Meanwhile, in Loghain's estate in Denerim, Loghain himself was having a sip of wine. Things had not going his way as Teagan had promised the Bannorn refused to accept his rule. Then his adviser, Arl Howe walked in with a grim look on his face.
"I bring word, sire. There are demands from the Bannorn that you step down from the regency." Howe said. "They are said to be gathering their forces. As are your allies. It appears it will be civil war after all, despite the darkspawn. Pity." Loghain extremely doubt that Howe was disappointed by the outcome.
Howe then reported something most grim. "I also have an interesting report. There seems to be Grey Wardens who survived Ostagar. How I don't know, but they will act against you." This was a troubling development, the Grey Wardens could gather allies where he could not in the name of defeating the Blight. "I have arranged for a..." Howe chose his words very carefully. "Solution, with your leave."
Loghain turned and found himself facing an Antivan elf. "The Antivan Crows send their regards."
"An assassin?" Loghain raised an eyebrow at Howe. He had heard of the Antivan Crows. Whether allying with themselves would prove beneficial or disastrous for his reign was yet to be seen.
"Against Grey Wardens we will need the very best, sire." Howe pointed out.
"And the most expensive." The elven assassin added.
Loghain turned to the elf and despite his better judgement, he knew he couldn't waste all of his forces on hunting down the Grey Wardens. "Just get it done."
Both Howe and the elf bowed and left his chambers. Loghain prayed to the Maker that he would not live to regret this.
They had set up camp and were about half a day away from Lake Calenhad. Hopefully they would be able to get the mages help with both the Blight and Redcliffe. She made her way over to Sten in the hope she could get a better understanding of why he was sent to Ferelden.
"So will you tell me now why you were caged?"
Sten looked down at her. "I caged myself. A weak mind is a deadly foe, as you are no doubt aware."
"Are you saying you put yourself in that cage?" Sereda asked.
"I know that my failures were my own. I told you before that I was sent here. I was not sent alone. I came to your lands with seven of the Beresaad—my brothers—to seek answers about the Blight. We made our way across the Fereldan countryside without incident, seeing nothing of the threat we were sent to observe. Until the night we camped by Lake Calenhad." He looked into the fire. "They came from everywhere: The earth beneath our feet, the air above us, our own shadows harboured the darkspawn. I saw the last of the creatures cut down, too late. I fell."
"That sounds like what happened to me at Ostagar."
He gave her a sympathetic look. "I heard the stories of Ostagar. Your kith stood their ground when others fled. No one can do more than that." He looked back to the fire. "I don't know how long I lay on the battlefield among the dead, nor do I know how the farmers found me. I only know that when I woke, I was no longer among my brothers. And my sword was gone from my hand."
"What did you do?"
"I searched for it. And when that failed, I asked my rescuers what had become of it."
"And then?" She knew the answer already, but wanted to get a better measure of the strange man
A slight trace of regret entered his voice. "I killed them. With my bare hands." He looked at her. "I did. I knew they didn't have the blade. They had no reason to lie to me. I panicked. Unthinking, I struck them down."
"That's terrible."
"I know. I cannot justify what I have done. My honor is forfeit. That sword was made for my hand alone. I have carried it from the day I was set into the Beresaad. I was to die wielding it for my people. Even if I could cross Ferelden and Tevinter unarmed and alone to bring my report to the arishok, I would be slain on sight by the antaam. They would know me as soulless, a deserter. No soldier would cast aside his blade while he drew breath."
She sighed. After a few minutes, she asked, "couldn't you search for it?"
"If I knew where to look, it would be in my hand now."
"You said you fought the darkspawn near Lake Calenhad. I believe that is where we are heading. Don't worry. We'll find it."
He looked towards her. "Perhaps those words are empty, but… thank you all the same."
The following day they packed up camp and made their way to Lake Calenhad.
Daylen, as a fellow mage, couldn't help but be curious about Morrigan as he stood by her "Have you ever been hunted by the Chantry?"
Morrigan chuckled. "You are very cute to ask such questions."
"And you are cute when you're evasive." Daylen teased.
"Really?" Morrigan raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps we should be wrapped in ribbons and adorned with flowers, so cute are we two." She laughed again. "My mother has been hunted from time to time, yes. By Templar fools like Alistair, which should tell you how successful they generally were. Flemeth made a bit of a game of it, in fact. The Templars would come again and she would look at me and smile and say the fun was about to begin once more."
Daylen couldn't keep the surprise off his face."Fun? You found it fun?"
"I found the game fun. I was too young to understand the truth behind what was happening. Flemeth would warn them once. 'Twas a warning they inevitably failed to heed. And then the true game began. Often Flemeth would use me as bait. A little girl to scream and run and lure the Templars deeper into the Wilds and to their doom."
"Flemeth used you as bait?"
Morrigan smiled. "'Twas a game and I a young girl. If I didn't get to play, I would have been very upset. Thankfully, the Wilds is a vast place. Once they found us, Flemeth would simply move us elsewhere and we would be lost within the forest once again. I did not understand the danger we faced until I was much older. I had never heard of "apostates" or "maleficarum"."
"Do you still think that was fun?" Daylen could not help but wonder.
She looked over at him. "I think that my mother made it fun so that a child did not learn to fear. And I think that it was necessary. There are no trials for apostates, no prisons, no mercy. There are only absolutes, so only survival matters are. If the Wilds have taught me anything, tis' this: first you must survive. Do you disagree?"
"You're probably right." Daylen admitted, hoping that the rest of the group had not overheard them.
Morrigan smiled, impressed. "An enlightened view. Or at least an agreeable one."
"What was life like in a Chantry… what's the word, cloister?" Theron asked.
Leliana smiled. "Quiet. It was a life suited for contemplation. In the cloister, away from the fuss and flurry of the cities, I found peace. And in that stillness, I could hear the Maker. But it was not perfect. Some of my Chantry fellows were condescending. That is the nature of religious folk, I suppose."
"How so?"
"When I talked about my beliefs—that the Maker reveals Himself in the beauty of His world—they..." She sighed. "Treated me with disdain. They want to believe that He is gone, so that when He turns His gaze on them, it means they are special—chosen. He cannot possibly have love for all—the sick and weary, the beggars and the fools."
"I prefer your ideas to the ideas of the Chantry." he said. He still recalled the stares of the Chantry folk when they had noted his vallaslin. The revered mother, at least, had accepted his offering with respect. Donating it, after the trouble it had nearly caused, had felt right.
Leliana stared at him in surprise before smiling. "Thank you." She fidgeted her fingers.. "Maybe I'm wrong, but it is the Maker's place to decide if I am worthy, not men. Not the Chantry." Her voice held a quiet conviction.
They walked in silence for a while. Theron used his senses to search for darkspawn and keep track of the others as he and Leliana walked ahead, trying to make the most of their time together. "I must say that traveling with you has opened my eyes to how wrong some are about the Dalish. You are not at all savage. And I've not seen you snatch away women and children without provocation."
"Are you trying to be funny?" Theron asked.
"Funny? No, people actually do believe such things of you. If my people were more open to interacting with yours, we could do away with such mis-perceptions."
"The last time that happened, it didn't end well." He shrugged.
"I know humans and elves do not share a happy history, but peace must be possible." Her voice was earnest. "I hear many city folk talk about how wonderful it must be to live simpler lives, close to the earth. They could learn from the Dalish."
He frowned. "Do you think us a quaint curiosity meant for study?"
"I… I'm sorry. I did not mean it like that." She gave an embarrassed shake of her head. "I wasn't trying to belittle your culture. I have met very few elves and those I have met were… pledged to the service of Orlesian nobles."
"Slaves." Theron spat in disgust.
"They are serfs. There is no slavery in Orlais."
"It's the same thing."
"Elven servants are well-compensated for their services. Some of them live richer lives than humans. A well-trained elven servant is highly valued in Orlais. They are nimble and dextrous and many people find them pleasing to look at."
Theron stared at her. "Like a prize-winning animal?"
Leliana looked abash, immediately blushing and looking ashamed, realizing what she might have been implying, unintentionally though. "No, I did not mean it that way!" She sighed. "My words were clumsily chosen. I did not mean to offend. I—" Her voice was low and apologetic. "I am sorry."
"You may not be cruel. But you still see us differently."
"I… I did not realize that. It is so strange, how long-held beliefs just seem natural and… right. Like there is no other way to feel. Thank you. You have given me a lot to think about."
The feeling was mutual. Though Theron wished that he didn't sound so harsh, he knew he had to apologize to her later.
Sereda watched the scavenger who was digging around the lake for a moment before she neared him as the scavengers spotted her a moment later. "Back off! I was here first!" He yelled at her.
"You haven't seen a sword lying around here, have you?" Sereda asked.
"Why, you looking to buy one?" The scavenger asked.
"No, but my very large, angry friend here is." She gestured casually towards Sten and the scavenger paled.
"Ah… is he? Heh." His voice was shaky and nervous as he was sweating at the sight of Sten. "Well… that's… see I'd like to sell you one, but I don't… uh… have any myself." He frowned. "I got part of a glove that the wolves didn't chew too badly, though! I think it was a glove, anyway… I know. Don't say it. I got cheated." He sighed. "I knew the guy who was here before me. He sold me this spot. Said he'd found giants and all kinds of crazy valuables. He didn't mention he'd taken everything but the bones and dirt already. His name's Faryn. Squirrelly little bastard, if you ask me. Which you didn't. But I said it anyway."
Sereda made a mental note of the name. "He found valuables here?"
"So he says. He didn't leave none of it here, I'll tell you. He was going to Orzammar, he said. I imagine he's gotten there by now." He grinned. "If you find him, tell him I sent you! It'll scare the piss out of him. Heh."
She nodded, and walked back to where Daylen seemed to be trying to negotiate them a boat as he was talking with the guarding templar at the docks, trying to get across the lake to the Circle Tower.
"You! You're not looking to get across to the tower, are you? Because I have strict orders not to let anyone pass!" The templar folded his arms and glared.
Daylen sighed in frustration, wiping his face. "I am a Grey Warden and I seek the assistance of the mages."
The templar laughed, amused. "Oh, you're a Grey Warden, are you? Prove it."
"Prove it?"
"Kill some darkspawn. Come on. Let's see some righteous Grey Wardening."
"There aren't any darkspawn here." Daylen was tempted to throw a fireball at the templar and it took all if his willpower to restrain himself from hurting him.
"That's good, I suppose. Wouldn't want darkspawn smeared across the landscape. I hear their blood is black. Is that true? You'd know if you were a Grey Warden."
"It's not black, but it burns when it touches you."
"Oh, pleasant, eh? Good thing I don't have to kill them then. Anyway, it was nice chatting with you. Now on your way. Right now. Go."
Daylen sighed and then chuckled. It's good that he knew exactly what weak spot the templar has. "Your superior won't like that you've given me trouble."
"Oh, really? You think Greagoir would be upset with me for not letting you in? Wait..." As soon as the idea came across his mind, his face turned serious. "Actually, he would. Good point."
"Well, we should try our best to avoid that, shouldn't we?" Daylen teased the templar as if he was a little child.
"He's the big guy around here… I bet he could deal with one Grey Warden. Alleged Grey Warden. Well, you want that I should take you there now?"
"Yes, please do."
"Come along, I suppose."
Daylen glanced back at Sereda as they approached the tower. Sereda gave her a nod and gestured for her to go ahead and take the lead. She took a deep breath, and opened the door.
Inside, Templars were moving around, setting up barricades. Greagoir stood in the center of the room, calling out orders. "…and I want two men stationed within sight of the doors at all times. Do not open the doors without my express consent. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir." Matthias saluted.
"The doors are barred. Are they keeping people out? Or in?" Alistair wondered. He had been wondering why were the templars in the Circle acting as if it was the end of the world.
"Now we wait, and pray." Greagoir shook his head. A Templar touched his shoulder, and pointed to the Wardens.
Daylen walked towards the Knight-Commander. "Greagoir. Good to see you again."
Greagoir stared at Daylen with surprise but then smiled, although his eyes glared. "Well, look who's back. A proper Grey Warden now, are we? Glad you're not dead."
Daylen looked around at the Templars. He had never seen them that much on guard when he was an apprentice in the Circle. "What's happening? Why are the great doors barred?"
Greagoir sighed, pacing down the hall and gesturing around. "I shall speak plainly: The tower is no longer under our control. Abominations and demons stalk the tower's halls. We were too complacent. First Jowan, now this." He glared and pointed at Daylen accusingly. "Don't think I've forgotten your role in Jowan's escape."
"Jowan's escape seems small compared to the situation here." Daylen pointed out.
"True enough." Greagoir nodded, looking frustrated. That alone made Daylen honestly worried about what was going on.
Daylen looked around, noticing that the mages were keeping their distance from the Templars, terrified of the knights. "What has become of the first enchanter?"
"We don't know." Greagoir admitted, as Daylen noticed the worry in his tone. "We saw only demons, hunting Templar's and mages alike. I realized we could not defeat them and told my men to flee."
"What can I do to help?" Daylen offered. If they could help the Dalish break the werewolf curse, they could solve what was going on here.
"I have sent word to Denerim, calling for reinforcements and the Right of Annulment." Greagoir said and Daylen's blood ran cold.
"How can you think of annulling the entire Circle?" He demanded angrily, glaring at the templar.
Greagoir looked remorseful. "This situation is dire. There is no alternative—everything in the tower must be destroyed so it can be made safe again."
"The mages are not defenseless. Some must still live." Daylen argued.
"If any are still alive, the Maker himself has shielded them. No one could have survived those monstrous creatures. It is too painful to hope for survivors and find… nothing."
Daylen noticed then that even some templars, Cullen included, were missing, not just mages. "I'll look for survivors."
Greagoir looked genuinely worried about the young mage. "I assure you, an abomination is a force to be reckoned with, and you will face more than one."
"I have confidence in our abilities." Daylen turned to his companions, drawing his attention to them.
"Ah, that arrogance hangs about you like some fell cloud, doesn't it?" Greagoir's voice was mixed with pride and incredulousness, wondering if Daylen was either too confident or really good enough to help them. He sighed, then looked back at the others. He nodded. "If you succeed, I would owe you much, enough that I would pledge my Templars to your cause. Without word from Denerim, I must determine our course. Surely destroying darkspawn is a worthy goal."
"We have an agreement, then."
"A word of caution… once you cross that threshold, there is no turning back. The great doors must remain barred. I will open them for no one until I have proof that it is safe. I will only believe it is over if the first enchanter stands before me and tells me it is so. If Irving has fallen… then the Circle is lost, and must be destroyed. May Andraste lend you her courage, whatever you decide."
Sereda reached out to Daylen as he turned to her. "Daylen, are you sure about this?"
"I can't let them annul the Circle. It would mean that every single mage inside will die. Elders, teachers, apprentices, even children. Do you want that?" He challenged with a pleading look.
After a moment of consideration, his leader nodded. "You're right. These mages are innocent. If… if this is the only way…" She turned to their companions, who nodded, somewhat reluctantly. They didn't like facing demons but they wanted to do what was right.
The templars let them in before the door closed behind them, trapping them inside a mage cage full of demons and abominations. Darkspawn would have been something the others would have preferred but if they could beat werewolves, they would find a way to stop demons. One thing was for certain, they could not let all the innocent mages die.
Daylen walked ahead of them down the corridor as Sereda, Faren and Theron eyed him, seeing his face shatter at seeing the dead bodies around and inside every chamber as they felt sad for him. This place had been Daylen's home for years, and to see everyone he had known, slaughtered, must have brought him unimaginable pain.
As they entered another hall, they saw a small group of mages throw their spells at a rage demon, while a group of children cowered behind them. The eldest of the mages sent forth a burst of energy that seemed to freeze and dissolve the demon. She lowered her staff and turned around, about to attack. "Stop right there! Take another step, and I swear I will strike you down where you stand!" She lowered her staff and looked shocked at the sight of Daylen, recognizing him from Ostagar. "You? You've returned to the tower? Why did the Templars let you through? Are you here to warn us?"
Daylen held up his hands. "This was my home. I want to see what's happened to us, Wynne."
Wynne nodded and smiled. "I see you still care about the Circle and our tower. Unfortunately, the Circle is in grave danger."
Daylen nodded. "From the Templars. They intend to annul the Circle."
Wynne looked beaten and fear flashed in her eyes. "They have the Right of Annulment."
"No, but Greagoir expects it to arrive soon." Daylen assured.
Wynne sighed in resignation. "So Greagoir thinks the Circle is beyond hope. He probably assumes we are all dead." She looked back at the children. "They abandoned us to our fate, but even trapped as we are, we have survived. If they invoke the Right, however, we will not be able to stand against them."
"Did Irving survive as well?" Daylen asked. He needed to know if the man, who had been like a father to him, survived.
"If anyone could survive this, it would be Irving. It was he who told me to look after the children. It's… a long story." Wynne gestured at the door behind her as some magical shield was formed to block it. "I erected a barrier over the door leading to the rest of the tower, so nothing from inside could attack the children. You will not be able to enter the tower as long as the barrier holds, but I will dispel it if you join with me to save this Circle."
Daylen nodded. "Hopefully we can make sure there is no more bloodshed."
"Yes. Even if we cannot eliminate all the demons and abominations, together, we could lead the survivors out." Hope began to show in her eyes. "Once Greagoir sees we have made the tower safe, I trust he will tell his men to back down. He is not unreasonable."
"Will the children be safe here?" Elissa asked.
Wynne blinked as if noticing Daylen's companions for the first time. A hint of a smile began to show on her face as she looked them over. "Petra and Kinnon will watch them. If we slay all the fiends we encounter on our way, none will get by to threaten the children."
"Very well—" Daylen glanced at Sereda. "If you think that is best."
Morrigan shook her head. "You want us to assist this preachy schoolmistress? To rescue these pathetic excuses for mages? They allow themselves to be corralled like cattle, mindless. Now their masters have chosen death for them and I say let them have it." Her voice was spiteful.
"You will do as I say." Sereda glared.
Morrigan scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. "Have it your way."
Wynne turned to the other mages. "Petra, Kinnon… look after the others. I will be back soon."
Petra gave her a worried look. "Wynne... are you sure you're alright? You were so badly hurt earlier. Maybe I should come along."
"The others need your protection more. I will be all right." said Wynne, gesturing at the wardens. She pointed to the children. "Stay here with them… keep them safe and calm."
A couple of children were clinging to Barkspawn, and Elissa instructed the hound to stay with the kids. He barked, and began happily licking faces as the children laughed.
"Have faith." Daylen smiled at Petra. "We will not fail."
Wynne nodded at her. "Your confidence is refreshing, though you should make sure it does not blind you to your weakness." Morrigan rolled her eyes and made a rude sound. Wynne shot her an annoyed look. "If you are ready, let us go end this."
"Let's go." Sereda said.
Daylen looked over the barrier. It was surprisingly strong. He could perhaps have matched it, but not without effort. Wynne nodded at it. "Here we are. I am somewhat amazed at myself for having kept it in place this long."
"You did what you had to do, Wynne." Daylen assured her.
"It made me very weary at times, but I had to stay strong, to keep us safe. Be prepared for anything. I do not know what manner of beasts lurk beyond this barrier."
"Hopefully, someone survived." Theron said.
"Be careful. Who knows how many demons we might face." Alistair cautioned.
"We're ready. Destroy the barrier." Daylen ordered.
"All right. Be on your guard..." Wynne gestured, and the barrier fell in a burst of bright light.
As they walked down the library, abominations started to emerge from the library. Daylen summoned lightning and burned some of them alive, while Kallian pulled out her blades and cut down the reanimated corpses and Leliana fired arrows, shooting down three more.
From another door burst out some that appeared to be made out of fire, followed by more of the corpses.
"Fenedhis." Theron swore.
Daylen and Morrigan cast some spell that covered their swords in ice. Theron drove his dagger into the demon, and it shrieked, swiping at him with sickle-like claws. He ducked, withdrew the blade, then stabbed again. This time, it seemed to melt into the floor as Theron engaged another demon.
Morrigan raised her staff and covered the incoming corpses in a thick layer of ice, slowing them down as Faren and Sten charged forward. Faren used his battleaxe, while Sten swung his greatsword and the corpses shattered into pieces.
"These corpses really stink." Theron noted, unable to get rid of the stench of rotten flesh.
"I'm not sure if it makes a good story for the hero to lose his lunch from the scent." said Leliana, wrinkling her own nose.
Theron looked around. Sereda and Alistair were fighting a rage demon, while Kallian and Elissa had used their icy blades to dispose of another one.
The ground beneath Daylen erupted in flame, and the mage was sent tumbling as another demon emerged from the floor with an unearthly howl. Theron got in between the demon and downed Daylen as Faren and Sten flanked it. With combined efforts, they managed to cut the demon down as the room was clear.
"How many more of these things are here?" Elissa wondered, shocked.
"Are you certain you want to know?" Wynne asked and Elissa was silent, while Wynne came to treat their burins and bruises and cuts they had suffered.
"I have a thought."
Daylen glanced up at Morrigan's quiet words. He noted she had waited until the others were occupied and out of earshot. "Oh? What's on your mind?"
"We have an opportunity that I believe we should take advantage of." She looked around to be sure no one would overhear them before she continued. "To the point: my mother was once divested of a particular grimoire by a most annoying Templar hunter. It occurred long before I was born, but even today Flemeth speaks of the loss with great rage." She touched a broken statue with her foot. "With the Circle of Magi in such disarray, it occurs to me that this might be the perfect time to recover the tome from their possession, for surely it eventually ended up in their hands."
Ordinarily, Daylen wouldn't even consider of such a thing, but first of all, they needed her help. Second of all, if he said 'no', she might stab them in the back later and that was not something that hey could afford at the moment. "Very well. I'll keep an eye out for it."
She smiled. "Good. I am most interested to see its contents, should it be located. The grimoire is leather-bound and adorned with the symbol of a leafless tree, should you come across it. If not, however, then I shall simply put it out of my mind."
He was rather interested to see what the book had to say himself.
Faren shuddered slightly as Wynne and Daylen tried to convince the stock keeper to go back to safety. Daylen had told him a bit about these mages. Tranquil, she had called them. They were… quite disturbing. Daylen was glad that Duncan had saved him from ending up like one of them. He could not believe that someone would do such a thing, but then, again the concept of humans was beyond his grasp.
They at least managed to convince Owain to hide, and moved on. Daylen's reaction to the maleficarum was… he felt disturbed, to say the least.
In the library, they had to fight some blood mages but Daylen, Wynne and Morrigan managed to negate their spells, while the rest cut them down.
A surviving blood mage crawl back away from them. "Please, please, don't kill me." She begged.
"The people you killed didn't want to die either." Daylen glared at her, gesturing at the bodies strewn about the place.
"I know I have no right to ask for mercy, but I didn't mean for this death and destruction. We were just trying to free ourselves." Her eyes practically begged for her life. "Uldred told us that the Circle would support Loghain and Loghain would help us be free of the Chantry." Daylen's eyes narrowed as he folded his arms. "Don't you remember what it was like living here? The Templars watching… always watching."
Faren blinked as Daylen went slightly pale. The woman's words had obviously hit home. "What you've done will make things worse for future mages." Daylen pointed out.
"We thought… someone always had to take the first step… force a change, no matter the cost."
"Nothing is worth what you've done to this place." Wynne glared at her in disgust, no hint of sympathy in her voice.
"And now Uldred's gone mad, and we are scattered, doomed to die at the hands of those who seek to right our wrongs..."
Faren snorted. "And all you can do is wallow in self-pity. Pathetic."
"What else can I do? I'm trapped here."
Daylen didn't reply, he was tempted to burn the blood mage alive, but ultimately, he was able to hold his temper. Then he turned, and walked away, leaving her alone as the rest followed him.
They found a terrified mage named Goodwin in a cupboard and assured him to go to the ground floor, since the lower levels were safe before they moved on as Goodwin ran down. Then they found a desire demon, who had a templar under her control, convincing him that he had been defending his wife and children, forcing them to kill him.
"Can we save the abominations somehow?" Sereda asked.
Daylen shook his head. "No. Once they change, they are demons forever. There is almost no chance you can restore them to who they used to be and even so, by then, they would have lost most of their former selves already. Whatever would be left, would be just an almost hollow husk with little left of who they had been once."
"You knew some of them?" Theron asked.
Daylen nodded, looking sad as he tightened the grip on his staff. "Uldred had turned them into mindless beasts."
"We'll make sure he cannot anymore." Wynne assured.
As they entered another room, they saw what seemed to be a tall creature with burned face, an ugly type of demon, its voice sounding as if it was dragging out every word. "Oh, look. Visitors. I'd entertain you but… too much effort involved."
"Killing demons is enough entertainment for me, thanks." Sereda said, reaching for her sword.
"But why?" The demon blinked at them almost sleepily. "Aren't you tired of all the violence in this world? I know I am." Suddenly they all began to feel sleepy and it took all her willed just to their eyes open. "Wouldn't you like to just lay down and… forget about all this? Leave it all behind?"
Sereda felt her mind going cloudy and her companions began to fall. She dimly heard Wynne say something about resisting before she joined the others on the ground. The demon looked at her, eyes boring into her own. "Why do you fight? You deserve more… You deserve a rest. The world will go on without you."
Suddenly, everything faded away.
