'Nobility does not exist without obligation. We owe everything we have, even our lives, to our land and people.' –Arl Eamon Guerrin, Arl of Denerim, formerly of Redcliffe, Chancellor to the King.
If one listened to the Chantry's rumours—fear-mongering, Cait had once muttered to her as they walked passed a particularly inspired and loud lay-sister when they had visited the market—than apostates were hidden in every dark shadow, plotting to turn their evil blood magic against the unwary masses while also being your neighbour that was just wrong word away from turning into a mindless Abomination that would rip you apart before you could plead for mercy.
The reality of it?
Apostates were people, people born with amazing and frightening powers that they had to battle every day to control and had demon whispering in their dreams every night, waiting for the slightest slip in control, the slightest falter in their will. They were dangerous, yes, but give an idiot a sword and he could be just as dangerous—Fergus had told her that once.
Most apostates kept to themselves, did their best to keep under the notice of the Templars, learnt as much as possible on their own or through trusted sources, and always ready to pack up and move when they felt the Templars were getting too close for their likely.
Something that made Kenna fairly confident that there were apostates in Highever; Highever was a large city, larger than Amaranthine, rivalling Gwaren in the south, and only dwarfed by Denerim in the east—the perfect place for someone to disappear into the mass of people packed in the great towering walls and keep under the notice of Templars.
And most importantly in Kenna's opinion? Highever was a port city; if any apostate thought the Templars were getting too close than they could easily jump onto one of the ships that left the harbour every day and disappear somewhere else.
So, Kenna was confident that there were apostates in Highever, but she was also confident that it wouldn't be easy to get into contact with any of them.
It wasn't like Kenna could put up a notice on the Chantry board—that was just asking for trouble—nor could she search for them obviously—that would bring attention to her, to Lileas, and that would mean the Tower (that would mean a sun-burst on a pale forehead or dead pale green eyes as blood stained her robes, and she couldn't let that happen!) and Lileas taken away.
So, how does a young noble girl and her elven servant search for an apostate without being obvious, without causing suspicion and fear amongst said apostates and general masses, without letting said noble girl's family become aware that said young noble girl had knowingly arranged to take an elven mage into her employment, without gaining the suspicion of the knight/guard that would be shadowing them and without the knowledge of Nan?
What they needed was a cunning plan, and luckily, Kenna had already thought of one as Lileas calmed down and did her best to hide away all signs of her panicked crying.
And that plan started with a simple request.
~ Cousland Castle, Highever, 25th Drakonis 9:21 Dragon ~
"You what?" Nan asked with a frown.
"I want to spend the day walking around Highever," Kenna repeated as she stared up at Nan.
"Why?" Nan asked suspiciously of her charge.
"Do I need a reason?" Kenna sighed—a tad dramatically under Nan's look. "I thought Lileas would like spending some time away from the Castle and maybe meet up with some of her friends."
Nan frowned, glancing behind her charge towards where Lileas stood just behind Kenna—Kenna's golden tanned fingers were wrapped securely around Lileas' wrist once again, Nan noticed—and took in the rather nervous look on the young elf's face as she shifted under Nan's gaze.
"I hope you realise that you will not be traipsing out on your own," Nan said sharply making Kenna nod her head. "Fine, but you will make sure to be home before dark—if I have to go and look for you, you won't be happy when I catch up to you—and you will be letting Ser Kenneth know that you won't be training with him."
"Of course, Nan," Kenna smiled making Nan eye her even more suspiciously.
"Don't you dare cause trouble," Nan warned her, making her young charge give her a look of innocent that only made Nan snort. "Lileas, keep an eye on this fool of a girl for me."
"Yes, ma'am!" Lileas almost yelped when Nan turned her sharp tone and sharper eyes onto her making Nan nod shortly to herself with a glint of satisfaction in her dark eyes as she turned to track down a knight to protect her charge. "She's so scary."
Kenna glanced over her shoulder at Lileas with a slight frown;
"Really?" the red-head asked doubtfully. "I don't think she's that scary."
Lileas shook her head in slight disbelief, she had quickly realised that Kenna held no fear when it came to Nan unlike everyone else—Lileas wasn't sure if that made Kenna rather brave or rather foolish, but she knew to keep such thoughts to herself.
Highever's market was a large square filled with bustling people, almost overflowing stalls and ringed by stores. There was a clamour of accented voices hawking their wares, the smell of spices and cooking food, a dazzle of colours and the almost overwhelming warmth of dozens upon dozens of bodies.
But what Kenna was most interested in?
The slight figures that weaved their way through the crowd, quick hands snatching out here and slipping into pockets there, their youthful face gaunt in the way of those that didn't get enough food to eat.
The street urchins, the little thieves, the street-rats, call them what you will—to Kenna they were an untapped gold-mine of information that she was going to tap as much as possible.
While Kenna wasn't old enough nor had the connects to get them into some sort of stable employment, she was still a noble's daughter with access to wealth—enough wealth to pay them for the information and feed them for the day.
It wasn't much, Kenna was aware of that, but it was something, something she could do at her age and it was better for them to be turned into her own personal spies then keep thieving—sooner or later they would be caught, and people weren't kind to thieves.
That, however, meant that Kenna would have to keep it up and not just drop them when she had gotten what she wanted, she wouldn't be that type of noble.
Before she did anything, attempt to gain information, she went towards a small stall that sold baskets that was manned by two women—probably a grandmother and her granddaughter considering the difference in ages and the slight resembles.
The grandmother was the basket weaver, half-blind from age and hands gnarled but still firm and skilled as she bent the willows into place just next to the stall as her granddaughter smiled at them.
"What can I do for you, m'lady?" the granddaughter asked, leaning across the worn counter.
"Your largest basket please," Kenna decided after a quick glance and ignoring the sudden raise of voices as the merchants realised that one of the Teyrn's daughters was visiting the market, all hoping to hawk their wares to her.
Kenna paid double what it was worth to the protest of the granddaughter, but she had noticed that the stall was worn, and most people didn't do more than stop and watch the grandmother doing her craft—they didn't appreciate the simple, but strong design that the grandmother weaved and Kenna wasn't going to let them starve because someone didn't realise just how long these types of baskets could last.
Her next port of call was one of the food stalls to fill the basket up—Lileas suggesting the meat-pies as that would be filling for them—before she turned her gaze around, lingering on the children that watched her with cautious eyes as they moved amongst the crowd or lingered by the alleyways.
She had a job to do, children to recruit, and information to gain.
He stood before her, bold as anything, with wide pale-blue eyes that reminded her of sea-glass and shaped in a way that spoke of elven blood.
He looked down upon her from his superior height and a smirk curled his lips—an arrogant smirk that almost made her bristle.
"I'm glad you're not some prim and proper noble daughter," he informed her without even introducing himself and this time Kenna did bristle—Cait was considered one of those prim and proper noble daughters, and she would not allow anyone to insult her either directly or indirectly.
"And what would be so wrong if I was?" she challenged, jaw set, and he raised his right tanned hand in a gesture of surrender—his left still stuffed into his pocket—and an almost mocking look on his face.
"Nothing, nothing," he grinned at her, seemingly pleased by the display of temper that made her mother sigh. "Just I'd prefer my employer to have more fight to them."
"Employer?" she snorted at his words—he had never seen Cait shot down squirrels and rabbits from a distance then, Cait wasn't a meek prim and proper daughter despite her pretty looks. "And why should I 'employ' you?"
"Because I have information," he smirked at her, self-satisfied and smug, "information that you want."
"And what do you want in return?" Kenna asked as Lileas stepped closer, a slight frown on her pale face as she stared up at the older boy.
"A steady source of income, food on the table and a weight off my mother's shoulders," he told her easily. "That's not too much to ask for, is it?"
"And how do you know what information I want?" Kenna pressed, unconvinced.
"So, you're not interested in someone that can do…. certain things that others can't and are afraid of?" he asked as he wiggled his fingers at her in a gesture that seemed meaningless, but still made something cold go down her spine and make Lileas gasp—he did know, Kenna realised with a sense of grimness.
Kenna narrowed her eyes as she stepped closer, ignoring the nervous shifting of the young guard behind, and glared up at him as he smirked down at her.
"I suppose," she spoke through gritted teeth as his smirk widened—both knew he had her after all. "That I should know the name of my employee."
"I'm Gi—" he introduced himself and held out his left hand, a challenging light in his pale blue eyes, and Kenna didn't more than blink as she took in the clawed and deformed hand that was held out before her before she took it in her own hand and shook his hand briskly.
Something in the set of his rather board shoulders seemed to relax at her reaction, his smirk almost softening as a flash of relief spread across his face that made her blink. That blink was all it took for him to put back his arrogant smirk in place, but Kenna didn't forget as he mockingly bowed before her and lead her away from the bustling market.
It seemed there was more to Gi— that he was ready to show to her, but Kenna wasn't deterred, he was her employee after all.
~ Cousland Castle, Highever, 10 Cloudreach 9:21 ~
Kenna rolled on her back, frowning up at her stone ceiling as she thought about her latest dream.
"He's going to be so annoying, isn't he?" she asked out loud as Lileas snuffled in her sleep—no doubt hugging her rabbit close. "Smug little…." She trailed off before she said the word that would make Nan take her over her knee—noble daughter or no—before going rail at the knights that dared utter that language around her young charge despite the fact it was the middle of the night and Nan would never know.
"Kenna?" Lileas asked sleepily making Kenna turn so she could peer down at her through the darkness. "Why are you awake?"
Lileas peered sleepily up at her, her pale green eyes glowing in the dim light, as she yawned.
"Had a dream," Kenna told her quietly as she reached out to sooth Lileas' wayward pale hair. "Do you know a boy who's really smug with blue eyes and a deformed hand?"
Lileas blinked, still half-sleep, and frowned up at Kenna.
"Giles? You dreamt about Giles?" Lileas asked around a yawn. "Why?"
Kenna closed her eyes tightly as his name made something in her mind click, knowledge unfolding itself painfully and a haze attempted to take shape—his spectre selves, no doubt—that she pushed away mentally for now.
Giles, yes, that was who he was, and he was important, like Lileas was important. Kenna didn't know if she should be happy about that or not, he seemed annoyingly smug after all, but she supposed he'd grow on her—like mould maybe, she thought with a mental smirk.
"Doesn't matter," Kenna said after a moment as she stroked at Lileas' hair, smiling slightly as Lileas turned her head into her hand and nuzzled at her pillow at the same time. "Go back to sleep."
"Mmkay," Lileas yawned as she drifted back to sleep.
Kenna closed her eyes and 'let' a spectre of his future appear in her mind's eyes—there was only one, it seemed she had already made her choice regarding him.
He stood like he was leaning against something, a smug smirk curling at his lips that Kenna felt would be very familiar to her. Pale blue sea-glass eyes gleamed with intelligence from under sun-bleached hair, his head titling almost towards her like a cat—a tall, board-shouldered cat maybe.
A glint of gold caught her mental eye; he wore a pin on the collar of his long jacket, a small golden songbird with a laurel clutched tightly in its talons—her symbol part of her recognised.
Unmistakably hers in a way that Lileas was—or would be—despite not dressing in her colours. No, his clothing were dark muted colours, thick to deter wear and keep him warm, but he wore her symbol, openly and proudly, with full confidence in himself and her.
"You're mine, aren't you?" Kenna whispered, her eyes closed as she mentally watched his future-self.
Giles titled his head in agreement, that same smug smirk curling his lips, and pale eyes dancing with amusement at her expense she couldn't help but think.
"You're going to be so annoying," Kenna sighed as she blinked the spectre away and stroked Lileas' hair soothingly—for Lileas' benefit or her own, she wasn't sure about.
Kenna drifted, hand still stretched out to pat at Lileas' pale hair, and she dreamt of a smug smirk and sea-glass blue eyes.
"You're hopeless at this," Giles informed her, leaning over her so closely that she could feel his warmth.
"Shut up," Kenna groaned as she leaned back against both her chair and him, glaring at the broken lock-pick and the stubborn lock on her desk.
"I can do this with only one good hand," he continued making her lean her head back against his torso and glare up at him.
He only smirked down at her making her scowl.
"You're so annoying," she informed him making his smirk widen.
"Thank you," he replied with cheeky smugness making Lileas snort from where she was lounging across Kenna's bed as she conjured balls of light with the slightest frown of concentration that bobbed up in the air above her out-stretched hand, the foci crystal around her throat glowing slightly.
Kenna glared up at him, eyes flashing, before she turned towards her lock and picked up the next set of lock-picks as her jaw set.
"Careful now," Giles told as he bent so he could rest his head beside hers. "Don't force it, or you'll break another set of picks."
"I know," she told him, jaw clenching as she resisted the urge of just forcing it open or just letting Lileas freeze it so she could break it without much effort.
"Just reminding you," Giles smirked, she could feel how his cheek lifted as he was that close.
"You're so annoying," Kenna grumbled at him again, hunching in her seat in a vary unlady-like manner.
Giles, the bastard, just laughed into her ear just as the latest lock-pick snapped.
~ Market, Highever, 12 Cloudreach 9:21 Dragon ~
Giles watched from his place leaning against a wall to watch as the Littlest Cousland entered the market again, waiting for her to head towards the basket stall then to the food stall before she would then begin her rounds.
Only, this time she paused as she looked around, mismatched gaze shifting through the crowd as if she was searching for someone.
Interesting, he thought before clenching his jaw slightly, but potentially annoying if that meant she had found someone with the information she needed.
Giles wasn't having that, not after weeks of watching her and figuring out what motived her acts of charity to the lowest of the low, not when he had to argue fiercely for Granny to even agree to met the noble girl.
No, Giles wasn't letting another snot-nosed brat take away his chance.
He pushed away from the wall and began to weave his way through the crowd and towards his employer—even if she didn't know that yet—and kept a sharp eye out for any brat that looked smug or eager enough make the Little Cousland look like that.
Only there wasn't, and when he was within sight of her, those eyes of her lit up with recognition and determinisation.
She strode towards him when he paused in confusion.
"Giles?" she asked, but her tone of voice said she was confident she was right, and he nodded, caught off guard—she was searching for him? How in the name of the Maker did she know of him? He doubted the Littlest Surana had informed her even if she did remember him. "Good," she grinned at him, a smug grin that said she knew she had caught him off guard and she was going to revel in it, "as my employee, I expect you to greet me when I arrive in the Market—"
"What?" he spluttered, but she ignored him with that same grin.
"—with any information that may be important in hand," she continued as she moved towards the basket stall with the Littlest Surana attempting to hide a grin behind her and the Cousland reached out and grabbed his hand to pull him along.
"Oi!" he objected but was ignored by all but the knight that shifted as he followed along behind his charge without a word.
"You will then, of course, join me on my rounds," she informed him as the Surana talked to the owners of the stall. "Because even though you will be my only official employee, I'm not just going to stop paying and feeding them."
His head was spinning with confusion as the little slip of a noble dragged him along, still informing him of what he was expected to do as her employee, and he didn't know if he should be pissed or not that his carefully scripted plans had gone up in smoke the moment she opened her mouth.
Well, he thought with a hint of dry amusement, at least she now knows she my employer.
Author's Note; I hope you enjoyed this chapter, Giles was kind of a pain to write, but I hope you like him! Please review and tell me your thoughts!