Chapter 35: Alluring Promises
"Please…don't."
The Viscountess's words were not a command, but a plea. A plea made to a man who had sworn an oath to protect her. A man who was afraid after everything he had seen.
Bradley stood there, sword in hand. Solona remained a vision of magical power, lightning, fire, and ice crackled where she stood.
The Viscountess sighed, and powered down, her magic faded, leaving only a worried young woman, the woman that Bradley had promised to protect, even if it cost him his own life.
Slowly…carefully, he lowered his sword.
"Praise Andraste," Solona whispered.
Bradley returned to the way they had entered the chamber, a steel portcullis now blocked their path back to the others. Solona was still winded, and needed time to recover from her fight with Bethany. She would likely be able to remove after she had rested, but not now.
It seemed that they would have to wait for Hawke and the others to find them.
All they could do now...was wait.
The Viscountess and her guard sat across from each other in an uncomfortable silent…
…A silence that he finally broke.
Bradley gave her a worried look.
"You are a mage?" he asked.
Solona sighed, that would be the most obvious question wouldn't it?
"Yes," she answered.
Bradley snorted.
He knew it was a stupid question after what he had seen, but he had needed to ask it. He had needed to get it out in the open.
He looked over at Bethany; she still lay where she had fallen, still asleep atop a pile of bones.
He went to her. The Viscountess followed in his wake.
He touched the sleeping girl and she whimpered in pain, holding her side.
"She is hurt," he said giving Solona a worried look.
"I can help her," The Viscountess promised, her hands glowing blue.
Bradley stepped back and let her work. The simplest of touches and Bethany's breathing became easier, her whimpering ceased.
Solona gave her guard a weary smile. She was out of breath, but had managed to do what needed to be done.
"Healing magic has never been my forte," she confessed, "Beth has always been better at it than I am."
He nodded, feeling…if not better at least more accepting about all this.
They…they had done it, they had saved Bethany, seeing that she was now okay, that she was now safe ,made him feel better.
Of course, everything was not all right here. His Viscountess had just revealed herself to be a mage to him.
That was not something easily forgotten.
He…he needed to say something, for the sake of his own faith.
"Your Excellency, I…I do not mean to speak out of turn, not after you have saved both our lives, but…"
Solona smiled.
"Speak your peace," she said, "I will not get insulted."
He sighed. Maker save him if she decided to take offense.
"Magic is to serve not to rule," He said, "According to chantry law; you should not be our Viscountess."
"I know," she replied.
His answer shocked him.
She knew?
That was all that she could say?
IOI
Solona chuckled mirthlessly.
"You think I do not know that Perrin? You think that I don't know that I should not be ruling Kirkwall?" she asked, "I know what the chantry says, and I have asked myself that same question since my coronation, why me? My Father…he…he knew what I was and still he named me his successor. Why would he trust a mage, even if I was his own blood? I didn't want the throne. I…I was happy living in exile. I had to conceal what I was, but that is no different from any other appl…apostate."
Solona smiled, she had almost referred to herself as an 'applestate,' Livia had hated the word apostate, what had become a child's denial of what she was had become an expression of joy and innocence between her and her friend.
An apostate is a threat, an applestate is not.
Solona could almost see her old friend standing there, her green eyes so full of life that freckled face a mask of merriment, and those two long red braids draped over her shoulders.
Solona missed her friend, her sister. She…she still missed her. If…if only Livia was still alive. She could use her help right now.
Alas, Livia was gone, and Solona was now alone.
"Daylen should have been Viscount," Solona acknowledged, "but a twelve year old boy could not hold Kirkwall together. He could not have kept Meredith at bay, or the nobles from rising up against House Amell. I…I had no choice, I had to take the throne, and I have done the best I could with it."
The guard did not look convinced.
"But the chantry says…"
Solona frowned.
"I…I was born with magic, just like Bethany was," she said pointing to her cousin, "Neither she nor I asked to be born this way. Now you know the truth. We are not monsters! We're the same people you have always known, we can just…do things that others cannot. I won't apologize to anyone for the way I was born. I am a mage, and I make no excuses for that."
She crossed her arms.
"I am what the Maker made me, and I dare anyone in this world to say that he was wrong."
She stood her ground, waiting for his response…
Perrin did something that surprised her then.
He laughed.
The Viscountess gave him an irritated look.
"Is that so amusing?" Solona said, she sounded more than a little insulted.
The man shook his head, tears of mirth in his eyes.
"It…it is not amusing Your…Your Excellency," Perrin chuckled, "It…it…it is ironic."
He gave her a wry smile, finally gaining control of himself.
"I…I don't know how many times I have said those words," he said, "How many times I have found myself looking in the mirror, and trying not to hate what I saw there. I'm Perrin Threnhold's bastard son, I can't do anything about that. Does that make me a monster? Is the cruelty of the Threnholds in my blood? I do not know. I hoped not. I…I pray not, but…but I make no apologies for who I am. I…I did not ask for this."
Despite the direness of their situation, Solona smiled. She had never thought of that. Bradley was always the perfect picture of what a guard should be. The fact that he feared that he might not be worthy never entered her mind.
It seemed that she was not the only one in the keep who had doubts.
"It seems we have more in common than either of us thought," she commented.
"So it seems," he said wryly. He looked down at Bethany, worry returned to his face.
"Our births are not the only thing we have in common," he said fondly brushing Bethany's cheek with his finger.
Solona's lip quirked with amusement.
"You really love her don't you?"
The guard blushed.
"It seems silly, we knew each other for such a short time, and then I was gone helping Lord Sebastian, but…I…"
He took a deep breath mustering his courage.
"I do love her," he confessed, "She…she did not need her magic to bewitch me. I remember seeing her in the gallows with Lord Garrett and Lady Leandra. All I could think was…that poor beautiful thing. I…I was dazzled. I…I wanted to help her, to take her out of that horrible place."
"Love at first sight?" Solona smiled.
"Interest…perhaps," he said, "Love came later. The ball might have been the first time it was actually love. I…I can't imagine a man doing what I did without being in love."
"What did you do?"
He chuckled.
"You are aware that the guard holds lotteries to determine who will escort noble ladies to balls?"
She nodded. Yes the Viscountess had heard that old tradition, it was a custom that went back to the Orlesian days, if a nobleman had a daughter who was not attached, the guard would hold a lottery, the man who won got the pot of money for the tickets, and had to escort the girl. The money was to make the night more desirable.
Not that it seemed that Bradley wanted the money, not after the night he had spent with Bethany. Both had enjoyed themselves.
Bradley blushed.
"Last year, for the ball," he began, "when I heard that Bethany needed to be escorted, that the lottery was for her. I…I spent weeks making deals with the other guards, trading shifts for tickets, offering to help in off duty hours for them. Some might have called it cheating, but…"
Solona laughed.
"You bought all the tickets didn't you?"
The man nodded shyly.
Solona smiled.
"Does Bethany know?"
"No," he said, "I did not want her to think I was obligated to doing an odious duty. I used the pot money to finish paying off the last of the guards that I had bought tickets from, to seal the final deal. I did not care about the coin. The money was never a factor. I…I wanted to spend time with her. I wanted to be her escort that night."
He gave Bethany a sad smile.
"I…I wanted her to enjoy being with me."
Solona gave him a sad smile.
"She cares about you," she informed him, "She has been awaiting your return."
That seemed to gladden him somewhat, but then he remembered what they had just faced, how Bethany had been a slave of a blood mage.
He gave Solona a concerned look.
"Can your magic free her from the spell she is under?"
The Viscountess frowned.
"I…I do not know. I'm not a maleficar; blood magic is a mystery to me. Hopefully when we find the blood mage who has cast this spell, we can force them to reverse it."
Perrin's eyes turned cold and angry.
"Oh…They will release it," he said, "Or they will wish they were never born!"
"It seems we agree again," she said.
Bradley shook his head; a mirthless chuckle escaped his mouth.
"We make a sad pair she and I don't we?" he said, "The apostate and the bastard son of a dead tyrant."
The Viscountess frowned.
"Don't do that," Solona said, "You define who you are, not your father and not the magic running in her blood. You are Bethany Hawke-Amell and Perrin Bradley, nothing and no one can take that away from you. You make your own destiny, you."
He considered her words, a slight smile played over his features.
"Thank you, My Viscountess."
Solona nodded.
IOI
The sound of voices alerted them to others presence. Garrett released the portcullis, and the rest stormed into the room.
He ran to his sister's side.
"Bethany," he gasped, "Is she all right!?"
"She was under a spell," Bradley informed her, "she tried to attack the Viscountess."
"I had to knock her out," Solona added, "Hopefully when we end this…she will recover."
Daylen approached them.
"How did you knock her out?" he asked.
"It was amazing," Bradley said, "The Viscountess is truly a master with a pole arm. Lady Bethany did not even get a chance to touch her."
The Viscountess smiled, it seemed that Bradley had decided to keep their secret. The understanding that they had reached here…it changed his position in Kirkwall somewhat. Alec would insist that she keep him close, for their protection, and for Bethany's.
She already had an idea how to do that, she would need to clear it with Bethany and Leandra, but if they agreed. Things would go quite well for everyone.
Merrill and Isabela agreed to stay with Bethany. They would keep her safe. Perrin would accompany the Viscountess deeper into this foul place.
Samson had detected the source of the blood magic; he thought it would be possible to save everyone here by removing it.
Solona nodded grimly. For Bethany's sake, they needed to reach the source of this evil, and end it.
After what she had seen down here, there was no other option.
The Maker's justice would be done.
IOI
Solona shivered. The evil of this place…it was horrifying.
In every alcove along the way they had seen bones, piles and piles of human bones. Sacrifices offered by the Magisters in the ancient days, when Kirkwall had been called Emerius, and was the center of the slave trade for the Imperium.
The skulls were the worst; it was not difficult to see that many of them were small, far too small to be the skulls of elves.
There was only one thing that those skulls could have belonged to.
Solona shivered, places like this made her hate the fact that she was a mage. What kind of cruel bastards would sacrifice innocent children to demons?"
The Magisters... obviously.
Even Alec, who was Tevinter by birth, would have a hard time justifying the history of places such as this.
Hawke touched Solona's shoulder.
"This isn't your fault," he whispered.
She sighed, she knew that was true in her heart, but…seeing such a place.
Samson raised his hand; it seemed they had come to the end of trail.
A profane idol dominated the room, some ancient structure dedicated to cruelty and greed. Before it Lady Harimann was bowing, bowing at the feet of…
Solona felt her blood freeze.
The desire demon that Lady Harimann was paying homage to was far more powerful than the creatures they had faced earlier, and much, much older.
"Lady Harimann stared up at the creature with eyes blazing with avarice. Any good the woman might have possessed was now long gone.
All that was left now was her desire, her lust for power.
That seemed to please the demon.
"I need more," she begged, "You…you must give me more. Starkhaven will not submit. I put that idiot Goran Vael in the prince's seat, but the noble families will not heed him. I…I must marry him to my Flora and solidify our hold. Then there is the Amell girl, her family will know that there is something wrong with her. I need tighter reigns on both her and Brett, if the Amells are going to accept this marriage."
The woman bowed her head.
"Please Allure, I NEED more power!"
The demon laughed lightly.
"I have given you much," it said in a sensuous purr, "You still owe me for services rendered. Your sacrifices are not enough. Your husband's life, your children's most base desires, these have been tasty meals for me, but I will need more."
The demon smiled.
"Giving someone their dreams is not easy. Do you know what those dreams truly cost? What are you prepared to pay?"
Hawke and the others stepped into the room.
"At the Blooming Rose," he said, "Thirty silvers, that is the standard going rate for a whore."
The demon was not insulted. She actually smiled at the newcomers.
"Few would call my services standard," she purred.
Lady Harimann was on her feet, staff in hand.
"WHAT ARE YOY DOING HERE!" she cried, "WHO ARE YOU! I…"
She saw Solona.
"Your Excellency, I had not realized…?"
"Lady Harimann," Sebastian growled, his voice dripping with anger and venom.
"Sebastian!" she gasped.
The former brother tightened his grip on his bow, his eyes never leaving the murderous noble woman.
"YOU…YOU WERE MY MOTHER'S FRIEND! HOW COULD YOU MURDER HER?"
Lady Harimann retreated behind Allure.
The demon laughed.
"Murder is such an ugly word," the demon giggled, "I…I prefer to say that we removed all obstacles between my lady…and her dreams."
Sebastian raised his bow, an arrow pointed at where Allure's heart would be.
"You are the cause of all this!" he growled, "Foul Temptress!"
Allure gave him her sexiest smile, her tail curled with excitement.
"I could cause such desires," she confessed, "But it is far more interesting to taste what is already in the mortal heart."
She held out her arms to the newcomers.
"So many wonderful desires," she purred, "So much ambition, are any of you so different than my lady?"
She smiled at Sebastian.
"Such a pious soul," she said, "All that you have ever wanted now awaits you in Starkhaven. You are now the shining prince, none will stand against you, if you accept my help."
She turned to Hawke.
"And you…you also desire to rise, to sit at the top of the mountain, equal to your noble cousins. What would you give to see your dreams fulfilled?"
Hawke glared at her.
"I would never betray my family.
The demon laughed.
She turned to Daylen.
"And you lovely boy," she purred, "Your Father's throne so close…just a single stroke of your blade and it will be yours. Your sister will never give you what you want! Take it…now!"
Daylen whimpered.
"I…I…"
"Don't listen to it brother," Solona ordered.
Daylen winced; his hand fell away from his sword.
"Not like that," he growled, "Not to please you!"
It was then that the demon turned to Perrin Bradley.
She transformed.
Bethany stood before them, dressed in only the flimsiest of see-through silks.
The false Bethany smiled at the guardsman.
"You want this body, don't you young Lord Threnhold?" the demon asked, "You want the throne the Amells stole from your family. You want revenge for the death of your kin. You should be a lord now. Viscount Perrin, the second of his name, you want the Amell girl; take her as your queen. She is my gift to you."
Perrin eyed the demon hungrily.
Solona gave him a worried look.
"Perrin don't," she whimpered.
"Don't do what usurper?" he growled.
The fake Bethany smiled. Lady Harimann emerged from her shadow, raising her staff.
Allure put her arms around Perrin's neck; she gave him her warmest smile.
"All you have to do young Viscount," she purred, "Is kill everyone in your way."
Perrin grinned.
"Yes," he said, "Everyone."
The demon leaned in, ready to kiss him.
Perrin's eyes narrowed.
"My name is not Threnhold," he hissed
He shoved his sword into Allure's belly.
The false Bethany gasped in shock.
Perrin took her face in his hands; he looked at her with uncontrolled fury.
"And I don't need to kill everyone," he spat…
"Just you."
The Guard snapped Allure's neck.
Lady Harimann wailed with loss and fury!
Shades and walking corpses filled the room.
Solona found herself back to back with Perrin, her pole arm dealing death to whatever got in her way.
"You had me worried for a minute," she confessed.
Perrin chuckled.
"How did you like my acting?" he asked.
Solona laughed.
"The usurper thing was a nice touch," she said dryly.
"I thought you might like that," the guard replied.
IOI
Daylen whirled, his sword dealing death to demon and undead unlike.
He had almost done it!
The demon had touched the darkest part of his soul. He had nearly given in! Had Solona not said anything, he…he might have…
He would have done it!
For House Amell, for Angelique he would have seized his throne!
"You okay Runt?" Garrett Hawke asked.
Daylen grinned.
"Never better," he purred.
He had faced desire and had proven himself stronger.
He was an Amell! One day Solona would surrender the crown to him! The seal of Kirkwall that graced her neck would be his!
It was his destiny. He did not need some demonic tart to have what was his!
Solona would give him what he wanted…
Or by the Maker…
He would rip it from her rotting corpse!
IOI
Sebastian and Samson battled Lady Harimann. The blood mage tried to drain his life energy, but Samson smote her.
The mad noble woman fell to her knees.
Sebastian picked up her staff, snapping it over his knee.
He put a dagger to her throat.
"I will see you face the Maker's justice!" he growled.
Lady Harimann laughed.
"The little prince is angry," she spat, "You were a disgrace to the name Vael Sebastian! Your Father knew that, that is why he locked you away!"
She smirked at Solona.
"One day the Viscountess will know it too. You are not worthy of her, or your noble name. You are…"
CRACK!
Sebastian stood there, staring in shock!
Lady Harimann slumped to the ground, dead.
He looked down at his hands, he…he had not even used his dagger.
He…he had broken her neck with his bare hands.
Samson gave him a concerned look.
"You alright lad?" the former Templar asked.
Sebastian almost laughed.
No, no he was most certainly not alright!
He had let Lady Harimann claim one final victory over him…she… she would not face the Maker's justice.
If there was a void she was there now…
…and she was laughing at him…
Him…the shining prince of Starkhaven…?
It had all been a dream.
Now…now he had woken up…
…and…he was afraid.