Chapter 25: Enemies

The Architect was ecstatic. It was not often that one of his experiments bore such amazing fruit, but this one…this one was something special, perhaps one of his greatest discoveries.

He needed to go down and see it for himself.

He moved quickly down the crumbling corridors, once, long ago, this had been a dwarven bath house, catering to the noble men and women of this thaig. Now, it belonged to the darkspawn, and was one of his most secure safe houses.

It was to this place that he had brought the ogre, after it had survived its awakening.

He had freed it from the call of the old gods, and now…it had regained consciousness.

Utha travelled close behind him, protecting him from any trouble, Seranni had also joined them, their newest companion was curious as to what he had created, to bask in the glory that was his genius.

The Architect did not intend to disappoint.

The Seeker, one of his most trusted disciples awaited them at the door. The hurlock unlocked the door and followed them in, its tainted eyes never leaving the cell's sole occupant.

The ogre was chained to a wall, its powerful arms and legs bound, with a heavy steel collar preventing it from rising to its feet.

It watched them closely as they entered; its blue human eyes regarded the four of them coldly.

The Architect was pleased, the creature's stance, the way it looked at them, even the way it casually tapped one of its fingers against its leg, it all spoke of the fact that it had become a far more intelligent creature.

Seranni smiled like a child seeing her first snowfall, "It…it is beautiful master," she said with barely restrained tears. It is a true work of art!"

The emissary could not help but agree with her, the ogre was more than just a simple weapon of the old gods, it had become something far more, and he…HE was its creator.

He tried to breathe, he…he could not afford to get distracted, not now. He needed to test his creation, make sure that it was stable.

"Can you hear me?" he said to the ogre.

The creature glanced his way, its lips curled up, it…it almost looked like it was smirking at him.

"I said, can you hear me," He repeated, "Can you understand me?"

The ogre's smirk turned into a full grin, a wicked thing filled with razor teeth and torn flesh.

It still refused to answer. The creature's stubbornness both intrigued and angered the Architect.

Utha and Seranni could both sense his frustration.

The dwarf decided to do something about it.

Utha snarled pulled her sword, if the creature would not answer, she would force it to.

The Architect raised its hand.

"No Utha," he told her, "We cannot begin this way with our new friend."

The ogre threw back its head, the Architect expected to hear one of the creature's famous ear-splitting roars. That did not come to pass.

Instead, the ogre laughed, it was literally laughing…laughing at them.

The emissary raised its hand; lightning began to dance on its fingertips.

The ogre had finally had enough with the games.

"I can hear you," the ogre purred, "I have very little to say to you. I shall hear a name, once that is done I will decide if I want to eat your hearts,"

The Architect nodded, impressive, the ogre's mind had developed more than he had thought, the creature might possess the same level of intelligence as Utha and Seranni.

If that was so, there was no limit to what they could accomplish!

"I am called the Architect," he told the ogre, "This is Utha and Seranni, and we have freed you from the call of the old gods."

The ogre snorted.

"Not your name little one, my name," the ogre growled, "I am strong, I…I have memories I do not understand, but I am…me. I will know what to call myself."

The Architect was about to respond, but Seranni beat him to it.

"You are free horned one," she said smiling, "You may choose whatever name you desire."

The ogre glanced at her, but did not respond, it…it was considering what she had said.

Even more fascinating, the Architect muse, the ogre is both intelligent and clearly sane. After his failure with the mother, he had hoped to create a stable, yet more powerful darkspawn disciple…

He seemed to have succeeded.

"Horn," the ogre mused it regarded its reflection in a fetid pool near its feet, noticing that one of its horns had been snapped off, "I…I suppose that it will work."

"The horned is a fitting name for you my large friend," the Architect agreed.

"No," the ogre growled, "Not the horned, just…just Horn, it fits me don't you think," the ogre's grin returned, it seemed pleased with itself, "Now…tell me little morsel, why should I not devour you all?"

The Architect paused, the creature was insolent, but at least it was stable. He would need to be careful if he was to get Horn to join their cause.

"The darkspawn, your people are engaged in a war to free ourselves, to find our own path in this world," the Architect said proudly, "I have freed you from your chains so that you might aid us in this fight."

"And why would I serve you?" Horn sneered, "You are tiny, and weak, I could crush all three of you quite easily."

"That would be a mistake," the emissary frowned.

"You must look passed your savagery Horn," Seranni said she hoped to sooth the creature, "Your people need your help, there will be plenty of opportunities for death and destruction later, but your people need your aid now. We implore you great one, aid us in our quest."

Horn regarded Seranni, her fawning…it…it pleased him. This was how it should be, he was mighty, and he was strong.

All should bow to Horn.

He would play along…for now, but when the time came, he would make this…this Architect's forces his own. He did not trust the tiny creature; he did not like how this Architect looked at him, like he was some….thing to be studied.

No…Horn would find his own destiny, if his people were to be free they would need a strong leader.

He could be that leader, he would crush his rivals and rule himself, but first…first…

He would be patient.

"I…shall join you," the ogre nodded, "Together we shall free our people."

Excellent," the Architect smiled, "I shall free you from your bonds and we shall begin."

"Don't trouble yourself," Horn purred.

The ogre raised its hands and gestured, it did not know how it knew to do this it just knew. Memories of learning this from Irving came back to it…it adjusted its spectacles and…

Wait…who was Irving, and what were spectacles?

Horn did not know, but he would find out.

The shackled fell away.

The Architect gasped, the ogre had magic!

But it had shown no talent for such things before! No ogre had!

Fascinating! He was truly a genius!

Horn rose to his full height and stretched, glad to be free.

"How do we start…Master," it said with no great touch of irony.

"We have already begun," the Architect purred, "Soon our rivals will be destroyed, and the future of our people will be in our hands."

In my hands, Horn thought to himself, then…you will join our enemies in death little morsel.

The ogre followed, its 'new master' had no idea what he had unleashed. Horn did not intend for him to find out, at least not until it was too late.

IOI

Back in Vigil's Keep Cayle had retired for the evening; Ambassador Cera had gone to her rooms leaving him to tend to whatever he needed to before bed.

The young mage smiled, what he needed to do was check in with his master.

The Witch King would demand a report.

He drew a restraint glyph on the ground of his small room, it would prevent any fade magic from leaking out, drawing the attention of any mages here. Once that was done he stepped inside, he slit his hand, and let the blood drip on the glyph.

It glowed as it activated, Cayle stepped back and kneeled, it would not take his master long to detect his presence.

A small tear in the fade appeared, not enough to let anything pass through, but large enough to converse.

Cayle felt his masters presence, the Witch King sensed that he wished to speak.

Cayle bowed his head respectfully.

"Master," he whispered reverently.

There was a brief pause, finally the Witch King spoke.

"Report…servant," his master said coldly.

Cayle informed him of everything that was happening here in Vigil's Keep, The wardens had left hours ago on some secret mission, Solona had told him nothing, but Cayle had heard rumors that it had something to do with pacifying the nobles here in Amaranthine. The Witch King seemed pleased with his report.

"You have done well servant," the King said.

Cayle basked under his master's praise, he lived to serve.

"I will endeavor to grow closer to the Commander," he promised, "earn her trust. In time she may join us willingly, if he can lead her down the paths we need her to."

The Witch King considered this, "If it can be done do it."

"Yes Master, we went riding the other day she and I. She seems to enjoy my company. I can use that to our advantage."

"I see," the King paused, as if a thought had occurred to him, when he spoke again his voice was colder than it was before.

"Are you sleeping with the Commander?"

Cayle grinned, "Not yet Milord, but you have said it yourself, you wish her pumped for information. More pumping may be required on my part."

The rend in the fade twisted, Cayle felt emotions emerge, the Witch King seemed…disgusted with his comment, Cayle bowed deeper. He did not understand; did the Witch King not want him to draw closer to dear Lona?

Did the King want her for himself?

"Tread lightly…servant," the King advised him, "Solona Amell is noble born, and she will show you no mercy if she discovers that you are trying to manipulate her. She will harm you in ways that you would not imagine. I would hate to lose such a valuable servant."

Cayle nodded, though he doubted that Lona was any threat. She craved his attention, he could use that, one day he would have her wrapped around his little finger. She would do anything for him.

"Contact me again when you know more," the King said, the small rend in the fade closed.

Cayle sighed; his master's presence had left him, that always made him feel a little down.

He rose and wiped away any trace of the summoning glyph, it would not do if someone discovered it.

So far everything was going exactly as planned.

Lona trusted him, soon he would be both her counsel, and with luck, in her bed.

The bed thing he was looking forward to, more and more.

Then the real work could begin.

Solona did not realize it, but she was the key to the Witch King's plans.

The purging of Ferelden would soon begin.

And Solona Amell would help them.

IOI

Old Stark's farm was burning.

The battle had finally ended nobles, their bodyguards, and the crows that they had been meeting with all lay dead. The Grey Wardens checked the bodies for anything of value, as per the Commander's orders.

Solona was nothing if not pragmatic.

The warden mage strode across the battlefield; she recognized some of the nobles from when they had sworn fealty to her. They had betrayed those oaths, and now she had seen them pay for it.

She recognized the body of Lady Liza Packton, the woman who had gotten the bridge from Arl Howe.

It seemed that she would be able to return it to Ser Darren after all, how nice of her.

The families of these men and women would be warned, they would be watched closely now, if any tried to take revenge for this, she would meet it with lethal force, just as she had done here.

Betrayal would not be tolerated, not in her Arling.

This attack, it had been ruthless and brutal, but it had also been necessary. The conspiracy had needed to be crushed. She doubted that she had gotten all the conspirators, but those that remained would get the message.

She…was not to be trifled with.

She came across Ser Temmerly, the knight that had been arrested for murder. He still lived barely.

Solona smiled as she approached him.

"Good evening Ser Knight," she smiled triumphantly.

He spat blood on her boots.

"Warden Bitch," he cursed, "You will pay for this, we are noble born…we…"

"You are traitors," she spat back, "and now you are dead, but I have one final gift for you before you go. An extra bit of punishment for the murder of Ser Tamra."

Solona began to change, not all at once but slowly.

"I hate spiders, she said as her body began to shift, long spidery legs sprouted from her body, multiple eyes appeared on her gray skin. She paused so that she could say one final word before she killed him in her spider form.

"You shall share my fear, in your last moments, goodbye Ser Temmerly."

She transformed, the great blighted spider leapt on the dying knight, spitting venom.

A sword would have been more merciful, but Solona was not in a merciful mood.

She had needed to make an example.

All would see what had happened here.

And her enemies would be afraid.