Part 2
It took him the rest of that day to mix up a few potions and poisons that should help for the weeklong journey to the west where the mountains laid separating Antiva and Tevinter. A week, that usually took two minimum, of constant changing of horse/dracolisk carriages and little sleep. He knew this was going to be a close call and possibly a death sentence, but if the Warden was to survive then Viago had no choice but to try. That was in the beginning of the trip.
It was now late into day seven and Alessa's condition was bad enough that one could not deny that she had little time left. The Talon uncorked another potion to give to her and noted how this was indeed the last one, she had a few more hours left on the poison but that was it. They had to reach the Temple before all the affects wore off.
The four sturdy dracolisks pulling the carriage came to a stop just outside a small village nestled in a valley with lush treed mountains around them. Clear water flowing through the homes and stores alike from a nice size waterfall in the background, bisecting the valley. The village itself had maybe two hundred people living there, small, and quaint. A place that you would not expect a nasty secret to be hidden along a mountainside.
Viago barely gave the driver enough time to fully stop before opening the door, not even bothering to use the step to get down. The Crow took one glance around the place that had not changed since he been there last before instructing the driver to stay till he got back from his business here. He grabbed his pack from inside the door and stood waiting for the Warden to collect herself. The stuff he gave her worked well and gave her enough relief and energy to move, but it was wearing off, and fast. He could tell by the way she slugged behind as he made his way through the small stone made village.
Her curious and questioning look was met with silence as he turned a few corners and around stores to the outskirts where few homes where out away from the main area. The steppingstone path come to a walled alcove of sorts, but instead of a bench it was a series of stairs leading up. Her glare of frustration and huff was all she could muster the energy for as Viago made his way up, taking a dozen or so steps before looking back at her still form at the bottom.
"Alessa, lets go." No reply, he sighed. "I know this is tough, but if you quit now, give up after traveling all this way, you will only prove how weak you've become." His words were as harsh as his expressionless mask, but it got the job done. For the determined look returned and the elven woman made her way up to him, abet slowly.
He ignored the pained grimace, beads of sweat forming, and teared up eyes; she was almost there, just a few stories of stairs to go. Her clouded mind and blurry eyes barely took in the sight around her, the vines growing along the cliffside wall, old willow and maple trees shielding them from the sun. Occasionally there was a small opening to see the valley below and a bench to sit on. All the while the Warden cast her gaze down to watch where she stepped, willing herself to keep going, to keep following the dark-haired man in front of her. But it was not to be, around the corner before the last set of steps had her fall to a knee, panting hard and shaking. Her skin sticky and ashen.
Viago set his pack down by the stone double doors that led into the Temple and made his way back to her, kneeling by her side. "Alessa, bear with it, we are almost there. Make it to these doors. You see them, right?"
When all she did was cough a wet sound, sniffle, placing an arm around her burning abdomen as fat tear drops of pain running down her cheeks, the Crow relented. He carefully placed an arm under her to lift her up, slowly making way for the doors, not bothering to grab his travel pack as he passed by.
The doors opened with little resistance, they walked down a short hall into a circler room that had three different exits, Viago took the one that went straight. The only sound that could be heard in this room was the faint stream of clear cool water running down an elegant fountain into a tiny ground level pool none too far away. Its plant life of all holy flowers grew around as curtains swished in the wind letting in sun rays that gave the room a glow. The Talon however was not fooled, he knew they were not alone. One of the sentries had to of let the High Guardian know that they were here, probably did as soon as the carriage stopped.
He was not surprised, for as soon as he laid Alessa down a few feet from the pool, a shadow that seemed to dissolve into a man appeared.
"Viago, Fifth Talon of House De'Riva. It is a surprise for you to be here." A clipped male voice stated as they stalked around to his side, forcing the Crow to face him. Unimpressed brown eyes met his blue hazel. "And you brought a guest."
He lowered his head in respect to the High Guardian. "It was of great importance, Guardian. I seek – "
"I know what it is that you seek. Do you think me that dumb? That I would not notice?"
"I meant no offense."
"You brought a mark, former or active, here and thought it a good idea?" The older man got right into the Talon's face "I suggest you explain before I decide what to do."
Viago took a calming breath and stepped back, neither was happy, but it would not do to lose his temper now.
"I respectfully request to use the well. Alessa Tabris, Hero of Ferelden and Warden Commander, is dying of the Taint. As High Guardian, a Crow with sacred duties to the Temple, you could help her. The corruption has spread rapidly, she does not have much time."
"I know who she is, there are fifteen of us here, and we don't always stay cooped up here like the rest of the guild likes to think." The older Crow moved over to where the Warden laid, by now she was not coherent and missed the exchange. "And as for 'not much time' she doesn't have any at all."
By now the stuff she had taken to make it this far had worn off, it took both men a lot to not outright stare at her ragged wheezing. She laid on her side with an arm stretched out, she was sweaty and sticky looking, her pasty skin showed black veins that popped out. Matted black and grey hair stuck to her face like glue. Lips that were a dark grey that matched the darkness around her eyes that leaked nasty sticky grey tears. But her eyes haunted them the most, they were empty, staring into nothing.
"The decision is up to you High Guardian." Viago said quietly.
"You do realize the consequences of this, si?"
"Si."
"If she makes it, I hope it is worth it. For both you and I know she has no business here, Talon." The guardian gave him a stern look. "No time to lose. You know what needs to be done. Get me the two buckets there in the corner and place them by her, I'll get the cup."
Without hesitation the master poisoner did as instructed, as he walked, he saw out of the corner of his eye a dozen or so figures in the shadows. It seems that every Temple Guardian will watch over this, Viago thought.
He made his back just as the older Crow kneeled by the elven woman, the pristine white cup filled with the pool's holy water, whispering Andraste's prayer in Antivan.
"Ecco l'abisso, il pozzo di tutte le anime. Da queste acque color smeraldo la vita ricomincia. Vieni de me, regazza, e ti teero. L'eternita e tr amie braccia." (Here is the abyss, the well of all souls. From these emerald waters life begins again. Come to me girl, and I'll keep you. Eternity is in my arms.)
The Talon bowed his head in respect as he placed the buckets by the trio, not bothering to get up, he had a feeling he would be needed if she made it. The High Guardian used one hand to hold up Alessa's limp head, tilting it so she could drink from the cup in his other hand. Unfocused eyes staring into nothingness, her wheezing making it hard to do anything, let alone drink. "Come child, you must try."
It was agonizing waiting for her to drink, the older Crow slowly pouring the cool water down her throat, gently setting her head back down when she finished, placing the cup out of the way. "It is now up to her to fight and the Maker's will."
"When will we know?" Viago asked curiously. He my not be the religious sort nor fully understood the reasoning for the buckets or the sudden stillness of the Warden, but he knew something was up regardless.
"Shortly, I know exactly what it takes to be a Grey Warden. And I will tell you right now, nothing could have prepared you for what you are about to see." He gave the other man a hard look. "You do understand that you effectively traded her life as a Warden for that of a Crow, yes? For she cannot leave here, knowing this place, if she's not one of us."
The Talon took a deep breath, the weight of the situation seemed to of fallen harder on his shoulder then he expected. "Yes."
"Then I highly recommend that you go through with it all the way, make her a Crow. Wait till she is strong enough and put her through the master level test and ritual."
"That is if she makes it." He bit out, not really liking the advice given to him.
"She just might, for her breathing has evened out, now comes the fun part." Both Crows barely had time to look down at the Warden before her now milky white eyes shot open.
She sat straight up reaching for her throat but not quiet touching it in a silent scream as her breath became erratic, choking like she was drowning. The petrified look on her face for only she could see the darkness the others could not. She trembled, trying to crawl away, but the Guardian quickly moved in her way, carefully keeping her by the two buckets.
Viago was not prepared for such a display. His horrified confusion was then made worse when the elf grabbed one of the buckets by him, having barely enough time to turn into it before dark crimson blackish vomit was spewed from her mouth. The retching racked her tiny frame, like as if she were purging the corruption directly from her veins. In a way, it seemed that she was. For she went on like this for minutes on end, vomiting the veil stuff till the bucket was nearly full, he quickly replaced them when he could as one of the Guardians in the shadows came out with another.
But after the fifth one the High Guardian's grim face told him that this wasn't looking good.
"We'll need a sacrifice." He muttered.
"What?" The Talon was unsurprised but taken back by what he just heard.
"She is losing a massive amount of blood due to the water purifying her. If we do not replenish it with something, she will die."
"Using blood magic and a sacrifice?"
"How else would we do it, boy?" Viago frowned at being called that. "No amount of healing spells will help her here."
"Doubt that the small village below will turn a blind eye to a random missing person. Or is this normal for them?"
"Oh? Did you not bring someone with you? A carriage driver perhaps?" The Guardian pressed on. "He will do. I'm sure it's not too hard to drive a carriage back to your little villa."
"That's if we go forth with it. The Warden wont -"
"Former Warden. She is in no state to argue nor make demands if she were." The other man dismissed the Talon's argument, barely nodding over his shoulder for a few Crows to proceed.
A good twenty minutes passed by as they waited for them to return, none broke the tense silence, the only sounds where coughing from the dying woman besides them. Even the late sunset rays that manage to slip by the silk curtains didn't help the situation. By the time they switched out buckets for a third time was when one of the three Crows that had left came back, swiftly making his way to the High Guardian.
"We have him ser, gave him a small dose of sleeping draught to keep him unaware. We have him ready in the ritual chamber."
"Good. Viago, carry her to there. You know the way."
"Yes Guardian."
The Talon gently picked up the dazed elf, thankful that she seemed to of gotten a few calm moments; for he did not fancy the thought of having the veil stuff on his person. He followed the Guardians down the stone hall to a room a little ways away, it would not be right to do a dark ritual next to the holy water of the temple. A room where all newly appointed Talons are initiated and reestablish their uncanny abilities with a blood sacrifice of their own.
He placed Alessa where one was to stand right in a circle with the strange but dark looking alter a few steps away. Its obsidian color almost hidden by the shadows in the room, but that did nothing for the man now tied to said alter. The carriage driver was definitely out of it, to anyone else he looked like any other loll headed drunk, minus the loud side for he was gagged, slumped and carefree. That was soon to change.
By now the High Guardian had his blood mage step out of the shadows as Viago concealed himself in them, taking his place with the others that lined up around the room. They watched as the mage drew glyphs around Alessa in the circle, softly chanting as she did so. When she finished, she walked over to both participants and made a small incision on their arm, one on each arm for the Warden, then she stood between the now glowing circle and the sacrifice.
It took only a second, then the muffled screams of the man started, his blood flowed out of his cut towards the mage like liquid in the wind. She wove it around her body as if it were an instrument then pushed it to the elf still laying on the floor. The fresh crimson blood making its way to one wound on her arm, forcing the blackish gray Taint to bleed out on the other.
Everything the master poisoner has seen in the last hour could easily chalk up to the top five worse things he had to witness.
"She is a fighter; I will give her that." The voice of the High Guardian said quietly on his left side. "She will be a fine addition to the House of Crows."
Viago said nothing.
As quick as it started, the ritual was over. Alessa was still motionless on the floor but her entire being was restored and healthy once more, she was still tiny due to her losing a lot of weight, but she was no longer sickly looking.
The surrounding Crows parted, going back to whatever duties they had been doing before, a few went to take care of the very dead man on the alter. He tired not to think of the condition the corpse as he made his way over to the now former Warden, once again scooping her up into his arms.
"I take it that she will be like this for a little while. That being said, it would be wise to take her to one of the guest rooms?" The Talon half said half asked, the Guardian only nodded but did not follow as he made his way back out of the chamber.
Now that things seemed to have calmed down for the moment, Viago sighed with relief at having a chance to take everything in. There was no need to rush down the hall, so he strolled through as he carried Alessa, taking in the sight of the Temple around him. It was fairly basic with its little grey stone walls and rounded pillars; the rooms were no different except for the circler one at the entrance with its multicolored tile floor. He walked back to that room where he then took a left to where the meeting/dining area was and guest rooms.
He made his way to the far side of the hall, shifting the woman in his arms a bit to open the door to where she would be staying, leaving it open as he entered. Once inside he placed her on the silky sheeted bed and partly closed the sandy colored curtains. Satisfied that the former Warden would be fine without him for a small bit, he strode back out to go retrieve his traveling pack and some water for when she woke up.
Author's Note
Ok, so this chapter is long over due. Studying and work got in the way and I couldn't upload till now. But here it is! Oh, and for the valley, think of Kung Fu Panda but the temple is hidden, and made of stone. This is an assassins guild after all lol but here's a link if you would like to see how I envisioned it just take out the spaces :)
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