8th Haring, 9:30
Denerim, Ferelden.
In the shadowed doorway of a back alley behind the Market Square Leliana huddled into the threadbare blanket she had acquired. On her way to check out the warehouse Couldry had directed her too, she had mussed her hair, found some rags and a blanket to blend in with the unfortunate souls inhabiting the gutters. Many had been forced to seek refuge in Denerim by the Darkspawn horde ravaging the southern reaches of the Ferelden, but with no family to take them in and no coin to pay for lodging, many found themselves eking out an existence on the streets of the capital. The worse thing was no one seemed to be doing anything about it. In fact, during her time in the alleyway she had seen guards beat a man begging for coin. After witnessing that, she had retreated to the rooftop eaves to continue her vigil, only returning to the street once night fell.
In the distance, the Chantry's bell tolled midnight, indicating the shift changeover of not just the Templars but the city guard as well. Leliana huddled into her blanket and lent against the wooden door, looking up at the dark skies. She sighed to herself. It had only been a week since arriving, but she was already frustrated by the hoops found themselves jumping through. However, she had no other way to find Marjolaine and she couldn't risk Marjolaine deciding to come for her, so they were stuck running Slim Couldry's errands. Leliana couldn't say she liked Kallian's contact. Kallian clearly didn't like the man herself, but she seemed to trust his information. It was the best Leliana could manage in the circumstances.
How long she sat huddled in the cold street, Leliana did not know, but as weariness began to overcome her, two men turned into the alleyway carrying a chest between them. She couldn't help but smile. The alleyway had been empty for hours, not a single soul had entered who could be considered of interest, but she supposed no one was going to do this kind of thing during the day. Leliana adjusted her position to get a better view of men; based on their attire they appeared to be members of the city guard, but there was something about them that just didn't seem quite right.
'What does 'e want it all for?' the man on the left, a burly brute of a man with a scruffy beard, muttered to his companion.
'Problems in Highever,' replied the second. Although smaller than his colleague, he still looked like a ruffian with tattoos visible on his hand. 'Word got out the Cousland bitch survived. Now the towns folk are digging their heels in. Refusing to pay their taxes 'til she comes home. The new Teryn plans to persuade them otherwise. Our finest are setting off at dawn tomorrow.'
The first speaker laughed. 'They won't know what's hit them.'
'Ain't no laughing matter,' replied the other. 'They have the resources to last out a siege for years if they keep the port open. If Highever shuts themselves in then it might give other folk ideas.'
The first man laughed dismissively, as if his comrade's concerns were unfounded. 'Let 'em starve to death waiting for their Princess, I say. It's just one town.'
'The one northern city that has a deep-water port besides Denerim? I don't think Teryn Howe will see it that way,' replied the tattooed man. 'Right, this is the last of it. The coach is coming tomorrow night after bell strike to load up so it can leave with the men.'
As they vanished into the darkened warehouse, Leliana couldn't help but laugh as the door closed. She pondered how much thicker anyone could get, talking about such things in the open. Who knew who was hiding amongst the refugees? If she was going to relieve these dimwitted ruffians of their ill-gotten loot, she was going to need more manpower. She and Kallian would be no match for these guys on their own. Provided he was not delighting in the various debaucheries on offer at the Pearl, it might just be the kind of caper that would appeal to Zevran.
-…-
Word spread through the city at an alarming rate that the Grey Warden, Daylen Amell, had been at the centre of a brawl in the Pearl. The mercenaries involved had told anyone who would listen to them what had happened between them and the Warden, even going as far as placing a bounty on the head of Amell and his two companions. It garnered some interest until those parties realised Howe's bounty for the Warden was far higher. However, despite the danger, no one seemed keen to make a move on the blind mage, particularly when it was quietly put about he killed a Crow in the depths of the Hinterlands before dueling with spirits in the Brecellian forest.
'That is not how it happened!' Daylen complained to Elissa when he heard about the rumours circulating about him.
He had gone in search of Alistair to complain but found her instead. With the news spreading of Daylen's presence in Denerim, Elissa had forgone meeting Zevran's pirate contact rather than run the risk of being seen. Instead, she whiled away her day in the safety of her lodgings while Alistair continued his search for Genetivi. She sighed as she put aside her book.
'But it's keeping away interested parties,' she observed. 'It doesn't do any harm for people to think you are capable of more.'
'Well that's alright for you to say,' he replied. 'You aren't the one keeping such a story together.'
'Ask Leliana to help you keep it in check,' Elissa said. 'It was her idea anyway.'
'I knew it!' yelled Daylen, his temper flaring. 'I knew that damn Bard was behind this with her flowery tales and silly embellishments. Tell her to stop it.'
Elissa looked up, her eyebrow raised. 'You want her to stop, you tell her to yourself,' she replied tartly. 'Of course, if she does then every mercenary in this city will be falling over each other to claim your head.'
'You're enjoying this, aren't you?' Daylen muttered tersely.
'You have to admit the story does have some entertaining flourishes,' Elissa replied. 'Daylen, it's helping all of us. You'll have people queuing up at the gates to help you if we leave Leliana to it.'
'And here I was thinking you were somewhat out of joint about Leliana's bardcraft,' he remarked drily.
'Just the spying part of the whole endeavour… and the assassinations,' Elissa answered, picking up her book again and searching for her page. 'How is the search for Genitivi going, do you know?'
Elissa looked up to see Daylen bristle with impatience. It was taking days for Alistair and Wynne to track down the elusive Chantry Brother. A visit to his house had thrown up very little in terms of actual results due to the cagey nature of Genitivi's assistant. For her part, she remained steadfast in her belief it was a fool's errand. However, she could not ask Alistair to abandon this course; while he knew they did not necessarily need the Arl to help them rally the Bannorn, Alistair had given his word that they would save Eamon, and he was far too honourable to go back on his promise.
Elissa clicked her tongue in frustration; she longed to be out of the city and away from the agents of Howe and Loghain, even if it meant leaving her Silverite armour, which remained frustratingly out of reach in the Palace armoury, behind. She had put Kallain onto the task of finding a way to procure the armour. As she was already out and about in the city with Leliana, she was in the best position to find a way into the palace before they had to leave. Thus far, her maid and the bard had been unable to locate a means through which to infiltrate the Palace.
'What are you thinking?' asked Daylen, turning so he was facing her.
She looked up into his sightless eyes. 'We could go and speak to this Weylon fellow,' she suggested. 'I'm sure Wynne and Alistair put on a good show, but…'
Daylen nodded, with a smirk starting to grace his face. 'You know, you are very good at getting information out of people when you want it. Perhaps it needs the charm of King Alistair's graceful Queen-Consort.'
Elissa stared at Daylen for a moment. 'Blimey, Amell, I'm growing concerned about all these passing compliments. Anyone who didn't know any better might make the mistake of thinking you actually like me,' she said, putting her book back on the bed.
Daylen chuckled. 'Well don't let it go to your head, but you aren't the pathetic airhead as I first thought you were,' he remarked. 'So, are we off to persuade this assistant or trade banal banter for another ten minutes.'
'Pathetic airhead?' she intoned with amusement before smirking. ' We could kill two birds with one stone while we trade banal banter as we walk to Genetivi's house,' she said, sliding off her bed.
She walked to where she had stored her belts, picking up the one that held her dagger. Given that she was in a dress, it would look somewhat odd for her to be fully armed, even by Ferelden's rather martial standards. She would be able to easily conceal the dagger under her cloak and no one would be any the wiser.
They emerged on the cold street a short time later. Elissa threw her hood over her head and pushed her red hair out of view. Beside her, Daylen used his staff to lean on giving the impression he was using it to guide him along the streets. Elissa pondered, as they walked side by side, just how much of the city around him he could see. As far as Elissa was aware, the Veil was not thin over the city so she wondered if he was shrouded in darkness.
In the half light of winter, the streets were grey and gloomy, mirroring the steely grey of the cloudy sky above. Elissa regarded the buildings around her thoughtfully, taking note of what could be done to improve conditions for the citizens of the capital once Alistair reclaimed his rightful place as King.
It wasn't until she had been forced to stay at a commoner's inn that she had considered the lot of the ordinary people of city. On all of her prior visits to Denerim, she had stayed at her family's estate in the Palace District, or the Royal Palace following her marriage to Alistair, so she had never had the opportunity to really take note of the living conditions in the lower sections of the city. In recent days, she had come to the conclusion that things needed to change; the city was simply too crowded, with ramshackle buildings crammed together in chaotic fashion overhanging narrow streets that were packed with people and livestock. The recent influx of refugees had only exacerbated the city's existing problems, adding thousands more poor souls with no place to go to the already full streets. Kallian had remarked that crowding in the Alienage was even worse than in the rest of the city, with hundreds of elves packed into a couple of narrow streets and their surrounding buildings. Elissa had to ponder why those who came before her had allowed the city to reach such a state.
They reached Genetivi's address in a quiet back street not far from the Market Place. Further down the same road was the famous magic emporium, The Wonders of Thedas. The store looked busy from her vantage point, most likely due to the fact that people were terrified of the looming Blight and looking for protection wherever they could find it, even if it meant resorting to magic, not that many could afford. She turned away to knock on the door before pulling her hood down. As she shook out her hair, the door open.
'Yes?' said the young, dark haired occupant, who was eyeing them with something akin to suspicion.
'Weylon, I presume?' she asked, stepping back from the door to check the house.
The man gave her a suspicious look. 'Who is asking?'
Elissa flashed the charming court smile she had perfected over years of pretending to be interested in the tedious smalltalk the nobility were prone to indulging in at their endless social gathering. 'I'm Elissa, this is Daylen. We have been studying the markings on the Birth Rock in Jader and in his recent letter, Genetivi said if we asked you then you could provide us with some of his research so we can compare the markings.'
Weylon looked between them, then stood aside to let them in. 'I'm afraid Genetivi didn't leave the same message with me, but I will help how I can.'
'That's a shame,' Elissa said with a theatrical sigh as she walked in. 'Perhaps we could look through his books? I know what we're looking for.' She observed as a brief expression of annoyance passed across Weylon's face. She gave him a sympathetic smile. 'Of course, it must be somewhat bad timing on our part, what with the Blight and all.'
'Yes, between that and the Knights from Redcliffe, I've been rushed off my feet,' Weylon declared.
'Knights from Redcliffe? Sounds serious,' remarked Elissa conversationally, in an effort to keep him talking.
Weylon made a dismissive gesture with his hand. 'Something about the Arl being sick and now they are missing.'
'Oh?' she said.
Elissa glanced in the direction of Weylon. The man, thinking she was looking elsewhere, fidgeted in agitation, running his hand through his hair before looking in her direction.
'They said they would inform me if there was any sign of Genitivi.'
She nodded her head solemnly. 'Is he missing?'
'What? No!' he replied. 'Sometimes he just finds something that interests him and "poof", he's gone.'
'Yes, he did mention his air of distraction, however he did say we were free to review his research under your guidance,' Elissa replied, carefully observing the man's body language; there was something off about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
'Sadly, I do not have the time,' Weylon tersely replied.
Elissa glanced around, placing her hands behind her back so she could rest her hand on the hilt of her dagger. 'I really must insist, it will not take long.'
'I must ask you to leave,' replied Weylon, his voice raising an octave.
'What have you done with Genitivi?' Daylen interjected in a low voice that somehow cut through the rising tension in the room.
'Nothing he didn't deserve,' answered Weylon, his words dripping with disdain. 'He was interfering with things that were no concern of his.'
'And the Knights of Redcliffe?' inquired Elissa.
'Dead,' chuckled Weylon. 'Just as you will be,' he continued, holding out his hand.
He started muttering an incantation but Daylen was much faster with the advantage of his staff to hand. Daylen jabbed it at Weylon, the blade at the bottom piercing the man's arm as Elissa threw her dagger as Isabella had shown her. It lodged itself just below the man's collarbone. Weylon stumbled back, looking at the dagger in horror before he pulled it out. Blood ooze from the wound but before Weylon could do anything, Daylen unleashed a bolt of lightening from his staff, which struck the man square in the chest. Elissa shielded her eyes from the bright light until she heard him fall to the ground with a heavy thud. The room immediately filled with the smell of burnt meat. Elissa grimaced as she looked over at the charred corpse, before turning to regard the blind mage.
'Well that explains a lot,' she remarked, as she began walking around the table to retrieve her dagger.
'Who do you think he really is?' Daylen mused as she crouched down to examine the body.
Elissa shook her head. 'I don't know,' she said. 'I can't think of anyone who would want to harm the Brother. What sort of magic was he attempting to do?'
'Blood magic,' Daylen replied, his mouth twisting with distaste. 'Well, this actually got interesting,' he added. 'A Brother searching for the Ashes of Andraste is missing, and a blood mage leading anyone who asks about it to their deaths.'
'It's far from encouraging,' she conceded as she wiped the dagger clean with the inside of her skirt. 'We should look around; see if there is anything that can lead us to Genitivi.'
-…-
'Shit,' muttered Kallian as she opened the chests liberated from Howe's men.
'What is it?' asked Leliana, peering over the elf's shoulder to look at their loot.
Kallian looked at the Bard. 'The bastard. He must have known this hadn't come from the tax coffers,' she replied, closing the lid with a thud. She sighed heavily, rubbing her eyes. 'I should have known, of course, it's the sort of dirty trick Howe would play.' She tapped the top of the chest. 'These are from the personal estate of the Crown. After the taxes are collected, the money is then redistributed to the area. Whatever is left over is added to the personal coffers of the Lord or Lady of the Land.'
'So this is Alistair and Elissa's money?' asked Leliana quietly. 'He was going to use it to subdue Highever.'
The elf nodded. 'We need to tell them, Elissa at least, she will know what to do.'
'This is the same Elissa who told you to say out of trouble, no?' replied Leliana.
Kallian shrugged. 'Is this the very same woman who has been consorting with pirate acquaintances of Zevran? I'm not sure she's got much of a leg to stand on when it comes to staying out of trouble.'
Leliana smirked. 'True, but Elissa is not currently wanted for murder and various other crimes.'
'No, she's just wanted by the raving lunatic who took this money,' Kallian replied, then she smiled, 'not to mention, imagine the hot water this will land Couldry in?'
'True enough, although, he is my only lead to Marjolaine,' said Leliana. 'I had hoped…?'
Kallian shook her head. 'I'm sorry, but I think he has been playing us. The only thing he is going to be good for is getting into the Palace to get Elissa's armour.' She turned back to the chests. 'We should get these out of the view. We don't want anyone finding them and thinking the worse of our antics.'
They both looked at the chest with dubious expressions. Getting the three boxes of money from one side of the city to the other had been a long, sweaty task. They looked at one another again.
'We could just tell Alistair?' suggested Leliana.
Kallian shook her head. Leliana frowned. While Kallian was loyal to both Elissa and Alistair, the elf was hesitant about revealing her true nature to the young King of Ferelden. Leliana supposed part of it related to Kallian's actions last time she was in Denerim. While she was not in the least be remorseful about the deaths she had caused, Kallian didn't want anyone to see that side of her who didn't need to. Elissa was different in Kallian's eyes; she had transcended the hatred Kallian felt for most Humans. However, as a witness to the deeds committed, Elissa would always be party to that side of the elf. Yet, Elissa did not seem to chastise Kallian for it; in fact, evidence suggested that she almost embraced it. Perhaps it was the bond created after they had saved each other's lives. Elissa had risked a lot to save Kallian from the noose. In returned, Kallian had dragged a dying Elissa from her burning home to safety when the odds were against her. Besides, it was clear that Elissa was not the usual pampered noble who'd lived a secluded life, an aspect that made her easy to like. In comparison to some of the nobles Leliana had met in Orlais, Elissa was quite worldly. The Couslands had trained their scion well.
However, with the decision not to tell Alistair of what they had discovered came the burden of having to put the chests out of sight. As they grabbed the handles, there was a knock at the door and before they could turn the door opened.
'We finally have a lead…' said Elissa before she took in the scene before her. 'What are you two doing?'
Leliana and Kallian hadn't had a chance to react before Elissa had pushed open the door. Elissa looked between them, an expression of Royal suspicion in her eyes as they flicked from one woman to the other, then the chests. There was a resigned look in her eyes as she closed the door then crossed her arms over her chest.
'Well?' she asked in a conversational tone of voice that was somehow more ominous than it sounded.
Kallian stepped forward, fidgeting with her fingers as she took a deep breath. 'We received word Howe was moving money from the treasury to launch an attack on Highever,' she explained, 'so we relieved him of it. Only the money isn't from the tax coffers.'
Leliana raised her eyebrows, impressed Kallian had not held back on the truth. Of course, it acted as a stark remainder to herself she might have done such a thing.
'Where is it from?' asked Elissa, stepping into the room for a closer look.
Kallian lift the lid to reveal the Theirin family seal inside the lid. Elissa tilted her head to the side and raised an eyebrow, sighing as she walked over to look at the pile of silver within.
'Cheeky bastard,' she muttered. 'Where did you get the information?'
'Slim Couldry,' replied Kallian without any preamble.
Elissa looked up at her former maid. The elf opened her mouth but as she did so, Elissa spoke. 'How did he survive Ostagar?'
Kallian's expression transformed to one of shock as she gaped at the remark. 'You knew?'
'Knew what?' asked Elissa.
'That he was a criminal mastermind,' replied Kallian, her voice raising an octave.
'Well, I wouldn't go that far,' said Elissa. 'But, yes, I was aware of his shady dealings.' As Kallian's expression turned to one of rage, Elissa quickly defended herself. 'We needed someone who could keep their ear to the ground to help us protect Alistair. You have no idea how much his presence altered the status-quo in the country. Markas knew of Couldry and my father gave him sanction to inquire.' Silence filled the Void as two women glowering at each. 'I take it Couldry is assisting you to discover a way into the Palace.'
'Hampering it, more like' Kallian replied. 'He claims there is only one the main entrance, but I'll be damned if he rolls those kegs from the cellar past the guards.' She sighed. 'You could have warned me.'
'I was working under the very reasonable assumption that he was dead,' Elissa riposted. 'Sly bastard. Still, if he's helping you…'
'Helping us?' said Leliana. 'He has us running around in circles for his favour.'
Elissa sighed. 'We don't have time for circles,' she explained, 'we've got a lead on Genitivi and we're moving out tomorrow.' She looked at the chests, then at the two women. 'Let's get these out of sight before we pay Couldry a visit.'
-…-
The passage way Couldry had directed them too was cold and dank. It had once been an escape route from Denerim when the city had only been the size of the Palace District, but centuries of expansion had rendered the ancient tunnel obsolete. It has once been bricked up but years of wily servants and determined assassins had seen the wall torn down to be replaced with a shoddy wooden panel. The previously taciturn Couldry had sung like a nightingale when Elissa had arrived in his domain, even pressing a Silverite rune on her that he had obtained from Ostagar, assuring her that Alistair would understand. Kallian had been fuming at the confirmation that Couldry knew how to get into the Palace, but Elissa merely pointed out she shouldn't have expected anything else.
Leliana had offered to come, but Elissa had insisted she remain at the tavern should the worst happen. Despite telling herself over and over again everything would be well, a sense of doubt lingered in Elissa's gut.
They emerged in a walled garden as Couldry had explained and it would be a case of accessing the now quiet kitchens to emerge in the main Palace courtyard where they could then access the Cousland vault. They were both dressed in the uniforms worn by the servants in the palace so they could move around discretely. Both women were familiar with the Palace layout and once they had their bearings, they moved quickly through the halls to the Cousland apartments. Getting out would be the problem; Elissa fully intended to wear her armour to walk out as it was too big to carry, but with her coat of arms emblazoned across the front, it would be no easy task to traverse even the short distance across the walled garden unnoticed, as the Palace grounds were swarming with guards and anything out of place would draw their attention.
Couldry had told them Loghain had ordered extra men to protect Anora from Orlesian assassins, or so he claimed. The two women walked at a normal pace, not speaking and carrying flagons of ale. The guards ignored them as they walked down the corridor to the Cousland apartments. As the second family of Ferelden, they did not have a city estate, rather lodgings within the Palace so they might conduct their business quickly. Historically, it had been so the Crown could keep an eye on the family that could have been their greatest rivals, but more recently it was because they family were almost considered Royalty. Elissa had been the closest thing Ferelden had to a Princess of the Realm before she had married Alistair and become a Princess in fact.
The corridor that lead to the Cousland rooms was deserted. The pair of them put down the ale and made for the doors, Elissa pulling out the keys to the rooms as she went. She had carried a set of keys since leaving Highever, given to her by her mother before they had gone in search of her father. Unlocking the door was a quick job, and Elissa lead the way into the apartments. The last time they had been here, the rooms had been full of laughter as they welcomed a new member to their family in the days after her nuptials. She could almost hear echoes of her father's deep laughter and the soft reprimand of her mother. Despite the worry of potential war back then, they had been happy days.
'Are you okay?' asked Kallian quietly, placing a hand to her former mistress' shoulder.
'It should never have come to this,' Elissa murmured, looking around the darkened receiving room.
Her eyes fell on the portrait of her father. His last minutes would remain etched on her mind until the day she departed this world; he should have tried to stand up. She got out despite her injuries so why couldn't he? Was he so ready to die at the hands of those thugs Howe had dressed up as soldiers?
'We need to get out of here,' said Elissa, turning towards the vault.
It was almost coincidental timing, as the lock clicked open on the vault door there was a shout from the main entrance. Elissa turned to Kallian in horror. They had left the doors open. She hadn't even thought about it because there had always been guards nearby to close the doors. She looked at Kallian and mouthed the word 'hide'. The elf looked at Elissa, indecision written all over her face.
'Go,' hissed Elissa, 'they won't kill me, but you?' She shook her head.
Elissa took a few steps forward as Kallian reluctantly backed away. Asking her to back down a fight after the fate she had left her cousin to was not the wisest idea but Elissa could handle herself in her own home. The three men who rounded the corner all wore the arms of the Crown, and the man leading them stopped in his tracks, then bowed.
'Your Highness,' he said.
She acknowledged him with a nod of her head. 'Captain,' she said.
The was a moment of uncomfortable silence as they looked at each other, before the Captain coughed awkwardly and then said, 'I'm sorry Your Highness, but I have strict orders from the Queen to apprehend you. You are wanted for questioning in relation to the downfall of Highever.'
'Of course I am,' she said softly with a deep sigh. The captain stepped forward pulled some irons from his belt. Elissa eyed them then looked up at him. 'Is that really necessary?' she asked. 'I'll come quietly.'
'You are to be confined to your rooms within the Palace,' he explained, putting them back in his belt. 'This way, if you will.'
Elissa bowed to him, her eyes flicking in the direction of Kallian, before she followed the Captain from the room.
