Help came in the form of Kolby, two daggers shone brightly on his back and flasks of poisons and bombs hung from his belt. He grinned at them, anticipation shining from his bright green eyes.
"So I have news" he announced excitedly.
"Judging by the look on your face, it is good news" Garrett prompted him.
"It surely is, the guard is in disarray with the loss of Fenris and with half the treasury gone Prince Vael has cut the wages of most of the staff" he laughed evilly. "Once we disrupt this supply most of the Templars should be in withdrawal, it will be like taking candy from a baby. This means that we can start taking it all apart sooner than I thought" he nodded his shaggy red head victoriously.
"What happens if we are successful?" Jowan queried.
"We are free, not living under the tyrannical rule of a madman leeching our money with exorbitant taxes" Kolby answered in a tone usually reserved for morons.
"Yes I get that, I mean who will rule the country?"
"Haven't thought that far ahead" Kolby admitted sheepishly.
They let the subject drop, none of them wanted to rule the country and had no real plans themselves after deposing Sebastian and freeing Bethany, they all were suffering from short sightedness but weren't willing to admit to it.
They took their positions and waited for the lyrium caravan to come through. They didn't have to wait for long as Kolby's information was good, as the last of the Templars passed by, Kolby stepped out in a shroud of mist and disposed of two of them easily, Keran and Garrett running out and dragging the bodies off into the bushes. They followed the caravan in the bushes two on either side of it waiting for their next opportunity, before they had the chance though the two missing Templars were noticed.
"We're under attack" one shouted the sound of swords being unsheathed echoed through the still air.
"Shit" Kolby muttered "here we go."
Garrett and Keran launched themselves forward their blades moving so fast they were nothing more than a grey blur, Kolby threw a miasmic flask stunning the four that surrounded him using the opportunity he dashed behind one of them burying his daggers into his back. Jowan launched a fireball at one of the hunters that had crept behind Garrett. The fighting was bloody and furious, Jowan felt Keran begin to falter as a Templar swung his great sword into his side, slicing cleanly through his armour and the flesh beneath. He cast a healing spell followed by a stone fist to give him some room to recover. Garrett was in his element, electricity sparked from his blade with every hit, causing shock tremors to flow through the bodies of his attackers making it easy for him to finish them off. Soon they were victorious and the four men were leaning against the wagon trying to catch their breath, Kolby saw Jowan's white face and grabbed out a lyrium potion from the back passing it to him.
"Thanks" Jowan chugged it back instantly feeling better.
"What do we do with it all?" Garrett stared in wonder having never seen so much lyrium in his life.
"Take what we can carry and destroy the rest" Kolby muttered.
"Destroy it? It's valuable" Keran exclaimed.
"We don't have time to get someone to come back and we can't risk it being retrieved" Kolby said shortly.
Even after stuffing their packs full there were many flasks left.
"Stand back" Jowan instructed them.
He held his hand out in front of him, muttering an incantation under his breath. The wagon started shaking under the force of his spell, the wood creaking and moaning in protest. Jowan's muttering got louder and he started swaying as the spell took hold exploding the wagon and potions in a fantastic display as his legs buckled underneath him. Keran rushed forward forcing another lyrium potion down his throat.
Helping him to his feet Garrett peered worriedly into his face "you are alright?"
Jowan nodded "just… need… to… lie… down" he mumbled sagging against him.
Garrett and Keran put his arms over their shoulders while Kolby walked on ahead keeping an eye out for danger. They got him back to the Sword without incident and left him to sleep off his exertions. Chastity was standing on the other side of the door when they came out shifting anxiously from foot to foot.
"What happened to him?" she demanded.
"He just over exerted himself, he will be fine" Garrett assured her.
"Do you think I could sit with him?" Chastity was already pushing past not waiting for an answer.
Keran and Garrett grinned at each other wandering to the bar for some nourishment, both feeling quite weary themselves.
Chastity pulled a chair up next to Jowan's bed and took his hand rubbing it worriedly, she knew it was silly how quickly she had fallen in love with him but couldn't help it. Since that first kiss on her cheek she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. She wondered how old he was and was struck suddenly by how little she actually knew about him. She knew he was a mage and judging by the scars on his hands blood magic had been used. It didn't worry her though, plenty of mages turned to blood magic in desperation and there weren't many scars so she correctly presumed it was not a skill he used frequently. She knew he was kind and honourable but beyond that she knew next to nothing about him. She shuddered in shame, she had prattled on so much about herself, he must think her very self-involved. Frowning at herself, she resolved to find out as much as she could before the big battle that he was surely to be part of.
"Don't frown" Jowan mumbled squeezing her hand.
A bright happy smile brightened her face, making her violet eyes glow, he reached up and caressed a chestnut brown tendril that had fallen across her face.
"Sweet Andraste you're beautiful" he murmured in wonder.
She blushed furiously never having been complimented with such reverence before, mostly she was kept away from the men and when they did say something they were usually lewd comments about her other assets.
"You don't mind me being here?" she muttered anxiously.
"No" Jowan exclaimed "not at all, in fact I could wake up seeing your face every day and be the happiest man in the world.
Her face went an even deeper red making him chuckle fondly. She glanced at the spot on the bed next to him and he shifted over slightly in a silent invitation. She climbed next to him and laid her head on his chest breathing in the scent of the woods, lyrium and sweat.
"Don't do that I must smell" he said in alarm.
"Don't be silly Jowan, you smell wonderful."
"I find that hard to believe" he snorted gently.
She raised her face to his and placed a shy kiss on his lips, he responded gently his hand stroking her thick hair. Their kisses grew in fervour and when her hand started making its way up his shirt he pulled away.
"What, did I do something wrong?" her face was suffused with shame.
"No, it's just, we need to talk…" she cut him off by firmly placing her lips back on his.
"No talking" she mumbled against his mouth "just this."
"But… wait" he pulled away again.
"Maker, Jowan, have you never done this before?" she exclaimed in frustration.
"Yes, but have you?" he asked gently.
"I… well… no" she said plaintively.
"And that, my girl, is why we need to talk about it" he pushed her firmly away.
"I don't want to talk about it, I just want to do it" she pressed herself against him again.
He laughed at her impetuousness "And I just want to make sure that this is what you want, something you won't regret later."
"I was so worried about you when you came back like that, I know what is coming" she said gravely "either one of us could be dead soon, I don't want… I want…" she broke off stumbling over her words emotionally.
He took her back in his arms "whatever you want my love."
Garrett, Keran and Kolby were coming back to the room, Garrett grabbed Keran's wrist stopping him from opening the door hearing the noises that were coming from within. The men looked at each other before backing away slowly. They came up against the bulk of Jerrod his face twisted in worry.
"Have you seen my Chastity?" Jerrod was looking over their shoulders.
"I think you lost your chastity many moons ago my good man" Keran giggled drunkenly.
"Maker preserve me" Kolby groaned.
"You're really lacking in the sense of humour department you know?" Garrett said solemnly.
They had managed to lead Jerrod away from the room during this exchange leaving the man feeling confused by what had just happened.
"Have I ever told you about how I defeated the Arishok Jerrod?" Garrett tried to distract him.
Jerrod shook his bald head "no, can't say that you did, but I need to find…"
"Oh she's a big girl" Keran said "she must be around here somewhere, you can't coddle her forever."
"You lot are 'iding 'somethin' from me" he accused.
"What us? Never" Kolby feigned innocence.
"So, there I was fighting my way through mountains of mountain sized men…" Garrett launched into one of his war stories, knowing they never failed to delight the big man.
Chastity curled up in Jowan's arms feeling sleepy but happy, her hair tumbled over his shoulder tickling his neck. Sleep was threatening to overtake them forcing her up and out of bed.
"Where are you going?" Jowan gripped her arm unwilling to let her go.
"Father must be looking for me by now" she shook his hand loose.
"I don't care, I want you to stay" he reached for her again.
Dancing out of the way she giggled "you say that until he knocks you out again."
"I would take as many beatings as necessary for you" he sat up, sleep completely leaving him.
"Don't say that Jowan, I can't stand to think of you being hurt on my account."
He leaned against the headboard enjoying watching her dress "well, in that case, I suppose you're right, I can't have you being upset."
Leaning over she kissed him before slipping away, he placed his hands behind his head smiling at the roof. Footsteps sounded along the hall alerting him to his friends return, he sprang out of bed hurriedly pulling his pants and shirt on. He looked up guiltily when they came in smiling conspiratorially at him.
"You look like the cat that got the cream" Garrett smirked at him.
"Do I?" he replied innocently.