Jailbreak
The party was still in full swing. No one was any the wiser. Naishe even thought she heard the pop of a champagne bottle and Claudio's jubilant cry. An appropriate reaction to recent events, she thought.
They took a quick detour to Luis' office so Naishe could nab one of the fat coin purses he kept stashed in a drawer. She'd need money to get away from Antiva.
"Wait," Naishe said as Zevran made to leave. "Servant's quarters. Quickly."
"Naishe we don't have time-"
"Shut up and follow me."
Zevran rolled his eyes but obeyed.
They made their way to the servant's quarters. Luckily, there didn't seem to be anyone there. They must all be outside serving guests.
"Help me out of this damned thing," Naishe said, trying to wriggle out of the dress.
Zevran smirked and started unlacing the corset. "I said we should do this later."
"Ha bloody ha."
"You sound different you know."
Naishe felt strange hearing him say that. She'd noticed the change too. It made her neither sad nor happy. She didn't feel like she'd abandoned some great part of herself, nor did she feel like she was pretending to be someone else.
"Do I sound like a highborn Ferelden countess now?" she said, turning around and batting her lashes.
"Perhaps. But don't worry," Zevran said, observing her naked body. "You still look like a common whore." He flashed a grin.
She shoved his shoulder, smirking. "Such a charmer."
Naishe rooted around the beds until she found a simple grey tunic and trousers. She slipped them on, followed by some leather greaves.
"Better. But I preferred you in nothing."
"Eyes front, elf."
"Lady Mali-Kricco?"
They both jumped.
The timid frame of Hamaal appeared. He looked confused.
"Hamaal! Er…Fancy seeing you here!"
Zevran gave Naishe a wistful look.
"Was…Was there something you needed?" Hamaal's eyes darted down at the drab clothes his mistress was wearing.
"Nothing at all." Naishe stepped forward and smiled at the elf. "Listen. We don't have a lot of time. I'm leaving here. You can too."
"I…don't understand, Lady Mali-Kricco."
"Luis is dead." Oh how good it felt to say those words. "He's dead, and I'm getting out of here."
Hamaal's eyes widened. "Dead?"
"Dead. Stabbed. Gone." She put a hand on his shoulder. "You're free Hamaal. We're free."
"Either the boy comes now or leave him," Zevran snapped. "We should've already gone."
"Alright!" She shot Zevran a look, then back to Hamaal. "Come with us. What have you got to lose?"
It was hard to tell what Hamaal was thinking. He was quiet for a moment, then straightened up, alert. "I have an idea."
Naishe and Zevran looked at each other, then the former shrugged. "Great. Let's hear it."
Hamaal's plan was fairly simple to put into action. He scuttled outside under the pretence of serving guests. He'd simply told Naishe and Zevran to lurk amidst the guests outside the entrance hall and wait for his signal.
"What kind of signal is he going to make?"
Naishe shrugged.
They needn't have worried. A thunderous boom suddenly roared from the marquee. The guests gasped and screamed in shock. Those closest to the table were covered in purple marzipan, and the roof of the marquee was starting to smoke.
"Fire!"
People started sprinting around in panic. The clunk of armour sounded as all of the guards started jogging to see what had happened, leaving the path to the city clear.
"Water we need water!"
"There's a tank there!"
"No! That's my wife!"
Amid the chaos, Hamaal came running.
Naishe beamed at him and gave him a quick hug. "Subtle approach! I like it!"
"What!?" Hamaal shouted over the noise.
"Let's go!" Zevran jerked his head at the path and started running.
Hamaal soon followed suit.
Naishe took a second to grab a few knives from the pile of confiscated weapons. It couldn't hurt. She took one last look at the Mali-Kricco estate, then ran after the others.
There were a lot of people in Antiva City that evening. Everyone was going about their usual business. They eventually slowed to a walk. Zevran said only guilty people run.
"Nice trick, Hamaal."
The elf blushed. "Thanks…"
"If I'd known you could do that, I would've asked sooner." Naishe grinned. In fact, she couldn't stop grinning.
"But if anyone asks, I'm going to take credit for it," Zevran said matter-of-factly. "Blowing up cakes is a good party trick."
Naishe chuckled and slung her arms around both of their necks. "So, who's for a little celebration of our own?"
A wicked smile grew on Zevran's face. "What did you have in mind?"
Naishe smirked and started walking them towards the harbour. The red lantern district was just before it.
When they passed the harbour, Naishe's eyes fell on the ships moored there. She spotted The Siren's Call immediately. Her scarlet body and golden bowsprit. Thick cream sails and the Mali-Kricco bull was flying at the top of the mast on its purple shield. Luis had never been one for subtlety. The ship was like a giant red signpost pointing to her freedom.
Soon.
"This was what you wanted, yes?"
She looked at Zevran. "Yes, it was." They were approaching the brothel Naishe had last visited in disguise. "It feels too good to be true."
Zevran grinned and nodded at the brothel doors. "Are you sure you want this now? Hanging around is a risky plan, even for me."
"Oh yes." That Naishe was sure of. "I need to thank you for what you've done for me Zev. Properly."
"I-I think I should go," Hamaal said a little sheepishly.
Naishe was a little sad to hear this, although she hadn't really expected him to want to visit a brothel. "Really?"
"Yes." He smiled. "I'm…I'm very grateful. To both of you. But…I would like to go…Leave Antiva I mean."
Naishe nodded. "Where will you go?"
"The Weyrs. My sister lives near." He sounded very sure of himself, as though he'd been thinking about it for years.
"Oh. Well, I suppose this is goodbye then." Naishe pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry I never… I mean...I didn't…"
"It's okay Naishe. We're fee now." When their hug broke off, he gave her a final, hopeful smile. "Dareth shiral" And with that, he was gone.
The brothel dwellers welcomed the two warmly and quickly led them upstairs. Naishe paid a very generous fee to a wide-eyed courtesan for six 'companions' to join them. Yñigo, Mariana, Vincenzo, Mikko, Joëlle and Kattien.
"Celebrating?" Kattien was lying back on the bed with his hands behind his head.
"Yes. Fancy jumping out of a cake?" Naishe yanked Zevran closer to her so she could loosen the straps on his armour.
Kattien sniggered. "What's the occasion?"
"Well, Zev here was kind enough to murder my dreadful husband Lord Mali-Kricco less than an hour ago. I thought he deserved a reward." Naishe placed a kiss on the elf's neck.
"Mali-Kricco? The art merchant?"
"That's the one."
"The same art merchant who owns half the city guard?"
Naishe nodded.
"And you think now is the best time to schedule in a fuck?"
Naishe and Zevran looked at each other, then back to Kattien. "Yes," they said in unison.
Kattien was frowning slightly. "I hate to be a killjoy…but don't you think they might be looking for you? Or him?"
"You really know how to make a girl hot under the collar."
His smile broke again and he held up his hands in defeat. "Pardonne ma curiosité. Would you like me to help with that?"
Naishe had been struggling to unbuckle one of the leather pauldrons and stood back to let Kattien help.
The rest of their company had now entered the room and positioned themselves in increasingly provocative poses on and around the furniture. Vincenzo was tensing his considerable pecs so they showed through his shirt. Yñigo's legs were spread for easy access. Mikko was on his knees, already unbuttoning his trousers. Joëlle was already stroking the hardened flesh between her legs. Mariana was holding a jar of honey in her hand and raised an eyebrow seductively at Naishe.
"Right on time." Naishe smiled. "I was just about to give Zev a good thanking."
"Thanking?"
"Wouldn't that hurt?"
"Can't he do that himself?"
Naishe smirked, "He…helped me out of a tight spot."
Yñigo snorted, "Good thing you invited Mariana. She know aaaaaaall about those…"
"Bite me 'Ñigo."
"With pleasure."
Within twenty minutes, everyone was occupied. Mariana had dripped honey over Naishe's body and was now licking it off. Naishe would have moaned had her mouth not been locked around Mikko's, who was playing with her hair.
Yñigo had tied Zevran to a chair and was trailing his tongue along the shaft of his cock. Every time the elf sighed, Yñigo squeezed his thighs and let out a low guttural murmur or approval. When the latter leaned forward to really go to town, Joëlle saw an opportunity and took him from behind. They all gasped collectively.
Kattien seemed to be enjoying the show and had returned to the bed.
Vincenzo was just masturbating in the corner.
It was difficult to keep track of time after a while. Naishe had paid for a few hours, but it could have been days for all she knew. How could it have only been hours ago that she had been on her way to the Qunari? It felt like someone else's life. The last two years had brought so many highs and lows that Naishe wasn't sure whether to feel satisfied or seasick. Or maybe that was just the effect Yñigo was currently having on her. He had her on her back with her legs by her ears. He thrust forward again and again and Naishe forgot all about earlier that day. She was certainly getting her money's worth.
Eventually, Naishe pried herself away from Yñigo, the ebony skinned Ferelden with the stamina of three men combined. This task proved difficult and his steamy gaze alone sent twinges down her spine. But prevailed she did and she asked everyone in the room to turn their attention to Zevran and Zevran only as a thank you for what he'd done.
Everyone obliged enthusiastically, except for Vincenzo. He was masturbating in the corner. The elf was a quivering, panting wreck by the end of it.
The bed springs were creaking under the weight of the six people. Someone, it was difficult to distinguish who, grabbed Naishe's arm and pulled her into the fray.
Isabela was kind enough to show me a sketch of this scene by her own hand. I didn't even ask for it. In fact, she showed me before she even knew I was writing this book. Each face is as delirious with pleasure as the next. I would say the logistics of the act depicted are utterly implausible, but I've known Isabela too long now. She once claimed to have bedded something that was both a dragon and a woman, but I'll save that one for the next book.
It was a pulsing mass of limbs and sweat and cries of ecstasy. Every shudder they felt together. Every twinge. Every moan. They were one body. One mind. Zevran didn't know where he ended and Naishe began. He wasn't even sure how many people there were.
"Naishe?"
"Her mouth's a little occupied blondie."
Zevran chuckled and twisted onto his back to see the Rivaini between Joëlle's legs.
This was freedom alright.
With a lurch and a loud sigh of relief, Naishe felt someone enter her. Whether it was Zevran or someone else equally well hung, it was impossible to say. All the felt was the unbridled pleasure of it all. No worries about someone seeing them or walking in. No time limit. Even the groaning springs of the bed felt somehow better than the lush satin of her bed in the Mali-Kricco estate.
"Fuck!" cried Naishe.
"Yes!" cried Zevran.
"Oh Maker!" cried Vincenzo, who'd been masturbating in the corner.
As each of the group came, they finally collapsed against the mattress. Some of them rolled off the edge due to lack of space. The room was quiet for a while, save for the breathy pants of its inhabitants.
"You come back any time you like…" Mikko said, dragging his body upright and moving to exit the room.
His fellows agreed and slowly followed suit, leaving Naishe and Zevran alone. Naishe still wasn't sure how long they'd been there, but the blue haze of the sky had lifted to reveal the stars.
They lay there for a while in silence until Zevran finally said, "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking I don't want to move for a thousand years. And that I might have to visit a healer."
Zevran laughed, "Tell me about it." He patted her on the leg and said, "You have my highest gratitude. I must admit I haven't had anything like that in some time…"
"Call it even?"
"Deal."
They both grinned and pounded their fists together.
In a different story, Naishe might have looked at the beautiful golden-haired elf and begged him not to leave as she knew he inevitably would. Told him to run away with her and never look back. But that wasn't her story. And she knew it.
"Why did you kill him?" She'd waited as long as she could to address the elephant in the room. As much as Zevran might like her, she knew he hadn't done it for her.
The elf was staring at the ceiling, his expression unreadable. "Powerful men have short life expectancies."
"Come on Zev." Naishe rolled onto her stomach and poked him, "You can trust me."
The corner of Zevran's lip quirked upwards. "Assassins aren't known for their trusting nature, Naishe."
"Who would I tell?"
Zevran considered this and chose his next words carefully. "His death was…a by-product of my trade, shall we say? Someone paid a lot of money to have him gone."
"Someone?"
"I don't know. We're given our contracts. We kill the targets. We rarely know who ordered the assassination. That's not our business." Zevran reached over the side of the bed onto the floor for his belt. He opened one of the pouches on it and pulled out a piece of parchment to hand to Naishe.
Lord Luis Augustín Timoteo Mali-Kricco, Merchant Prince of Antiva City
Nothing else was written. Not how. Not when. Not where he wold be. Not even the reward for his death. There was only the black winged crest of the Antivan Crows at the bottom of the paper.
"Sometimes I can put two and two together. Who benefits from seeing someone dead. Who their enemies were. You get the idea…" Zevran folded the parchment and returned it to the pouch. "Other times it's not so obvious."
"You don't know anyone that would want Luis dead?"
Zevran shrugged and lay back once more. "He was a wealthy man. He must have had plenty of enemies. There were rumours about his business in Tevinter but…" The assassin shot Naishe a sly smile and added, "For all I know, you sent the order."
Naishe sighed, "If only. I'd dearly like to thank the person that did."
She was trying to think of everyone Luis had introduced her to during their marriage. The man with the bandaged hands floated across her mind. Clarissa had said it had been Luis who'd inflicted those injuries on him. Was that enough cause to want a man dead?
Something occurred to her. "Did Claudio know?"
Zevran shrugged. "Perhaps. They usually know about the big contracts."
She thought back to when she'd last seen him. Claudio had been so drunk he could barely stand. Had he been putting it on or drowning his sorrows? She couldn't make sense of it.
"How did you get him alone in his room?"
Zevran had a faint smirk on his lips, "You may have noticed that your husband has, ah, had a taste for elven boys. It wasn't difficult to persuade him."
Naishe shuddered, thinking of Hamaal. Even in death Luis still disgusted her. Another reminder of why she had to leave.
"Arsehole."
"Yes. I'd reached the same conclusion."
Keen to change the subject, Naishe rose and eyed the pile of Zevran's clothes on the floor. She held up the breeches for Zevran to see.
"Mind if I borrow these?"
"Yes, actually."
"Shame." She pulled them on then searched for a shirt.
"Didn't you steal some clothes?"
"These are better."
Zevran, amused, watched the Rivaini dress herself in his clothes. She graciously left the armour emblazoned with the Antivan Crow crest. "Why not help yourself to my coin while you're at it?"
"Tempting but I have plenty of gold. Maybe next time."
Zevran chuckled, "Anything else?"
Naishe um'd and ah'd for a moment, before sheathing the daggers she'd stolen.
"Only an idiot would run around unarmed. Who knows what I might run into?"
The elf rolled his eyes. "And what am I supposed to wear?" He could either wear the armour and risk terrible chafing or visit a clothes merchant naked.
Naishe shrugged and said, "Show the world that gorgeous arse I suppose." She winked at him, "Although I suspect the world's already seen it."
He held his hand to his chest, "You flatter me."
"I'm a giver."
"Can't argue there." Zevran moved swiftly to Naishe and, always having been one for a dramatic flair, pulled her down into a dip so he could kiss her one last time.
Naishe wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss happily. She didn't know if she wold ever see the assassin again, but Naishe knew she'd never forget him.
Eventually, he let her go, another satisfied smile on his face.
"It's been a pleasure."
"Oh trust me Zev, the pleasure was all mine." Naishe winked again and gave him a two fingered salute, "Anyway. Places to be. Things to do."
"Have something in mind?"
Naishe nodded and looked at Zevran with that mischievous smirk that he knew so well. "I'm going to steal a ship."
"Safe waters, Captain."