Infinity's Child

by David Falkayn

Every journey begins with a small step. This is the beginning of Evelyn Cousland's journey through the multiverse. I've dropped the rating down to a T rating-I don't think there's anything in it so far that brings it to an M. Should the content rate an M, then I'll alter it accordingly. Now, Evelyn and her new friends face dangers in the Circle Tower.

10. Chapter 10

Infinity's Child

Part 10: Denerim Interlude

"You weren't lying when you said that getting into the city would be dirty." Morrigan scowled as she washed the filth off her body.

"Those old sewers have been long forgotten." Leliana replied as she slipped into the tub next to Morrigan's. "Thankfully, we have enough coin to afford rooms at the Pearl instead of having to work for our keep."

"You've worked in this…brothel?" An astonished Morrigan exclaimed, "You were a…"

"No!" Leliana quickly shook her head, "I didn't earn my keep that way! I'm a bard…remember? I would play for the customers. Did pretty well too…" The redheaded bard reminisced, "Besides my room and board, I earned a fair amount in tips. The customers here can be quite generous with their coin."

"And you never…" Morrigan inquired, her lips curling up into a smirk.

"Didn't have to." Leliana retorted. "A pleasant tune…a smile…a joke or a quip…all can work wonders when delivered at the right time and in the right way."

"Men are so gullible." Morrigan laughed as Leliana sighed contentedly in her tub, "They are so eager to believe we are helpless."

"Not just men." Leliana smirked, "A wink and a smile has earned me more than a few gold and silver from women as well."

"You're joking." A surprised Morrigan exclaimed, "You mean you've…"

"One must be flexible in my line of work…" A smug Leliana remarked. Then changing the subject, the redhead inquired, "Where is Sten?"

"I believe he said something about earning some coin…" The dark haired apostate replied.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

"You are to leave now!" Sten glared down at the White Falcon mercenary captain. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, the giant qunari at once spotted the mercenary preparing to backstab him. Reacting with a smooth grace that belied his giant stature, Sten wheeled about and struck the mercenary with the pommel of his great sword, instantly rendering the man unconscious. "I shall not ask politely again."

Reluctantly deciding not to start a fight with large—and frightening—warrior standing before him, the mercenary captain blustered, "Very well. We shall depart—for now. But we will be back."

"Not tonight." Sten declared as the grumbling mercenaries filed out of the room.

As the mercenaries exited her establishment, Sanga, the proprietress, looked up at Sten and smirked, "Thank you for getting rid of those louts without making a mess. Take this…" She said as she handed the qunari a coin purse, "…and I shall also let Sergeant Kylon know of your work."

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Feeling her purse heavy for the first time in ages, Leliana's lips turned up in a smile. "A good first night. The tips I received from playing last night combined with Sten's wages should be enough to carry us through a couple of days—until something else comes along."

"You seem far more comfortable in this life than a Chantry sister should be." Morrigan dryly remarked as Sten snorted.

"As I've said…" Leliana replied, "I wasn't always a Chantry sister."

"Obviously not." Sten interjected as Sergeant Kylon approached, leading a city guard patrol.

"Greetings." The sergeant of the guard affably remarked as he addressed Sten, "I understand I have you to thank for taking care of those mercenaries at the Pearl. Please accept this…" He said as he handed over several gold coins, "…and my thanks for resolving the situation without bloodshed."

"No one gives orders to my men but me!" An armored man approached, leading a half-dozen other armed and armored men, all wearing the colors of the mercenary company Sten and rousted out of the Pearl the last night. "You'll learn to respect your betters, qunari. Stand clear, guard." The mercenary ordered, "Or you get what the qunari and his friends are about to receive.

Sighing, Kylon drew his blade as his guardsmen quickly dropped their shields and swords and took flight, "So much for resolving this without bloodshed."

Drawing his great sword, Sten leaped into melee, slicing through two of the mercenaries with just a single sweep of his enormous blade as Leliana, drawing her bow, took aim at two of the archers, killing each in rapid succession while Morrigan unleashed a fireball that brought down the other archers before they could even let loose their arrows. Soon, the mercenary captain found himself alone facing the qunari warrior. The fight was over quickly as the mercenary's head rolled on the ground, coming to a stop against a wagon wheel.

Shaking his head at the sight of his fleeing patrol, Kylon sheathed his blade as he produced a couple more gold coins and pressed them into Sten's hand. "It seems I am again in your debt." The sergeant remarked. "Take these. They were supposed to be those guardsmen's weekly wages, but as far as I'm concerned, they've forfeited their pay. And again, please accept my thanks."

Grunting his acknowledgement, Sten nodded his head once as he handed the gold to Leliana who slipped it into her purse.

"Well…I'll be on my way now." Sergeant Kylon remarked. "See me in the market. I might have more work for you, if you want."

"Not a bad day's work." Leliana noted as the trio made their way back to the Denerim market. "So…where to now?" The bard asked.

"Somewhere away from this bustle and confusion." Morrigan testily responded.

"It matters not." Sten laconically replied.

"Hmmm…" Leliana drawled as she pondered her options, "We should go to Brother Genetivi's. If he is there, he might be able to shed some light on the Urn of the Sacred Ashes. He might even know where it is."

"If there even is such a thing." Morrigan sneered. "Like as not, it is a peddler selling the ashes of his dead mother."

"It is a waste of time." Sten declared, "We should be moving against the Archdemon, not chasing after…fables."

"I must agree with Sten here." Morrigan declared, "Tis nothing but a pipe dream."

"I thought Evelyn did a good job of explaining the situation." Leliana said, replying to the qunari's complaint. "Before we can effectively combat the Archdemon, we have to end this civil war and to do that, we have to have Arl Eamon on our side. Nothing has been able to heal him—neither traditional medicine nor magic. The Urn is our last resort. If it doesn't exist…" The bard shook her head.

"And so…" Morrigan shook her head, "We chase after fairy tales."

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

After rapping repeatedly and receiving no answer, Leliana tested the door, pushing slightly inward. "It's not locked." She declared as she opened the door wider and entered, followed close behind by her two companions. "Hello?" The bard called out, "Brother Genetivi?"

"Who's there?" A voice called out. Moments later, a dark haired man wearing a robe approached. "Brother Genetivi is not here at the moment. I am his assistant, Weylon."

"We're sorry about the intrusion." Leliana politely apologized, "But it is a matter of some urgency that we find the Brother. Do you know where he might be?"

"I haven't heard from him in days." The assistant replied, "I fear something might have happened to him."

"Why would you think that?" Morrigan inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Was what he was doing dangerous in some way?"

"I…I don't know." Weylon stammered, "No…of course not."

"Then why are you worried?" Sten inquired.

"I'm not." Weylon replied, "It's just that it might not be a good idea for you to try to follow him."

"Why not?" Leliana, growing more suspicious, inquired. "If Brother Genitivi is in no danger, then what's the problem in telling us where he is?"

"Oh…very well." The man sighed, "He stated in the last letter he wrote that he was bound for the docks at Lake Calenhad. That he planned to cross over to the Tower to speak with the First Enchanter about a lead."

"It looks like we will be reunited with Evelyn earlier than we thought." Leliana declared as she thanked Weylon for his information.

"How fortuitous for us." Morrigan replied with a sneer.

"If it is not as you said." Sten added, sounding a note of warning, "We will be back."

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

As the trio crossed the marketplace, Leliana held up her hand as she spotted a pudgy, chestnut haired man incline his head slightly in her direction. "Wait here." The bard instructed her companions. "I know this man, but he won't talk in front of strangers. Give me a few moments." Walking up to the man, Leliana's lips turned up in a slight grin, "Slim Coudry. It is good to see you again"

"It's been a while, Leili." The man smiled back. "I had heard that you had gone into retirement."

"I had." Leliana confessed, "But events forced me back."

"Marjoline?" The pudgy man inquired. Stammering, Slim said in an apologetic voice, "I'm sorry…but I never had a chance to…well…I'm sorry about Tug. He was a good man."

"Yes." Leliana mournfully replied, "He sacrificed himself to buy me and Sketch time." Her forehead creasing, the Orlesian bard inquired, "But…what is this about Marjoline? Is she here?"

"I've seen her in town." Slim confirmed, "But I think she must have recognized me as she quickly ducked for cover and I didn't feel like talking with the two heavily armed men that she had sent chasing after me."

"Do you know where she might be hiding?" Leliana asked as her eyes surreptiously scanned the market area.

"No." Slim shook his head, "And yes…if I knew, I would tell you. Tug was a friend of mine too and I like both you and Sketch."

"Thanks." Leliana's lips turned up in a warm smile as she turned to leave. "You are a friend of ours as well."

"There is something else." Slim quickly interjected, "You should go see Kylon." The fence replied as his eyes drifted momentarily to where the sergeant of the Guard stood watching over the marketplace. "The sergeant found something." Slim said as he fished into his purse and took out a golden brooch. "Look familiar?"

"That's the Cousland coat of arms." Leliana gasped. "Where did the sergeant get this?"

"You'll have to ask him about that." Slim replied. "Keep the brooch. I know you'll see that it gets back to its owner."

"That I will." Leliana replied as she turned to leave, "And Slim…thanks again." As she walked away from the affable fence, the bard motioned for her companions to join her. Speaking to them, she announced as the trio made their way to Sergeant Kylon. "It seems we have one other thing to do here in Denerim."

"What?" Morrigan peevishly inquired.

"You'll see in a moment." Leliana replied as she approached Sergeant Kylon. "Sergeant." The redhead grinned at the guardsman.

"Messere." Kylon politely replied, "I noticed that you had spoken to a mutual acquaintance. I'm sure he showed you what I found."

"He did." Leliana answered back, "Where did you find it?"

"I saw some of Lord Howe's men moving crates and boxes into an abandoned house." Kylon recounted, "Remember…I told you that those guardsmen that weren't incompetent dolts were Lord Howe's men and that they are little better than the criminals we arrest…"

"I also remember you telling us that more than a few of them are the criminals themselves." Leliana nodded her head as she recalled their conversation.

"Right." Kylon nodded his head. "It seems that Howe is using that warehouse to store the booty he stole from the Couslands."

"Then we should investigate." Leliana declared, "There might be items in there that Evelyn would want—if for no other reason than for sentimental value."

"Exactly what I was thinking." The sergeant responded with a smile. "There are sure to be items that the Warden would want to have returned to her that can be easily carried. Anything larger…I can find a safe place to store them until she can return to reclaim them."

"Pity she's not here." Morrigan wryly remarked, "If she were, those Howe guards would be in for a very rude surprise."

"True." Kylon agreed, "To come face to face with a Grey Warden, not to mention the Cousland heir, would definitely set them aback."

"Yes…" Morrigan chuckled, "Our little Evelyn is just full of surprises."

"Let us go." Sten nodded his head in agreement, "The sooner we are done—the better."

"This way, then." Kylon announced as he gestured towards a back alley. "I know a shortcut that will get us there unnoticed."

As they approached the warehouse, Sten declared authoritatively, "Stealth will be impossible. They will be prepared for a possible attack. We will have to move quickly and hit hard."

"You're right, Sten." Leliana nodded her head as she unslung her bow. "They will waiting and under cover."

"I have a sleep spell ready." Morrigan announced, "That should buy the sergeant a few moments to close on their archers and crossbowmen."

"While I deal with their heavy warriors." Sten nodded his head.

"And I can keep them off balance with arrows and a few other…toys." Leliana remarked as she checked her supply of acid and frost bombs. Better to avoid fire or electric." The bard declared as she prepared her bombs, "Too close quarters to risk electricity jumping to us and fire…"

"We don't want the whole quarter to burn down." Kylon nodded his head in agreement.

Taking a deep breath, Leliana exhaled as she took out an acid flask, "All right…let's do this."

The party of adventurers burst into the warehouse, Leliana hurling her bomb as Morrigan unleashed her sleep spell. The distractions caused by the apostate and the bard did their work as several Howe archers and crossbowmen fell asleep while Leliana's acid bomb flushed out a hiding assassin. Turning on the assassin, Leliana threw her dagger, piercing the man through his neck.

With a shout, Kylon rushed the sleeping archers, killing two of them as the others, shaking off the effects of the spell, ran towards the back of the warehouse. Using his shield as cover, the sergeant advanced on the archers while Leliana and Morrigan picked them off singly or in groups with arrows and spells.

Wordlessly, Sten fell on the two heavily armored warriors, wielding his greatsword with the power and precision of a master bladesman. His enchanted armor blocking the blows that his blade didn't parry, the qunari champion made quick work of one of the fighters, leaving the commander of the Howe soldiers the only one standing.

Seeing that his position was lost, the Howe guard attempted to flee, only to be frozen in place by a frost spell from Morrigan. Sten then, with a massive blow, struck the frozen guard, shattering him into several icy pieces.

"That seems to be the last of them." Leliana remarked as she approached one of the crates and opened it to reveal clothing with a child's wooden sword, splintered and bloodstained, on the top. "That must have belonged to Evelyn's nephew, Oren. Poor boy." The redheaded bard barely suppressed a sob.

Examining the sword, Sten declared in a low, yet surprisingly proud tone, "This blade shows marks of having been used in combat. It seems the young boy chose to die in battle rather than wait to be slaughtered. Commendable."

"We should take this to give back to Evelyn." Leliana declared as she carefully removed the child's sword and placed it in her backpack. "And the mirror…" She said as Morrigan moved to place a silver mirror in her pouch. "That belonged to Evelyn's mother…I'll take that as well to give back to her." Taking the mirror from Morrigan's reluctant hands, Leliana turned to Kylon, "May we have permission to search the rest of these crates."

"Please do." The sergeant replied, "I know a few men and women I can trust. I'll have them come and remove what you can't carry with you and store them in a safe place until the Warden can return to claim them."

"Thank you." Leliana smiled at the guard as she opened another crate, this one revealing a stack of drawings and paintings. Examining the art, the bard gasped at the surreal images. "These must be what Evelyn saw in her dreams."

"Strange." Kylon observed as his eyes fell on the image of a man wearing red and gold armor flying amongst tall buildings and a tall woman with green skin and hair picking up a large…what appeared to the sergeant to be a metal horseless cart. "These drawings…they are…"

"Amazing?" Morrigan chuckled.

"Unbelievable would be a better word." Kylon whispered.

Seeing a drawing of a beautiful woman, Leliana's eyes widened. "Is that…"

"Evelyn's true mother?" Morrigan finished. "Perhaps. If so, that is but an avatar...not her true form."

"True mother?" Kylon interjected, "I thought the Warden's mother was Eleanor Cousland. And what do you mean by '…not her true form'? Are you saying that the Warden is some sort of possessed abomination?"

Laughing, Morrigan replied, "She is no abomination…of that I can assure you. But yes, our dear Evelyn was adopted into the Cousland clan."

Leliana then stated, "Evelyn's true parentage is rather…complicated. Best to let her tell you if she chooses to do so."

"I see…I guess." The sergeant exhaled, "No…" He admitted, "I don't see. In any event, I look forward to hearing her story should she decide to tell it. It sounds as if it would be a remarkable one."

"You have no idea." Morrigan chuckled as Leliana took the drawings and slipped them into her backpack along with Oren's sword and as many other small valuables and keepsakes as she could carry.

"That should do it." The bard announced as she closed up her backpack. Turning to Sergeant Kylon, Leliana smiled, "Thank you again, Sergeant. If there's nothing else, we'll be on our way."

"As I said." The Guardsman declared, "I'll have the other crates moved to a safe place. The Warden can claim them whenever she wishes. And thank you…it felt good, for once, to be fighting for something worth fighting for."

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Lord Howe frowned as an elven servant, head bowed, walked into the room and handed him a letter. Reading it, his frown turned into a grimace as he balled up the paper in his hands.

"Bad news, Howe?" Loghain Mc'Tir inquired, his lips turned up slightly at his ally of convenience's discomfiture.

"A minor setback, Your Majesty." The Arl of Amaranthine unctuously replied, "Nothing that I can't handle."

"That's good." Loghain commented, adding, "And don't call me 'Your Majesty'. I am not the king—I am merely acting as Anora's regent until this current unrest has been settled. Once the throne is secure, then I shall return all authority to Ferelden's rightful ruler."

"But of course, Your Highness." Howe smoothly responded.

"Good. Now…on to more pressing matters." Loghain declared as he sat at his desk, "What word of the Alienage purge? The situation should be stabilized by now."

"It is, Your Highness." The arl responded, "The knife ears are behaving themselves now and that that fool son of Urien Kendalls has been dealt with, Sire." Lord Howe answered back.

"I see…" Loghain nodded his head. "And the Warden?" Loghain inquired as he got up and poured wine into a goblet.

"I have a solution for that problem as well, Sire." Arl Howe smirked as a blond elf wearing leather armor entered the room.

"The Antivan Crows are at your disposal, Your Highness."

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Later, that night, long after the three adventurers had departed to rejoin their comrades at the Ferelden Circle and Loghain and Howe's meeting with the Antivan Crow had ended, a solitary figure wearing a hooded robe walked unchallenged down the dark Denerim streets. Stopping at the deserted warehouse, the figure opened the door and entered. The crates carrying Howe's loot from Highever as well as the bodies of his lackeys had long been removed by Sergeant Kylon and his friends leaving nothing but a few smashed crates and empty shelves.

Walking purposely towards the rear of the building, the figure stopped at a ramshackle bookcase. Pausing for a moment, the hooded person placed the palm of a hand next to the bookcase. The portion of the wall where the hand was placed glowed a dull yellow for a brief moment and then the bookcase slid aside to reveal a smooth metallic wall. As the figure again touched the wall with the palm of a hand, a small panel slid open, revealing a keypad. The hooded individual punched several of the keys in sequence until a portion of the wall the size of a door slid open. Once the figure crossed the threshold to the other side, the door once again slid shut. But, before the bookcase slid to again cover the smooth wall, an image briefly appeared on the door. That image was of a human skull, its lower jaw missing, surrounded by what appeared to be tentacles.