Salem
I approached the cell, keeping my distance from the bars, lowering my eyes to the body on the floor.
An efficient kill, I nudged the corpse with my boot, looking for any reaction or sign of life. And an unusual show of strength from a prisoner locked in conditions such as these.
I stood before the cell and examined the man within it. We were of an equal height, but he seemed shorter, keeping his posture diminutive in an obvious effort to draw attention away from his lethal physique. I could see his muscles, taut and firm, beneath the tattered rags of his clothing. His face had not seen a razor in some time, and unruly, black hair, greasy from lack of washing, hung to his shoulders. He met my gaze, shocked, but unflinching.
There is something...familiar...about him. I feel as though we have met before...a whisper in the back of my mind that says I should know him.
"You are the warden, no?" he asked in a thick, Orlesian accent. "I mean you no harm, I swear it."
"Then give me your name." I answered, still wary.
His body showed few signs of abuse; I had no way of knowing if Howe had planted him here for just such an eventuality. If I released him, he might turn on me and my companions, take us by surprise, and end our bid for the peace of our country before it even began.
"I am Riordan of Orlais." he replied, looking at me with quizzical, almost frustrated eyes.
"That tells me nothing." the room beyond echoed with faint shouts.
My lips tightened as it became clear that the unfortunate guard's warning had indeed alerted the others to our presence.
"Has Duncan taught you nothing?" Riordan demanded, grasping the bars of his cell. "Can you not even sense one of your own?"
He is a Grey Warden, realization struck me. This must be why I do not feel as a stranger to him.
"Leliana," I called to my bard, "I need you here."
She approached me, moving with a slow, unsteady gait. I ran my eyes over her body, displeased with what I saw. Her chest rose and fell too rapidly, her eyes were wide and fearful, and her skin seemed too pale, even in the dim light of the dungeons.
Maker's breath...she looks as though she has witnessed death itself. Why...again, realization struck. Ancient gods and heavens! I did not even think...we are in a dungeon...a place that holds horrors unknown for her memory and mind. Damn me! I have dragged her into hell.
"Leli?" I caught her arm as she stumbled. Her eyes were bloodshot and choked with nightmares. "Leliana, look at me."
She did not seem to hear.
I framed her face with my hands and drew her forehead to mine. "Leliana, listen to me." I stressed. "I am here, with you, and I need you here with me. Now."
There were tears in her eyes, glittering diamonds of pain and terror. I hugged her close to me.
"I will not let them take you." I promised, fierce. "Even if I must forego my own vengeance, I swear I will keep you safe."
Maker's blood, I thought as I grasped her hands, you're freezing. Her body shivered in my arms.
"I...I'm all right." her voice quavered, but at least she spoke. "What do you need of me?"
"I need this man's cell unlocked." I reached into her belt and retrieved her lockpicks. "He is a Grey Warden from Orlais."
Leliana pursed her lips into a thin line, knelt before the cell door, and set herself to the task. The minute trembling of her fingers and the subtle shiver of the picks against the locks did not go unnoticed.
Riordan folded his arms, his upper lip curled in disdain. My display of affection clearly displeased him. I bored into him with my gaze.
"Duncan is dead." I informed the warden. "Killed at Ostagar at the start of this damn Blight. Alistair and I are the sole wardens left in this country."
Grief passed like a fleeting shadow over Riordan's face as the door to his cell swung open. All assembled winced at the grating screech of rusted metal hinges, and Leliana retreated to my side. Her hand wrapped around my wrist as though begging for an anchor.
"Thank you." the former prisoner acknowledged her with a nod.
"You are most welcome." Leliana lifted her chin, refusing to show fear or weakness before a stranger.
"Take this guard's armor and disguise yourself." I kicked the corpse with my boot once more. "Then make your way to the estate of Arl Eamon. You will find Alistair there."
"You left the only other warden behind?" Riordan raised his voice as though he were a senior officer, and I his mindless, ignorant subordinate.
"Stand. Down." I warned him. "Your order has done nothing to aid in this Blight. In Weisshaupt you may be my senior, but here, in this time and country, my orders are law."
Riordan glowered at me. "Duncan always did seek out upstarts. Very well, then. I will meet you again at the estate of this arl...if this ill-fated venture does not see you dead first."
"Go." I muttered.
I do not believe that he and I will agree on much of anything.
"Are you certain that was wise?" Morrigan watched Riordan depart.
"Wise or not, that is the way it will be." I stated. "I have not been dragged through hell to be undermined by a stranger in the final days."
"This is vastly becoming unimportant." Wynne gestured to the dungeon beyond.
A door opened and more of Howe's guards rushed into the room before us. I drew my swords; felt Leliana's fingers tighten around my arm. She looked up at me in worry and I attempted to smile, though I feared for her.
She is in no condition to fight. It is taking all of her will to simply stand here.
"Stay behind Wynne and Morrigan." I told her, moving forward to meet my enemies.
I looked to Wynne as she readied her staff. As our healer, she was the only other person who knew the entirety of Leliana's story and who had seen the gruesome details of it etched into her skin. The senior enchanter nodded, understanding my voiceless plea.
Keep her safe.
I stormed into the midst of Howe's guards, letting my darker heart take hold. We had not seen true battle since we left the Frostback mountains. The last time I had fought, I had been blind, hesitant, unable to strike with surety. Not so anymore.
I am coming for you, Rendon Howe, satisfaction filled me as I cut through a man's gorget and into his neck.
"Capture, do not kill!" the captain of the guard shouted.
Howe, you fool. I bared my teeth in a blood-thirsty smile. Capture held no interest for me. I wanted...needed...blood.
"Kill them all!" I roared.
"Salem, down!" Morrigan yelled a warning.
I dropped to the ground and felt heat wash over me. Howe's men shrieked as Morrigan's flames ate through their armor and into their skin. I rose from the ground, staring at the burning bodies. I danced between them, stabbing, slicing, dismembering. Their deaths were but the beginning of the slaughter.
I will strip away everything that keeps you safe, Howe. I will remove every surety you have. You will feel as helpless as I did the night before you stole everything I held dear.
The captain stood near the door, sword held in quivering hands. Many soldiers had seen magic used in battle; few had ever beheld the fury of a witch of the wilds in unabashed, unapologetic, apostate glory. I raised my blade to the captain's throat. His own weapons clattered to the ground.
"Look at me." I growled.
He met my eyes and his mouth opened in wordless terror. "D...demon." he stuttered.
"Demon?" I pushed the tip of my sword into his throat and twirled the blade, watching it tear a hole in the man's flesh. "Perhaps. Answer me, captain, do you want to live?"
He nodded.
"Tell me where Howe is, and keep your life." I offered.
"The...the level below." his shaking finger spointed to another stairwell. "He...he keeps two mages with him at all times."
"Thank you." I continued twisting my sword. "Maker's blessings."
The captain's eyes went wide, a mixture of terror and betrayal as I forced my sword through his neck, severing his spine. Blood fountainted out and the body collapsed to the ground. I smiled, watching scarlet puddle flow out onto the floor.
I turned to my companions, ignoring the shock on their faces. I did not care if they had heard my lies. This was my time for vengeance. This was the reason I had forced myself to stay alive.
At last, those who perished at Highever will rest in peace. Blood for blood, Arl Howe. I will end you.
