hero 7
Varric was hiding at the top of the ladder, watching as Honey escorted Michela across the deck towards the wheelhouse.
"Captain," Varric said and intercepted them before they went inside.
"Varric, please not now," Michela explained.
"The captain is busy," Honey replied and threw open the door to the wheelhouse.
"I know how much you cared about Hawke, I should have told you what happened at Weisshaupt," Varric said as Michela set up at the wheel. Picking her hat up off the mannequin head in the corner.
"Varric, just stop. Okay. No one likes me, my crew here listens to me because I paid them or I freed them, but that doesn't mean they like me. I'm an unlikable bitch, but this is my ship. I know how to sail these oceans which by the way are full of qunari warships, Antivan spy ships and Desire demons. You hired me to do a job so how about you and your little band of heroes get drunk in the galley and stay off the deck." Michela explained as she checked at the compasses and adjusted the trajectory of the ship for the frostbacks mountain port.
"Desire demons? I haven't seen those in a while." Varric commented
"Didn't you hear? Ever since the breach, demons have been camping out on rocks and using charms to lure sailors into shipwrecks."
"How?" Varric asked
"By singing," Michela answered.
"That's a new one. I'll have to write it down." Varric added.
"Get out of my wheelhouse," Michela ordered. Honey took Varric by the arm and escorted him out of the wheelhouse.
"It would be in your best interest to leave the captain alone and stay out of her way," Honey said dryly.
"Alright! Calm down." Varric freed himself from her grip, but it required a great deal of effort to slip from her grip.
"I told her this job would not be worth the stress and trouble it brought along with it," she explained.
"Wait, she was going to turn down the job? Why didn't she?" Varric asked curiously.
Honey did not respond and turned back around to return to the wheelhouse.
Varric stood there silent and confused but quickly headed to the navigators quarters to meet with everyone else.
The door was ajar and he walked in on Dorian healing Rubeus put the healing salve in his foot while Cassandra put the room back together.
"Looks like I missed the party," Varric commented as he walked through a puddle of water.
"Glad you can finally join us. You should have warned us Michela is an apostate." Cassandra commented but sighed heavily.
"Varric, join us," Rubeus said in a foreboding tone.
Fritigern walked into the room and stopped seeing the mess inside. "I have bad timing, could I possibly get me…. you know never mind I'll come back later." Fritigern said and tried to close the door. "Best get Rawlins on this." He said before walking away.
"I hope you knew nothing about the lyrium addiction, apostate status or deep hatred of my swain before you recommended Lady Di'Pasqua as our ride and informant," Rubeus said.
"I honestly had no idea, she was just a Tevinter smuggler who traded in the freedom of slaves. I had no idea about the impersonal details of her life story. She has a good moral code. At least I hope so. Now I'm not too sure."
"You don't give her enough credit, among the chaos, her actions have done much good," Cassandra interjected. "Though you should have done a better job at warning us regarding her mental status," Cassandra added on.
"She's the daughter of Magister Di'Pasqua. That should have been warning enough on her mental state," Dorian said.
"As I said, I barely knew her. Hawke trusted Michela with her life, and I know countless others who would lay down their arms at her command." Varric tried to explain. Soon, the door creaked open again, this time Rawlins was standing there. His bristled beard tucked into a high collared coat concealing his angry expression.
"Just show me where the tools are and I can fix it," Rubeus said with a sigh as the angry dwarf stared him down.
"Fix it? Care to explain what happened?" Rawlin said and stepped inside and looked at the magical damage. "Hmm, Captain hasn't had an episode like this in years." He mumbled and walked over to the wall which had splintered from the ice.
"I may have egged her on," Rubeus admitted, sheepishly.
Rawlin began to measure out the broken boards on the floor and assessed the damage, not bothering with the door at this time.
"Do you have to do this right this second? We were a mid-conversation." Dorian asked,
"Yes, I have to do this now. If you want to talk privately go to the war room. Here." Rawlins handed Rubeus a ring of keys.
"You go, have your private meeting then bring those back to me in an hour," Rawlins said and took out a crowbar from his bag of tools. The four were ushered out of the room.
"I would like to have a word with all of you so the war room sounds like a good idea," Rubeus said and he led the party to the war room. He examined the door and found the correct key on the ring to unlock it. Once everyone was in he closed the doors and approached the table.
The room was by far the biggest on the ship having enough room to fit a twelve-seater marble top table. The chairs were of dwarven design made of marble and rosewood. The head seat of the table was built into a bird perch. Playing with a block of wood was a large red macaw parrot with a missing eye. It fluttered its wings at their entry but ignored them to nibble at his toys.
"I'm going to be blunt." Rubeus started, "this has been a complete disaster. One problem after the next!"
Rubeus crosses the room to the bay windows, sitting on the ledge where various plants soaking in the sunlight, and more birds. These two were inside a cage, and pure white. Love birds currently snuggled up to each other enjoying the swing they rocked in.
"Everyone is holding back pieces of information that would probably help us make this easier." Rubeus said, "myself included…"
"Michela has tried to contact me several times in the last few years. I never responded to her messages." Dorian admitted.
"What did they say exactly?" Cassandra asked.
"I didn't open them. They are just there, with my things. I—- with everything going on, I didn't have the heart or mind to read letters from my old fiancée." Dorian explained.
"I'm not surprised she hates you so much, but what did I do?" Varric grumbled. Rubeus huffed.
"We are going to need to see those when we return to Skyhold." Rubeus said, "Varric, your turn. What did you and the captain talk about when you arranged this?"
"When I first asked her, she turned me down flat. It wasn't until Fenris put in a good word about the inquisition did she even trust us for a meeting. Captain also asked to meet you one on one, but I didn't agree to that." Varric said and realized how much he added to the drama.
"That's an important detail! We brought an entourage of templars to meet up with an apostate!" Rubeus exclaimed.
"Listen I know I fucked up, but how could I anticipate that Michela and Dorian knew each other? It's not like every Vint knows everyone in Tevinter." Varric defended himself.
"Yes, but you can assume an Altus family knows
other Altus families. There is a magisterium for a reason." Dorian pointed out.
"Arguing is pointless now. We have an apostate mage who is suffering ill effects of the breach. The Captain isn't telling us everything about her past either. How is it Michela knows that Magister Di'Pasqua was Ventori, but never came forward about it sooner?" Cassandra asked.
"We weren't getting an outpour of Tevene citizens helping locate Ventori agents. Only a couple houses stepped forward to ask the Inquisition's help in the matter." Rubeus explained.
"Didn't you say you had some hidden knowledge about Michela," Dorian pried?
"Yes, after what happened in Wycome, The Captain, was the person who ferried my clan to their new home. I did not have any personal dealings with her, but she has worked for the first hand with my keeper." Rubeus spoke.
"The Hateful Barnacle, this ship was in Lelianna's reports which confirm Michela was a vital asset in freeing the kidnapped Dalish. My only question is why was she avoiding us, to begin with. I suspect she is hiding Venatori secrets. Here. From her cabin." Cassandra pulled out a small ring from her pocket and placed it on the table.
"I didn't know you were so sleight of hand," Rubeus commented.
"I did not steal it, she gave it to me. I don't even think she knows what it is, But it glows in the darkness like red lyrium." Cassandra suspected.
"Let me see that," Varric said and examined the ruby ring without touching it. "I can't tell. It looks like a piece of red stained glass." Varric commented and picked it up, but as soon as he touched it, he dropped it.
"Oh… oh no that is red lyrium. Is that why Michela's acting all crazy? We all know what happened to Bartrand." Varric asked and stepped away from it. Then felt a knot of guilt twist in his gut.
"Are you alright," Cassandra asked, noticing his expression.
"I keep forgetting how so little of this stuff can hurt people. Ah, shit. Not again. I like Michela, this… Captain we know isn't her."
"This captain is so far removed from the bright-eyed girl full of adventure I knew. It's unsettling," Dorian added having to think for a moment.
"How can you be so sure? Perhaps she is an agent as well?" Cassandra asked
"Look how much she is trying to help us, she gave you that ring. Who else would know what to do with this kind of thing?" Varric exclaimed.
"We need to put that somewhere it won't hurt anyone for now. For the time being till we reach our destination we should do our best to not agitate the captain further." Rubeus ordered.
"Back to the crew hold for me, find me when you need me," Varric said and walked out of the war room first. Only to walk directly for the galley.
"I am dismissing this table. Go about what work has been asked of you and lay low." Rubeus closed the conversation and led everyone out of the room. Cassandra lingered in the hall, investigating the ship looking for Varric to keep an eye on him.
Once the ship was on route to Skyhold, the crew worked hard to keep the ship at top speed. Gliding over the surf as the winds favoured their adventure. The ship rocked on the waters and everyone was on high alert. Those down below being battered about struggling to fight against the wake.
"Oi! Double up something is riding the waves with us!" Captain Michela shouted from the wheel. As if on cue the echoed whinny of a whale filled the ship.
"What do you think it is!?" One of the crew shouted for Fritigern who was standing at the bow overlooking the path forward.
"We got a Drakonback Whale at our starboard side!" Fritigern shouted across the deck. "Permission to strike!" Fritigern asked with a smirk on his face.
"Smitty up and centre, Honey get the Inquisitor for me!" Michela ordered.
"Roger Captain!" Smitty ran up the stairs from his station and saluted.
"Aye, captain." Honey replied and set off to fetch Rubeus.
"What's the stockpile for whale skin looking like?" Michela asked.
"Low, but enough for repairs. You have a requisition from Lord La'Croix for a Drakonback whale skin, he is willing to pay extra in pristine…" The ship hit a wave and knocked Smitty off balance. Michela's fast reflexes grappled Smitty before he could fall down the stairs and she pulled him back up but having to let go of the wheel.
Honey had returned with Rubeus in tow. His claymore strapped to his back a war horn and grappling chain on his belt.
"Your orders, captain?" Rubeus asked in a no-nonsense tone.
The ship reared and Michela caught it before they were swept into the current, but they hit something hard in the water jostling the boat violently.
"Shit I think we hit it." Michela cursed under her breath. Rubeus kept his balance as the boat bounced about.
"Is this a slaying or a capture?" Rubeus asked.
"Drakonback whales are dangerous, but their skin is as tough as dragon scales and easy to use. I would prefer if we took it for ourselves." Michela said.
Rubeus ran for the starboard side where the beast could be seen cresting the water. It let out a roar, clearly unimpressed by the ship's strike and was preparing to ram the ship again. Rubeus pulled the horn from his side and blew into it making a loud call.
"Find secure ground and take heed!" Rubeus called out, his voice booming.
"Ranger specialists take marks! Strike when immobilized!"
"Belay that! If you damage the exterior it makes the skin worthless! You gotta hook it!" Michela shouted.
Fritigern had gone below deck and came back up with a massive fish hook connected to a thick rope.
"Captain! I suggest we do a double back layout!" Fritigern suggested.
"Take Rubeus to the stern!" Michela agreed.
"You ready to catch a big fish?" Fritigern asked, climbing across the ropes to Rubeus.
"of course," Rubeus responded with a smirk.
The whale finally struck the ship, but the inquisitor and Fritigern were unmoved.
Cassandra climbed up to the wheelhouse while the boys went to the stern. She held onto the bannister and watched as the whale created the water again and dove under the waves.
"What is a double back layout?" The seeker asked.
"We're going to circle and hope he chases us. By the force of that body slam. He will." Michela said and waited for Fritigern and Rubeus to get into position. Rubeus, more than used to pulling in a target, got into his spot and waited for Fritigern's signal.
"CAPTAIN! Bait Secured." Fritigern said and tied a second rope to his waist. This one attaches him to the ship. "Alright, reel me in first." Rubeus flashed him a thumbs up.
Captain took a hard turn and rammed the whale one more time. Fritigern jumped off the ship before Michela changed directions. Fritigern splashed into the water where the Whale last crested. A handful of the crew ran to Rubeus's aid ready and took hold of the ropes he had.
The ship swung round and only one rope then taught. Rubeus along with the few crew pulled the rope tight. It was Fritigern, and soon he appeared at the surface of the water holding on for dear life as they pulled him back aboard. With the fishing hook in hand.
"I missed!" He yelled as soon as he scaled the side of the ship. Once he climbed back aboard he threw the hook to the ground.
"What happened?"
"It dove down," Fritigern said and ruffled his wet bohemian hair dry.
"Then we go again?" Rubeus asked, "unless that is just going to provoke it into attacking."
"Captain's rule only allowed one attempt a day. Too much risk of drowning. Fuck. I was so close." Fritigern threw the hook onto the deck, defeated.
"Are they uncommon?" Rubeus asked and picked up the hook from the ground.
"Rarer than dragons nowadays," Fritigern said and wrung his hair out.
Rubeus looked out at the water with the hook in his hand, thinking. A cheeky look crossed his face.
"Are you trying to scare Seeker Cassandra?" Fritigern asked, noticing him dangerously close to the edge of the ship.
"I wouldn't. I know better than to defy the captain's rules… However, Rubeus replied and handed the hook to Fritigern.
"Did… did you wanna try?" Fritigern asked and waggled his brows. Rubeus pulled the hook back. "Yes!"
"Oh I got you back buddy, ain't that right lads?"
"Yes sir!" The lot of them cheered as the inquisitor prepared to hunt.