Rubeus removed his armour and sword, put them to the side and secured the rope. With the hook in hand, Rubeus took a running start and dived off the side of the boat. There was a splash as Rubeus broke the surface in a smooth dive, driving him deep below into the whale domain. Rubeus opened his eyes to see the blurry mass dead ahead. The water made it hard to discern the colour, a greyish, brownish mess. Rubeus could make out the dorsal fin and tapered body of the whale. The whale was closing in fast and Rubeus collided with it, smacking face-first into the flat of its head. WHAM! With no time to regain himself, he quickly swam and hooked the whale. Then tugged the line to be pulled back in.
The crew on the ship pulled hard on the fishing line as it went taught. Fritigern pulled Rubeus in on his own.
"Ahoy their champ! Nice catch!" Fritigern complemented.
Rubeus gasped in a big breath of fresh air and wiped the water off his face. He felt a warm trickle drip from his nose, blood.
There was a march of heavy steps coming down the stairs as Captain Michela showed up.
"Do not tell me that the inquisitor just jumped overboard," Michela said looking at the soaking wet duo. Both their white cotton knits doing nothing but exposing their antics and chests. Which, Michela was checking out.
"I've jumped from higher places and it worked out fine," Rubeus replied.
"Are you insane? What if you got swept under the current? Oh, makers tits! Are you bleeding?" Michela walked up to Rubeus and examined his face.
"Calm down Captain, we caught the whale!" Fritigern cheered.
"Fritigern had the rope and what's a little blood. It's not a big deal! Really!" Rubeus assured the captain.
"How many fingers am I holding up," Michela said and raised her hand with two fingers in the air.
"...three… sorry, four!" Rubeus replied. Both of them making a concerned expression in his direction.
"Ok, maybe I hit the whale a little harder than I thought…" Rubeus admitted.
"You head-butted the whale?" Fritigern asked in amazement.
"Stop! You! Reel that sucker in and harvest whatever you can." Michela wagged her finger in Fritigern's face. He nodded and scurried away giving Rubeus a thumbs up first. "You, Come with me, I'm taking you to the medical bay," Michela said and gestured for Rubeus to follow. Escorting the inquisitor across the ship.
Before she opened the door to go below she stopped and waited at the top of the door.
"Am I that injured?" Rubeus asked, holding his wrist to his nose to catch the blood with his sleeve.
"Eh... Just, watch for a second," Michela said and pointed towards the mainmast. Within moments the crew had hauled the whale out of the water. Dangling from the mast helpless. The whale was unlike anything the inquisitor has seen, its thick skin had armoured joints which layers of scales dangled from.
"Hakonback Whales are descendants of Dracolids, unlike their cousins. They shed their skin, and eat it." Michela said and stifled an upset stomach thinking about it. "Luckily, they get so big they can't shed it all off so, we don't have to kill the creature to get its leather," Michela said with a smile.
"And that's it? You just let it go?" Rubeus inquired.
"Ya, once we get what we can it's better to toss it back and try to catch her another day. Besides. Their skin is like dragon bone. Which is near impossible to cut through." Michela said and watched her crew get to work grooming the creature.
"Not many people would do that. They would just kill it and sort it out once it's dead," Rubeus commented. He stared at Michela for a moment, evaluating her.
"Is there something on my face?" Michela asked.
"No… you just know a surprisingly large amount about creatures. I'm surprised," Rubeus stated.
"I have hobbies, just so happen to be mostly about animals," Michela said and opened the door. "Come on skull kid. Let's make sure you didn't get a concussion." Rubeus said nothing. His head was starting to hurt and followed Michela below.
Michela brought Rubeus to the officer's deck of the ship, and the dim light from below was easier on his eyes. They entered the med bay. The room smelt strongly of vinegar and had a couple of benches with pillows on them. A table stood on the far side with different medical instruments lined on it and a sealed box to hold different potions and salves. Rubeus took a handkerchief, held it to his bloody nose and sat down on one of the benches.
"It's just a bit of a headache and some dizziness. To be fair, I'm used to wearing a helmet if I'm going to headbutt something," Rubeus said. "Fenedhis... my armour and sword are still on deck!"
"Fritigern is smart enough to understand how to return your armour to your quarters. For now, you should stop wearing it. If you go overboard you'll sink to the bottom." Michela said and pulled a stool over to inspect his wound.
"You know I'd be keener to not wear it if I wasn't worried I might be stabbed, froze or flambé by someone who is my colleague, right?" Rubeus remarked in a flat, blunt tone. Michela ignored him.
"Follow my finger," Michela said and held up her index finger. Upon closer inspection, Rubeus could see many scars on her palms. The Captain made him look around as she held a lantern close to his face. Watching his eyes intensely as she poked the wound a bit. Rubeus winced and grimaced as the captain prodded him.
"You need to keep out of the light for a while," Michela said and snuffed out the light. On the nearby work table was a fresh medical kit ready to use. Michela took the mortal and pest am and crushed up some herbs with elf root and stuck a chunk up his bleeding nose. Rubeus recoiled. The root stung like nobody's business and felt awkward.
"Keep that in until it stops tingling," Michela instructed. "Take off your boots and lay down for a while, I need to keep watch make sure you don't go to sleep okay." Rubeus gingerly took off his boots. His feet had suffered frostbite from the scuffle earlier and even the lukewarm air was enough to sting the blisters. He lay down on the pillow and stared at the ceiling.
"Thank you for watching over me." Rubeus spoke sincerely, "For what it's worth, I didn't know you wanted to meet one on one. I should have been more involved in setting up our meeting. I apologize that I left it in the hands of another,"
"You're an idiot, one who doesn't check his mail either. I sent you a personal letter and received a response from your nightingale who signed off for you. I had a suspicion you were being kept in the dark, but would you be surprised the chantry folk don't think an elf can handle the full responsibilities as inquisitor." Michela asked as she cleaned up and room and fetched a different plate. This one with aloe vera branches and elfroot.
"Painfully," Rubeus replied. He laughed but instantly stopped as it made his head hurt.
"Well, I'll summarize it," Michela said and walked back over to him with a new concoction, which she sat down near his feet and unwrapped the blisters.
"Dear Inquisitor.
You don't know me, but I've heard about you. The elves of Dales have spread the word on how you fight for peace. Your actions in the arbour wilds against Corypheus and saving the ancient elves from Tevinter's wrath makes me believe you truly want what's good for the world. Even if it isn't good for the chantry." Michela paused. Focused on applying the healing salves over his wounds. Once she rewrapped it with clean bandages, she rested her hand over the most affected area, and her hand grew warm with healing magic. Not a lot, but enough to ease some pain. Rubeus's eyes narrowed.
"I wish Josie had gotten that letter, she'd had probably let me read it." He said angrily. "I won't be the first elf to be written out of history for my views against the chantry but I am hoping I'll be the last."
"The fight against the end of the world is not over. No one trusts me. My words mean nothing, but Corypheus isn't the only Mage who wants to enter into the fade. He isn't the only one with power over demons and the world is going to end by the hand of those you tried to protect for all they care about is greed and power. Magic is what is going to end this world." Michela finished and got up to clean her hands.
"I'd argue it's the chantry and its followers that will be the end of it all," Rubeus replied. Michela snickered.
"Sweet Lelianna is such a mage sympathizer I'm not surprised she kept my words from you, but I must apologize as well. You see I have been lying to everyone. I did not run away from Tevinter because of my marriage with Dorian. Or to become a pirate."
"then why?" Rubeus asked.
"I am hiding," Michela said nervously.
"From who?"
"From my father, and his…" Michela took a flask from her pocket and took a shot from it. "Assassins," Michela said and handed him the flask.
"You can't drink if you have a concussion. Another reason to wear a helmet in battle." Rubeus said, declining the offer.
"Habit," Michela said and took a second drink.
"I heard the assassins from Tevinter are nasty. Mind you it's all second-hand knowledge," Rubeus continued. "I guess that's why you want him dead and not tried."
"They are countless guilty magisters caught doing vile things to their servants. Vanish and the snap of Magister Di Pasqua's fingers. He believes himself to be the judge of all his peers." Michela stated. "He deserves death."
"I can't promise I'll kill him. It would cause problems for the elves after all the good he has done. If he is brought back and tried by the inquisition then the chantry can execute him for his crimes, not an elf," Rubeus explained. His nose started to feel normal again and he removed the root.
"Or you let me do it. I know how your spies Get things done. If you can get Emilio alone, I'll execute him." Michela said darkly as if she had been wanting to admit it out loud very badly.
"And you remain on the run? Hiding from being found for a murder?" Rubeus asked.
"You're going to risk everything I have done to keep your clan safe, for the life of an elf murderer. House Di Pasqua sits on top of the blood-soaked stones of your ancestors. This very ship you stand on built by enslaved children. I will not let him negotiate a way out of a hangman's noose." Michela sounded agitated but it seemed as if she had better control over it now.
"If he is tried then his crimes are publicly exposed before he is sent to be hung or his neck meets the sharp edge of a sword. You get to walk free with the voice of inquisition supporting you," Rubeus sounded bitter.
"Emilio will never make it to judgement before he finds a way free. He has the entire imperial council at his back. Enough gold to buy Halamshiral. Do you honestly think the inquisition's authority can judge him?"
"If we can prove his ties to Corypheus, then yes. The inquisition has the power to send him to trial," Rubeus argued.
"Do you know how many Magisters he has duelled?" Michela said blankly.
"Why does that matter?" Rubeus asked.
"Four hundred and eighty-two. " Michela said as her spirit left her eyes. "And he has never lost." Rubeus laid there quietly, calculating and trying to figure out how the duels could have gone.
"How?"
"He uses…" Michela tried to speak, but her tongue was twisted which caused her to grimace in seething rage. "Still!?" She shrieked and held her breath until fire sprayed from her nose. Rubeus flinched and sat up quickly, recoiling in away, defensively.
"I can't say what his magic does. It's Funny." Michela said as the fire dispersed into steam around her face. Which she used to clean up her hair in the mirror. Rubeus lay back down.
"That doesn't help…" he said and rolled over on his side so he could watch Michela. "If you described it to another mage would they be able to figure out what he's doing?"
"I can't talk about it," Michela said with a pout.
"Would Dorian know anything?" Rubeus hazarded to ask. The Captain made a face that was hard not to snicker at. A perfect mix of anger and embarrassment.
"I can't talk about it okay!? That's the point. That's what he did. I can't remember, or I can't say the words about it. It's stupid! He's stupid! I can't believe I fell into it! Fuck!" Michela picked up an acorn from the basket and threw across the room and sniped it out of the air with a lightning bolt. It shattered into pieces and the roasted nut landed on Rubeus' chest. This time Rubeus did not flinch.
"My apologies, for more than just my recent outburst. I… have issues." Michela said simply. "More than I care to discuss at this time, but I am trying to help you do what's best for the elves," Michela said and blinked. "For everyone." She added quickly.
"You don't need to apologize," Rubeus replied. "I am not making you a promise, but I will think about it." His head started to feel better. The dizziness started to subside. His face and the sleeve of his shirt were covered in dried blood.
"Is there any water and soap?" Rubeus asked.
Michela nodded and grabbed a bucket. She walked to the far corner of the room where a pump was located. It was a new, metal box which she used a lever to open a steady stream of water. "It's straight from the ocean, so I wouldn't drink it. I'll get you something to drink from the kitchen while you clean up. Don't lay down while I'm gone." Michela ordered and headed for the door. Once Michela had left Rubeus removed his shirt and splashed some water on his face. He took some of the soap and cleaned the blood off and focused on the sleeve which would need to be mended. He scrubbed at it vigorously with the soap till the brownish-red started to fade from the white. A lite knock at the door pulled his attention and before Rubeus could answer Dorian came in.
"Are you ok? Fritigern told me you were down here. You've done some stupid things but that might be the new winner," Dorian sat down next to Rubeus and looks him over.
"I'm fine. Really. And I need to talk to you." Rubeus said.
"When you say talk, do you mean talk or...?" Dorian asked.
"I mean talking," Rubeus replied, "besides. I am not allowed to do anything that exerts a lot of energy till tomorrow."
"That's never stopped you before," Dorian teased.
"How are you feeling? Last I saw you, your face was over the side of the boat heaving?" Rubeus asked.
"Horrible, we've not even been on the water a day and I am already feeling seasick. I told you I hate boats," Dorian complained. He moved close and rested his head on Rubeus's shoulder. "But I'm not the one with frostbite and a concussion. You need to be more careful!" Dorian said, Rubeus let out a soft laugh. "It's not funny!" Dorian stated. Rubeus cleared his throat.
"You're right. I'll try to avoid any more injuries." Rubeus kissed Dorian on the forehead.
"Michela wants to assassinate Magister Di'Pasqua. I don't know what repercussions that would have." Rubeus said not bothering to dance around the subject.
"She's wanted her father dead for years," Dorian replied.
"But if he is killed what would that accomplish?" Rubeus asked.
"An open seat in the magisterium and probably some chaos as they figure out what family member is taking over their shipping company and fleets," Dorian shrugged. "It not your place to get involved with the Di'Pasqua family drama. There is a reason I don't talk about Michela and her family."
"I don't have a choice. My clan is in danger and as stupid as it sounds I'm worried about the captain as well." Rubeus admitted.
"I don't think you'll be able to help her—-" Dorian was unable to finish because the door slammed open. The Captain returned to the room with a wineskin filled with cool icy water. The wineskin is slightly frozen causing the humid air to condense around it. She dropped it on the table and placed a basket of mixed nuts and berries on the table next to it.
"If you're going to talk about our private conversation behind my back. Perhaps you should remember that trust works both ways." Michela said and turned and left the room. Stopping at the door before she did.
"And you expect me to not talk to the person I trust most? The one who has more knowledge on a topic than I do?" Rubeus asked, " and has proven to me time and time again he is the most trustworthy person in the Inquisition's inner circle?"
"I would be in charge of the Di'Pasqua fleet because I already am. Now instead of babysitting you, I will go back to work" Michela added and slammed the door. Rubeus felt the headache coming back, unsure if it was the concussion or Michela.
"No promises I won't jump off the boat again," Rubeus remarked.
"If you are planning to chase after her make sure you put a shirt on," Dorian replied.
"What makes you think I am going after her?" Rubeus asked.
"Because you're invested in this now. I also know to stay tightly lipped on what we spoke about. If the little princess acts against her father it will fall back on you." Dorian added. Rubeus sighed.
"Can we just sit quietly for a while?" Rubeus asked. Dorian smiled and the two sat together in silence.
Michela stormed off down the hall, red-faced and puffed up like a territorial animal. Cassandra cutting her off at the end of the hall.
"Captain Di'Pasqua. Can we speak for a moment?" Cassandra asked.
"About?" Michela questioned.
"About your dreams. Perhaps a bit more about Varric. We barely spoke last night." Cassandra said gently.
"We mostly drank and read books," Michela smirked a bit. "Is it a surprise I'm not comfortable sharing my dreams with you?" Michela asked and waved Cassandra to follow her towards the war room.
"I'm not surprised, but I want you to know that I will not harm you.
"I know you say that to make me feel comfortable, but you don't have to lie," Michela said and took out her keys to open the door realizing it was unlocked.
"Unless you give me a reason to harm you, it is not a lie. Tell me, perhaps I can help." Cassandra asked.
"You want to know about my dreams?" Michela asked and opened the door to let Cassandra in. Locking it behind them as the Captain crossed the room over to the birdcage where the Macaw perched looking sleepy.
"Just the ones that worry you," Cassandra said.
"What if, they don't worry me. What if they're wonderful, and I don't wish to wake up." Michela asked and extended her hand to the Macaw who stepped up at her whistle.
"Wonderful? How so." Cassandra asked as they stood by the window. The two ladies overlooking the ocean together as the serene calm of nature made them both relax.