Part 1
It had been a little over a week by now and the gnawing feeling in her stomach told Alessa that there was something wrong. The calling for the council of all eight Talons that had been made by First Talon Caterina Dellamorte, regarding the Qun attack in which two of their own barely manage to escape; was two weeks ago. Viago left with only one order for her to follow and that was to go to Rialto with her little boy and stay with Guildmaster Ignacio of House Cantori. It had been out of the blue and caught the former Warden off guard. But his expression left no room for arguments as he turned to head out the front door.
So here she sat, cross-legged on a plush chair with a mug of tea, by a small round table off to the side of the home's inner courtyard. A flowered tree covering her with shade from the sun's yellow rays as she stared out at the yard with clouded eyes. This was how Ignacio found her when he walked through the dining room sliding glass doors, pausing to take in her expression.
If someone told him that he would one day have a warden, let alone a hero he had made a deal with, in his home; he would have finished his drink and laughed them off, deeming them mad or just plain stupid. But it was true, for here was the hero of the Fifth Blight basking in the Antivan rays of his villa. She looked better than she had in a long while, still needing more weight put on, but healthier none the less. Her skin had a nice tan to it, not pasty like she was when she first arrived in Salle. Her hair shined with lightly toned blonde highlights from her time training outdoors. But most of all her entire being seemed… whole again. It helped too, that Darren was currently off playing with one of the maid's kids, giving his adopted mother sometime to herself.
"Mi querida," the Crow greeted, interrupting her thoughts before they grew darker, "while I am sure you have every rescue planned out. I think it is safe to say that you are worrying too much."
Alessa smiled as she watched him take a seat by her, mentally congratulating herself on a job well done for not tensing or hesitating. "I know, but the feeling is still there. He is late, that can only mean that something went wrong." She shook her head before taking a sip of tea.
"Calm yourself, Steffen or Ramon will inform us as soon as they return."
"I know." She smiled at the master, something that was always genuine whenever she talked to him. "Want to play a few rounds of Wicked Grace? For fun."
Ignacio huffed laugh but didn't decline, instead he pulled out a deck of cards. "For fun? I wonder what your Zevran would say."
She flinched slightly at the mention of the name, for she had not seen her amor in a long time. Years if one were to count but she stopped long ago. For some odd reason in the past month the few Crows that had a hand in rehabilitating and helping her recover for six months now, had started to bring up his name more and more around her. She had no clue why and really she was not in the mood to play in the art of crafting. So she didn't say anything, just letting the man beside her shuffle and hand out the cards.
"You should talk to him." The master advised, knowing how much the two elves had gone through, even if neither of the other one did.
"He left me, not the other way around." She did not look up from her cards. "I have always been here if he needed me, apparently he no longer does."
"You're being childish," he gave her a look that a parent would usually give. "you need to settle this with him."
"I have never chased after a man." She admitted, giving the older Crow a sad smile. "Like I never chased after my moonshine."
"Then think about his son. He is here, si?" The former Warden stared at him. Ignacio soften his features, if just a bit.
"Yes." She should know by now that there was something more going on then she realized.
"Of course, when things got dicey here, who do you think sent the mother and son pair to a safer place? A place where I knew a certain someone would protect them even if it was unknowingly. Or help out if need be?"
The elf looked at the Guildmaster like she was just seeing him in new light, a dawning thought hit her. "You knew that if something happened, I wouldn't hesitate to adopt Darren."
"Alessa." He quietly said, happy that she had caught on. "There are some things better left in the past, and things that may have changed, but you are still young. Don't shut yourself off just yet."
After his piece of advice, both let the matter drop, for there truly wasn't any more to say on it.
A few hours later the door opening and shutting alerted the house's occupants that someone had entered. When Steffen and Ramon walked in the dining room with grim faces, the forgotten feeling in Alessa's stomach returned.
It was the next morning when Alessa carried her travel bag down the stairs to the front door, Steffen already there and quietly talking to Ignacio and Ramon. The latter of the two had orders to return to House Cantori, which made the elf sad to see him leave after everything. She said her goodbyes to the Guildmaster with a promise to visit again, and made Ramon give his word that he would be careful after a little banter and some sarcastic comments. Soon she was walking outside with Darren holding onto one of her hands as they followed her remaining Crow out to the horse carriage that awaited them. She paused when she got a good look at said carriage. Two dark coated stocky Orlesian horses that were hooked up to an all-black carriage with darkened windows. No emblems for show of house or who for.
"Why is it blacked-out?"
Steffen didn't answer as he opened the door, merely gesturing for her to go first. She bulked, it was too dark again and the memories of a dark past came creeping up her spine like a serpent whispering in her ear. Her face must have shown something, because the Master Crow let go of the door, taking slow steps back to her. "Alessa, I promise, this is not bad. But everyone is now taking every precaution."
"Why is it blacked-out?" she repeated her question as Darren started to hide behind her, sensing her discomfort. The carriage reminded her of the ship ride to Salle, when she darkened the small vessel's room in hopes to help herself. She had been wrong.
"The Talon doesn't want to take any chances; we took the emblems off and tinted the windows. Nothing more." When she looked at him and nodded, he continued. "We are going back to the villa just as I said last night. During the trip I will tell you more of what happened. Por favor, pequena ave."
With a deep breath to center herself, she took the offered hand Steffen held out and walked with him, still keeping her little one close as they climbed inside.
"We're doing what and where now?" The elf asked as soon as the words left Viago's mouth.
The glare she received told her that he was in no mood to repeat it again, but she stared right back with folded arms. "I am not going! You're the Talon, you go."
"Alessa." The fifth Talon bit out. "I cannot go due to the fact that I need to get this house updated and ready at a moment's notice. If the king wants to play host for the nobles, fine."
"But to throw a ball? Seriously? Does no one remember what happened to Orlias? The whole 'Assassin lose in the palace oh but wait! It's the Duchess herself' ring any bells?"
"Alessa."
"No, don't you 'Alessa' me. I like to think I am smarter than that. We're possibly going to war and the damn nobles want to throw a party!" She threw up her hands, "Why?! Do you know how many times I've been to one? Three, and none were a pleasant experience. First my wedding and we all know what happened there. Second was right after I killed the Archdemon, talk about stress and shit after that whole ordeal and then nobles to dance with." She shuddered for show. "And last but not least, lets not forget Amarathine shall we?"
"Alessa!" The Crow rubbed his temples counting down the number of ways he could poison her but not kill. Kid, one of these days. I swear, he thought once they both calmed down, slightly.
"I need you to go. I am far too busy to and this will be good practice on how well your Rivain is, it would please some of the merchant princes, I think. Therefor showing that a Ferelden is not as unsophisticated as they say."
"Perdon."
"Don't. And you need to get out."
The last part stopped her in her tracks, mouth handing open in mid-word, for she was not expecting to hear that. She blinked back with a hurt expression. "What?"
"You need to go out, do something, see people again. I get it, the villa is your safe place. But this is not healthy either. You have a Crow that has been deemed your guardian and can guide you through the city, my House knows to leave you be. The maids are willing to watch Darren for you, yet you stay in your room, train outside, or your pottery. It has been six months. It's time to adventure out." The Talon said, giving one last drop-it-look to his half-sister, something they still needed to discuss, and walked out of the dining room. Leaving behind a confused and hurt former warden.
This was not how Alessa thought the conversation would go, she knew she liked poking a bit and drama to lighten up the mood, but she didn't think her funny nagging would piss Viago off quite like that. The council really left a mark on him, she suspected that he didn't tell her everything about what happened either.
It was the feint sound of steps entering the room when she finally looked up again. A tall, olive skinned and freshly shaven face of her guardian had entered, bringing his arm out from behind his back, showing that he brought with him a saucer of cannolis. A peace offering. She gave a weak smile while sitting down, Steffen flicked a few candles out along the way to dim the room some. Neither said anything, by now he knew that a comfortable silence helped clear the elf's mind when Ramon's jokes could not. But the other Crow wasn't here, so he simply waited for when she felt comfortable to talk again.
"I didn't mean to upset him so." Alessa tried to start something, anything, to block out the quiet. "I really don't want to go."
The master fighter thought about this, mauled it over, finding words that might help. "I know you don't, but you know you won't be alone, si? I will be there."
"Si, I know. But I don't understand." She said as she bit into another cannoli, her favorite cinnamon with chocolate chip filling. They always brighten her mood.
"Which part? The dance or why you should go."
"Both."
"What he said is true, pequena ave. You are strong enough to venture out. Viago would let you go out into the city. It's his territory and his Crows. Again, I would be by your side."
"I don't want to though, Steffen. I'm ok here." She said quietly.
"Are you really?" He reached over to gently place a finger under her chin, turning her head to look at him in the eyes. "You and I both know that's not true, nor is that the real reason." He faintly smiled for her sake. She looked at him for a long moment, afraid to ask what she really wanted to. She soon gave up and turned back to her treat. He silently got up to leave after he made sure she was not relapsing into a memory. He knew the real reason why, even if the Talon thought different.
For the better part of three days Alessa found herself being measured from head to toe, arm to arm, changing into all sorts of test clothes for what design, color, and whatnot to see how things would fit her. It grated on her already irritated nerves which did not help her self-consciousness, for she believed each dress shown would not look good on her, or her in it. She missed her leather armor already. But alas she could not wear it to a noble party… or was it royal? She cared not to correct herself anymore, other people tend to not fail at doing just that.
So, she held still for the villa's two female servants, the same ones who traveled with her from Salle to the gem of the country known as Antiva City. It had been a long and exhausting journey that left her tired and wary, especially when she knew just who's House belonged here.
One of the maids, the shy and quiet brunet, never bothered her just simply content in doing her work and being happy with that. The former warden liked to play mind guessing games about people and what she thought their lives really were, she secretly thought the maid was an outgoing spy. The older red head, she had to of been hiding something, she never stopped talking, always having something to say but too fast for you to catch or question. Maybe she really should take up the Crows crafting and become a mastercrafter… Then again, those Crows always seconded guessed and questioned themselves and others. Paranoid.
Whatever, she had enough to worry about for now. She was relieved that her little boy remained back at the villa, but worried over him constantly, even if it was Viago watching him…
Yeah, it would take a bit to let that sink in.
When the maids were done and had taken the stuff they needed for the dress, Alessa sighed with relief before she walked to her room upstairs. She walked in and closed the door behind her, not bothering the lock it since everyone in the house know that all they had to do was knock before entering. Not that Ramon ever did, he liked to poke his head in knowing it annoyed her, before fully opening the door. A few times he did so at the wrong moment, but no matter how many times she threw a pillow at him, he would just laugh it off before closing his eyes. Siblings, she thought, I swear, I live with siblings.
It made her feel bittersweet, she missed him already and deeply missed her family, wishing that there was a way to ever see them again. But she knew that one of the two was impossible.
She sighed as she opened the window to let in the morning air, the sounds form the city around her filled the quiet room. Alessa didn't want to admit it, but maybe Steffen was right, she should listen to Viago and go out, spread her wings a bit. The irony of that statement was not lost on her either. But if she was by no means a Crow nor a Warden (a griffin) anymore; then who was she?
Her question would stay blank till the next week after the party, when a certain Talon would answer that.