Interlude V

Alistair walked up to the gate, only to be blocked by one of the guards. "Sorry ser." The man said. "The Alienage is off limits at the moment. There is a plague going on at the moment."

Alistair looked at him and asked, "Oh really? And who exactly told you that?"

The man frowned and said, "Well Arl Howe did of course. Why?"

Alistair nodded, "That's what I thought. We have reason to believe the Alienage is the center of an illegal slaving ring being run by Tevinter apostates. I am a Templar of the Chantry and I demand entrance at once to deal with the apostates inside."

The guard gulped and said, "I'm really not authorized to let yo..."

His eyes suddenly went blank and he collapsed. On the other side of the gate the other guard suddenly fell as well. Solana said, "Okay let's just get going."

Alistair turned to see her with a dagger in one hand, and he demanded, "Was that really necessary?"

She shrugged, "Probably not but it's a lot faster. Now get out of the way, I'm opening the gate."

Beside her Alim turned and asked, "Erm... can't we just open it the normal way?"

Before Solona could answer, another group of guards arrived to relieve the first pair. Alistair stared at them for a second before the guards lept into action. One of them drew his sword and advanced while another began running. He got maybe ten feet before Alim caught him in a field of energy. The other man was knocked unconscious by Solona's blood magic. Alistair and Darrian grabbed the winch to open up the portcullis leading into the Alienage's streets and started to raise it. The gate was barely a quarter of the way up, and completely unsecured when Alim said, "I can't hold him in the field much longer. We need the gate open now."

Alistair glanced over at him and demanded in exasperation, "What? You can shoot lightning out of your hands, infect people with a plague that eats them from the inside out, and turn a mage's powers against them, why can't you hold that field up more than a few minutes?"

Alim grimaced, "Those are a lot easier. This is forming a bubble that let's air in and out, but nothing else. It takes a lot of effort to maintain even if the power requirements are minimal."

Alistair groaned and said, "Solona, can you knock him unconscious before he screams for help?"

She thought for a moment, but finally said, "I can't promise anything. I can probably have him unconscious in a couple of seconds. Is that fast enough."

Alistair sighed and he motioned for Darrian to stand aside. With a resigned voice he said, "Solona, deal with it."

Her face lit up and she pulled out some small packages of gunpowder taken from the supplies Redcliffe was working on preparing and shoved them into points on the gateway. When six packets were in place she stepped away, prepared a massive wave of fire and cut loose. A wave of heat that was barely weaker that of a young dragon blasted from her staff and into the gate. There was a resounding bang as the packets blew up and the metal, already weakened by the fire was blasted inward, leaving a large hole in it.

Without hesitation Alistair ordered, "Okay everyone through the gate. That will have alerted every guard in the city. We need to go."

Darrian went first, followed by Alim and Solona. Alistair glanced back in time to see a ragtag group of guards moving in from farther down the main street before ducking through the hole himself.

Once through he turned to the others and ordered, "Darrian, lead the way, and hurry it won't be long before the more soldiers arrive."

Darrian nodded and started down the street at a jog.

The zigzagging streets of Denerim leading into the Alienage were almost completely deserted. Here and there were small groups of people who stared at the small group rushing past with resentment, but most of them simply looked too beaten down to care anymore.

Ten minutes of running, and another twenty minutes of brisk walking led to another gate, this one standing wide open onto a decrepit bridge. The end of the bridge seemed to be a signal for all maintenance to come to an end. The quality of the stones used to pave the road dropped almost immediately, and the wooden structures on either side were half rotten and collapsing. The entrance to the Alienage itself was even worse. The wall was half torn down on one side, and a gate stood open in the middle. The gate was rusted into place, the wood was bent and out of place, and it had obviously been forced open at some point in the recent past.

Inside the paving suddenly ended and pools of stagnant water were the norm in several spots. The building quality dropped again as well. Several houses had been haphazardly patched with wood that now drooped out of place, leaving holes in the walls. Other houses had obviously suffered a recent collapse of their roofs that had been recently repaired. In the background was the stench of people recently dead.

Darrian grimaced as he saw the state of the Alienage, then said, "This is my house. I'll see if anyone is inside." He pushed the door open and went inside. The other three waited outside. Alistair looked around the immediate area to get a better idea of what the Alienage was actually like, Solona and Darrian played I spy, a game Leliana had dragged them into during the many long weeks of travel.

Finally Darrian reemerged and said flatly, "There was a plague, which killed a tenth of the population before some mages showed up to set up quarantine. They claim whatever magic is used cannot help people who already have the plague, and it isn't completely effective; those who have it get sent into quarantine. People aren't allowed in to see them."

Alistair raised an eyebrow, "So he was right. I wonder what the Chantry might have to say about this when we hand them the evidence. Let's go."

Darrian nodded, looking slightly sick as he did so. Alim and Solona finished their game and fell in step behind the other pair and proceeded deeper into the Alienage. Darrian led them further until finally they came upon a square with a massive tree at the center. Scattered around the area were dozens of people, including on group that seemed far more concerned. Around them were a group of men in leather and chainmail armor with symbols obscured.

At their head stood a man in a military robe Alistair recognized as Tevinter from his Templar training, who was saying "I understand your concerns, but the quarantine is necessary. We have the plague largely under control now, we cannot let anyone out, nor can we let anyone in unless they are carrying as well. Please return to your homes for the time being."

As he spoke Solona leaned up to Alistair and whispered, "There's blood magic going on. I can feel it. The plague isn't over, not by a long shot, it's just being suppressed. You would need actual healers to cure the plague."

Alistair nodded and said back, "So that's it. They suppress the plague long enough to process whoever is in quarantine now, then weaken the suppression on the next group to ship them out. A brilliant plan, if incredibly horrific. Now, Darrian, how can we get into that building?"

Darrian thought for a moment before saying, "Alim and I can pretend to be sick without much difficulty. I doubt we would be given much certainty. If I remember correctly there should be a rear entrance to the building as well. If you and Solona circle around and come block that off as an escape route we should be able to set the people inside free. Give five minutes, then come in through that door. Got it?"

Alistair nodded, then took Solona around the building. The back door was almost unguarded, only a single bored elf stood on duty. Alistair walked up to him, only for the man to say, "No you can't go in even for a moment, so don't ask."

Alistair shrugged then said, "Tell me, what exactly is this plague like?"

The elf looked up at him, then suddenly realized, "You're not an elf. Well I don't really care honestly. The plague has something to do with the Blight apparently. Why?"

Alistair raised an eyebrow, then said flatly, "This plague has nothing to do with the Blight. Believe me, if it did you would know."

The elf asked, "How?"

Alistair grimaced and said, "Believe me; you really don't want to know. Now, we're going to need to get in there in a few minutes, mind standing aside."

The elf looked him up and down for a second, then walked away saying, "I'm not paid enough to die. Go right ahead. Just try not to get everyone else killed while you're in there."

Alistair nodded, then took his place and waited.

On the other side of the building Darrian had carefully hidden his swords away from prying eyes and then walked up to the men standing guard. "Ser... ser..." He wheezed out, "Please help me. I think I'm dying."

The man looked down on him with a pity so fake Darrian almost punched him. He put one hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry. We'll have you inside soon enough." He looked up at the other people and said, "This is what I need to see you put you into quarantine, not just a suspicion that you are sick."

Darrian almost laughed at that, but kept his cool and allowed himself to be led inside. Moments later Alim was brought in as well. The pair were marched to the desk of a supervisor who asked, "What have we here?"

One of the guards said, "A pair of sick ones that were passed over during the last sweep."

The supervisor nodded and said, "Is it ours or the real plague?"

The guard answered, "Apparently real sir. Our next batch isn't coming in for a while."

"Then kill them." The supervisor said flatly.

The guard nodded when suddenly the room was filled with lightning as Alim let loose the spell he had prepared. Six guards were electrocuted to death immediately, two more cut down before they could respond as Darrian grabbed a sword off their fallen comrades. By the time Alistair and Solona had burst in the fight was over. Darrian moved to a back room while Alistair, Solona, and Alim began searching the rest of the building for evidence.

Soon they came upon a note speaking of payment for a shipment that was going out later in the week, as well as a significant amount of money that Alistair took to be put toward the war effort. As the trio finished Darrian emerged with a group of elves who all looked like they had been beaten and given little food for days.

The group left through the rear door while Alistair said, "Darrian. Another group has already been moved out, which likely means the majority of the ring is in another area. Where could they go without being discovered?"

Darrian thought for a moment then said, "There is a communal housing area behind this building. If I had to sneak out people that would be my first choice."

Alistair nodded, then ordered, "Then lead on."

The communal housing building was, if anything, even worse than the rest of the alienage. The entire thing had been constructed of the cheapest materials possible, the walls were growing mold, and there was mildew in several spots. Even worse were some of the rooms. Several held elves who couldn't stand as they lay there and died of the Tevinter plague. The empty rooms were the worst. Each one had a strange mixture of normalcy and violence. There would be a table set up for a small family, toys left out where children had been playing, and then there would be broken objects and blood where a struggle had taken place.

No one complained when Darrian led them out the other side of the building and into an alley. They were intercepted by a small group of soldiers, the closest of whom said, "Oh is there another shipment already? We weren't expecting on for another week."

Alistair walked up to him and said coldly, "I'm the rightful king, and I don't tolerate monsters here."

The man's eyes barely had time to widen before Alistair slammed his shield into the man's face. The others didn't have any more time as Alim blasted another with a walking bomb and Solona blasted the final two with a wave of fire." There was a short pair of screams, then silence.

Alistair looked down on them in disgust and said finally, "I never really cared about elves one way or another to be honest, but this... this is evil. No one deserves this kind of treatment."

Beside him Darrian said, "And now you start to understand why we can be so desperate."

Alistair nodded and said, "I will try to make it up to all of you eventually, but I don't know where to start."

Darrian smiled a little and said, "I have a couple of ideas we could throw around later."

Alistair looked up and answered, "We should. But for now, let's end this atrocity."

He stormed into the next building, only to be caught short when a woman demanded, "What is the meaning of this? We were promised that there would be no interference from the authorities."

Alistair snapped, "The authorities you speak of are traitors and murderers. They hold power now only because we have not yet been able to strip it of them."

The woman sneered, "Oh please. You say that now, but the mere whiff of gold convinced Loghain to allow us in, you will be no different."

Alistair answered in a quiet fury, "You will all die for what you've done here."

The woman opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she stood there immobile for a minute before collapsing. Next to her the two guards did the same. Alistair turned to see Solona lowering a bloodied hand. "I thought you said it would take time to knock one person out," he demanded, sounding more exasperated than angry.

Solona nodded, "Knocking someone unconscious is hard. You have to work everything just right to avoid killing them. All I had to do here was not do that."

Alistair said finally, "I didn't know that magic could work like that."

Alim joined Solona to say, "It's like what I was saying earlier. Power and effort don't always correlate. It takes far more effort to knock disable someone without harming them than it is to simply kill them even if the latter actually takes more raw power in general."

Alistair nodded slowly, "Okay. They never covered that little fact in Templar training. I think the curriculum needs updating. But for now, I think we were in the middle of something."

No one argued and the group continued into the building. Here and there were small groups of soldiers, and a couple of places where traps were being designed, but no one had expected an attack to come. Each swift assault was over before the other side even knew a battle had started. It took just minutes to clear out almost the entire building of slavers.

Then they entered a room where the majority of the Tevinters were stationed. As they entered the entire group was caught in a blood magic hold and a man below them said, "So, you must be the people trying to free the elves then? I assume one of you is the claimant to the throne then. This seems like a perfect opportunity for you."

He relaxed his grip enough so they could speak and Alistair said, "I see you've heard of me."

The blood mage laughed and said, "I can barely get a word out of the regent that doesn't involve you. It is even more popular than gold."

Alistair smiled darkly before saying, Who are you, and what have you heard?"

"My name is Caladrius. Magister of the Tevinter Imperium if you must know." The man answered. "I know you are trying to erode Loghain's support. How would you like a little help?"

Alistair snorted and muttered, "This should be good." Then louder he said, "What exactly do you have in mind?"

Caladrius said finally, "I have an agreement with Loghain, one that is a little nullified when armed intruders burst through my door. Now, truth be told there was always a limit on the amount of time we could spend here. Our starting payment has funded quite a few regiments of Loghain's troops, but we will become a liability eventually. Now here is my offer. You give me one hundred sovereigns, I give you a letter with the teyrn of Gwaren's seal upon it, then we are allowed to leave peacefully."

Alistair pretended to think for a moment then finally said, "Will you release me so I can get you the money?"

Caladrius smiled, "But of course. You're friends stay where they are for now though."

Alistair felt the magic holding him loosen then said flatly, "Now I have a counter-offer."

Caladrius raised an eyebrow and tried to put his blood magic hold up again, only for Alistair to beat it back using his Templar training. "Yes, the terms are this. You leave everything and we don't kill you all."

Caladrius sneered, "That isn't much of a deal is it. I had hoped we could resolve this without getting violent." He threw up a hand and blasted a fireball where Alistair was standing.

Alistair dove backwards and used a Templar skill to lift the blood magic holding the other three, who immediately moved to support him. Alim swept his staff up, unleashing a blast of lightning at a pair of archers to the side. Both of them collapsed as the blast connected.

Caladrius drew his hand up and called upon blood magic again, only for Solona to use her own. The two stood locked on each other and began to battle for control of the other. Alistair and Darrian vaulted over the rails leading to the lower level and engaged the other soldiers. Moments later Darrian joined them, raining small spells down upon the enemy combatants.

Alistair ducked a blow from one man, only to find himself in range of another. He desperately kicked out at the man, managing to make him stumble and only bring the sword onto his armor. He found himself knocked back, but his sword found the first assailants chest, and he rapidly stabbed into it. The man gasped as one of his lungs was pierced, then fell. The other attacker pulled himself up short, but Alistair was on the attack almost immediately. He slammed his shield into the man's leg, driving it down, before bringing his sword down onto his neck.

Even with those two dead, along with one of Darrian's opponents, the numbers were still against them as the remainder of Caladrius's men drove them back against the stairs, until Caladrius fell to the ground. He managed to wheeze out, "No. Please. I surrender."

His men looked back at him, then retreated to surround their commander. Caladrius managed to push himself up onto one knee when he said, "Apparently your reputation is undeserved. You are a far greater foe than the regent stated."

Alistair drew himself up and said in the best intimidating voice he could muster after nearly losing, "I suggest you come up with a new offer."

Caladrius said quietly, "I could augment your physical health a great deal if I so chose. It would require the sacrifice of these elves of course."

Alistair scowled at him, "No. It isn't."

Caladrius said finally, "Then I don't suppose you would consider letting me go."

Alistair looked at the battle hardened men surrounding Caladrius, then finally said, "Get out of here, now. Leave everything."

Caladrius panted in amazement, "That is quite generous of you considering my position." With a gesture he ordered one of his guards to support him, then pulled out a key from his robes and tossed it on the floor, then he and the guard helping stay on his feet exited the building, and the remaining soldiers followed.

Alistair waited until they were gone before saying, "That was lucky. We were not going to win a fight with them. Why did he leave though?"

From above him Solona gasped out, "I beat him. It took everything I had, but I beat him. He knew his soldiers could beat you, but then he would be dead." With that she passed out.

Alim went to check on her while Darrian picked up the key Caladrius had left. Moments later he freed the elves who had been held captive. They talked for a few minutes until the elves filed out of the building. Above them Alistair and Alim picked Solona up and headed for the exit as well. Once outside Alim asked Darrian, "Is there someplace we could stay until she wakes up? I don't look forward to carrying someone through the streets of Denerim."

Darrian nodded, "Valendrian's house is this way. He'll house us for a time."

Alistair motioned with one hand, "Then lead the way. I think we could all use a little rest."

Valendrian's house was large by elf standards, which put it at about half the size of a similar human dwelling. He let them lay Solona on his small bed, then talked to the rest of the group for the hour it took for her to wake up. Most of the time was spent talking about as Valendrien discussed Duncan with Alistair or questioning Darrian about how life had treated him since he had fled.

Finally Alim pulled Alistair aside and said, "How did William know about all this?"

Alistair blinked and asked, "What do you mean?"

Alim gave him a look that clearly said what he thought of that answer, "We both know that he isn't the brightest person ever, yet when he says something about the world you trust him without question."

Alistair sighed, "He can see the future."

Alim gave another exasperated look, "Oh really? I've seen where he comes from you know, in the Fade and it isn't someplace anyone would willingly leave."

Alistair glanced at him, "What do you mean?"

Alim said quietly, "He knew the world was an illusion, but he didn't care. But beyond that his world was weird. The buildings weren't something I had ever seen before, and the people were wearing clothes that were completely different than anything I've ever seen. More than that though, Solona tells me she cannot feel him when she uses blood magic, and any time she wants to find him it takes minutes rather than seconds. We want to know who or what he is. Before the Guardian spoke to me I never would have trusted him, and now I find there still isn't any reason to actually value his advice."

Alistair sighed, "I really don't know myself sometimes. What I can tell you is that he's given me a logical explanation of where he comes from and why he knows things. That's really all I can offer. Is it enough?"

Alim shrugged, "Not really, and I'm not going to stop trying to figure it out."

Quietly Alistair said, "Tell me if you ever manage to."

Solona woke up after an hour of rest, and the group returned to the Arl's estate, only to learn that the others still had not returned.