A Murder of Crows
A messenger that Lorenzo recognized as an employee of his uncle delivered a message that night.
Nephew,
There has been a flock of birds spotted watching your Grey Wardens. They seem to be interested in one in particular.
With kind regards,
Your Uncle Giovani
Lorenzo crumpled the paper and threw it in his fireplace. Wisteria? Were the rumors true then? She had a Crow friend? Or were the Crows planning something? He needed to talk to his Uncle. He went down to the stable, got a horse, and headed towards his estate on the outskirts of town. His Uncle, Count Giovani Becchi, lived there. He owned a crow cell of his own and was a powerful player of politics in Antiva.
His Uncle was waiting for him in the study.
"Lorenzo! You look well." Giovani kissed him on both cheeks and held him away to study his favorite nephew.
"Uncle Gio, I am sorry I haven't been by to visit in so long. The Wardens are keeping me busy."
"Yes, the Wardens. I assume you're here to discuss my message?"
Lorenzo nodded.
"Well, sit, have some brandy and tell me who that raven haired beauty is the Crows watch so closely."
"Uncle, I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet."
"I have a suspicion. Does she come from Ferelden?"
"Ah, of course you know, Uncle. Yes, that is Wisteria Cousland."
Giovani nodded. "That would explain why Zevran is keeping such a close eye on her, flitting in and out her bedroom window."
Lorenzo's eyes widened and he nearly choked on his brandy. "Who is that?"
Giovani chucked. "A young opportunist who seems to have no end to good fortune. You have surely heard the tales about the Crow assassin who was sent to murder your lovely Grey Warden and failed."
Lorenzo nodded. "That's him? Why is he even alive and here in Antiva? Are the Crows getting sloppy?"
"Because Antivan nobles love good stories and when Zevran returned he had lots of them and they made him some powerful friends. Eventually he did a good deed and was rewarded with a Crow cell to manage. If Zevran's stories are not entirely fabricated then he and your Grey Warden are close friends, perhaps even very close friends, and he fought with her to kill the archdemon."
Lorenzo swallowed, his anger growing. "What is he up to Uncle? Do you know?"
Giovani shook his head, "Hard to say, nephew. It isn't to assassinate her, he could have done that dozens of time over. Maybe he is protecting her? Does she need protection, is there some threat to her from the Grey Wardens?"
Lorenzo nodded.
"There you go then. If you Grey Wardens are planning to carry her off and quietly end her, you're going to find it isn't so easy to do."
Lorenzo thought. "What if I said I was intending to carry her off."
Giovani looked up, surprised. "Really nephew? Whatever for?"
"She has knowledge that makes her very dangerous to the Grey Wardens. If the fools from Weisshaupt won't act to stop this threat, I will."
"How do you plan to get her out from under Zevran's nose?" Giovani asked.
"I don't know. Can you help me?"
Giovanni nodded, "I think I can. This sounds like an interesting challenge."