Lea had never seen the sea. He only knew of the vicious waters surrounding Kinloch Hold. Compared to the untamed waves of the Waking Sea outside Denerim, Lake Calenhad was but a shallow pond. Roxas had once seen the Waking Sea in the midst of a storm. It had been years since, but he remembered it as though it was a sight he saw everyday. No boat was safe in the turbulent waters and those who forgot that they were at the mercy of the sea, most often than not ended crushed against the rocks, washed up on shore in pieces.
Roxas had promised him that once they had settled in his village, he would take Lea to Denerim and show him the Waking Sea. Myde had told them good things about King Alistair and the parades he threw in honor of the people. Denerim was a good place to rest after the horrors of the Blight. As mages they had to be cautious to not be caught by visiting templars. Lea was looking forward to leaving Myde's farm to start anew. Isa had tainted this place with his hatred for Roxas and his fear of magic. It had worn out Isa's welcome at Myde's farm, too. His only chance now was to work as a servant in Redcliffe lest he would think it better to live alone in the forest or in an alienage. If Isa was lucky, he might find another Dalish clan to join. Word was said to travel fast amongst the Dalish, however. Traitors were not well received. Isa had known that when he decided to leave.
"We should have stayed in the main house," Roxas said with an anxious look at the door. "Or within earshot. What if Isa loses that last of his sanity and does something to Myde?"
"There's nothing to suggest that he would be violent toward Myde," Lea said but wondered if Roxas had a point.
"No, he has only threatened us with a painful death. You used to be friends and he turned on you. I don't think he will make an exception for Myde."
"In any case, we are ready to intervene should anything‒"
The tip of an arrow penetrated the door. Splinters flew. Roxas and Lea hurried to the back of the small shed and stared at the harm done to the door in stunned silence.
"Step outside," they heard Myde say in a trembling voice.
"What do we do?" Roxas turned to Lea.
"We stick together and we save Myde," Lea said in hopes he sounded determinate enough to inspire courage. "We cannot be rash about this."
Lea's heart was pounding in his chest with fear as they approached the door and stepped out reluctantly. The rain was falling harder than it did yesterday. Small pools of water covered the courtyard and in the middle of it all stood Myde shivering, lips contorted around restrained whimpers of fear. Isa stood a few yards behind him, bow and arrow ready to split Myde's head in two.
"Isa, what are you doing?" Lea's mouth was dry. His hands trembled at the sight.
"Save him," Isa said. "Save him or I kill him."
"He's done nothing to you!" Roxas yelled.
"My Keeper was right. You shemlens are all the same. You make use of us until you tire of us." Isa tightened his bow. "I will not miss."
"W-wait! Isa! Wait. How, how do we save him?" Lea held his hands up to hinder Isa from firing.
"Roxas will fetch him and lead him to you."
The coldness in Isa's voice had Lea shudder and add to the nausea building in his stomach.
"I will fetch him, Isa," Lea said.
"Lea," Roxas grabbed Lea by his wrist and shook his head at him. "I'll go. You cover us."
"He will try to shoot you, Roxas. If he harms you, I don't know what I'll do." Lea's voice was thick.
"Cover me. I trust you. You can do this."
Lea watched Roxas walk up to Myde slowly while Isa stood aiming for him. Lea had a spell for a barrier ready. Should Isa try anything now, it would be in vain. Roxas stood behind Myde, shielding him from Isa's arrow. At Roxas' command, Myde ran to Lea on trembling legs, frightened but unscathed. Isa fired his arrow half-heartedly. It hit the barrier and fell at Roxas' feet.
"Is that the best you can do?" Roxas taunted.
"I will reveal the demon in you," Isa said. "The one you have had whisper in my ear nights on end. You will not go unpunished."
Isa made a cut on the tip of his forefinger with the tip of an arrow. Lea had no time to do anything. A drop of Isa's blood revealed an intricate trap on the ground with Roxas in the middle. It lit up in blinding white. The streaks of light became large arms that reached for Roxas, wrapped around him and burned into him.
Roxas screamed in pain. He thrashed about for a few seconds, but the arms wrapped around closer still until his screams were but gasps for air. Whimpers escaped him in another agonized voice. Lea stood frozen as he witnessed Roxas being tossed in a ravaging sea once more after his long struggle to shore
They had gone through enough to let it end like this. Whatever Isa's intentions were, Lea had to put a stop to it.