Welcome to part 2 everyone!
This of course is now the second part of my story, Warriors - Sophi'Gaelea. Thank you so much for reading up to this point!
Of course since this is the first chapter of the new part I am putting in the disclaimer that I do not own Dragon Age, any of it's characters, locations, events, or concepts that belong to Bioware. I do own any original characters that I have created for my storytelling. I consider the Inquisitor to be more a character owned by Bioware than an OC.
Going forward naturally is the beginning of the events of Inquisition. I have taken some creative license in events to account for the integration of my character, for example I have it that the Inquisitor does not deal with every little side quest found in the game. I have the Inquisitor primarily dealing with the closure of Rifts in the various areas of the game and other quests that link directly to the Inquisitor.
Please continue to enjoy the story as Sophi makes her way through Thedas!
I pull the lynx mask over my face and tighten the knot behind my head. It has become easier to do it quickly the more I use the mask. It has certainly become a handy tool for me here. I can go out, rescue refugees to take to the Crossroads, kill rogue templars and mages; and basically, be a vigilante-type superhero. Then, at the end of the day, I can take the mask and hood off, walk into Redcliffe and not a single person gives me a second look. I have even begun to hear rumors about myself when I'm in the tavern having a meal or walking through the Crossroads. This must be what it feels like to be Superman working at the Daily Planet…
Ah there they are… I can see them just starting to come over the rise in the road coming from their direction of their encampment just off the West Road.
Rogue templars.
Those who ignored the orders to return to Val Royeaux when the tensions between mages and templars had begun to rise. They were staying and fighting the rebel apostate mages in the forests, but even they weren't part of the actual Mage Rebellion, who are all taking refuge in Redcliffe still. Most of the mages inside Redcliffe suspect that those ones, who I know to be hiding in the Witchwood, are in fact just apostates who are going power mad; with perhaps a couple of Enchanters from a Circle or two.
Today, my mark is to actually hit the encampment of the rebel mages at the behest of a woman…
A woman whose situation I cannot begin to imagine. But she asked me so desperately for help… And this is not something she can do on her own, and so when I approached her with my mask on after arriving too late, I agreed to act as an outstretched hand for her will. Her will to decimate the apostates hiding out in the Hinterlands.
It had taken me a while to find the exact spot of the apostates' hideout, but I had found it just earlier that morning. So, I found the woman then and told her that I was going to deal with them, but as I neared the area in question, I spotted a group of rogue templars heading in the direction of the hideout; that is deep in the Witchwood. I'll let the Templars go ahead to cause a distraction there first before I go in and clear the rest of them out. It has taken me a while to figure out exactly where these violently rogue mages are but clearing out at least one of the warring factions will make it worlds safer for the refugees taking shelter at the Crossroads.
Things have certainly improved since the Inquisition, got themselves organised and moved into the Crossroads.
The days immediately following the explosion at the Conclave were chaos. I was lucky to be so close to Redcliffe that I managed to secure a room for a long-term stay. I went out every day to help those caught in the crossfire between the Rogue Templars, the Rebel Mages, and demons that had begun to pour out of the smaller tears.
Tears, which I am fairly sure are now being called Rifts by the Inquisition, are only able to be sealed by the person that they are calling the Herald of Andraste. Now I have heard rumors fly before but none quite like these rumors. The most popular being that she was ushered out of the Fade by Andraste herself after the cataclysmic explosion that leveled the Temple of Sacred Ashes where Divine Justinia had been hosting the Conclave.
The people who had been at the meeting, the mages, the templars, Chantry representatives, and all those with vested interest?
Dead I heard. Every last one, with the exception of this Herald of Andraste… Each day that passed after the explosion had mages coming into Redcliffe. Each day I waited to see Edlyn and the kids. Each day… I did not.
What kind of place is this that kids who are just doing what they can to fight for their future are senselessly killed?
Nobody knows who—or what— caused the explosion, but I have heard that right now for the Inquisition, the priority is sealing the actual hole in the sky that leads to the Fade. Which makes perfect sense to me. If I had any practical knowledge they could use, I would go there and do my best to help, but honestly? I think I would just be in the way at this point.
Though… I cannot exclude the idea that this explosion had something to do with how I ended up here… The shade of green alone is a telling factor.
More recently, I also heard rumors about a Magister from Tevinter arriving. It had been right when the mages' fear of attack from the Templar Order was palpable in the air. I reasoned with those I spoke with and allayed their fears reassuring them that the true templars had all gone back to Val Royeaux but there were so many mages afraid. And from what I had heard about events that led up to the Rebellions… It's no wonder.
One afternoon not even a fortnight after the explosion while I was out escorting people to the Crossroads, apparently the Grand Enchanter Fiona— who is the official leader of the Mage Rebellion— had gone a pledged the entirety of the Mage Rebellion to this well-timed visiting Magister.
I have been fortunate to avoid all of his people to this point, keeping my room at the Gull and Lantern. Although—not long after this deal had been struck— I had seen a very well-dressed person leaving the Hinterlands, who I was informed was the Arl of Redcliffe.
That is when I sent word to Alistair that something was going on. Hopefully, word from me reaches Alistair before the Arl arrives in Denerim…
I watch as the renegade templars choose to take the previously inaccessible route into Witchwood…
Inaccessible until the Herald of Andraste came along that is. That area had been home to one of the Rifts and whenever someone got close to it demons would start pouring out. Hence, inaccessible. It was only fuel to the inferno of rumors about her that someone saw her, pointed ears and scroll-work Vallaslin. Along with her being the only person able to close the Rifts. I can only imagine the way they talk about her in Orlais.
God that would be amusing to hear… How the Herald of their greatest religious figure is a Dalish elf.
After I see them disappear into the woods I skirt around the field, that was presumably a farmer's field not long ago, and take a side route into the Witchwood. As I lightly step along, I can hear the fighting at the cave entrance where the mages are hiding. If it had just been the mages there, they might not have won. There are a couple of strong mages in the group but mostly they are average on the knowledge and don't have too much for fire power. It's the sellswords that the mages have hired that cause the problem. They have a few that are so-so, but most are pretty well trained and for the rogue templars, who have been trained mostly to fight off mages it can pose a problem. Especially since most of the well-trained templars did in fact listen to the command to return to Val Royeaux.
I wait a moment, until I hear the din of fight dying off… Literally.
Another perk to the mask is that I can freely rotate fighting skills between my swords and my magic. I have found that to be the most effective way to deal with the rebel mages and their sellswords. I can fight off the sellswords easily enough with my dual-wielding and simultaneously I can be using my magic at a distance to keep the mages occupied, because I have not been trained to fight off mages with my swords alone.
I stand up, checking the tightness of the mask again, and begin to walk towards the cave that is protected by the large ice spikes jutting up out of the ground. I can hear the sellswords laughing and taunting me as I walk closer and draw my swords. Part of my reason for waiting until they finished with the templars is this exactly. They are confident from having won that fight and now they are over-confident going into the fight with me; a lone, single fighter. Every little thing that can give me an edge is welcome.
"Come on, what're you gonna do against all o' us?" One sellsword with great sword on his back gestures to all of the others surrounding him. I tilt my head to the side in response before launching at him in attack. In this kind of fight, I freely use my magic to enhance my speed, so going from person to person is quick. I know that these types will take any advantage I allow them… So—ideally— the key is to not allow them any advantages.
I get through most of the sellswords before the first mage even realizes what is happening. Being completely alone has its advantages. Every single group I fight inherently believes that they have the advantage. Which makes it much easier for me. I deal with the handful of mages that are outside the cave without much trouble; a couple of them were relatively well skilled, talented perhaps, but the reality of that situation is that I just have more magic to bring to bare than them.
I walk up to the mouth of the cave where, as most mages do, they have erected a barrier of magic, a shield. As I hold my hand up to it, I can feel the heat emanating off of it. Just like fireplace in winter. I pull some magic and concentrate it on the tip of my finger. I tap the center of the barrier where the magic pulses start and as soon as the magic on my finger comes into contact with the magic of the barrier it begins to dissolve.
On the other side of the ward, of course the mages were ready to fight, but they all hesitate upon seeing me. I can see the various kinds of staves that they each have… Some alight with flames, others that sparkle with shifting frost, and some that spark and crackle with lightning. I spot a few with spells ready at their hands, one to avoid for sure is the one that has the look of an acid spell.
I keep walking in, letting the mages surround me. They all just stand, waiting for someone else to make the first move; looking between themselves for answers.
So, I make the first move.
I bring my magic to my hands and around me then I compress it… Next, I just let it explode.
The stronghold of the apostate is blown clear of everything. The mages are blasted against the walls of the cave and their camping equipment and tents are blown to pieces.
This had taken some time to figure out… But once I remembered how it felt when my magic had awoken the first time… It got easier to reproduce at a smaller scale.
Easier.
Not necessarily easy.
In fact, I can already feel the beginnings of exhaustion poking at the edges of my mind.
I wait a few minutes before checking each of the bodies for pulses. They may have committed their fair share of evil but there is no sense in letting them suffer longer than they must. Although, if any of them are alive after that… But alas, there is one mage still breathing… Kind of.
I stride over to where he landed after being blown away from the explosion I caused, he coughs; the sound of it garbled by the sound of blood coming up with each hack. I see him look up at me, disbelief all over his face… As I near, I can see how gravely injured he is… It is only a matter of time.
"How?" Blood trickles out of his mouth… "That… What… you… did." He coughs and splutters, "That… was…. Impossible."
"Evidently, not." I twinge inside, I caused this and want to feel awful about it… But… I can't.
"How did… you destroy the ward so easily? I was among one of the strongest Enchanters in my Circle before we renounced the Chantry's shackles! All you did was touch it…" When I don't answer right away, he continues, "Why?" He pitifully splutters up more blood. The fire inside sparks anew.
"Why?" I point my sword at his throat. "Why?! You have gone power-mad! You and your sellswords have been terrorizing refugees in the Hinterlands! You and your people have been getting in endless feuds with the Rogue Templars! And you have not had a single care who gets caught in the crossfire! Do you even know how many innocents have perished because of your careless and selfish actions?" I take a deep breath in and then slowly release it to calm myself down, "I am only here as a hand reached out by a woman who could not reach out on her own." I quickly slash the blade across his throat, "And now I have finished what she asked of me."
I pick up a stray robe from the ground and wipe my swords clean before returning them both to their sheathes.
With no one left alive, I leave the cave and make my way to the road that leads to Redcliffe. Large ice spikes litter the forest all the way to the road. My stomach beginning to churn at the memories of what I just did, but…
It had to be done right?
What they did… Everything that the people here have suffered at their hands…
Memories of the mutilated bodies of the apostates and their sellsword flow through my mind…
A monster.
I am becoming a monster…
Then I remember a little girl running along the road with her mother, on their way to the Crossroads. Just the other day I had turned a crazed wolfpack away from their route.
Walking up the ridge I can see the woman sitting hopelessly alone on a boulder. She holds a small stuffed toy on her lap, her head hanging, and tears dropping onto the well-loved stuffed creature, dried blood in a splotch on the side of the head. She gets startled by my footsteps and looks up at me abruptly.
"Oh…" She breathes deeply out, releasing the initial fear reaction, "It's you…" She stands and takes a few steps towards me, and I take one back, stopping her. "Well… Is it… Done?" I nod towards her, "They… They're all dead?" I nod once more. She squeezes the stuffy and tears overflow from her eyes, "Thank you…" She sinks to the ground clutching the toy to her chest.
Herself and her daughter had been caught in the crossfire between some rogue templars and apostates. I had arrived some hours too late. The mother had been still cradling the limp form of her daughter's body. The little girl had been impaled by a mage's ice spike. Her hands clutching the toy for comfort in her final moments. The large spike of ice still protruding from the small figure's chest. I had helped the woman by cremating the little girl right then… To prevent stray spirits from using her body she said. Once she had stopped her tears, the anger set in… She asked me to go and kill every last person with the apostates.
I had been thankful that I had already been wearing the mask then. Because I was able to hide that I held no sadness for the little girl… Only anger at the ones who caused this to happen.
I walk the woman down the road to the entrance into the valley where the Crossroads lay. I wait near a tree until I see the Inquisition scout approach her to guide her into the valley, then I turn around to head back to Redcliffe.
On the way there, I remove the mask and the cloak I wear. I wrap the mask in the cloak and tie my small amount of rope around it to disguise it as a pouch. With the deaths of all the apostates weighing on my mind, I return to Redcliffe.
Once there, I skip eating.
I go to the room I still have rented at the Gull and Lantern, and I just lay in my bed until well after the sun had set.
"Did you hear?!" A girl who just burst in the doorway of the tavern and flies to the counter to give her news to the now attentive barkeep, "There was a Rift that opened right at the gate!" I hear a few gasps from others in the tavern, "But the Herald of Andraste was there and she closed it! Now she's on her way here to talk with Fiona!"
As if cued by the girl saying it, Fiona, leader of the true Mage Rebellion, strides through the door with another mage. I lower my book a touch to observe from the dark corner I'm sitting in. She says something to the barkeep in a hushed whisper and he just nods before gesturing to one area of the tavern, which is unsettlingly close to where I am… And if the Herald is coming to talk with Fiona, that means that her Magister won't be far behind them…
They walk over to the stairs that lead up to the area where I'm sitting.
"Has someone gone to inform Magister Alexius yet?" The Grand Enchanter Fiona asks one of her followers as she stops and turns around to wait. Their answer is drowned out by my new worries…
I should leave, with the Magister coming I will likely draw unwanted attention… Either by him seeing me as a non-mage and not liking me being here, or conversely, he could notice that I am in fact a mage and not like that I don't seem to be a part of the Mage Rebellion and by extension his new slave. And with the least likely and most worrisome possibility being that he is somehow involved in my bounty…
I go to pack up my books on the table; but before I start, I am stopped by a group of people coming in the door. Out of caution, I lift the book up again and lean back into the corner a little to seem supremely engrossed in my reading.
I'm too late now… Leaving now will only draw more attention to me. I gaze for a moment to the stairs that lead up to the rooms, so unfortunately close to the door.
"Welcome, Agents of the Inquisition." The Grand Enchanter greets her new guests, "What has brought you to Redcliffe?"
"We're here because of your invitation back in Val Royeaux." A lightly accented voice replies, I can hear the deep confusion in her voice.
"You must be mistaken. I haven't been to Val Royeaux since before the Conclave." Now they seem to be having a competition on who is more confused.
"If it, wasn't you who invited me here, who was it?" The confusion deepening. I flip the page without reading the words.
"I… I don't know. Now that you say it, I feel strange…" I mean if you ask me this whole place— meaning all of Thedas— is strange but… "Whoever… Or whatever brought you here, the situation has changed."
I wonder what happened, there can't be two Fionas in the world, right? And I haven't actually heard of any magic that creates illusion to that degree…
"The free mages have already… pledged themselves to the service of the Tevinter Imperium."
Yeah… I don't know what she was thinking, remembering all I went through to avoid that exact outcome; and she practically waltzed into it. I also remember everything that happened after they finalized the terms of this… Alliance…
"An alliance with Tevinter?" A woman with a European sounding accent interjects, "Do you not fear all Thedas turning against you?"
"This right here is why you can't trust mages."
Oof… That sounded harsh… Especially with the tone that screams 'Disappointed in you.'
"Andraste's ass…" Now this voice is familiar to me… I just can't place it… "I'm trying to think of a single worse thing you could've done. And I've got nothing."
Ouch… That one is really harsh too. I'm glad that I'm not alone in feeling that way about Tevinter. But where do I know this voice from… I am so sure I've heard it before… But if I look, I'm sure at least one of them will be able to tell I'm listening…
I turn the page again; I am not going to have a fun time finding where I actually stopped reading later…
"As one indentured to a Magister, I no longer have the authority to negotiate with you."
Yeah, she gave up all the authority to the person who kicked out the Arl… When will that come up, I wonder?
"Very well. Who is in charge now?" Doesn't miss a beat this one… I imagine she's already thought about the Arl, but I wonder who she is…
I hear the door of the tavern open and close again. I hear a few steps before the newcomer says anything.
"Welcome, my friends! I apologize for not greeting you earlier."
"Agents of the Inquisition, allow me to introduce Magister Gereon Alexius." I turn the page again, but my heart has begun to race a little.
After everything else, all my careful avoidance, and all my tiptoeing around… I am in the same space as the Magister… Nothing good can come of this. I hear the steps of two people though; he must have brought someone with him… I want to look, but now I really have to keep my cool and seem completely uninterested in what is happening. At least there are a couple of people at the bar, and a couple others at the lower tables.
"The southern mages are under my command." Good god… Just the way he says makes him sound like a slimy squid, holding onto the mages with his tentacles… Ugh… "And you are the survivor, yes? The one from the Fade?" So… The one talking for the rest must be the fabled Herald of Andraste, interesting that he didn't just use that title, it's what everyone else has been calling her. "Interesting."
Again, the way he says it just makes him sound like a slimy grasper, he's obviously after something other than what he already has, otherwise why would he still remain in Redcliffe, rather than leave for home?
I hope Alistair gets my letter soon.
I continue to falsely flip my pages at varying intervals as they talk about the specifics of the alliance that Fiona and Alexius had agreed to. The more I hear about it, less of a good thing it sounds like. Essentially, they are going to be slaves for ten years, for some that will mean straight through adolescence and for others it could mean until they are too old to do anything else… And they don't have any choice about it. The Herald of Andraste did, in fact, bring up the missing Arl and his men. Slime face played it off as he asked nicely and the Arl simply packed up and left his home in Alexius' slimy mitts. The woman with the European accent commented that it sounded unlikely at best, and Alexius simply stated that he 'did not want an incident.' Yeah. Sure. Completely believable.
He introduces the second person as his son Felix and when the Herald gently presses for them to begin their negotiations, he bids his son to find them a scribe to document the negotiations.
Then as they move up the stairs to sit down at the table a couple down from me, my eyes meet the brown eyes of magister. It is only for half a second, but it sends a chill down my spine. I do my best to seem unperturbed by them, but after that, I swear I can feel Magister Gereon Alexius' eyes on me as he speaks to the Herald about how ambitious their goal is with closing the Breach; I note his tone is almost reverent of the Breach.
The Herald's response certainly states that she is a quick thinker. "Well, when you're fighting a massive tear in the sky, you can hardly afford to think small." The me that I had been before all of this would not have been able to contain at least a snort upon hearing that response.
"There will have to be—" Alexius starts but stops abruptly.
I hear the steps of someone approaching, I fake a page turn to see who is presumably this Felix returning with a wobbly walk. Both the Herald and Alexius stand and Felix faints into the arms of the Herald. In a flurry of movement, Alexius is excusing himself with Felix and pulling Fiona along with him and the whole mages side of the negotiations exits the tavern.
Before they go out the door, however, I see Alexius shoot a look in my direction. I need to leave as soon as I can. My heart has started to pound, I can hear the blood rushing in my ears. I close the book and begin to pile the three books I have strewn on the table. A shadow appears over the table, and I look up to see a towering figure with horns on top.
"I imagine you heard all of that." The voice is appropriately deep for the large being it is coming from, "So what are your thoughts on suddenly being enslaved to some 'Vint?"
"Oh, you misunderstand. I am not a part of the Mage Rebellion; I only helped a few people get to Redcliffe. Although, if I were in their position, I would certainly be unhappy. Probably just as unhappy as Magister Slimy-Hands is that I'm still in Redcliffe despite not having magic."
"Ha! Magister Slimy-Hands! Good one." He chuckles a little more and takes a breath to say more, "I do recall seeing the 'Vint give you some kind of stink eye. 'Vints in higher positions like that one fancy themselves so politically powerful that no one can oppose them, I suspect that kicking out any non-mage is just him flexing his political muscles." He chuckles a little more, he seems to know an awful lot about Tevinter.
"Yeah, and I think kicking out the Arl was just him showing off… I did send a letter to a friend who can help so I hope he gets here soon." He raises his eyebrows in response to me statement and I see him open his mouth.
"Hey, Tiny!" A voice calls from the door that I recognize. But where do I recognize it from? I try to look around the large man, but he makes a particularly good wall, "We're leaving now, I assume you intend to come with us." I hear the door open and close.
"It was good to chat with you. I suggest you get yourself out of here, before the 'Vint figures you out." He gives a nod as he walks away, something tells me that man is not all brawn…
I grab my books and speed walk to the room I am renting. I put my gear on and toss everything non-essential to my survival into one bag and everything I will need into another, which isn't much. I run back down the stairs to the barkeep.
"Can I ask a favour of you?" He looks me up and down before giving a little nod, "Keep this safe, I am leaving to keep myself away from the Magister's attention and I want to travel lighter than usual."
"Yeah, that Tevinter is sending away all of those without magic… He even gave the boot to Arl Teagan. I sure hope the King doesn't let this keep up…"
"Actually, I sent the King a letter about the situation here already, I just hope he arrives before too long." The barkeep understandably looks a little shocked by this news.
"So, the King is being made aware of this now?"
"I sent the letter some days after the Magister and his party arrived in Redcliffe and kicked out Arl Teagan, so I hope if he doesn't already know that he will soon." He holds his hand out to take the bag.
"You've already done plenty to earn a small favour like this." I pass him the bag that contains all of my books and other small personal items that I have gained, "Do me a favour by not getting caught by that Tevinter."
I nod at him before opening the door and leaving the Gull and Lantern.
I travel along the road away from the city. I decided that perhaps I should try to keep something of an eye on the general situation; so that I'm not totally clueless when Alistair arrives. For this reason, I choose to take the roads that lead in the general direction of the castle overlooking the town of Redcliffe. I had spotted a cliff that looked as though it might have a good vantage point from which to see the castle and if I'm lucky most of the road and the town as well.
I have made sure the have my mask ready just under my cloak, so that once I'm free from prying eyes I can put it on and hid my identity.
But… I can already hear the sounds of people in the trees around me; following me as I walk down the road. They have been there for a while already. I knew my exit from Redcliffe wouldn't go completely unnoticed. But they aren't moving to attack at all… Just following… Or leading, maybe? Which could mean they have a trap ahead on the road and they just want me to follow the road right into their trap.
If it is a trap… Half of making it work is keeping it concealed.
I decide to wait and see what is going to happen. Worst comes to worst; I will just use my magic to create a diversion and escape.
I see an entourage come around the bend in the road ahead of me, as I get a little closer, I can see that it is the Magister Alexius and some guards; judging by the fact that he is smiling and the people from the trees have come onto the road behind me says that this is the trap.
"Ah… Leaving so soon?" I walk to about five feet away from him, "Here I thought that we could get to know each other… See, being with the other mages under my care won't be so bad…" So, apparently, he can tell I'm a mage… He gestures widely with his slime hands, meaning to seem welcoming, I think…
"Oh… You think I'm one of Fiona's mages in her rebellion, eh?" I see his eyes narrow, with this man I think that a battle of intellect might help me, but he brought so many guards that he obviously doesn't intend on just letting me leave. "Because I'm not… I'm really not."
"If you think you can fool me into thinking that you are not a mage, you are sorely mistaken."
"Well, I suppose that you do have me on that point. I am a mage. However, I am what they call an apostate. I was never housed in one of the Chantry's Circles and so I was never a part of the Mage Rebellion. Therefore, you have no claim on me. I am as free as ever." I think that my candor threw him off a little bit, but I could see some cogs turning in his mind, he is a stubborn man. He must be to have evicted a man such as Arl Teagan.
"Ah, yes, I did hear that there has been a swelling in the numbers of wild mages in these parts… In fact, just the other day I heard that an entire stronghold of apostates was obliterated." I see him crane his neck to look at me from a different angle, "That couldn't have been your work, could it? I could certainly use someone as skilled as you are."
I feel the lackies behind me move in closer. Perhaps I could go the route of showing him that I'm utterly uncontrollable? I let the magic flash in my eyes.
"Ah, ah, ah… No closer than that please. I prefer my freedom to any kind of chains that your kind tend to like."
"My kind, hmm?" Ah, shit. I slipped up. "So, I suppose that means you've had experience with Magisters or the like then?" He dramatically rubs his chin, "Let's see, you don't appear to have ever visited the North. So, that leaves Magisters that, like myself, have taken recent excursions to the South."
He starts prattling off a small list of names, last of which is, 'Danarius.' I feel myself tense up at his name.
"Ah, so it was Danarius… Then you must know the man he had been keeping under his pay, Dorian." Rage surges upwards and I can't help the magic that shines from my eyes, I clamp down hard on the magic. But I also can't help but feel fear at his mention. The three lines he left on my ribs sting with memory.
"Now that seems to have struck a nerve." He thinks for another moment before I see a revelation pass over his face, "But if that's the truth, then could it be that you are the elven mage the Elder One has been seeking for more than a year now?" A malicious and chilling sneer stretches across his face, "If I look at your back, what will I see? It's no wonder you prefer your freedom, I've heard of how Dorian can be with prospective slaves from the south." He takes a few steps forward and I bring up a shield between us, to hint at the fact that he is not welcome any closer. He places a hand on the shield and examines it a little, "From what I heard, Dorian had thought you a mage of high power, if mediocre skill at best. I can see that you have made quite a lot of progress since then. You've done so well on your own that I would be a fool not to offer you the opportunity to improve yourself even further magically." He takes one step back, dips his head down, and then offers his hand to me palm up, "You could accomplish much in a country where magic is nurtured every step of the way…"
Good God… He is seriously trying to get me to come with him by choice, by only offering magic lessons. If I needed more, Flemeth would have found me by now. I've gotten used to the way that woman operates.
"So, would I accomplish these things before or after my ten years of being indentured as little more than a slave?" He looks up with an unsettling smile on his face.
"Am I to understand that you are refusing my offer of apprenticeship?"
"You are, yes." At that I see him bring some of his own magic to his hand.
"That is really very disappointing… I had been hoping to at least get you to the Elder One before you realized that you would never be my apprentice… It seems, however, that I will have to take you involuntarily." He thrusts his hand at my barrier, as the concentrated magic in his hand makes contact with my barrier it explodes in a brilliant flash of light. Sparks shower down around the edges of my barrier scorching the ground where they hit. For all his effort, my barrier didn't even waiver. I imagine it must be the difference in raw magical potential, but I can't say for sure. As my eyes adjust, I can see him blinking away the spots from the flash. Once his eyes settle, I can see the wave of shock over his features as he realizes that his blast did nothing.
"Well, that was certainly pretty. Did you mean it to do something?"
"I now see why the Elder One has so enthusiastically sought after you. I wonder just what the extent of your power is…" He makes eye contact with the ones behind me.
"It's too bad really…" His eyes squint at me, "For you that is… Because you'll never know."
Putting my hand above my head I concentrate my magic into my hand and use my magic to create a flash bomb effect. Then while they all shield their eyes, with inspiration from a TV show, I cover the ground with sheer ice and make a break for it. The smooth ice should make it next to impossible for them to figure out which way I am going and hopefully at least a couple of them have trouble getting unstuck from the road.
The past few days have been pretty dull… I have more or less made a hideout near a cliff edge inside of a copse of trees and shrubs, during the day I have continued doing what I can for anyone fleeing; whether it's from bandits, what's left of the rogue templars after the Inquisition cleared out their encampment, or the ire of Alexius and his disdain of those without magic. The Inquisition controlled Crossroads has been shaping up to be a very stable location for the refugees to at least rest for a while. I have made a point of bring game to the hunter in the Crossroads, because he has been cooking up whatever comes in and serving it to the refugees. In exchange for the mutton or venison that I bring him, he gives me a half a bowl of whatever he's already made. Which has been enough for me to continue doing what I have been.
Whenever I have been helping the refugees, I wear my mask; but when I bring my game to the Crossroads, I usually have the mask and cloak off.
Although… Today seems different… I haven't left my hideout today… Mostly because there has been a lot of activity around one of the mills in the past little while. Judging by the way they move and the colour they wear I would guess them to be with the Inquisition, but what business could so many of them have at that old looking mill?
Then I spot a party of three people walking towards the castle and then they go on in; escorted by Alexius' guards.
Less than fifteen minutes later, I spot a whole entourage of people making their way down the road towards the castle, among them two very regal looking figures. With some of the entourage bearing the flags of Ferelden royalty. I grab my pack and head around to go down the cliffside to meet them closer to the castle along the road.
I manage to get to the road before they pass by, so I just wait by leaning against a tree.
I spot the first of their entourage come around the bend in the road, understandably I see them go immediately on the defensive and draw their swords. That is until they get closer; as it turns out, the two in the front happen to be a couple of the guards that I beat in sparring bouts. The two of them sheathing their swords cause the rest of them to lower their guard and I spot one of them turn to walk into the rear ranks. They all stop on the road where I was waiting, and a couple of them start chatting, until Alistair comes along, and they all go to attention until he dismisses them.
"Hey Allan." I see the look that passes over his face before he smiles in my direction and dismounts his horse and not too far behind him comes Anora, who also dismounts.
"Gaelea, it is good to see you." Anora steps forward and clasps my hands, I give her a small bow and a little smile.
"I wish it could've been for a happier reason though…" I look over at the castle and their eyes follow mine.
"What do you know about the situation?" Alistair steps over next to Anora.
"Honestly, not very much. I know that a Magister from Tevinter came and made an arrangement with the Grand Enchanter Fiona, I don't know the details, but it involves them becoming indentured to the magister for a period of time before gaining rights as citizens of Tevinter. The Magister in question, Gereon Alexius, set himself up in the castle and convinced Arl Teagan to leave Redcliffe. The magister also sent away most of those residing in the castle except those he needed to serve him. That is when I sent my letter to you." He nods.
"Yes, I did receive your missive. Arl Teagan came to Denerim to petition for help from me shortly after I received your missive, so we had already had some time to prepare." I could see the anger bubbling just below the surface of his usually more jovial looking face.
"After that, many of those without magic were strong-armed to leave and forced from their homes in Redcliffe. Some left to the Inquisition controlled Crossroads and others farther." This brought anger out in even the usually serene Anora. "I had something of a run-in with him myself… And it is safe to say that Alexius is aware that I have a bounty up on me in Tevinter still. He also knows who it is being put up by. Once he made that clear, I did my best to steer clear of him. I left Redcliffe a few days ago, after the Herald of Andraste came to the town representing the Inquisition to negotiate the terms for having the mages help seal the Breach." Alistair nods, "On the note of the Inquisition, I have been seeing lots of scouts and people around that old mill over there, they appear to all have been with the Inquisition, but of that I can't be completely certain." I point to where we can see the top of the mill even from here, and I swear I see realization dawn on Alistair's face.
"That mill?" I nod back at him, "That is the mill that…" He trails off murmuring to himself… "Is that everything?"
"Everything that is important, yes." He nods slowly and rubs his chin, I'm a little surprised not to see smoke start spilling out his ears from how fast he must be thinking right now…
"Would you be willing to accompany us inside?" I didn't think he would ask me that… He does have his entire entourage here with him, I don't think I could add much to that…
"On one condition. I don't particularly want Alexius to see my face again," I bring my mask out from under my cloak, "so I'd like to wear this so that even if he does see me, he might not recognize me. At the very least, not right away." He considers it for a second before nodding.
"Alright, that's fair. I don't want you getting hauled off to Tevinter either… I'd never get you in my guard then." He winks at me before ordering someone to bring a horse up for me to ride into the castle. He then, mounts his own horse. Anora waits for a horse to arrive for me and then mounts hers as I mount mine. We then begin to gallop the short distance to the castle.
At that moment I feel a rippling in the air; like a wave crashing over me. I follow the feeling with my eyes to where it came from, the castle. They've done something… I don't know what it was, but without a doubt it involved immense magic. I look ahead at the figures of Alistair and Anora, should I tell them? They don't know that I'm an apostate mage… I decide to keep quiet about the feeling. It seems to have calmed down and it was just a single wave of energy. A tsunami of magic maybe… But only one. Plus, they already know that we are dealing with a Magister…
Despite that the wave of magic had passed over us and was gone now, I couldn't help but feel like something terrible just happened.