Chapter 10: Just Another Dog Lord

While Rynn was walking around high town an older man with neatly combed long greying hair dressed in nobles clothes approaches her "You there. Fereldan, I wish to speak with you." Rynn turns her attention to the man taking a step toward him

"I've heard you have dealings with certain….elements…within the city. You can get things done 'On the sly' as they say"

"That's a way to put it"

I am a magistrate in this city and as such, I wish to hire you for a small albeit important job. A Man I sentenced to life in prison has escaped custody. He's been tracked to an abandoned ruin outside the city. I'd like you to retrieve the fugitive and hand him over to the guard.

"We're both intelligent people, there's something in the ruin isn't there?"

"There is something yes, there are…creatures in the ruins. The guards I sent were ill-equipped to deal with such beasts.

"Very well, I'll take the job"

"Bring the fugitive in alive quickly and quietly, not only will you be well paid, but you'll have the gratitude of a city magistrate, useful to a refugee, wouldn't you agree."

She couldn't argue with that, having the favour of a magistrate would indeed be beneficial, especially if she hoped to get her Mother's estate back. Hawke leads the group up the wounded coast to where the magistrate had said the ruins would be; she can see a group of guards.

"I hear you're in need of a little help" Rynn said approaching one of the guards

"Ah so you're the reinforcements the magistrate promised. The man you're looking for, he's holed up in the ruins, though I doubt he's still in one piece." The man pointed in the direction of the ruin, Rynn could see a group of guards standing by the entrance.

As they started to head in the direction of the ruins an elf came walking up to them, he looked better off than most of the elves Rynn had seen in the alienage, dressed better as well not the clothes of a noblemen but far better quality than that of most elves.

"That bastards to be brought in alive after all he's done? Just because it isn't you and you pretty little Shemlen children he's after…."

"Please calm down and tell me what happened"

"The man you're after, he targets elves! He dragged my daughter into those ruins and killed her! I want him dead!" then lowering his voice he tells Hawke "My girl, Lia, she wasn't his first victim. Over the years he's take dozens of our children and never once has he paid for his crimes."

"A man who murders children won't survive long in the courts of Kirkwall" Rynn tried to reassure the elf

"No! Don't you understand? If you take him in he'll be free again by nightfall!" For all me dammed coin I'm still just an Elf to these Shemlen. There'll be no justice for my girl in the courts of Kirkwall."

Rynn, fighting with what she knows is right and what following the law means, after all having the favour of a magistrate would be helpful. "The magistrates of Kirkwall will pass judgment, not you or me."

"No human magistrate is going to side with an elf" Fenris said

The group approached the entrance to the ruins a where another guard was standing, he walked up to Rynn, removing his helmet, he pulled her aside.

Rynn was surprised, "Haldmar, when did you become a guard?"

"After you killed Meeran I figured it was time to move on, time for more honest work, and Aveline accepted my application to become a guard"

"Oh," Rynn felt a little uncomfortable, she hadn't seen him in a few weeks and save for their training sessions and nighttime activities they hardly knew each other, to see him outside of the room at the Seamen was odd.

"Hawke, you can't let this monster live, elves don't get justice in Kirkwall, I've seen it."

"Dangerous view for a guard to have" seeing her way out, she jerked her arm free of his hand and walked away to enter the passage to the ruins.

Once they were inside the ruins, Rynn noticed the molten lava, flowing beside the walls, it lit the ruin, with an eerie red glow, she walked to a door at the far side of the chamber, pushing the door open she was met by a raider.

"I knew those guards were onto us" he said as he signaled his men to attack.

There were six of them, Rynn made short work of the first then quickly stabbed the one closest. While Fenris swung his sword knocking two more over then quickly finishing them with another swing, Merrill and Varric each had taken down one as well. When the battle was over Rynn noticed they were in a small room, trying the door at the other end proved futile so they collected what they could and headed back to the chamber they had entered from.

Finding a pathway leading to the side Rynn lead them forward to another door, upon entering into a large square chamber four giant spiders dropped from the ceiling.

"Fucking Spiders" she groaned as she hacked and slashed at the spider in front of her careful to avoid it's fangs, more spiders came down from the ceiling, along with a venomous spider, Merrill cast a sleeping spell on the new group of spiders, giving Fenris the advantage he hits them with a whirlwind strike while Varric hits them with a hail of arrows, while Fenris finishes them with a mighty blow, Rynn is on the venomous spider, who avoided Merrill's spell, she is slashing at the legs so it can't move, it spits at her she ducks not wanting to get hit with poison, Fenris comes to help hacking the spider in half and managing to hit Rynn with most of the gore.

"Thanks, but maybe next time you could try not to hit me with the guts." she angrily groans as she wipes what she can off.

While Varric inspects a chest in the corner of the room, Rynn gives up her cleaning; she's got most of it off her face and arms. "Good enough" she sighs walking toward a door at the end of the chamber.

The door leads to a corridor, the walls are starting to crumble, Rynn wonders how much longer they will last before they fall completely, there is more molten lava along the left side of the wall, they turn the corner which leads up a stair case and into a huge round chamber with a circular fire in the middle raised on a pedestal to illuminating the area. They are attacked by an Arcane Horror, along with more spiders and corpses.

Rynn threw a miasmic flask at the horror stunning it momentarily but giver her enough time to back stab and then hit it with an explosive strike before he cast a Death cloud, which she avoided stabbing a corpse as she rolled away from the horror. Merrill then cast a sleeping spell on the horror and the group of corpses it had summoned Rynn took advantage of this jumping at the horror with a twin fang and a series of hacks and slashes with her dagger. Varric focused on a group of spiders that were advancing on Merrill, firing a hail of arrows and a bursting arrow at them, eliminating them. Fenris was surrounded by a group of corpse's, he swung his blade n a whirlwind strike and then a mighty blow killing most of the corpses, more are summoned by the Arcane Horror. Rynn rushes the Horror as he's casting interrupting his spell and forcing him to attempt to counter her attacks, but she's faster than him, hitting him again with twin fangs and pinpointing her blows to do the most damage, then with a last explosive strike he is down. There are still some corpses attacking the group and Rynn help Varric kill the last one advancing toward her.

They search the chamber for valuables, not finding much Rynn checks the doors, only the one at the end of the chamber opened, is leads down stairs and into a corridor where a young elven girl is sitting, Rynn approaches.

"Who are you; please can you get me out of here? I just want to go home."

Don't be afraid Da'len; everything's going to be alright now.

"Lia? Your father told us you were dead!"

"My father is he safe? Kelder said that he'd hurt my family if I didn't come with him.

How did you escape your dastardly kidnappers, kick to the groin? Sand in the eyes? Rock to the head?

"Kelder? No he let me go. I tried to make it to the entrance but I hid when these creatures showed up. I thought I heard him calling me, I almost went back but I didn't want to get eaten by those things but Kelder he was… He hit me, told me I was nothing, I begged him to stop hurting me. I didn't think he would, but out of nowhere, he pushed me away and just….. Started crying. Don't you see? He didn't mean to hurt me! He told me, there are Demons, they make him dot these horrible things"

"I'll have to remember to use that, 'a demon made me do it'." Rynn said sarcastically.

"There are a lot of cruel people out there, princess completely demon free" Varric tried to inform the girl.

"But it's true how else could he do something like this?" pleaded Lia

"She is a child, and does not understand. Her pity is admirable, but misplaced" Fenris told Rynn.

"Kelder is dangerous Lia; if he fights back I can't promise he won't get hurt,

"He won't fight you I promise"

"Run to the entrance, you'll find your father there."

As Lia headed for the entrance, Rynn turned to walk down the corridor but was stopped by a group of corpses. Fenris ran out in front of her swinging his sword knocking the corpses in all directions, Rynn attacked the corpses that were flung the farthest away from Fenris, not wanting to get in the way of his swinging sword. Corpses appeared behind Merrill and Varric who had been hitting the corpses around Fenris with ranged arrows and spells, Varric turned firing a bursting arrow stunning the group while Merrill cast a despair spell killing them. With the corpses dead, they walk into a chamber at the end of a hall it's not a large chamber but it is centrally lit and there is a man clad in rich looking clothes sitting against a column.

I knew my father would eventually send someone. I was hoping the beast down here would get to me first."

"From the magistrates vague description I expected a hardened criminal. Not a wining coward" Rynn said almost disappointedly

He didn't tell you did he? The magistrate is my Father. He's tried so hard to keep me, and what I've done hidden away."

"Not hard enough it seems"

The magistrates more worried about keeping his job than doing his job"

"Father is a good man…. He tried to help, to stop me. But he can't…no one can! That elf girl she had no right to be so beautiful, so perfect. The demon said she needed to be taught a lesson, like all the others. The circle was supposed to help me, but they lied! They said there were no demons, that I was mad. This isn't my fault."

"If the circle suspected a demon at work they wouldn't risk setting you lose in the city" Rynn spat angrily.

"No, they lied, I can't stop, I've tried so many times. Please you have to kill me. There's no other way

"He sees the truth of it. Allow me to grant his wish" said Fenris looking at Rynn.

"Any last words before he kills you Kelder?"

"Tell my father….. I'm sorry."

Fenris steps forward, activating his Tattoo's he reaches into Kelder's chest and crushed his heart in his hand. Kelder's corps falls to the ground and Rynn turns to leave. As they exit the caverns they see Lia has made it to safety and id hugging her father, Rynn approaches and the Elf turns to her.

"You saved her, my little girl, I didn't dare hope! "Did you kill that monster? Is he dead?

"He won't harm Lia or anyone else ever again!"

"I didn't believe an elf could ever get justice in Kirkwall, I speak for all of us when I say that we are in your debt Serah." And with that he takes his daughter and leaves.

"I feel just as bad for those knife ears as the next man but ignoring the Magistrates direct orders, that's madness." The guard said also walking away and signalling to his men to leaves well.

Haldmar approaches them again "I knew you would do the right thing" he's looking at her, in a way she's not sure she likes of wants.

"really because you know me so well?" she's angry, he doesn't know her, and sure Kelder deserved to die, but where does that leave her, still rotting in Lowtown with their uncle Gamlen.

"I didn't mean…" he realises his mistake, not wanting to add fire to the situation he winks at her "maybe I'll see you later, maybe not, if you want to work on assassinations come by later" and with that he left.

Rynn slowly exhaled, order restored to their arrangement, then turning to her friends, "Shall we piss off a city Magistrate?"

They trek back to the Hightown, once in the city they see a group of people around a currier who is posting signs around the city; Rynn grabs one to read it:

Offered on the authority of His Excellency, Viscount Marlowe Dumar;

Citizens of able nature, Viscount Dumar requires your aid, his son Seamus Dumar has been lost to uncertain company, and a safe return is sought with all haste. Make your case of skill to Seneschal Bran at his station in His Excellency's keep, and the reward for this act shall be generous in both sentiment and coin.

"This could be profitable," she says to Varric raising an eyebrow

"It could at that" he agrees

Rynn leads them to where the magistrate is waiting, he has an angry expression on his face, apparently his guards have already brought him the news.

"How dare you show your face to me again, you…you stinking Dog Lord, if you know what's good for you you'll leave my city" the Magistrate spat at Rynn.

"Next time you should do you job instead of trying to protect it" she yelled back at him as he walked away

Making their way into the keep Rynn finds Seneschal Bran talking with a woman, clearly mercenary after the bounty.

"Insist if you must but viscount Dumar will see no one! If you've news of Seamus I will relay it to him"

"Fine, tell Dumar my scouts have tracked the boy and his Qunari captor to the wounded coast. I'm taking a full company after them, and when I return I expect him to make a show of the reward."

"So many to deal with one Qunari, seems…. excessive"

"He might be Tal-Vashoth. The Winters leave nothing to chance" the woman growls and the seneschal then heading down the stairs she yells at Rynn "Get out of my bloody way"

Rynn turns to the seneschal and with a sigh he says "Yes. What is it?"

"If this is about a rescue that woman hardly seemed the type"

"She is the type I feared we would attract…. As I've told the others Viscount Dumar's son Seamus, is missing, we suspect he was taken by a Qunari... If you would like to try your Hand at securing his safe return, feel free."

"The boy will be home soon enough"

"Declare it if you like, but the reward goes to whoever brings him back safe." The seneschal walks her out of his office shutting the door behind him.

Rynn leads the group through the coast to a peninsula, where they can see the woman from the keep standing over the body of a Qunari and a boy a little younger than Bethany. As they approach they can hear their conversation.

"And the worlds rid of one more Qunari, easier than I expected. Call the men back, we've got an appointment with the viscount, isn't that right Seamus.

"Ashaad, you killed him, you... you Vashedan bitch"

"That one of their words? See that's why you need to be dragged home, you're playing too nice with those things, I'll wager you've gone even further than that, haven't you brat. Ginnis spat

"A little rough for a rescue don't you think?" Rynn interrupted

"Competition, well you're too late, the winters... I have already claimed him"

"Serah, if I must go back so be it but I will not see these…murders rewarded

"Spoiled shit, I'll cut out your tongue and charge extra for brining you back quiet, and as for you… I could do with some entertainment while we wait for the others." She said unsheathing her daggers and glaring at Rynn.

Varric used his smaller stature to maneuver himself behind Ginnis and her men, pulling Seamus with him to keep him out of the battle and protected.

Fenris turned his attention to the group of mercenaries who had emerged from behind them. Swinging his claymore above and around himself in an arch he knocked the mercenaries he was facing back, one rolled out of the way Fenris switching direction coming down with the pommel of his blade on the man's head, knocking him out cold. Then turning his attention to the group he had earlier knocked away from himself he again slashes at then in a sweeping arc splitting their bellies open to drop their intestines to the ground. Merrill saw another mercenary move to flank Fenris, she cast a wounds of the past, rending the man from the inside out. Fenris turned just in time to see the man fall he gave Merrill a glare "Blood Magic."

Rynn turned her attention to Ginnis who attempted to flank her; she saw her movement and turned to cut her off brining herself face to face with the other woman, who snarled she's expected Rynn to be an easy target. Rynn ducked and rolled away, then switching direction mid roll came up beside Ginnis, stabbing her in the side, and with her other blade blocking her attack, wrenching her blade from Ginnis she brought it inside her guard and slit her throat splattering blood across her face.

"Dead and good riddance, but...she said she was waiting for more, a lot more."

"Well let's get ready then" said Merrill

"Strip the camp and we'll ready a fitting welcome" Rynn told Seamus, mostly to keep him away from the fight it would do her no good if he got hurt.

"More" Varric called out as he sent a volley of arrows into the new group of mercenaries, Killing a few of them, and wounding pothers, Merrill quickly cast a sleep spell on the group while Fenris slashed his way through them. Rynn had slipped in behind the commander striking him with twin fangs, then backstab him, she then brought her blades in for another strike, but he blocked her Varric shot him with a pinning arrow and She finished him with an assassination move he didn't see coming.

"Oh Andraste, I've never seen so many corpses. So much blood!

"Soil yourself later, there may be more!" Rynn snapped harsher than she meant too.

Mercenaries swarmed the area, Varric firing arrows all over in an attempt to slow them down or at least eliminate the weakest one, Merrill cast horror on a group causing them to turn on each other in their nightmare state. Fenris threw himself in the middle, hacking and slashing at anything that moved sending gore flying on all directions. Rynn snuck around the battle field picking and choosing her opponents, she targeted vulnerable spots on weaker enemies thinning their numbers, when she came to a commander he was pinned in place by one of Varric's well placed arrow. She came up from behind him stabbing him with a blade, and brining the other up to slash at his side, he caught her wrist before she could deal him any damage then with a head butt sent her staggering backwards, she regained herself, but he was free of hiss arrow. He tried to flank her, she caught his blade between hers knocking it to the side narrowly missing her, then brining her knee into his groin, he doubled over as she sunk her blades into his back killing him.

"Ashaad never lied, never coddled, you were worth his time or you were not. They are not the brutes others claim they are. Take me to my father, and I will try again to make him see.

"Let's go Seamus, you father will be waiting."

"Then take me to him" he said in a defiant tone.

The walk back to Kirkwall was an uneventful one, however made longer by Seamus, who couldn't keep the pace Rynn had set forcing the group to slow to his speed, he seemed to meander as he rambled one about his friend and the assurance the Qun held. Rynn had stopped listening, and looked around at her companions, Merrill seemed to be listening with interest to Seamus's rambling while Fenris had a deep scowl on his face, living in Minrathos he was used to talk of the Qun and clearly had his own opinions on it, not that he'd share them, especially with her, they had a tense relationship at best often disagreeing, he obviously had his reasons to hate mages, but after meeting some good ones he's remained stubborn on his opinions, she doubted they'd ever be good friends. Looking to Varric she noticed he was as bored as her, he had an almost wistful look on his face, probably plotting how he's going to write about this for his book.

They entered the city and made their way up to the keep sticking to the shadows and alleys not wishing to make their presence known. Once inside the keep they followed Seamus into the Viscounts offices.

"Father" Seamus announced their presence defiantly

"My son, I thought I'd lost you!"

"Enough Father,"

"Allow me to present one Serah Hawke, Excellency, she fulfilled the bounty" Seneschal Bran interjected

"You have my gratitude; I hope you encountered no great difficulty, on my son's behalf." Dumar acknowledged

"No problems to speak of, besides the crowed who tried to kill us." Rynn said offering a smirk.

"I was told the Winters had involved themselves, was there no way to avoid an incident"

"They murdered my friend, where is the concern for that." Seamus interrupted

"It was my understanding you were captured alone, foolishly traipsing about the coast as you do."

"I was not captured, I was with Ashaad, the Qunari, they are not monsters to be feared, if you would just try to understand other would see as well"

"Better that you were thought abducted than to have their influence suspected in my own family…. Benign or not it's too much.

"There's no middle ground? It sounds like you've both been hard headed." Rynn offered.

"That is quite enough, my apologies Excellency for this intrusion into personal matters, there is no...Just move." And with that a guard reached out to grab her arm, she jerked away, "I can walk myself out, thank you" she growled, as she headed down the stairs not really paying attention to where she was going, almost running into a woman.

"Hey watch it"

"What you couldn't go around me? I'm Fereldan too" Rynn grunted

"I Know I can tell by the smell" the woman answered as she stuck her nose higher in the air and pushed past Rynn.

"Urg" Rynn pushed through the doors of the keep then turning to Varric "I don't really smell like wet dog do I?"

"No you smell fine for someone who lives in Lowtown and is covered in gore. But I'm glad you reached for the wet dog first."

"You'll pay for that Dwarf. I'm going home!" Still seething from her meeting she runs back to Lowtown hoping for a bath, some supper and maybe she'll go for training with Haldmar later.

Rynn runs up the stairs to the shack slamming the door behind her as she storms into the main room. Today had been one of those days where nothing goes as planned, and no one appreciated anything, she did and were all too happy to tell her about her place, let her know she was worse than scum, remind her she didn't belong in Hightown.

"Rynnthera! What in the name of the maker"

"Vile magistrates and useless Viscounts" Rynn mutters

"What? What are you talking about?

I'll always be is a stinking Dog lord, after all I'm just another Lowtown thug, we should have stayed in Fereldan, you'd have been better off, and Bethany would be safer" Rynn yelled pointing to her sister who was sitting at the table pouring over a magical text with Anders, who was there a lot, for Leandra's cooking, or so he claimed.

Her mother gave her a disapproving frown

"You would have preferred I had died and carver had lived, but instead I'm just your disappointing daughter, you should have never…"

Anders stands up and grabbing Rynn's arm pulls her into the bathroom before she could say anything else. "What!" she's glaring at him.

"I think you've said enough" he's still holding her arm

"It's just, I try to do the right thing, but I'm just a hired blade, easily tossed aside, and I have no right to be here in this city. I'm just tired and frustrated at everything." She punches the wall beside her, but misses the soft spot and hits one of the beams causing a jarring sensation to run up her arm, she groans

Anders takes her hand feeling a cracked bone and wiping the blood from her knuckles sends some healing magic into it.

"I didn't really mean it…. She looking down at her feet, "what I said to Mother, I am a terrible person, I ruin everything."

He's still holding her hand in his, then taking her chin lifts her face so he can look her in the eyes, she looks so vulnerable "No, Rynn, you only ever do what you believe is right, you save people, the Viscount is still in your debt weather he wants to admit that or not, you didn't ruin anything" all he wants to do is kiss her, but he doesn't instead he drops his hand from her face and letting go of her hand leaves the bathroom so she can clean up.

She's disappointed and relieved that he's no longer touching her. Removing her armour she sets it to the side, a task for latter will be cleaning it, for now a bath is much needed. What would mother think of him dragging her in here, doubtful she'd ask probably try to pry some information from Bethany. A little while later she emerges dressed in a clean tunic and loose leather breeches she's much calmer now.

Turning to her mother "I'm sorry Mother, I never meant what I said" she kissed her on the cheek and sits at the table next to Anders and Bethany who are going through one of the few books of fathers that was saved from Lothering, probably looking for recipes for different poultices.

"Find anything use full? She asks Bethany

Anders answers "we found a poultice recipe; your father said it was very potent and even reduced the visibility of old scars."

"I think it's the one he used on you when…" she lowers her voice not wanting Mother to overhear. "When you cut your arm open with that scythe; you took that job farming when we lived in Lothering"

Rynn remembered that job, she'd lived with the older couple who owned the farm it was far outside of Lothering and easier for her to remain on the farm during harvest, she'd cut herself and bandaged it herself but without healing magic it hadn't healed nicely, so Father had attempted to hide the scabbing and scarring, mostly for mothers sake, she'd worry and not allow Rynn to work away from home again.

Rynn rolled up her sleeve, and pointed to a very faint scar that ran across her forearm, "it would probably have healed completely without a scar if I had continued to use the poultice but I didn't want to have to hide the bandage from mother any longer."

Anders is inspecting her arm, like he hasn't seen it a million times, Rynn is not very careful and in constant need of being healed, or bandaged, or at least he seems to think so.

"That's great" he said new excitement in his eyes at discovering something use full. "You know there is a lot about you and your sister and brother in you fathers work." He meant it as a statement on her Fathers love for them, but she stood up immediately stiff, about to snatch the book away from him, but he pulled it closer to him so she couldn't grab it.

"Like what?" she demanded

"Just about what he taught Bethany, how she progressed in her lessons, how you learned with your blades" then reading out loud from the page

"Today Bethy learned a spirit bolt and to dispel magic, she has a real aptitude for spirit magic, I wish I was better with it so I could train her properly, but I have no fear that she will master it. My sweet Bethany, there is no end to her goodness; she wanted to quit her lessons early today so she could help Leandra in the garden. My Warrior and my Scoundrel have been practicing in the yard today, I've taught them all I know about wielding a blade, just the basics, but my Rynn has taken it upon herself to lean as much as she can, although Carver now has the advantage of height and strength she can beat him every time, she's quick and trains hard, Carver has no patience to learn her complex moves of how she reads his every move, he's content to hack and slash until he hits something…I am confident that My little Rynn is going to own her skill, I don't have to worry as long as she's here to protect the family, I couldn't be more proud of all my children"

Leandra has withdrawn to the living room and is pretending to read from a book, as she wipes the tears from her cheeks, her Malcolm was a great man, hearing his words again struck her, and talking of their children whom she was also very proud of. Bethany is looking at the table, silently letting her tears fall down her cheeks, she slowly wipes them away as Anders looks up from his reading, not that he's looking at her. He's looking at Rynn a strange expression on his face, something between admiration and regret.

Rynn has a lost look on her face like she's struggling internally for control of her emotions, she won't let anyone ever see her cry, and she's got to be the strong one for her family, that's what she tells herself, her jaw muscles twitch. She realises Anders is looking at her, she quickly looks away, getting up from her seat she clears her throat but doesn't know what to say

Anders also stood, handing her the book and grabbing the sheet he's copied with the poultice recipe, "I'm sorry, I didn't…" he starts

"It's ok" she quickly answers taking the book and placing it on the table, and walking to the door with him she grabs her boots

"You don't have to walk me home you know" He said watching her put her boots on

"I'm not, well I was going to walk with you to the entrance to Darktown, it's on the way, I have training tonight she says as she grabs her blades which are beside the door where she'd left them earlier and with that they leave the house.