Chapter 16: Errant Son pt2
Arthuris's Private Dock
A chill came through the air and froze the thugs in place as Ericks and Aveline cut down the flankers. The archers fired at Merrill but the arrows bounced off of her armor of rock. The elf then formed a fist out of the earth and launched it at the archers crushing them. Ericks threw out a flask of acid to eat one of the warrior's shields; he then rushed him and slashed his throat. Aveline was surrounded by four thugs, the first came at her swing her sword wildly the guard captain tripped her and quickly stabbed the thug in the heart. Two of them then attack; Aveline rolled out the way and cut them off the knees. She then rushed forward and impaled the last thug in the gut. More thugs came from the back; Bethany summoned pink smoke at the back and forced the thugs to fall into a deep sleep Merrill then tied them up in thick vines. Ericks threw out a flame grenade causing an explosion that sent the thugs flying. Soon all was silent.
"A private dock, secret passages…nice set up if you wanted to smuggle someone in and out of Kirkwall" Ericks said.
"I'll some of the guards look into this place later" Aveline said. "Let's get the boy, he must be terrified" They headed for the back where they spotted a woman in brown ropes being chased by two thugs.
"Get a hold of her!" They cornered her and the woman cowered against the wall with great fear in her eyes.
"Please! Help me! Anyone…" The woman dropped to her knees and the thugs came close.
"Get the hands! I heard they can't do no spells without hands!" Before they could catch the woman, she started to glow brightly and surge of energy pushed the thugs back. In the woman's place was a twisted monster. She became an abomination, a creature created when a demon possesses a living being with magical abilities. Although rare abominations have been known to ravage and terrorize entire countryside for years. Most abominations are created when a mage becomes desperate trying to escape the grasp of Templars trying take them back to the Circle. Though there have been stories of mages unwillingly being exposed to a demon's influence through deals or being tricked by a demon. Mages who experiment with blood magic are more susceptible to demons and also risk becoming abominations. The creature looked at the thugs enraged as the men tried to run.
"You know nothing of magic!" The thugs were burned alive and the abomination attacked the gang. The abomination shot streams of flames from its hands and Merril and Bethany put up a barrier to block the spell. Ericks tosses a smoke grenade to obscure the creature's vision and he along with Aveline rushed from the smoke to clash with the abomination. While they were fighting a man in bronze armor came running in, he was asking for assistance from his men but saw they were all dead. Hot on his heels were undead that had risen when the abomination appeared. Soon a huge battle ensured and by the time the battle ended the entire room was destroyed except for one lone chest.
"That poor girl…who do you suppose she was?" Bethany said. She spotted a bloodied letter and read it. The woman's name was Olivia and the letter was to her father. He had been concealing his daughter from the Templars since Olivia was a little girl. She was running away so she would no longer burden her father. Bethany understood very well what Olivia was going through. Ericks went to the chest and found the accounts of Captain Reiner. In the documents it said that he sold two barrels of fish to Viscount's Keep, three barrels of rum to the Hanged Man, twenty-five Rivaini furs to a merchant in Hightown and one male human mage to a man named Danzig in Darktown.
"Slavers...from the looks of things they haven't hit their quota" Aveline said. "Which means we can end this tonight"
"And get back the boy, let's head out" The gang exited the docks and headed for Darktown.
Darktown
At night Darktown was even more dangerous than at night. Many of the gangs in Kirkwall from Darktown and at night they constantly fight one another for control of this area. This was also the favored landing point of slavers and smugglers due to the Kirkwall sewage system made a convenient makeshift port for their boats to land. However this was not the case this night, Darktown was quiet for once but that just gave the slavers free reign to move in the slums. They had set up camp close to the coast no doubt to use as a quick getaway if things become troublesome. They were led by a man with facial tattoos and wore a tan robe, he was surrounded by heavily armed slavers…they needed to play this right or else they would be overrun.
Bethany and Merrill stood back while Ericks and Aveline went to confront the slavers, no doubt there would be a fight and when it starts the two mages would rain down fire to chip down their numbers. "Why, look here boys. Volunteers! Clap 'em in irons, and let's see what the Tevinters will pay for them"
"Oh I would make a terrible slave, I talk too much" Ericks said. Quicker than Danzig could react Ericks took out a knife and held it at his throat. The mage slaver stood there and blinked before he could realize what happened. "And I do that"
Danzig frowned and pushed Ericks away. "You made a grave mistake, fool!" he said angrily. "Kill him!" Ericks gave a whistle and Merrill and Bethany came out of hiding to cast their most powerful spells. A maelstrom of fire and ice enveloped the area and like that Danzig's men were all dead.
"Aw look at that, they're all dead…such a pity" Ericks said. "You can join them if you tell me where the boy is"
"I…I've stashed the boy in a cave. A smuggler hideout on the Wounded Coast" Danzig said nervously. "Tevinters will be by to finish the deal by the morning"
"Now…c…can I go?"
"Eh…sure" Danzig was quick to run off for safety. When Ericks turned the rest of the gang was looking at him blankly. "What?"
"You just let the slaver go, Ericks, he'll be back on the streets to recuperate his losses" Aveline said.
"No he won't because he'll be dead by the morning" Ericks said. "That blade I pulled on him had some pretty potent poison on it, just a nick will do"
"Now let's head for the Wounded Coast and get our boy"
The Wounded Coast
The Wounded Coast is a feared place, one of the paths that travel into Kirkwall, known for its bandits that hide among the rocky cliffs, as well as the predators that stalk the area. The gang went to the south-central area of the coast where they spotted a cave into the rocky cliffs. From the looks of the inside these caverns used to mine but what they used to mine no one knew anymore. Now it was camp for slaver scum to hide in until their quotas were met. All was quiet in the caverns for a little while, and then they heard talking in the distance. Some of the slavers were getting impatient staying here and wanted to get paid soon. The gang fell behind some rubble and looked at their chances…this was a well-guarded operation.
Ericks and Aveline went forward and took down the two guards. They headed in deeper and scouted the area, several archers was standing guard over a holding cell. In it was a lone teenage human boy; this was a lot security for one lone child mage. Feynriel had blond hair tied into a ponytail and wearing dark blue clothing with a checkerboard pattern on the sleeves. Despite being elf-blooded, the boy had a lot of elven traits on him. Aveline signaled over Merrill and Bethany, they would make as much noise as possible to get the slavers attention. During the chaos, Ericks and Aveline would slip into the back line and take the archers. Bethany summoned a rain of fire and smothered the land with flames. They got the slavers attention and they went to attack the two mages. Merrill slammed her staff to the ground and lightning surged through the ground hitting every single one of the slavers.
Ericks tossed an acid flask on one of the archers; while he screamed from his flesh melting the rogue rushed the archer and stabbed him in the gut. Aveline blocked the arrows with her shield, when she gets close the guards captain stabbed one of the archers and bashed the second one over the head with the shield. The last archer got away and took Feynriel with him; once the slavers were dead the gang chased the archer down the tunnels. They came out to an opening.
"Take one more step, and the boy dies" The gang looked up and saw the leader of the slavers with a sword at Feynriel's throat.
"This is as close as I get" Ericks took out one of his throwing knives and with a flick of his wrist hurled it at the slaver throat. The slaver screamed in pain as blood gushed from his neck. He then fell to the ground with a shocked Feynriel looking on as his captor dies. "I'll secure Feynriel, you handle the riff-raff" The gang fought off the slavers while Ericks headed towards the boy. He cut them all down and got in front of Feynriel.
"Who are you?" the boy asked.
"Oh, a friend of Arianni" Ericks stated.
"I know all of my mother's friends and I've never seen you around"
"This friendship is…uh very recent" The gang killed all of the slavers, Ericks and Feynriel went downstairs to meet with the others. The boy was still wary of the gang.
"Who are you, really? Are you working for the Templars?"
"Look at us kid; do you think the Templars would want any of us in their ranks?" Ericks asked. "Your mother sent me"
Feynriel frowned. "Hardly a difference" he said. "I can't believe her! My whole life, it was all, 'I'll love you and protect you' Then I have some bad dreams and it's 'off to the Templars!'"
"Last I check my bad dreams didn't have demons beckoning to me" the rogue said. "Give your mother a break, kid…it's not easy trying to hide mage family members from Templars"
"Which is why I was trying to get to the Dalish, they won't be afraid of my magic"
Ericks raised a brow. "You don't whittle down those ears; they're apt to shoot you on sight"
"I'd rather be killed by the Dalish than turned Tranquil by the Templars!" the boy said. "Look, I know it's different in other kingdoms, but here…no one helps Circle mages. Anything the Templars don't like and you will get the brand"
"But the Dalish had magic forever. If I can get to them, they could teach me. I won't be a danger, I swear"
Ericks sighed; Feynriel definitely had his mind made up. He looked back at Merrill. "Merrill what do you think? Think your clan will take the kid in?"
"I…do not know, uh…maybe? My people have never been welcoming of outsiders" she said. "But if he can prove himself, perhaps he'll be accepted…but Feynriel our life is a hard one"
"I can do this, if anyone can help the Keeper can" he said.
"Well, you have spunk I'll give you that" Ericks said. "Head for Sundermount ask for Keeper Marethari, tell them Hawke sent you"
Feynriel smiled. "I will! Oh, you don't know what a relief that is. I knew she could help me!" he said. "Thank the Creators you were the one my mother hired to find me. I will forever be in your debt, friend" The boy left more excited than he's ever been. The gang headed back to Kirkwall, it was going to be 'fun' explaining to Arianni why her son was not back with them.
Next Time! Review and Comment!
