zm052: Thankyou for the follow, I hope you are enjoying the story


Chapter 27 - Hunting

'So you're telling me that you helped this woman in an ambush and she wants you to help her steal something from some Duke?' Makatza said in confusion. 'I have to come because?'

'Because,' Garrett said in exasperation for explaining it for the third time, 'you are technically a Lady, mother wants you to go and it makes me look less suspicious,' he ticks off each point on his fingers. 'Also, he's a Baron, not a Duke, there's a difference.'

Makatza raises a brow, 'uh...huh,' she says not convinced. 'Why don't you take Sebastian? He's a Prince,' she says simply. She didn't want to go to some hofty tofty party. 'Plus, I'm half elf, I can't see that going down well in high society,' she said sarcastically. 'Oh nooo, we can't have a high born elf about,' she mutters, there had been a lot of talk in the upper class about Makatza's heritage. Leandra had made it abundantly clear that it wouldn't be tolerated in any circumstances. She grabs her wine glass and finishes it before holding it out for Isabela to fill up. 'Why does Aunt Leandra want me to go?' She whines as she stamps her feet a little.

'You are high born,' Fenris states. 'Women of your age normally have a debut ball, a reveal of marriage availability. Your Aunt probably wishes for you to be known in court circles before arranging this,' he says simply. Garrett claps his hands and nods, thankful that Fenris decided to field that question.

Makatza scoffs and shakes her head, 'well that ain't happening for one. Marriage? To some pompous Lord? No thanks,' she said thanking Isabela for her drink.

'Hey!' Hawke said offended, 'I am some pompous Lord.'

'My point exactly,' Makatza retorted as she stuck her tongue out at him. Isabela sniggers and high fives Makatza who had a wine cork thrown at her in retaliation. Varric and Aveline had gone to the stables to procure some horses for the journey, Merrill said she was busy with her mirror and Anders had been avoiding everyone. Makatza had already made a personal note to go check on the Warden later on. Sebastian was at a service so she hadn't seen him since her birthday; which she was thankful for, meant that she could get her head in order. 'Look, if I'm going I'm not going to be paraded around like some... I don't know... prize Mabari bitch.'

Isabela snorts on her beer and Makatza has to pat her on the back to settle down her coughing. 'You've certainly picked up the lingo eh,' the pirate clears her throat. 'Fuck me that was a surprise,' she grins.

'I'm serious though. I don't want to be in some silly dress and have to smile sweetly and worry that I might offend somebody because my ears are more pointed. If. I mean if, I am going, I want to be doing whatever it is you are,' she says to Garrett who groaned.

'I thought you didn't want to get into trouble?' He said as he leant back in his chair. 'You didn't want us to have to look after you,' he says matter of factly. 'Coming on a mission as an actual companion isn't keeping yourself very safe.' He thought he had the nug in the basket with that one but Makatza just smiled brightly.

'You said this was a robbery yes?'

'Yeah...' Garrett said slowly as he narrowed his eyes at her.

'Well that's great! I have great skills for a robbery!' She said bouncing a little in her seat. Isabela realised and laughed heavily as she smacked the table in amusement. 'I mean, you might need somebody to get into those difficult places,' she points out giving him some wicked side eye. Fenris chuckles as he looks over at Hawke who looked like he had been hit in the face with a pan.

'Ah fuck!' He said in annoyance. 'Shit! You make total sense, you're the fucking key,' he sighs as he looks at the ceiling. 'You can get to places that we can't,' he rolls his eyes. 'I'd be stupid not to utilise your skills. Maker damn it,' he rubs his eyes. 'Okay, okay fine. But ground rules,' he says simply as Makatza nods. 'You have an escort. At. All. Times,' he says slowly. 'Alcohol and Lords and pretty women do not mix. You do what I say, when I say it, how I say it.'

Makatza gave him a look, 'yes dad,' she said simply making Garrett blush a bit.

'Oooh,' Isabela said as she focused on Makatza. 'Say ''Daddy'' at him,' she asks with a devious expression.

'Ugh Isabela,' Makatza laughs shaking her head.

'Go on, for me,' she insists.

Makatza sighs and looks at Garrett, 'yes daddy, whatever you say,' she said softly. Fenris cleared his throat and looked out the window as Hawke's face flushed an inferno. 'There you are Izzy, a new kink has been discovered, congratulations,' Makatza teases as she reaches across for the wine. 'That was quite a conversation twist, huh,' she laughs.

'I suggest that you do not say that at the Orlesian's manor,' Fenris says dryly, amused at Hawke. He didn't want to admit it but it wasn't what she said but the way she said it that triggered long lost instincts. 'You would be in quite some trouble, most of the men there will have father issues,' he says making Makatza smile and laugh.

'God forbid they get their pantaloons in a twist,' she smirks.

Garrett shared a look with Isabela and saw his moment of revenge. 'Actually,' he says slowly as he gains the attention of both of them. 'Fenris... you have a way with locks don't you?' He says casually as he swills his wine in his glass. The elf raised a brow as he wondered what his friend was getting at.

'If you mean that my markings allow me to phase my hands then yes, I suppose I would have a way with mechanisms,' he says carefully. What is he getting at? Makatza thought suspiciously.

She caught on and stood up sharply slopping her wine down herself, 'shit!... Garrett! No! I know exactly where you're going with this! No way!' She protested as she caught her glass and put it back on the table trying to wipe the wine off her thighs. 'Fuck that's cold,' she adds to Isabela who had taken her hair scarf off and was trying to dry her.

'Great! I mean it would make perfect sense to bring you along, you'd be able to help with the robbery and you know... it would make sense that you would help keep Katza safe,' he says triumphantly as Fenris inhales a little of his wine in surprise and has to quickly regain his composure. He glares at the apostate, they had briefly spoken earlier in the week when Garrett had demanded to know what had upset Makatza. He hadn't revealed all but he had made it clear that he thought it best if he distanced himself from the young woman. 'You're used to protecting people after all and hell, you could even say that you were her beau and people wouldn't bat an eyelid,' he grins.

'Okay, you've had your fun,' Makatza said a little pissed off at her cousin. 'Look, I don't mind if Fenris comes, why would I? I do mind lying. I'm not going to make out that he's something he's not and have it bite me in the ass later. I'm already going to be lying enough as I'm a frigging eternal spirit,' she points out. 'If Fenris doesn't mind keeping lecherous lords away then cool, that works, but I'm not doing some bullshit cover story as to why he's there,' she makes clear. She wanted nothing more than to reach across the table and strangle her family member. Garrett wears a shit eating grin and simply nods in agreement, knowing that he had really gotten his way in the end.

Makatza sighs, 'when is this all happening?' She asked.

'Tomorrow we leave,' Garrett says simply as he tops up his glass.

'Right, okay, well then I had better go train,' Makatza says getting up. 'I can't be all out of practise and risk injuring myself,' she says simply.

'Are you going to be alright walking up to the Barracks on your own?' Isabela asks as she does one last mop down of Makatza's skirt, focusing heavily on the bum much to her amusement.

'In the middle of the day? Heavily armed and looking like I want to punch someone? Yeah, I'm sure I'll be totally fine Izzy,' she laughs as she kisses her friend on the cheek. 'I'll be fine,' she reassures. Makatza bids them goodbye and walks through the bar, patrons moving so that she can get past easily. Isabela grinned at Fenris and winked at him before getting up and whispering something into Garrett's ear which makes him jump up like a fox after a rabbit and follow Isabela up the stairs. Fenris rolled his eyes, wishing that he had less sensitive hearing.

-x-

'So here we are,' Makatza sighed as they came to a large building with a crowd of people mingling outside. Tallis had finally made an appearance and introduced herself to everyone, she liked this elf she was bubbly and fun. Makatza had been forced to wear something a little more conservative than her armour, apparently she wouldn't make a good impression, though she insisted that was the point, she didn't want to make a good impression. Secretly unknown to Leandra, Makatza was wearing leggings and her corset underneath the dress she was swishing about in, she was a little warm but it wouldn't be for much longer.

Garrett wandered off to confront a rather stern looking character and she dawdled out the way with Fenris, Tallis went with Hawke to make nice. 'I do not like the look of this, there is something we have not been told,' Fenris said as he looked over the people around them. 'There are hunting dogs and these men seem well armed for a celebration,' he comments. Makatza stopped playing with her dress and looked up and around, he was right.

'Let's go find out then,' she says simply as she goes to where her cousin was talking.

'-Hunting is a favourite pastime,' Garrett said grinning. The Baron laughed and nodded in approval, he caught sight of Makatza and Fenris as they came near.

'Ah, the rest of your hunting party I assume?' He spoke in a heavy Orlesian accent which reminded Makatza of French. Makatza gave him a curt smile and went to get Garrett's attention but the Baron interrupted her. 'A young woman like this is hunting? Is she your maid?' He chortles. 'You seem to keep strange company my Lord, nothing but elves,' he grins. 'Though you do have seem to have collected two beautiful flowers.'

Makatza's jaw hardened and she grit her teeth, luckily Hawke spoke instead. 'Actually, this is my cousin, Lady Makatza Lorias,' he explained. 'My good friend Fenris, and you have already been introduced to Tallis,' he says smiling politely.

'A cousin! That is a surprise, ah! I see the human in her now-'

'Yes, well, if that's all, shall we get started with this hunt?' Makatza said a little shrill. The Baron smiled brightly and nodded as he waved for everyone to gather and announcing that the hunt had begun. Makatza waited until the area had cleared a little before grabbing Garrett. 'Hunt? What hunt?' She asked.

Tallis smiled and started to explain. 'A wyvern hunt. It's traditional. First team to catch one wins bragging rights and the honour of the evening.'

'Oh, great,' Makatza said in a fake cheerful voice. 'Here I was thinking that we were just going to a fancy dinner. I didn't bring any weapons!' She hissed. 'Now I really am going to be in the way.' Tallis assured her that she wouldn't be and Makatza couldn't help but roll her eyes in annoyance, 'fine, here, hold this,' she says as she takes off her decorative chain belt and passes it to whomever was closet. She reached around and began to unbutton her dress.

'Woah, Katza what are you doing?' Garrett said grabbing the back of her gown and pulling it back together, lest she flash a shoulder blade.

'Uh, getting changed? You expect me to go wandering around the countryside in a dress?' She asks giving him a look. 'I'm wearing clothing underneath,' she points out.

'Oh... I didn't know that,' Garrett said embarrassed. Makatza laughs as she manages to pull her skirts over her head and become freed from the contraption. She folded it up and shoved it into one of the bags that they had brought with them. 'How did you manage to sneak out wearing that underneath?' He chuckles looking at her boots.

Makatza stood up and began to plait her hair as she smiled, 'first rule, act like you have nothing to hide,' she grins. Tallis complimented her armour and Makatza smiled. 'We kinda match huh, same style,' she says bumping her hip against the elf's.

'Where did you get that corset? I don't remember that being a part of mother's armour that she gave you,' Garrett said. Fenris who had stayed quiet throughout the whole endeavour had a slight blush to his ears, Makatza shrugged a shoulder and simply said that it was a gift and didn't elaborate further. With her hair plaited and out the way, they were ready to start tracking and hunting. It took a few hours and a few runs ins with various creatures of the deeps, even a shrine that Garrett ended up desecrating and causing a kerfuffle. Makatza had figured out how to use some of her power for a fight, it mostly revolved around trapping and holding things in place while Tallis or Fenris tore through them. She found that when stressed her pulses were greatly disruptive and would keep things at a distance, it worked at keeping her safe though she got a couple looks from Tallis.

'Your cousin isn't a normal mage, is she?' Tallis asked as Makatza began to climb up a tree for a decent vantage point.

'She has specialised skills,' Garrett said carefully. Tallis nodded, not convinced but said no more. Makatza shouted from the tree branch she was standing on that there had been a disturbance ahead, something to do with territorial fights. 'If we can mimic that, do you think we'll have enough for a lure?' He asks Tallis.

'I don't see why not, we have a lot of things, we should be able to lure out a big bastard,' she grins. She watched as Makatza began to swing down from limb to limb and land on the grass gracefully, dusting leaves out her hair. Fenris had been standing underneath the tree should she have had an accident. 'Do you think he even knows?' Tallis smirks as she crosses her arms to look at them.

'Nope, he's completely oblivious. Even tried to tell me earlier in the week that he was ''keeping his distance'', from her. You can see how well that's working out,' he chuckles. Makatza laughs as she pulls out a stray leaf from her hair and flicks it at Fenris, 'she has feelings but is trying to convince herself that it's just a base attraction. I mean, we can both see that's bullshit,' he says as he waves at them both.

'Well at least he'll keep her safe, man is a demon in a fight, damn it's scary,' Tallis shudders. 'Come on, let's find a good area to attract the wyvern. It's gonna be messy.'


Messy indeed.

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