Chapter 81: the Knight-Commander's Decree

The Hanged Man

Good old Hanged Man, while everything around Ericks was changing, the Hanged Man stayed the same. The tavern was still full of drunken fools and scoundrels, the ale was still warm and taste of piss and depression, and good old Corff was still at the bar serving his fellow drecks of society while providing all the rumors going on in Kirkwall and around Thedas. Ericks gave a content sigh, Hightown was nice but here at the Hanged man the rogue was truly home. In the back of the tavern was Varric speaking with Anders. Ericks was not the only one who changed in just three short years.

Varric saw Bartrand settled into a sanitarium just outside Kirkwall, run by the Chantry. He then took up the mantle of House Tethras officially; however, according to the updated official Kirkwall and Merchants Guild documentation, the family businesses are run by nonexistent uncles, aunts, cousins, and household pets. Aveline being the ever so dutiful guard captain have been investigating these documentations much to the dwarf's chagrin luckily these three years has done nothing to dull his infamous silver tongue.

As for Anders, after his attack on the mage girl, Ella, Anders lost interest in the cause of mage revolution. Convinced he was no better than an abomination, Anders was determined to gain mastery over the spirit inside him... or die trying. It is increasingly apparent that he is losing this struggle. Prone to wild mood swings between deep melancholy and manic determination, Anders has again taken up the mantle of mage freedom—though it is unclear whether this decision came from Anders or Justice.

"If you think that's bad, I should tell you about the Blackmarsh"

Varric chuckled. "See, when you say things like that, Blondie, it just makes me glad I didn't know you sooner" he said. "I mean really, who goes to something called Blackmarsh on purpose? Now if it was Beermarsh…nah, still wouldn't work."

"Good point, I think the marsh part cancels everything else. Flowermarsh? Kittenmarsh? Nope, no good" Anders said. Ericks came over. "Kirkwall's favorite son has arrived; I'll get you a drink on me."

"Huh, I see Anders is in a good mood for once" Ericks said. "No Justice knocking at his door today?"

"Who knows? I only glad he's talking, if Broody is more talkative than you, that's a problem" Ericks got a chair and sat down, just in time for Anders to come back with the rogue's drink in hand.

"So, what's the word in Lowtown, Varric?"

Varric snorted. "Nothing you don't know already: The viscount's departure, a power vacuum and more trouble brewing in the streets" The dwarf sighs. "Get rid of one threat and another just takes it's place. I'm starting to think Kirkwall gets off on crisis after crisis".

"Hope you're ready, my friend. I'm keeping Bianca close" Anders was no longer cheery and was once again his old sullen self. The plight of mages here has worn on Anders mind, due to Meredith establishing martial law in Kirkwall, the flame of hope for people like him is nearly crushed. In three years, the mages only lifeline, the mage underground had been all but destroyed with a lot of its members dead or turned tranquil just for speaking out. Without them mages looking for an escape from the Circle and Templars have more and more turned to blood magic as their only option. The increase of blood mages and abominations had given Meredith wide support and set back what small improvements in relations between mages and ordinary people for years. Meanwhile, the Chantry look the other way on a problem they had long created. Unless something truly catastrophic happened, changing people's minds on mage rights was almost impossible right now.

Even Anders was having it hard, templar patrols were becoming frequent even in Darktown and some of them were enlisting the aid of the city guards which made him suspect Aveline due to her being married to a Templar in the past. But what made hurt more was that the people that came to his clinic to be healed by the mage was now suspicious of him thanks to propaganda created by the Knight-Commander. The only reason Anders was not turned in to the Templars was because he was the only one that was taking care of their medical needs for free and the fact he was closely allied to the Champion of Kirkwall. Anders snapped out of his dark fog and looked up. He frowned. "Hawke, don't look now but we have trouble."

At the entrance of the Hanged Man was Knight-Captain Cullen. "The templar's golden boy" Varric said. "What's he doing here?"

"He's not on patrol that's for sure, he's too important for that" Ericks said. "He's coming this way, keep your cool Anders."

"Always" Cullen came over to there table and the atmosphere became cold as ice when Cullen and Ericks' eyes met. Ericks still held a grudge against the Knight-Captain for taking his younger sister away as well as threatening his family for the crime of protecting Bethany.

"Champion"

Ericks crossed his arms. "Knight-Captain" he greeted icily. "To what do I owe this honor?"

"The Knight-Commander wishes to speak to you at the Gallows" Cullen said. "It is quite urgent."

We let the boy rest, the first night they brought him to the White Spire, I convinced Knight-Commander Belrose to delay the ritual 'til the morning. The journey was long, and the lad could barely keep his eyes open, poor thing. I was certain escape was the furthest thing from his mind. Medine found him a clean cot in with the other young apprentices, and when I came in with his supper, he was already fast asleep.

In the morning, I showed Medine how the phial was to be prepared. First, a simple charm to preserve and protect the glass. Then a spell that to keep the blood from forming dark clots. The last step could only be completed with the apprentice present. I sent a young templar recruit off with the message that we were ready.

The boy was escorted to the chamber by Belrose himself. I could tell he had just been awakened. There was a smear of dirt from his face, perhaps from the road. I called the boy to me and cleaned his cheek with my sleeve as I explained the ritual. "We have to take your blood," I said. "Because you're special and we don't want you to be lost. If it happens, the blood will allow us to find you and bring you home again."

I let Medine take the lancet this time. The tremor in my hands was worse that day, and I didn't want to make too deep a cut. I held the boy close, and Medine made a small, neat incision on his palm, exactly as instructed. I felt the boy struggle and start to cry. He tried to pull away, but Medine gripped his hand firmly, letting the blood run into the phial.

Then Medine cast the spell, like we practiced. Within the phial, the blood churned, and grew bright in the presence of the mage to whom it was bound. It was done. Another phylactery, another link forged. He was leashed to the White Spire. The boy could not look away from the glow. He was enthralled, and the pain and the tears were forgotten. "See? This is magic," I said to him. "When you are older, I will teach you." Belrose let the boy hold his phylactery for several minutes before he locked it away in the chamber.—From The Memoirs of Enchanter Reva Claye, 8:72 Blessed

The Gallows

Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of Kirkwall's history. The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and angle of the courtyard was designed by magisters bent on breaking the spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves trudging in from the docks saw what awaited them.

The Gallows was as hopeless and dreary now as it was then…maybe even more so. As the years went by, Tranquil mages started to fill the courtyard with the intent coercing the mages into submission. These tactics however were a double-edge sword, while many mages are terrorized into compliance some of the templars are divided on whether this inhumane treatment serve the Templar Order's noble tenets. Unfortunately, the templars that have reservations about what their order is doing is too far and few between due to fear of incurring Meredith's wrath. The few brave souls that do speak out against the Knight-Commander's authority are quickly muzzled and scandalized into pariahs or leave the Order by 'choice'. These days it's mostly the fanatical that walks these halls and those who become Meredith's sycophants see their power within the Order grow.

"The Gallows…a lovely sight as always" Varric said dryly. "Must be the statues…"

"Last chance to back off out of here Anders" Ericks said.

"No, I want to give that woman a piece of my mind" Anders said. "This may be the only chance I get to do that."

"Fine…just as long as you keep a lid on our special friend. We don't him to make a surprise appearance in front of Meredith" The gang headed for the hallway leading to Meredith's office. The templars on the way was giving them the side-eye especially towards Anders, to the mage's credit, he ignored them. More of those slave statues littered the hallways, the Templars giving the same message to their charges as the ancient magisters did to their slaves: their lives belonged to the Templars today and always. They opened the door and Meredith was waiting.

"Champion. Welcome"

"Aren't we calm?" Ericks said. "Elthina gave you a stern talking to, I see." Meredith ignored the rogue and went on with business. They took a walk towards the gardens.

"There was an incident within the Gallows. A number of phylacteries were destroyed, and several mages took the opportunity to escape" she said. "Most of the fugitives were recovered, however I require your assistance in tracking down the last three."

"Phylacteries are usually well guarded; how did they get destroyed?" The rogue asked.

"An insurrection. Several of my own templars orchestrated the escape, presumably out of sympathy for the mages".

Anders scoffed. "Maker forbid someone actually treats mages like fucking human beings"

"They turned their backs on their duty and endangered their charges, as well as the city" Meredith said. "Fortunately, most who escaped fled to their families and offered no resistance. The last three are proving more…difficult."

Ericks raised a brow. "Let me guess…the templars all suddenly disappeared?"

"The apostates are being sheltered by their families. Some have been reluctant to talk to templars, but you are another matter" the Knight-Commander said. "The people of Kirkwall trust you, Champion. They will be more honest for you than for us".

Ericks crossed his arms. "I see through your bullshit, Meredith" Ericks said. "The Champion of Kirkwall helping with rounding up runaway apostates…people see that and would think I'm endorsing your methods."

"I told you I'm not on anyone's side."

"That's quite a shame, Champion but I hope you know this will not bode well for Bethany" Ericks glared at the Knight-Commander. "Your sister has quite the potential, she's polite, studious and very popular among the young apprentices" she said. "Unfortunately, since she's one of Orsino's favorite students…my men have had suspicions that Bethany is accomplice to his rebellious actions."

"Suspicions you were all too willing to foment, I take it" Ericks said in a cold anger.

"This is low even for you, Meredith!" Anders said with disgust.

"You do not have the luxury of inaction, Champion" Meredith said. "With your influence, it is crucial you understand just what we face."

"Talk to these mages' families, invest for yourself whether they need be recaptured."

Ericks snorted. "You're giving a lot of rope…all the better to hang me with, right?"

"Contrary to what you may think of me, I'm trying to solve a difficult problem as gentle a fashion as I dare." The Knight-Commander said. "You do not approve of my methods, but you will change your mind when you see firsthand, how dangerous these apostates are" Meredith gestured to the young woman in red and black Chantry robes sitting on the bench. The sun marking on her forehead identified her as tranquil.

"Speak to my assistant, Elsa. She can tell you whatever you need to know about the fugitives" she said. "I bid you good day, Champion." She walked away.

"Yeah…a great fucking day"

A rock and a hard place! Next Time! Review and Comment!