Xan's trip to Denerim was quick and painless. She flew over the gates of Denerim and got a good look at the old city and the throngs of people inside. Caladrius had gotten her a map which she memorized the night before.
She quickly found the mark on the roof of the hideout and flew down to the ground next to a nearby building, secluded enough for her to shapeshift back. The small alley was deserted. There was an argument going on in front of the hideout between the human guard and an older elf. She pulled up the hood of her cloak, spoke the pass phrase to the guard and walked into the house. One of Caladrius' men exited a hidden door and took over the argument. Xan saw the old elf in a guarded holding room later that day.
That was almost two weeks ago. Caladrius was a very good host; however, he didn't want her to go out into the city too often and ruin any of the small arrangements he had with some of the city's nobles. In fact, Caladrius' paranoia made Xan a bit cautious around him. She held back telling him about Arl Howe's revealing journal and Howe's potential as a source for slaves.
The Arl of Denerim was a prime supplier of young, elf women ... many who had become impregnated by his son and his son's friends. Pregnant slaves were a two-for-one deal that brought an even higher price in Minrathous. The human children from a human-elf coupling were used as apprentices if they showed mage potential. Test subjects for some of the more dangerous magical experiments if they did not. Contrary to what the common rumor said, Tevinter slaves were cared for, not thrown into crowded cells to suffer until they were sold. It was business. Diseased, starving slaves brought in little money, only useful to those magisters involved in powerful blood magic ... and they always wanted a quantity discount. That market had been dwindling of late since the profitability of blood magic-powered influence became more prevalent. Dead slaves were worthless, obviously.
Xan thought Vaughan Kendells might be of use to her, but Caladrius forbade it. So, Xan did her exploring. Without telling Caladrius, she started following the younger Kendells. After a few days, she wondered if he might be related to Rendon Howe. On one particularly bright and sunny day, Xan preened her raven feathers on one of the lower branches of the tree in the Alienage. She felt dirty. She followed Kendells there. He and his two friends had already cornered a female elf just inside the north gate of the Alienage. They found a secluded alleyway to get their pleasure out of the elf before selling her to Caladrius. One of Caldrius' men stepped from the shadows and cast a silence spell over the area. Even as hardened as Xan had become, she couldn't stay to watch. She knew the elf would then be taken to the hideout, cleaned up and shipped off as soon as they had a full ship. Caladrius could keep his contract with Kendells. Xan was no longer interested in him.
She noticed the elves grouping up around the tree when, of all things, a Dalish elf stepped up and started talking about Arlathan. A Mother of the Chantry was there, but all she did was bless the gathering and stay to listen. The speaker also tried to explain why the Dalish moved around so much. It was an interesting speech and many elves respectfully allowed him to talk. Of course, there were a few who yelled disparaging remarks, but the speaker ignored them. Unusual for what she'd been told of the Dalish.
When they had finished with the elf in the alley, Kendells and his friends interrupted the speaker and started to grab female elves to "take back to his estate for a party". He tore the dress of one of the females when she fought back and ended up throwing her against the tree trunk. Xan uncharacteristically wanted to fly down and peck his eyes out. Perhaps she'd been a raven too much lately.
When Kendells and his friends actually drew weapons on the crowd, the Dalish stepped between the elves and the humans, claiming that one of the females was a warden recruit. No blood was spilt but Kendells whined that his father would hear about a knife-ear carrying a weapon. The Dalish was a warden.
Well, Xan's trip to the Alienage was a complete waste then. Caladrius kept her from turning Kendells to work for her, not that she wanted to any longer, and Flemeth kept her from using the warden. Too many roadblocks! Kendells was more of a liability anyway. Why didn't Caladrius see that? Sadly, she felt the man had spent too much time here with the noble dog lords and she planned to say so in her next message to Saharius. If Caladrius' other contracts were as insidious as this one, he was going to fall soon and it would be a steep, fatal fall. Blood magic was powerful, but it was also very dangerous, especially in the hands of someone who had lost his perspective. Demons can smell loss of control.
Xan needed to find her own pawns ... away from Caladrius. She heard about a royal dinner being held this evening. She'd have to see about attending it. Then, in a few days, the Fereldens would have their Landsmeet about the Blight, another reason to stay around to watch. If nothing interesting showed up in either of those two places, she would be off to Redcliff.
Jowan had been thwarted when he tried to find Uldred on that fateful day. The day Daylen, Neria and Anders left him alone in the Tower. When he reached Uldred's room, it was filled with mages, Enchanters and Senior Enchanters all vowing vengeance on the Templars for what they did to Uldred's belongings. The apprentice was barely able to look into the room, but it was a complete shambles. They were threatening things that Jowan could not believe. Vicious things, certainly not equal to tossing someone's room. They didn't even notice an apprentice standing outside the door.
Just as the ruckus was building in venom, the First Enchanter arrived. He spied Jowan standing outside the door. "I understand that you may have wanted to talk to Uldred, but it might be better done at a different time, my boy. Go to the library and locate the first tome on the list I gave you and read Chapter 18. We'll be discussing it in the morning."
Actually, leaving Uldred's mob of supporters sounded like a very good idea.
If he had actually gone through with asking Uldred to teach him blood magic, would he have become like the vipers in that room? Were they all blood mages? The thought scared him to his toes … as much as the thought of hanging around the Tower any longer than necessary. He had come to the conclusion that running on his own would never work. Jowan knew he would die on his own. Anders put it more kindly, but it was true. However, Jowan did have a way out. He would need to pass his Harrowing and convince Greagoir that he would make a good Grey Warden.
Studying day and night, he completed every assignment Irving gave him. It was actually helpful that the others were not there to distract him, but he still missed them. He had to succeed.
Greagoir even handled a few lectures and Jowan answered all the questions asked, studied every dusty tome and practiced all the required practical applications of magic. After three weeks, Cullen awakened him in the middle of the night and told him to get dressed. His Templar friend - he never thought he would call any Templar 'friend' - had proven to be equally determined that Jowan would succeed.
And, now, here he was.
"You are ready," Greagoir said as he motioned toward the lyrium font in the Circle's Harrowing Chamber. Jowan stood quietly for a moment. He glanced at Irving who gave him an encouraging nod. There was only one other Templar present, but he trusted Cullen not to prematurely kill him. Jowan stepped up to the font and immersed his hand in the luminous blue liquid.
He was surprised as the transition was almost instantaneous. He was in his childhood home looking at a younger version of himself, wailing as two Templars dragged him out of the house. His mother was on her knees, praying to Andraste to take this curse from their family, and his father was laughing at his son who was begging him to stop the Templars.
A female voice broke his fascination with the tragic scene. "Such a dreadful place to start your life as a mage, Jowan."
Jowan spun around and found himself in another place - the 'new mage' holding cell in the basement of the Tower, where all 'uncontrolled' mages were evaluated. Two women in robes fussed at the Templar guard as he opened the door. Wynne and Leorah were so kind and understanding. However, at the time, Jowan was too frightened to think, much less act politely. Watching the scene unfold, Jowan found himself a bit embarrassed at the way he acted when someone actually treated him nicely.
"How awful for a small boy to be thrown into a prison." The owner of the female voice stepped up beside him. It was a Demon of Desire. Maker! How did he draw such a powerful demon so quickly! "Walls seeping with the fetid moisture from above. Small frightening creatures that bite. Giant men encased in metal with no faces."
Jowan gathered all the force he could and spun to engage the undulating creature in front of him. Irving had cautioned him that it was always best never to engage a demon in conversation, so Jowan said nothing as he threw down a Paralysis Glyph under the mostly naked and well-endowed female form. He followed quickly with Hand of Winter and Stonefist. As the demon froze and then shattered into scores of icy demon bits, Jowan let out a whoop!
But, he was still in the Fade. Daylen told him that he had to defeat a demon to succeed in his Harrowing. Why wasn't he leaving?
"Good job!" A male voice squeaked from somewhere nearby.
"Who's there?" Jowan scanned the area surrounding him and ended with a mouse at his feet. "You're talking to me?"
"Yes, she was here to steal you from the demon you still need to face. I somehow don't think it would have helped and you would be dead all the same."
"Then ... then I'm glad I didn't talk to her," Jowan mumbled to himself. "How do you know so much? And, why am I talking to a mouse?"
"Because I know some things you might need to know. I used to be like you, I think. Maybe if I help you, you can help me get out of here." The mouse turned and started hopping down a path. Jowan followed, intrigued with a talking mouse, curious as to what he'd show him ... and wanting to do whatever it took to get this over with.
"Just around that corner is a Spirit of Valor. He might help you if you answer his questions correctly ..." Before the mouse could finish, Jowan heard a roar and felt his back get warm. He knew this one already. A Rage Demon. Was this his test?
"So, Mouse, did you bring me my next meal?" The voice was scratchy, like old burred straw under a blanket. The creature manifested as a gliding mound of lava. It had round indentations where the eyes might be and arms flared out from the side.
"No, this one was powerful enough to kill a desire demon, already. I don't have to help you anymore. He's going to defeat you and I'll be free of you at last!" Certainly brave words from a rodent that could become fried and dead by the demon simply gliding over him.
"But, Mouse, we've shared so many meals together! Maybe just one more then." Sure enough, the rambling campfire rolled over the mouse and it disappeared. No crispy morsel. Just gone.
Out of nowhere ... not really surprising to Jowan anymore, the Fade was pretty much all nowhere ... an ethereal white thing ran up and waved a Sword of Mercy at the Rage Demon. "Begone, demon!" The thing was wearing a translucent Templar uniform. Wonderful. Even in the Fade, mages were 'protected' by Templars. Greagoir must have had a hand in that one.
"Fine, I will await you in my alcove ahead, mage." The demon turned to the cloud Templar. "He has to face me or stay here forever, Valor. It's only a matter of time." Patient Rage Demon? Wasn't that an oxymoron?
"Everything in the Fade adheres to no rules of your realm, mortal," Valor said as if were reading Jowan's mind. Jowan wondered if Valor also knew that Jowan was feeling uncharacteristically confident. Jowan wondered if Valor knew how he could continue feeling confident when he woke up.
"Follow me." Valor marched off to a smithy of sorts. There was no forge or anvil. Only an impressive array of weapons floating around. "You feel confident because of your success against the desire demon, and you should. Whether or not you continue to feel so is up to you when you are pulled out of the Fade."
Yep, he could read Jowan's mind.
"Did you make all of these weapons?" Jowan stepped over to an ornate staff.
"I made them, yes, but not by any methods you might have read of. These are creations of my will alone. In the Fade, if your will is strong enough, you can force anything you need into existence. For example, try to make your own staff." In a booming voice, he added, "Will it into being, mage!"
Jowan closed his eyes and concentrated on holding that ornate staff. His eyes flew open when he felt a weight in hand. There it was! The ornate staff! "I don't guess I can take this with me."
"Of course not, mage, don't be foolish." However, Valor looked impressed. "Remember, it is your will that creates your success in the Fade. Now, keep your wits about you and defeat your demon. Never forget the success you have today and preserve your strength of will. Only then will you will be a mage who survives the continued temptations of demonkind."
Jowan went to the Rage Demon's alcove. Hand of Winter and Stonefist again combined to end the threat. It occurred to Jowan that opposite conditions were most effective - ice vs. fire - but it was too easy. And, he remained in the Fade. Jowan sat and rubbed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, all he saw was the back of a Templar standing outside a mage alcove and Jowan was sitting up on a bed. Cullen turned to smile at Jowan. "Congratulations, Mage Jowan. Irving said he would like to see you in his office as soon as you awaken."
The change was so abrupt. Was this real or was he still in the Fade? He looked around. "This was Neria's room." However, none of his stuff was here yet.
"Yes, it was a bit more private than your bunk, I thought." Cullen was being awfully nice, but he was usually polite to Jowan, especially lately since everything with Lily. But then, Cullen just had to add, "You'll be going with the group of mages headed for Ostagar. Greagoir said he'd leave it up to you if you want to join the Grey Wardens. Looks like everything will be working out just the way you wanted, Jowan."
Jowan really wanted that to be true. He knew Cullen was courteous, but he would leave the good news for Irving to report. This had to be a Sloth Demon, trying to make Jowan complacent in a happy world and the demon just said too much. Simultaneously, Jowan got up and willed his new staff into existence. Confirmation this was still the Fade. "You are not Cullen and this is not the Tower." He didn't wait for an answer. He'd already talked to the demon too much.
The glyph failed this time, but Jowan just put a paralysis spell on the demon as he was swinging his large, large sword. Thank the Maker it took a while for the demon to pull that heavy sword from his back. It worked! He followed with a spell that weakened the demon's abilities and speed in case he came out of the paralysis before Jowan could perform any offensive magic. Jowan recalled a spell that would stop him again by making him cringe in horror ... he kept hearing Irving's voice "Always be prepared to stop weapons with magic because your robe certainly won't."
He hit the demon with Hand of Winter, which also failed. Jowan was starting to feel shaky. He would need to boost his power with lyrium soon, but where do you find lyrium in the Fade? He backed away from the demon just in time to avoid the downswing as the paralysis dispersed. Jowan cast the horror spell and the demon Cullen started cringing in fear. It would have been almost funny if Jowan hadn't been ready to pass out.
Then, he almost smacked himself. He was in the Fade. He concentrated on a lyrium potion in his hand. Nothing appeared in his hand, but a mound of spikey blue-veined silver rocks appeared on the floor between him and the demon. Jowan grabbed one of the spikes thinking he had to break it off, but just touching the spike infused him with the energy he needed to repeat his Hand of Winter and Stonefist combination. No Demon Cullen bits this time, sadly, just flakes off the edges.
After a couple rounds of the same with several heals thrown in when the defensive spells failed, Jowan finally downed the Sloth Demon Cullen. The Tower faded away and the demon sank into the featureless ground of the Fade. Jowan also started to dematerialize. He prayed he'd awaken in his real room and not somewhere else in the Fade.
By the time Loghain stepped foot inside the palace courtyard, nobles were already arriving in all their finery. He decided to go to the warden compound first to hear Duncan's side before he talked to Anora. He slipped into the side courtyard, hoping he could speak with Warden Alidain before subjecting himself to the party.
"Your Grace!" The Warden's version of his Bronan stepped up. "How can I help you?"
"I'd like to speak to Warden Alidain and Duncan if I could, Tareth."
"Warden Alidain is not here, but follow me to the Warden-Commander's office and I'll alert Duncan." Loghain noticed the nod to a nearby staff member. He knew he wouldn't have to wait long, and he didn't.
Duncan started speaking before he walked through the door. "Loghain, hiding in the Warden Compound will only make your daughter, the Queen, very cross with you." He had his quirky smile on as he stepped in the door ... followed by his daughter, the Queen.
"Yes, Father, I believe I asked you to come see me as soon as you were able." She did look cross, but smiled when Loghain walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "That used to work with me when I was five, Father." However, he could tell that it still did. She walked to a chair in front of Duncan's desk and sat down. "Now, what do you know about the situation with Warden Alidain?"
"Other than he failed to rid us of Vaughan Kendells? Not much."
Anora sighed in frustration. "Cailan wants to summarily take his head. Most of the women in Denerim would like to see him castrated. The Alienage would simply like him to disappear, and yet, his father claims he is the perfect son and heir. Since his father is a high noble of Ferelden, all those other wishes become secondary without solid evidence." She frowned at her father. "No matter how much you wish it were not so."
Loghain sat in the other chair next to Anora. "Say the word and I'll kill him for you." She looked aghast. "I'm an old man, Anora. I'll kill the bastard. Cailan will have me executed for murder. Many of the nobility would find that a win-win, I'm sure."
Duncan leaned on desk. "I'm going to assume you are joking, but I do remind you that we have an agreement. You have a vital role to play during the Blight."
"Fine, then, if the twit survives the Blight, I'll kill him then."
"You will do no such thing!" Anora jumped out of her chair, stumbled a bit and then dropped back into it. Loghain started to pick her up and Duncan ran for the door, presumably to get one of his healers. "Leave me be! And, stay here, please, Duncan. I'm fine. I just find myself getting off-balance a bit lately." When Duncan gave her with a questioning look, she added, "Please close your door, Duncan."
Duncan closed his door and looked at Loghain. "Pity I don't have one of those runes on this door, Your Grace. Would you like me to leave, Your Majesty?"
Anora looked to Loghain who said, "He'll find out soon enough, Anora."
"This meeting has gotten off topic!" Loghain smiled at his daughter's determination to have everything run just so, according to her plan. "Therefore, I will say this and assume your congratulations and we will end the discussion of it." With lowered eyebrows she got Duncan's nod before she continued. "I'm pregnant."
Loghain sat back down. "Might as well sit, Duncan." He could tell that the normally polite Warden-Commander was chaffing under the inability to comment.
"So, then, about the situation in the Alienage ..." Duncan began as he sat behind his desk and told them what had happened, who was there, who was hurt, and who saw the entire event."
"The damn Chantry is keeping Mother Boann from testifying?" Loghain sometimes found himself getting very, very tired of the Chantry. "Don't they realize all the people they're hurting by keeping silent?"
"Yes, Father, they realize that. But Grand Cleric Elemena is nothing if not pragmatic. The afternoon of the incident, Arl Urien made a substantial donation to the Chantry. They see those sovereigns going to help many more people." Anora put her hand on her father's hand. "But, I have other news that has just come to me via Bann Alfstanna." Loghain raised an eyebrow. "Vaughan Kendells has been mouthing off that it's high time he came into his inheritance. Now, that could mean that he's going to arrange some sort of financial trust with his father."
"More likely it means patricide."
Anora looked pleased. "Exactly."
Loghain looked around the well-appointed office while Anora and Duncan gave him a few moments to digest what he'd been told. Duncan's desk was large and old, with engravings that looked to be of the Brecilian Forest. If he had to guess, the desk came from one of the woodworkers in Gwaren ... blemish-free wood, stained dark and shadowed just right to make the trees look almost real. He had a desk like that at Gwaren Keep. After recent events, retirement started sounding pretty good. He found himself dearly wanting to just go there and forget all the strife of this damnable city. Then, he looked at Anora, his daughter. So beautiful, just like his Celia, but chiseled with his sharp planes of reality and determination. His thoughts turned to his grandchild yet to come. Boy or girl. He smiled at Anora. "What is your plan?"
She looked extremely pleased. "Duncan has had someone following Vaughan for the past two days and he witnessed the young lord purchasing something from a merchant named Cesar, someone known for trafficking in poisons. After a rather large bribe was paid to his partner Ignacio, Cesar told us that Vaughan had purchased a rare poison from Antiva, one that mimics death by natural causes - surprisingly popular with the dwarves, he said."
Loghain shifted in his seat. "Ignacio is an Antivan Crow. Why would he give away Vaughan?"
"Ignacio informed us that Vaughan had fallen behind in his 'patronage' payments so they did not see a problem with passing along such information." Duncan chuckled. "Of course, he failed to mention that fact before we paid him the bribe."
"Who is following Vaughan?" When Anora glanced toward Duncan, Loghain also asked, "One of your wardens?"
Duncan seemed a little uncomfortable. "No, Your Grace, but he is someone who has pledged his service to us, Zevran Arainai."
"That sounds Antivan."
"It is, Loghain." Duncan chuckled. "You have your Antivan spy. We have ours. Zevran had bid on a contract on me. It seems that someone has taken exception to my decisions here in Ferelden. Yes, Zevran was a Crow. He failed, but almost succeeded. I was impressed. When he saw we could offer him protection and a different way of life, he pledged to aid the wardens. I'm still working on him to become a warden, but so far, he resists. He's proven very valuable so I hesitate conscripting him."
"Wouldn't Ignacio turn him in ... or assassinate him himself?" Loghain was wondering just how many Antivans had defected to Ferelden. It bothered him to find out about this ex-Crow, but also made him curious if there were others.
Duncan grinned. "More pragmatism. The Wardens exclusively use Cesar for our deathroot purchases. Deathroot extract, especially in its concentrated from, used on wicks on our scabbards to coat the weapon when pulled, has proven to be useful against the darkspawn." He laughed at Loghain's deadpan face. "No, Your Grace, we don't go around the city with our blades ready to inflict poison, but when we go on a mission where we know we'll be fighting darkspawn, we do."
"All of this is lovely and I'm sure my father will be speaking to you about Zevran, but time is fleeting and you both can no longer delay attending the dinner." Anora stood, quite soundly and brushed out the wrinkles in her gown. "What you need to know, Father, is that we've recruited several of our more trustworthy nobles to be on the lookout for Vaughan to put something into his father's drink. Bann Alfstanna, Arl Bryland, and Bann Sighard. Frankly, we don't know if he'll be so bold as to poison his father in front of witnesses but he hasn't been known to avoid the spotlight if he could get it."
Loghain pursed his lips as he stood. "Is the Grand Cleric going to be there with her Templars?"
Anora's eyes narrowed. "Yes, she is. Why?"
"I'm just trying to think of all the ways Vaughan could subvert an accusation and crying 'Blood magic!' comes to mind. Duncan, if any of your mages are going out, I suggest you tell them to stay here with verifiable alibis. Where is Alidain?"
Duncan sighed. "I was hoping that Neria and Daylen could have a nice time in the city this evening, but you make a good point. Alidain is on his way to Ostagar. Several days out with a large company of wardens and soldiers Cailan hand-picked to scout out the area. Should I tell Alistair to stay here as well?"
Anora shook her head. "No, he's a Prince and the recognized heir, whether he likes it or not. His absence would be suspicious."
Thinking about Sancia's report of an elf mage spy in Ferelden, Loghain thought an ex-Templar might prove useful if she appeared. The damn Chantry Templars would probably run and hide, claiming they all had to protect the Grand Cleric.
After a quick review of details as they currently stood, Anora left first to go greet her guests, followed shortly by Duncan and a somewhat upset Alistair. Loghain drank a whiskey in Duncan's office and headed to the grand affair where he brilliantly acted no differently than he always did. Handy to be the grumpy one. It was always an easy facade to achieve.
AN: Thanks to all the favorites, follows and reviews!
Lady Cougar-Trombone, if there's a clear timeline when the DLC Leliana's Song happened, I haven't found it. It seems like it happened some bit of time before Dragon 9:30 ... so, from an AU standpoint, I have Leliana following Dorthea back to Val Royeaux where they both rise a bit in the Chantry. Thank you for your continued reviews! :)
Judy and skidney, thank you so much for your encouragement!
Guest, danke! I don't dare try to say more in German. ;) (Thank goodness for Google Translate!)
Thedas'Hero, I thought about having Alidain just whack him. Like a cat though, I think I'd like to toy with him first. :)