Chapter 12: Harrowing Revelations
Cat found gold by following the merchant for a while. Nothing came about from observing her conversations that day, but after leaving the stall around midday, she met up with a contact in secret; they exchanged packages, and Cat followed the contact afterwards. He entered an underground passageway through the sewers that led toward the Gallows. A cave system. Great. More time underground, feeling as though I'm about to be crushed. I'm already nervous enough, as an apostate mage about to voluntarily go inside the walls of the Circle.
I thank Cat for everything, as usual. I can't convince her to stay home, despite the danger. She says she wants to be with me if something interesting happens. I think she's more protective of these new emotions she's experiencing, but who knows? The green and gold glimmer is a happy reminder that my friend is with me.
I send word to Hawke's friends, and we're all to meet at Fenris's mansion in Hightown. I'm wearing my leathers again, freshly oiled after their drenching from the storm, and I feel the comfortable weight of my favorite daggers strapped to my back. I really should name them, I think. They've become like an extension of me lately. Cat's Claws maybe? I chuckle at the thought.
"Thrask is all talk," Isabela is telling Sebastian as I walk in. "Says he couldn't risk helping us after Hawke let the Starkhaven mages escape. They were recaptured, of course, but nobody trusts him right now. He was able to give me a bit of information, though. He said Bethany faced something called a 'hollowing', but she's alright."
"Harrowing," I correct, joining the conversation. "It's a test all mages go through when they come of age. I suppose Bethany's was a bit overdue. It means she's a full member of the Circle now." I breathe a sigh of relief. Bethany is a strong girl to have made it through her Harrowing. Oh, Starkhaven! That's it. That's where Sebastian's accent is from. I don't know much about it, but it's been bothering me that I couldn't place it.
"I've got us a way in," I announce. "I couldn't get us any official business to get in the easy way, but I found an alternative. There's a passage in the sewers that runners for the mage underground use to get things in and out of the Gallows. I have no idea what waits on the other end, but it's a start."
"Good work," says Sebastian, and I glow at the praise.
"I hate that I can't go in with you. Bethany is my friend, too," complains Merrill, who had joined us this time.
"It's an important job, guarding our exit," I reassure her. "If this goes south, you're our last hope."
"You're only trying to make me feel better," she says, pouting a little, but smiles. "I know why I shouldn't go, being a mage, but it doesn't make it easier."
Fenris hasn't said a word, he's just leaning against the wall, arms crossed across his chest, watching. At least he isn't giving me the death glare anymore. I really wanted to hit him earlier. Okay, maybe I still do a little.
We establish the plan. Fenris will be with me on this mission. Not awkward at all. Sebastian will distract the templars, and keep them out of the Gallows proper for a few minutes. Merrill will guard the exit on this end, making sure our escape route remains open. Isabela will stand lookout at the far end to alert us of any trouble, and Fenris and I will enter the Gallows itself and find Bethany.
I would have preferred to go in alone. Cat would have been a good asset in finding one mage in a Circle full of mages, but the look on Fenris's face tells me he still doesn't trust me enough to fly solo. Thus, our tense buddy duo. My chest feels tight already, and we haven't even gotten underground yet.
We decide it's best to go right away. Evening is settling in, the sunset casting a myriad of colors on the landscape, and shadows stretch from every corner. The fading light will make us a bit more difficult to see, and there are not likely to be as many people out and about.
I'm not sure about my lock picking skills should it come to that. That's one skill I can never quite get right, no matter how many times I practice. I'll just hope that once inside the gates, the doors themselves won't be locked.
Following Cat's instructions, I lead the way through Darktown. We stop at the entrance to the tunnel. Merrill sets up her position inside as sentinel. "I'll do this," she says, "but you had better find Bethany." I just give a slight bow of my head to indicate I understand, and go first into the darkness.
The passageway is narrow, sometimes forcing us to squeeze through sideways. The mage underground uses this regularly? Once inside, I continue to take the lead, as before, watching for traps. I don't see any, and I'm careful to look in all directions.
"Why are you going along with this, Fenris?" I ask. "I heard you believe mages belong inside the Circles."
"I would be remiss in my duty to Hawke if I don't learn how her sister fares, but I have no intention of helping with an escape."
"Will you get in our way if we try?" I ask, attempting to clarify. He says nothing.
The tunnel opens up into a cavern. Faint light filters in from a moss-covered opening above. We stand on a flat ledge, with a sheer drop off the one side into darkness. I can hear the sound of running water, suggesting there is a stream, or even waterfall down below.
A wooden rope bridge crosses the gap between where we stand and the next rock ledge. It appears sturdy enough. I give it a few tugs, and it holds firm. I cross easily, and wait for the others.
On the far wall is the next passage, through another tight squeeze. We're going to have to go through sideways, and this one looks a little longer than the last. I go first, followed by Fenris. We're only a few feet in when there is a trembling, and small rocks tumble down into the crevasse. I panic, frozen. I feel like my heart stops, then tries to break out of my chest. I can't move. I jump when Fenris puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you injured?" he asks.
It takes me a second to find my voice. "No, that's not it," I say. My legs are shaking. Not now, Norah. Try to breathe, remember my training. But it isn't working this time. I can't seem to make myself move.
Then I feel a strange sensation. I look downward, and see that Fenris is grasping my hand.
"It's only a little further, it will to be alright. Slide your right foot over," he instructs gently. I try, while continuing my attempts to calm my breathing. This time it works, and I'm able to move my foot slightly. We make our way, his warm hand still clasping mine, and finally, the tunnel opens up again.
Once free of the narrow space, I sink gratefully to my knees. When I finally catch my breath, I look up at him.
"How did you know to do that?" I ask.
"There is more than one kind of cage, but they all feel the same," he explains.
"Thank you," I say.
He looks like he wants to say more, but we're not given that chance as Isabela comes out of the narrow tunnel. She stretches, and seeing me on my knees near Fenris, she smiles a knowing smile. "Ooh, I hate when I miss the good parts. Go on, don't mind me," she says.
I'm glad the cave is dim, as it hides my flushed cheeks. Probably best not to acknowledge that. I stand up, brush off my legs, and walk on, pointedly ignoring her as she attempts to goad me a few more times. Fenris seems unmoved by it all, but I glance back once and catch him smiling.
He helped me. That was unexpected. I had imagined him mocking or berating me for my moment of weakness, but he'd done the opposite. Fenris seems harsh and rough, but his actions just now...I'm not sure what to make of him.
We walk together the rest of the way. How do the mages keep this tunnel a secret? There have been no traps along the way, no guards. At last, we see light ahead, and Isabela stops, taking up her position.
"I'm expecting your asses back within the hour. If I don't see you, I'm going in there," she says.
Fenris goes first this time, and we exit the tunnel. It opens into an empty chamber, from what appears to be an unused fireplace. There are torches lit throughout the room, showing this room is used for something, but its purpose isn't clear. There are several doors, one to the left, one to the right, and two on the wall ahead of us. I look to Fenris. He points to the one on the left wall. I shrug indifferently and move to follow him.
He listens at the door, then opens it and goes through, leaving it open. I move to go through as well, but hear footfalls and the creaking of a door coming from the room ahead. Through the crack, I see Fenris ducking behind a stack of boxes next to the door. He looks back and shakes his head. I close the door, and hear the steps coming closer. Damn, separated already. I hurry across the empty room and enter the room on the far side, quickly, but quietly shutting the door behind me.
I'm in an office, but it's thankfully unoccupied at the moment. A large desk and chair take up most of the room. There is a window, but it is small. Looking at it, I can't imagine it letting in much light during the day. There are torches here, as well. A number of letters, papers, and scrolls of parchment are strewn across the desk.
I listen, and hear the footsteps enter the room I had been in, then leave again. I can't be sure which door they had used. Did they go out one of the two doors on the side wall, or back in where Fenris was? I'd better stay put for a minute. Looks like I'm on my own for now. Time to get to business.
"Cat," I whisper softly. "It's your turn. See if you can help me find Bethany." She does not fully materialize this time, but I can see a small mote of light that indicates where she is. She leaves under the other door. I start going through the papers on the desk. The first letter I see is addressed to First Enchanter Orsino. Yikes, this must be his office. I'd better make this quick. A quick search turns up no files on the mages, no letters about Bethany or the Hawke family. I'm not going to find anything helpful in here.
I go to the door Cat had used, and get close to listen in. It flies back, hitting me solidly in the face. A small yelp escapes me, and I fall backwards. The door opens slower this time, and an elf steps inside. He is wearing mage robes with a staff at his back. The staff is elaborate, with 3 branches each leading to a dragon's head carving. His gray hair is slicked back from his face. His face scrunches in anger.
"What are you doing, you can't-" he cuts off, seeing me. He leans in closer, looking confused, and asks, "Nadine?"
I feel my blood go cold.
"No, of course not," he says, his voice calmer now. "Sorry, you just look so much like someone I used to know. Anyway, do you care to explain to me what you're doing in here?"
Having no better lie prepared, I go for sincerity. "My friend was taken by the templars yesterday. I just needed to see her, to know she's okay." Hopefully a mage will be sympathetic. "They wouldn't let me in, so I..." I purposely allow my voice to waver, suggesting strong emotions.
"You shouldn't be here," he says firmly, but his gentle expression gives away his compassion. "You're talking about Bethany Hawke, right?" he asks and continues after seeing me nod in agreement, "She's fine, but she's resting now. She had her Harrowing this morning, but she did well. Hell, she made it look easy. Wait here, I'll get her for you. But try anything, and I'll call for the templars, got it?"
Once he steps out, I quietly open the other door-just in time to see Fenris re-enter the fireplace room from the door on the far side. I wave my hand quickly and gesture for him to join me. Once inside Orsino's study, I explain what's going on.
A moment later, Bethany enters. Her eyes widen when she sees me. "Norah!" she calls, and we embrace. She looks good. No bruises, no scrapes. The elf walks in behind her, and I see the faint glimmer again before the door is closed. Welcome back, Cat. Looks like you found Bethany.
The elf looks at Fenris, and sighs. "Another concerned friend?" he asks sarcastically. I shrug, smiling.
"You're alright then? You weren't harmed?" Fenris asks Bethany, concerned.
A sad look crosses her face, and she looks at us. "I turned myself in," she explains. "I thought about the night that Norah and I fought together. I knew they'd come back eventually for me, and I didn't want to get my sister involved, or make things worse for everyone. It's better this way. The Circle isn't all that bad, either. The mages studying here, they've been kind enough so far. Orsino even says I might be able to help tutor the others." She inclines her head toward the elf.
"Once we determine how much you learned from your father," he responds.
I can't very well ask if she wants to leave, not in front of the First Enchanter himself. That he even let us see her is a miracle. I hug her again, and whisper in her ear, "Are you sure?"
She whispers back, "I'll be alright". We let go of each other again, and she speaks, her tone louder, "Oh, wait, I've written a letter for my sister and mother. Will you see that it gets delivered?"
"Anything," I answer. She pulls an envelope out of her pocket and hands it to me. I tuck it away. "It's allowed then, we can correspond with Bethany?" I ask Orsino.
"I suppose, but I wouldn't advise trying to sneak back in," he admonishes. "I've already got Knight Commander Meredith watching me closely enough as it is. I trust you know the way out?" He ushers Bethany back out of the door.
Fenris and I look at each other. "How did you convince him to do that?" He asks.
"I asked nicely," I say.
"Fine. Don't tell me," he says, clearly disbelieving me. He leads the way back into the exit room, and gestures toward the tunnel.
"No, really," I protest, my voice growing softer as I crawl into the fireplace and back out to our escape route.
