Chapter 20: Finders Keepers

Kirkwall Chantry-Night

Hayder fell to the ground with his throat slit as Isabela put away her daggers. The Chantry had its fill with blood and dead bodies, the sisters will be welcomed with quite in the morning. Isabela was off by her lonesome deep in thought, Hayder was dead but that didn't reassure her at all. Ericks came to her. "Stab first, ask questions later?"

"Trust me. It's better this way" she said. "Castillon won't be hearing from Hayder but that won't stop him…he'll find me eventually"

"I just have to get him the relic, simple as that" The gang left the Chantry before anyone got curious and came looking. Isabela didn't know what this relic was but what she did know was that it's ancient and worth a person's weight in gold. Castillon made her chase it down as payback for freeing his slaves although Isabela just thinks he wants her dead but just death would be letting her off too easy.

"So that whole business with that Lucky fellow…" Ericks said.

"Ugh, he insisted he knew everything that was going on in Kirkwall" Isabela said. "He lied; I bet he doesn't even know everything going on in his pants" It was the best she could do considering the circumstances, there was a storm and her ship ran afoul some reefs near the city. Isabela managed to make it to shore but most of her crew weren't so lucky. "Poor sods, I knew some of them for ten years…ah, balls"

"Castillon…that name seems familiar" Varric said.

"He's a powerful merchant based in Antiva, I believe he has ties to the Felicisima Armada" The Raiders of the Waking Sea or the Felicisima Armada is a loose confederation of ships and piratical raiders who ply the numerous seas and coasts of Thedas. The organization has no known leadership. It is instead a collection of ships, each its own sovereign vessel with its own rules, people, and leader. Wealthy merchants often pay the leaders of the Armada, rather than risk having their ships commandeered and their merchandise stolen and sold on the black market. They're hardly unified, and bloody battles between Armada leaders are frequent, but any attack by outsiders will cause them to instantly put aside their differences and close ranks, and thus the raiders have become far more of a plague in the last century than they ever were before. Llomerryn has become a haven for raiders, as well as brigands and various criminals, due to its location as a port city, and its political neutrality. The markets and bazaars of the city feature goods pillaged from distant lands. The nearby island of Estwatch is also a stronghold for raiders.

Isabela used to work for Castilon; the jobs mostly involved the smuggling of lyrium, jewels or the occasional criminal acquaintance. It was easy work for someone of her skills and he paid well but then everything changed with one job. She asked to escort Castillon's cargo ship, a job that seemed simple enough at first. But then halfway through the job, Isabela had a bad feeling.

"Boarded the ship to find slave. Nearly two hundred…elves, humans…children even. It was sickening" she said with a frown. "They paid Castillon to take them away from the Blight; instead he took their money and sold them into slavery"

"I might be a pirate but there are some lines even I won't cross" Ericks reflected on this, on how desperate he and his family was to get away from the darkspawn. That could of easily been him and his family.

"If getting the relic gets Castillon off your back, then I'll help you retrieve it"

"I still don't know where it is, but you'll be the first to know if I hear anything" Isabela said. "Anyway, thanks for helping me out with Hayder" The gang made it back to the Hanged Man.

"I hate leaving debt on the table so I think I'll tag along and pay it off" she said. "And I have a room at the Hanged Man, if you're looking for…" Isabela got close to Ericks face and gave a sultry smirk. "…company later"

"Well you'll certainly be an interesting neighbor, Rivaini" Varric said as they both entered the Hanged Man. The gang called it a night and went home.


The Hanged Man-three days later

After the facing Hayder's men, the gang kept their heads down while things blew over. Aveline was none too happy about having to clean up yet another murder scene in the Chantry. As trouble tends to follow Ericks everywhere, Aveline personally went to him just so she could yell at him for his little venture. After that bit of noise, a messenger came to Ericks, Isabela was looking for him. When he arrived, Ericks saw Isabela at the bar drinking but found her cup to be empty. She calls for the bartender. "Maker…I think he's annoying me now" she said. "Hey! Is my coin not good enough for you?"

"Isabela"

She turned. "Oh! Hawke, there you are! Thanks for helping me with that little problem I had" Isabela said. "You going to buy me a drink to celebrate our victory?"

Ericks raised a brow. "That little problem gave me an earful from Avi"

"The soon to be Captain Man-hands? You know her? Can't wait to meet her" she said. "You still looking for work? Because I have a friend who needs some help"

"A 'friend', huh? The nice kind or the stabby kind?" Anders asked.

"The nice kind I can assure you, as for what you can do….he didn't say and I didn't ask but I'm sure you're up to it" Isabela said. "His name is Martin, he has a room here, just tell him I sent you"

"Anything more?" Ericks asked.

"Well…he's also in trouble with some raider. Used to run with them, they did not like him leaving" she said. "Whatever he's asking, it will most likely be dangerous so watch your back" The gang went upstairs and found a fair-skinned man wearing grey and tan clothing with a buzz cut sitting in a chair deep in thought. He jumped when he saw the gang enter.

"Hey! Who are you?"

"Aren't we jumpy? I thought you used to a raider?" Ericks asked.

Martin frowned. "That life is behind me, I'm now an honest merchant" he said. "Now who the fuck are ya?"

"Ericks, and apparently Isabela wanted me to fix your problem"

"You're him, huh?" the ex-raider asked. "Isabela honestly couldn't do better?"

"Such a charmer Isabela's friend is" Bethany said dryly.

"Beggars can't be choosers, friend" Anders said.

Martin groaned. "Suppose not…I need someone to help me find out where the raiders have hidden my stolen cargo" he said. "The job's as easy as peg-legged tavern wench and there's good coin in it to boot"

Ericks raised a brow. "You'll have to forgive me if I call bullshit on the easy part" he said. "But coin is coin, I'll help"

"Good, you'll need to look around the docks. The crates bear the seal of the Orlesian port authority, so you'll know it when you see it"

"You're assuming I know what an Orlesian port seal looks like"

"Ugh, the seal's gaudy, pretentious…you know Orlesian" Martin said.

"Right…because that makes it so much clearer" Ericks said. "Well, sit tight I'll get your cargo back"

"Get it back to men fast, I've had it with the raiders, and this cargo is the key to me getting on the straight and narrow" he said. "You're doing me a huge favor here, friend. Thank you and be careful"


Lowtown Docks-Western Warehouse District

The gang made it to the docks where they spotted the dock workers carrying cargo to and from the warehouses. Ericks spotted two workers on the side chatting it up, they were on their break. The gang approached them. "I'm looking for some cargo"

One of them took a drink. "You're in luck. Cargo all around, take your pick"

"A laborer with a smart mouth! You hardly ever see those" Ericks said sarcastically.

"What do you want? This one of the few times I get a break from that slave driver"

"I'm looking for crates sealed by the Orlesian port authority"

"Haven't seen any, sorry"

"You could try the harbor master" the other worker said. "I'll bet he's got information about your cargo. He's in his office" The worker pointed the way to the harbor master's office. He was there filling out paperwork to send to the Viscount's office.

"Shipping manifest?" the master said without taking his eyes off his documents"

"I'm looking for cargo bearing the seal of the Orlesian port authority" Ericks said.

"Ugh, Aden, deal with this!" A black haired man came forward and motioned the gang to come outside.

"I apologize on Liam's behalf. He is a very, very busy man" he said. "I'm Aden, the harbor master's assistant. I understand you're looking for Orlesian cargo"

"I've seen the crates, but can't remember where. Such a shame"

"I can't Imagine what you mean" Ericks said dryly.

"The clink of gold coin often jogs my memory"

"I'm not paying for this"

"Then I am deeply sorry I could not be of more assistance. Good day" Aden walked back into the office.

"Well so much for that, what now Hawke?"

"Let's check back at night, we'll take a look at the records then" When night fell onto Kirkwall; the gang was back at the harbor master's office when the streets were empty. Other than a few guards, getting the records was quite easy. According to the document, there was an order to redirect the cargo to Woodrow's Warehouse to the east. This order was endorsed by Harbormaster Liam's barely decipherable signature along with a note from his assistant, Aden. Apparently an Orlesian Port Authority seal was not only rare but special here in Kirkwall. They were going to give the cargo a 'special' rate to fatten their pockets. The gang headed for the location where they found a guard sleeping on the job.

Once inside the warehouse, the gang took care of the raiders and found a sample of Martin's cargo. A box of vials with dark green liquid. "Hmm, spirit shard, a concentrator agent, and two dips of corrupter agent…soulrot coating" Ericks said. "Potent stuff, one cut from a blade with this and a man will die feeling like he's been torn inside out"

"So much for being an honest merchant…" Anders said.

"Lots of places sell poisons, Anders…thing is most of those poisons are used for getting rid of vermin" he said. "You wouldn't use soulrot coating unless you trying to assassinate someone"

"Oh well, it's really none of my business, let's hope that Martin pays well for this" The gang got out of the warehouse from the back exit and headed back to the Hanged Man.


The Hanged Man

Back at the tavern, Martin was waiting anxiously for his stuff to be returned. He saw the gang and walked towards them. "You got my stuff?"

"You're smuggling poison. I thought you were trying to change your ways" Anders said.

"I got the stuff from a legitimate supplier, and I'm going to sell it through legitimate channels" Martin said. "It's all legitimate!"

The mage frowned. "It's poison, it kills people"

The ex-raider just snorted. "I just sell it; I'm not responsible for what people do with it" Anders eyes started to glow a little, the callousness of this man was starting to stir Justice within him. The mage kept his control; there were too many people for the spirit to go on a rampage. "So? Where is it?"

"Do you know where Alton Woodrow's warehouse is?" Ericks asked. "Not a vial out of place"

"Merchant Woodrow's place? I know it" Martin said. "Thanks for this, friend. You've more than earned your reward" He gave Ericks a sack of coins, and then walked out of the room to get his goods. "You come back once I'm set up, I'll give you a discount" Ericks counted the coin in the sack.

"Two sovereigns…ugh perhaps I should have demanded a bribe" the rogue said. "Ah well…I'm getting a step closer, that's all that matters" The gang called it a night.

Seven sovereigns to go…the race to make the money begins! Next Time! As Always Review and Comment!