They caught up with Cullen and Wilmod in a small enclave in the mountains. They walked up, to a very unwelcoming sight.
"Andraste be my witness Wilmod," A man in higher ranking Templar garb and blonde curly hair, shook Wilmod by the shoulders, inches from his face. "I will have the truth from you NOW!"
Wilmod tried to shrink away. "Mercy ser, mercy!" he fought to pry Cullen's hands from his arms.
"Where it that easy. " He pulled Wimod closer, snarling at the young Templar.
"Don't hit me." The recruit coward, flinching away from the Knight- Captain.
Cullen kneed the man in the stomach, the young recruit doubled over in pain. Cullen removed his sword from its scabbard and rest the tip gently against Wilmod's chestplate. "I will know where you're going. And I will know NOW!"
Hawke and the rest hurried to Cullen, Anders fell behind while Jennifer and Fenris drew their weapons. "I thought Templar's only treated mages badly. Nice to see you're branching out."
"This is Templar business, stranger." Cullen peered over his shoulder at Hawke and the rest of the group.
However, Wilmod started laughing, a solid and wicked laugh, so different from his previous demeanor. "You have struck me for the last time, you pathetic human. To me!" Wilmod shouted, with a bright flash of light that had Jennifer covering her eyes, Wilmod changed into a hideous creature, it's back hunched with tumors and boils and one eye peering at the area.
"Maker preserve us." Cullen cried, as he withdrew his shield and prepared for battle.
Demons littered the enclave, shrieking and hissing. Hawke did not hesitate, he shouldered the closest demon swinging wide and slicing deeply with his sword. Fenris hunkered down, his lyrium marking glowing brightly as he darted from one enemy to the next, cleaving demons that stood before him.
Cullen, Jennifer and Anders joined the fray. Each slicing with their own weapons. Jennifer side stepped one shade only to be caught by a rage demon. It gripped Jennifer's arm in a vice. Anders yelled something incoherent before blasting the demons with an icy spell. Cullen hesitated, turning around looking at each person. Jennifer looked at him before daring a quick glance at Anders, he stepped back, demons fell around them quickly. Anders murmured a healing spell and Cullen faltered immediately. Jennifer cursed to herself, she fell back to Anders and grimaced. "Sorry."
Anders looked at her with surprise, before the hilt of her mace connected with the side of his head. "Anders is down!" Jennifer yelled, as she helped fell the last demon. Fenris slashed it with his large sword and the demon crumbled falling into the fade.
Cullen walked up to Hawke as he stepped back towards Jennifer and Anders. "I knew… I knew he was involved in something sinister. But this.." He looked at the carnage of demons around his. "Is it even possible?"
"You shouldn't have been out here alone with him." Hawke replied grumpily.
"I am Knight-Captain Cullen. I thank you for your assistance. I've been conducting an investigation on some of our recruits who have gone missing. Wilmod was the first to return." He looked away sadly. "I had hoped to confront him quietly, out of sight."
"I'm trying to find another recruit, a friend of Wilmod's. Do you know where Keran is?" Hawke asked.
Cullen shook his head. "He also disappeared. He was last seen at the Blooming Rose. But I had no luck interrogating the- uh-…" He blushed deeply. Oh so cute… wait why is he blushing? "Young ladies there. I doubt they know anything of magic or demons." He lowered his head.
Hawke smirked. "I'd be willing to search there."
"The order would truly be in your debt if you helped us with this. No one at the brothel will speak with me for fear I would shut them down for serving our recruits." He stepped forward. That's why he was blushing! Cause of a brothel. Oh… Eww. "If you learn what manner of creature did this to Wilmod, please come tell me in the Gallows. I will ensure you will be rewarded."
They made their way back to Kirkwall, the sun was still high so they trudged their way up to Hightown off in a little alcove sat the Blooming rose. "If someone tries to hire me again, I'm leaving." Jennifer burst into laughter and looked at Anders. He grimaced, "I'm completely serious."
This only served to make Jennifer laugh harder. "I'm sorry, I just didn't think they would hire someone willy-nilly." She snickered as her laughter died.
Anders blushed. "It isn't willy-nilly. There's a reason."
Jennifer blinked at him and tilted her head to the side. "What's the reason?"
Anders blush deepened and hurried along after Hawke. "Perhaps another t-time."
-ooo-
"And here we are in the brothel, my day is complete." Hawke replied with a grimace as he stepped forward.
He came upon a homely woman with short black hair. "You need something, Honey?" She asked, peering at him.
"You don't work here do you? With the customers?" Hawke asked. Jennifer could have slapped him for his idiocy. Fenris pinched the bridge of his nose and Anders ran his hand down his face. Awkward…
"You're no prize yourself, sweetheart." She countered pointing at him square in the chest. "Is there… something you want?" She asked again impatiently.
"A couple of Templar recruits went missing. They were last seen here." Hawke looked around.
"You'll have to be more specific. We do a lot of…business, with the Templars." He replied.
"We have a lot of missing Templars. If we don't act quickly, we may only find corpses." He countered.
The woman held her hands up defensively. "Now now, no need to get dramatic on me." She moved towards the bar where a large book rested on a tilting stand. "Let me look through the book." She turned a page, then another scanning the entries. "Here we go. Wilmod come in here a lot. You sure he had time to be a Templar?" She asked looking back at Hawke. "Both of them last saw, Idunna 'the Exotic Wonder from the East." She said with a grimace.
Jennifer sniggered. Nice name…
"That's quite the stage name." Hawke replied.
"It sounds better than the 'Tramp from Darktown.'" Viveka shrugged. "You should hear what some of the others are called." She continued, turning back towards the group.
"Is there anything else you can tell me?" He asked politely.
"Honey, I could write volumes on the things I know." She folded her arms. "Unless you want Wilmod's favorite position, I think you have what you need." Jennifer choked and blushed, looking away. "You didn't hear any of this from me. We clear?"
"Crystal." Hawke replied before turning on his heel and bounding up the stairs. They made their way to a closed door.
"Shouldn't you knock first? What if she's with a..erm… client?" Jennifer blushed again, her cheeks were on fire.
Hawke only laughed before opening the door and stepping towards a woman with ice grey eyes, long brown hair and a very form fitting purple gown. "You must be the 'Exotic Wonder of the East." Hawke asked. The woman turned, her grey eyes flaring a moment. "Do you remember entertaining a Templar named Wilmod a few weeks ago. Or Keran?"
Jennifer's skin prickled as soon as she spoke. "Wilmod, Wilmod." She said in thought. Jennifer rubbed her arms, something was wrong here. "That doesn't sound familiar." She replied tilting her head to the side and peering at Hawke.
"Do your clients like this charade?" He asked, placing his large hands on his hips. "It must get dreadfully tiresome."
"W-whatever do you mean?" She asked turning to walk back to her bed. The group stepped forward watching her cautiously. Fenris twitched looking at the woman, then itched his arms. Jennifer rolled her shoulders to get rid of the nagging feeling.
"Questions are boring, " She sat upon her bed and smirked at Hawke. "Why don't we have some real fun." Jennifer flinched as if she had been struck, she tried to reach out to Hawke but her arms refused to move.
"Hawke, " She said instead. "Be nice to her." Jennifer tilted her head. Why did I just say that?
"You should listen to her friend." Idunna smiled venomously.
"We have to ask her about Keran. What's your problem?" He asked Jennifer, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Jennifer rubber her eyes. "I dunno." She answered truthfully.
Hawke turned back. "As charming and relentless as you are. I'm here to investigate."
"Answer one of my questions first." Her eyes, something with her eyes! "Who told you about little ol' me?" She placed a hand on her chest, never breaking eye contact with the group. Dammit! Somebody gouge out her eyes!
Hawke stammered. "It was… Viveka. She showed me…. Her books." Hawke was trying to control himself but couldn't. Dammit I said her eyes!
"That wasn't so hard was it?" She stood, sauntering over to Hawke. "So, Viveka sold me out did she? That drab, pathetic little sewer rat, she will be dealt with." Idunna frowned. "Just do one more thing for me." She lifted her hand. "Draw your blade, and bring it gently across your throat." She motioned with her hand as if she were cutting into her own neck.
Hawke brought up his blade and pressed it to his throat...