She wiggled into her mail, donned her leathers, and buckled the straps of her armor. A flowing brown cloak spread across her slight shoulders, and Mithra's long, snowy braid was untucked from the layers. She shouldered her tried and true ironbark bow and daggers of white horn crossed at the small of her back. Hidden blades on her thighs were counted and sheathed, and an ironbark staff crossed the bow on her back.
Josmael was already prepared in his leather body armor. The pawed at the new helm that covered most of his handsome face.
"You don't need to match me, Isa'ma'sal," she taunted while tracing the long, thick scar on her cheek.
Josmael grumbled and gave her a flat look, but stopped trying to rub off the helm with his front paws.
"We ready?" she asked while double-checking her buckles.
He huffed a quiet bark and beat his tail upon the stone floor of their cabin. "Just waiting on you, Asa'ma'sal!"
Mithra gathered the riding gear and smiled at him. "Let's get going, then! Freedom awaits!"
Most of the party was waiting for Varric and Solas now. A team of agents stood nearby, going over a map of the castle Leliana had dug up somewhere.
"What in the world are you wearing?!" Dorian chastised as Mithra approached in her Dalish hunter's armor.
"If this appalls you, you should see what I used to wear. It was practically leather rags!" She smirked to herself; Solas and Cullen would kill to see her so exposed.
Dorian offered an unimpressed look.
Mithra rolled her eyes. "Ugh.. It's clearly armor. We aren't actually going for tea, you know."
Dorian crossed his arms and lolled his head. "Where's your sense of fashion?! You're an icon! You should be draped in dramatic colors, flowing robes, eye-catching designs!"
Mithra crossed her arms and cocked her hip. "It's designed for wide movement range and agility." She grinned. "Besides, we can't all look as fabulous as you, Dorian."
The mage's brows arched as he smirked and caressed his chin. "True..few look as stunning as I."
The ranger's grin grew.
The dwarf and apostate finally joined them, buckled up and ready for battle.
"Good morning," Solas said evenly as he patted Sulara; his mask screwed on tight today.
Mithra shifted uncomfortably and looked away from him. "Good morning.. Hahren."
The apostate's eyes reflected a little pain, but his mask remained unchanged.
The Tevene mage sighed in exasperation as he eyed Solas' armor. "And this one dresses like a hobo? Is poor taste in clothing a southern elf thing? Peh!"
A short, amused huff escaped Mithra.
Cullen approached quickly; voice and stance full of authority. "You're ready?"
Mithra looked to him and explained, "Yes, we're leaving in a moment. Just going to go over the plan once more to ensure things go as well as they possibly can."
"Good. You must succeed so we can see the Breach closed. Maker speed your steps," he said as officially as he could manage. Cullen's eyes fell as he asked, "And...please...be careful."
Mithra's face hardened into determination and she saluted him with a fist over her heart. "We will prevail and return, Commander."
He smiled and shook his head, knowing, for once, that she was fucking with him.
The team assembled in the woods near Redcliffe the next day. They were still early and had plenty of time to make certain they were prepared for the worst.
Mithra had kept herself busy whittling during the entire journey. She had produced a pine bear, an oak wolf, and a rowan owl, all still needing the final polishing touches and details.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone carve so fast," Blackwall poked with a laugh.
"I've been at it for a long time..and I do it often to keep myself from going completely insane. It's a short trip for me, ya know," she taunted back with a grin and a quick glance.
The warden just laughed and turned to join his team. He'd be one of those stationed in town in case there were slavers lying in wait. Sera, Josmael, and Bull would follow his lead while The Chargers were stationed around town to keep extra eyes and blades ready.
Varric and Dorian were already leaving with the Nightingale's agents to infiltrate the castle. That left Cassandra, Mithra, and Solas to attend the meeting and serve as a distraction.
Mithra and her team were greeted by a rather snooty-looking doorman when they entered the main hall of the lofty castle. He immediately protested the presence of her companions, saying that the invitation was "For Lady Mithra alone." To which the ranger declared that they were to help her in the negotiations. The man said nothing further, but his gaze suggested that he either recognized it as bullshit and didn't care or that he didn't get paid enough to argue with the woman.
Alexius was perched on his stolen throne, looking right at home in his usurped headquarters. He greeted the team with the same slime Mithra shuddered at when they first met as soon as they were announced.
Mithra tried to keep a neutral face and gave a polite nod in acknowledgment. Ugh, this guy... Why did she have a burning itch to beat him with a stick? She noticed Felix standing near his father, which comforted her a little, knowing he was on their side.
Alexius wasted no time getting to the negotiations, asking what they planned to offer in exchange for the use of the Mages.
The ranger smirked, feeling much more comfortable with no crowd pressing around them. "Actually, I was hoping to ask about these "Venatori" I hear so much about."
Alexius sneered and leaned forward in the throne. "Now, where could you have heard that name?"
Felix jumped into the conversation, "I told her."
The magister went on a tirade about raising Tevinter from the ashes under the guidance of "The Elder One." According to Alexius, the promise of curing Felix was all it took for him to sign up. Which, in Mithra's eyes, was a noble reason; but the means clearly didn't justify the ends.
The Venatori standing as guards fell suddenly and Dorian and Varric appeared. Both Felix and Dorian tried to talk Alexius out of serving the asshole he was sworn to.
Alexius would hear none of it. The whole situation escalated quickly as Alexius claimed that Mithra was a mistake. He explained that she had foiled The Elder One's plans when she "stole" the mark on her hand from him. He lifted a glowing amulet as he raved, green light radiating from it.
Dorian seemed to know what was going on and cast at his former mentor.
Alexius stumbled backward and raised a hand to his face as a strange black and green rift opened before the party.
A blinding, white light filled the chamber for a moment. When it finally faded, Dorian and the ranger were gone, not a trace of them remained.
Cassandra, Solas, and Varric stared in dismay where Mithra had just stood.
Solas' heart filled with rage and sorrow. She's was gone. Dead.
Alexius barked his orders, "Venatori! Attack! Seize them! Kill the rest!"
The party drew their weapons too late. Leliana's agents lay dead before they could make a move and found themselves surrounded.
The apostate glared ferociously at the magister as he threw down his staff. They would be rescued. Best not to die now.
A bell rang in alarm, and the distinct sounds of battle grew loud outside.
Leliana was speaking with the agent that delivered the word: Mithra and Dorian were dead, and those with them were imprisoned. Much of the squadron outside had perished in a battle with Venatori and the enslaved Rebel Mages.
Cullen went white as a sheet and leaned on the war table. He was completely despondent, still as a statue as his head reeled. He knew they shouldn't have sent her in there. They should have found another way.
According to the agent, Josmael had died valiantly, taking a killing blow for Blackwall and Sera. Only they had survived, now being tended to by Adan in the apothecary's office. And they were in no shape to aid anyone.
The commander's mournful voice broke the looming silence, "Put out a request to King Alistair Thierin and Arl Teagan of Redcliffe. The Inquisition Forces wish to join the Ferelden Army in taking Redcliffe Castle back from those...bastards."
"I will arrange a rescue mission for Cassandra, Varric, and Solas while we wait for them to marshal their forces. I will be accompanying my agents on this mission, and I will see this done." Leliana's eyes were fierce, and the murder in her voice said it all: she would have blood for the losses suffered at Redcliffe.
Josephine opened her mouth to protest, but she dutifully began writing the commander's request without a word.