Sorry for the wait. The next chapter will be up on Wednesday.
CHAPTER TEN
Tomas told Zevran and his female companion of how he and Sidona met. After he was done Zevran told him about Sixty-Six's capture by a noble lordly named Rendell. The conversations took place inside Kallian's father's home, who was more than happy to have the Hero of Fereldan stay for lunch at his humble home. Soris, Kallian's cousin served them food and drink and at every chance he got, eyed up Sidona. Which annoyed her visibly, but Soris didn't seem to catch on. "Tell me about this Rendell. What has he got against elves?" Tomas asked.
Cyrion stopped eating and let out a large sigh. "I don't know why he has it in for us elves. Maybe he's like that Vaughan Kendall, takes sick pleasure in harming us. He started four weeks after the Battle of Denerim, when elven labour was most needed to rebuild parts of the city. His mercenaries started going on about 'humans should rebuild a human city, not elves' and other racist comments. The king's men managed to drive them away from the construction areas but, that didn't stop them from preying on us in the alienage." Cyrion took a sip of his water and swallowed hard. Then before he could speak Shianni burst into the house. Tomas last saw Shianni in court three days ago, she was made the first elven bann after the Battle of Denerim. A decision that didn't go down very well with a majority of the Bannorn. She was clearly enraged, she didn't even register guests in Cyrions home.
"Fucking bann Tyron and his… Maker!" Shianni gasped. Realizing that her uncle Cyrion was not alone. "What are you doing here? Not a social call I take it." Tomas turned to Kallian and returned his gaze to Shianni. "That obvious? Were here discussing the troubles in the alienage."
Shianni looked at Cyrion and Kallian, both of them shock their heads. Tomas sensed a rant approach. When they met during the alienage crisis, she was running her mouth about the Tevinter and the plague trying to convince her fellow elves of the lies and inconstancies told to them by the Tevinter Imperium.
"Now our problems matter to you? I've pleaded for help from the King for weeks. Now you show up… let me guess something has come up and you need our help, you are doing this to get on our good side so we will help you? Or did your elven lover ask you to help us?" Shianni ranted, pointing at Sidona.
Kallian stood up and placed her arm in front of Sidona, who was about to stand up. "Calm down cousin, it doesn't matter why he wants to help us now. What matters is that he is helping us now. Shems are slow to action." Shianni had been through so much and endure every indecency that humans can inflict on elven kind. She was raped by Vaughan Kendall before the Battle of Ostagar which forced her cousin to kill Vaughan and his entourage. And now as a bann, she deals with bigotry and an over familiar lordling with a fetish for elven women. Kallian was surprised she lasted a month without asking her to kill one of them. Tomas respected her and there were times that he had to step in to insure that there was no incidents between the two races. There was truth in her words, though Alistair wants to build a stronger relationship with the elves they had still have been neglected. Politics ruin the best intentions. The reason Alistair made Shianni a bann was to aid the elves in rebuilding the alienage. But the other nobles hinder her every chance they get.
"Okay, okay. Sorry. It's just been so hard to keep the community together. We elves never had it easy before the Blight, but now it's too much to bear. I'm trying my best … Maker. If you can stop this Rendell that would help lift the spirits making Valendrians task easier."
Sidona quickly shot up. "Of course we will help you. This shem will pay for what he has done." Kallian nodded in agreement followed by Zevran. Tomas looked around he was the sole human there, he was outnumbered. But he didn't need to be convinced the help, he was going to help regardless. Sixty-Six's capture was just more motivation for the deed. Sidona knew it as well as Zevran.
"Okay it's agreed. Kallian, you know where this Rendell holds up?" Tomas asked.
"Aye. He's got an estate. It was one of the luckier ones that was destroyed by the darkspawn. I can take you there now." Kallian was enthused that she forgotten about the meal that her father prepared for her.
"Good. We will go there now while it is still dark and strike the bastard were he sleeps." Sidona added.
After this you will tell me what you know about the Crows, Tomas thought.
It took an hour to get ready as Sidona insisted, quite verbally, that she needed a staff to better focus her spells. After finding a shady individual who sold magic items to apostates everyone was ready to make the trip to Rendell's estate. On the walk through the streets and back alleys, Zevran tried his best to charm Kallian. The young elf seemed to have charmed Zevran in some way. Kallian had none of it. She wasn't interest in him in that way, so far as Tomas could tell. Sidona on the other hand was smiling every time Zevran tried a line. He couldn't tell if she was taking enjoyment out of Zevran being shot down every time or she was enjoying the company of elves.
"Enjoying the banter?" Tomas asked. The question jerked Sidona back to reality. "Sorry," She put on a sad smile. ", just remembering some friends I've missed." Tomas did not want to pry further, her past was her past, just as his past was his. Kallian matched pace with Tomas and Sidona. Sidona cast her gaze on the young elf, Tomas did not notice an age difference between them and so believed the two were of the same age. Two young looking elves in the company of a hero and former assassin, it was like a bad tale. Kallian eyed Tomas with wonder.
"So, where is your great sword the bards sing about? Zevran doesn't even know what happened to it. Was there even a great sword?" Her question came out of nowhere. A question that only he knew the answer to as Zevran was not there when he struck the killing blow to the Archdemon.
"Ageless, that was its name." Tomas replied solemnly. The sword had been with him for a long time, a dwarven Warden gave it to him after the Battle of Ostagar. The dwarf was one the only Warden, apart from Alistair and himself, to survive the battle. However, Teyrn Loghain's men found him and shoved a spike into his back. The stubborn dwarf held to his life for three days before dying in Tomas arms.
"Was? What happened to it?"
"The Archdemon happened. When it… died it unleashed a burst of energy and… well the sword couldn't handle it and it broke into four pieces. Master Wade and the best dwarven smith in Denerim could not repair it so the pieces were melted down and make into a dagger and a sword." All weapons that were used the kill an Archdemon get destroyed Tomas was told by Orlesian Warden-Commander. Even recorded death of an Archdemon stated that, along with the Grey Warden, the weapon that the Warden used the strike the death blow was destroyed as well. Some Wardens believe that it is a symbol meant to represent the death of the Warden. Tomas believed differently. As he said it was the Archdemons energy that destroyed the blade. Tomas missed the blade, he spent half a year using it now he was using his family's sword. He used the blade only once, and that was to cut Rendon Howes head off. He offered to return the blade but Fergus declined, saying that it was of the past, a past too painful to remember.
"Such a shame. I was looking forward to seeing you wield it." Disappointment was on Kallian words, even though she was shown to be a bit racist towards humans, Tomas knew she wasn't completely racist towards his kind by the fact she was infatuated by the story the bards sing about him. Damn Leliana and her song. It was Leliana that wrote the song, sung it and gave it away to other bards, who know sing the song across Thedas.
It was another hour before the arrived at Rendell's estate. Tomas thought it was odd for a bastard to have an estate, but in these times it wasn't so odd. Oghren, was given a small estate for his contributions in the Battle of Denerim. The dwarf moved in with his lover Felsi, Oghren took up a position within the army and from what he had last heard of the dwarf, was doing very well for himself.
"This doesn't look much like and estate." Sidona spoke out loud.
"Disappointed? Not Orlesian enough for you?" Zevran jested.
Sidona flushed with anger. "I-I just mean it doesn't look very… noble."
"That's because it is of Fereldan design. All the old Orlesian buildings were destroyed after Maric and Loghain kicked the Empire out." Tomas injected. It surprised Tomas at how little Sidona knew of Fereldan. Did the Orlesian Wardens never teach her about other lands? There was a Blight in Fereldan after all. Did she know of Fereldan but not of the architecture? It was possible.
"Well enough about design. Zevran, Kallian you two sneak in through the back. I have a feeling that my 'chat' with Rendell is going to go south so I need both of you to back us up." With that said Kallian and Zevran started a light sprint, it would take some time to get around the back of the estate but he knew both of them would make it.
"So were going through the front door? We shoul-" Tomas held up his hand to silence her. "Trust me on this. We don't want to go making trouble unless were are in trouble." He said, sounding reassuring.
Sidona blushed lightly. From embarrassment or infatuation?
The gates were wide open two men guarding the door. Mercenaries, The Crimson Oars a large group that expanded during the Blight. Mainly made up from veterans of battles large and small, loyal only to coin and beer, and the occasional whore. Their flag was a crimson oar atop of a round shield, hence the name. They were a loud lot when they weren't selling their services getting drunk and causing bar fights. An easy lot to outsmart and fight, Tomas thought, Sidona seemed to think that as well just by one look. One of the guards spotted them and approached.
"You. Leave. Now. You're not welcome one these lands." He bellowed.
"I'm the Hero of Fereldan and advisor to the King. I wish to speak to Rendell." Tomas said in his commanding voice. The guard was unsure what to do. He looked to his friend who shrugged at him. "All right." He began. "Follow me." The estate was in disrepair. Fair to say most of the coin from Rendell went to pay for the Crimson Oars services. Cob webs were in the corners, everything looked like it was twenty-five years old or more. The guard led them into a hall that was empty of furnishing seven men were on the balcony above all holding crossbows, a fire was burning in the large fireplace and two men were standing over an elven male. The older man was holding on to a black steel staff, a light was glowing atop it.
Sixty-Six, what have they done? He thought.
Sidona leaned towards Tomas and whispered. "That man was in Orlais and on the boat that I was transported in. But his magic aura is gone."
"The curse? It may have something to do with that man with the staff."
The younger man turned around and showed visible disgust. "You dare bring that…thing in my presence. How dare you-"
"I am the Hero of Fereldan. I bring who I want with me. You have a lot of explaining to do Rendell."
"Y-you! Hero you may be but you will not bring a filthy elf into my HOME!" Rendell's shout echoed throughout the empty hall.
"I'm cleaner than you shemlen!" Sidona yelled back at him.
"YOU DARE RAISE YOUR VOICE AGAINST ME?!"
This was bad. Rendell reacted far worse at the presence of an elf than Tomas had first thought. The rage poured from his face. It was clear one more insult would end in bloodshed. But he noticed Zevran and Kallian behind the seven men on the balcony. They might make it out alive.
"You're just a racist! You will never lay a hand on my people again!" With that said, Sidona unleash a flurry of flames from the tip of her staff and it set the old man with the staff ablaze. Tomas got to his shield and jumped in front of Sidona and blocked the first three crossbow bolts from hitting Sidona. Kallian and Zevran made quick work of the other men.
"You're fast." Sidona was amazed at Tomas reflexes.
"You too. I've never seen a mage cast a spell as fast as you did." He replied equally impressed.
The talk was interrupted as Rendell charged at them with a knife. Such a fool. With one simple side step and a blow with the pommel of his blade Rendell fell to the floor. More guards filled the room but didn't attack.
"Time to find another customer. This one is under arrest to face the King's Justice." The words sank in to the men who sheathed their blade they grumbled and complained as they left the hall.
"That was over too quickly. I miss the good old days." Zevran yelled down at him. "When can we have a better fight?"
"When we face the Crows head on." Tomas replied.
"That will be a problem." Sidona said looking at the body of Sixty-Six. "He is dead."