.
The Viscountess almost sighed with disgust.
Only Meredith could take pleasure in this kind of chaos, or rather, the opportunity provided by this chaos.
It would be something she would have to look into in the days to come.
A few of the nobles rose and went to greet her, cries of "Praise the Maker," and "Thank the Maker you have come," could be heard even over the din.
Solona shook her head.
How quickly people turned to the Templars in times of trouble.
The only two in the crowd who did not seem pleased were her and Tobias; both had their reasons to be sure.
"Oh my," the portly mage said, "I believe you have guests, Your Excellency."
Solona glared at Meredith, the Templar woman merely nodded.
After the Qunari attack, Meredith had been denied the hero's welcome she had thought she deserved. Hawke and Solona had robbed her of her victory that day.
Now this had happened, a mage had murdered many nobles tonight, some of their families might blame House Amell, and now here was the Templar order, more than eager to help.
Was it a matter of the Templars simply doing their duty, or something else?
The Viscountess frowned.
She needed to find out…
Soon.
