9:31 Guardian 2nd
We went over to where Sergeant Kylon was stationed. The guards around him were just lounging around. He looked as if he was ready to punch them out of here.
"Hail Grey Warden. I know of your coming to the city, and in a turbulent time as well." Talen looked at him surprised.
"You know who I am?"
"Of course Loghain didn't put up those wanted posters all over the walls to redecorate the city. If there's something or someone troubling you, you have to go through the motions like everyone else."
"Actually we were wondering if we can help you." I said. Kylon chuckled before Talen crossed his arms.
"Oh you're serious? Well, that is unexpected but I won't turn away the help considering this lot I have to deal with…The first order of business I guess is at an establishment called the Pearl. It's a whorehouse near the docks of Denerim. I have heard of mercenaries that the nobles have hired are causing a lot of trouble. I want them out of there and make sure they're not burning, or bleeding out their ears. Leave them breathing Warden and you'll have my thanks."
"Alright Sergeant Kylon." Talen said and we started to go toward the gate that led to the alleys.
"While we are there we can also deal with this group if it is true." Leliana said, taking a slip of paper from the walls and showing Talen. It was the fake Grey Warden supporters that are at the Pearl.
"It seems too good to be true." Zevran said.
"Only one way to find out then." Talen said. We went toward the gate but then a young boy bumped into me.
"Message for you lady."
"What-"
"More messages to deliver." The boy said, running away before I could ask who he was.
"What was that?" Talen asked.
"Well, I got a message here…saying that there's an interested party at the tavern in case we want some 'help.' What do you think Talen?" He looked at the main gate then at the note.
"We might as well go look who this person is." We crossed the market place again and ended up near the tavern. I heard signs of a fight in the next corner. No doubt that one knight fighting with one of the GWs. We went in and it was bustling with activity. Nobles all around with guards. We went into one of the rooms and, sure enough, Master Ignacio was there.
"Ah come in. You have come here because of a note, no? I think we have interesting things to talk about."
"Be careful. This might be a trap." Zevran said.
"Zevran." Ignacio glared. "You are not my responsibility. The others might want you dead but, to me, you are already dead in my eyes."
"Nice to know."
"But you Warden, you are of great interest to me."
"Wow aren't I a popular one." Talen said flatly. "You better get to talking before my staff here starts swinging."
"There is much to do in Ferelden especially with a blight and civil war in the land. There are lots of people that are not getting along, no? Sometimes they do not want the other around anymore and they want someone to do something about it. The type of people who handle that thing can get…busy."
"…Go on."
"It takes time to do a job, of course we all have pride in our work, but the customer has certain expectations. There aren't many that can…do things in such manner. So someone who has made their interest known to us and live…they could need help no? You make some coin, everyone wins."
"Talen?" Leliana said. He was scowling.
"We can't turn away some work unless it helps us. Maybe getting some gold in might help us. So, how does this work?"
"I give you a scroll, you read it, maybe find someone interesting in there. If something tragic befalls on this person and you 'let me know' I will give you money. If you don't want to do it, maybe someone else will tell me he has an accident."
"Give me the scroll." Talen said.
"Here you go. Fine reading, Warden."
"You're a cautious little Weasel Ignacio. If the information you are giving us is false…"
"I have decided to be honest…and if you have noticed, I have not done anything wrong. I only gave a man something that is interesting to read."
"And you think that reason will save your hide when you find it nailed to a wall?"
"What more do you want whoreson? Do not let my continued mercy to change. Luck be to you Warden." Zevran scoffed and we went outside the tavern.
"You ok Zevran?" I asked.
"I apologize for you to see me in that light but the Crows being here does not mean things will be easy in this city."
"What does the scroll say Talen?"
"You remember that Grey Warden poster we found? It's a trap. It's led by a guy named Paeden who's in the Pearl. We find him, make sure he's dead, and we can leave. At least the mercenaries are there too. Kill two birds with one stone."
"Then let's go." I said. We went out into the back alleys. It was a mess of houses but Leliana already knew the layout and was leading us to the Pearl.
"It is not too far of a walk. We have to pass a bridge that is over Drakon River. Be wary of the stench. People throw out their…well…it is not a very clean river."
"Hmph, that much is certain." Zevran said.
"Sooooo…we're going to a whorehouse. This is going to be an interesting experience." I said.
"Will there be something or someone that will catch your interest mi niña?"
"What? No! Besides it shouldn't be too different from a stripper joint…" I mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." We passed through a gate which looked oddly familiar. There was something that was at the edge of my mind, something that I was forgetting. I looked at the path and saw stairs leading to the next alley. That's when I stopped and remembered. Zevran's quest.
"Is something the matter mi niña?"
"Uh…"
"Come on Nia, don't tell me you're afraid of-"
"And here is the fabled Grey Warden at last. The Crows send their regards, once again." Taliesen was on top of the stairs, traps right in front of us. I stepped in front of Zevran and drew my blades.
"And so they sent you Taliesen, or did you volunteer?"
"I volunteered. I was nearly jumping at the chance. The great Zevran Arainai going rogue? This I had to see for myself.
"Is that the truth? Well here I am, in the flesh."
"Oh do not seem so ready to fight Zevran, I came here offering a proposal. Return with me Zevran. I know the reason why you did this, everyone makes mistakes but it's still not too late to come back. We'll spin a story just like before."
"How I about I spin my dagger right in your-!"
"It is alright mi niña."
"You know that story won't hold up unless you kill me." Talen said, his staff in his hand.
"And I will not let that happen Talen." Zevran said.
"So it is true, you've gone soft!"
"I am sorry old friend but my answer is no. I will not return with you…you should have stayed in Antiva." I heard the shuffling of bodies coming down from the rooftops. There were eight crows in total not including Taliesen. Leliana got rid of the two archers right behind us in a flash. Six more to go. Zevran jumped over the traps and met Taliesen blade for blade. The two nearest ones, I rolled into. It didn't work and they got up in a flash, only to be burned down by Talen. He grunted in pain as he took an arrow to the shoulder. 5 on 4. Leliana got one more archer at the farthest but two more were coming toward us. I charged them, evaded one of their pair of daggers, and punched the woman right in the face. I heard her face cracking. I spun on my heel and got the daggers of the other man behind me. I kicked his groin and he groaned in pain. I saw his neck and cut into his spine. I heard an arrow go by my ear and I rolled to the other woman who was trying to get up. I cut her throat as she held her face that I cracked.
The last archer went down by Leliana. Talen growled as Taliesen and Zevran rolled down the stairs. Zevran had the idea of throwing Taliesen on top of the traps but he also thought about that. The traps caught Taliesen's back but he threw Zevran off him. Zevran's leg got caught. Taliesen got up but I jumped on him and stabbed his back. He shouted in pain as I choked him. He clawed at my arms and fell on me, I didn't let go. He got one of his hidden knives and stabbed me in the leg. I cried out pain but I didn't let go. Soon the clawing stopped. I let go once I knew that Taliesen wasn't getting back up.
"Nia!" Zevran shouted, the trap letting go of his leg. He limped toward me and looked at the knife.
"It's ok, Talen hand me a poultice."
"Here." Leliana said. She grabbed onto the arrow that was in his shoulder and pulled.
"OW! Andraste's tits!" Leliana slapped him for that one. Zevran took out the knife in a quick motion and I slathered the poultice right on top of it. I felt it healing the cut.
"Zevran, give me your foot."
"I will be fine mi niña."
"Don't give me that. Give me your foot." He took off his boots and I put the poultice on his leg.
"That was a jarring experience."
"But I believe that was all of the crows that were sent to kill me." Zevran said, hissing in pain as the poultice did its work.
"Good, I don't think I'd like another arrow to the shoulder." Talen said, rubbing the spot. Zevran got up as his foot healed.
"Oh Taliesen, you are such a fool." I looked at Zevran. This was it. This was the moment where I knew that he would suggest on leaving. "He is dead and I am free of the Crows. They shall assume that I died with him and, should I not make my presence known, they will not seek me out."
"And that means what exactly?" Talen asked.
"I do not know. I have options now when at first I had none and although the freedom that awaits me is enticing, I will not leave. There is so much to do still no?" My eyes widened.
"You're staying?" I asked.
"Of course mi niña. I could not bear to leave-" I launched myself at him and gave him a great hug. Leliana laughed and Talen shook his head but I was really happy that he wasn't leaving. Zevran laughed and I heard it reverberate as I hugged him.
"Give it a rest or at least get a room." Talen said.
"We can have a room once we are at the whorehouse!" Zevran said.
"Oh you had to ruin it didn't you?" I said, letting him go. He chuckled and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "Hey!" Zevran laughed as I punched without intent. "Ok, I'll let that go, but the next time? You won't get away so easily."
"Of course mi…niña." I knew he wanted to say 'that' again and I shook my head.
"I'm glad you're staying."
"Ok, ok, enough of this. Don't forget we need to go to the Pearl. Eren's deadline is coming." Talen said. We all laughed and went our way up the stairs through the alley ways again. Zevran found my hand again and I let him grab it. It felt nice. We crossed the bridge and God the stench from the river was horrid!
"Oh God you weren't kidding about the smell!"
"And this is why the country smells like wet dog!"
"Just bear with it." Talen said. We found the docks and I heard seagulls. At least all I could smell from here was the smell of the salty sea. It took me back when me and my family went to the beach for fun. Those days were long gone. It was a pink building that we went through and the inside…wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There were various colorful draperies and flowers all around. The fireplace made a nice light on the walls that seemed to grow brighter with it. The guard at the window to enter just nodded at us. We passed through the doors and Sanga, the proprietor nodded at our group.
"You're the ones here about the mercenaries? Good, I want them out. Not that they don't bring in money, is just the hassle the cause is more trouble than it's worth."
"Don't worry about it, we'll-" Then a man came flying from the other corner into one of the tables. Sanga rubbed her temple. That's when I saw her, dark skin, bandana, and a lot of piercings. Isabela.
"Now who is calling who the hussy? Get out with you. You should be lucky that you and your men were only robbed of your gold." The other two that were behind her were black and blue. All three of them rushed out.
"Isabela, how lovely it is to see you." Zevran said.
"Well that is a face I haven't seen for a while. Have you come to apologize for leaving me without a husband and then vanishing with a trace?"
"Ah Isabela it was just business no? Business that turned out fine for you, you did inherit the ship no?"
"You did me a favor. Glad that someone else put the knife in his back before I did. Never did like the greasy bastard. The Siren is a much happier place now that he is gone, and she shows it as well." Isabela said. I couldn't help but take a few glances at her bosom, she had enormous ones. I heard Talen talking to the mercenaries behind me.
"So you two know each other?" I said.
"Ah Isabela, this is Nia, my better half. Nia, this is Isabela, the queen of the eastern seas and the sharpest blade of Llomerryn."
"You finally got hitched?"
"He just wishes. Nia and I'm his friend." Isabela looked me up and down and I couldn't ignore that hungry look in her eyes.
"Not only that, you will be surprised to know that I am traveling with Grey Wardens."
"Did someone call me?" Talen said. I saw the mercenaries leaving, giving Talen the nasty eye. Isabela's look transferred from me to Talen.
"A Grey Warden? Is it true about the Grey Warden's famed endurance?"
"I'll be the one to say, yes." Leliana said. Talen groaned as his ears grew red.
"So you're the one that knocked that guy flat on his ass on a table?" I said.
"They call themselves fighters but they were only brutes, clumsy and predictable. They were no match for my quickness and wit."
"She calls herself a duelist for her many duels with warriors and the skills she gathered throughout the years." Zevran explained.
"I doubt I'll be able to learn anything, I'm a mage."
"Not only that it would take many days to truly teach you all I know. But I'm guessing you didn't come here just to speak to me did you?"
"One thing was to get rid of those mercenaries, the other is probably in one of those rooms." Talen described. Isabela chuckled.
"Well it is best you continue. I should get back to my game." Isabela winked at me and I raised an eyebrow. "I can see why Zevran chose you, you are a cute kitten." She went to sit down and we went into the hallway.
"You're getting red." Talen said.
"Hey that was the first time I got hit on by a woman, I think I can agree that was confusing."
"Confusing how?"
"I admit she was pretty." I mumbled. Leliana giggled. The sounds in the whorehouse were as anyone would expect. We reached the last door and it was locked.
"What's the password?"
"The griffon will rise again." Talen said.
"Come in, quickly!" We tried the door again and it opened.
"Another Grey Warden supporter." A man said, dressed in full and intricate armor.
"Uh oh." I said.
"Not just a supporter, that's a Grey Warden."
"Yeah, I'm not wasting anytime." Talen said, summoning a fireball into the group. We all got blown back by the blast and he quickly summoned ice to put out the fire that was spreading to the sheets and pillows. They were screaming as they cooked in their armor. Zevran and I gave them some quick deaths so they wouldn't suffer too much.
"Well that's done. Time to head back right?" I said.
"Let's go see what Ignacio has to say about this." Talen said. We got out and the bouncer passed us to look into the room.
"Tell Kylon I owe him one." Sanga said.
"Goodbye Zevran and kitten." We went out of the whore house and I was still confused.
"Why did she hit on me? Why not Talen or Leliana?"
"Probably because she can see we are together, yes?"
"You two do find your eyes very often." Zevran said.
"Also, why do I feel so confused?"
"Perhaps there is something that you haven't found about yourself?" Leliana said.
"Ok I admit that I sometimes think about some woman's bodies being beautiful but I only compare you know? My body against their body and oh I did not mean that!" Zevran and Leliana both laughed at me. "You know what? I'm just going to shut up now." I held my breath in when we passed the river. The sun was high in the sky when Kylon came over with his guards to meet us in the alley ways.
"Ah I was hoping I'd find you. I want to congratulate you on what happened in the Pearl. The Pearl's 'workers' will-" That's when a couple of the mercenaries came up behind us with their ragtag group.
"Nobody orders my men around except me!"
"Don't worry about sparing these ones. They won't miss an extra mercenary." There were seven of them and nine of us. For once we had the advantage. Talen ran up and let out his fire hands. I ran up and rolled, knocking three of them down. Leliana and Zevran made short work of them. 5 down, two more to go. Their leader wasn't wearing a helmet. That gave me an opportunity. I came behind him and knocked my knuckles into his dome. He groaned and held his head. I tripped him and bashed his head on more time. The archer was taken down by Kylon.
"And people voluntarily attack you. They must be soft. Here is the payment for your work. If you're interested in more, you know where to find me." Kylon said.
"Makes me wonder why are we always getting into trouble?" Leliana said.
"Because we have an 'attack us' sign somewhere?" I chuckled.
"Let's get going. I don't want to get mugged on the way to the market place." Talen said. We got there in a short amount of time now that all of us know the way there. We went into the tavern again where we found Eren there along with the others.
"Huh, what are you all doing here?" Eren asked.
"Running a few errands." Talen said, by passing him. Leliana followed him as well as Zevran.
"What have you found so far?" Eren asked.
"Unrest in the alienage, guards not doing what their supposed to do, and apparently Queen Anora was taken captive."
"What?" Eren asked me, making me sit down on a chair.
"Yeah, someone who works in the estate of Denerim, said that Rendon Howe took Anora and is holding her captive."
"This isn't good."
"I know. So what's the plan?"
"For now we can't do anything for Anora. We have no way to go into the estate. I have found a few nobles that would talk to me but no one is adamantly opposed against Loghain like us. It will take a lot of us to gain their favor."
"We'll do it Eren, you know that."
"I hope so Nia. At this point I keep on getting reminded of how little we can do."
"What about Alistair and Derek? Have you seen them around?"
"Derek found a blacksmith to see what he can do with the drake and dragon scales. Alistair mentioned something about his sister but he didn't want to go talk to her unless you were around or I went with him."
"You want to handle that now?" I asked.
"We might as well. Morrigan, Sten, and Alfred are back at the estate. I think Alistair should be there as well." Eren said, getting up. Talen came by and motioned me to come over.
"So are you going to be coming with us on the next one?" Talen whispered.
"No, I'm going to be going with Eren to do something for Alistair. You want me to ask someone?"
"No it's fine. I'll see if I can find someone on the way. Eren, we're going out of the city for a bit. Don't wait up." Talen said. Leliana and Zevran followed him. Hopefully they can find someone on the way toward their next assignment. Eren and I went out of the tavern and back toward the estate. Alistair was pacing in the main hall.
"Oh good to see you two."
"Hey Alistair, you ok?" I said.
"Well you two are very close friends and everything so there is a favor I would like to ask you. I have a sister, well half-sister. Her name is Goldanna. We shared the same mother and I found that she was in the city."
"Why didn't you contact her?" Eren asked.
"With the fighting and the blight I never had the time but now that we're here I would like to visit her."
"Alright, might as well since we have some time."
"Good, she owns a home near a blacksmith out near the marketplace. Sister, sssiiiisssterrr. Ok now I'm rambling, let's go, let's just go." Eren chuckled and all three of us went out. We circled the marketplace until we found where Goldanna lived. "Here, this is the right address. Alright, let's go in." We knocked and went inside. "Um hello?"
"Yes? Are you here to get wash done? I charged 2 bits to a bundle and don't trust that antivan woman across the street. She's foreign and will rob you blind."
"I'm not here to have any wash done. I'm Alistair, your…brother."
"My what?"
"You sure this is she?" Eren asked.
"Yes I'm very sure. My name is Alistair, we share a mother who worked as a servant girl in the royal palace."
"What? No that can't be true when mother died, I asked about the babe but the guards told me that you both died! Gave me coin to shut my mouth."
"The babe didn't die, here I am." Goldanna scoffed.
"Some good that'll do me. The coin they gave me dried up very quickly I might add. I have 5 mouths to feed and if you aren't going to pay or do anything I suggest you leave."
"You will not talk to my friend that way."
"And who are you? Some noble friend that has come to see his half-sister in squalor."
"Hey Eren is a Grey Warden and you will show him some respect!"
"Oh a Grey Warden huh? Such important people you have around you."
"Well whatever you were hoping to find here Alistair, it isn't."
"No, there wasn't anything to be found here at all."
"I have nothing you want boy unless you have some sort of coin to help what little 'family' you do have."
"He was only here hoping to find some semblance of family." Eren said softly. Goldanna sighed.
"I'm sorry but I can honestly say that I have no reason to be familiar to you."
"I swear Goldanna that after everything is over, I will try to get you and your family the help that you need." Alistair said.
"Some good that promise will do me. If that's all you have to say, then you can show yourselves out the door." Alistair sighed and we all went out. "I…I can't believe it. That gold digging shrew is my sister? I…I don't know what I was expecting but wasn't family supposed to, you know, be all accepting and everything?"
"Alistair look at it this way, you don't need to be blood related to be family."
"I know but…I was hoping."
"Alistair, you have a family. The Grey Wardens. It might not seem like much but know that I won't let anything happen to you, unless it's caused by me." Alistair chuckled a bit.
"Same goes for me. You're my family as well Alistair."
"I…thank you both that…that makes me feel better. Anyway, we shouldn't dawdle too much here. We still have a lot to do in order to stop Loghain."
"I think it's best we take a break from the city and go back to the estate." Eren said.
"I'm for that as well. Come on Alistair, I'll make you some garlic bread with melted cheese."
"Oooh! Can you also make your soup for me? Pretty please?"
"Alright, alright. Soup and cheese for you."
Yay Zevran stayed! :D We're about to wrap here people! Any guesses as to what is going to happen next?
Shout out to chaotic-aristocrat, IReadNoNonsense, Starlight and Moonbeams, and Hirdas for favoriting/following this story!
Buggy300: I know right!? 7 months writing and we have come to this point! :D First awakening then hell and each one is going to be a separate story. If I try to combine EVERYTHING it's going to be way too long.
EG: Thank you :3
Shattered Soul 2021: Oh it is going to be epic, that much is sure. I'm so excited for the end woo!
Please Review, nothing says 'i like this' than a review :3
