Chapter 10: Feeling crabby
Aeron had barely been home more than an hour or so before there was more trouble to take care of. The journey too and fro across the wounded coast had taken the best part of three days but at least it was over now. Being blindfolded and fed expensive wine whilst having to deliver memorised shipping and accounting information was perhaps one of the most bizarre and disturbing things Lyn had so far ordered her to do. Why can't things be normal? She inwardly sighed, kill some whiney shem or set light to a rivals house for the crazy old bats precious gang.
"Aeron!" Grandma shouted angrily from the other room.
"I'm going grandma, I'm going." Aeron called back, sitting on the edge of her creaking bed and rubbing the hour or so sleep from her eyes.
She couldn't even be asked to put her armour on she was so blindly tired and instead dug her sword from it's sheath, that was leaning against the wall, and wobbly padded barefoot to the front door. There was a trickle of lamplight and twilight that blinded her bloodshot eyes as she stepped out but the sounds of raised voices kept her wits in check.
"We didn't do it!" An elf youth screamed, at a selection of guards, being held back firmly by several other scruffy looking elf boys.
"You were seen by witnesses that described your likeness fleeing the scene of the crime." A guardsman grunted out between several finger wags of reproach.
"And let me guess," all turned to stare bewildered at the irate looking woman in nothing but a threadbare vest and leggings, "the description was of some suspicious and grubby looking assailants, probably elves, heading towards the Alienage."
"Return to your home, serah." A second guard interrupted, obviously the experienced lead. "This is a matter for the guard."
"No." Aeron gritted her teeth, taking several steps toward the nervous looking guards feeling up their weapons. "When you brought it down here, shouting and screaming and waking up my grandma you made this a matter for me."
"You tell them!" A scruffy elf boy hollered his support from behind her. When had the delinquents gone to hide behind her back?
"Serah, you are aiding and abetting known criminals!"
"Oh they're known now? What are their names?"
"Move aside or we will be forced to arrest you along with these fugitives."
"A sketchy description is not proof of criminal activity. You show me proof this lot did something worth arresting and I'll step aside." Aeron glared, sword swinging in a circular pattern of deliberation that kept the guards hypnotised. "Better yet, go and bring your witnesses down here to identify them personally."
"We will not endanger innocent Kirkwall citizens by bringing them to this place." The lead guard growled dangerously. "These criminals will be taken into custody and identified by credible witnesses there."
"After you've routinely interrogated them and threatened them into a forced confession of course."
"We support the law and follow its rules carefully. No one is forced to confess to a crime they did not commit." He preached as if reading from a pre-written statement. "You have been listening to false rumours, serah."
"Fuck you. You think we don't know what you lot get up to in that big ole keep of yours?"
"Sir…" The other guard cut off his lead before his rebuke could be heard.
"What is it?" He spat, furious with indignation.
"I think we need to leave." The other guard swallowed, his grip on the hilt of his weapon tightening with every ear piercing breath that broke the pregnant silence around them.
Both guardsmen looked around the Alienage courtyard at a series of scowling elves with drawn bows. Most of the elves had chosen to cover their faces with scarves and such in order to keep a level of anonymousness; though a few had opted for blatant disregard of the law, in favour of protecting the young elves and showing the true depths of their resentment. It was perhaps not the wisest of action but who else would protect their own.
"I'll remember you." The lead guardsmen shifted his gaze back to the half-dressed woman with red-eyes and scowled his disdain. "When we come back…" He trailed off, leaving his threat as open and inviting as a public funeral before turning and storming off with his fellow guard.
"That showed them." It was the big-mouthed elf youth squealing in victory. Why couldn't he stay quiet? "They won't be coming back anyti-Ahhh let me go!" He squealed like a newborn piglet, flailing his skinny arms and legs whilst he dangled helplessly against the wall held up by a well-toned arm pressed to his chest.
"What did you do?" Aeron was furious and glaring so hard the youth literally pissed his pants whilst the other boys tried to scurry away before getting caught by angry parents.
"Ma! MA!" He was crying now and the piss puddle was starting to head for his captives naked feet; so she dropped him.
"Oh my poor boy." His mother appeared and immediately began coddling him before a loud 'thwack' sound cut through the air. "What did you do?"
"Owwww!" He held onto his bruised and freshly slapped cheek. "It was nothing! I swear, ma! They blew it way out of proportion!"
There was another 'thwack' this time from across the courtyard as another mother was shaking a confession out of her child. Not wanting to be involved any longer, and groaning at the sight of sunlight emerging behind the Lowtown skyline, Aeron retreated back into her hovel for a quick wash and change. She had to get to work and being late put her in more danger from Lyn's wrath than anything the guard could dish out.
Making her way into the Reid mansion, Aeron was not surprised to find Juliannah in high spirits dancing around the lobby with a sweet sticky pastry in one hand. The girl was plotting something devious and most likely love life related as usual. The way she kept grinning at Aeron made the bottom of her stomach wish to evacuate the building in one swift motion. She already knew her orders for the day before Lyn even uttered them.
"Watch my daughter. She has some errands to run in town." Lyn muttered over a steaming cup of something bitter smelling and rubbed tiredly at her throbbing head. It looked as if she'd been in another heated argument with someone that thought a good debating point was a knife. "Watch out for Byron. He's in another of his foul moods."
"Has he threatened Juliannah again?" Aeron queried, sorting out the level of wariness she should remain at for the rest of the day.
"No." Lyn paused to sip from her cup then made a gagging noise as the flavour reached her taste buds. "But don't trust him not to try something. Dismissed, go, leave." She wafted a hand behind her, dislodging Aeron from her standing position and coaxing her out the door.
The moment the warrior had closed the door behind her a beaming bundle of squishy pudding mix launched itself at her wrapping it tubby arms around her neck and dragging her into a tight embrace. Aeron froze, unsure of the contact and wholly wishing she could react in a violent manner but that would really anger Lyn.
"Oh Aeron!" Juliannah chirruped. "I missed you. Where have you been? I've been waiting to go out since yesterday and mother made me walk around with that big scary guy the day before and he wouldn't stop telling me these horribly dirty jokes. It was just awful!"
"Yes, messere." Aeron stared at the ceiling, praying to the creators to be struck by lightening or let go of. The girl reeked of flowery perfume that burned the hairs from her nostrils. "I apologize for my absence."
"Oh that's all right." Juliannah giggled, finally letting go and rushing off to retrieve something from the kitchen; failing to notice the great heaving sigh of relief the other woman released. "Should we go then?" She returned with a heavy looking basket covered over with a square of fabric to hide the contents. "Garrett has been waiting for my goodies since yesterday."
"I think he's been waiting a lot longer than that."
"Sorry what?" Juliannah blinked, unsure of the other woman's meaning.
"I-uh nothing." Aeron cleared her throat, looking away to hide her wide-eyed expression at her inner thoughts said aloud. "Let me take that for you, messere."
"Oh how kind of you." She dropped the heavy basket into the warrior's waiting hands and swooned out into the morning sunshine.
"Do you know the way, messere?"
"Yes." Juliannah skipped ahead whilst Aeron lengthened her strides to keep up. The dumpling really was in an eager mood today. Hopefully she wasn't falling for yet another unobtainable man. "I had mother's men draw me a map." She filtered through her pockets for a food stained piece of paper. "It's right near the Alienage. You live there don't you?"
"Yes, messere."
"Oh is it nice?" Juliannah seemed more caught up in a daydream than actually listening for an answer. "Elves are so pretty. They must live in a pretty place."
"Uh… yes, messere." Aeron didn't have the heart to tell her the truth of the world. It might actually kill her or something. "Why are you visiting Ha- Garrett?"
"Oh didn't I tell you? He has a cold the poor dear. He ran home feeling dreadfully ill the other night."
"The other night?"
"Yes, when I was at um…" she thought about it for a moment, "the… Hanged man?"
"You shouldn't go there, messere. It's dangerous." Aeron frowned. "He is dangerous."
"Don't be silly." Juliannah giggled. "Garrett is a perfect gentleman."
"Urgh…" Aeron groaned quietly. She really was falling for a new man-toy. Time for a different ploy. "Have you seen Anders?"
"Anders?" She hummed the name with a blush. "Yes he was there too but then he had to go. He is so busy and selfless and wonderfully handsome. We should visit him again and… and bring him something."
"That's a good idea." Thank the creators this was working. The less she thought about that Hawke fellow the better. "Maybe he would like some herbs?"
"What for?"
"Medicine. For his clinic."
"Oh is that how you make medicine." She giggled again. "Yes then we should get some of that. But… where do we get that? Should we um, pick some from outside the city?"
"No, messere." Aeron sighed. "You can buy plenty of herbs from the Gallows."
"Oh!" Juliannah exclaimed as realisation dawned on her. "Yes we should do that. But first… I think we're here. Is this… it?" She seemed disappointed as she looked up at the hovel door.
"Yes, messere. This is the Hawke residence." Aeron lugged the heavy basket up the steps to the door ahead of her stunned charge. "Shall I knock?"
"No I… I will… I didn't realise they were so poor." Juliannah bit her tongue as she realised what she had just uttered and squeaked in a mixture of pain and disgust. "That wasn't a nice thing to say was it. Oh my… um… all right I can do this. Hmmm." She took a deep breath to settle her nerves then knocked on the crusty door, getting sprinkled with dust and flaking wood in the process.
There was a pause followed by the whining sounds of a dog inside and then a very grumpy sounding man shouting. Juliannah was a little scared by all the commotion occurring behind closed doors but swallowed it down rather well and held her ground. Finally, after what sounded like a lengthy debate within, the door opened with a young man holding a sword rather threateningly.
"He is not here." Carver growled at the two women before double taking and realising they were not Gamlen's debt collectors. "Aeron!" He locked eyes with the frowning half-elf completely ignoring the tubby, petrified looking rear of the year winner to his right. "What are you doing here?" He seemed mildly pleased to see her.
"W-we're here to um… is Garrett still unwell?" Juliannah stuttered still quaking at the deadly looking blade in the man's grip. "We brought fruit." She smiled, unconvinced, as she pointed to the heavy basket in Aeron's arms.
"Garrett? There is nothing wrong with him." Carver put away his sword in order to cross his arms and better scowl in venomous disdain for his brother. "He went out last night without me to investigate a missing woman and has not come home."
"He-he's missing! Oh my!" Juliannah was bordering hysterical as she cupped her hands to her face. "And sick too! Aren't you worried?"
"He is probably at the Hanged man with Isabela. That is where he usually is."
"I don't understand. Why would he be there all night instead of at home in bed resting?" Juliannah's brow furrowed in confusion as Carver shared a glance of disbelief with Aeron. Could she really be that stupid? "Oh I understand! She's a healer!"
"N-"
"Yes!" Aeron cut off the man in questions younger brother before he could completely shatter her charges delusion of a happy world where senseless sex did not occur. "She is very good at healing men in need." Aeron's eyes pleaded with Carver's for assistance.
"Yes, that Isabela is really something." Carver smirked. "Men, women, mabari… anyone in need of her services can visit at all hours."
"She sounds so nice." Juliannah smiled imagining being someone people looked up to like Isabela one day. "Oh the basket." She spun around and re-claimed the heavy wickerwork from her guard. "This is for Garrett. To help him get better."
"Right." Carver took the gift with a neutral dislike. "I am sure he will appreciate it."
"Mmhmm." Juliannah smiled, soaking in her feel good for the day. "Well um… we better be going then if Garrett is not here. Please tell him I stopped by and hope he is feeling better soon."
"Yeah." Carver shrugged. "It's… good to see you again, Aeron."
"Carver." Aeron nodded in his direction before trailing off after her charge.
"Who was he again?" Juliannah questioned as Aeron walked up beside her.
"Carver, Garrett's brother."
"Oh I didn't know he had a brother." She had that glint in her eyes again.
"Anders?" Aeron dropped the name as more of an incentive to stop thinking about the younger Hawke than an actual question of direction.
"Yes. The Gallows first though. We get to take a boat ride!" Juliannah giggled clapping her hands as she spied the ships bobbing in the dock.
As they entered the Gallows, the smell of oppression was almost overwhelming; not that Juliannah noticed. Fearful mages scurried amongst dark corners, desperate and needy for the light of freedom. The only ones that didn't seem to be utterly miserable were the shopkeepers peddling their wares with a jovial smile of questionable authenticity and the tranquil that felt nothing to begin with. Commoners, nobles and the odd ship crew clung neatly to their side of the large courtyard discussing creators knew what whilst Templars marched up and down showing off their shiny armour. The whole drama of it all was starting to give Aeron a headache as they milled from stall to stall. Juliannah was having a marvellous time picking up shiny baubles, runes and gems normally used for mage work; but apparently could be used for scarves and things too.
The longer they stayed the more painful the headache became for Aeron. It was starting to feel like a buzzing deep within the marrow of her bones. She tried to breath through it, eyes half lidded to restrict the bright sunlight from increasing the intensity of pain as she kept a vigil for bad influences after her charge. She probably need not worry so hard in a place brimming with Templars eager to defend young maidens honours and such but she didn't like the way they were staring at her. Why were they staring at her anyway, she wasn't that strange a sight in Kirkwall, home of Qunari and ex-slaves? Maybe she was imagining things; she could hardly see most of the Templars eyes from under those helmets anyway. Maybe they were just staring at Juliannah's huge rear currently sprawled out on show as the girl leaned over to admire a selection of shiny things. Yeah that's it, you're paranoid Aeron, she muttered internally and closed her eyes to regain her senses.
As she embraced the darkness her eyelids brought forth an image of light suddenly burst into being causing her lids to unravel wide and open at the Gallows around her. The world was on fire. She looked down at her hands, eyes drifting to follow the pattern of flames dancing across her arms before turning back to look at the walls around her. There was a roaring sound that ordinarily comes with a great barrage of fire and a burning taste in the air of ash and heated corpses. What was happening? Were the mages putting on some illusion? It felt warm but did not burn her, this blazing Kirkwall. People were still walking around, Templars staring, a shopkeeper rearranging his goods on the stall in front of her. Were they not seeing this too? They were on fire!
"Serah?" A hand, cool and heavy from the gauntlets he wore rested reassuringly on her shoulder. "Serah, are you well?"
"What?" Aeron turned, blinking heavily as she looked into a pair of brown eyes. The vision she was having dispersed the moment he had touched her.
"You have been standing there staring at the wall for some time." The Templar frowned, drinking in the full package in front of him as if sensing something amiss. "You have unusual eyes." He finally stated, his expression suddenly blank.
"I-hmm ha ha." She laughed, almost manically in sudden unease before something she had forgotten came back to haunt her. "Juliannah!" She spun around, pulling out of the Templar's tightening grip and breaking his line of thought. "Did you see where the big uh…" Aeron held her hands up to her chest to mimic the shape of a much larger bosom than she had, "girl that was standing here went to?"
"I-I believe I know the woman you speak of." The Templar cleared his throat. Was he blushing too? "She headed towards the merchants dock with several men."
"Men? Several men… shit!" Aeron balled her fists, muscles clenching in a burst of adrenaline as she continued to curse and take off into a run.
Charging across the courtyard she ducked and weaved the loitering pedestrians looking for a sign of a big girl with a big horde of men. What had that brat gotten herself into now? Why couldn't she just stay put and stop talking to strangers? She was too old to be behaving like a naughty five year old that still believed Griffins existed.
Seeing no sign of the group, Aeron ducked into an alcove that lead out to the merchants dock. The light was dim here, the walls giving off the scent of damp, dead and decomposition amongst the corridors lined with empty crates and barrels. She must have gone with the men out to the docks, perhaps onto a ship. Reaching for the gate out to the jetty she pushed on the rusty bars only to find it locked tight. Aeron went wide-eyed, her heart beating furiously in her chest as she realised how badly she'd managed to screw things up. If it was a rival gang or even one of Lyn's own, like Byron, that girl was not coming back in one piece.
"Fuck!" Aeron bellowed kicking the gate as hard as she could. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She kicked it again then threw her weight into it trying to dislodge the ocean-rusted hinges.
"Serah. Serah!" A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her dragging her back from yet another useless body ram of the gate. "Calm yourself."
"I have to get in there!" Aeron flailed, trying to fight the much larger man's strong grip on her.
"I understand. Please, relax."
"Relaxing will not get me in there!" Aeron spat, pausing a moment to catch her breath before struggling with a little more zest only to find herself pinned face first into the mould covered wall.
"I will not ask you again." He growled beside her ear, his armour pressed painfully into her back with the reassurance he could cause a lot more damage if he so chose. "I assume your friend has been… coerced into accompanying those men beyond this point." There was a grunting sound that the Templar took as a yes. "Then you are in luck, serah. I am the Knight-Captain and I have a key."
He released her, slow and hesitantly before fishing on his belt for a ring of mix-match keys. Aeron rolled sideways until her sore back rested against the cold wall and watched him sidelong flicking through his jingling selection of keys until his brow ignited with triumphant at finding what was assumed to be the correct one. There was a tinkle of metal followed by a click and scraping as the gate was opened, the Knight-Captain nodding to the warrior to follow him onto the dock.
"What is your name?"
"Aeron." She answered without hesitation; the authority in his voice was enough to make her weak at the knees.
"Aeron, do you have any idea who those men may have been?" The Knight-Captain questioned as he made his way to the shipmaster's makeshift office.
"I-They may have been working for a man named Byron Costello." She admitted as they reached a busy looking man hovering over a mound of paperwork and pouches full of coin.
"I'm busy." The shipmaster grumbled without looking up.
"This is Templar business, serah."
"I don't care if it's-Oh Knight-Captain Cullen." The man swallowed back his words with a loud gulp. "What can I do for you?"
"I need to see the ship manifest."
"The ship manifest? But why?"
"I am searching for a ship possibly owned by a Byron Costello."
"Let me just…" The shipmaster trailed off as he thumbed through a large and battered book of tables and boring information. "No… I don't see a Byron Costello."
"Wait… there." Aeron slammed her palm down onto the page before the man could close the book shut. "Evelyn Reid. Which one is this?"
"I don't have to tell you nothing." The shipmaster shoved the strange woman to the side before a second hand was slammed down onto the book he was trying desperately to hide. "Knight-Captain, please do not do that. The manifest is very delicate!"
"Tell me where this ship is." Cullen continued to hold his hand in place, his fierce expression practically beating the quivering shipmaster into some sort of confession.
"It's the fourth one down."
"Thank you for your co-operation." The Knight-Captain released his hold on the book and moved away at a sprint. "This, Evelyn Reid, what has she to do with Byron Costello?"
"I-nothing." Aeron lied, having to run to keep up with the Templar's longer legs.
"Do not lie to me." Cullen abruptly stopped, his arm launching at her chainmail shirt and lifting her to eye level. "If you wish to save your friend you will not lie to me, serah."
"Get off!" Aeron swung a punch more out of instinct than actual desire to harm the man. He on the other hand was about as fazed as the tranquil mages that lined the Gallows and easily caught her swinging arm with his free hand. By the Creators he was big.
"Evelyn Reid, serah?" He spoke the name slowly, letting her dangle a foot from the ground as if she weighed as much as a kitten; but at least he was still polite about it.
"She's her mother."
"Your friend's mother has kidnapped her?"
"What? No! Byron and her mother work for the same uh… business."
"So you believe this Byron has taken your friend in order to… harm his business partner and is using the mother's ship?"
"Y-yeah that's pretty accurate." Aeron was trying desperately not to move now, her shirt was starting to slip upwards exposing her stomach to the cold and the chest armour she wore was not tight enough to stop from going over her head as well. "Please, messere, put me down." She swallowed back the sense of fright that was starting to prickle at the corners of her eyes. Juliannah may possibly be dead by now and she didn't like the way the Templar could manhandle her so easily either. It really wasn't a good day and why did she feel so weak at the knees around him even when suspended above the ground?
"I apologize, I had to make you believe my threat." He co-operated with her request, lowering her to the ground and releasing his hold on her arm and shirt. "Follow me, serah." He walked on ahead as she paused to readjust her clothing and armour.
The mismatched pair walked around the fourth ship along the jetty until finding a way inside. The walk way was empty, the only crew insight further along the large ship re-adjusting cargo and taking a cigarette break. Either way, they did not notice the two walk over to the lower hatch and climb into the bowels of the ship. They heard no screaming, that was possibly a good sign unless the girl was dead already.
"This way." Cullen signalled for Aeron to follow him down a long corridor towards the sounds of voices.
It was dark inside the ship, light filtering from under a doorway into the corridor giving the pair a sense of knowledge of their surroundings; though the constant rock of the boat did not help matters. Following the light, the Knight-Captain burst through the door with his weapon drawn causing a scurrying of frightened sailors.
"You men," he began his address, "we are searching for a young woman we believe to have come on board this vessel in the last hour or so. Where is she?"
"Ain't no woman here." A sailor with his back to the wall shook his head wildly.
"Don't feed us bullshit and expect us to ask for seconds." Aeron was furious. "Where is Juliannah?"
"Jewel?" Another sailor spoke up looking confused at the others. "She ain't here. Is she?"
"I don't think so…" The third and final sailor shrugged with a scratch of his head.
"What about Byron Costello?" Cullen questioned, feeling for a moment he had gotten himself into something quite a deal less sinister than he originally believed.
"Oh, he's down in the hold. With the cargo." The first sailor grinned, happy to be useful; especially as useful generally meant alive. "But he doesn't want to be disturbed."
"I bet he doesn't." Aeron stormed from the room, Cullen trailing behind her after delivering his thanks to the sailors for the information. "This way." She ducked down a staircase into the hold, a huge expanse of the lower ship filled with a labyrinth of goods.
"I get the feeling these goods are not legal." Cullen frowned as he inspected an open crate filled with something that looked suspiciously like lyrium.
"If you don't look at it, it isn't there." Aeron pulled him away from the contraband.
"An interesting philosophy, serah." He laughed dryly.
"I'm just full of-"
"HEY! What are you doing down here? This is private property!" A large scowling mono-browed thug appeared from behind a stack of barrels. "Get out of here!"
"Well if it isn't Dusker." Aeron glared, her sword free from its binds with a whisper of air. "Tell me where Byron has Juliannah and maybe I won't hack off your-"
"Go jump in the void, Aeron." Dusker cut her off, brandishing an axe so big he was definitely compensating for something. "Bringing a Templar down here is as good as ratting the gang to the guard."
"What gang? Are you in league with this smuggler?" Cullen looked between the two, taking a step back to reconsider his sides.
"I am not in league with anyone? Why does everyone keep accusing me of being in league with stuff?" Aeron huffed then made a leap for Dusker whilst his attention was caught on laughing at the Templar and not-in-league-with-anyone-but-sort-of-an-elf dynamic.
"Bwah! Get off you mangy whore!" Dusker growled as she caught him right in the hugely round tummy and toppled him to the floor.
"I am not mangy!" She hissed back, plying her fist to his face several times until he made a muffled cry about his nose and wrestled her beneath him.
"You two bronze bitch!" Dusker pinned her down with his fat mass, his tubby digits finding the collar of her shirt before beating the back of her head against the floor with enough force to make her see stars. Why was she feeling so weak she couldn't even kick Dusker's lard of a slow arse? "I'm gonna- Bwah!" He squealed as a pair of gauntleted hands pried him loose from the woman beneath him and threw him spectacularly into a large keg that exploded with beer.
"Aeron, are you all right?" Cullen kneeled at her side as she rolled over, gripping her head with both arms.
"Shit…." She shook with a mixture of pain and fury. How stupid must she look right now to the bloody Templar. Oh and now beer was getting in her hair. "Uck, help me up." She groaned as the Knight-Captain did as he was requested with a humorous smirk.
"Your… friend appears to be unconscious." He pointed out the crumpled form of Dusker dripping with lashings of beer and managing to snore peacefully as if he'd lost consciousness there on purpose.
"Leave him. I need to find Juliannah." Aeron hissed as she touched the back of her head and felt the warm sticky residue of blood.
"Take this." The Templar pushed a small vial into her free hand and quickly began the search again. What a nice man, Aeron watched after the clunking half man-half-steel bucket and swallowed down the healing potion he had given her.
As she followed him around another stack of crates it became apparent they were definitely not alone down here; besides the giant rats that they could hear squeaking. The clumsy struggle with Dusker had tipped off the enemy they were coming.
"Which one of you men is Byron Costello?" Cullen openly addressed the gathering of smugglers, brandishing various weapons in the two new comers direction.
"That would be I, Ser Cullen." Byron was sitting in a chair, drinking something from a bottle that was not apple juice. "You should not have come here. Either of you."
"Aeron!" Juliannah was sitting in the corner, arms wrapped around her thick legs and sobbing in a pathetic manner.
"Why do you keep kidnapping little girls, Byron?" Aeron rolled her eyes in mystified annoyance. Cullen looked about ready to start gutting men for the honour of the maiden behind them. He really was a bloody knight in shining armour. "Have you really nothing better to do? What's next on your crime agenda? Sweetrolls from babies?"
"She is not a 'little girl'." Byron sniffed the air, smelling his own ego or out of disdain; one of the two. "Are you, mummies big round dumpling?"
"OHHHH!" Juliannah started bawling loudly at the fresh round of insults, Byron cackling with enjoyment at the tormented cries.
"I have heard quite enough from you, serah." The Knight-Captain raised his sword and shield to the ready. "Return the young lady to her keeper immediately or I shall be compelled to remove her from your custody by force."
"Do we really have to do this, Ser Cullen?" Byron tossed his whiskey bottle to the man next to him. "I could make it worth your while."
"I care not for riches, serah."
"Don't be such a noble idiot." Byron tsked then sucked air between his teeth as he thought more on the subject of bribes. "How about a sizeable donation to the Chantry?"
"I do not accept bribes, by whatever means they present themselves." The Knight-Captain's frown had finally reached critical and was about ready to breach if this didn't end soon.
"Fine then. Have it your way. Bloody knights." Byron waved his arms around having a mild tantrum. "What about you then, Aeron? I'm sure there is something you would like? I could make your servitude go a-"
"Oh fuck off Byron." Aeron groaned. "Can't you just throw yourself onto your blade and be quiet? I really get tired of this pompous git routine you have. We both know your mother was a whore and you grew up in the slums."
"I-tsk… who told you that? They are lying!" Byron rounded on the red-eyed woman, leaving the safety of his men behind him. "Shit…" He stuttered out as she shanked him in the gut with the knife she normally kept on her thigh for emergencies. "K-kill… them." He toppled to his knees before being kicked onto his back by his attacker.
There was a sudden burst of movement in the cramped ship hold, as Byron's men ran forward to attack the ship tilted rather suddenly from the shift in weight causing a number of untied good to tumble forward. Cullen lifted his shield tight against this body to deflect several crates and a bad guy from crushing him whilst Aeron and the others threw themselves out of the path of danger. Juliannah was screaming somewhere but the sound was echoing so neither Knight nor bodyguard could find an accurate direction.
As the ship settled back, into a steady too and fro, men popped up out of the debris like jack-in-the-boxes though at least two were now missing; possibly crushed. Only Cullen had managed to remain standing, his armour and shield having protected him from the barrage of objects.
"Don't do that again you stupid bastards!" Aeron bellowed, parrying a sword that came flying for her neck.
"Shut up and die!" A smuggler called out at the room in general.
The sound of screaming and fighting was deafening in the hold. The clank of blade against blade, huffing of exertion, as Aeron and Cullen fell back into an easy routine with their bodies pressed behind one another. The big wall of steel worked really well for Aeron, who found herself pushing back against the Knight's back to increase the power to her kicks between knocking back daggers and blades. It tended to put Cullen off though, as he kept being bumped forward and having to bring his shield up more often to beat an assailant down with it.
With the majority of men unconscious or fighting their way through the debris to them, Aeron finally broke away from the safety of their two-man circle, springing into action with the curving of her blade. A struggling smuggler, with his foot caught in a net, lifted his sword to defend from the attack and push her back but instead found a knee lodged heavily in his groin sending him down with a loud groan. There was a wail behind her; she turned throwing her body into a defensive position but it was already over as her enemy gurgled up clots of blood, a sword impaling his chest through to the other side. She nodded her thanks to the Templar as he pulled his weapon free from the man's insides and turned to defend against a new onslaught of attacks from the remaining men. Aeron on the other-hand had disappeared off to find the source of screaming from her charge. Where had that girl gotten too now?