Chapter 34: The Dark beneath Hightown
Solona led them through streets of Hightown, armored, hooded, and cloaked no one recognized the Viscountess. If anyone did noticed they likely thought that she was simply a scout in the employ of the Hand of the Viscountess.
Lona the envoy rides again, she thought with a slight smile.
Not that there was much room for amusement in her heart right now. They needed to save Bethany that was all that mattered.
Hawke had managed to track down that retired Templar Samson. The man was a mess, but the promise of gold had motivated him. He even seemed eager to help, for too long he had hidden in the dark, suffering from lyrium withdrawal. The promise of doing something seemed to have given him new life.
She did not think the man recognized her; most people did not when she was out of her robes and crown.
That had served her well in past. Lona the envoy could slip past almost anyone. She could have a quiet drink with Varric at the Hanged Man, or visit her Cousin Gamlen, and no one was the wiser.
Still she was careful, she strengthened her masking spell, and it would not do for the broken down Templar to sense her, even if he was suffering from the effects of lyrium.
Solona wrinkled her nose in distaste.
The chantry's use of lyrium to keep their Templars under control was known to her. Alec had seen the results in Tevinter; the Magisters would cut Templar's lyrium rations if they started to get too big for their britches. Alas, that was not possible here in Kirkwall. She had no say as to how the grand cleric administered lyrium to her soldiers. Not that it mattered anymore, lyrium smuggling to the Templars was at an all-time high, The Knight-Commander's claimed that they had nothing to do with it, yet the results only favored the Templars.
The Templars now had their own supply of lyrium; they did not need the chantry to provide it anymore. Solona worried that one day, the Templars and Seekers would simply no longer need the chantry, that they might rise up and overthrow the Divine.
It sounded far-fetched, but…knowing what she did about Meredith…what would the woman do if she did not need to take orders from the Grand Cleric, what would the Templars do without the Divine to check their power? Not that Divine Beatrix could do much anymore, the poor woman was in the last years of her life, in another year of so, there would be a new Divine.
Would that be better or worse for the mages?
Solona could not say.
Focus, she reminded herself, Samson is not the problem, the Harimanns are.
She narrowed her eyes and mustered her courage.
It was time to end this.
IOI
The Harimann estate was quiet, too quiet.
Solona's agents had been watching the place since the Amells had learned of Bethany's fate. According to the man who had been watching since that time, no one had left since the Lady had returned with her son and Bethany last night.
"Not attending services today?" Daylen chuckled, "A shame, it would have been easier to confront her ladyship out in the open."
Solona tended to agree. Who knew what awaited them in that estate. She seriously doubted that the Harimanns were simply having lunch in there right now.
Sebastian came up beside her.
"Not a single guard posted," he commented, "this is not the Lady Harimann I remember."
"Did you know the Harimanns well?" she asked him.
"I played with Flora and Ruxton Harimann when we were children," he replied, "and my Mother called lady Johain a friend, but…I have not seen them since I was sent in the chantry, except at services of course."
Solona nodded, she was surprised that the rest of the Harimann children had not attended the ball last night; an illness had been the rumor.
Well, only one way to find out.
She started up the stairs.
Samson put a hand on her shoulder.
She glared back at the man.
He grinned at her.
"One moment lass," the man said with a yellow smile, "Stand back please."
She did as he asked.
He dropped his head in silent prayer.
She felt a wave of weakness sweep over her.
Samson had cleansed the area of mana.
She shook her head, she had been far enough back that it had not affected her much, but she has still felt it.
Something flickered over the door, flickered and went out.
Samson grinned.
"A restraint casting," he murmured, "Someone in there knows their blood magic. It would have alerted whoever summoned it, and started draining our life energy as well."
The former Templar gave her a sheepish look.
"Sorry lass, did not mean to grab you, but thought you might prefer my touch than that spell."
Solona nodded gratefully, cursing her stupidity for not checking for wards before trying to enter.
Had Alec been right about this?
Was she not ready?
She dismissed such thoughts.
The die had been cast.
There was no turning back now.
"Thank you ser," she said with a slight bow.
Samson chuckled.
"I'm no ser, not anymore."
Solona gave him a slight smile.
"We might have to work on that," she said.
Daylen and Perrin took up defensive positions, while Hawke picked the lock.
The door opened without further resistance.
Solona expected to hear a servant cry out in dismay, or a guard to challenge them. Neither thing occurred.
The Amells and their allies entered the Harimann estate.
Solona shivered, she could feel the magic here…dark and old magic!
Samson snorted.
"Stupid noble gits," he growled, "Playing with powers they do not understand."
Daylen chuckled.
"No offense Milord," Samson said with a quick bow.
"None taken ser knight," the Lord Hand responded.
Solona lowered her pole arm into fighting position. The others drew their own weapons. Hawke had offered Samson a sword and buckler. The man seemed pleased with it.
The former Templar took the lead. Solona tried to sense Bethany with her magic, but she needed to be careful. Samson might sense any spell she tried, an annoyance, but a useful one.
She no longer doubted the value of the man's presence.
He had already proven himself.
They started with the upstairs rooms. Hawke, his hound, and Daylen agreed to watch the door, should the Harimann's try to flee.
Sebastian kept an arrow nocked and ready. Perrin's eyes were cold, but careful. Isabela had that cruel smirk on her face. Merrill thought this was all very exciting.
Solona simply tried to stay focused on finding Bethany. She was all that mattered now.
The first room they came to disgusted them.
They had found Lord Harimann, or what was left of him.
Samson slammed the door.
Solona almost vomited.
Maker that smell!
The man appeared to have died weeks ago, weeks, yet no one had come to take the body!
Sebastian shivered.
"Something is very wrong here," he whispered.
Samson chuckled.
"No shit Milord," he said.
A nervous giggle escaped Solona's mouth, she could not help it.
Samson pointed down the hall to the next door.
"Shall we see what is behind door number two?" he smirked.
IOI
They searched the rest of the estate, finding the Harimann children one by one.
Brett had been in the dining hall, having all the gold in the house melted down, he…he had planned to have it poured over an elven servant girl; he wanted to make a statue as beautiful as the ones in the Viscount's Keep. Sebastian had dealt with the guard holding the girl with a vicious right cross.
Brett Harimann paid them no mind; he did not even seem to acknowledge the Amells presence.
Solona turned to Samson.
"He is bewitched isn't he?" she asked.
"Aye lass," he said, "the lad is."
"Can you help him?"
"Not as long as the Maleficar that did it is still alive no," the former Templar responded.
Solona shivered, she feared what condition Bethany would be in when they found her.
Next, they found Ruxton Harimann; the young man had been…enjoying the company of an elven girl and her brother in bed.
Merrill turned three shades of scarlet, the Dalish covered her eyes.
Isabela laughed, flinging one lude comment after another.
Sebastian winced.
"I'm sorry love," he said to Solona, "You should not have to see such things."
Solona shook her head. She had watched her best friend killed most brutally in front of her.
After seeing Livia die, little shocked her anymore.
The group left the man to his…pleasures.
Sebastian snorted.
"I've known Ruxton Harimann for years," he murmured, "The man is a complete prude."
Isabela smirked.
"That is my kind of prude," she grinned lecherously.
Hawke and Daylen rejoined the group, together they preceded deeper into the Harimann estate.
They came across Flora Harimann in the kitchens, several empty bottles of fine wine scattered around her. As with her brothers, the girl did not seem to hear them, she just ranted about someone not giving her what she wanted.
Sebastian shook her, trying to wake his old friend, Flora Harimann just pushed him away and went screaming after the cooks.
Sebastian sighed; he had come here to find the people who had killed his family.
What they had here was only victims, and there was still no sign of Bethany.
The group made their way down to the wine cellar, somehow Flora and her brothers had beaten them down here.
The three Harimann children barred the way to a stairwell leading deeper into the estate.
"You shall go no further," Flora ordered.
""Well," Hawke chuckled, "At least she is not behaving like a drunken ass anymore. We have come for my sister girl. Your bitch of a mother will return her."
"No Further," Flora repeated.
The three Harimann children collapsed…
Demons emerged from the shadows!
A desire demon with very small horns reached for Solona!
Daylen bashed it in the face with Roar; he decapitated the beast as it fell.
Solona twirled her staff, the two remaining desire demons, summoned shades to aid them. The Viscountess blocked the slash one of the shades and beheaded it with her pole arm.
Hawke, Samson, and Perrin and engaged the desire demons. Sebastian and Merrill struck from rage, arrows and lightning blasted the creatures. Isabela and the hound defended the Viscountess and her brother.
The fight was over quite quickly.
Samson regarded the desire demons with disdain.
"Newly formed these were," he said, "Their sire will not be pleased that we killed her brood."
Sebastian dropped to one knee in silent prayer.
"Demons, temptresses," he shivered, "Maker watch over us."
"Still no sign of Bethany," Perrin said with a worried look.
Solona's heart went out to the poor man.
"She is not dead," Hawke said, "I would know it if she was."
The Viscountess feared a worse fate for her cousin.
What if Bethany had become an abomination?
No…she could not think like that!
Bethany had to be alright, Lady Harimann needed her alive.
Daylen wiped the remains of a desire demon off his sword. He looked at the stairwell before them.
"They really did not want us going down there," he said gesturing to stairs, "Shall we go see why?"
Perrin gave the Viscountess a worried look.
"Maybe you should stay here Your Excellency," he said.
She gave him a grim look.
"I've come this far," she growled, "I'll see it through."
She raised her pole arm.
"Let's go end this."
IOI
The stairs opened up into a large room, a very old room.
Sebastian shivered.
"A ruin, I did not know such places were this close to Hightown?"
Samson chuckled.
"Something left over by the Magisters who built this damn city," he said, "Be on your guard, the ancient mages dabbled in many profane things."
As if responded to his words, corpses crawled out of the shadows, backed up by more desire demons and even a rage demon."
Another battle broke out.
Solona and Daylen fought back to back. The children of Aristide Amell united.
She hated that she could not use her magic, it would serve her well here…she could…
"Cousin Lona."
The voice was sweet and happy.
She turned to one of the alcoves.
A familiar dark haired figure was there, smiling at her.
Perrin noticed it to.
"Bethany!" he cried out.
The girl ran.
Solona and Perrin broke away from the group.
"LONA DON'T!" Hawke called.
An iron gate closed over the alcove, blocking anymore following.
Merrill squealed. An arcane horror had risen; it was casting a spell that burned their skin.
Samson smote the creature, giving Hawke time to leap on it and cut its throat.
There was nothing he could do for Solona and Perrin right now.
They were on their own.
IOI
"Bethany wait!"
Solona's pleas fell on deaf ears. Bethany was giggling, like this was all some fun game!
Only when they came to a dead end did she stop.
Perrin and the Viscountess slid to a stop.
Bethany was still in her party gown. She was smiling, but her eyes were far off and distant.
Solona whimpered. Her cousin's mind was being controlled.
Bethany picked up an old mage staff from the ground.
Solona's eyes widened.
"Beth don't!" she gasped.
Bethany did not respond.
"You must die now cousin," she said, "So that I may become Viscountess. I'm loyal to my beloved Brett, my one true love."
Bethany summoned fire; she flung it at her cousin.
Perrin leapt in front of her, the fireball slammed into his shield, knocking him back into Solona.
Bethany gestured again.
Force magic slammed the two of them into the ground.
Solona gasped in pain. She had never been struck so hard in their training!
Perrin gasped with shock!
"SHE IS A MAGE!" he cried.
Solona whimpered.
Maker, she wished he had not seen that!
IOI
Bethany raised her hands. Tears were running down her cheeks.
She…she did not…not…want…
She did not want them to get away.
She was loyal to her beloved Brett, her one true love!
Fire rained down on Perrin and Solona.
Perrin, she thought, my…my poor Per…
Her poor Brett, she was loyal to him, her one true love.
She had to kill them for him.
Allure demanded it.
It would be done!
IOI
Perrin fell to the ground, his shield had been melted to slag, and still Bethany came.
She was looking more beautiful and terrible than ever.
Now he knew the truth, why she had seemed so sad, so guarded.
It broke his heart.
He did not want to do this!
He did not want to harm her!
"We're no match for her!" he cried out.
Solona rose, she ripped off her burning cloak, her white hair had come out of its bun, if fell down past the small of her back.
Her eyes flared with fury.
"LET HER GO!" she growled to at the puppet master no doubt looking through her cousin's eyes.
"I'm loyal to my beloved Brett," Bethany parroted, "My one true love."
Solona's eyes narrowed.
"Okay then," she growled, "If that is how you want to play? Then let's play!"
Blue flames burned in the Viscountess's eyes, arcane shields wrapped around her and Perrin."
He stood still in shock and disbelief.
Solona summoned gale force winds; they blasted Bethany back into a pile of human bones.
Her cousin gasped as she hit hard, Solona feared that Bethany had broken something, but she did not stop she could not stop.
Bethany tried to catch her in a crushing prison, the spell hurt, but Solona's will was too strong, she fought through the prison.
She summoned chains of arcane energy, simple constructs to be sure, but they worked.
Bethany gasped as they constricted around her.
Solona gave her a pitying look.
"Forgive me Cousin," she whispered.
She walked up to Bethany, her eyes flaring with magic.
Still Bethany fought, trying to serve her master's orders.
"Yield," Solona demanded.
"No," Bethany cried, "I…I'm loyal to my beloved Brett, my one true…"
Solona rolled her eyes.
She would pay good coin if Beth would stop saying that!
"That is enough now cousin," she whispered, "You are safe."
She reached down to touch Bethany's forehead.
"No," Bethany wailed, "I'm loyal to my…"
Solona touched her.
"Sleep," she whispered.
Bethany sighed and sank into unconsciousness.
Solona sighed heavily. She…she… had not wanted to do that."
"Your Excellency?"
Perrin's voice was small and afraid.
She turned to him. She could see the fear in his eyes. She knew she looked terrifying her white hair shimmering, her eyes full of blue flame, lightning crackling off her armor.
She gave him a pitying look.
"Don't be afraid of me Bradley," she begged, "Bethany and I are not your enemies."
She saw the nervous look in his eyes, what he felt and what saw were at war.
"Please don't be afraid," she repeated.
He held up his sword.
"Please…don't!"