Chapter 25: Duty

Hightown-The Chantry Courtyard

Ericks, Bethany and Aveline headed into the courtyard while the city guard escorted Leandra back to Lowtown. "So…Aveline decided to involve you too, huh?" Fenris leaned against the wall with his arms crossed; the elf was out in the market to buy some food as the mansion's wares were molded. He bumped into Aveline and the guardswoman decided to deputize him much to his chagrin.

"Yep, though I don't see why you need us, Avi, when you have all these guardsmen with you" Ericks said.

"With the guards patrolling the streets in all of the districts, that restricts Prince Sebastian's assailants' movements" Aveline explained. "That will lead them to finish their work underground, and you do your best work underground, don't you Ericks?"

Ericks crossed his arms. "Do you have to make it sound…so illicit?"

"Just saying, we can take out the assassins before things escalate" she said. "Any change, Fenris?"

"We may have to move soon, the prince is looking to enact his justice and the Grand Cleric is having trouble keeping him from putting himself in danger" The gang heard the door to the Chantry open. "Speak of the devil…" A brown-haired young man in white and gold armor came stomping out with a parchment in one hand and a stake and hammer in the other. The man wore a large white bow on his back with several arrows in its quiver. His bright green eyes glowed with his fury, he was going to war. According to Aveline, Sebastian was the youngest son of three. He was given to the Chantry due to being a disgrace to the family name, and a potential weight around his brothers' necks. He spent his considerable allowance on drink, entertainment, and the wooing of the ladies of Starkhaven and his family feared that he would sire a bastard that could grow to challenge the Vael throne.

Behind him was an old woman in chantry robes trying and failing to keep the young man from doing something rash. Grand Cleric Elthina she is responsible for the spiritual well-being of the southern Free Marches (everything south of Starkhaven and the Minanter River). She has long been a calming presence in the city, renowned for her kindness and generosity. People frequently turn to her to mediate disputes—particularly those involving the powerful Templar Order, over whom she holds authority as the Chantry's ranking representative.

Some claim that Elthina's advanced age has rendered her ineffective, and that she allows Knight-Commander Meredith more leeway with each passing year. Some are calling on the new Divine, Justinia V, to appoint a replacement—but they do so quietly, for Elthina is by far the most beloved priest the city has ever known.

"Sebastian! Stop this madness!" the cleric said. "The Chantry cannot condone revenge"

Sebastian frowned. "It is my right, my duty, to show these cowards there is nowhere in the Free Marches to hide!" He hammered in the parchment and then went on his way. Elthina took the parchment off the chantry board and frowned.

"This is murder" An arrow soon struck the parchment and it was back on the chantry board for all to see.

"No, what happened to my family was murder" Sabastian put away his bow and walked away.

Ericks whistled. "Nice shot, you sure he needs our protection?"

"He's rash and blinded by his anger, that will get him killed" Aveline said. The gang headed for the chantry board and picked Sebastian's parchment for any clues.


A grave crime was committed against all free-thinking men and women in the Free Marches. The ruling Vael family in Starkhaven…my family…was brutally murdered, down to the youngest babe in arms. This massacre was carried out by members of the Flint mercenary company. I hereby offer a bounty on the head of each Flint Company soldier in the Kirkwall vicinity.-Prince Sebastian Vael

To whomever elects to participate in the charitable deed of assisting the Vael family of Starkhaven—

His most worthy highness, Prince Sebastian Vael, has provided instructions for anyone brave and noble enough to attempt eradication of the rabble who dared attack his family. Three groups of Flint Company mercenaries have been sighted in the Kirkwall vicinity.

* One group makes camp not far from the elves of the Sundermount mountain range.

* The second has been seeking information on the Docks after nightfall.

* The third is far from the main road off the Wounded Coast; they are believed to have a small campsite well past any known landmarks.

A princely award awaits whoever finds and defeats all these rogues.

May the Maker guide you.

Chanter Taletha

Sundermount

The gang headed for the Soundermount mountain range where they were met with a grisly sight. The camp made by Flint Company was utterly decimated with the mercs freshly killed and the buzzards picking over the corpses. "Damn, the prince did all of this…alone?" Ericks asked. "So much for preventing an escalation, Avi, Flint Company must know Sebastian is now hunting them"

Aveline wasn't just worried about innocents getting caught in the crossfire, she was also worried about what would happen if Prince Sebastian died and the Chantry found out. Since their ascent to the throne of Starkhaven, the Vael family has had close ties to the Chantry with members of the family becoming a cleric or brother…there's even one family member in the Seekers of Truth. To lose someone like that would invite the Chantry's wrath and Exalted Marches have been called for much less.

"Let's head back to the city" The gang left the campsite and headed back to Kirkwall.


Lowtown Docks-Night

Once back in Kirkwall, Aveline asked for an audience with Viscount Dumar. She requested a temporary early curfew for the city until the whole thing with Prince Vael and the mercenary company was resolved. Viscount Dumar was of course reluctant about going through with Aveline's plan but the guardswoman simply had to remind him of the last time the Viscount ran afoul of the Chantry and he quickly folded. That night the gang headed toward the docks to catch Sebastian and hopefully talk him into seeing reason. One of the patrols alerted Aveline of sounds of fighting in the western dock, the gang headed for the location at once.

Once again they were treated to another grisly sight and the prince was nowhere to be found. "Missed him again, he works fast I'll give him that" Fenris said.

"Yeah I know…and he's supposed to be a lay brother" Ericks said. "Never knew a lay brother to do this" Aveline and Bethany came to them with a bloody letter, Flint Company was aware of Sebastian hunting their members down. They were preparing a trap for the prince over at the Wounded Coast; it was a perfect place for an ambush. In his haste to avenge his family, Sebastian was going to fall right into his trap. "Well, Avi?"

"Sebastian won't be going after the mercenaries right now, he'll likely rest up for his final assault" Aveline said. "We should do the same and head out when it is dawn" The gang scattered and headed home.


The Wounded Coast

When the sun touched Kirkwall, the gang headed out of the city for the Wounded Coast. Once they reached the coast it didn't take look for the gang to here sounds of fighting in the distance. They followed the sounds and found Sebastian taking cover behind a rock; his shiny white armor was bloody on the side where an arrow struck him. The mercenary archers were relentless with their volley of fire; the warriors went in ready to finish off the wounded prince. "You had us good for a while, Vael…didn't think you would come after us like you did" one of them said. "But now it's over, give up and we'll make your death quick and painless"

"Never! I will see you dead for what you did to my family!" The prince despite his deep wound got up and fired an arrow into the head of an advancing warrior. Sebastian had spirit that's for sure but spirit wasn't going to save him from a nine to one fight. Bethany waved her staff in the air and summoned a rain of fire upon the heads of the sellswords. The mercs yelled and quickly scattered, Sebastian looked over cover and spotted Fenris, Ericks, and Aveline rushing the company and cutting them down. Bethany came to Sebastian and started to heal the prince's wounds. Sebastian looked at mage with awe, she was the most beautiful woman he's ever seen…if this was the Maker's hand in this then he was very thankful for such a stunning hand. The prince then shook his head, and focused on the problem at hand. "Who are you people?"

"Your security according to Aveline" she said. "I'm Bethany"

"Uh, Sebastian…" By the time Bethany finished healing the prince, the fight was over. The rest of the gang headed toward them.

"Prince Sebastian, you are a hard man to find" Ericks said. "Glad we caught you before you died, and invited the wrath of the Chantry upon all our heads" Sebastian was taken aback at how casual Ericks was at talking with him, despite knowing he was royalty.

Bethany shook her head. "What my brother means is your family can rest now"

"Excuse me, who are…? My post to the Chanters' Board? Did Her Grace let that stay?" Sebastian asked. "I was sure no one read it, so I took matters into my own hands"

"Trust me, we saw" Ericks said. "So you have any idea on who sent the sellswords?" The prince thought hard about it, for six generations the Vaels have ruled Starkhaven. It was plenty of time for the Vaels gain lots of enemies but none would dare identify themselves openly…until now. He did know of a distant cousin of the family that was claiming rulership now, but it couldn't be him. What happened to his family was far too thorough, before the sellswords struck the Circle Tower in Starkhaven was burned down. In one instant their mages, their Templars…everyone his parents called on for protection were gone. His cousin was far too simple to come up with such a plan…he is no more than a pawn in this plot.

"You have my eternal gratitude, serah" Sebastian said with a bow. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must meet with the viscount and petition him for aid to a fellow city"

"Hold it your majesty, as long as there are people looking to take your head you won't be safe" Aveline said. "For now, our group will stick with you for your protection"

"Thank you for the offer, but…"

"No buts your majesty, as long as you're in danger Kirkwall is in danger" Sebastian looked at Ericks and the rogue just shrugged. He knew better than anyone that once Aveline made up her mind, no one could change it…which is why he still have city guards tailing him now and then.

The prince sighed. "Very well" he then looked at Bethany and blushed. "Perhaps being in good company will take my mind off of this tragedy" The gang all headed back to Kirkwall, while walking Sebastian and Bethany were talking to one another.

"It would seem the prince has taken a liking to your sister, Hawke" Fenris said. Ericks looked back and saw Bethany giggle at what Sebastian said to her.

"Huh, will you look at that?"

"You're not worried? I know how protective you are of Bethany"

"Betty has spent most of her life looking over her shoulders for Templars, and us protecting her haven't done her social life any favors" Ericks said. "As long as he's good to her, then I have no problems"

"Besides, Betty's a grown woman…I won't be there to protect her all the time"

A budding romance in the making? Next Time! Review and Comment!